I don't think of immortal beings having human qualities. You and millions of other people may have this image of god a whizzened old man sitting on a golden chair, but that is our attempt to anthropomorphize a creature who possesses qualities that are *not* human qualites.
If we are made in god's image, we are the cheap knockoff from a developing nation.
Perhaps we were just his practice pieces. Perhaps there is a race of super beings that god created after he worked out the bugs.
It is unfortunate that the rest of the world believes that killing a quarter of a million people with gas is acceptable.
The US seemed okay with gassing the Kurds as well. We provided the satellite intelligence to Saddam's military so that they could evaluate the efficacy of their operation.
We didn't make too much noise as long as Saddam continued to pound the crap out of Iran.
As an avowed skeptic, I found Shermer's answer to be thoughtful and consistent:
"What separates science from all other human activities is its belief in the provisional nature of all conclusions."
That statement articulates a belief that is tied to a reality that is, in turn, based on the data our senses feed us. Everything else is illusory and the result of interpretations made in the absense of physical evidence.
As a scientist, I can't prove that last comment yet because I don't have enough data.
I am really disappointed and more than just a little surprised that "Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000" didn't rank in the top 10 of the worst films.
A. Hundreds of miles from the mainland where you don't have the luxury of being able to run 100 miles more inland and a few hundred feet UP.
This was probably not exactly great for those folks who are the permanent residents either.
The Pacific always carries these threats, and others more severe. The regions that are plagued by earthquakes are also often in close proximity to volcanoes.
The Pacific Coast of Washington State is ringed with small two-lane highways where you can drive right on to the beach. If you step out of your vehicle and wander around long enough you will see traffic-type signs indicating tsunami evacuation routes. These are the black-bordered yellow signs with the little AOL creature running in the direction of the arrow.
Within 100 miles of those tsunami signs sit the Cascade Mountains, which comprise the northeastern range of the Ring of Fire.
This is the reward for living next to the "Pacific" Ocean. The City of Grunge and its outlying area has the great fortune to live near ~9.0 magnitude capable faults, and a volcano ring that can distribute all manner of pyroclastic and other major debris flows.
If you are looking at the data that indicates a progressive decline in "in-theater movie experiences." American's, at least, fail to express an increasing desire to attend a movie in the theater. You now pay ~$100US for a family of four to have a night on the town including a movie.
At one time, that demographic was the bread-and-butter of the local movie house. Now a large segment of the US population is staying home with their high-quality audio and television units, rather than drive to town (fuel), grab an early dinner (fast food), drive to the cineplex (fuel), pay for your tickets (ouch!), buy a few snacks (sock!) and a drink (pow!), and you have probably spent the entire months entertainment budget.
The movie industry will decline for a short time and will eventually mimic the game industry's business model. They will still put out occasional theatrical releases of big-budget shows, but the "B" movies will probably never be shown in local screens.
I patronize the local coffee shop which has free wireless, and cheaper,m BETTER coffee then starbucks.
Free market priciples at work. I have no problem with that.
But you wireless isn't free in the sense that they have worked the fractional cost of operating their wireless service into the price of a cup of coffee. It only appears to be free because it is not explicitly printed on your receipt.
I've seen about a dozen posts that denounce integrating computers with math instruction. They have the following flavor to them:
"Consarn it! When we was young'uns, we didn't need no newfangled addin' machin' to do our cypherin'!"
Consider this: Computers are to computer science what telescopes are to astronomy. I know this canard is meant to emphasize that computers and telescopes are only a small part of the science in these fields. But ask a computer scientist to give up their computer or an astonomer to give up their telescope, and you may have a fight on your hands.
Computers, calculators, etc. are just tools. Applied correctly, they can not only aid in the instruction of everything from mathematics and science in general, but they can also help learn a foreign language (Babelfish!), or aid in the diagnosis an automotive problem.
For those who *truly* believe that computers hinder the education of mathematics, consider this: Would you prohibit the use of a hammer in teaching carpentry?
There are a host of other things as well, I could go on forever about how usefull a GUI is.
While you are flying, or during the setup?
If you are referring to a setup console with GUI, I can understand how that would be a useful tool. But on the control console? Why not have a non-GUI transmitter and a GUI-based setup console?
I wouldn't take my eyes off of my craft to screw around with pitch settings while the thing is in motion.
Is your ability to tweak settings in-flight more important than your battery life?
I can appreciate the use of a GUI on a setup device, but that is not what this GUI is mounted on. It is mounted on the device contoller.
If it doesn't do anything to aid in guiding the R/C device, other than suck battery life out of your controller, then it doesn't need to be on the transmitter.
I can certainly understand why someone would want a nice setup console. It can be turned off when the model is in flight/moving through the water/moving across the ground.
Besides, Windows CE is not as bad as you make it out to be.
It wouldn't matter what operating system is running the display. I'd still be bemoaning the addition if the underlying OS was Linux or MacOSX. It is 'wiz-bang' appeal of having a display on your R/C controller that I think is a big waste.
People have been running R/C gear for decades without a GUI. I doubt that the experience will be enhanced much by the addition of the added software and hardware. In fact, I believe this is just one more example of a solution looking for problem.
The only measurable effect this will have on R/C flying/racing/etc. will be to deplete battery power faster.
Your cell phone is not as high bandwith as a video feed.
Yep, I know.
But the bandwidth requirements for a cell phone are higher than for a R/C plane. The bandwidth requirements for a video feed are higher than my cell phone.
And yes it works without line of sight, through hills.
You sound like my cell phone provider.
I do not get signal at my house. The reason? I do not meet the line-of-sight requirements for my celll phone. Until the local power company put a tower up 8 miles east of me, I did not have radio LAN. Now I have a LOS feed and now I have 512Kbs service at my house.
It's just not very long-range when you do that. I doubt anyone is trying to fly their model planes from a mile away.
I do LOS connections for a living. At age 43, I can still see 30 miles unobstructed (the distance between two of our towers). If I can see it and the signal is strong enough to overcome the interferences, I can control it.
But that wasn't the original point of this thread, was it?
Slashdot Mirror
We were designed in his own image
Weak? Afraid? Prone to violent fits of rage?
I don't think of immortal beings having human qualities. You and millions of other people may have this image of god a whizzened old man sitting on a golden chair, but that is our attempt to anthropomorphize a creature who possesses qualities that are *not* human qualites.
If we are made in god's image, we are the cheap knockoff from a developing nation.
Perhaps we were just his practice pieces. Perhaps there is a race of super beings that god created after he worked out the bugs.
You've been proved wrong.
It is unfortunate that the rest of the world believes that killing a quarter of a million people with gas is acceptable.
The US seemed okay with gassing the Kurds as well. We provided the satellite intelligence to Saddam's military so that they could evaluate the efficacy of their operation.
We didn't make too much noise as long as Saddam continued to pound the crap out of Iran.
As an avowed skeptic, I found Shermer's answer to be thoughtful and consistent:
"What separates science from all other human activities is its belief in the provisional nature of all conclusions."
That statement articulates a belief that is tied to a reality that is, in turn, based on the data our senses feed us. Everything else is illusory and the result of interpretations made in the absense of physical evidence.
As a scientist, I can't prove that last comment yet because I don't have enough data.
I am really disappointed and more than just a little surprised that "Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000" didn't rank in the top 10 of the worst films.
That was film a mega-scale turd.
According to the former governor of Illinois, some of his death row inmates were innocent.
Good thing they caught it before a few innocent folks were killed.
Of course, no *innocent* person has ever died in the US capital punishment system.
A. Hundreds of miles from the mainland where you don't have the luxury of being able to run 100 miles more inland and a few hundred feet UP.
This was probably not exactly great for those folks who are the permanent residents either.
The Pacific always carries these threats, and others more severe. The regions that are plagued by earthquakes are also often in close proximity to volcanoes.
The Pacific Coast of Washington State is ringed with small two-lane highways where you can drive right on to the beach. If you step out of your vehicle and wander around long enough you will see traffic-type signs indicating tsunami evacuation routes. These are the black-bordered yellow signs with the little AOL creature running in the direction of the arrow.
Within 100 miles of those tsunami signs sit the Cascade Mountains, which comprise the northeastern range of the Ring of Fire.
This is the reward for living next to the "Pacific" Ocean. The City of Grunge and its outlying area has the great fortune to live near ~9.0 magnitude capable faults, and a volcano ring that can distribute all manner of pyroclastic and other major debris flows.
Now there's a reliable source.
If you are looking at the data that indicates a progressive decline in "in-theater movie experiences." American's, at least, fail to express an increasing desire to attend a movie in the theater. You now pay ~$100US for a family of four to have a night on the town including a movie.
At one time, that demographic was the bread-and-butter of the local movie house. Now a large segment of the US population is staying home with their high-quality audio and television units, rather than drive to town (fuel), grab an early dinner (fast food), drive to the cineplex (fuel), pay for your tickets (ouch!), buy a few snacks (sock!) and a drink (pow!), and you have probably spent the entire months entertainment budget.
The movie industry will decline for a short time and will eventually mimic the game industry's business model. They will still put out occasional theatrical releases of big-budget shows, but the "B" movies will probably never be shown in local screens.
your ISP does not charge you for being in your house
No, the bank does that.
Nothing is truly free.
But I dont pay to walk on the floor do I?
Yes, you do. In fact you answered you own question in the rest of your comments.
I patronize the local coffee shop which has free wireless, and cheaper,m BETTER coffee then starbucks.
Free market priciples at work. I have no problem with that.
But you wireless isn't free in the sense that they have worked the fractional cost of operating their wireless service into the price of a cup of coffee. It only appears to be free because it is not explicitly printed on your receipt.
But you knew that already.
Maybe, but you guys aren't helping your image any.
/. is a way to improve your image?
And posting on
Consider parsing that sentence carefully before you answer.
I NEVER forget sex in the city.
They are going to have to charge you something to let you use YOUR laptop.
My ISP charges me for service at home.
Why should the airlines be obliged to give it away for free?
Do you equate greed with running a profitable company?
*Gee don't you all just wish for some of the protections copyright would have given you, in these cases.
GPL is a copyright license.
The founders of GPL were quite aware that their license was a double-edged sword.
They chose freedom over their own narrow personal interests.
I've seen about a dozen posts that denounce integrating computers with math instruction. They have the following flavor to them:
"Consarn it! When we was young'uns, we didn't need no newfangled addin' machin' to do our cypherin'!"
Consider this: Computers are to computer science what telescopes are to astronomy. I know this canard is meant to emphasize that computers and telescopes are only a small part of the science in these fields. But ask a computer scientist to give up their computer or an astonomer to give up their telescope, and you may have a fight on your hands.
Computers, calculators, etc. are just tools. Applied correctly, they can not only aid in the instruction of everything from mathematics and science in general, but they can also help learn a foreign language (Babelfish!), or aid in the diagnosis an automotive problem.
For those who *truly* believe that computers hinder the education of mathematics, consider this: Would you prohibit the use of a hammer in teaching carpentry?
Damn. There is no way to convey "on the nose" through forums in ASCII. ;)
There are a host of other things as well, I could go on forever about how usefull a GUI is.
While you are flying, or during the setup?
If you are referring to a setup console with GUI, I can understand how that would be a useful tool. But on the control console? Why not have a non-GUI transmitter and a GUI-based setup console?
I wouldn't take my eyes off of my craft to screw around with pitch settings while the thing is in motion.
Is your ability to tweak settings in-flight more important than your battery life?
I can appreciate the use of a GUI on a setup device, but that is not what this GUI is mounted on. It is mounted on the device contoller.
If it doesn't do anything to aid in guiding the R/C device, other than suck battery life out of your controller, then it doesn't need to be on the transmitter.
I can certainly understand why someone would want a nice setup console. It can be turned off when the model is in flight/moving through the water/moving across the ground.
Besides, Windows CE is not as bad as you make it out to be.
It wouldn't matter what operating system is running the display. I'd still be bemoaning the addition if the underlying OS was Linux or MacOSX. It is 'wiz-bang' appeal of having a display on your R/C controller that I think is a big waste.
People have been running R/C gear for decades without a GUI. I doubt that the experience will be enhanced much by the addition of the added software and hardware. In fact, I believe this is just one more example of a solution looking for problem.
The only measurable effect this will have on R/C flying/racing/etc. will be to deplete battery power faster.
Your cell phone is not as high bandwith as a video feed.
Yep, I know.
But the bandwidth requirements for a cell phone are higher than for a R/C plane. The bandwidth requirements for a video feed are higher than my cell phone.
And yes it works without line of sight, through hills.
You sound like my cell phone provider.
I do not get signal at my house. The reason? I do not meet the line-of-sight requirements for my celll phone. Until the local power company put a tower up 8 miles east of me, I did not have radio LAN. Now I have a LOS feed and now I have 512Kbs service at my house.
It's just not very long-range when you do that. I doubt anyone is trying to fly their model planes from a mile away.
I do LOS connections for a living. At age 43, I can still see 30 miles unobstructed (the distance between two of our towers). If I can see it and the signal is strong enough to overcome the interferences, I can control it.
But that wasn't the original point of this thread, was it?
Damn, I wish I had mod points.
That was funny.
LOS can transmit over distances beyond the distance that you can see - so not necesarrily.
Right. But if I get an intervening hill between me and my aircraft, the signal will not get to my controller.
My cell phone is evidence of that effect.
I'll stick with my older Futaba radio. It does what I need, and has never shown me a blue screen of death.
And your batteries will probably last 3X longer as well because you aren't driving a GUI with all the WinCE overhead.