While there are many people that fall into the category you mentioned, not all do. For example, I have a hi-speed internet connection. I love the net. However, a couple of years ago, our TV broke. I tried to convince my significant other that we didn't need a replacement. We got one, but if it had been up to me we wouldn't have. Sure we could easily afford a new TV, I just didn't see the point. From the cost-benefit analysis - I have to drive to the store vs. the pleasure I receive - it didn't make any sense to me. I'd rather have spent the time doing something else. From reading Slashdot posting over the years, I'm not alone.
Interesting observation. Particularly since I fall on both sides of it. At home, I have a high-speed DSL connection, but I don't have Cable TV. For me, its not a matter of cost. I can easily afford it. But the last time I moved, I didn't bother having Cable installed because I didn't see the point. There was nothing on Cable that I really valued. On the otherhand, I have religiously upgraded my Internet connections over the years, because I do see the value. If I want to relax on the sofa, I'd rather surf the net than watch TV.
Reportedly, and sorry I can't find the story, the Whitehouse believes that the airline assistance that Congress approved is excessive. One source noted that with the money Congress approved, the government could buy several of the troubled airlines at current stock prices.
The article makes NO claims about the causes of global warming. So they are not contradicting what they said earlier. All the article says is that current warming is not as dramatic has seen at other times.
Several years ago, PBS had a show on various companies that collect data on consumers and the methods they use. A few points they discussed:
1) There are companies that send employees to courthouses to collect data from public records, e.g., real estate sales, births and deaths, etc. (For anyone with a child, this is why you magically gets the first birthday photo coupons in the mail. For home buyers, this is why you get coupons from the local Home Depot.)
2) Everyone is aware of data collected thru credit cards, but there are other sources. Everytime you use your frequent buyer card at the grocey store, they know who you are and what you buy. Similar things occur with similar cards at other stores.
3) There are companies that specialize in correlating the above data with census records. Publically available census records provide average income and other information for each zip code in the U.S.
Add this to airline databases, and credit card info, and you have your life history.
Let's just say, from my days with PCs, I'm glad I never have to think about IRQs again. Or whether it is on COM1 or COM2. USB autoconfiguration in my mind is a godsend.
These days, however, I use a Mac. And I have had very few problems with USB systems. Generally, I plug it in and it works, rarely do I even need to download a driver.
Rendezvous is not essential to this process. What it does is make the process easier. For example, over standard TCP/IP processes you would need to know the other person's IP addres before making the connection. Rendezvous eliminates this step, slightly simplifiying the process.
To use an analogy, just about everything done via USB can be done via legacy ports. However, USB makes it easier. That's what rendezvous brings to this process.
The article asserts that the original definition was destroyed by a weblog. I'm not convinced. If the anti-war movement had been able to stop the U.S., then claiming to be a second superpower would have had some legitmacy. However, the anti-war movement did not stop the U.S. In my view, that's what killed the original definition.
Your comment about war is true of virtually every country. You can create a similar list for France, the Netherlands, England, and many others. Throw in countries that kill their own people, and you cover the world. And I would guess the people of all of those countries would argue that they are peace-loving. It seems that you are holding the U.S. to a higher standard. All you have demonstrated is that Americans are human.
But will they include IPv4 header changes?
on
BSDs to be Merged
·
· Score: 2, Funny
If they don't include the IPv4 header changes all is lost. And surely BSD will die.
The labels will only be as accurate is the data coming from the PC. I doubt were going to see GPS receivers being standard equipment in PCs anytime soon...
I agree. I guess my point is many people will never initialize their preferences with the correct settings, and many people will deliberately initialize preferences with incorrect settings. My guess is that by the time you add up all those who don't care and the paranoid, you'll have the majority of PCs. Then add onto this the kiddies who think it is funny to provide incorrect data. All this greatly diminishes the value of such labeling, in my view, to the point of uselessness. E.g., if say 30 percent of the data is wrong, will I believe any of it? I certainly wouldn't.
But will content be automatically labeled?
on
Geocoding All Content
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· Score: 4, Interesting
A fundamental question is whether all content will automatically be labeled. One of the great benefits of the internet is anonymity. That one can say anything without revealing who you are. In fact, the U.S. court system has commented on this, and how it benefits freedom of speech. I certainly use the freedom, and millions of others do it. Sure with enough effort someone could find out who "MyNameIsFred" really is, but I have no desire to make that easier for them. Given a preference, I would turn-off automatic labelling. If not given a preference, I would not go to such a site. Based on the many slashdotters who hate the registration requirement at NY Times, I don't think I am alone.
Isn't this limited by what tools they have?
on
AI in Sci-Fi
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· Score: 1
While this is an interesting question, it depends a lot on what tools they have available. For example, if we're talking about a deliberate attempt to create AI, what tools did the creators give it? If all the AI only has is a desktop printer, it won't do much. On the other hand, if the creators give it access to other tools, something else could occur. Similarly, if AI spontaneously occurs, where does it occur and with access to what tools? If it doesn't have access to what it desires, will it be able to convince mankind otherwise? Could it con mankind?
It seems that what knowledge the AI has will be important. For example, given the knowledge, any human being can create a wide-range of weapons. Without such knowledge, he/she is limited to simple things like a club, and those weapons he/she can develop thru experimentation.
BTW, I have always had this pet theory that AI will not think faster than humans. Once you start pumping large streams of data -- visual, audio, etc. -- into the AI, and it has to understand, and correlate it, my gut reaction is that everything will become bogged down to human speeds. No way to prove this theory, but it is my gut reaction.
As has been reported, that was not a black box. It was a data recorder that survived reentry. There is a difference between a black box and a data recorder. A black box is specifically designed to survive accidents, that data recorder had no such special protection. Calling that data recorder a black box, is like calling that video camera whose tape survived a black box. Neither was.
Immediately after the accident, NASA officials said that they had considered using NIMA satellites to look at Columbia, but had rejected the idea. Primarily because the previous times they had used the satellites had not provided useful data. They commented on the problems of photographing the black underside of the shuttle in the contrasty light of space. So my question, is this something useful, or is NASA doing it to prove it is doing everything possible?
The problem with your idea is thermodynamics. Thermodynamic analysis will tell you the maximum efficiency that an engine can acheive. Look up the Carnot engine (or cycle) for a good discussion. A Carnot engine is the most efficient engine possible, nonetheless, the thermodynamic limits are a killer. Throw in friction, realistic melting points for materials, etc. and the world is a dreary place. Engines will NEVER approach 98% efficiency.
I know it was a joke, but France is No. 5
on
Got Game?
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· Score: 2, Informative
I know it was a joke, but France is number 5 based on GDP. And the U.S. is larger than the total of countries 2 through 6. Source USA! USA! We're number 1.
There is a difference between a black box and a data recorder. A black box is specifically designed to withstand fire, water, and crashes. It contains beacons to help locate it after a crash. Whereas the shuttle recorder has none of these. It records data.
During one of the original news conferences, a reporter asked if there was a black box, similar to those on aircraft. He was told no because NASA did not believe that they could design a black box that could survive a shuttle disaster. Did NASA lie? No, they told the truth, there are no black boxes designed to withstand a shuttle disaster.
While it is easy to claim this is propaganda, many media experts attribute much of this to different standards in various parts of the world. That is, regardless of the event, American media tends to show much less footage of severly injured people. Whether we're talking about war or a natural disaster, American media does not show lots of bodies on TV news. In general, the worst thing you see is a body draped with a sheet. In contrast, other parts of the world routinely show it, regardless of the cause.
As several of the broadcast outlets noted, the Dept. of Defense asked U.S. media to delay broadcasting images of the American POWs so that they could notify the immediate relatives. Right or wrong, and I think right, the DoD believes it is wrong for the immediate family to learn such things from television. I also do not believe such a request is unreasonable. Imagine yourself in such a situation. The world knows your brother has been captured, but you don't, because you haven't been watching TV. You're walking down the street and friends start offering condolences. You're surprised. Why are they doing this. One of the things you would be angry about is that DoD hadn't worked harder to tell you, before telling the world.
The environmental impact of Kyoto is of course somewhat minimal, it's just the beginning of what needs to be done. The social impact of Kyoto, on the other hand, is vital and must be pursued at all costs. It's about levelling the playing field for all mankind.
You're saying that Kyoto is just a big con job? Designed to take from the developed countries, primarily the U.S., and give to others. Are you honestly surprised that the U.S. is reluctant to join? If the object is a socialist redistribution of wealth let's call it that. Don't call it a environmental treaty.
This technology doesn't suddenly make it possible for them to force you to listen to things on a subway. They could do that already with loudspeakers. The fact that they don't, and that so many mass transit systems ban radio et al unless you use headphones, suggests that this invention won't change this.
I think there are certainly some uses for this technology. One of the best examples was a museum. When you stand in front of a painting, you and you alone hear a description of it. For others, I'm sceptical. For example, most of the soda machines I see are tucked away. Generally, if I'm close enough to see the machine, its because I want to buy a soda. It seems a little senseless to advertise to someone who is in the process of buying it. Other examples he mentions, such as kids in the back seat of a car are easily handled with current technology -- headphones. I don't see any added benefit.
While the subset of people that need high accuracy maybe small, that doesn't mean they're not economically significant. Just making surveying easier would be a hugh cost savings. Think of all the things that are surveyed. The lot your home sits on. The street in front of your house. In oil exploration, there's surveying of seimic sensors. The list goes on and on.
Let me understand this, the head of a German Autoclub says the U.S. military MAY, I repeat MAY, degrade GPS accuracy. No evidence. Just pure conjecture. Consider that GPS has woven itself into our lives. How, it arguably supports critical functions. I strongly doubt that they will do this. While I understand the world's fears concerning GPS because it is run by the military, I put this article in with all FUD.
Slashdot Mirror
While there are many people that fall into the category you mentioned, not all do. For example, I have a hi-speed internet connection. I love the net. However, a couple of years ago, our TV broke. I tried to convince my significant other that we didn't need a replacement. We got one, but if it had been up to me we wouldn't have. Sure we could easily afford a new TV, I just didn't see the point. From the cost-benefit analysis - I have to drive to the store vs. the pleasure I receive - it didn't make any sense to me. I'd rather have spent the time doing something else. From reading Slashdot posting over the years, I'm not alone.
Interesting observation. Particularly since I fall on both sides of it. At home, I have a high-speed DSL connection, but I don't have Cable TV. For me, its not a matter of cost. I can easily afford it. But the last time I moved, I didn't bother having Cable installed because I didn't see the point. There was nothing on Cable that I really valued. On the otherhand, I have religiously upgraded my Internet connections over the years, because I do see the value. If I want to relax on the sofa, I'd rather surf the net than watch TV.
Reportedly, and sorry I can't find the story, the Whitehouse believes that the airline assistance that Congress approved is excessive. One source noted that with the money Congress approved, the government could buy several of the troubled airlines at current stock prices.
The article makes NO claims about the causes of global warming. So they are not contradicting what they said earlier. All the article says is that current warming is not as dramatic has seen at other times.
Several years ago, PBS had a show on various companies that collect data on consumers and the methods they use. A few points they discussed:
1) There are companies that send employees to courthouses to collect data from public records, e.g., real estate sales, births and deaths, etc. (For anyone with a child, this is why you magically gets the first birthday photo coupons in the mail. For home buyers, this is why you get coupons from the local Home Depot.)
2) Everyone is aware of data collected thru credit cards, but there are other sources. Everytime you use your frequent buyer card at the grocey store, they know who you are and what you buy. Similar things occur with similar cards at other stores.
3) There are companies that specialize in correlating the above data with census records. Publically available census records provide average income and other information for each zip code in the U.S.
Add this to airline databases, and credit card info, and you have your life history.
These days, however, I use a Mac. And I have had very few problems with USB systems. Generally, I plug it in and it works, rarely do I even need to download a driver.
But as with so many things - YMMV.
To use an analogy, just about everything done via USB can be done via legacy ports. However, USB makes it easier. That's what rendezvous brings to this process.
The article asserts that the original definition was destroyed by a weblog. I'm not convinced. If the anti-war movement had been able to stop the U.S., then claiming to be a second superpower would have had some legitmacy. However, the anti-war movement did not stop the U.S. In my view, that's what killed the original definition.
Your comment about war is true of virtually every country. You can create a similar list for France, the Netherlands, England, and many others. Throw in countries that kill their own people, and you cover the world. And I would guess the people of all of those countries would argue that they are peace-loving. It seems that you are holding the U.S. to a higher standard. All you have demonstrated is that Americans are human.
If they don't include the IPv4 header changes all is lost. And surely BSD will die.
A fundamental question is whether all content will automatically be labeled. One of the great benefits of the internet is anonymity. That one can say anything without revealing who you are. In fact, the U.S. court system has commented on this, and how it benefits freedom of speech. I certainly use the freedom, and millions of others do it. Sure with enough effort someone could find out who "MyNameIsFred" really is, but I have no desire to make that easier for them. Given a preference, I would turn-off automatic labelling. If not given a preference, I would not go to such a site. Based on the many slashdotters who hate the registration requirement at NY Times, I don't think I am alone.
It seems that what knowledge the AI has will be important. For example, given the knowledge, any human being can create a wide-range of weapons. Without such knowledge, he/she is limited to simple things like a club, and those weapons he/she can develop thru experimentation.
BTW, I have always had this pet theory that AI will not think faster than humans. Once you start pumping large streams of data -- visual, audio, etc. -- into the AI, and it has to understand, and correlate it, my gut reaction is that everything will become bogged down to human speeds. No way to prove this theory, but it is my gut reaction.
As has been reported, that was not a black box. It was a data recorder that survived reentry. There is a difference between a black box and a data recorder. A black box is specifically designed to survive accidents, that data recorder had no such special protection. Calling that data recorder a black box, is like calling that video camera whose tape survived a black box. Neither was.
Immediately after the accident, NASA officials said that they had considered using NIMA satellites to look at Columbia, but had rejected the idea. Primarily because the previous times they had used the satellites had not provided useful data. They commented on the problems of photographing the black underside of the shuttle in the contrasty light of space. So my question, is this something useful, or is NASA doing it to prove it is doing everything possible?
The problem with your idea is thermodynamics. Thermodynamic analysis will tell you the maximum efficiency that an engine can acheive. Look up the Carnot engine (or cycle) for a good discussion. A Carnot engine is the most efficient engine possible, nonetheless, the thermodynamic limits are a killer. Throw in friction, realistic melting points for materials, etc. and the world is a dreary place. Engines will NEVER approach 98% efficiency.
I know it was a joke, but France is number 5 based on GDP. And the U.S. is larger than the total of countries 2 through 6. Source USA! USA! We're number 1.
During one of the original news conferences, a reporter asked if there was a black box, similar to those on aircraft. He was told no because NASA did not believe that they could design a black box that could survive a shuttle disaster. Did NASA lie? No, they told the truth, there are no black boxes designed to withstand a shuttle disaster.
While it is easy to claim this is propaganda, many media experts attribute much of this to different standards in various parts of the world. That is, regardless of the event, American media tends to show much less footage of severly injured people. Whether we're talking about war or a natural disaster, American media does not show lots of bodies on TV news. In general, the worst thing you see is a body draped with a sheet. In contrast, other parts of the world routinely show it, regardless of the cause.
As several of the broadcast outlets noted, the Dept. of Defense asked U.S. media to delay broadcasting images of the American POWs so that they could notify the immediate relatives. Right or wrong, and I think right, the DoD believes it is wrong for the immediate family to learn such things from television. I also do not believe such a request is unreasonable. Imagine yourself in such a situation. The world knows your brother has been captured, but you don't, because you haven't been watching TV. You're walking down the street and friends start offering condolences. You're surprised. Why are they doing this. One of the things you would be angry about is that DoD hadn't worked harder to tell you, before telling the world.
This technology doesn't suddenly make it possible for them to force you to listen to things on a subway. They could do that already with loudspeakers. The fact that they don't, and that so many mass transit systems ban radio et al unless you use headphones, suggests that this invention won't change this.
I think there are certainly some uses for this technology. One of the best examples was a museum. When you stand in front of a painting, you and you alone hear a description of it. For others, I'm sceptical. For example, most of the soda machines I see are tucked away. Generally, if I'm close enough to see the machine, its because I want to buy a soda. It seems a little senseless to advertise to someone who is in the process of buying it. Other examples he mentions, such as kids in the back seat of a car are easily handled with current technology -- headphones. I don't see any added benefit.
While the subset of people that need high accuracy maybe small, that doesn't mean they're not economically significant. Just making surveying easier would be a hugh cost savings. Think of all the things that are surveyed. The lot your home sits on. The street in front of your house. In oil exploration, there's surveying of seimic sensors. The list goes on and on.
Let me understand this, the head of a German Autoclub says the U.S. military MAY, I repeat MAY, degrade GPS accuracy. No evidence. Just pure conjecture. Consider that GPS has woven itself into our lives. How, it arguably supports critical functions. I strongly doubt that they will do this. While I understand the world's fears concerning GPS because it is run by the military, I put this article in with all FUD.