They may have believed it was news-worthy due to the flare being the fourth largest within the last 15 years, especially for for those who like to follow science (like Slashdot's nerds?). Add to that the fact that this could just be the start - "Significant solar eruptions are possible in the coming days..."
Also, while it may not have been aimed at earth, it could possibly have been aimed at any number of space probes that have been sent into space. Does anyone know?
On another level, Slashdot is an example of how people rationalize when they are wasting time at work - "it's work related!"
Readers of Slashdot freely admit that they are reading and commenting while at work. They rationalize it by saying that they are getting news and info directly related to their work. And sometimes, sometimes, that might actually happen. That could be, what? Twenty percent of the time? Less?
The rest of the time they are debating the finer points of Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Dr.Who, evolution vs. intelligent design, politics, NASA, Hubble, flying men to Mars, flying cars, and what old people in Korea are doing, etc.
What gets me is, why weren't the buses rolling in to pick up people and give them rides away from these areas before the hurricane hit. As soon as it was obvious that Katrina was aiming for these areas, why couldn't they have used all these buses to to start moving people out.
And why not move in the food and water before the storm hit, and have it already there for those who will need it. I guess foresight and planning ahead no longer applies, even with all the models and predictions concerning hurricane disasters in that area.
Then, too, there will always be some people who will say, "I'm not leaving. I'll just take my chances." Then these same people yell the loudest about not being helped out of the situation they got themselves into. (Note: I am not referring to those too ill or feeble to move, or who just can't for some reason, nor to those who may be too poor to be able to find the means to leave.)
Most studies done on violence and video games support the conclusion that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior in children and adolescents, especially boys, researchers said on Friday.
An analysis of 20 years of research shows the effects can be both immediate and long-lasting.
"The majority of the studies would suggest there are effects," said Jessica Nicoll of Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida, who worked on the study.
One study showed that children who played a violent game for less than 10 minutes and then took a mood assessment test rated themselves with aggressive traits and aggressive actions shortly after playing.
Teachers of 600 8th and 9th graders, aged 13 to 15, said children who spent more time playing violent video games were more hostile than other children and more likely to argue with authority figures and other students.
The findings, presented at an annual meeting of American Psychological Association, prompted the group to adopt a resolution recommending that all violence be reduced in video games and interactive media marketed to children and youth.
...
Nicoll said in an interview that "only a handful" of the studies she and colleagues examined found no connection between violence and violent video games.
So it's a study based on the findings of studies done over the last 20 years.
My own anecdotal experience:
My fourteen-year-old son normally is so mild-mannered that he objects to my killing a fly or a spider and has even cried when it's time to throw out the Christmas tree because he feels sad for it.
But let him play Metroid Prime for a few minutes and it makes him so frustrated that he will lash out and smack or kick his sisters if they get too close. After time to calm down, though, he usually becomes mild-mannered again.
Interesting that they are black... Why is that I wonder?
Is that so that the wearer can't see how, uh... soiled... they are after wearing them out on patrol for long stretches? Another good reason to make them anti-bacterial, I guess.
It's unbelieveable, but people do help themselves to the stuff that is supposed to be adorning graves in a cemetary. I've heard stories of people taking the plastic flowers from a grave, either to decorate another grave, or just taken completely.
Anyway, you just purchase Vidstone's Vandalism Protection Plan, and they "will repair or replace the Panel at no extra charge to you" according to their FAQ's.
This news video shows that there is a door on the front that covers the screen when closed. The surface of the door is where the solar cells are located for recharging the lithium-ion battery, which only holds a 30 minute charge.
That's why I said there would be a psychological barrier. Apparently, you have a psychological barrier to eating dead animals. Thats fine - noble, even.
But, for thousands of years, eating meat is what humans have done. Billions of people in the world eat slaughtered animals every day. Many of those who have no aversion to meat are going to be wary of synthetic meat. I'm wary of hot dogs. (Who knows what's in those things, anyway?)
I'm not too sure people are going to line up to buy Carn-o-matics. There may be an insurmountable psychological barrier to getting people even try meat grown in a lab/machine. It sounds kinda disgusting and maybe it's because I have seen "Soylent Green".
I could, however, see this as a useful thing as an aid in sending humans into space. What better for long trips than a self-generating source of protein.
The Henrico county residents convinced the school officials that they were entitled to the laptops because their taxes had paid for them in the first place. That's why the purchaser's had to bring proof of residency in order to buy them.
After four years of use by public school kids, I wonder what kind of shape the iBooks were in. In my experience, kids are very hard on the things they get their hand on.
I got the feeling that the county school system was trying to "give back" to the community. Too bad it backfired on them.
Certainly the movies are coming out at a much faster rate than the games. On this page there are nearly 200 movies listed that will be available by the end of October.
Movies are probably the easiest (and cheapest) to put out, especially if they are Sony's property to begin with, and therefore will have a higher profit margin.
...about three guys driving a Toyota Prius non-stop for 48 hrs last weekend, in Pittsburgh, while trying to get 100 miles per gallon using one tank of gas. They used a gas-saving technique called pulse and glide, "a form of coasting that involves releasing the gas pedal, then pressing it slightly again to disengage the electric motors" according to this article.
They actually ended up doing better than they had hoped and got 110 MPG.
American culture does seem to be stagnating, IMO. Realism in TV (Reality TV) and sci-fi; movies based on sequels, TV shows, comic books, and remakes of old movies; and the recycling of fashion and music trends (disco and Afros?) show a lack of creativity, as far as I'm concerned.
I slowed down on reading sci-fi books when the realism became too big a factor in the stories. For example, I like David Brin, but just didn't like "Earth" because it focused too much on science and not enough on the characters. Brin's first three "Uplift" stories are much more to my liking, though. A good story should be just that, a good story - entertaining to read.
Anyway, I think sci-fi needs to get back to the optimism that was so prevalent in the last half of the 20th century. According to the article:
By contrast British genre writers are not looking back, they are eyeing the future with lip-smacking anticipation.
"We're a bit more upbeat and there's an openness about there being a future for us," says Mr Stross.
Maybe this will trigger a new wave of creativity in American sci-fi writers.
Yes, I'm convinced that the editors love to "stir up the hornet's nest" every once in a while. They like to get people posting and clicking on their pages.
Creationism is another topic that the editors like to throw out there and watch everyone fight over it like dogs over a tasty steakbone. Earlier today they put up a creationism article that already has over 2,000 posts.
Just watch. I bet this article gets more than 500 posts, easily.
For those few who may not know, this song can be found on Weird Al's album "Running With Scissors" which was released in 1999. Does that make him the "Godfather of Geeksta Rap"?
If you look at the symbol next to the story, you'll see a picture of a foot. That's the symbol for the "It's Funny. Laugh." department here at Slashdot. You might like to try that (laughing, that is) once in a while.
This story is a lot less sensationalized than the version over at BoingBoing titled "Microsoft nukes Apple headquarters in new satellite map service" which says:
As seen using Microsoft Earth (left), Apple's Cupertino headquarters looks like its been bombed to rubble.
When I heard that she was going to be teaching a class at the University of Arizona (albeit, during the Supreme Court's winter recess in 2005-2006), I had a feeling that she might retire soon.
She's a republican, she's 75, her husband has Alzheimer's and she wants to spend time eith him. She probably thinks there's no better time to retire and let Bush put another Republican in her place.
The list of celebrity Scientologists also includes Nicole Kidman, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, Mimi Rogers, Karen Black, Kirstie Alley, Anne Archer, and Juliette Lewis.
Slashdot Mirror
They may have believed it was news-worthy due to the flare being the fourth largest within the last 15 years, especially for for those who like to follow science (like Slashdot's nerds?). Add to that the fact that this could just be the start - "Significant solar eruptions are possible in the coming days..."
Also, while it may not have been aimed at earth, it could possibly have been aimed at any number of space probes that have been sent into space. Does anyone know?
Here is another rather awe-inspiring picture from Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab.
On another level, Slashdot is an example of how people rationalize when they are wasting time at work - "it's work related!"
Readers of Slashdot freely admit that they are reading and commenting while at work. They rationalize it by saying that they are getting news and info directly related to their work. And sometimes, sometimes, that might actually happen. That could be, what? Twenty percent of the time? Less?
The rest of the time they are debating the finer points of Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Dr.Who, evolution vs. intelligent design, politics, NASA, Hubble, flying men to Mars, flying cars, and what old people in Korea are doing, etc.
What gets me is, why weren't the buses rolling in to pick up people and give them rides away from these areas before the hurricane hit. As soon as it was obvious that Katrina was aiming for these areas, why couldn't they have used all these buses to to start moving people out.
And why not move in the food and water before the storm hit, and have it already there for those who will need it. I guess foresight and planning ahead no longer applies, even with all the models and predictions concerning hurricane disasters in that area.
Then, too, there will always be some people who will say, "I'm not leaving. I'll just take my chances." Then these same people yell the loudest about not being helped out of the situation they got themselves into. (Note: I am not referring to those too ill or feeble to move, or who just can't for some reason, nor to those who may be too poor to be able to find the means to leave.)
Yes, this story fits right in with these other fine April stories:
Yahoo and Google to Merge?
Gmail's Birthday Presents
Say 'Cheese' to Google Satellite at 10AM
Google Ride Finder Announced
And my personal favorite:
Google Moves Into Drink Market
I'm glad that he has empathy for other living creatures... something you obviously are lacking.
My own anecdotal experience:
My fourteen-year-old son normally is so mild-mannered that he objects to my killing a fly or a spider and has even cried when it's time to throw out the Christmas tree because he feels sad for it.
But let him play Metroid Prime for a few minutes and it makes him so frustrated that he will lash out and smack or kick his sisters if they get too close. After time to calm down, though, he usually becomes mild-mannered again.
Interesting that they are black... Why is that I wonder?
Is that so that the wearer can't see how, uh... soiled... they are after wearing them out on patrol for long stretches? Another good reason to make them anti-bacterial, I guess.
It's unbelieveable, but people do help themselves to the stuff that is supposed to be adorning graves in a cemetary. I've heard stories of people taking the plastic flowers from a grave, either to decorate another grave, or just taken completely.
Anyway, you just purchase Vidstone's Vandalism Protection Plan, and they "will repair or replace the Panel at no extra charge to you" according to their FAQ's.
This news video shows that there is a door on the front that covers the screen when closed. The surface of the door is where the solar cells are located for recharging the lithium-ion battery, which only holds a 30 minute charge.
That's why I said there would be a psychological barrier. Apparently, you have a psychological barrier to eating dead animals. Thats fine - noble, even.
But, for thousands of years, eating meat is what humans have done. Billions of people in the world eat slaughtered animals every day. Many of those who have no aversion to meat are going to be wary of synthetic meat. I'm wary of hot dogs. (Who knows what's in those things, anyway?)
I'm not too sure people are going to line up to buy Carn-o-matics. There may be an insurmountable psychological barrier to getting people even try meat grown in a lab/machine. It sounds kinda disgusting and maybe it's because I have seen "Soylent Green".
I could, however, see this as a useful thing as an aid in sending humans into space. What better for long trips than a self-generating source of protein.
The Henrico county residents convinced the school officials that they were entitled to the laptops because their taxes had paid for them in the first place. That's why the purchaser's had to bring proof of residency in order to buy them.
After four years of use by public school kids, I wonder what kind of shape the iBooks were in. In my experience, kids are very hard on the things they get their hand on.
I got the feeling that the county school system was trying to "give back" to the community. Too bad it backfired on them.
MacDailyNews also has some coverage, plus a link to a news video.
Certainly the movies are coming out at a much faster rate than the games. On this page there are nearly 200 movies listed that will be available by the end of October.
Movies are probably the easiest (and cheapest) to put out, especially if they are Sony's property to begin with, and therefore will have a higher profit margin.
...about three guys driving a Toyota Prius non-stop for 48 hrs last weekend, in Pittsburgh, while trying to get 100 miles per gallon using one tank of gas. They used a gas-saving technique called pulse and glide, "a form of coasting that involves releasing the gas pedal, then pressing it slightly again to disengage the electric motors" according to this article.
They actually ended up doing better than they had hoped and got 110 MPG.
I think that just the fact that the BBC picked it up and was willing to run it adds some to its credibility.
At least they were willing to put their name to it, unlike some anonymous cowards...
How about the BBC, is that credible enough for you?
I slowed down on reading sci-fi books when the realism became too big a factor in the stories. For example, I like David Brin, but just didn't like "Earth" because it focused too much on science and not enough on the characters. Brin's first three "Uplift" stories are much more to my liking, though. A good story should be just that, a good story - entertaining to read.
Anyway, I think sci-fi needs to get back to the optimism that was so prevalent in the last half of the 20th century. According to the article:Maybe this will trigger a new wave of creativity in American sci-fi writers.
...off the top of my head:
Contact with Jodi Foster
Indiana Jones series with Harrison Ford
Jurassic Park series
2001: A Space Odyssey
among many others, I'm sure.
Yes, I'm convinced that the editors love to "stir up the hornet's nest" every once in a while. They like to get people posting and clicking on their pages.
Creationism is another topic that the editors like to throw out there and watch everyone fight over it like dogs over a tasty steakbone. Earlier today they put up a creationism article that already has over 2,000 posts.
Just watch. I bet this article gets more than 500 posts, easily.
At least give Weird Al the credit for this...
For those few who may not know, this song can be found on Weird Al's album "Running With Scissors" which was released in 1999. Does that make him the "Godfather of Geeksta Rap"?
This story is a lot less sensationalized than the version over at BoingBoing titled "Microsoft nukes Apple headquarters in new satellite map service" which says:
When I heard that she was going to be teaching a class at the University of Arizona (albeit, during the Supreme Court's winter recess in 2005-2006), I had a feeling that she might retire soon.
She's a republican, she's 75, her husband has Alzheimer's and she wants to spend time eith him. She probably thinks there's no better time to retire and let Bush put another Republican in her place.
The list of celebrity Scientologists also includes Nicole Kidman, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, Mimi Rogers, Karen Black, Kirstie Alley, Anne Archer, and Juliette Lewis.