All of those may be possible, except for photon torpedos (what kind of damage would that cause). Proton torpedos would pack quite a kick, along matter-antimatter bombs.
Anti-gravity: Reversing or lessening the curvature of space time in a local area. Might take a bit of energy or at least a much butter understanding of gravity.
Inertial Damping System: Same as above.
Warp Drives: Same as above. By removing the curvature of space-time around the craft, to the universe you don't seem to exist. The space-time drag effect goes away and THEORETICALLY go as fast as you wanted to. You'd need a LOT of energy to do this, as well as complete understanding of space-time.
ATM though it would all be fantasy, as we don't even have a common theory for all the forces in the Universe.:)
As far as "psychics" go though, I have a problem even formulating how they could exist. To see the future, you would have to calculat all events in the entire universe for some future point. Even on a local scale it would be impossible due to the uncertainty principle.
Psychic teleportation?????
I'm George W. Bush, and I approve this research.
~X~ "I'll need 10 million dollars to research the potential for using playboy bunnies as a mind control devince on men."
I, like many others, thought that Americans were intelligent and reasonable. I thought that what Bush has done in the past four years, the lies, deceits, secrecy, and atrocities would come back to haunt him. I thought the youth vote would come out in droves and surprise the pollsters by taking those tight single digit percentage advantages in significant leads for Kerry.
As I watched the electoral map fill up, my assuredness began evaporating. Sure there were states Bush was pretty much guaranteed to win, but the percentage of votes were staggering. Soon my assuredness became chagrin, as Bush surpassed Kerry in Florida. Surely this was due to not all the votes being tabulated yet.
Then in Ohio, Bush took a commanding lead. My confusion suddenly became fear. The house and senate had steadily increased their republican margins. What was going on?
And then Florida was called for Bush by a large number of votes. In Ohio, Bush's lead became all but certain as the precint percent went above 95%. And there I was, staring in utter disbelief that America had re-elected a president that should not be.
All of today, I researched why. I couldn't seem to wrap any logic around it. But in the exit polls I found the answer. I still couldn't believe it, but it was there.
The non-college educated and the devout religious. The youth vote practically was non-existant, so there wasn't a counter-acting force.
People voted for Bush not because he was better, but because they believe God speaks through him. Instead of the real troubles of this country being the deciding factor, it was gay-marriage and abortion. It was the people who base their choices on faiths instead of facts that decided this election.
This has saddened me a great deal. The ultra-cons/neo-cons now control the executive and legislative, and soon the judicial with the upcoming supreme court appointees.
And yet, a majority of the population doesn't see anything wrong.
As a citizen of the US, I feel I must apologize to the world for the ignorance of the majority of Americans. I also apologize for the horrendous acts of death, greed, torture, and destruction our current elected officials have caused. And I want to apologize in advance for four more years fo war and tyranny that will be brought onto the world.
This was our one chance to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world, and we instead proved to the world our citizens have lack of thought and foresight. We re-elected a religious, egotistical, bigoted, zealot bent on turning this country into a corporate fascist state.
I was wrong to have thought so highly of my country.
I feel embarassed and ashamed.
Damn. I should have known better. My sympathies to whatever country is on th Bush agenda.
~X~ "I live in a state of cynicism, but I don't believe it."
It's not so much that Bush won. I could have stomached that if I had to.
It's that the repugnatcans now control the house and the senate by a wide majority. And it's likely Bush will get to appoint 3 or 4 supreme court judges over the next 4 years.
I don't know about you, but with all that alignment and the shear determination of Bush and co to run this country staright into Hell's asshole, this makes me VERY concerned.
Now Bush can pretty much do whatever he wants, and there's nothing stopping him.
The next 4 years are going to be scary, painful, and disgusting.
~X~ "Mark my words. Bush will invade another country within the next 12 months and bring back the draft."
Until suddenly you protest the government, and they lock you up for being a "potential terrorist".
You are incredibly naive. I'm sure the lawyer who was accused of being terrorist and had his life put through a living hell would totally agree with you.
The funny thing is, the government's definition of enemy changes quite frequently, and drastically.
And sometimes, even something such as a humorous blog will get you a visit from the SS.
Obey. You are a good citizen.
~X~ "If it doesn't affect me, it must be good for my country."
"What are the chances of 2 Texas oilmen (financially supported by many more oilmen) giving us a coherent national energy policy which frees us from dependency on oil and the Middle East?"
None *cough* Iraq *cough*.
"What are the chances that 2 trial lawyers (who's biggest contributors are the trial lawyers associations) giving us the litigation reforms so crucial to getting escalating health care and pharm costs under control for the long term viability of our economy?"
If you do some research, you'll find that litigation makes up a fairly small percent of the health care costs. However I fully agree that something does need to be done about.
And after all the bald-face lying the current adminsitration has done to the American people to forward their own agendas, I am much more willing to give Kerry the benefit of the doubt.
"First, let's stop living in 1971, and start living in 2004. What happened in VietNam is long over, and people have changed since then. I thank Kerry for his service 30 years ago, but I think that there are other issues more relevant to today's election that VietNam."
Agreed. Attacking someone's Vietnam service is ludicrous. Of course, that didn't stop Bush and co. from tearing down McCain (wish he had won the primary).
"That being said, the most pertinant issue is Iraq."
This statement sums up the fact you have no clue. None. This country has FAR FAR FAR more pressing problems than Iraq. Iraq has been lie. Period.
"The war was totally justified."
100,000 dead. 1100 soldiers killed. $120 billion and counting. All for what?
"We knew Saddam had WMD's at one point in time."
Well no shit. I believe that was way back in the early 90's. And excuse me if I don't believe all the lies that have been brought forth by all the reports. I find it hard to believe Hussein, ruler of a country that didn't have clean water or reliable electricity, had the means or capabilities to produce regular weapons, let alone WMD. AND INSPECTORS AND INTELLIGENCE HAD RPORTED AS MUCH.
"He gave no proof whatsoever. It would be irresponsible to put the the security of the US in Saddam's hands."
Dude, 2/3 of the country was a no fly zone. The entire country's infrastructure was held together by string and duct tape. US Security at risk? Please tell me you're joking. They didn't have parts to make their planes fly. How the hell was IRAQ a threat to us? They had nothing. They didn't even have enough ammo for their soldiers guns. Kicking inspectors out? Yeah. We threaten, we drop some bombs, they get let back in. This wasn't a smoke screen. It's the mentality. People there respect strength, so standing up to the inspectors was a way for Saddam to show everyone he was still powerful. All of his cabinet peretuated this belief to the people to keep them in check. It was either that, or the people would have revolted against his dictatorship (which wouldn't have been bad thing, but you don't know what kind of regime would take his place).
No, Iraq wasn't a threat. Osama Bin Laden is a threat. And even that is greatly exaggerated.
"He wanted everyone to think that he was strong."
With reason. How many people follow a weak dictator.
"Well, he kind of fucked up there."
No, we fucked up. We eliminated the one source of power keeping the country from imploding on itself. By removing Saddam, we created a power vacuum. The dissenting groups grew in power, adn already fomenting anti-American feelings, they decided to turn their venom on the new "invaders". With all the deaths, a great deal being civilians, who can really blame them. It just adds fuel to the fire. Before you say "that's crap", just look how we responded when we were attacked. Do you really expect them to be any different?
We've made a bad situation worse. Real terrorist organizations now have thousands of recruits. In their minds, they are freedom fighters.
As side note, I find it highly ironic that what we now call terrorism from bin Laden is the exact same behavior we encouraged him to perform during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Except we didn't call it terrorism then.
"Also, let's not forget that John Kerry looked at the very same intelligence as the Bush administration and came to the very same conclusions, namely that Saddam posed an iminent threat. So, any critiques you might have about Bush's judgement also apply to Kerry. Kerry also voted for the war. He also stated, a couple months ago, that, knowing what he knows now, he'd still vote for authorization to use the troops. Well, that was a couple of months ago. I don't know if it's still true today."
Yeah he looked at the same WRONG intelligence. He didn't come to the same conclusion. He didn't vote for the war, he voted for the authorization of force, which is a very different thing. He did so
The League of Nations failed as a result of US foriegn policy (even though we were the main ones to get it going, go figure).
It's really not so much that the rest of the world is a nightmare or Bush is a nightmare. It's more like the world needs help and Bush is making it worse. And taking us along for the ride as well.
You really do a good job of being an ass.
Afghanistan really wasn't a threat. It was Osama and his gang that were the threat. Iraq was not a threat, nor could it have been even if it wanted to. North Korea could potentially be a threat, but then again, we kinda helped that one along too.
I know this may be hard for you to believe, but you can participate on the worldly stage without being a self-righteous, belligerent, militant state. The military option should only be used as a last resort, not as the primary negotiating strategy.
"Diplomacy doesn't work." Okay. So in other words, you want us act just like "Germany I, Germany II, etc.".
The world doesn't get any better by bombing it.
Pre-emptive striking, BTW, is exactly what Hitler used. He even justified it by protecting his people. The parallels are...creepy.
Back in the '80's your statement would have gotten you smacked down.
In the '80's bin Laden was 'great freedom fighter, fighting against the evil Communist invasion to bring peace and democracy to Afghanistan'.
What he was doing against the Russians is what he's doing against us now. Except then they were 'acts of patriotism' and not acts of terrorism.
All that changed when, after the Russians withdrew, bin Laden didn't want to become a happy little democracy. Of course, we didn't like that. And all sorts and bad stuff happened since then.
He attacks the US because we did a pretty good job of screwing him over. And other countries helped. That doesn't justify his actions, which are inexcusable, but it does show where a lot of his hatred comes from. Religion is just another weapon in his arsenal to aid in recruitment and such.
~X~ "Blind faith doesn't help when you're walking on a cliff."
Despite the fact the vehemently disagree with his tactics (he will be caught and killed someday), he does have a point. The US has been doing all sorts of, how shall we say, less than humanitarian, things in the middle east for a few decades now.
I mean, you saw how we reacted after 9/11. We had the resources and the military to strike back fast and hard.
Then there's Iraq where we've caused thousands of civilian casualties and destroyed towns and cities. For no just cause.
Can we really expect them to not want to respond to that?
I'm glad you stated Iraq had nothing to do with terror.
I also agree with you that all that money wasted in Iraq would have been much better spent at home.
However I disagree with your tone of fear.
It would take a lot more than one plant melting down to make the east coast uninhabitable. Not to mention the fact that it is quite difficult to make a plant go merely by smashing something into it (far easier for someone to do it from the contol panel, as an ad-hoc colision of that nature would most likely spread the rods far appart preventing a reaction).
If the smash a plane into the NYSE, trading would stop. However, there are many stock exchanges (with backup data) located throughout various cities. Once the initial shock was over, things would return to normal. After the trade towers collapsed, the stock exchanged shut down for several days. The economy did not come to a grinding halt. Many other aspects are involved in the economy other than the stock exchange.
There are contingency planes in place if capitol hill got smoked. They've been there for quite awhile. Our whole government is built on the idea of redundancy (as anyone who has dealt with government could tell you).
And if unemployment hit 20-30%, I think that would be just cause for a rather fresh shaking up of the government. However, as opposed to your view, I don't think violence would rise to the point of shattering the nation.
But all of your statements are based on if the terrorists succeed.
They can't, and they never could. The fundamental backbone of our nation is built upon the ideas held in the constitution. We have 300 million people covering a nation of many millions of square miles, and you really think a few thousand religious extremist can wipe out the US? I'll give credit where credit is due, they could cause problems but no where on the order enough to destroy this country.
You see, using fear to justify your cause is like saying someone is a willing volunteer when you have a gun to their head. Fear is what Hitler and Stalin used to control the population. When people fear something, they are easier to control.
My point is, the people of this nation fearing all the wrong things. I wouldn't be to concerned about a terrorist attack, but what about our emergency responders? Do they have access to abdequate technology? Do they have plans, and then contingency plans for getting people aid?
Another terrorist attack is inevitable (especially with all the policies we followed in the past). Extremists will always exist. You will never wipe out the threat fully. This will be like the war on drugs. The best we can do is take as many reasonable preventative steps as we can and have solid plans and resources for dealing with an aftermath.
BTW do you really think that terrorist leaders want the US destroyed?
~X~
p.s - Kerry is not my top pick. However my desire to have Bush out of office outweighs my vote choice, so Kerry it is.
The first administration to fund it?
Stem-cell research has only been around for a few years.
Oh yeah, funded it real good. There were so many rules and regulations on stem cell research that it made it practically worthless.
That's just Kerry propaganda right? Go look up a few of the scientists who actually TRY to do the research under current conditions.
~X~
Terrorism? TERRORISM? You think terrorism is the biggest threat this country faces? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
The Center for Disease Control (the CDC) keeps odds on what you will most likely die from over the span of your life.
Do you know where terrorism ranks? Your more likely to die from lightning than die from a terrorist attack. That's right. Go to the CDC site and see it for yourself.
Your 8 times more likely to die in your own bathtub than die from a terrorist attack. TERRORISM?
You are 18516 times more likely to die in a car wreck than you are in a terrorist attack at the mall you were driving to. TERRORISM?
Do you know how many children in this country die every year because of no healthcare and no food? Do you know how many homeless people there are across the country?
TERRORISM?
You are THOUSANDS of time more likely to get shot, stabbed, hung, hit by car, flambayed, gored, frozen, drown, bludgeoned, and electrocuted during your life than die in a terrorist attack.
The amount of fear-mongering in this country is completely revolting. VOTE FOR BUSH BECAUSE HE PROTECTS US! Bullshit. How about making the roads safer. That would save thousands of lives as the average peron has a 1 in 81 chance of dying in a car wreck during their life.
I've read articles on how parents fear for their childrens safety in this "age of terrorism", while ignoring the fact that their child is thousands of times more likely to die just around their own homes than in a terrorist attack.
TERRORISM? The only real terrorism I know is the fear-gospel being spewed forth by the media.
"One terrorist attack is one too many." You have a 1 in 197 chance of being murdered in your lifetime. Compare this to a 1 in 88000 chance of being killed by the terrorist. I'm a little more concerned about being murdered.
TERRORISM? With 45 million people being uninsured for health, I really don't think that terrorism should be up at the top of the list. You are THOUSANDS of times more like to die from disease over your lifetime than you are to die in a terrorist attack over your lifetime.
No my friends. Terrorism is not the biggest threat to this country. Ignorance is. This country has real domestic problems of its own that DWARFS terrorism on all fronts.
We've spent billions on a war that didn't need to be fought, but we have millions of starving kids in our own backyard. We've spent billions to precision bomb a country that didn't even have clean drinking water, while thousands die every year in our country because they can't afford health care. Billions have been spent on Homeland Security, while homeless shelters have been packed to gills here in our own country.
I'll add some more data for the "one who studies histroy".
The mass graves in Iraq? I'll give you three guesses who helped that one out. Actually, I'll make it easier, multiple choice:
a. The United States b. Al Queda c. The Boston Redsox
Give up? If you guessed "a", then you are 100% correct. Back during th Iran-Iraq war, the US was laying praise, money, and weapons at Iraq's feet. You may also notice the great photo-op that shows Rummy buddying up to good ol' Saddam.
And when the chemical weapons started flying in Iraq, who did absolutely nothing? Why, that would be the United States again!
And who pledged their support to the rebels who wanted to oust Saddam after the original Gulf War and then left them to be utterly crushed? You're on a role today! That would be the good ol' US.
Yeah, we're the shining beacon alright. Breaking treaties, encouraging nuclear proliferation, bringing terrorism to an all time world high, wrecking the environment, flagrant discrimination, trashing individual rights, denying due process, flagrantly breaking Geneva conventions, record deficits, unprovoked war.....and thats just modern day.
For a historian, you certainly don't know much about the atrocities your country has performed over the years.
~X~
George W. Bush: The ends justifies the means. Read the PIPA report and find out just how deluded Bush supporters are!
You get in the head by rock. You have a good idea who did it, but it hurts like hell so you run home home with tears in your eyes and blood on your forehead.
Your older brother is home. You tell him the story of how you got hit by rock while he gently takes care of your wound. Needless to say your big brother is quite angry that someone threw a rock and hit you in the head.
You tell him it's a group of boys down the road. They're always causing trouble. So your big brother starts going down the road. You get a big grin on your face, knowing your brother will take care of everything.
Well, the group of boys see your brother heading down the road and know the gig is up. They start running away, but your big brother catches a few a them and gives them a good beating. The one who hit you with the rock, the ring leader, got away.
But that never stopped your big brother before! Your brother starts to go in search of the others when he see's another boy off on the side of the road. You know him. He caused some problems a long time ago, but everyone on the block makes sure he behaves now.
Your brother starts going towards the other boy. You tell your brother that the boy didn't throw the rock at you and he doesn't even hang around with the other boys. You're brother tells you he thinks that boy has a rock and he's just waiting for the right time to through it at you. You look at the boy. He has a cast on one arm and one leg, and barely looks like he can stand on his own. You tell your brother that you don't think he could pick up a rock let alone through one. You're brother tells you that he's absolutely sure that not only does he have a rock, he has a whole bunch of rocks. Not only that, but he gives rocks to the boys that threw the rock at your head!
You think back to rock that hit your head and remember how much it hurt. You look at your brother, who tells you that he just wants to protect you. He wants you to be safe, and not have to worry about the boys throwing rocks at you anymore. You smile at your big brother.
As your brother approaches the boy, the other guys on the block who make sure the boy doesn't cause trouble come out and talk to your brother. It seems a lot of them don't like what your brother is about to do. Your brother says he's just trying to protect you, and that he knows the boy is up to no good.
After a few minutes of talking, your brother tells them that he doesn't care what they say. Your brother is bigger than all of them and, with a swift movement of his arm he pushes them all out of the way. You watch with warm feelings as your big protective brother lays a good beating on the boy.
After couple of punches, the boy is down. Your brother starts searching the boy, and asking questions. Your brother turns back to you and tells you that the boy didn't have any rocks, and he didn't even like the boys that threw the rock at you. Then your brother bends over, reaches into the boys pocket and takes his money....
Do you like your big brother anymore?
Oh, the failure here wasn't technology. The failure began with big brother.
~X~ Reason #12223 I would rather get sodomized by a cattle prod than vote for Bush:
The only man I know that can stand up in front of 60 million american television audience and say, with a straight face, that he respects all life after starting a war that has killed over 16,000 people.
Exactly.
The reason why "pure" capitalism will never work is because humans (indeed most life forms) have a survival of the fittest atitude. Fittest meaning, "I WILL FIND ANY WAY TO PREVENT YOU FROM TAKING WHAT I HAVE AND CRUSHING YOU OUT OF EXISTENCE YOU LITTLE F*CK!".
The monopolies, oligopolies, and trusts are very strong proof that an unregulated market can not work as companies will do whatever it takes to control the market.
An ideal free market would follow the rules of nature, where a natural balance prevents companies from becoming too large and powerful*.
Markets need smart regualtion. I still think we have a ways to go on that.
~X~
* Nature keeps a balance except for the rare genetic mutation affecting a rather obscure chimp-like creature that allows it to become an intelligent animal that dominates the planet. However, even in those odd circumstances, nature is more than happy to wait for said creature to wipe itself out and then regain the balance.
I agree the paper is lacking somewhat in describing why this algorithm is better. I looked into Sturm sequences. It appears that part of the algorithm is relying on a similar principal. The difference seems to come in when trying to converge on the root, which the student is using differential methods.
But as you pointed out, I'm not sure what the advantage is in doing so. I wouldn't really classify that document as a paper, more like an empirical proof. It is not by any stretch rigorous (for instance you don't use the word "should" to describe a result from a step in a proof.
Slashdot Mirror
Tried just entering: "torute pictures". One of the first links is "The Memory Hole" with all the Iraqi torture you wanna see.
~X~
"Torture, the American Way."
All of those may be possible, except for photon torpedos (what kind of damage would that cause). Proton torpedos would pack quite a kick, along matter-antimatter bombs.
:)
Anti-gravity: Reversing or lessening the curvature of space time in a local area. Might take a bit of energy or at least a much butter understanding of gravity.
Inertial Damping System: Same as above.
Warp Drives: Same as above. By removing the curvature of space-time around the craft, to the universe you don't seem to exist. The space-time drag effect goes away and THEORETICALLY go as fast as you wanted to. You'd need a LOT of energy to do this, as well as complete understanding of space-time.
ATM though it would all be fantasy, as we don't even have a common theory for all the forces in the Universe.
As far as "psychics" go though, I have a problem even formulating how they could exist. To see the future, you would have to calculat all events in the entire universe for some future point. Even on a local scale it would be impossible due to the uncertainty principle.
Psychic teleportation?????
I'm George W. Bush, and I approve this research.
~X~
"I'll need 10 million dollars to research the potential for using playboy bunnies as a mind control devince on men."
Two words:
Jose Padilla.
Just because it is not stated explicitly doesn't mean it isn't interpereted that way.
~X~
"Take me to prison before I commit a crime."
Today, my view of America changed.
I, like many others, thought that Americans were intelligent and reasonable. I thought that what Bush has done in the past four years, the lies, deceits, secrecy, and atrocities would come back to haunt him. I thought the youth vote would come out in droves and surprise the pollsters by taking those tight single digit percentage advantages in significant leads for Kerry.
As I watched the electoral map fill up, my assuredness began evaporating. Sure there were states Bush was pretty much guaranteed to win, but the percentage of votes were staggering. Soon my assuredness became chagrin, as Bush surpassed Kerry in Florida. Surely this was due to not all the votes being tabulated yet.
Then in Ohio, Bush took a commanding lead. My confusion suddenly became fear. The house and senate had steadily increased their republican margins. What was going on?
And then Florida was called for Bush by a large number of votes. In Ohio, Bush's lead became all but certain as the precint percent went above 95%. And there I was, staring in utter disbelief that America had re-elected a president that should not be.
All of today, I researched why. I couldn't seem to wrap any logic around it. But in the exit polls I found the answer. I still couldn't believe it, but it was there.
The non-college educated and the devout religious. The youth vote practically was non-existant, so there wasn't a counter-acting force.
People voted for Bush not because he was better, but because they believe God speaks through him. Instead of the real troubles of this country being the deciding factor, it was gay-marriage and abortion. It was the people who base their choices on faiths instead of facts that decided this election.
This has saddened me a great deal. The ultra-cons/neo-cons now control the executive and legislative, and soon the judicial with the upcoming supreme court appointees.
And yet, a majority of the population doesn't see anything wrong.
As a citizen of the US, I feel I must apologize to the world for the ignorance of the majority of Americans. I also apologize for the horrendous acts of death, greed, torture, and destruction our current elected officials have caused. And I want to apologize in advance for four more years fo war and tyranny that will be brought onto the world.
This was our one chance to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world, and we instead proved to the world our citizens have lack of thought and foresight. We re-elected a religious, egotistical, bigoted, zealot bent on turning this country into a corporate fascist state.
I was wrong to have thought so highly of my country.
I feel embarassed and ashamed.
Damn. I should have known better. My sympathies to whatever country is on th Bush agenda.
~X~
"I live in a state of cynicism, but I don't believe it."
The president and vice-president offer course at the whitehouse for $3000 dollars an hour. ~X~ "The people elected me GOD!" thoughts of GW
Yeah....terrorism.
I guess I'd feel like it was more of an issue if I wasn't 8 time more likely to die in my own bathtub (CDC odds of death).
~X~
"No rules, just right!" ~Dick Cheney
It's not so much that Bush won. I could have stomached that if I had to.
It's that the repugnatcans now control the house and the senate by a wide majority. And it's likely Bush will get to appoint 3 or 4 supreme court judges over the next 4 years.
I don't know about you, but with all that alignment and the shear determination of Bush and co to run this country staright into Hell's asshole, this makes me VERY concerned.
Now Bush can pretty much do whatever he wants, and there's nothing stopping him.
The next 4 years are going to be scary, painful, and disgusting.
~X~
"Mark my words. Bush will invade another country within the next 12 months and bring back the draft."
You....don't...expect.
Until suddenly you protest the government, and they lock you up for being a "potential terrorist".
You are incredibly naive. I'm sure the lawyer who was accused of being terrorist and had his life put through a living hell would totally agree with you.
The funny thing is, the government's definition of enemy changes quite frequently, and drastically.
And sometimes, even something such as a humorous blog will get you a visit from the SS.
Obey. You are a good citizen.
~X~
"If it doesn't affect me, it must be good for my country."
The main reason you don't hear anything is because it is one of the provisions of the patriot act.
You are not allowed to discuss any charges brought against you. You can be held without council. You can be held indefinately.
Why do you think the ACLU/EFF couldn't talk about their case against the Patriot Act?
If your civil liberties die in a country with no one around to defend it, do you make a sound?
~X~
"You have rights....then you have wrongs."
"What are the chances of 2 Texas oilmen (financially supported by many more oilmen) giving us a coherent national energy policy which frees us from dependency on oil and the Middle East?"
None *cough* Iraq *cough*.
"What are the chances that 2 trial lawyers (who's biggest contributors are the trial lawyers associations) giving us the litigation reforms so crucial to getting escalating health care and pharm costs under control for the long term viability of our economy?"
If you do some research, you'll find that litigation makes up a fairly small percent of the health care costs. However I fully agree that something does need to be done about.
And after all the bald-face lying the current adminsitration has done to the American people to forward their own agendas, I am much more willing to give Kerry the benefit of the doubt.
~X~
"Bush: Wrecking the environment since 2000."
"First, let's stop living in 1971, and start living in 2004. What happened in VietNam is long over, and people have changed since then. I thank Kerry for his service 30 years ago, but I think that there are other issues more relevant to today's election that VietNam."
Agreed. Attacking someone's Vietnam service is ludicrous. Of course, that didn't stop Bush and co. from tearing down McCain (wish he had won the primary).
"That being said, the most pertinant issue is Iraq."
This statement sums up the fact you have no clue. None. This country has FAR FAR FAR more pressing problems than Iraq. Iraq has been lie. Period.
"The war was totally justified."
100,000 dead. 1100 soldiers killed. $120 billion and counting. All for what?
"We knew Saddam had WMD's at one point in time."
Well no shit. I believe that was way back in the early 90's. And excuse me if I don't believe all the lies that have been brought forth by all the reports. I find it hard to believe Hussein, ruler of a country that didn't have clean water or reliable electricity, had the means or capabilities to produce regular weapons, let alone WMD. AND INSPECTORS AND INTELLIGENCE HAD RPORTED AS MUCH.
"He gave no proof whatsoever. It would be irresponsible to put the the security of the US in Saddam's hands."
Dude, 2/3 of the country was a no fly zone. The entire country's infrastructure was held together by string and duct tape. US Security at risk? Please tell me you're joking. They didn't have parts to make their planes fly. How the hell was IRAQ a threat to us? They had nothing. They didn't even have enough ammo for their soldiers guns. Kicking inspectors out? Yeah. We threaten, we drop some bombs, they get let back in. This wasn't a smoke screen. It's the mentality. People there respect strength, so standing up to the inspectors was a way for Saddam to show everyone he was still powerful. All of his cabinet peretuated this belief to the people to keep them in check. It was either that, or the people would have revolted against his dictatorship (which wouldn't have been bad thing, but you don't know what kind of regime would take his place).
No, Iraq wasn't a threat. Osama Bin Laden is a threat. And even that is greatly exaggerated.
"He wanted everyone to think that he was strong."
With reason. How many people follow a weak dictator.
"Well, he kind of fucked up there."
No, we fucked up. We eliminated the one source of power keeping the country from imploding on itself. By removing Saddam, we created a power vacuum. The dissenting groups grew in power, adn already fomenting anti-American feelings, they decided to turn their venom on the new "invaders". With all the deaths, a great deal being civilians, who can really blame them. It just adds fuel to the fire. Before you say "that's crap", just look how we responded when we were attacked. Do you really expect them to be any different?
We've made a bad situation worse. Real terrorist organizations now have thousands of recruits. In their minds, they are freedom fighters.
As side note, I find it highly ironic that what we now call terrorism from bin Laden is the exact same behavior we encouraged him to perform during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Except we didn't call it terrorism then.
"Also, let's not forget that John Kerry looked at the very same intelligence as the Bush administration and came to the very same conclusions, namely that Saddam posed an iminent threat. So, any critiques you might have about Bush's judgement also apply to Kerry. Kerry also voted for the war. He also stated, a couple months ago, that, knowing what he knows now, he'd still vote for authorization to use the troops. Well, that was a couple of months ago. I don't know if it's still true today."
Yeah he looked at the same WRONG intelligence. He didn't come to the same conclusion. He didn't vote for the war, he voted for the authorization of force, which is a very different thing. He did so
The League of Nations failed as a result of US foriegn policy (even though we were the main ones to get it going, go figure).
It's really not so much that the rest of the world is a nightmare or Bush is a nightmare. It's more like the world needs help and Bush is making it worse. And taking us along for the ride as well.
You really do a good job of being an ass.
Afghanistan really wasn't a threat. It was Osama and his gang that were the threat. Iraq was not a threat, nor could it have been even if it wanted to. North Korea could potentially be a threat, but then again, we kinda helped that one along too.
I know this may be hard for you to believe, but you can participate on the worldly stage without being a self-righteous, belligerent, militant state. The military option should only be used as a last resort, not as the primary negotiating strategy.
"Diplomacy doesn't work." Okay. So in other words, you want us act just like "Germany I, Germany II, etc.".
The world doesn't get any better by bombing it.
Pre-emptive striking, BTW, is exactly what Hitler used. He even justified it by protecting his people. The parallels are...creepy.
~X~
"Come to Iraq. 100,000 dead can't be wrong!"
I have a +10 vorpal blade with 1d20 chance of decapitation.
~X~
"If the world were only that simple."
Back in the '80's your statement would have gotten you smacked down.
In the '80's bin Laden was 'great freedom fighter, fighting against the evil Communist invasion to bring peace and democracy to Afghanistan'.
What he was doing against the Russians is what he's doing against us now. Except then they were 'acts of patriotism' and not acts of terrorism.
All that changed when, after the Russians withdrew, bin Laden didn't want to become a happy little democracy. Of course, we didn't like that. And all sorts and bad stuff happened since then.
He attacks the US because we did a pretty good job of screwing him over. And other countries helped. That doesn't justify his actions, which are inexcusable, but it does show where a lot of his hatred comes from. Religion is just another weapon in his arsenal to aid in recruitment and such.
~X~
"Blind faith doesn't help when you're walking on a cliff."
True, the US is his bitch boy so to speak.
Despite the fact the vehemently disagree with his tactics (he will be caught and killed someday), he does have a point. The US has been doing all sorts of, how shall we say, less than humanitarian, things in the middle east for a few decades now.
I mean, you saw how we reacted after 9/11. We had the resources and the military to strike back fast and hard.
Then there's Iraq where we've caused thousands of civilian casualties and destroyed towns and cities. For no just cause.
Can we really expect them to not want to respond to that?
~X~
"Violence begets violence."
I'm glad you stated Iraq had nothing to do with terror. I also agree with you that all that money wasted in Iraq would have been much better spent at home. However I disagree with your tone of fear. It would take a lot more than one plant melting down to make the east coast uninhabitable. Not to mention the fact that it is quite difficult to make a plant go merely by smashing something into it (far easier for someone to do it from the contol panel, as an ad-hoc colision of that nature would most likely spread the rods far appart preventing a reaction). If the smash a plane into the NYSE, trading would stop. However, there are many stock exchanges (with backup data) located throughout various cities. Once the initial shock was over, things would return to normal. After the trade towers collapsed, the stock exchanged shut down for several days. The economy did not come to a grinding halt. Many other aspects are involved in the economy other than the stock exchange. There are contingency planes in place if capitol hill got smoked. They've been there for quite awhile. Our whole government is built on the idea of redundancy (as anyone who has dealt with government could tell you). And if unemployment hit 20-30%, I think that would be just cause for a rather fresh shaking up of the government. However, as opposed to your view, I don't think violence would rise to the point of shattering the nation. But all of your statements are based on if the terrorists succeed. They can't, and they never could. The fundamental backbone of our nation is built upon the ideas held in the constitution. We have 300 million people covering a nation of many millions of square miles, and you really think a few thousand religious extremist can wipe out the US? I'll give credit where credit is due, they could cause problems but no where on the order enough to destroy this country. You see, using fear to justify your cause is like saying someone is a willing volunteer when you have a gun to their head. Fear is what Hitler and Stalin used to control the population. When people fear something, they are easier to control. My point is, the people of this nation fearing all the wrong things. I wouldn't be to concerned about a terrorist attack, but what about our emergency responders? Do they have access to abdequate technology? Do they have plans, and then contingency plans for getting people aid? Another terrorist attack is inevitable (especially with all the policies we followed in the past). Extremists will always exist. You will never wipe out the threat fully. This will be like the war on drugs. The best we can do is take as many reasonable preventative steps as we can and have solid plans and resources for dealing with an aftermath. BTW do you really think that terrorist leaders want the US destroyed? ~X~ p.s - Kerry is not my top pick. However my desire to have Bush out of office outweighs my vote choice, so Kerry it is.
How much money, weapons, and support did we give him to kill his own people with while we supported him?
BTW, the report said most of the deaths are a result of airstrike bombings. RTFA.
~X~
Just remeber that terrorism is the biggest threat to our nation. ~X~ This message is composed of 100% recycled sarcasm.
The first administration to fund it? Stem-cell research has only been around for a few years. Oh yeah, funded it real good. There were so many rules and regulations on stem cell research that it made it practically worthless. That's just Kerry propaganda right? Go look up a few of the scientists who actually TRY to do the research under current conditions. ~X~
Terrorism? TERRORISM? You think terrorism is the biggest threat this country faces? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
The Center for Disease Control (the CDC) keeps odds on what you will most likely die from over the span of your life.
Do you know where terrorism ranks? Your more likely to die from lightning than die from a terrorist attack. That's right. Go to the CDC site and see it for yourself.
Your 8 times more likely to die in your own bathtub than die from a terrorist attack. TERRORISM?
You are 18516 times more likely to die in a car wreck than you are in a terrorist attack at the mall you were driving to. TERRORISM?
Do you know how many children in this country die every year because of no healthcare and no food? Do you know how many homeless people there are across the country?
TERRORISM?
You are THOUSANDS of time more likely to get shot, stabbed, hung, hit by car, flambayed, gored, frozen, drown, bludgeoned, and electrocuted during your life than die in a terrorist attack.
The amount of fear-mongering in this country is completely revolting. VOTE FOR BUSH BECAUSE HE PROTECTS US! Bullshit. How about making the roads safer. That would save thousands of lives as the average peron has a 1 in 81 chance of dying in a car wreck during their life.
I've read articles on how parents fear for their childrens safety in this "age of terrorism", while ignoring the fact that their child is thousands of times more likely to die just around their own homes than in a terrorist attack.
TERRORISM? The only real terrorism I know is the fear-gospel being spewed forth by the media.
"One terrorist attack is one too many." You have a 1 in 197 chance of being murdered in your lifetime. Compare this to a 1 in 88000 chance of being killed by the terrorist. I'm a little more concerned about being murdered.
TERRORISM? With 45 million people being uninsured for health, I really don't think that terrorism should be up at the top of the list. You are THOUSANDS of times more like to die from disease over your lifetime than you are to die in a terrorist attack over your lifetime.
No my friends. Terrorism is not the biggest threat to this country. Ignorance is. This country has real domestic problems of its own that DWARFS terrorism on all fronts.
We've spent billions on a war that didn't need to be fought, but we have millions of starving kids in our own backyard. We've spent billions to precision bomb a country that didn't even have clean drinking water, while thousands die every year in our country because they can't afford health care. Billions have been spent on Homeland Security, while homeless shelters have been packed to gills here in our own country.
Think about it.
~X~
I'll add some more data for the "one who studies histroy".
The mass graves in Iraq? I'll give you three guesses who helped that one out. Actually, I'll make it easier, multiple choice:
a. The United States
b. Al Queda
c. The Boston Redsox
Give up? If you guessed "a", then you are 100% correct. Back during th Iran-Iraq war, the US was laying praise, money, and weapons at Iraq's feet. You may also notice the great photo-op that shows Rummy buddying up to good ol' Saddam.
And when the chemical weapons started flying in Iraq, who did absolutely nothing? Why, that would be the United States again!
And who pledged their support to the rebels who wanted to oust Saddam after the original Gulf War and then left them to be utterly crushed? You're on a role today! That would be the good ol' US.
Yeah, we're the shining beacon alright. Breaking treaties, encouraging nuclear proliferation, bringing terrorism to an all time world high, wrecking the environment, flagrant discrimination, trashing individual rights, denying due process, flagrantly breaking Geneva conventions, record deficits, unprovoked war.....and thats just modern day.
For a historian, you certainly don't know much about the atrocities your country has performed over the years.
~X~
George W. Bush: The ends justifies the means.
Read the PIPA report and find out just how deluded Bush supporters are!
A little story....
You get in the head by rock. You have a good idea who did it, but it hurts like hell so you run home home with tears in your eyes and blood on your forehead.
Your older brother is home. You tell him the story of how you got hit by rock while he gently takes care of your wound. Needless to say your big brother is quite angry that someone threw a rock and hit you in the head.
You tell him it's a group of boys down the road. They're always causing trouble. So your big brother starts going down the road. You get a big grin on your face, knowing your brother will take care of everything.
Well, the group of boys see your brother heading down the road and know the gig is up. They start running away, but your big brother catches a few a them and gives them a good beating. The one who hit you with the rock, the ring leader, got away.
But that never stopped your big brother before! Your brother starts to go in search of the others when he see's another boy off on the side of the road. You know him. He caused some problems a long time ago, but everyone on the block makes sure he behaves now.
Your brother starts going towards the other boy. You tell your brother that the boy didn't throw the rock at you and he doesn't even hang around with the other boys. You're brother tells you he thinks that boy has a rock and he's just waiting for the right time to through it at you. You look at the boy. He has a cast on one arm and one leg, and barely looks like he can stand on his own. You tell your brother that you don't think he could pick up a rock let alone through one. You're brother tells you that he's absolutely sure that not only does he have a rock, he has a whole bunch of rocks. Not only that, but he gives rocks to the boys that threw the rock at your head!
You think back to rock that hit your head and remember how much it hurt. You look at your brother, who tells you that he just wants to protect you. He wants you to be safe, and not have to worry about the boys throwing rocks at you anymore. You smile at your big brother.
As your brother approaches the boy, the other guys on the block who make sure the boy doesn't cause trouble come out and talk to your brother. It seems a lot of them don't like what your brother is about to do. Your brother says he's just trying to protect you, and that he knows the boy is up to no good.
After a few minutes of talking, your brother tells them that he doesn't care what they say. Your brother is bigger than all of them and, with a swift movement of his arm he pushes them all out of the way. You watch with warm feelings as your big protective brother lays a good beating on the boy.
After couple of punches, the boy is down. Your brother starts searching the boy, and asking questions. Your brother turns back to you and tells you that the boy didn't have any rocks, and he didn't even like the boys that threw the rock at you. Then your brother bends over, reaches into the boys pocket and takes his money....
Do you like your big brother anymore?
Oh, the failure here wasn't technology. The failure began with big brother.
~X~
Just a quick question.
:P
Anyone hear old enough to remember MCarthy-ism?
~X~
Reason #12223 I would rather get sodomized by a cattle prod than vote for Bush:
The only man I know that can stand up in front of 60 million american television audience and say, with a straight face, that he respects all life after starting a war that has killed over 16,000 people.
Exactly. The reason why "pure" capitalism will never work is because humans (indeed most life forms) have a survival of the fittest atitude. Fittest meaning, "I WILL FIND ANY WAY TO PREVENT YOU FROM TAKING WHAT I HAVE AND CRUSHING YOU OUT OF EXISTENCE YOU LITTLE F*CK!". The monopolies, oligopolies, and trusts are very strong proof that an unregulated market can not work as companies will do whatever it takes to control the market. An ideal free market would follow the rules of nature, where a natural balance prevents companies from becoming too large and powerful*. Markets need smart regualtion. I still think we have a ways to go on that. ~X~ * Nature keeps a balance except for the rare genetic mutation affecting a rather obscure chimp-like creature that allows it to become an intelligent animal that dominates the planet. However, even in those odd circumstances, nature is more than happy to wait for said creature to wipe itself out and then regain the balance.
I agree the paper is lacking somewhat in describing why this algorithm is better. I looked into Sturm sequences. It appears that part of the algorithm is relying on a similar principal. The difference seems to come in when trying to converge on the root, which the student is using differential methods.
But as you pointed out, I'm not sure what the advantage is in doing so. I wouldn't really classify that document as a paper, more like an empirical proof. It is not by any stretch rigorous (for instance you don't use the word "should" to describe a result from a step in a proof.
~X~