The big part is, the US government tries its best to (appear to) not stop communication from one person to another. In any way. There has to be a/really good/ reason (Like, for instance, one of those people is a convict, or one is a minor, or both) before the government even considers it. Period.
I'd rather 1000 spam emails get through than to have the government block 1 valid personal mail, or something like that
as the parent notes, there are many expressions in many languages which will get mangled using word for word translation. but doesn't this mean that there should be a table of expressions and other items not to translate literally?
The problem with this is the way (At least in English) these idioms grow and change. Take "He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer." We all (well, most of us) either know the reference, or can guess what it means quickly. Knowing it, we instantly grasp similar terms like "He's not a sharp knife" or even "He's not too sharp" (Different etymology, I know, but stick with me here)
We recognize all this, but still also understand if someone asks us to find "The sharpest knife in the drawer" in their kitchen, without even thinking about the other reference (Or perhaps only to make some kind of joke, "I found the sharpest knife in the drawer. I must be the sharpest knife in the drawer!")
I'm not saying a computer will never be able to do this. We can, and we're just organic computers, but I don't think a computer can do it/now/ or even/soon/.
Actually, my address is usually: 123 4th street Fifthsville, VI 78910 Yeah, VI isn't a real state, but (IIRC) it is usually accepted as the Virgin Islands. Email? None@your.biz
AND anybody who already has Armagetron, so didn't click on the link (and instead went to play the game) better click on the link, they updated it about a week ago. The beta most of us have been begrudgingly playing for the past year is now a final version, bug free (for me, so far, at least) and very very nice.
Ahhh, I remember it like it was, well, 10 years ago. World Wide Web? Right, It'll never catch on. We've already got gopher and ftp, what else do you need?
PC's in any form will not be replaced by anything that cannot beat it in gaming quality.
Until my palm can play a Quake, a Half Life, or a Freelancer BETTER than my pc, I'm not unplugging.
Um, where I work, we're running 2000 or XP (I know which one, but different computers are running different versions, so:P), and there's a computer not 3 desks from me that's currently sitting on a blue screen.
Just make sure you told Discount Tires why you chose them. More importantly tell Tires Plus why you did NOT.
Re:NASA *is* funding this already
on
The Space Elevator
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Because it's NOT feasible right now, for only $6 billion or any amount.
Because . . . ?
Because they can't make the string. The 6 billion, from what I got out of the review, is assuming we can make it. Now, I have no doubts that we'll eventually be able to make the string, but we can't make any today, or probably this year or even (Speculation here) this decade. So, that's why.
Now, as to getting it done the second it is feasable, I say we should, and will. Any company that can do it (and is forward thinking) will make a massive profit off of it.
I know you're making a joke, but come on, how many times have you looked in the index for a word you/know/ is in the book, and not found it there?
Likewise, how many times have you searched a text document for something like "one of the spr" because you remembered a sentence fragment near the part of the file you wanted?
People constantly miss out on the fact that Television is/NOT/ primarily a device to change the world. It is primarily used to ENTERTAIN people. Entertainment is a very important part of life. I work 10 hours a day in the salt mines, just like everybody else, and when I get home from work I wouldn't mind watching an episode or two of Star Trek, or 24, or those Northern Exposure reruns they show on A&E every once in a while. But guess what? I get home around 6 or 7pm, and they're NOT ON. I have 2 choices, watch the Simpsons (again), or don't watch TV. Now, I could be all "Holier than thou" and not watch TV, but, assuming the show is entertaining, I see no problem whatsoever in watching it. Now, if I could guarantee that, every day, I'd be able to come home and watch a show that I consider to be entertaining, what's the problem with that?
I will gladly reccomend anything by Isaac Asimov.
Anything.
Well, don't pick up the fifth book of one of his several series, but definately go for book 1.
Specific reccomendations:
Foundation (This is good, as not only is it the first book of a series, but it's also a set of longish short stories, so it's easy to pick up and drop. Though I suspect you won't drop it that much)
The Caves of Steel (Especially if you like detective stories. A lot of people think you can't write SF detective novels, but Mr Asimov proves you can. This is also the first in a multibook series, contained in the universe with his Foundation books, though they are separated by thousands of years)
Any of his short story collections.
Slashdot Mirror
I think I'll head out to buy this book now.
I'd rather 1000 spam emails get through than to have the government block 1 valid personal mail, or something like that
The problem with this is the way (At least in English) these idioms grow and change. Take "He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer." We all (well, most of us) either know the reference, or can guess what it means quickly. Knowing it, we instantly grasp similar terms like "He's not a sharp knife" or even "He's not too sharp" (Different etymology, I know, but stick with me here)
We recognize all this, but still also understand if someone asks us to find "The sharpest knife in the drawer" in their kitchen, without even thinking about the other reference (Or perhaps only to make some kind of joke, "I found the sharpest knife in the drawer. I must be the sharpest knife in the drawer!")
I'm not saying a computer will never be able to do this. We can, and we're just organic computers, but I don't think a computer can do it /now/ or even /soon/.
Not only that, but if you /don't/ pirate movies, doesn't that mean you're helping the terrorists "A little?"
...selling a new game to Xbox as well, named III.
Actually, my address is usually:
123 4th street
Fifthsville, VI
78910
Yeah, VI isn't a real state, but (IIRC) it is usually accepted as the Virgin Islands.
Email? None@your.biz
I would assume they use a little trick figured out, oh, a few thousand years ago, called perspective.
AND anybody who already has Armagetron, so didn't click on the link (and instead went to play the game) better click on the link, they updated it about a week ago. The beta most of us have been begrudgingly playing for the past year is now a final version, bug free (for me, so far, at least) and very very nice.
Oh, how little I knew.
PC's in any form will not be replaced by anything that cannot beat it in gaming quality. Until my palm can play a Quake, a Half Life, or a Freelancer BETTER than my pc, I'm not unplugging.
Um, where I work, we're running 2000 or XP (I know which one, but different computers are running different versions, so :P), and there's a computer not 3 desks from me that's currently sitting on a blue screen.
Just make sure you told Discount Tires why you chose them. More importantly tell Tires Plus why you did NOT.
Because . . . ?
Because they can't make the string. The 6 billion, from what I got out of the review, is assuming we can make it. Now, I have no doubts that we'll eventually be able to make the string, but we can't make any today, or probably this year or even (Speculation here) this decade. So, that's why.
Now, as to getting it done the second it is feasable, I say we should, and will. Any company that can do it (and is forward thinking) will make a massive profit off of it.
Or am I missing something? It seems to me that they will gladly loop, neither is an open server, and one (or both) will blacklist the other.
Likewise, how many times have you searched a text document for something like "one of the spr" because you remembered a sentence fragment near the part of the file you wanted?
You forgot: ...Profit!
Yeah, I hate it when plot gets in the way of a good story...
Heh. I remember when you could fit a minimal install of the os on one floppy with room for utilities.
People constantly miss out on the fact that Television is /NOT/ primarily a device to change the world. It is primarily used to ENTERTAIN people. Entertainment is a very important part of life. I work 10 hours a day in the salt mines, just like everybody else, and when I get home from work I wouldn't mind watching an episode or two of Star Trek, or 24, or those Northern Exposure reruns they show on A&E every once in a while. But guess what? I get home around 6 or 7pm, and they're NOT ON. I have 2 choices, watch the Simpsons (again), or don't watch TV. Now, I could be all "Holier than thou" and not watch TV, but, assuming the show is entertaining, I see no problem whatsoever in watching it. Now, if I could guarantee that, every day, I'd be able to come home and watch a show that I consider to be entertaining, what's the problem with that?
I will gladly reccomend anything by Isaac Asimov. Anything. Well, don't pick up the fifth book of one of his several series, but definately go for book 1. Specific reccomendations: Foundation (This is good, as not only is it the first book of a series, but it's also a set of longish short stories, so it's easy to pick up and drop. Though I suspect you won't drop it that much) The Caves of Steel (Especially if you like detective stories. A lot of people think you can't write SF detective novels, but Mr Asimov proves you can. This is also the first in a multibook series, contained in the universe with his Foundation books, though they are separated by thousands of years) Any of his short story collections.