Imagine if you had somesimple computer-generated music into which random mutations were introduced. These could be presented to listeners who would decide through an online vote the 'fitness' of the new segment over the original. Any mutations deemed favourable could be recombined into the 'genome' of the track. Would it be possible for a basic track to evolve gradually over time into a complex piece of music that sounds better at each stage?
"I don't understand potions", said Ron gloomily. "You don't understand anything!" said Hermione snootily. "Cut it out, you two. I'm trying to watch the Quidditch", said John Thompson, the twenty eight year old living at 17 Acacia Avenue, Surrey, credit card number 5753100085692323.
To take the Tooth Fairy example further, if we accept it is reasonable for a person to say "The Tooth Fairy does not exist" in day-to-day language without needing to add the disclaimer "of course, in a strictly scientific sense there is a small possiblity that the Tooth Fairy does exist so I am not ruling it out completely", is it not also reasonable for somebody to say "God does not exist" without having to add a similar disclaimer?
If somebody says "I was ten years old when I found out Santa Claus doesn't exist", nobody nitpicks them on the principle that you can't disprove something entirely. Why the special allowance for God?
My vision is as good as the next guy's, but when I saw Avatar, although I thought the 3D effect 'cool' like most people, there was a small portion of my vision that was always on the periphery and which felt 'glassy' or 'haloed' as though a bit on each of the lenses was finely scratched or smeared with Vaseline. It was noticeable enough that I tried polishing the glasses on my shirt several times throughout the movie to no avail. It may have been a dud pair of glasses, and I have not seen a 3D film at the cinema since to compare, but it was an irritating distraction irrespective of its cause.
My computer at work is licensed for Acrobat 8 Professional. After upgrading Microsoft Office 2003 to 2010, I can no longer create PDF files from Word documents. Looking online, the solution to this issue from Adobe appears to be "upgrade to Acrobat X". Yeah, thanks.
These sites support the rapid free sharing of information, thus reducing the ability of authors to profit from the books they write, of singers to profit from the songs they sing, of directors to profit from the films they create. In turn, this reduces their motivation to create such works, and this reduced motivation might lead them to reduce the amount of works they create for our enjoyment.
I'm curious. At what point does this breakdown in cultural output appear?
Your argument, if I understand it correctly, is that when piracy becomes widespread, nobody will make any real money from writing, film or music, so any professional output in these areas will die off. Well, piracy is already quite widespread, yet the film-makers, music artists and popular novelists appear to be making as much, if not more, money as they were 5/10/15 years ago. How many more Pirate Bays are required until cultural output declines to a statistically significant level?
I like the world you live in - where all people change their opinions and beliefs once they learn new facts or contrary rational arguments. I really wish I lived there.
For that to happen, cognitive dissonance would need to be virtually eliminated, and seeing how prevalent it is in the human psyche, that won't be happening for a long time.
Seriously, read this book. It will make you rethink why people behave the way they do, and how they justify their beliefs and behaviour. It is eye-opening but rather depressing at the same time.
And why do you assume there are only two available explanations?
Well, if we didn't become our own species through gradual evolution (whether naturally, assisted by God or by aliens) and if we didn't become our own species by being created in our present form from scratch (whether naturally, assisted by God or by aliens), how else can you explain homo sapiens? What is the missing third way?
If a cake has not been made from ingredients, and a cake has not appeared from nowhere fully formed, how else do you explain the cake, the nature and character of the baker aside?
Slashdot Mirror
Just charge the one with the goatee.
I'm afraid it won't let you do that, Dave.
What pharmaceuticals was this shooter taking?
We need to talk about bomb control.
Imagine if you had somesimple computer-generated music into which random mutations were introduced. These could be presented to listeners who would decide through an online vote the 'fitness' of the new segment over the original. Any mutations deemed favourable could be recombined into the 'genome' of the track. Would it be possible for a basic track to evolve gradually over time into a complex piece of music that sounds better at each stage?
The wonders of the Extrovert Economy.
"I don't understand potions", said Ron gloomily.
"You don't understand anything!" said Hermione snootily.
"Cut it out, you two. I'm trying to watch the Quidditch", said John Thompson, the twenty eight year old living at 17 Acacia Avenue, Surrey, credit card number 5753100085692323.
What about the guy who thought he was an orange and peeled himself?
Life isn't fair.
Interesting. I live in Bath. Presumably you are referring to the A46? Do you have any links about these BBC journalists?
Dig another hole to put the dirt in.
Make sure you get the one with the bigger geebees.
Excellent mod. All stealth/sneaker fans should check it out, especially Thief fans.
Yes, books are quite good like that.
To take the Tooth Fairy example further, if we accept it is reasonable for a person to say "The Tooth Fairy does not exist" in day-to-day language without needing to add the disclaimer "of course, in a strictly scientific sense there is a small possiblity that the Tooth Fairy does exist so I am not ruling it out completely", is it not also reasonable for somebody to say "God does not exist" without having to add a similar disclaimer?
If somebody says "I was ten years old when I found out Santa Claus doesn't exist", nobody nitpicks them on the principle that you can't disprove something entirely. Why the special allowance for God?
Let's hope the hinges on his coffin lid don't snap off.
My vision is as good as the next guy's, but when I saw Avatar, although I thought the 3D effect 'cool' like most people, there was a small portion of my vision that was always on the periphery and which felt 'glassy' or 'haloed' as though a bit on each of the lenses was finely scratched or smeared with Vaseline. It was noticeable enough that I tried polishing the glasses on my shirt several times throughout the movie to no avail. It may have been a dud pair of glasses, and I have not seen a 3D film at the cinema since to compare, but it was an irritating distraction irrespective of its cause.
I'm very sorry, I don't know what I was thinking.
My computer at work is licensed for Acrobat 8 Professional. After upgrading Microsoft Office 2003 to 2010, I can no longer create PDF files from Word documents. Looking online, the solution to this issue from Adobe appears to be "upgrade to Acrobat X". Yeah, thanks.
He finds the characters contrived, the jokes laboured, and the acting sub-par at best.
These sites support the rapid free sharing of information, thus reducing the ability of authors to profit from the books they write, of singers to profit from the songs they sing, of directors to profit from the films they create. In turn, this reduces their motivation to create such works, and this reduced motivation might lead them to reduce the amount of works they create for our enjoyment.
I'm curious. At what point does this breakdown in cultural output appear?
Your argument, if I understand it correctly, is that when piracy becomes widespread, nobody will make any real money from writing, film or music, so any professional output in these areas will die off. Well, piracy is already quite widespread, yet the film-makers, music artists and popular novelists appear to be making as much, if not more, money as they were 5/10/15 years ago. How many more Pirate Bays are required until cultural output declines to a statistically significant level?
Are you serious?
Let's hope you're never on trial for a crime you didn't commit and someone bribes the jury.
I like the world you live in - where all people change their opinions and beliefs once they learn new facts or contrary rational arguments. I really wish I lived there.
For that to happen, cognitive dissonance would need to be virtually eliminated, and seeing how prevalent it is in the human psyche, that won't be happening for a long time.
Seriously, read this book. It will make you rethink why people behave the way they do, and how they justify their beliefs and behaviour. It is eye-opening but rather depressing at the same time.
Sounds like a money-making scam to me, but then again I don't have enhanced auditor perception and recall.
And why do you assume there are only two available explanations?
Well, if we didn't become our own species through gradual evolution (whether naturally, assisted by God or by aliens) and if we didn't become our own species by being created in our present form from scratch (whether naturally, assisted by God or by aliens), how else can you explain homo sapiens? What is the missing third way?
If a cake has not been made from ingredients, and a cake has not appeared from nowhere fully formed, how else do you explain the cake, the nature and character of the baker aside?