Particularly because I agree with most of them. Especially the need for a mid tower mac.
I just can't get why they ignore what is essentially the biggest chunk of the market. As a would be switcher this is what I want. I want a screen less machine between the mini and the pro, using normal sized components and not laptop ones.
Big solar farms are a likely target for hydrogen production. Likely located in Arizona Desert or similar location where any water will be relatively rare.
Note: Fullscreen controller only in OSX.
on
VLC 0.8.6 Released
·
· Score: 1
To answer my own question. Change history details show that the interface I was looking for is only in OSX. That is why I couldn't see it. The story blurb led me to believe this was a multi-platform feature.
I am not looking for the button to go fullscreen. I assumed there now controls when you are in "fullscreen" Mode.
Never used Media Player Classic?
on
VLC 0.8.6 Released
·
· Score: 2, Informative
> Gack, good! One of the best things about VLC is that there is no annoying "control" eating > screen space when you go fullscreen. The keyboard shortcuts remain fully functional, so use those.
MPC interface is vastly superior, there is nothing on the screen until you move your mouse, then a nice control bar slides up, that works miles better than the lame one separate one in VLC. Especially since it works really well in MPC when you just click the positin bar anywhere.
Anyway still nothing in VLC, moving mouse does nothing. Pushing F does nothing.
Installed 0.8.6 and when I go to fullscreen, I can't find any new full screen control. A big part of the reason I use MPC first and use VLC as a backup, is the much more usable interface on MPC in full screen mode. VLC still has none AFAICT.
It seems the majority at work here (Telecom switching software group) that I speak with are thinking mac for the next computer, or already have one now. I could care less what the demographics are, but the tide is certainly changing. It is not just for old folks who don't understand computers. I assembled almost every PC I owned from part I researched to get best bang for the buck. Installed many flavors of Linux/Windows and have migrated from HP/UX to Windows, to Redhat as my main workstation at work.
I am no clueless granny, but a Mac is now something of serious interest. If Apple would only build a decent headless midrange machine. The mini is too cold(underpowered) and the pro is too hot(overkill, overpriced). I need something just right.
I still find linux clunky, and I am weary of Microsoft. OSX may represent the perfect mix with UNIX and monolithic controlled interface.
The mac value equation has improved and I can install WinXP if it comes to that.
The only live air I watch anymore is small market non commercial channel (TVO), or local news.
Everything else I get from torrents. Being set free from idiot network TV programmer/scheduling was a breath of fresh Air. I started because I lost cable and had to decide wether to pick it up again. Discovered TV-Torrents and was quickly hooked.
I was now enjoying shows that I had given up on. Stargate SG1 was one that I liked but it was in syndication hell, on 5 different channels, only one of which had new episodes that mixed in old episodes so I could never get a flow of what the heck was going on. Started getting torrents and I was now always only getting new episodes in proper sequence. It was great. Not to mention all the positive attributes of PVR like experience.
Firefly was another I tried to watch when it was on. I could never get into it; they showed them in the wrong order, moved them around, skipped weeks. Killed it for me. Later I downloaded them all and watched it in order. Hey this was actually a good show.
How screwed up does you delivery have to be that I would actually stop watching a show that I liked (SG-SG1) even before I discovered an alternative delivery. I think it also effectively killed firefly before it had a chance.
Streaming sucks though. I have a decent connections(1.8Mbs), but I have experienced nothing but frustration with current streaming tech. Bleh.
I will torrent my TV until the put a stop to it. If there is a lesson, it is to not mess your product up so bad that people don't want it even when free and there is no alternative, once an alternative appears(even if it isn't moral/legal), you are screwed. This is the danger any tired lazy incumbent faces.
The torrenting result is so much better that I will never go back now. If they ever manage to crack down hard on this, I will go to renting the series on DVD.
I imagine we will see more TV downloading crackdowns to come, but I don't think the RIAA is having much positive impact, so I don't think a TV downloading crackdown will stop this either.
I think the end result is that the end result of so much downloading of everything is going end with a highly regulated internet. Probably this will happen on two similar fronts.
1: Death of net neutrality: First they will succeed in charging for "superior" bandwidth, to offer better streaming video and streaming sound, VOIP etc. Next they will start racheting down anyone who doesn't pay for the extra bandwidth. Torrent sites slow to a crawl.
2: The global block list: This is starting now in UK,Denmark, Canada. A mandated blocking list for child porn, except in Denmark they have already added allofmp3.com. It is easy to see that Torrent sites will be soon after.
I figure in 5 to 10 years the wild west open nature of the net will largely be over. Enjoy it while it is here.
If they know where the child porn is, shouldn't it be a simple matter to shut them down, and/or track the downloaders/uploaders.
Once this list is established and the firewalling starts it will only be a matter of time before they add Allofmp3 (See Denmark), then piratebay then any and all torrent sites that have ever carried copyright material. Then you get an approved government controlled internet.
If it goes in Canada, Denmark and Britain, it will be a small matter of time before the USA gets one too.
I like downloading TV shows from around the globe(getting SG Atlantis, S03E11 right now), when that gets blocked, I am going back to dialup.
After all they were the only country scoring below the USA for belief in Evolution (recent survey). They were 34 on the list the USA was 33. Then again maybe he is disgruntled that Turkey is winning the race to root out rational thinkers.
When is "Intelligent Design" going to incorporate the belief that Darwins Evolutionary theory is the root of Terrorism? Another area where Turkey is ahead.
Every time these articles get posted we get a cadre of folks who come out of the woodwork heaping out the FUD, quoting industry funded mouthpieces like CEI (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=CEI).
Or pointing out the quite dubious Oregon Petition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Petition) as some kind of FUD attacking the idea that there is consensus on global warming issues.
The fact is that there is an overwhelming consensus among climate scientists, of course there are those who disagree, but the number who actually have qualifications and are not funded by the oil industry is vanishingly small. Consensus doesn't mean unanimous BTW.
The question that I wonder about is: If you are not a primary expert in the field, why would you side with the oil funded lobbyists and the lunatic fringe.
When I turn that question on myself. I believe the consensus view for two reasons. It is the veiw of almost every credible scientist that I have heard an opinion from.
Even when I apply my own simple litmus test:
CO2 is a heat trapping gas (there is no disagreement here) We are increasing concentrations of C02 (no disagreement)
Conclusion: How would it not be increasing heat?
Admittedly simplistic, but I wonder how those here spouting industry sponsored FUD come to their conclusion that defies both the consensus and common sense.
The Oregon petition was sent out was basically misleading and full of half truths/untruths. It was assembled by a crackpot (Arthur B. Robinson). This info was in the previously included link. You can also follow the associated cross links through source watch. Also there is no vetting on the listed signatures, when examined they contained duplicates and obviously false entries. There is no credentials listed or affiliated institution.
Frederick Seitz, wrote a cover letter endorsing it. While perhaps is not a crackpot, is well past his prime (he was born in 1911), previous work after retiring from university duties was working for the tobacco industry. In fact he is pretty much a general purpose supporter of any polluting industry, currently belongs to several Oil funded lobby groups.... in turn, was one of the funders of the George C Marshall Institute in Washington DC.54 In 1994 the institute published a report called "Global warming and ozone hole controversies. A challenge to scientific judgment," written by its board chairman, Dr Frederick Seitz. While introducing the subject Seitz also listed a dozen other environmental substances whose dangers he considered controversial, including nuclear wastes, asbestos, acid emissions from burning coal, toxic waste disposal, genetic engineering, pesticides, and passive smoke. Referring to the latter he wrote, "there is no good scientific evidence that passive inhalation is truly dangerous under normal circumstances."
I suspect you joined just to add more FUD to the fire, so it is not a surprise th you would bring this largely meaningless poll.
BTW Consensus, is majority, not everyone. Clearly there will always be people of the caliber of the above that will disagree with anything, especially when being funded by industries who would benefit from that disagreement.
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) describes itself as "a small research institute" that studies "biochemistry, diagnostic medicine, nutrition, preventive medicine and the molecular biology of aging." It is headed by Arthur B. Robinson, an eccentric scientist who has a long history of controversial entanglements with figures on the fringe of accepted research. OISM also markets a home-schooling kit for "parents concerned about socialism in the public schools" and publishes books on how to survive nuclear war.
The OISM is located on a farm about 7 miles from the town of Cave Junction, Oregon (population 1,126). Located slightly east of Siskiyou National Forest, Cave Junction is one of several small towns nestled in the Illinois Valley, whose total population is 15,000. Best known as a gateway to the Oregon Caves National Monument, it is described by its chamber of commerce as "the commercial, service, and cultural center for a rural community of small farms, woodlots, crafts people, and families just living apart from the crowds.... It's a place where going into the market can take time because people talk in the aisles and at the checkstands. Life is slower, so you have to be patient. You'll be part of that slowness because it is enjoyable to be neighborly." The main visitors are tourists who come to hike, backpack and fish in the area's many rivers and streams. Cave Junction is the sort of out-of-the-way location you might seek out if you were hoping to survive a nuclear war, but it is not known as a center for scientific and medical research. The OISM would be equally obscure itself, except for the role it played in 1998 in circulating a deceptive "scientists' petition" on global warming in collaboration with Frederick Seitz, a retired former president of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source watch: Tom Harris is an anti koyoto lobbyis
on
An Inconvenient Truth
·
· Score: 1
Tom Harris is the Executive Director of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project (NRSP).
He was, until approximately late October 2006, listed as a Director of Operations of the Ottowa office of the High Park Group (HPG), a Canadian PR and lobbying company. His biographical note states that he "specializes in strategic communication and media relations and has 28 years experience in science and technology in the energy and environment, aerospace and high-tech sectors. He has worked with private companies and trade associations to successfully position these entities and their interests with media and before government committees and regulatory bodies." Harris "holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from Carleton University and a Master of Engineering (Mechanical - thermo-fluids) from McMaster University."[1]
Harris, who was "once a legislative assistant to former Conservative Environment Critic Bob Mills, has been a prolific writer of anti-Kyoto op-ed pieces, typically quoting scientists associated with Friends of Science." [2]
Friends of Science Society is a Canadian non-profit group "made up of active and retired engineers, earth scientists and other professionals, as well as many concerned Canadians, who believe the science behind the Kyoto Protocol is questionable." [1]
In the August 12th, 2006 Globe and Mail feature, The Friends of Science were exposed as being a front group for the oil industry.[2]
While policy/training clearly needs updating, possibly an officer should be fired, it strikes me that University based police force might be an easy target for provocation as they don't deal with serious offenders on a daily basis.
I have zero sympathy for the kid who instigated this event. In no way should he be given a payday for provoking this. I went to university a few years back and anywhere on campus you had to provide your ID when asked by security. This is not an onerous requirement. Nothing to become belligerent about. If anything they should probably ask for ID more often to help the nut cases realize this is nothing to flip out over. A university is not open to any member of the general public, you may at anytime be required to prove you have the right to be there.
This was poorly handled by university cops, who are probably inadequately trained to deal with belligerents. But no permanent harm was done to the instigator (him and his friends no doubt think he is great hero now) and he doesn't deserve a reward for being the asshole that started this.
"Actually, athiests are barred by law from holding any office in my home state of Tennessee and a few others."
I didn't know that. I guess that makes them the most persecuted minority as well as distrusted minority. Can you image if they had a law like this that said no homosexual, non white, or muslim could hold office.
Seriously, atheists are the most distrusted minority in the USA. Some decades after our first black, lesbian, muslim president we might see an atheist president, but I seriously doubt it.
More likely there won't be an atheist president. We don't even have an atheist member of congress.
BTW I saw an interview with Gates, he is clearly an atheist, who was resorting to a political song and dance to avoid the A-word, much like almost any US figure in the public eye who might be an atheist. Who has the stones to be outed as an atheist? clearly not Bill G.
I agree. The point of the article is more about gaining some of the acceptance for atheists that other minorities enjoy. References to Bill Gates are more tangential.
I think this links with a study a while back that had atheist as the most distrusted minority in America. I doubt there is an out of closet atheist anywhere in US politics.
I think I have finally getting a handle on the fear/distrust of atheist after watching a few 30 days documentaries (atheist/christians, Pro-choice/pro-life) and the "Root of all evil" documentary with Richard Dawkins, and Jesus Camp. You eventually get the strong sense that it is drummed in from day one that there is nothing worse than being without the word of god. So an atheist is unfathomable.
If you are taught from day one that the only "righteous" people are those that are steeped in the word of god. How do you understand someone that thinks about each issue independently? How can you know what they will think? Of course the old chestnut of atheist not having morality crops up. Having no authoritative source, how could they?
Though it is largely inaccurate,I guess I can understand where it comes from. So maybe Scott is correct and we are at least seeing the baby steps of having a very tiny minority of those in the public eye come out on atheism and one or two TV shows with atheists. We may be in the position of starting some very basic education so religious people can eventually get to have some tiny understanding of atheists.
Interesting stuff. People here are in the large downplaying the consequences if we had this in reality. It would probably be an abrupt end to invention. About the only thing of value would be land, everything else could be replicated. How many people would be working to do anything, if they could already replicate anything on the planet. How are you going to get a team working for years on the next Ferrari if there isn't even money anymore, no one needs for anything.
Of course you need mass+energy, but you can replicate solar/windmills, with that energy you could replicate more advanced power plants if you had the land. If not I guess you would go to war, replicating fighting robots/tanks with your nano-lathe. Eventually it might come down to two sides left, shall we call them Arm and Core... Cool, I was training for this 10 years ago.
"The complaints are not about downloading material."
So we can download without worries. It is just uploaders that have to worry. Cool.:-)
Even on the uploading side. Why is uploader responsible for what other uploaders do.Do we have the death penalty or life in prison for speeding. I mean some other speeder kill people occasionally, so lets charge all speeders with murder?
And your argument about the DRM version vs the non DRM version difference in price. We have non DRM CDs and the cost per track is probably in the same ballpark, not to mention full quality and not some tinny 128k mp3.
I have alway wondered why no one challenged the reasonableness of the fine before.
Wikipedia is a triumph. Amazing breadth and depth of info at your fingertips for free, updated and improved thousands a times/day.
Generally it is control freaks and central authorities, or unsurprisingly members of "old media" that dislike wiki. I set one up at work, and many in management didn't want to put info in it because "anyone" can change it. That is the advantage not the weakness. Because the wiki continues to be updated, because anyone can do it. Our centrally controlled work pages always died of neglect. The Wiki is living and growing.
Essentially this says nations that have tougher math curriculum, have students that are better at math and are less confident in math skills. They feel less confident in match skills because they are facing tougher course.
Unlike the USA where johnny gets a nice shiny star for 1+1 = 3, full of confidence, but little skill.
The question is whether the job of math eduction is happy students or math skills.
"Artificial photosynthesis coupled with fuel cells in vehicles, however, is a hydrogen fuel/solar energy energy collection method that gives us a pollution free renewable "fuel" as a part of the cycle that can be used in cars/trains/ships... possibly even planes."
If this is actually more efficient that solar energy with photovoltaics or heat concentrators, well and good, but I doubt it.
Even so, once we switch to electricity as a main driver. Anything can be put in a fuel as the back end, to produce the electricity. It can be clean as windpower or it can be hydrogen, nuclear, coal, whatever is available. We shouldn't need to reinvent the distribution system everytime we find a better source of energy.
Slashdot Mirror
Particularly because I agree with most of them. Especially the need for a mid tower mac.
I just can't get why they ignore what is essentially the biggest chunk of the market. As a would be switcher this is what I want. I want a screen less machine between the mini and the pro, using normal sized components and not laptop ones.
Big solar farms are a likely target for hydrogen production. Likely located in Arizona Desert or similar location where any water will be relatively rare.
To answer my own question. Change history details show that the interface I was looking for is only in OSX. That is why I couldn't see it. The story blurb led me to believe this was a multi-platform feature.
I am not looking for the button to go fullscreen. I assumed there now controls when you are in "fullscreen" Mode.
> Gack, good! One of the best things about VLC is that there is no annoying "control" eating
> screen space when you go fullscreen. The keyboard shortcuts remain fully functional, so use those.
MPC interface is vastly superior, there is nothing on the screen until you move your mouse, then a nice control bar slides up, that works miles better than the lame one separate one in VLC. Especially since it works really well in MPC when you just click the positin bar anywhere.
Anyway still nothing in VLC, moving mouse does nothing. Pushing F does nothing.
Installed 0.8.6 and when I go to fullscreen, I can't find any new full screen control. A big part of the reason I use MPC first and use VLC as a backup, is the much more usable interface on MPC in full screen mode. VLC still has none AFAICT.
As indicated, I want something a little better than the mini, but less than the mac pro.
I want a mid-range headless mac. this is where I think the meat of the market is, so I don't understand why the don't build one.
It seems the majority at work here (Telecom switching software group) that I speak with are thinking mac for the next computer, or already have one now. I could care less what the demographics are, but the tide is certainly changing. It is not just for old folks who don't understand computers. I assembled almost every PC I owned from part I researched to get best bang for the buck. Installed many flavors of Linux/Windows and have migrated from HP/UX to Windows, to Redhat as my main workstation at work.
I am no clueless granny, but a Mac is now something of serious interest. If Apple would only build a decent headless midrange machine. The mini is too cold(underpowered) and the pro is too hot(overkill, overpriced). I need something just right.
I still find linux clunky, and I am weary of Microsoft. OSX may represent the perfect mix with UNIX and monolithic controlled interface.
The mac value equation has improved and I can install WinXP if it comes to that.
I am watching, waiting and ready to jump to Mac.
Not just for grannies anymore.
The only live air I watch anymore is small market non commercial channel (TVO), or local news.
Everything else I get from torrents. Being set free from idiot network TV programmer/scheduling was a breath of fresh Air. I started because I lost cable and had to decide wether to pick it up again. Discovered TV-Torrents and was quickly hooked.
I was now enjoying shows that I had given up on. Stargate SG1 was one that I liked but it was in syndication hell, on 5 different channels, only one of which had new episodes that mixed in old episodes so I could never get a flow of what the heck was going on. Started getting torrents and I was now always only getting new episodes in proper sequence. It was great. Not to mention all the positive attributes of PVR like experience.
Firefly was another I tried to watch when it was on. I could never get into it; they showed them in the wrong order, moved them around, skipped weeks. Killed it for me. Later I downloaded them all and watched it in order. Hey this was actually a good show.
How screwed up does you delivery have to be that I would actually stop watching a show that I liked (SG-SG1) even before I discovered an alternative delivery. I think it also effectively killed firefly before it had a chance.
Streaming sucks though. I have a decent connections(1.8Mbs), but I have experienced nothing but frustration with current streaming tech. Bleh.
I will torrent my TV until the put a stop to it. If there is a lesson, it is to not mess your product up so bad that people don't want it even when free and there is no alternative, once an alternative appears(even if it isn't moral/legal), you are screwed. This is the danger any tired lazy incumbent faces.
The torrenting result is so much better that I will never go back now. If they ever manage to crack down hard on this, I will go to renting the series on DVD.
I imagine we will see more TV downloading crackdowns to come, but I don't think the RIAA is having much positive impact, so I don't think a TV downloading crackdown will stop this either.
I think the end result is that the end result of so much downloading of everything is going end with a highly regulated internet. Probably this will happen on two similar fronts.
1: Death of net neutrality: First they will succeed in charging for "superior" bandwidth, to offer better streaming video and streaming sound, VOIP etc. Next they will start racheting down anyone who doesn't pay for the extra bandwidth. Torrent sites slow to a crawl.
2: The global block list: This is starting now in UK,Denmark, Canada. A mandated blocking list for child porn, except in Denmark they have already added allofmp3.com. It is easy to see that Torrent sites will be soon after.
I figure in 5 to 10 years the wild west open nature of the net will largely be over. Enjoy it while it is here.
If they know where the child porn is, shouldn't it be a simple matter to shut them down, and/or track the downloaders/uploaders.
Once this list is established and the firewalling starts it will only be a matter of time before they add Allofmp3 (See Denmark), then piratebay then any and all torrent sites that have ever carried copyright material. Then you get an approved government controlled internet.
If it goes in Canada, Denmark and Britain, it will be a small matter of time before the USA gets one too.
I like downloading TV shows from around the globe(getting SG Atlantis, S03E11 right now), when that gets blocked, I am going back to dialup.
After all they were the only country scoring below the USA for belief in Evolution (recent survey). They were 34 on the list the USA was 33. Then again maybe he is disgruntled that Turkey is winning the race to root out rational thinkers.
t ype=scienceNews&storyid=2006-11-22T141111Z_01_L092 65541_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-RELIGION-TURKEY-EVOLUTION- DC.XML
When is "Intelligent Design" going to incorporate the belief that Darwins Evolutionary theory is the root of Terrorism? Another area where Turkey is ahead.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?
Every time these articles get posted we get a cadre of folks who come out of the woodwork heaping out the FUD, quoting industry funded mouthpieces like CEI (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=CEI).
Or pointing out the quite dubious Oregon Petition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Petition) as some kind of FUD attacking the idea that there is consensus on global warming issues.
The fact is that there is an overwhelming consensus among climate scientists, of course there are those who disagree, but the number who actually have qualifications and are not funded by the oil industry is vanishingly small. Consensus doesn't mean unanimous BTW.
The question that I wonder about is: If you are not a primary expert in the field, why would you side with the oil funded lobbyists and the lunatic fringe.
When I turn that question on myself. I believe the consensus view for two reasons. It is the veiw of almost every credible scientist that I have heard an opinion from.
Even when I apply my own simple litmus test:
CO2 is a heat trapping gas (there is no disagreement here)
We are increasing concentrations of C02 (no disagreement)
Conclusion: How would it not be increasing heat?
Admittedly simplistic, but I wonder how those here spouting industry sponsored FUD come to their conclusion that defies both the consensus and common sense.
The Oregon petition was sent out was basically misleading and full of half truths/untruths. It was assembled by a crackpot (Arthur B. Robinson). This info was in the previously included link. You can also follow the associated cross links through source watch. Also there is no vetting on the listed signatures, when examined they contained duplicates and obviously false entries. There is no credentials listed or affiliated institution.
... in turn, was one of the funders of the George C Marshall Institute in Washington DC.54 In 1994 the institute published a report called "Global warming and ozone hole controversies. A challenge to scientific judgment," written by its board chairman, Dr Frederick Seitz. While introducing the subject Seitz also listed a dozen other environmental substances whose dangers he considered controversial, including nuclear wastes, asbestos, acid emissions from burning coal, toxic waste disposal, genetic engineering, pesticides, and passive smoke. Referring to the latter he wrote, "there is no good scientific evidence that passive inhalation is truly dangerous under normal circumstances."
Frederick Seitz, wrote a cover letter endorsing it. While perhaps is not a crackpot, is well past his prime (he was born in 1911), previous work after retiring from university duties was working for the tobacco industry. In fact he is pretty much a general purpose supporter of any polluting industry, currently belongs to several Oil funded lobby groups.
http://tc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/10/4/375
I suspect you joined just to add more FUD to the fire, so it is not a surprise th you would bring this largely meaningless poll.
BTW Consensus, is majority, not everyone. Clearly there will always be people of the caliber of the above that will disagree with anything, especially when being funded by industries who would benefit from that disagreement.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Oregon_ Institute_of_Science_and_Medicine
... It's a place where going into the market can take time because people talk in the aisles and at the checkstands. Life is slower, so you have to be patient. You'll be part of that slowness because it is enjoyable to be neighborly." The main visitors are tourists who come to hike, backpack and fish in the area's many rivers and streams. Cave Junction is the sort of out-of-the-way location you might seek out if you were hoping to survive a nuclear war, but it is not known as a center for scientific and medical research. The OISM would be equally obscure itself, except for the role it played in 1998 in circulating a deceptive "scientists' petition" on global warming in collaboration with Frederick Seitz, a retired former president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM) describes itself as "a small research institute" that studies "biochemistry, diagnostic medicine, nutrition, preventive medicine and the molecular biology of aging." It is headed by Arthur B. Robinson, an eccentric scientist who has a long history of controversial entanglements with figures on the fringe of accepted research. OISM also markets a home-schooling kit for "parents concerned about socialism in the public schools" and publishes books on how to survive nuclear war.
The OISM is located on a farm about 7 miles from the town of Cave Junction, Oregon (population 1,126). Located slightly east of Siskiyou National Forest, Cave Junction is one of several small towns nestled in the Illinois Valley, whose total population is 15,000. Best known as a gateway to the Oregon Caves National Monument, it is described by its chamber of commerce as "the commercial, service, and cultural center for a rural community of small farms, woodlots, crafts people, and families just living apart from the crowds.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_Har ris
Tom Harris is the Executive Director of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project (NRSP).
He was, until approximately late October 2006, listed as a Director of Operations of the Ottowa office of the High Park Group (HPG), a Canadian PR and lobbying company. His biographical note states that he "specializes in strategic communication and media relations and has 28 years experience in science and technology in the energy and environment, aerospace and high-tech sectors. He has worked with private companies and trade associations to successfully position these entities and their interests with media and before government committees and regulatory bodies." Harris "holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from Carleton University and a Master of Engineering (Mechanical - thermo-fluids) from McMaster University."[1]
Harris, who was "once a legislative assistant to former Conservative Environment Critic Bob Mills, has been a prolific writer of anti-Kyoto op-ed pieces, typically quoting scientists associated with Friends of Science." [2]
Friends of Science Society is a Canadian non-profit group "made up of active and retired engineers, earth scientists and other professionals, as well as many concerned Canadians, who believe the science behind the Kyoto Protocol is questionable." [1]
In the August 12th, 2006 Globe and Mail feature, The Friends of Science were exposed as being a front group for the oil industry.[2]
While policy/training clearly needs updating, possibly an officer should be fired, it strikes me that University based police force might be an easy target for provocation as they don't deal with serious offenders on a daily basis.
I have zero sympathy for the kid who instigated this event. In no way should he be given a payday for provoking this. I went to university a few years back and anywhere on campus you had to provide your ID when asked by security. This is not an onerous requirement. Nothing to become belligerent about. If anything they should probably ask for ID more often to help the nut cases realize this is nothing to flip out over. A university is not open to any member of the general public, you may at anytime be required to prove you have the right to be there.
This was poorly handled by university cops, who are probably inadequately trained to deal with belligerents. But no permanent harm was done to the instigator (him and his friends no doubt think he is great hero now) and he doesn't deserve a reward for being the asshole that started this.
"Actually, athiests are barred by law from holding any office in my home state of Tennessee and a few others."
I didn't know that. I guess that makes them the most persecuted minority as well as distrusted minority. Can you image if they had a law like this that said no homosexual, non white, or muslim could hold office.
Insane.
Seriously, atheists are the most distrusted minority in the USA. Some decades after our first black, lesbian, muslim president we might see an atheist president, but I seriously doubt it.
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2006/03/24/67686
More likely there won't be an atheist president. We don't even have an atheist member of congress.
BTW I saw an interview with Gates, he is clearly an atheist, who was resorting to a political song and dance to avoid the A-word, much like almost any US figure in the public eye who might be an atheist. Who has the stones to be outed as an atheist? clearly not Bill G.
I agree. The point of the article is more about gaining some of the acceptance for atheists that other minorities enjoy. References to Bill Gates are more tangential.
I think this links with a study a while back that had atheist as the most distrusted minority in America. I doubt there is an out of closet atheist anywhere in US politics.
I think I have finally getting a handle on the fear/distrust of atheist after watching a few 30 days documentaries (atheist/christians, Pro-choice/pro-life) and the "Root of all evil" documentary with Richard Dawkins, and Jesus Camp. You eventually get the strong sense that it is drummed in from day one that there is nothing worse than being without the word of god. So an atheist is unfathomable.
If you are taught from day one that the only "righteous" people are those that are steeped in the word of god. How do you understand someone that thinks about each issue independently? How can you know what they will think? Of course the old chestnut of atheist not having morality crops up. Having no authoritative source, how could they?
Though it is largely inaccurate,I guess I can understand where it comes from. So maybe Scott is correct and we are at least seeing the baby steps of having a very tiny minority of those in the public eye come out on atheism and one or two TV shows with atheists. We may be in the position of starting some very basic education so religious people can eventually get to have some tiny understanding of atheists.
Interesting stuff. People here are in the large downplaying the consequences if we had this in reality. It would probably be an abrupt end to invention. About the only thing of value would be land, everything else could be replicated. How many people would be working to do anything, if they could already replicate anything on the planet. How are you going to get a team working for years on the next Ferrari if there isn't even money anymore, no one needs for anything.
Of course you need mass+energy, but you can replicate solar/windmills, with that energy you could replicate more advanced power plants if you had the land. If not I guess you would go to war, replicating fighting robots/tanks with your nano-lathe. Eventually it might come down to two sides left, shall we call them Arm and Core... Cool, I was training for this 10 years ago.
I am having a hard time getting what actual benefit Microsoft is actually receiving for its money.
They are paying a pile of money to no be sued by a Linux vendor???
In simple terms can someone explain:
1: What it is microsoft claims to be paying for? And the realistic tangible benefit.
2: Possible hidden benefits they get out of this?
"The complaints are not about downloading material."
:-)
So we can download without worries. It is just uploaders that have to worry. Cool.
Even on the uploading side. Why is uploader responsible for what other uploaders do.Do we have the death penalty or life in prison for speeding. I mean some other speeder kill people occasionally, so lets charge all speeders with murder?
And your argument about the DRM version vs the non DRM version difference in price. We have non DRM CDs and the cost per track is probably in the same ballpark, not to mention full quality and not some tinny 128k mp3.
I have alway wondered why no one challenged the reasonableness of the fine before.
Wikipedia is a triumph. Amazing breadth and depth of info at your fingertips for free, updated and improved thousands a times/day.
Generally it is control freaks and central authorities, or unsurprisingly members of "old media" that dislike wiki. I set one up at work, and many in management didn't want to put info in it because "anyone" can change it. That is the advantage not the weakness. Because the wiki continues to be updated, because anyone can do it. Our centrally controlled work pages always died of neglect. The Wiki is living and growing.
Long live the wiki.
Essentially this says nations that have tougher math curriculum, have students that are better at math and are less confident in math skills. They feel less confident in match skills because they are facing tougher course.
Unlike the USA where johnny gets a nice shiny star for 1+1 = 3, full of confidence, but little skill.
The question is whether the job of math eduction is happy students or math skills.
"Artificial photosynthesis coupled with fuel cells in vehicles, however, is a hydrogen fuel/solar energy energy collection method that gives us a pollution free renewable "fuel" as a part of the cycle that can be used in cars/trains/ships ... possibly even planes."
If this is actually more efficient that solar energy with photovoltaics or heat concentrators, well and good, but I doubt it.
Even so, once we switch to electricity as a main driver. Anything can be put in a fuel as the back end, to produce the electricity. It can be clean as windpower or it can be hydrogen, nuclear, coal, whatever is available. We shouldn't need to reinvent the distribution system everytime we find a better source of energy.