> I abhor the modern trend of basing sci-fi on reality.
Much of science fiction storytelling is the art of cautionary tales: here's what might happen if.... Star Trek had this down to a formula for their episodes. Michael Crichton is a master at this as well. Crichton, as an example, has to base his stories heavily on reality, taking as few "dramatic license" shortcuts as possible, to make the story believable and also to sell the point he is trying to make: hey, this might happen and it would be bad.
Star Wars isn't really science fiction at all, it's just a story that happens to take place in space. You could tell pretty much the exact same story in almost any setting and timeframe without too many adjustments.
I'm no seasoned MMO player, but I think Matrix Online is too often overlooked. It splits genres in a way because while it is inarguably sci-fi, it is more real-world than most other MMOs, as it takes place in a present day metropolis environment. The environment is so richly detailed and well put together that it's half the reason I play the game. Plus the characters are very personalizable and there is almost no end to the clothing combinations available in the game. The game does lack player and faction housing, which is a real weakness: SOE could make a lot of people happy and keep a lot more players in the game if they added that. But SOE's focus in MxO has been on combat and storyline, and the storyline has been pretty weak as of late.
I'm not interested in the fantasy genre, and the sci-fi genre would only appeal to me if it were a recognizable place, such as SWG or the upcoming Star Trek Online, and I've heard too many bad things about SWG to want to start paying money for it. But the world of the Matrix is cool, fascinating, very social, and the game itself is an analog to the fictional Matrix in the movies, and there's just something fun about jacking yourself into the "real" Matrix.
Now if they were to someday come up with an MMO based on Battlestar Galactica... I'd be there in a second. Not sure how that would work, though.
WOW, Footfall. I read that for the first time sixteen years ago, when I was a college undergrad. There are images still in my head from that book, like them using an Orion concept vehicle in the atmosphere and how oddly unsettled I was whenever they announced over the intercom: "Accelleration. Stand by."
And of course that emotionally wrenching choice the President must make at the very end of the book. That scene still haunts me to this day.
Incredible book. Thanks for bringing up the memories. And oh yeah, I hope we don't all die today because they calculated with inches instead of centimeters.
.. we need someone to drop a piece of bread on the dark side of the moon.. and figure out the exact opposite side of the earth from that point at a certain point in time...
That would really make it a sandwich. It's not a decent sandwich unless you've got at least two things between the bread.
Of course it would be a very short-lived sandwich.. unless you kept moving the earth-bread to stay in alignment with the position of the moon as it passed.
ze rules.
I started playing an MMORPG about a month ago in order to "medicate" the bad feelings of a recent breakup. It works wonders. Some people would consider my gaming habits to be addictive and dangerous. I say they can go screw themselves. I work my 8 hours a day, I pay my taxes, I still hang out with my friends. I just watch less tv and play more on the computer. And I have something fun to look forward to during the day, instead of feeling all mopey about the breakup. When the next semester starts I'll go to school more and play less, but at least by that time I'll be over her.
If I start skipping classes and my 4.0 GPA starts slipping cause of my gaming habits, then you can talk to me about having an "addiction" but if I want to spend 12 hours on a Saturday in front of my PC and I'm not hurting anybody, so what? If I spent that time at a bar getting liquored up (taking a cab home of course) would you--read as: society--have more or less respect for me?
People who run around labeling behaviors "addictions" and addictions "diseases" need to be smacked in the head with a clue-by-four.
> In many contexts holding hands with another person is a public expression that you and that person are a couple (i.e. of your sexuality) - if that person happens to be the same gender as you then it is an expression of your homosexuality
In this culture, when a man and a woman are seen behaving romantically, it is assumed they are a couple because this is the norm (heterosexuality). When a man and another man are seen behaving similarly, it is improper to draw any assumptions at all because to assume homosexuality is in fact being sexist. All you see is behavior which is inconguent, but may have many perfectly logical explanations (e.g. autism) none of which have to do with sexuality.
What tires me most of all is people who think they can conclude things about other people based on mere appearances. It's no better than assuming a woman behaves a certain way because of how she dresses.
"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms." - Steven Jay Gould
"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked him to forgive me." - Emo Philips
"The basic need for faith, in something, by far exceeds the need to keep one's worldview intellectually honest." - Someone on Slashdot whose name I don't remember.
I didn't get that the researchers were trying to prove prayer. They were testing for prayer. It seems they didn't find any evidence that it affects outcomes, which just shows they were unable to replicate their previous study, casting that study in doubt.
Whoever modded this "offtopic" is only showing his/her own ignorance of what the Pippin even is. I believe the parent's post is meant mere to illustrate the fact that Apple does not automatically pwn whatever market it chooses to enter. As such it is very much on-topic.
Her finances are going to be just fine. Did you see her picture? That's professionally done promotional photo, not a candid by some hack ABC photog. I'd lay money she'll get a few dozen job offers, and probably a few marriage proposals out of the deal. She could probably even start up an email-etiquette advice column in some legal rag.
This was such a non-story on a slow news day. "bla bla bla"? So what? I've seen muchworse.
Which shuttle did they land in downtown Los Angeles in the movie The Core? Nobody liked that movie, but the shuttle landing scene in the beginning was awesome. Was it Endeavor?
This may have been suggested further down the threads, and if so I apologize.. but.. go ahead and take parts from it if needed, but I say make it an exhibit at the Smithsonian, or better yet at Space Camp in Hunstville AL. How many kids (yeah, just kids) would kill for the chance to get to sit in the real Space Shuttle Atlantis? I can't think of a finer retirement plan for the beautiful old girl.
Since learning (and writing a report about) the Sony rootkit atrocity, I have deliberately avoided buying Sony products. When I went to buy a new DVD/VHS player for my parents, I deliberately avoided Sony. I wanted to buy a clock radio for another family member. I made sure it was not a Sony. Then my own DVD/VHS player failed and I went to replace it. Again, I didn't even look at Sony.
I wouldn't say I'm "boycotting" Sony. That makes it sound like some kind of political effort. I'm just making purchase decisions and choosing against Sony, just like they chose against me when they decided my privacy and computer's security was less important to them than protecting their profits.
I guess that could be called a boycott, but I just call it "screw you, Sony, you're not getting my money."
This post is not a troll. He is making a valid and reasonable point. If you disagree with his point, be a man and respond accordinglyto it. Don't mod it down so other people cannot read it.
Slashdot Mirror
> I abhor the modern trend of basing sci-fi on reality.
Much of science fiction storytelling is the art of cautionary tales: here's what might happen if .... Star Trek had this down to a formula for their episodes. Michael Crichton is a master at this as well. Crichton, as an example, has to base his stories heavily on reality, taking as few "dramatic license" shortcuts as possible, to make the story believable and also to sell the point he is trying to make: hey, this might happen and it would be bad.
Star Wars isn't really science fiction at all, it's just a story that happens to take place in space. You could tell pretty much the exact same story in almost any setting and timeframe without too many adjustments.
I'm no seasoned MMO player, but I think Matrix Online is too often overlooked. It splits genres in a way because while it is inarguably sci-fi, it is more real-world than most other MMOs, as it takes place in a present day metropolis environment. The environment is so richly detailed and well put together that it's half the reason I play the game. Plus the characters are very personalizable and there is almost no end to the clothing combinations available in the game. The game does lack player and faction housing, which is a real weakness: SOE could make a lot of people happy and keep a lot more players in the game if they added that. But SOE's focus in MxO has been on combat and storyline, and the storyline has been pretty weak as of late.
I'm not interested in the fantasy genre, and the sci-fi genre would only appeal to me if it were a recognizable place, such as SWG or the upcoming Star Trek Online, and I've heard too many bad things about SWG to want to start paying money for it. But the world of the Matrix is cool, fascinating, very social, and the game itself is an analog to the fictional Matrix in the movies, and there's just something fun about jacking yourself into the "real" Matrix.
Now if they were to someday come up with an MMO based on Battlestar Galactica ... I'd be there in a second. Not sure how that would work, though.
WOW, Footfall. I read that for the first time sixteen years ago, when I was a college undergrad. There are images still in my head from that book, like them using an Orion concept vehicle in the atmosphere and how oddly unsettled I was whenever they announced over the intercom: "Accelleration. Stand by."
And of course that emotionally wrenching choice the President must make at the very end of the book. That scene still haunts me to this day.
Incredible book. Thanks for bringing up the memories. And oh yeah, I hope we don't all die today because they calculated with inches instead of centimeters.
.. we need someone to drop a piece of bread on the dark side of the moon .. and figure out the exact opposite side of the earth from that point at a certain point in time ...
That would really make it a sandwich. It's not a decent sandwich unless you've got at least two things between the bread.
Of course it would be a very short-lived sandwich .. unless you kept moving the earth-bread to stay in alignment with the position of the moon as it passed.
ze rules.
It sounds like he meant to say that Muslims ALSO hold the belief that they are all wackjobs.
Why yes! We have a disease for you too!
I started playing an MMORPG about a month ago in order to "medicate" the bad feelings of a recent breakup. It works wonders. Some people would consider my gaming habits to be addictive and dangerous. I say they can go screw themselves. I work my 8 hours a day, I pay my taxes, I still hang out with my friends. I just watch less tv and play more on the computer. And I have something fun to look forward to during the day, instead of feeling all mopey about the breakup. When the next semester starts I'll go to school more and play less, but at least by that time I'll be over her.
If I start skipping classes and my 4.0 GPA starts slipping cause of my gaming habits, then you can talk to me about having an "addiction" but if I want to spend 12 hours on a Saturday in front of my PC and I'm not hurting anybody, so what? If I spent that time at a bar getting liquored up (taking a cab home of course) would you--read as: society--have more or less respect for me?
People who run around labeling behaviors "addictions" and addictions "diseases" need to be smacked in the head with a clue-by-four.
Funniest post on here today. Too bad KGB took all mod points. They make mistake.
You mean Bill Gates? Don't hold your breath.
Why don't all these "conservative groups" move to just shut down Las Vegas? Isn't that pretty much the .xxx for the country?
You obviously didn't RTFA.
There is a picture of Misato laying a huge wet one on Shinji. Yep, little 14-year-old Shinji.
Is she hot? I want a copy.
> In many contexts holding hands with another person is a public expression that you and that person are a couple (i.e. of your sexuality) - if that person happens to be the same gender as you then it is an expression of your homosexuality
In this culture, when a man and a woman are seen behaving romantically, it is assumed they are a couple because this is the norm (heterosexuality). When a man and another man are seen behaving similarly, it is improper to draw any assumptions at all because to assume homosexuality is in fact being sexist. All you see is behavior which is inconguent, but may have many perfectly logical explanations (e.g. autism) none of which have to do with sexuality.
What tires me most of all is people who think they can conclude things about other people based on mere appearances. It's no better than assuming a woman behaves a certain way because of how she dresses.
"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms." - Steven Jay Gould "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked him to forgive me." - Emo Philips "The basic need for faith, in something, by far exceeds the need to keep one's worldview intellectually honest." - Someone on Slashdot whose name I don't remember.
I didn't get that the researchers were trying to prove prayer. They were testing for prayer. It seems they didn't find any evidence that it affects outcomes, which just shows they were unable to replicate their previous study, casting that study in doubt.
"And there's one more thing ..."
Whoever modded this "offtopic" is only showing his/her own ignorance of what the Pippin even is. I believe the parent's post is meant mere to illustrate the fact that Apple does not automatically pwn whatever market it chooses to enter. As such it is very much on-topic.
I've heard of "music piracy", but "data rape" is a new low for the MPAA/RIAA.
Her finances are going to be just fine. Did you see her picture? That's professionally done promotional photo, not a candid by some hack ABC photog. I'd lay money she'll get a few dozen job offers, and probably a few marriage proposals out of the deal. She could probably even start up an email-etiquette advice column in some legal rag.
This was such a non-story on a slow news day. "bla bla bla"? So what? I've seen much worse.
Which shuttle did they land in downtown Los Angeles in the movie The Core? Nobody liked that movie, but the shuttle landing scene in the beginning was awesome. Was it Endeavor?
This may have been suggested further down the threads, and if so I apologize .. but .. go ahead and take parts from it if needed, but I say make it an exhibit at the Smithsonian, or better yet at Space Camp in Hunstville AL. How many kids (yeah, just kids) would kill for the chance to get to sit in the real Space Shuttle Atlantis? I can't think of a finer retirement plan for the beautiful old girl.
Since learning (and writing a report about) the Sony rootkit atrocity, I have deliberately avoided buying Sony products. When I went to buy a new DVD/VHS player for my parents, I deliberately avoided Sony. I wanted to buy a clock radio for another family member. I made sure it was not a Sony. Then my own DVD/VHS player failed and I went to replace it. Again, I didn't even look at Sony.
I wouldn't say I'm "boycotting" Sony. That makes it sound like some kind of political effort. I'm just making purchase decisions and choosing against Sony, just like they chose against me when they decided my privacy and computer's security was less important to them than protecting their profits.
I guess that could be called a boycott, but I just call it "screw you, Sony, you're not getting my money."
+1 Fuckin' A.
This post is not a troll. He is making a valid and reasonable point. If you disagree with his point, be a man and respond accordinglyto it. Don't mod it down so other people cannot read it.
Sheesh.
.. and that would make "the rest of us" the vocal majority . So what's your point? The majority is acting like a majority? Oh, heavens!