Whoopty F*ckin' Doo! Sorry to rain on NASA's parade, but I think this whole thing just goes to show how far the US space program has fallen. Being ahead of everyone else in a particular endeavor doesn't mean you're where your potential dictates you should be. I watched the whole press conference on CNN and I was totally unimpressed. NASA is still unable to recapture the wonderment and fascination that it did during the Apollo missions and the early years of the shuttle program. Inspiring the tax payer is what makes NASA tick but there's just not much going on there that the average citizen could give a damn about. Maybe if they'd come out of their shell and take a REAL risk on something inspiring then they wouldn't be in the budget straitjacket they are now. Instead they send RC cars to Mars and exploding gliders into low orbit. I'm more excited about the X prize contest than I am about another damn Mars rover. Sheesh, you'd think they could try and land something near some interesting topography. "Hey, look! There's a rock! And look...a hole with dust in it!"...Yeah, bet that inspires the school kids and makes people want to reach into their pocket for a wad of cash.
Now, if I get any replies from this they will undoubtedly be of the "You don't understand" or "Your a troll" type but the truth remains the same. NASA is dead; they just don't know it yet.
If you want to support the space program, give money to Burt Rutan or John Caramack.
This is a problem with academics. At least for coders it's understood that much (if not all) of what we do is derivative. If it's largely derivative, we give a little attribution, othewise it's assumed. You academics have outsmarted yourselves. Each one considers the others intellectual criminals unless they make some confessional in their work.
That's some ivory tower horse shit right there. There is an enormous body of work behind every field of study. One could reasonably say that you "shoud have known/read" all but the most esoteric of them. Reality doesn't work that way, no person who is engaged in the advancement of their field has the time or inclanation to study all that has come before (especially in more prolific fields). If you didn't know of previous work when you wrote it, then the idea is just as much yours. The denial of the existance of previous knowledge is fundamental in the creation of the new. Without it, every subject that requires multigenerational study would be devistated. Only a very few, who were brilliant or lucky enough to happen upon an idea truely unique, would ever venture to make contributions.
The in-store brand is never the same quality as the brand name stuff. The very rare exception is at boutique stores, and then the whole "saving money" thing doesn't apply. As for having to mail in "rebates", I'm seeing it more and more. Coupons are actually advertizing and if people "forget" to use them then the company has still sold their product at the original, full retail, price.:past life grocery store employee
citi's min rate is now 12.99%. That's why I'm getting rid of them. I did by a car on the card though...one time charge at a lifetime 5.9%...cheaper than a used car loan and none of the paperwork.
Let the fantasy writers have their own fscking award and leave the Nebulas alone. Any half-ass hack can write most of the fantasy crud out there today, but it takes some intelligence to write SF (no...not fsking SciFi...blech!). Let's face it. The proportion of fantasy titles that have any literary merit pales in comparison to SF. The only reason either of them are shoved togeather is that they are often a common interest of both authors and readers.
Eventually a large number of programmers will "free" themselves from their jobs by giving away their most valuable assets. It's just like an ecosystem when there's too many animals and not enough food. The population suddenly has a massive die off and then those who are left have a stable environment in which to thrive again...until the next time.
Make it easier to thief is what many seem to want. If you're going to thief stuff (like shareware/trialware) at least be frickin' honest about it. So far I see people trying to justify themselves when they know damn well that the software will be on their systems for months or years before they think about registering, if ever...That is if they haven't run a crack on it yet, or explained it away by saying "I only use it occasionally" and "I can't afford it". Those of you who are playing this game aren't fooling anyone here.
Slashdot Mirror
Whoopty F*ckin' Doo! Sorry to rain on NASA's parade, but I think this whole thing just goes to show how far the US space program has fallen. Being ahead of everyone else in a particular endeavor doesn't mean you're where your potential dictates you should be. I watched the whole press conference on CNN and I was totally unimpressed. NASA is still unable to recapture the wonderment and fascination that it did during the Apollo missions and the early years of the shuttle program. Inspiring the tax payer is what makes NASA tick but there's just not much going on there that the average citizen could give a damn about. Maybe if they'd come out of their shell and take a REAL risk on something inspiring then they wouldn't be in the budget straitjacket they are now. Instead they send RC cars to Mars and exploding gliders into low orbit. I'm more excited about the X prize contest than I am about another damn Mars rover. Sheesh, you'd think they could try and land something near some interesting topography. "Hey, look! There's a rock! And look...a hole with dust in it!"...Yeah, bet that inspires the school kids and makes people want to reach into their pocket for a wad of cash. Now, if I get any replies from this they will undoubtedly be of the "You don't understand" or "Your a troll" type but the truth remains the same. NASA is dead; they just don't know it yet. If you want to support the space program, give money to Burt Rutan or John Caramack.
This is a problem with academics. At least for coders it's understood that much (if not all) of what we do is derivative. If it's largely derivative, we give a little attribution, othewise it's assumed. You academics have outsmarted yourselves. Each one considers the others intellectual criminals unless they make some confessional in their work.
That's some ivory tower horse shit right there. There is an enormous body of work behind every field of study. One could reasonably say that you "shoud have known/read" all but the most esoteric of them. Reality doesn't work that way, no person who is engaged in the advancement of their field has the time or inclanation to study all that has come before (especially in more prolific fields). If you didn't know of previous work when you wrote it, then the idea is just as much yours. The denial of the existance of previous knowledge is fundamental in the creation of the new. Without it, every subject that requires multigenerational study would be devistated. Only a very few, who were brilliant or lucky enough to happen upon an idea truely unique, would ever venture to make contributions.
The in-store brand is never the same quality as the brand name stuff. The very rare exception is at boutique stores, and then the whole "saving money" thing doesn't apply. As for having to mail in "rebates", I'm seeing it more and more. Coupons are actually advertizing and if people "forget" to use them then the company has still sold their product at the original, full retail, price. :past life grocery store employee
citi's min rate is now 12.99%. That's why I'm getting rid of them. I did by a car on the card though...one time charge at a lifetime 5.9%...cheaper than a used car loan and none of the paperwork.
Let the fantasy writers have their own fscking award and leave the Nebulas alone. Any half-ass hack can write most of the fantasy crud out there today, but it takes some intelligence to write SF (no...not fsking SciFi...blech!). Let's face it. The proportion of fantasy titles that have any literary merit pales in comparison to SF. The only reason either of them are shoved togeather is that they are often a common interest of both authors and readers.
Eventually a large number of programmers will "free" themselves from their jobs by giving away their most valuable assets. It's just like an ecosystem when there's too many animals and not enough food. The population suddenly has a massive die off and then those who are left have a stable environment in which to thrive again...until the next time.
Make it easier to thief is what many seem to want. If you're going to thief stuff (like shareware/trialware) at least be frickin' honest about it. So far I see people trying to justify themselves when they know damn well that the software will be on their systems for months or years before they think about registering, if ever. ..That is if they haven't run a crack on it yet, or explained it away by saying "I only use it occasionally" and "I can't afford it". Those of you who are playing this game aren't fooling anyone here.