Yeah I read about the Russians armed space stations.
From what I remember they made 3, only one of which made it to orbit. The 20mm cannon apparently was originally a retrofitted AA gun. The intention was that it would be manned, however they never were. It seems that firing a 20mm cannon from space does two things, one was to propel you in the opposite direction (well duh) and the other was it vibrated the crap out of the module breaking it. I suspect being inside the thing if it fired would not be a good thing.
Never heard about the Polyus Battle Station. Nuclear mines sound fun, from a distance of course. I have no idea wtf a Boron field generator does, but it sure sounds cool. Sign me up, I'll take one of those!
I don't think I would want to "man" any of those things in space though.
However as soon as we throw that idea away as being stupid and automate them, well that is when SkyNet becomes aware...
You are 100% correct however it is the chicken or egg thing, where one supports the other. It is a feedback loop. Until people decide or the enviroment dictates, the status quo will remain. It certainly isn't something that is going to change quickly. Urban planning and everything else is influanced by all this stuff but eventually, I think in the LONG term things are gong to change regardless. You might as well position yourself accordingly as far as I am concerned.
I liken many of these new technologies to those ripoff infomercials about losing weight.
"If you take this Pill, you will lose all the weight you want!"
Its the same as industry saying, buy this new technology car and be as wasteful as before!
As anybody that has half a brain will tell you the secret to losing weight is simple, it is a lifestyle change. Eat less food, eat better food when you do, and be more active.
Same can be said about our current dilemma. You want to have cleaner air, and help the environment, etc... Well here is how you do it: Its called walking. Alternative crazy machines like "Bikes". Also the concept of "Mass Transportation", etc... This isn't new technology, its called being responsible. Sure new technologies help, and sure they can do great good, but don't believe the BS that the auto companies are trying to "sell" for one second. Because that is exactly right, they all they are interesting is in selling and the status quo. They want eveyone to buy one of their products, or two even. If it wears out, but two more. The fact that the total cost of ownership in terms of pollution etc, is actually higher then proven efficient old technologies doesn't matter. Its about PR, hype, and selling product.
If you are really interested in the environment, clean air, etc... try walking to work, or biking, or taking a bus, or train, etc... Buy a house or rent close to where you work. Try not to be wasteful in anything you do. The simple basic things you do are likely way more effective than anything else.
Ok this guy must be smart, as I don't even know wtf actuarial science is, let alone get a frickin' masters in it!
Though 3 of his schools are Canadian. Its probably part of Canada's sneaky plan to take over the world starting with the US. Notice how the Canadian Banks are relatively fine, and the American ones are fcuked? Evil Canadians!
...Just finishing reading "Red Mars" and they talk about automated or programmable construction robots.
However I did notice that the author glossed over many of the problems associated with this, which the moonbots (if I may) would also encounter.
#1) Weight. Escaping earths gravity well is hard. #2) HOT!/COLD! It is either really freakin' hot or really freakin' cold depending on where the Sun happens to be. #3) Oxygen. None. Cannot combust stuff. #4) Erosion. None. While having an atmosphere is a pain in the ass (I am lookin at you snow shovelin'!), it also makes stuff nice and roundy. #5) Gravamity, not much. Good sometimes, but not all.
So here is my 2 cents.
1) Gravity well. Bottom line very expensive and there will be a limit as to size of items. The solution here is very small, very simple machines. The first robots should be more about material conversion, rather than construction. Basically Von Neuman machines, that eat Rigolith, and produce more of them metallic selves. Later would come the little robot eating machine, etc.. until you get to more complex robotic systems. In any event the whole point is the less trips the better, ideally, there should be only one. Realistically we don't have the technology or the automation, and won't for a long time.
2) Two problems here. First is many electronics that we currently use on earth don't like being really hot OR really cold, never mind alternating variations of the two. After a while they break down. Cure is new integrated technology we don't have using alternatives to silicon etc. The second problem is that everything runs on batteries. Guess what, most batteries, like electronics, either like Hot or Cold, but not both, and certainly not alternating. The solution now for both is to heat stuff, however this wears out, and also heat costs energy and efficiency. They used mythical "Hydrazine" Red Mars.
#3) No Oxy! Which means may need to bring, or discover other ways to "do stuff". Now no fossil fuels so engine being out not a big deal. However some simple things we do here would be impossible. Also some chemical reactions would not be possible unless we bring oxy as well. Some things in mining/excavating/construction that go boom, no go boom any more. Magic Hydrazine again.
#4) Another thing they pointed out in Red Mars, was "fines". Microscopic dust basically. This stuff would get everywhere, and in everything. This is bad enough, but to top it off, all these "fines" and all the dust as well would be jagged sharp little buggers. Breath deep friends! Any prolonged exposure would surly break down any equipment with moving parts.
#5) isn't so much a set back as an new way of thinking. 1/6 gravity mean you are going to have to do things different, from how you move earth (or moon I guess in this context), to how you go boom (and not have debris hanging around forever, and scattering everywhere), to leverage calculations (robot weighs X, can pick up Y)...
Anyway long story short we are a long way off. I think our best bet is in nanotechnology and creating very simple micro moonbots (had to) that are easily transportable, that would handle some simple conversion/microbot creation activities. The rest would follow and is a long way off I think.
Taking up a lawnmower sized robot, to play in the sandbox is likely a waste of time other than in PR.
#1) There are ONLY two real Canadian ISP's. Bell Canada, and Rogers Communication. All the rest are considered "independents" which I always thought funny as they are all "dependent" upon Bell or Roger lines.
#2) Bit torrent throttling != Net Neutrality.
#3) This has nothing to do with consumers not understanding what they are buying, this has everything to do with misrepresenting what they are selling.
#4) Both these companies are consummate crooks. They cheat, offer horrible service and limited options, collude, and are generally evil. Both have leveraged huge amounts of taxpayer money to build their infrastructure in their past, and neither seems to want to admit that. The harder the CRTC comes down on these clowns the better. The "independents" need more latitude, and the Bell and Rogers duopoly needs more limits as to what it can do with OUR infrastructure. They seem to forget they are only custodians, and that this is a Canadian resource, not a company asset.
How about one strike and I am out. Accuse me once of infringement without due process and I will quit and get a different ISP. Simple.
Of course I don't live in Quebec so I am not sure what their ISP options are. However if it is like Ontario, there isn't much choice, but there is choice.
I remember not having much feeling in my left thumb throughout my childhood. It was pretty much attributed to that horrible sharp edged X control pad that the original Nintendo had. Was some good times. Eventually you get a callus and its not so bad, you just have to play through it.
Ok I haven't been on Xbox live in awhile so maybe things have changed. I used to play Halo 2 online via xbox live.
I don't see the big deal. When I was on the only thing people seemed to talk about was identifying each other as: Gay, Fag, Homo, etc...
Seems like the whole community lead an alternative lifestyle really, so I am not sure what the big deal is about lesbians... Girls need love too y'know!:)
I know in Canada there is already a law for this. Like many laws, it is not enforced, and ignored by all.
Legally Bars/Pubs/Taverns/Clubs/etc... are A) Not allowed to serve you if you are drunk, and B) are liable for your actions if they do.
However I don't think I have been in a bar (and I have been in a few) that will stop serving you if drunk. Sure, if you lose the ability to walk, or to keep the contents of your stomach, or stay awake, then yes they will stop serving you and usually kick you out, but that is about the extent of it.
Also if you jump in your car and mow down a bunch of people, the establishment would be partially responsible as they should have not served you (though you probably could have been over the legal limit and not be considered drunk, which would be the defense).
However in practice I don't hear of this happening all that often (the liability part not the mowing down of people).
Bottom line is politicians make laws. Politicians need votes. People like getting bombed. Government also loves taxes.
There are plenty of instances, take Tobacco for instance. They tax the hell out of it in the name of health, think of the children! However they never ban it, or make it illegal. A) They make a shitton of tax money from it. B) Smokers tend to be of voting age. It is all a (pardon the pun) smokescreen for greed and power, as it is for most things.
Made sense right? Because a paper clip helps (or assists) you to keep your documents together.
Now using this same premise what does this new technology do? Why it helps you share files.
Introducing "Sharey"!
Now, who shares? Communists! What is the symbol of Russia? A Bear! Now I am pretty sure a "Share Bear" already exists, so they might have to buy some IP to pull this off...
One thing you have to understand, this is not the school and legal system I grew up in nor my parents grew up in.
I am guessing here but what probably happened, is that the twit was cheating on her Math test. Teacher caught her. Twit hid phone. So now it is Teachers word vs hers. In my day you would get sent to Principals office, teacher would inform of infraction, and punishment would then be done, probably just a talking to or perhaps a suspension if serious enough. Now a days, if twit gets suspended, and no proof, then school gets sued by parents.
Teachers do not have right to "frisk" students. See parental suing above. So what does teacher do, call the cops and have them frisk her, find phone, proof of cheating. Normally this would end the same way where the Principle would be the one giving out punishment. However refusing to comply with a Teacher is one thing, refusing to comply with police is another. It could be that once an incident has taken place the police are obligated to follow through and have no choice. It could be that they just pissed off the officer. More likely they are just using the incident to scare the bajesus out the twit in hopes of impressing on her some respect for authority. Who knows, not enough detail to determine. Anyway it is likely the report is sensationalistic and they just want to grab a headline, odds are it is really nothing.
Not all Canadians live in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal!
Seriously though, from what I have been told, those in major population centers (see Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal) will have had some already switch over to digital or will switch over to digital before the deadline. Some of these will also offer analog alternatives as well. However for the rest of Canada most will be switching on the deadline set by industry Canada and not before, which is in 2011, still 2 years away.
So in other words if you were looking into buying anything ATSC and do not live in the Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal areas, don't bother.
Mandatory Canadian content in Radio and TV are also stupid ideas.
I understand the reason. We Canadians are BOMBARDED by US culture, radio, tv, etc... I see the need to have some Canadian identity in there.
However they are going about it all wrong. I know some radio has a hard time meeting the content quota, and what happens is a lot of the same crappy songs get played, really only because they are Canadian. This isn't what we should be promoting.
What we should be doing is having programs and money from government to sponsor the arts. The rest will follow.
On top of that, the internet is much different than radio and TV and it makes even less sense in this context.
I am surprised they aren't getting a bailout as well. The RIAA are professional fear mongers. With the economy in shambles this is their time to shine. I expect it to get worse.
In fact I see this moving to the SCO model of business. They will just give up on music, and just sue people for money. It worked for them. We can only hope, as at least that way the RIAA dinosaur would go extinct and the music industry could move forward into the present reality.
B) Even if so, its not the same thing. As mentioned it is more akin to getting a list of who you called, and when, and what you talked about, for how long, etc...
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah I read about the Russians armed space stations.
From what I remember they made 3, only one of which made it to orbit. The 20mm cannon apparently was originally a retrofitted AA gun. The intention was that it would be manned, however they never were. It seems that firing a 20mm cannon from space does two things, one was to propel you in the opposite direction (well duh) and the other was it vibrated the crap out of the module breaking it. I suspect being inside the thing if it fired would not be a good thing.
Never heard about the Polyus Battle Station. Nuclear mines sound fun, from a distance of course. I have no idea wtf a Boron field generator does, but it sure sounds cool. Sign me up, I'll take one of those!
I don't think I would want to "man" any of those things in space though.
However as soon as we throw that idea away as being stupid and automate them, well that is when SkyNet becomes aware...
You are 100% correct however it is the chicken or egg thing, where one supports the other. It is a feedback loop. Until people decide or the enviroment dictates, the status quo will remain. It certainly isn't something that is going to change quickly. Urban planning and everything else is influanced by all this stuff but eventually, I think in the LONG term things are gong to change regardless. You might as well position yourself accordingly as far as I am concerned.
Reminds me of a funny gag they pulled up here in Canada.
A number of years ago there was a douchebag conservative politician running for Prime Minister.
One of his stupid kooky ideas was if ever 10% of the population wanted a referendum they would have it.
So the comedy news up here (This hour has 22 minutes) started an online poll.
Anyway long story short the poll was to have a referendum to change the politicians name from "Stockwell Day" to "Doris Day".
It got over 400,000 people to sign up saying yet they would like him to change his name to Doris.
While he didn't win then, he is now our Minister of International Trade... god save us all.
I liken many of these new technologies to those ripoff infomercials about losing weight.
"If you take this Pill, you will lose all the weight you want!"
Its the same as industry saying, buy this new technology car and be as wasteful as before!
As anybody that has half a brain will tell you the secret to losing weight is simple, it is a lifestyle change. Eat less food, eat better food when you do, and be more active.
Same can be said about our current dilemma. You want to have cleaner air, and help the environment, etc... Well here is how you do it: Its called walking. Alternative crazy machines like "Bikes". Also the concept of "Mass Transportation", etc... This isn't new technology, its called being responsible. Sure new technologies help, and sure they can do great good, but don't believe the BS that the auto companies are trying to "sell" for one second. Because that is exactly right, they all they are interesting is in selling and the status quo. They want eveyone to buy one of their products, or two even. If it wears out, but two more. The fact that the total cost of ownership in terms of pollution etc, is actually higher then proven efficient old technologies doesn't matter. Its about PR, hype, and selling product.
If you are really interested in the environment, clean air, etc... try walking to work, or biking, or taking a bus, or train, etc... Buy a house or rent close to where you work. Try not to be wasteful in anything you do. The simple basic things you do are likely way more effective than anything else.
or simply "Borg" with fancy umlauts over the "o" to make it seem European.
even better name... Chanel No. 7 of 9
lol, this shit writes itself!
Come on, "Eau de 7 of 9" perfume!
Because, "Resistance IS futile..."
Ok this guy must be smart, as I don't even know wtf actuarial science is, let alone get a frickin' masters in it!
Though 3 of his schools are Canadian. Its probably part of Canada's sneaky plan to take over the world starting with the US. Notice how the Canadian Banks are relatively fine, and the American ones are fcuked? Evil Canadians!
...Just finishing reading "Red Mars" and they talk about automated or programmable construction robots.
However I did notice that the author glossed over many of the problems associated with this, which the moonbots (if I may) would also encounter.
#1) Weight. Escaping earths gravity well is hard.
#2) HOT!/COLD! It is either really freakin' hot or really freakin' cold depending on where the Sun happens to be.
#3) Oxygen. None. Cannot combust stuff.
#4) Erosion. None. While having an atmosphere is a pain in the ass (I am lookin at you snow shovelin'!), it also makes stuff nice and roundy.
#5) Gravamity, not much. Good sometimes, but not all.
So here is my 2 cents.
1) Gravity well. Bottom line very expensive and there will be a limit as to size of items. The solution here is very small, very simple machines. The first robots should be more about material conversion, rather than construction. Basically Von Neuman machines, that eat Rigolith, and produce more of them metallic selves. Later would come the little robot eating machine, etc.. until you get to more complex robotic systems. In any event the whole point is the less trips the better, ideally, there should be only one. Realistically we don't have the technology or the automation, and won't for a long time.
2) Two problems here. First is many electronics that we currently use on earth don't like being really hot OR really cold, never mind alternating variations of the two. After a while they break down. Cure is new integrated technology we don't have using alternatives to silicon etc. The second problem is that everything runs on batteries. Guess what, most batteries, like electronics, either like Hot or Cold, but not both, and certainly not alternating. The solution now for both is to heat stuff, however this wears out, and also heat costs energy and efficiency. They used mythical "Hydrazine" Red Mars.
#3) No Oxy! Which means may need to bring, or discover other ways to "do stuff". Now no fossil fuels so engine being out not a big deal. However some simple things we do here would be impossible. Also some chemical reactions would not be possible unless we bring oxy as well. Some things in mining/excavating/construction that go boom, no go boom any more. Magic Hydrazine again.
#4) Another thing they pointed out in Red Mars, was "fines". Microscopic dust basically. This stuff would get everywhere, and in everything. This is bad enough, but to top it off, all these "fines" and all the dust as well would be jagged sharp little buggers. Breath deep friends! Any prolonged exposure would surly break down any equipment with moving parts.
#5) isn't so much a set back as an new way of thinking. 1/6 gravity mean you are going to have to do things different, from how you move earth (or moon I guess in this context), to how you go boom (and not have debris hanging around forever, and scattering everywhere), to leverage calculations (robot weighs X, can pick up Y)...
Anyway long story short we are a long way off. I think our best bet is in nanotechnology and creating very simple micro moonbots (had to) that are easily transportable, that would handle some simple conversion/microbot creation activities. The rest would follow and is a long way off I think.
Taking up a lawnmower sized robot, to play in the sandbox is likely a waste of time other than in PR.
#1) There are ONLY two real Canadian ISP's. Bell Canada, and Rogers Communication. All the rest are considered "independents" which I always thought funny as they are all "dependent" upon Bell or Roger lines.
#2) Bit torrent throttling != Net Neutrality.
#3) This has nothing to do with consumers not understanding what they are buying, this has everything to do with misrepresenting what they are selling.
#4) Both these companies are consummate crooks. They cheat, offer horrible service and limited options, collude, and are generally evil. Both have leveraged huge amounts of taxpayer money to build their infrastructure in their past, and neither seems to want to admit that. The harder the CRTC comes down on these clowns the better. The "independents" need more latitude, and the Bell and Rogers duopoly needs more limits as to what it can do with OUR infrastructure. They seem to forget they are only custodians, and that this is a Canadian resource, not a company asset.
How about one strike and I am out. Accuse me once of infringement without due process and I will quit and get a different ISP. Simple.
Of course I don't live in Quebec so I am not sure what their ISP options are. However if it is like Ontario, there isn't much choice, but there is choice.
You were just eaten by a Grue.
Also populated by space marines.
I remember not having much feeling in my left thumb throughout my childhood. It was pretty much attributed to that horrible sharp edged X control pad that the original Nintendo had. Was some good times. Eventually you get a callus and its not so bad, you just have to play through it.
Ok I haven't been on Xbox live in awhile so maybe things have changed. I used to play Halo 2 online via xbox live.
I don't see the big deal. When I was on the only thing people seemed to talk about was identifying each other as: Gay, Fag, Homo, etc...
Seems like the whole community lead an alternative lifestyle really, so I am not sure what the big deal is about lesbians... Girls need love too y'know! :)
I know in Canada there is already a law for this. Like many laws, it is not enforced, and ignored by all.
Legally Bars/Pubs/Taverns/Clubs/etc... are A) Not allowed to serve you if you are drunk, and B) are liable for your actions if they do.
However I don't think I have been in a bar (and I have been in a few) that will stop serving you if drunk. Sure, if you lose the ability to walk, or to keep the contents of your stomach, or stay awake, then yes they will stop serving you and usually kick you out, but that is about the extent of it.
Also if you jump in your car and mow down a bunch of people, the establishment would be partially responsible as they should have not served you (though you probably could have been over the legal limit and not be considered drunk, which would be the defense).
However in practice I don't hear of this happening all that often (the liability part not the mowing down of people).
Bottom line is politicians make laws. Politicians need votes. People like getting bombed. Government also loves taxes.
There are plenty of instances, take Tobacco for instance. They tax the hell out of it in the name of health, think of the children! However they never ban it, or make it illegal. A) They make a shitton of tax money from it. B) Smokers tend to be of voting age. It is all a (pardon the pun) smokescreen for greed and power, as it is for most things.
Yes but notice the word "Assistant"...
Remember the Office "Assistant" Clippy!
Made sense right? Because a paper clip helps (or assists) you to keep your documents together.
Now using this same premise what does this new technology do? Why it helps you share files.
Introducing "Sharey"!
Now, who shares? Communists! What is the symbol of Russia? A Bear! Now I am pretty sure a "Share Bear" already exists, so they might have to buy some IP to pull this off...
OK time for my meds...
One thing you have to understand, this is not the school and legal system I grew up in nor my parents grew up in.
I am guessing here but what probably happened, is that the twit was cheating on her Math test. Teacher caught her. Twit hid phone. So now it is Teachers word vs hers. In my day you would get sent to Principals office, teacher would inform of infraction, and punishment would then be done, probably just a talking to or perhaps a suspension if serious enough. Now a days, if twit gets suspended, and no proof, then school gets sued by parents.
Teachers do not have right to "frisk" students. See parental suing above. So what does teacher do, call the cops and have them frisk her, find phone, proof of cheating. Normally this would end the same way where the Principle would be the one giving out punishment. However refusing to comply with a Teacher is one thing, refusing to comply with police is another. It could be that once an incident has taken place the police are obligated to follow through and have no choice. It could be that they just pissed off the officer. More likely they are just using the incident to scare the bajesus out the twit in hopes of impressing on her some respect for authority. Who knows, not enough detail to determine. Anyway it is likely the report is sensationalistic and they just want to grab a headline, odds are it is really nothing.
Not all Canadians live in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal!
Seriously though, from what I have been told, those in major population centers (see Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal) will have had some already switch over to digital or will switch over to digital before the deadline. Some of these will also offer analog alternatives as well. However for the rest of Canada most will be switching on the deadline set by industry Canada and not before, which is in 2011, still 2 years away.
So in other words if you were looking into buying anything ATSC and do not live in the Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal areas, don't bother.
They don't start to transmit until 2011 you insensitive clod!
http://www.chextv.com/aboutCHEX/faq.html#1.
Stupid Stupid idea.
Mandatory Canadian content in Radio and TV are also stupid ideas.
I understand the reason. We Canadians are BOMBARDED by US culture, radio, tv, etc... I see the need to have some Canadian identity in there.
However they are going about it all wrong. I know some radio has a hard time meeting the content quota, and what happens is a lot of the same crappy songs get played, really only because they are Canadian. This isn't what we should be promoting.
What we should be doing is having programs and money from government to sponsor the arts. The rest will follow.
On top of that, the internet is much different than radio and TV and it makes even less sense in this context.
Or Yes.
Title confused me for a second. Whichever is corporate greed, and fear and using the system against the people, go for that one.
No.
I am surprised they aren't getting a bailout as well. The RIAA are professional fear mongers. With the economy in shambles this is their time to shine. I expect it to get worse.
In fact I see this moving to the SCO model of business. They will just give up on music, and just sue people for money. It worked for them. We can only hope, as at least that way the RIAA dinosaur would go extinct and the music industry could move forward into the present reality.
French and English fighting? Inconceivable!
Alternative Ending: French Fighting? Inconceivable!
Heh, all I can thing of is:
BONG!
like a big gong or bell rinnging...
A) Are you sure about that. I am not.
B) Even if so, its not the same thing. As mentioned it is more akin to getting a list of who you called, and when, and what you talked about, for how long, etc...