I like to think that 'Sonic Screwdriver' is just a mispelling of 'Psionic Screwdriver'.
It's a do-what-I-mean tool, just like the 'Psychic Paper', and unlike a proper C Compiler or XML parser.
The mechinism by which it does it's thing is unimportant; it could be a heat screwdriver that uses themal expansion/contraction to move parts, or a graviton screwdriver manipulating mass and be used exactly the same way in almost every situation.
Is the PS3 an energy efficent solution, or is the power bill higher than it would be for a 'traditional' supercomputer?
Not just in direct power consumption, but air conditioning costs, etc?
I used to have a pretty powerful setup at home, 6 multicore PC's stacked up on my desk, but my current hardware is not only more efficent, I don't have to run the AC even when there is snow outside.
I know government in particular (I used to work in a govt. budget office) has lots of accounting tricks to use. For example, we had to go through a horrible bidding process for software purchases; but I found a nice loophole of buying books that came with the software, since books could be bought directly. (also, the book+software bundle was cheaper than just the software)
Please this, I can't (and don't) wait to watch new episodes of many BBC shows (Who+spinoffs, QI topping the list); I would be willing to contribute to their budgets if there was an easy way.
I think it's more like if that hardware isn't a standard X86 box running Windows, shove it to the guys that deal with weird hardware; like the talking barneys, brown music players, and Macs.
Anyway, XBox runs some form of the Windows API, and Surafce runs on Vista; so I'm sure if they were third party companies they would be buying Windows licences... so why account for it as 'free' to the Windows division?
Except the the source of Microsoft OS's and Applications are (to my understanding) held in 3rd party escrow, and (very, like federal govt. sized) large contracts probably have clauses that will have the source code released to them if MS goes out of business, or is otherwise unable to provide contining support past a particular time (hence the 'end of life' of XP and such.)
Any programming language expands until every available set of brace characters is valid in every context.
() {} []
take C#... say you have an indentifier 'x', x() is for method calls, x[] is for indexing, {} is reserved for code blocks, and x is for generics.
I think unicode would be nice for non-english native developers to use indentifiers in their native language, but would lead to an explodion of operators and braces, neighter of which would help readablility of code.
You could define a language with compd braces, just as C derived languages have += == !=, etc. you could define combo braces, f vs f vs f could each represent different things.
But it'll all boil down to invoking a method with some paramenters, it's all syntax sugar, just like x[n] to access an indexed item could be x.Lookup(n)
XML is interesting as something written with XML basically has an unlimited set of braces, "" allowing virtually infinite ways to expand the definition of objects. however, XML would make a very painful base for a programming language.
Diebold even ran a poll to determine which voting method people prefer, out of 100 people 65 preferred electronic voting, 45 preferred paper, and 5 George W. Bush.
I'm not for or against global warming, I just don't care. It's just a change, which has happened any number of times in (pre)history. Some land will become less useful to humans, some will become more useful; some species which can't adapt will die off, others will thrive. If burning fossil fuels is a cause, well, we're almost out of those anyway. Methane from cow farts?, beef can't sustain a growing global population anyway.
I hate that some people have turned it into a virtually religious issue, and intentionally refuse to consider that the possibility that it might not be happening, it probably is occuring, but to attach labels like 'deniers' (I have to think this is an attept to emotionally link it to the jewish holocaust, but I might be wrong.) and to attack the speaker of the idea, instead of the idea itself is just wrong. That AG is wrong to use his position to attack the scientist; and it's also wrong to label someone who dosn't think global warming is happening as a troll, idiot, or worse.
Talking about the weather used to be 'safe', but now it's infused with conspiracy nuts, scientific cranks, and irrational believers, ON BOTH SIDES.
Slashdot Mirror
I like to say "A model M is the only keyboard you can use to kill a man; then type his obituary."
I really like to say that, at least once a month.
Maybe there is a chessboard somewhere in the TARDIS.
I like to think that 'Sonic Screwdriver' is just a mispelling of 'Psionic Screwdriver'.
It's a do-what-I-mean tool, just like the 'Psychic Paper', and unlike a proper C Compiler or XML parser.
The mechinism by which it does it's thing is unimportant; it could be a heat screwdriver that uses themal expansion/contraction to move parts, or a graviton screwdriver manipulating mass and be used exactly the same way in almost every situation.
I've long thought that an Apple/Nintendo partnership would be... interesting.
They both have great user-centric systems, platform lock in, 'fans', etc, and don't often directly compete.
I think Nintendo using their IP and writing games for iPlatforms could work out well; strict hardware control, family friendly, etc.
However, they are probably both to Not-Invented-Here to work well with -anyone-.
Is the PS3 an energy efficent solution, or is the power bill higher than it would be for a 'traditional' supercomputer?
Not just in direct power consumption, but air conditioning costs, etc?
I used to have a pretty powerful setup at home, 6 multicore PC's stacked up on my desk, but my current hardware is not only more efficent, I don't have to run the AC even when there is snow outside.
I know government in particular (I used to work in a govt. budget office) has lots of accounting tricks to use. For example, we had to go through a horrible bidding process for software purchases; but I found a nice loophole of buying books that came with the software, since books could be bought directly. (also, the book+software bundle was cheaper than just the software)
Please this, I can't (and don't) wait to watch new episodes of many BBC shows (Who+spinoffs, QI topping the list); I would be willing to contribute to their budgets if there was an easy way.
How about not feeding the trolls?
SARS, Bird Flu, Swine Flu...
How much worse would those epidemics have been if people wern't detered from flying around on a whim by the TSA?
Ironically, 9/11 may have saved more lives by slowing down those diseases than were lost that day...
I think it's more like if that hardware isn't a standard X86 box running Windows, shove it to the guys that deal with weird hardware; like the talking barneys, brown music players, and Macs.
Anyway, XBox runs some form of the Windows API, and Surafce runs on Vista; so I'm sure if they were third party companies they would be buying Windows licences... so why account for it as 'free' to the Windows division?
It's ghouls, I tell you. Religious ghouls in rockets, looking for a land to call their own.
Don't you laugh at me! I know a spell that'll make you show your true form! A cave rat taught it to me.
Except the the source of Microsoft OS's and Applications are (to my understanding) held in 3rd party escrow, and (very, like federal govt. sized) large contracts probably have clauses that will have the source code released to them if MS goes out of business, or is otherwise unable to provide contining support past a particular time (hence the 'end of life' of XP and such.)
Any programming language expands until every available set of brace characters is valid in every context.
() {} []
take C#... say you have an indentifier 'x', x() is for method calls, x[] is for indexing, {} is reserved for code blocks, and x is for generics.
I think unicode would be nice for non-english native developers to use indentifiers in their native language, but would lead to an explodion of operators and braces, neighter of which would help readablility of code.
You could define a language with compd braces, just as C derived languages have += == !=, etc. you could define combo braces, f vs f vs f could each represent different things.
But it'll all boil down to invoking a method with some paramenters, it's all syntax sugar, just like x[n] to access an indexed item could be x.Lookup(n)
XML is interesting as something written with XML basically has an unlimited set of braces, "" allowing virtually infinite ways to expand the definition of objects. however, XML would make a very painful base for a programming language.
How many hits did they sucker you guys into giving them?
Diebold even ran a poll to determine which voting method people prefer, out of 100 people 65 preferred electronic voting, 45 preferred paper, and 5 George W. Bush.
I was thinking of a system for encrypting files using multiple passwords where you only need a subset.
For example, you encrypt your vital data, and setup 3 passwords; you give one to your friend, one to your brother, and one to your lawyer.
If something happens to you (dead, coma, kidnapped...) any 2 of the 3 can be used to recover your data (as if it were in a RAID 5 array).
If one of the people you think you can trust turns on you, they can't access your data alone.
Is there existing software capable of this?
I think she was using the word 'ironic' ironically.
sounds like Microsoft sold another license for their 'wedge' lens technology.
I was thinking of modifying drive firmware to ignore a platter or two.
They wanted me to build them a bomb, so I took their plutonium and in turn, gave them a shiny bomb-casing filled with used pinball machine parts.
Does that include global warming?
I'm not for or against global warming, I just don't care. It's just a change, which has happened any number of times in (pre)history. Some land will become less useful to humans, some will become more useful; some species which can't adapt will die off, others will thrive. If burning fossil fuels is a cause, well, we're almost out of those anyway. Methane from cow farts?, beef can't sustain a growing global population anyway.
I hate that some people have turned it into a virtually religious issue, and intentionally refuse to consider that the possibility that it might not be happening, it probably is occuring, but to attach labels like 'deniers' (I have to think this is an attept to emotionally link it to the jewish holocaust, but I might be wrong.) and to attack the speaker of the idea, instead of the idea itself is just wrong. That AG is wrong to use his position to attack the scientist; and it's also wrong to label someone who dosn't think global warming is happening as a troll, idiot, or worse.
Talking about the weather used to be 'safe', but now it's infused with conspiracy nuts, scientific cranks, and irrational believers, ON BOTH SIDES.
http://www.xkcd.com/773/
Then call me Mr. Doe.
It's the only way to be sure.
I could see putting off migrating to Vista/Seven... But not installing a service pack?, that's just dumb...