My understanding is that magnetic systems like tape and HD slowly de-magnify over a long enough period. Is there any other digital storage mechanism that doesn't degrade in optimal storage conditions over long enough time frames (ie 100 years plus)?
I have no idea if I'll ever have anything worth keeping for that long, but I'd like to be able to do it if the need arises. And there's always pr0n backups to think of.
As soon as you started asking for subscriptions, this moved beyond being just your personal weblog of stuff you found interesting.
Not really, just because he's asking people to choose to give him some money doesn't mean he suddenly has to pander to their whims. If he wants to get more people to subscribe, then it might be a good idea, but Taco asked for subsciptions to something that was already pretty much a crazy madhouse.
If/. lost the personal touch, like occasional rants from Taco (eg this one), the unnecesary interest in anime, or CowboyNeal options it be less for it. Actually some these are dropping off and I miss them.
The problem I foresee is how you keep this thing from acting like a huge solar sail...
I really don't see the problem with coming up with a way to build giant solar sails.
Besides, my understanding of how solar sails work relies on reflecting light, a solar panel that absorbs light shouldn't have that problem/feature. I could be wrong on this though, and I'll happily defer to someone who really knows what they're talking about.
That pisses me off, too. I think it's part of a secret plot to make pirated dvds actually more attractive (ignoring the price) than the real thing. I'm not sure how the movie industry expects to profit from this though.
Since you have an undergrad in psych, let me ask this:
In how many states can a PhD psychologist prescribe psychotropic (or any other) medicines?
In my country (Australia): None.
I consider a major problem with our mental health system (which is still pretty good compared to many places around the world, including the US). Why did you ask about that, though? It seems like a non-sequiter. FWIW, I agree with everything you've said.
Look folks, there's a reason psychologists go to school for many, many years and get to prescribe drugs and such. Reading the DSM-IV-TR (or the IV, or the III-R, or the III, etc.) doesn't equip you to make meaningful decisions about anyone's mental health, much less your own.
As another undergraduate psych major, I'd like to agree with the above post. Cut and pasting bits and pieces from DSM is a bad idea unless people understand what DSM is and how it works.
From the Wikipedia article: The DSM provides diagnostic categories and criteria for their diagnoses. The proper use of these requires clinical training, knowledge and skills to apply them. Their use by people without this background is likely to lead to an inappropriate application of diagnoses.
That about sums it up. It's not a layman's document.
Jack Thompson might well be completely batshit insane, but you can't make a diagnosis based on seeing him on the news and reading a couple of articles.
Yes, and those two bucks will also be very affordable for poor people in third world countries. They'll just have to go a day without food, no problem!
Well, if they're spending all their time surfing the net and sitting in front of their computers then no wonder they're living below the poverty line.
No priorities, that's their problem. They spend all their money on a PCI-E graphics card and then can't afford rice to feed their child...
Why should the price discrepancy be so large between the two markets?
That's a pretty standard markup for media or content in Australia. Remember we're still paying A$99.95 (US$74.88) for a new-release video game. Sometimes higher. A$33 for a CD isn't unusual either. So a ~25% price hike is pretty good by our standards.
I'm suprised it wasn't around the A$2.50 per song mark...
The game is about speed far more than violence. I find pretty much all rock boring these days and would certainly prefer some electronic stuff to get my heart pumping.
EA has done some great soundtracks with the SSX series. Lots of different genres to choose from (mostly rock or electronic stuff), and great sound design (EQ out the bass as you go over a massive jump to really make the music feel like it's a part of the ride). It's a shame they didn't do it again with Burnout 3 and 4.
Just thought I'd post and agree with your comments and many of the others that have replied. Smash Bros remains my favourite game of all time.
It sounds like you like the kind of games I like: lots of fun but with plenty of depth too. As such, I'd second the suggestion that you pick up Ratchet & Clank 3, I was suprised by how much I enjoyed it.
My other suggestion would be SSX 3. Heaps of fun, huge tricks in massive, well-designed levels that seamlessly link together.
"And for such an application what will they choose? Windows which is known to have security holes or Linux which might have unreported flaws and methodologies that is patented my Microsoft?"
So you're saying that Microsoft's numerous, consistently exploited, well-publicised security holes are actually evidence that Windows is secure?
Just for the record, you'll still get this happening sometimes. At my work we use an ancient program called CATI to help do phone surveys (it stands for Computer Assisted Telephone Interview). When you're logging in it won't accept mistakes to your login in or password. If you screw up and hit backspace you get ^H characters.
Thankfully, once you're logged in the backspace key will delete stuff, though if anyone types a semi-colon then the data isn't output correctly and requires someone to go through and restructure stuff. I love old systems...
It's nothing but a couple sports games, a couple platformers, two racers and a bunch of gimicky nonsense.
You say that like it's a bad thing. For an opening line-up having a couple of sports, racing, and platform titles is good. They're the main genres that people are attracted to. And Nintendo always take their time getting their first generation of games on a new system perfected. But that results in top-notch games, look at Super Mario World (SNES), Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros Melee (NGC). As for gimmicky nonsense: This is video games we're talking, it's all gimmicky nonsense.
The only things that are missing are a role-play game (Golden Sun series), turn-based strat (Advance Wars, Final Fantasy: Tactics), and beat 'em up (a Namco one would be nice, as would a new incarnation of the Super Smash Bros games). All of those Nintendo are well and truly capable of producing in short order. I'll be very surprised if they don't release more really good exclusive titles for the DS in next six months than Sony does for the PSP.
I stand corrected, I was just wandering around trying to find a reference to to worlds worst polluter and had great difficulty finding it. This material just isn't that commonly available - people not interested in it?
I've had a quite a bit of trouble finding some stats like this in the past. It can be quite hard to find detailed statistical info. I suspect that it's a direct result of the general dumbing-down you tend to find in the media these days; stats are too hard for Joe Average so they don't get mentioned.
Then my girlfriend (who's very skilled in information-broking) showed me Nationmaster.com
Nationmaster has access to every stat you can imagine, easily allows you select what you're after, compare it to pretty much anything, make graphs, charts, correlations, you name it.
Without further ado, here's the graph for CO2 emissions. The USA is indeed way out there in the lead; China is second but is still 40% behind the US. When you compare on a per capita basis, the results are also quite interesting. Four oil producing nations take the first few places, the USA drops to number five, and China goes down to 79th position.
Looks like China might not be that bad after all...
CD's are not lossless compared with vinyl, it's still a digital format whereas vinyl is basicically analog.
I wasn't actually comparing CD to vinyl there. I was contrasting CD with MP3. Actually, I don't think the term lossless can be applied to any analogue system. The term fidelity is much more useful in these circumstances. And vinyl's fidelity ranges from sublime to bloody awful, depending on the pressing, turntable used, stylus, cartridge, etc.
Don't get me wrong here, I think vinyl's an excellent system and I've got way too many records piled up next to me right now for it to be healthy. However I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't like it so much for the sound quality (though it can be very good) as much as for the sound texture. It's warm tones and the strong body to the sound are very hard to replicate on CD. The other thing about vinyl that makes it so good is the method of control. It's not important unless you want to DJ, but I'm yet to see a CD manipulation system as simple yet flexible as two turntables and a mixer.
...for the first time in music history, the next big format was not about better quality (SACD and such) but about better portability (MP3).
Um... Wasn't that the point of cassette tapes? They were a dominant format for a while and the reason they replaced vinyl was their portability and robustness (maybe play-time, too.) Certainly it wasn't about sound quality.
On another note, why does MP3 have to replace CD? For my money, I really don't think that there's any likelihood that'll happen. CDs are simple to use, store enough data, are lossless, and come with pretty packaging. All good things. I can't see why there can't be two parallel distribution systems.
Yeah, the Invader stuff is big in Melbourne. If you're interested in finding it, here are some spots to look:
1. Degraves Lane (opposite Aix Cafe).
2. The Swanston St bridge, near the Arts Centre (ie. the Southbank Side).
3. Myer's Place (or is it Mier's Place, anyhow the lane off Bourke St, near Spring St).
4. Some lane near Collins and Elizabeth Sts. Can't remember which now.
As far as I know, only four got done when in Invader was in Melbourne. I seem to recall that he originally came down for the Semi-Permanent design festival in Sydney, could be wrong on that.
At any rate, Melbourne's great for street-art at the moment. Really crazy stuff going on, especially from the stencil crews. Just walk down Degraves Lane, check the pole on the corner of Collins and Swanston, or wander around Brunswick St to see great stuff.
Also, I've seen one of Invader's works in London on Portobello Rd (actually in a lane on the corner of Portobello Rd).
Slashdot Mirror
I can't seem to connect to the site for some reason. So... How is China this time of year, anyhow?
My understanding is that magnetic systems like tape and HD slowly de-magnify over a long enough period. Is there any other digital storage mechanism that doesn't degrade in optimal storage conditions over long enough time frames (ie 100 years plus)?
I have no idea if I'll ever have anything worth keeping for that long, but I'd like to be able to do it if the need arises. And there's always pr0n backups to think of.
Not really, just because he's asking people to choose to give him some money doesn't mean he suddenly has to pander to their whims. If he wants to get more people to subscribe, then it might be a good idea, but Taco asked for subsciptions to something that was already pretty much a crazy madhouse.
If /. lost the personal touch, like occasional rants from Taco (eg this one), the unnecesary interest in anime, or CowboyNeal options it be less for it. Actually some these are dropping off and I miss them.
I really don't see the problem with coming up with a way to build giant solar sails.
Besides, my understanding of how solar sails work relies on reflecting light, a solar panel that absorbs light shouldn't have that problem/feature. I could be wrong on this though, and I'll happily defer to someone who really knows what they're talking about.
Lawsuits?
In how many states can a PhD psychologist prescribe psychotropic (or any other) medicines?
In my country (Australia): None.
I consider a major problem with our mental health system (which is still pretty good compared to many places around the world, including the US). Why did you ask about that, though? It seems like a non-sequiter. FWIW, I agree with everything you've said.
As another undergraduate psych major, I'd like to agree with the above post. Cut and pasting bits and pieces from DSM is a bad idea unless people understand what DSM is and how it works.
From the Wikipedia article: The DSM provides diagnostic categories and criteria for their diagnoses. The proper use of these requires clinical training, knowledge and skills to apply them. Their use by people without this background is likely to lead to an inappropriate application of diagnoses.
That about sums it up. It's not a layman's document.
Jack Thompson might well be completely batshit insane, but you can't make a diagnosis based on seeing him on the news and reading a couple of articles.
Well, if they're spending all their time surfing the net and sitting in front of their computers then no wonder they're living below the poverty line.
No priorities, that's their problem. They spend all their money on a PCI-E graphics card and then can't afford rice to feed their child...
regular guys like me Why does this phrase stike terror into my heart?
That's a pretty standard markup for media or content in Australia. Remember we're still paying A$99.95 (US$74.88) for a new-release video game. Sometimes higher. A$33 for a CD isn't unusual either. So a ~25% price hike is pretty good by our standards.
I'm suprised it wasn't around the A$2.50 per song mark...
EA has done some great soundtracks with the SSX series. Lots of different genres to choose from (mostly rock or electronic stuff), and great sound design (EQ out the bass as you go over a massive jump to really make the music feel like it's a part of the ride). It's a shame they didn't do it again with Burnout 3 and 4.
Just thought I'd post and agree with your comments and many of the others that have replied. Smash Bros remains my favourite game of all time.
It sounds like you like the kind of games I like: lots of fun but with plenty of depth too. As such, I'd second the suggestion that you pick up Ratchet & Clank 3, I was suprised by how much I enjoyed it.
My other suggestion would be SSX 3. Heaps of fun, huge tricks in massive, well-designed levels that seamlessly link together.
I dunno... After a few drinks I've been known to think all kinds of things have hot bodies.
So you're saying that Microsoft's numerous, consistently exploited, well-publicised security holes are actually evidence that Windows is secure?
Interesting...
Thankfully, once you're logged in the backspace key will delete stuff, though if anyone types a semi-colon then the data isn't output correctly and requires someone to go through and restructure stuff. I love old systems...
I got this, even if no-one else did. I love those books almost us much as Snowcrash.
You say that like it's a bad thing. For an opening line-up having a couple of sports, racing, and platform titles is good. They're the main genres that people are attracted to. And Nintendo always take their time getting their first generation of games on a new system perfected. But that results in top-notch games, look at Super Mario World (SNES), Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros Melee (NGC). As for gimmicky nonsense: This is video games we're talking, it's all gimmicky nonsense.
The only things that are missing are a role-play game (Golden Sun series), turn-based strat (Advance Wars, Final Fantasy: Tactics), and beat 'em up (a Namco one would be nice, as would a new incarnation of the Super Smash Bros games). All of those Nintendo are well and truly capable of producing in short order. I'll be very surprised if they don't release more really good exclusive titles for the DS in next six months than Sony does for the PSP.
And yes, I'm aware that a) that wasn't funny, and b) it's too late anyhow and no-one's gonna read it.
NO SEPTICS!!
(With apologies to Monty Python...)
I've had a quite a bit of trouble finding some stats like this in the past. It can be quite hard to find detailed statistical info. I suspect that it's a direct result of the general dumbing-down you tend to find in the media these days; stats are too hard for Joe Average so they don't get mentioned.
Then my girlfriend (who's very skilled in information-broking) showed me Nationmaster.com
Nationmaster has access to every stat you can imagine, easily allows you select what you're after, compare it to pretty much anything, make graphs, charts, correlations, you name it.
Without further ado, here's the graph for CO2 emissions. The USA is indeed way out there in the lead; China is second but is still 40% behind the US. When you compare on a per capita basis, the results are also quite interesting. Four oil producing nations take the first few places, the USA drops to number five, and China goes down to 79th position.
Looks like China might not be that bad after all...
I wasn't actually comparing CD to vinyl there. I was contrasting CD with MP3. Actually, I don't think the term lossless can be applied to any analogue system. The term fidelity is much more useful in these circumstances. And vinyl's fidelity ranges from sublime to bloody awful, depending on the pressing, turntable used, stylus, cartridge, etc.
Don't get me wrong here, I think vinyl's an excellent system and I've got way too many records piled up next to me right now for it to be healthy. However I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't like it so much for the sound quality (though it can be very good) as much as for the sound texture. It's warm tones and the strong body to the sound are very hard to replicate on CD. The other thing about vinyl that makes it so good is the method of control. It's not important unless you want to DJ, but I'm yet to see a CD manipulation system as simple yet flexible as two turntables and a mixer.
Um... Wasn't that the point of cassette tapes? They were a dominant format for a while and the reason they replaced vinyl was their portability and robustness (maybe play-time, too.) Certainly it wasn't about sound quality.
On another note, why does MP3 have to replace CD? For my money, I really don't think that there's any likelihood that'll happen. CDs are simple to use, store enough data, are lossless, and come with pretty packaging. All good things. I can't see why there can't be two parallel distribution systems.
It's not zoom, it's digital enhancement. Which is what zoom is. But this is different. Yeah, right.
More marketing BS.
1. Degraves Lane (opposite Aix Cafe). 2. The Swanston St bridge, near the Arts Centre (ie. the Southbank Side).
3. Myer's Place (or is it Mier's Place, anyhow the lane off Bourke St, near Spring St).
4. Some lane near Collins and Elizabeth Sts. Can't remember which now.
As far as I know, only four got done when in Invader was in Melbourne. I seem to recall that he originally came down for the Semi-Permanent design festival in Sydney, could be wrong on that.
At any rate, Melbourne's great for street-art at the moment. Really crazy stuff going on, especially from the stencil crews. Just walk down Degraves Lane, check the pole on the corner of Collins and Swanston, or wander around Brunswick St to see great stuff.
Also, I've seen one of Invader's works in London on Portobello Rd (actually in a lane on the corner of Portobello Rd).
Good luck hunting down sweet street-art.