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User: madbovine9

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  1. Re:... accurate physics on Physics For Game Developers · · Score: 1
    One thing to realize is that most of the time phyics is just a close approximation anyway. In quantum mechanics ONLY the 2 body problem (basic hydrogen atom) can be solved. Everything else is just too damn complex. Most real physics is finding a good method of approximation that will acuratly predict real events.

    Many of these methods are numerical in nature and lend themselves to computer calculations. Taylor series, perterbation theory, iteration methods, hell ALL of statistical physics is this way.

    I think that the programmers can go past the "quick and dirty" methods and with just a bit more effort come up with wonderful physics models, and it looks like this book is trying to do just that.

  2. How about... on Another Gaping Microsoft Security Hole Goes Unpatched · · Score: 1

    someone write a little web-page exploit that, say, when the webpage is opened would reboot the windows machine and display a popup message box upon the reboot, maybe with some personal information, like ip address, windows user name, something like that. This would be a very simple way to show the countless hoards of win users that their system is vulnerable. Oh, and include a comment about this is a windows only problem.

    Just my thoughts to this so-called-exploit that "people" say is a major problem. If a web page can cause my computer to reboot and pop-up a window, then this will show me that there is a definite problem.

  3. One Underlining Problem on What's The Future of DRM? · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I see one(of probably many) problem with the state of affairs today in respect to music. All these new laws and proposed laws are not designed for the consumer, they are designed for the corporation to protect and increase their money supply. The bills are probabally even written by corporate lawyers and handed to a Senator inside a fat bag of cash(campaign contrubutions), for him to proclaim the virtues of most vehemently!

    Yes, I see the need for copyrights and the need for money to go to authors/performers, but with this thing we call the internet, WE the consumer can have a more drastic effect on music and music tastes. As an amature musician, is sickens me to see how little moeny in the sales of CD's/albums actually goes to the writer/performer. It is on the order of 2% post-cost, depending on fronted money and contract.

    What I think is happening is that the huge record corporations forsee a possible future, a future where THEY dont exist! These laws they are trying to force-feed down our throats, through careful manupulation of our govenment and senators and laws, ways to keep their corporations around and consuming our money.

    Here is what I'm talking about, a possible future: You, the listener, go to a music review/posting site, reviewed by 'critics' and rated by the fans, maybe even a comment-style feedback. Here bands/music/concerts/genres are reviewed. This is your first stop for music, hear about a band. Next you take the link to their website(paid for by the band). Here you get a 'taste' of their music in whatever form: mp3, realaudio, newmusicform_2.0, whatever. So you decide that these guys dont totally suck so you purchase their music and download it digitially. Say it costs $10, where does that money go? TO THE BAND, minus the upkeep for website and hosting.

    So, where is the big music corporation? NOWHERE! They arent needed to front the money for a 100k CD production run to reach every record store in the world, they arent needed to pay for play-time on radio or MTV, they dont take 90% of the money! Sure, radio and tv are the 2 largest ways to get music out and heard, but probably not for long.

    I only listen to the radio in the car on the way to work(and until I can afford a new cd-player for my own music). Radio is horrible, all that overplayed crap. Most people I know hate the 'traditional' popular music radio, MTV? there is no music there anymore and it only spouts what music the corporations want YOU to buy.

    What Im trying to say is that the possibility in the future(or now, we have the technology) is for the consumer to filter what gets pushed as 'good' and for the artist to get the money, not the corporation. This is what I see as the downfall of music in the late 20th century. Maybe a movement like this will spawn a new wave of music and genres like the early 20th century spawned.

    More random thoughts: Now, I HATE buying CD's they are expensive $10-20, and most of the procedes go to Sony or BMG, not the artist. With the system I proposed, there is no large upfront capitol need to reach 1million listeners, the internet is extremely cheap way to reach so many people, and here the huge amound of money people spend on music goes to the performers/writers, the ones that actually DO the work, and deserver the cash. This is my 2cents, not really related exactly, but I think it needed to be said. Please pick this apart I want some feedback.

    DOWN WITH CORPORATE CONTROL OF MUSIC!

  4. Re:Challenger on Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft == Anti-Terrorist Device? · · Score: 1
    "The space shuttle Challenger had a fair bit of hydrogen. It blew up just fine."

    Yes, it had a lot of H2, but it was the solid fuel booster that exploded initially. No liquid hydrogen there.

  5. Worthwile research on The Next Big Particle Accelerator · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The question about this being worthwile research is a valid one. Yes, it is. Will 10 years of research on a $5billion accelerator create a do-hicky to add to your computer/car to make it go twice as fast? No, it will not. But the study of the fundamental forces and high energy will bring better understanding of the universe and THIS will lead to the nifty gadgets that allow us to go WARP speed or whatever.

    It is much like the study of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century, this study lead to nothing but a better understanding of quantum phenomenon. BUT, examing this came many applications: Lasers(espicially the diode laser, the pen laser) solid-state electronics (computers), fission (power reactors) and numerous others. Yes, some super-weapon was developed from this that could/can destroy the world, but more good was done for society (industrial western) than harm.

    On the subject of costs, $5billion is a lot of money for an individual, but this much divided amoung participating countries over 5-10 years construction time is a drop in the bucket of any countries budget. Hell, one stealth bomber costs on the order of $5 billion.