I agree. Its amusing, informative and explains the benefits of the technology in terms consumers can understand (more songs on my mp3 player). It also provides a superficial explanation of the tech which even slashdotters can grasp;)
Overall though reminds me of a Fark contest. Imagine if all the latest tech news was explained in this way.
On a serious note, it is very expensive to raise a child these days. You can count yourself lucky actually making a net gain, not 100 000 dollar loss, as most parents suffer;-)
In sufficiently large numbers digital starts approximating analog, and you run into fidelity problems. Bit rot and flipped bits sets in, which defeat even error correction (in large enough numbers).
After enough generations even digital would have accumulated errors and have degraded, and after 100's of generations it will be useless.
Clearly this does not mean that societies we consider very peverted can not arise in the future, because they have in the past. If fact it could be argued that any variation found in nature could be reflected in human society, including very obviously self-harming traits such as global celibatism.
Just because it is not sustainable does not mean it cant happen.
Of course genetic variability is good, but humans are currently very poorly adapted to its current life style, and could do with significant fine tuning. We can not plan contantly for the worst possible eventually, else we will continue suffering even whist being prosperous e.g. obesity in western (and global) society today.
I believe if we look at the record of vulnerabilities in the Fairplay/Itunes DRM solution by Apple we can conclude that they could not really withstand the concerted attention of hackers.
If these hackers had malicious intentions Apple would be in a lot of trouble now. If they become an attractive target they will fall.
When I bought my house I paid £3000 ($6000) in stamp duty (a government tax for no real purpose). I would have felt a whole lot better if the government mandates £3000 worth of solar cells to be installed on my roof. The cost of houses these days bear very little relation to the value of the bricks and mortar.
If a government really cared about energy independence they would mandate something like this very easily every time a house changes hands. They seem to waste enough money on other things like farm subsidies and unnecessary energy wars.
So Apple saved 20 p from not including a firewire cable. Maybe they can save 5 p from not including the actualy connector in the ipod, allowing an even more svelte size and shape.
These thing happens in stages. If there is no backlash expect the next generation or two of Ipod's not to have firewire at all.
That would be Symbian geeks. Linux smartphone devices dont have a significant presence at the moment. Either way, if you want to make money you want to appeal to the dumb overusers, who surf over expensive GPRS with images on, instead of finding the small checkbox to switch if off and save megabytes of data and money.
I'm longing for the days when we will finally get phones where you can turn off the phone feature. I don't want it. I want a mobile clock, alarm, mp3-player, camera, organizer etc. the size of a box of matches, but I don't want people to call me all the time. That's annoying.
It's called flight mode. All smartphones in the last 2-3 years have it.
This device will sell in much greater volume if released with win CE. There is a real momentum building around win ce phone devices, such as the xda 2 (which is actually being aggressively advertised on billboards and TV in the UK), the various MS smartphones (such as the SDA) in Germany, the underpowered Mpx and many others (like the wonderful MDA 4, which has a vga screen, wifi, bluetooth, GSM, GPRS, 3G and a qwerty keyboard) to be released soon.
When normal people think windows mobile they think the power of a desktop in their hand. When they think symbian they just think pretty wall paper, games and ring tones. If you want to scare them tell them their phone is running Linux.
The cellphone networks are firmly behind win CE because they generate much greater GPRS data profits that symbian devices (average 3 times more), because they get used used more to access the internet etc.
Now if they release both it may be interesting to see if enough geeks (who will be the main consumers of such a device) will choose Linux over Win CE.
In short however, they wont be doing themselves much favours by releasing a Linux version in preference to a Win CE version.
I doubt the probes have any lasting damage, since they are pretty small and don't penetrate the brain enough to destroy parts of the brain. Think of them as more... fitting "between" the cells, though I'm sure this analogy doesn't do it justice, and is not technically accurate.
The problem is that the left has latched onto fossil fuels as the cause of global warming when there are a plethora of other theories that are just as plausible. Have you any idea how much CO2 is emitted by 6 Billion breathing humans every year? That amount is far greater than the amount that has been emitted by all the oil that has been burned in the last 100 years.
I wonder on which rightwing talkshow you heard this garbage. Surely you are not stupid enough to come up with this yourself. If you had given it a minute's thought (and not just a second) you would have realized that a) humans live on organic foodstuffs, which means that the CO2 they breath out came from the atmosphere quite recently* and b) humans take 70kg of carbon to the grave for a few decades if they are buried deep enough.
I wonder how many wacky misconceptions like this exist in the anti-science community.
To bring it back to the root of the disagreement, I believe that the right wing actually believe that global warming is real, and that choas is inevitable. They just believe that when this comes about they are better of being the ones holding the money and the guns, while the rest of the world goes to hell. Most of them are not honest enough to admit it however.
Its all self-interest, but not very enlightened.
Surur
*Yes, I'm ignoring the fossil fuel used to fertilize and tend the plants, but if I was publishing a study I would look really stupid if I did not include it.
It's like running a marathon, but the rules say that the 2nd and 3rd fastest guys are given an automatic 5 mile head start. They're just playing by the rules.
Fair?
It is if we want everyone to finish at the same time.
I guess Americans want their empire to end in a blaze of glory with the whole world against them, overrun eventually, like Rome, by the barbarians, as apposed to sinking slowly into gentle obscurity with no real enemies in the world, like the UK.
Or do you imagine you will lead the world forever? Well, I've got news for you. Nothing lasts forever.
This is a myth. Funny how old myths refuse to die. Energy Payback Time is in the order of 1-2 years these days, and then will run efficiently for 10-20 years.
http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_solar_new.h tm l
Solar cells are not just "batteries" and have not been for a very long time.
It looks like one is only 2-4% as much as the other. Did it occur to you that all these scientists spouting off about global warming have though about the obvious answers already? Or maybe you're just so much smarter than them?
Humans are quite capable of changing and destroying the ecosystem, and have been since at least 1945. The only question currently is if we want to do it slowly or fast.
Most likely it will do nothing;
it's sheer hubris to think that humans can affect anything as big as a planet.
This seems to me to be the biggest argument people have against human-driven global warming. Its that old argument from incredulity from creationism. I would not be surprised if you were an adherent of that fable also.
Tell me, are we as puny humans incapable to cutting down the whole Amazon rain forest? Are we incapable of causing species that were previously incredibly numerous e.g the Buffalo, to become extinct? Can we actually harvest so many fish from the big wide ocean to actually cause whole fish species to be threatened with extinction? Are we capable of cutting down whole tops of mountains to get to the minerals?
Life has been changing this planet since it existed. Humans are just another example, and a very successful specie at that. We DO have the power to change the whole world. We have changed a lot of it already, and its VERY easy to be destructive. Its a lot harder to be creative however.
So stop being so modest. And once you accept that we are very powerful in aggregate, take some personal responsibility for your actions and choices also.
You mean you've never run in porn in windows media format which requires you to buy a license? Nothing motivates a geek as much as free porn. Still no-one has broken it yet...
Not saying it cant be broken. I just know they have worked very hard at making it VERY difficult.
Slashdot Mirror
After it happens for the twentieth time I think no one will care any more.
Surur
I agree. Its amusing, informative and explains the benefits of the technology in terms consumers can understand (more songs on my mp3 player). It also provides a superficial explanation of the tech which even slashdotters can grasp ;)
Overall though reminds me of a Fark contest. Imagine if all the latest tech news was explained in this way.
Surur
On a serious note, it is very expensive to raise a child these days. You can count yourself lucky actually making a net gain, not 100 000 dollar loss, as most parents suffer ;-)
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/calc/raiseChild.asp
http://www.babycenter.com/costofchild/
Surur
In sufficiently large numbers digital starts approximating analog, and you run into fidelity problems. Bit rot and flipped bits sets in, which defeat even error correction (in large enough numbers).
After enough generations even digital would have accumulated errors and have degraded, and after 100's of generations it will be useless.
Surur
Hey its a joke!! Notice the smilie!!
Anyways, it raised the real question of whether "carrying the family name" is just a western idea which we are imposing on the chinese.
Surur
Clearly this does not mean that societies we consider very peverted can not arise in the future, because they have in the past. If fact it could be argued that any variation found in nature could be reflected in human society, including very obviously self-harming traits such as global celibatism.
Just because it is not sustainable does not mean it cant happen.
Surur
One child -- it had better be a boy to carry on the familiy name.
;-)
As if there is not enough Lee's and Wong's already.....
Surur
Of course genetic variability is good, but humans are currently very poorly adapted to its current life style, and could do with significant fine tuning. We can not plan contantly for the worst possible eventually, else we will continue suffering even whist being prosperous e.g. obesity in western (and global) society today.
Surur
sarcasm /sarcasm
Of course the Puritans will recognize todays America immediately.
Of course its infinitely malleabe, from Kibbutzes to cannabalism to Suburbia.
Surur
I believe if we look at the record of vulnerabilities in the Fairplay/Itunes DRM solution by Apple we can conclude that they could not really withstand the concerted attention of hackers.
If these hackers had malicious intentions Apple would be in a lot of trouble now. If they become an attractive target they will fall.
Surur
Is this the Ipod vs Napster-to-Go business plan?
Surur
When I bought my house I paid £3000 ($6000) in stamp duty (a government tax for no real purpose). I would have felt a whole lot better if the government mandates £3000 worth of solar cells to be installed on my roof. The cost of houses these days bear very little relation to the value of the bricks and mortar.
If a government really cared about energy independence they would mandate something like this very easily every time a house changes hands. They seem to waste enough money on other things like farm subsidies and unnecessary energy wars.
Surur
How much concrete to entomb a nuclear reactor (or just to make an 747-proof dome?)
If by green you mean built by magical means which uses no energy and resources you are probably right.
I believe green is a relative term however.
Surur
So Apple saved 20 p from not including a firewire cable. Maybe they can save 5 p from not including the actualy connector in the ipod, allowing an even more svelte size and shape.
These thing happens in stages. If there is no backlash expect the next generation or two of Ipod's not to have firewire at all.
Surur
Isnt America supposed to be better?
Or did I just swallow that myth with my Saturday morning TV.
Surur
That would be Symbian geeks. Linux smartphone devices dont have a significant presence at the moment. Either way, if you want to make money you want to appeal to the dumb overusers, who surf over expensive GPRS with images on, instead of finding the small checkbox to switch if off and save megabytes of data and money.
;)
Hence you target windows users
Surur
I'm longing for the days when we will finally get phones where you can turn off the phone feature. I don't want it. I want a mobile clock, alarm, mp3-player, camera, organizer etc. the size of a box of matches, but I don't want people to call me all the time. That's annoying.
It's called flight mode. All smartphones in the last 2-3 years have it.
Surur
This device will sell in much greater volume if released with win CE. There is a real momentum building around win ce phone devices, such as the xda 2 (which is actually being aggressively advertised on billboards and TV in the UK), the various MS smartphones (such as the SDA) in Germany, the underpowered Mpx and many others (like the wonderful MDA 4, which has a vga screen, wifi, bluetooth, GSM, GPRS, 3G and a qwerty keyboard) to be released soon.
When normal people think windows mobile they think the power of a desktop in their hand. When they think symbian they just think pretty wall paper, games and ring tones. If you want to scare them tell them their phone is running Linux.
The cellphone networks are firmly behind win CE because they generate much greater GPRS data profits that symbian devices (average 3 times more), because they get used used more to access the internet etc.
Now if they release both it may be interesting to see if enough geeks (who will be the main consumers of such a device) will choose Linux over Win CE.
In short however, they wont be doing themselves much favours by releasing a Linux version in preference to a Win CE version.
Surur
I doubt the probes have any lasting damage, since they are pretty small and don't penetrate the brain enough to destroy parts of the brain. Think of them as more... fitting "between" the cells, though I'm sure this analogy doesn't do it justice, and is not technically accurate.
;-)
I'm sure the disection will confirm this
Surur
The problem is that the left has latched onto fossil fuels as the cause of global warming when there are a plethora of other theories that are just as plausible. Have you any idea how much CO2 is emitted by 6 Billion breathing humans every year? That amount is far greater than the amount that has been emitted by all the oil that has been burned in the last 100 years.
I wonder on which rightwing talkshow you heard this garbage. Surely you are not stupid enough to come up with this yourself. If you had given it a minute's thought (and not just a second) you would have realized that a) humans live on organic foodstuffs, which means that the CO2 they breath out came from the atmosphere quite recently* and b) humans take 70kg of carbon to the grave for a few decades if they are buried deep enough.
I wonder how many wacky misconceptions like this exist in the anti-science community.
To bring it back to the root of the disagreement, I believe that the right wing actually believe that global warming is real, and that choas is inevitable. They just believe that when this comes about they are better of being the ones holding the money and the guns, while the rest of the world goes to hell. Most of them are not honest enough to admit it however.
Its all self-interest, but not very enlightened.
Surur
*Yes, I'm ignoring the fossil fuel used to fertilize and tend the plants, but if I was publishing a study I would look really stupid if I did not include it.
It's like running a marathon, but the rules say that the 2nd and 3rd fastest guys are given an automatic 5 mile head start. They're just playing by the rules.
Fair?
It is if we want everyone to finish at the same time.
I guess Americans want their empire to end in a blaze of glory with the whole world against them, overrun eventually, like Rome, by the barbarians, as apposed to sinking slowly into gentle obscurity with no real enemies in the world, like the UK.
Or do you imagine you will lead the world forever? Well, I've got news for you. Nothing lasts forever.
Surur
This is a myth. Funny how old myths refuse to die. Energy Payback Time is in the order of 1-2 years these days, and then will run efficiently for 10-20 years.
h tm l
http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_solar_new.
Solar cells are not just "batteries" and have not been for a very long time.
Surur
Wikipedia says volcanoes produce 145 million to 255 million short tons of carbon dioxide each year.o ns m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanoes#Gas_emissi
The US Department of Energy says in 2000 humans produced 6611 million metric tons of carbon.
http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_glob.ht
It looks like one is only 2-4% as much as the other. Did it occur to you that all these scientists spouting off about global warming have though about the obvious answers already? Or maybe you're just so much smarter than them?
Humans are quite capable of changing and destroying the ecosystem, and have been since at least 1945. The only question currently is if we want to do it slowly or fast.
Surur
This seems to me to be the biggest argument people have against human-driven global warming. Its that old argument from incredulity from creationism. I would not be surprised if you were an adherent of that fable also.
Tell me, are we as puny humans incapable to cutting down the whole Amazon rain forest? Are we incapable of causing species that were previously incredibly numerous e.g the Buffalo, to become extinct? Can we actually harvest so many fish from the big wide ocean to actually cause whole fish species to be threatened with extinction? Are we capable of cutting down whole tops of mountains to get to the minerals?
Life has been changing this planet since it existed. Humans are just another example, and a very successful specie at that. We DO have the power to change the whole world. We have changed a lot of it already, and its VERY easy to be destructive. Its a lot harder to be creative however.
So stop being so modest. And once you accept that we are very powerful in aggregate, take some personal responsibility for your actions and choices also.
Surur
You mean you've never run in porn in windows media format which requires you to buy a license? Nothing motivates a geek as much as free porn. Still no-one has broken it yet...
Not saying it cant be broken. I just know they have worked very hard at making it VERY difficult.
Surur