Yup... though were such launches Earth->Moon, or just Moon->Earth? I probably should go read the book again, but I'm pretty sure it was the latter, which is a bit easier to accomplish (since you'd be able to reach escape velocity without worrying about rocket engines or burning up).
"Snorting, sporting! Speeding through the arbor,
Pushing till the folk you burn toss you in the harbor!
Screeching like a dying loon, zooming like a thrush,
Follow me and very soon, your mind will turn to mush!"
Wait, wrong book...
Damn right. It sucks. I do get the right to copy music CDs for my personal use... if I actually cared about any of the crap these idiots sell.
But consider how much they wanted in the first place:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/culture/cult_ind/back3.htm
http://neil.eton.ca/copylevy.shtml
On March 31, 1998, five collective societies that represent copyright holders filed proposed tariffs suggesting a levy of $0.25 per 15 minutes for analog blank recording media and $0.50 per 15 minutes for digital blank recording media.
The works out to $2.47 per 74 minute CD. THAT'S JUST THE LEVY!!
Well, considering you're using a language that has about half of its words derived from French b/c of England being conquered - and people using French words because it was "31337" to do so, until such words became integrated into the language - while still using grammar that is more comparable to the German that English derived from...
Er, what was my point again? Oh, right, languages are fluid. Hell, "kawaii" and "baka" will probably be in the dictionary in a decade or so. What's the problem? Do you need to be able to speak latin in order to use the expression "carpe diem"?
Agreed. Though I'd played other RPGs before (U6, etc.) Ultima VII blew me away. Appearing out of the red moongate into an amazingly realistic world. Walking amongst the trees, the scene darkening as clouds gather and it begins to rain... Discovering how to cut bandages out of fabric... Discovering how to bake bread... Desperately searching through a pack in the pitch dark, looking for a torch and wishing the game was a little [i]less[/i] realistic...
It still surpasses many games of today: Compare Ultima 7 to Balder's Gate...
- In Ultima 7, chests/barrels/drawers/boxes/etc are clearly identifiable, can be picked up and moved around (if they're light enough for you to carry), and can always be opened, though they may be locked
- In Baldur's Gate, they are painted on the background. Finding the one chest/barrel that you can open out of the dozens in the room is an endless maddening quest of "find the hotspot".
First, as the AC pointed out, the location is useful - sending stuff into orbit (to build things) from the moon is a heck of a lot cheaper.
Plus, even if the quote is true, there's a difference between sending up a shuttle (burning a hell of a lot of fuel) each time, and shooting mined material down a gravity well. Ever read any Heinlein? He got this right 50 years ago...
Not to mention that the resulting methane is a significant component of greenhouse gas emissions - from what I remember, it traps more heat than would the resulting CO2 if you burnt it. Or you could convert it to H2 and kill two birds with one stone...
I believe the dye can degrade, though - under ideal conditions - no one can be entirely sure how fast. They estimate how fast this happens using accelerated tests, but I have doubts that the relationship is that predictable.
Now, real aluminum CD's, OTOH, should last forever if they are protected from damage.
Darn right. If you set it to confirm, the #%!# sites just won't take no for an answer... they'll just keep asking. Over and over. Until you say yes. Can you say "harassment"?
And if you turn them off, a lot of things just won't work.
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Yup... though were such launches Earth->Moon, or just Moon->Earth? I probably should go read the book again, but I'm pretty sure it was the latter, which is a bit easier to accomplish (since you'd be able to reach escape velocity without worrying about rocket engines or burning up).
Actually, something like that is a very real possibility... if you've got a strong enough rope.
"Snorting, sporting! Speeding through the arbor, Pushing till the folk you burn toss you in the harbor! Screeching like a dying loon, zooming like a thrush, Follow me and very soon, your mind will turn to mush!" Wait, wrong book...
Damn right. It sucks. I do get the right to copy music CDs for my personal use... if I actually cared about any of the crap these idiots sell. But consider how much they wanted in the first place: http://www.pch.gc.ca/culture/cult_ind/back3.htm http://neil.eton.ca/copylevy.shtml On March 31, 1998, five collective societies that represent copyright holders filed proposed tariffs suggesting a levy of $0.25 per 15 minutes for analog blank recording media and $0.50 per 15 minutes for digital blank recording media. The works out to $2.47 per 74 minute CD. THAT'S JUST THE LEVY!!
Though it is less on regular CD-R's than so called "Audio CD-R's". http://neil.eton.ca/copylevy.shtml http://www.pch.gc.ca/culture/cult_ind/back3.htm
Well, considering you're using a language that has about half of its words derived from French b/c of England being conquered - and people using French words because it was "31337" to do so, until such words became integrated into the language - while still using grammar that is more comparable to the German that English derived from...
Er, what was my point again? Oh, right, languages are fluid. Hell, "kawaii" and "baka" will probably be in the dictionary in a decade or so. What's the problem? Do you need to be able to speak latin in order to use the expression "carpe diem"?
...really. Trust me on this one.
Agreed. Though I'd played other RPGs before (U6, etc.) Ultima VII blew me away. Appearing out of the red moongate into an amazingly realistic world. Walking amongst the trees, the scene darkening as clouds gather and it begins to rain... Discovering how to cut bandages out of fabric... Discovering how to bake bread... Desperately searching through a pack in the pitch dark, looking for a torch and wishing the game was a little [i]less[/i] realistic... It still surpasses many games of today: Compare Ultima 7 to Balder's Gate... - In Ultima 7, chests/barrels/drawers/boxes/etc are clearly identifiable, can be picked up and moved around (if they're light enough for you to carry), and can always be opened, though they may be locked - In Baldur's Gate, they are painted on the background. Finding the one chest/barrel that you can open out of the dozens in the room is an endless maddening quest of "find the hotspot".
Damn right... it's enough to make me physically ill. What we need are genetically-engineered cute, horny chicks with geekophilia. ;)
I dunno. But I've got only 3 finals this term (as opposed to 7 last year...ugh), and my last one is on December 7. Hah!
Good thing that never happened, eh? Now, then... "what is the square root of 529"? D'oh!
First, as the AC pointed out, the location is useful - sending stuff into orbit (to build things) from the moon is a heck of a lot cheaper. Plus, even if the quote is true, there's a difference between sending up a shuttle (burning a hell of a lot of fuel) each time, and shooting mined material down a gravity well. Ever read any Heinlein? He got this right 50 years ago...
...Lexx is a great show. It's hilarious!
I've got a typewriter sitting over in the corner...
Not to mention that the resulting methane is a significant component of greenhouse gas emissions - from what I remember, it traps more heat than would the resulting CO2 if you burnt it. Or you could convert it to H2 and kill two birds with one stone...
"I Have No Mod Points, and I Must Scream"
I believe the dye can degrade, though - under ideal conditions - no one can be entirely sure how fast. They estimate how fast this happens using accelerated tests, but I have doubts that the relationship is that predictable. Now, real aluminum CD's, OTOH, should last forever if they are protected from damage.
Darn right. If you set it to confirm, the #%!# sites just won't take no for an answer... they'll just keep asking. Over and over. Until you say yes. Can you say "harassment"?
And if you turn them off, a lot of things just won't work.