Slashdot Mirror


User: cold+fjord

cold+fjord's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
8,503
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 8,503

  1. That's OK, it hasn't been discussed here till now . That discussions is part of the magic of Slashdot.

  2. Re:Shitty wat to wake up on Fake 'Inbound Missile' Alert Sent To Every Cellphone in Hawaii (chicagotribune.com) · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Bring them to shelter. People have survived nuclear attacks before, no doubt they will in the future as well. If you avoid being killed by the initial blast and radiation you want to shelter from the fallout, most of which fades in two weeks.

    Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Fallout Protection - What to Know and Do about Nuclear Attack

    Nuclear Strike Drills Faded Away In The 1980s. It May Be Time To Dust Them Off

    Nuclear weapons and their effects operate according to the laws of physics, not magic. The physics, effects, and countermeasures are known.

  3. You can see the timeline and offical actions below on Fake 'Inbound Missile' Alert Sent To Every Cellphone in Hawaii (chicagotribune.com) · · Score: 1
  4. Re:State Exercise? on Fake 'Inbound Missile' Alert Sent To Every Cellphone in Hawaii (chicagotribune.com) · · Score: 5, Informative

    Scaring the crap out of everyone is considered "a state exercise?"

    It was a mistake by state officials, plain and simple.

    Hawaii officials give timeline of events surrounding false alarm

    Approx. 8.05 a.m.: A routine internal test during a shift change was initiated. This was a test that involved the Emergency Alert System, the Wireless Emergency Alert, but no warning sirens.

    8.07 a.m.: A warning was erroneously triggered statewide by an employee at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA).

    8.10 a.m.: State Adjutant Maj. Gen. Joe Logan validated with the US Pacific Command that there was no missile launch.

    Honolulu Police Department notified of the false alarm by HI-EMA.

    8.13 a.m.: State Warning Point issues a cancellation of the Civil Danger Warning Message. This would have prevented the initial alert from being rebroadcast to phones that may not have received it yet. For instance, if a phone was not on at 8.07am, it would not receive the alert later on.

  5. Re:Quantum Domination / Supremacy on Intel Unveils 'Breakthrough' 49 Qubit Quantum Computer (extremetech.com) · · Score: 1

    I don't think you understand the difference.

    How does superposition help?

    The difference between regular computers and quantum computers boils down to how they approach a problem.

    A regular computer tries to solve a problem the same way you might try to escape a maze – by trying every possible corridor, turning back at dead ends, until you eventually find the way out. But superposition allows the quantum computer to try all the paths at once – in essence, finding the shortcut.

    Two bits in your computer can be in four possible states (00, 01, 10, or 11), but only one of them at any time. This limits the computer to processing one input at a time (like trying one corridor in the maze).

    In a quantum computer, two qubits can also represent the exact same four states (00, 01, 10, or 11). The difference is, because of superposition, the qubits can represent all four at the same time. That’s a bit like having four regular computers running side-by-side.

    If you add more bits to a regular computer, it can still only deal with one state at a time. But as you add qubits, the power of your quantum computer grows exponentially. For the mathematically inclined, we can say that if you have “n” qubits, you can simultaneously represent 2n states.)

    Qudits: The Real Future of Quantum Computing?

    The superpositions that qubits can adopt let them each help perform two calculations at once. If two qubits are quantum-mechanically linked, or entangled, they can help perform four calculations simultaneously; three qubits, eight calculations; and so on. As a result, a quantum computer with 300 qubits could perform more calculations in an instant than there are atoms in the known universe, solving certain problems much faster than classical computers. However, superpositions are extraordinarily fragile, making it difficult to work with multiple qubits.

    I'm pretty sure your PC isn't going to be able to do that.

  6. Quantum Domination / Supremacy on Intel Unveils 'Breakthrough' 49 Qubit Quantum Computer (extremetech.com) · · Score: 5, Informative

    Intel’s New Chip Aims For Quantum Supremacy

    . . . those 49 qbits can already do something that almost no traditional computer, even a supercomputer, can: solve a sorting problem that has up to 5.63 trillion possible outcomes. This is right around a milestone called “quantum supremacy”–the point at which a standard computer can’t even simulate a quantum machine.

    The promise of a quantum computer comes from one of those spooky aspects of quantum physics, whereby each qbit can hold two (or more) values simultaneously. Each time you add a qbit, you raise two to a higher exponent value. In this case, two raised to the 49th power yields 562,949,950,000,000 variations that can be compared at once. This technique is ideal for certain types of calculations, like speculative chemistry research that simulates the interactions of dozens of electrons, around multiple atoms, at once. It’s also useful for cracking digital encryption.

  7. Re:He knows rural on Trump Pushes To Expand High-Speed Internet In Rural America (reuters.com) · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Trumpers quake with the knowledge that those successful Dems will retire with their stock portfolios into their underpopulated economically devastated wastelands, create boutique little shops that tolerate LGBTQ people and hire them or their kids (who might learn it's acceptable to be LGBTQ! or to tolerate people who are different!) and then how will they be able to be dicks to them then?

    So, your idea is that rich leftists will move into poor rural areas where the rich leftists will open funny little shops, offend the locals, and you're wondering what the local's reaction will be? . . . . I'm guessing the locals won't buy much from the "funny" and pretentious little shops owned by the rich leftists. And then the next question is. . . will be rich leftists be able to stay rich with nobody buying from their "funny" and pretentious little shops?

    By the way . . . I heard today that the White House has confirmed that Trump plans to run again in 2020. Do you want more Trump? Because you seem to be a natural booster for his reelection.

    In Oregon and elsewhere, rural residents increasingly balk at Democrats’ progressive governance.

  8. Re:Leave them alone on Iran Cuts Internet Access and Threatens Telegram Following Mass Protests (bbc.com) · · Score: 1

    Yes Mossadegh looks like the one bright spot,...

    Are you joking? Mossadegh is the one that actually overthrew the Iranian democratic government! He dissolved parliament! (almost certainly illegally to boot) He faked an election and took dictatorial powers to rule by decree. How on earth is that a bright spot?

    . . . . by no means is it clear that democracy would've lasted had the U.S. and Britain not backed the Shah.

    Democracy was over by that time. Mossadegh had previously destroyed it.

     

  9. How so? He as only recently been taken into custody and the justice system is only beginning due process. Lets see what comes of it before we declare things broken.

  10. Re:Leave them alone on Iran Cuts Internet Access and Threatens Telegram Following Mass Protests (bbc.com) · · Score: 1

    Almost true, that is completely false. From the same wikipedia article:

    So, what is it that is actually "almost true, that is completely false"? We are dealing with history here. So lets recount.

    Did Prime Minister Mossadegh fake an election? - Yes
    Did Prime Minister Mossadegh dissolve the Iranian parliament? - Yes
    Did Prime Minister Mossadegh assume the power to rule by decree? - Yes
    Did Prime Minister Mossadegh cause the Shah to flee the country? - Yes
    In summary, did Prime Minister Mossadegh overthrow the government? - yes

    So, what are you claiming to be false? You don't really explain that. All you are doing is making excuses for the Prime Minister's coup that don't make any sense..

    That's also why he was thinking of dissolving the Parliament: the unelected Shah controlled the upper house through unlected members. That was not very democratic to the eyes of Mossadegh and many Iranians alike.

    So to make things more democratic the Prime Minister dissolved parliament and became a dictator? That doesn't make any sense, and no doubt it was all both irregular and illegal. Prime Minister Mossadegh didn't like the form of government, so he overthrew it, dissolved the parliament, and started ruling by decree. Mossadegh was a dictator to were beyond the Shah's power, ruling by decree without a parliament.

    The real problem, though, was the oil nationalization part.

    I'm pretty sure a coup against the government, removing the parliament and Shah, was a problem too.

  11. Throw the book at him . . . on Kansas Swatting Perpetrator 'SWauTistic' Interviewed on Twitter (krebsonsecurity.com) · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He begs to be made an example of, and it should be done pour encourager les autres.

    We cannot have that in civil society.

  12. Re:Iran Cuts Internet Access and Threatens Telegra on Iran Cuts Internet Access and Threatens Telegram Following Mass Protests (bbc.com) · · Score: 1
  13. Re:Leave them alone on Iran Cuts Internet Access and Threatens Telegram Following Mass Protests (bbc.com) · · Score: 4, Informative

    Leave them alone . . . . Iran was once a democracy until they elected the "wrong" leader and America and Britain fixed it by putting in the Shah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    Unfortunately your history is a bit off. The Shah was in power before the Prime Minister's coup, and was in power after the British & American counter-coup. You may note this section of the Wikipedia article:

    Execution of Operation Ajax
    The official pretext for the start of the coup was Mossadegh's decree to dissolve Parliament, giving himself and his cabinet complete power to rule, while effectively stripping the Shah of his powers.[10][11][12] It resulted in him being accused of giving himself "total and dictatorial powers."

    The "pretext" has the "unfortunate" quality of being true and understated in Wikipedia. The Prime Minister overthrew the Iranian democratic government, and effectively the Shah who then fled the country. The Prime Minister took the power of ruling by decree, in other words a dictator. After a quick look it appears that the Wikipedia article fails to mention that there was a fraudulent election staged to justify all of this. The Time magazine article that I saw on it mentioned that Iran's Prime Minister received a higher percentage vote than either Hitler or Stalin received in their elections. I wonder what the Farsi word for chutzpah is? Anyway, the counter-coup restore the Shah to power, it wasn't what put him in power to begin with.

    As long as the rank and file soldiers and police don't feel that the internal turmoil in Iran won't be exploited by outside forces they likely will tolerate peaceful protests. There is a good chance the Iranian leadership won't order any kind of crack down for fear the police won't obey them. If the rest of the worlds leaders can resist opening their mouths there is a good chance Iran can be another success story like Tunisia.

    We can expect the Iranian government to be at least as violent as they were in 2009 when they unleashed the Revolutionary Guards, Basij paramilitary units, and Lebas Shakhsi paramilitaries on the Green Movement protesters. Those forces are loyal to the Iranian revolutionary Islamist regime as are willing to attack civilians in the streets to maintain the regime.

    It appears to be starting now.

    Two reportedly killed after Iranian forces 'open fire on protestors' as demonstrations continue for third day

    Two people are understood to have been killed after Iranian security forces reportedly opened fire on anti-government demonstrators on Saturday as the largest protests seen in the country since 2009 continued for a third day. ...

    There is no knowing how this will turn out, but it may turn quite bloody. The Iranian revolutionary Islamist government won't go down peacefully.

  14. Re:uh, who cares? on How A Civilian Drone Crashed Into the US Army's Helicopter (arstechnica.com) · · Score: 0

    For what incident do you make this accusation?

  15. Use both on Slashdot's 10 Most-Visited Stories of 2017 (slashdot.org) · · Score: 2

    Different metrics measure things, and both are worth considering: most commented, and most visited.

    Some other possible metrics of potential interest: most unique commenters, most heavily moderated, most linked to, ....

  16. Trend line on Slashdot's 10 Most-Visited Stories of 2017 (slashdot.org) · · Score: 1

    2016: Wow! That was kind of crazy, huh?
    2017: Hold my beer!
    2018: I see you have a line forming already, so where do you want me to offload the kegs?

  17. Dear friend, on Louisana Police Bust an Infamous Nigerian Email Spam Scammer (hothardware.com) · · Score: 4, Funny

    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a Sherriff in Louisiana. My department has recently impounded a large amount of stolen money ($153,210,093.12, to be exact) from a highly illegal internet swindling operation. Following the trial and conviction of the brigands, and after a dutiful records search it, appears that some of these funds were from a relative of yours. Unfortunately that relative is now deceased, and we believe you have legal title to approximately one third of the money once you establish your bona fides Please forward us your details and a $925 fee for the services of a court appointed trustee from the law firm of Dewy, Cheetam, and Howe, to process your claim and send you a check. If your include your bank account details we can wire the money to your account directly and can refund you half of the processing fee. Please do not delay as tax law changes under discussion may result in a loss of up to 30% of the money due you.

    Respectfully

    Larson E. Maggot
    Sherriff, Louisiana

  18. Re:Preference vs. STRONG preference on The Majority of Americans Prefer To Be Greeted With 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays', a Poll Finds · · Score: 1

    You're entitled to your uninformed opinion. Is it useless? Probably.

    There were a number of officially atheist societies in the last 100 years that engaged in brutal suppression of religion. They didn't go very well. You probably should learn from their failures and not try to repeat them as you seem intent on doing.

  19. Re: Yes, but that's not the issue. on The Majority of Americans Prefer To Be Greeted With 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays', a Poll Finds · · Score: 1

    Somehow you seem to have skipped over this bit, " ... Ramsay was at one time highly critical of the Bible. But eventually he was compelled to consider the writings of Dr. Luke, and after much research he concluded that Luke was one of the world's greatest historians. In fact, after carefully evaluating Luke's records, ..."

    Should I be surprised by your seeming omission?

  20. Re:Preference vs. STRONG preference on The Majority of Americans Prefer To Be Greeted With 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays', a Poll Finds · · Score: 0, Troll

    Unlikely, but you just keep stirring the pot.

  21. Re: Yes, but that's not the issue. on The Majority of Americans Prefer To Be Greeted With 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays', a Poll Finds · · Score: 1

    Maybe you should start acquainting yourself with history instead of just making faulty assertions. Here is somewhere you can start:

    Luke claimed to be an historian, and to this day he is considered a first-rate historian. Sir William Ramsay, a Nobel Prize recipient and professor of humanities at Aberdeen University in Scotland, was reputed to have been the foremost expert on geography and history of ancient Asia Minor during the 20th century. Considered to be one of the world's most eminent scholars, Ramsay was at one time highly critical of the Bible. But eventually he was compelled to consider the writings of Dr. Luke, and after much research he concluded that Luke was one of the world's greatest historians. In fact, after carefully evaluating Luke's records, he wrote a book entitled Luke, the Beloved Physician! In one of Ramsay's classic works he wrote of Luke, "I take the view that Luke's history is unsurpassed in regard to its trustworthiness. You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian, and they will stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment. Luke is a historian of the fist rank. This author should be placed among the very greatest of historians." - How Do We Know the Bible is True, Volume 2, by Ken Ham, Bodie Hodge, p. 50-51

    Was There Really A Census During the Time of Caesar Augustus?

  22. More to it than they let on on Experts Cast Doubt on 'Alien Alloys' in the New York Times' UFO Story (scientificamerican.com) · · Score: 2

    FTA:

    Here's the thing, though: The chemists and metallurgists Live Science spoke to -- experts in identifying unusual alloys -- don't buy it. "I don't think it's plausible that there's any alloys that we can't identify," Richard Sachleben, a retired chemist and member of the American Chemical Society's panel of experts, told Live Science. "My opinion? That's quite impossible." Alloys are mixtures of different kinds of elemental metals. They're very common -- in fact, Sachleben said, they're more common on Earth than pure elemental metals are -- and very well understood.

    Just because you know the composition of something doesn't mean you know how to make it. Nobody knows how to make real Damascus steel anymore. There are still discoveries being made about new crystal structures, compounds and alloys. That is before you get into the many different ways to temper or treat metals in the process of creating a particular alloy. Even if you can find one way to create a particular alloy, does the process scale to industrial levels? Creating a few molecules in a lab with special equipment and processes is a very different thing than creating it by the ton in high speed processes. Even using the same recipe with different equipment can potentially produce different outcomes.

    Consider FOGBANK

  23. Re:Another "great" article on The Lower Your Social Class, the 'Wiser' You Are, Suggests New Study (sciencemag.org) · · Score: 0

    Maybe both you two and the fine article are missing something.

    Where’s the Wisdom?
    Much talent, little wisdom

  24. Re:Even worse for some European countries... on Number of Births in Japan To Hit Record Low in 2017 (reuters.com) · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but in sum it appears to be true, ... at least under the immigration policies of the recent past.

    Mass immigration costs government $296 billion a year, depresses wages

    The report also concludes that new arrivals aren’t assimilating as well as past waves of immigrants. They struggle to learn English and to increase their wages at the rates of immigrants just a few decades ago.

    Written in heavily caveated academic language, the report tested a number of models of economic and fiscal policy based on different assumptions about immigration. That meant the scholars came up with ranges of outcomes rather than firm answers.

    But those ranges were sometimes conclusive, particularly when it came to government finances. The researchers tested eight scenarios, and in each of them taxpayers came out worse.

    The best-case scenario put the federal government ahead but states behind, for a total loss of $43 billion in 2013. The worst-case scenario showed federal, state and local governments losing $296 billion in 2013. That would be equivalent to about 4 percent of total government spending that year

    Maybe it will change in the future with policy changes and a border wall.

  25. While they are at it, can they show me NSA, CIA, FBI, Plus every other propaganda agency of every other government. Why just single out the Russians.

    It may take some time, but the role that at least some of them played (if any) will come out.

    House Republicans quietly investigate perceived corruption at DOJ, FBI

    Paul Calls For Investigation of Obama Officials: Collusion Against Trump Could Be 'Worse Than Watergate'

    After it comes out there may be people going to jail ... and it probably won't be Trump's associates.

    Indeed, more interesting things keep emerging with time . . .

    The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook

    While we're waiting for all of the unpleasantness to be revealed perhaps you'd like to listen to some Maurice Chevalier, Édith Piaf , or Vera Lynn ?