From the linked article:
The first few times I tried this, I found some disturbing clusters in the songs chosen. More than once the "random" playlist included three tracks from the same album!
Random does not mean everything distributes itself out in some sort of ordered manner so that three songs from the same album won't appear together. In fact to stop this type of behaviour would require a less random algorithm. The behaviour of similar things seeming to be clustered some times but not others is a testament to the random algorithm working properly. In a perfectly random shuffle, it even possible -- although not very probable -- that all songs from all albums could be grouped together.
It's not about how we picture random, because people end up subconciously assigning some order to it while trying to make random suit their needs.
By the time the $5 rebate process is completed (minus cost of postage and what-not), I think I will rather have just scrounged up the change from my car floor and sofa seats.
Anyways by that time I will also have restored the data from a backup. You DO have a backup strategy... don't you?!?!...
An interesting item I ran into a while ago is the 1X browser: it fits on a floppy, is very small yet surprisingly functional and fast, however it requires payment (trial version available from the site). I think it works only in Windows -- I can't find any info about it being ported to CE.
"Windows XP Reduced Media Edition" Ya, smart naming on Microsoft's behalf... do you think the end-user might stop to wonder if they are missing something from the OS?
My suggestion: "Windows XP Media Choice Edition"
This will be like the old stearing wheels that they used to sell for the racing games.
With the arcade steering wheels you could access the entire alphabet and enter your initials (if you got a high score).
Who needs "Alpha Grip" when the plain arcade steering wheel allows full access to the keyboard. You can also code on long road trips.
From the article:[The team behind the project ] claim that by using rigorous scientific techniques and powerful mathematics it is possible to exclude any such random connections.
... but also remember: using poweful mathematics you can pretty much prove anything you want. Remember the Bible codes. You can always use math to find an end result you want to target. Sometimes this requires changing the algorithms until you find what you're looking for.
Of course the article doesn't go into the mathematical formulae that are being used. Being a skeptic by nature, I'm assuming that different math could also be applied to the series of ones and zeros (i.e. "coin flips" produced by the black boxes) to detect peaks during the most uneventful times of the year -- but they don't want to do that because it's less newsworthy.
Last sentence of the article: However, it remains to be seen if their actions will bring popular approval to Microsoft as a recognized member, or just another corporation looking for a way in.
It's the wording that makes me ill. How about: we're glad to have you join. I mean, in spirit of free and open software, shouldn't it be an open club instead of a closed circle? Why not welcome their efforts and their baby steps and hope they actually make it? Over the years the more I read various articles about open source the more sick I get of anti-corporation speak -- not because they don't deserve some of it -- but because it just gets boring after a while. I think the two camps could turn a lot of that negative energy into real solutions... don't like something?... work to fix it instead of complaining and taking a chance to put down the other guy. Ya, I realize it's more complicated and that and may never work in the format I laid out here; you just caught me in an overly-idealistic mood.
I just downloaded it. I don't understand why the menu screens support only keyboard mode (use up down to move, enter to select, etc).
It was frustrating that I had to stop using my mouse after opening the game. It could make life so much easier.
I think this one of the differences between a commerical game and a free game. I can see why BZFlag is so popular; I can also see why it isn't more popular.
Well, we fended you off in 1812. I suppose we could muster up the strength to help you out this time. Or maybe we will just take a less risky approach and marry you all into Canada. What do most American's prefer?
Nowadays we've got wxwindows, QT, the bcc and intel compilers, all free (except QT) and of better quality, and ticked off developers can easily switch to OSX and Linux.
Mostly I would agree, except I wouldn't categorize Borland bcc tools into "better quality", unless there's something I don't know (which is a good chance). From my experience using C++ templates, MS VC++ has provided better support for a loooooong time. (I've never used Intel compiler but assume it has better support than Borland -- aren't Intel C++ tools free only to Linux?) Bcc (at least the free compiler tools) are good, but are not up with the latest C++ standards like the other compilers -- the last time I checked they didn't support the typename keyword for templates and only class could be used instead (again, the free tools).
The company claims its software is so sophisticated it can make the distinction between identical twins
Is it just me, or does something seem to be missing from this sentence? For example -- injection of proposed content >> -- "however the software failed to recognize a Halliburton executive from a West-African Pygmy ".
Just walk around the airport with a goofy look on your face. You'll never be suspected... by the facial recognition equipment. Or better yet come through the cafeteria with chunks of food smeared on your face. That's inconspicuous.
These earth-like ideas of conservation don't map onto Mars and other planets *yet*. Roping off an area of Mars where the ships should not land!?! We're just starting to explore it. We don't yet know which areas are best to conserve and which are best to settle upon. Given that settlement could be an awfully boring and restrictive lifestyle, I'm sure that a lot will be conserved because of the harshness of the environment. Humans will have a hard-enough time preserving themselves in the Mars environment at first. I'm sure NASA's going to blow up a $25 mil. ship (or whatever amount of $) when they see it's accidentally heading for a conserved piece of land. I think these people's efforts would (in the meantime) be better applied here on earth. It's a novel idea for Mars but way too early. Let's not legislate Mars quite yet.
May I counter that question with: Should we playing "with random evolution"? Sure, why not.
I find it infinitely interesting that when social culture says we shouldn't be doing something often (G/g)od is thrown in because it seems to justify that something should not be done -- it can provide a reason we want give to ourselves. So an evolutionist might say "playing god" whereas a creationist might say "playing God". However both camps are creating a reason against something.
What does the reason "god" (with a small 'g') give you? What can it give you?. I am going to assume it can be paraphrased with "the natural order of things no matter how they came together".
The fact is, *if* this all came together randomly then it doesn't matter how much we play with it or how many (g/G)od/s we throw in. So what if that human piece of evolution doesn't get a heart because that sheep piece of evolution go it. Maybe the sheep are more deserving because they will evolve to be smarter than us anyways -- not looking like that right now:) So give it to the sheep or the human. It doesn't matter because they're both important to somebody and eventually they're both going to die no matter... and after both are dead the location of that heart ain't gonna' matter.
I think we might as well leave god (with a small 'g') aside because from the evolutionist point of view God (if he exists) is besides the point, so that cannot justify anything.
We can create our own rules and define them in any context we want. So what if we inadvertantly destory it... it might all come together again. But maybe we will enhance it and make it better. Who knows.
If I also may use some intuition, I would guess you've either been too close to a similar situation (or even at that same company) -- by your seemingly unfounded accusation. Or else you have been pushed out of a situation you like -- i.e you didn't "win" like the previous poster.
I would guess you're in a situation of working too many hours that you cannot get out of, and you are envious of the previous poster's situation. I am guessing you want out but seem stuck.
You have found the need to put the poster down personally proving you disagree with what he says. The difference between attacking the poster instead of his story tells me you don't want this type of story to be told. You are in an unfortunate situation. I don't envy you.
You will have a hard time getting the independence you want, until you see the truth in the previous story instead of fighting against it. By fighting against it you are helping to keep your self in an undesirable situation.
From your bitter comment, I don't expect to receive an answer -- what's better is no answer, but that you do some serious thinking instead. I hope you get things straightened out because it's never fun to be in a bad situation.
Slashdot Mirror
Random does not mean everything distributes itself out in some sort of ordered manner so that three songs from the same album won't appear together. In fact to stop this type of behaviour would require a less random algorithm. The behaviour of similar things seeming to be clustered some times but not others is a testament to the random algorithm working properly. In a perfectly random shuffle, it even possible -- although not very probable -- that all songs from all albums could be grouped together.
It's not about how we picture random, because people end up subconciously assigning some order to it while trying to make random suit their needs.
Anyways by that time I will also have restored the data from a backup. You DO have a backup strategy ... don't you?!?! ...
An interesting item I ran into a while ago is the 1X browser: it fits on a floppy, is very small yet surprisingly functional and fast, however it requires payment (trial version available from the site). I think it works only in Windows -- I can't find any info about it being ported to CE.
"Windows XP Reduced Media Edition" Ya, smart naming on Microsoft's behalf ... do you think the end-user might stop to wonder if they are missing something from the OS?
My suggestion: "Windows XP Media Choice Edition"
With the arcade steering wheels you could access the entire alphabet and enter your initials (if you got a high score). Who needs "Alpha Grip" when the plain arcade steering wheel allows full access to the keyboard. You can also code on long road trips.
Of course the article doesn't go into the mathematical formulae that are being used. Being a skeptic by nature, I'm assuming that different math could also be applied to the series of ones and zeros (i.e. "coin flips" produced by the black boxes) to detect peaks during the most uneventful times of the year -- but they don't want to do that because it's less newsworthy.
It's the wording that makes me ill. How about: we're glad to have you join. I mean, in spirit of free and open software, shouldn't it be an open club instead of a closed circle? Why not welcome their efforts and their baby steps and hope they actually make it? Over the years the more I read various articles about open source the more sick I get of anti-corporation speak -- not because they don't deserve some of it -- but because it just gets boring after a while. I think the two camps could turn a lot of that negative energy into real solutions ... don't like something? ... work to fix it instead of complaining and taking a chance to put down the other guy. Ya, I realize it's more complicated and that and may never work in the format I laid out here; you just caught me in an overly-idealistic mood.
I think this one of the differences between a commerical game and a free game. I can see why BZFlag is so popular; I can also see why it isn't more popular.
Oh just wait until she becomes a teenager.
I wondered where all the animals went in that picture.
Well, we fended you off in 1812. I suppose we could muster up the strength to help you out this time. Or maybe we will just take a less risky approach and marry you all into Canada. What do most American's prefer?
Looks like you do everyting
Mostly I would agree, except I wouldn't categorize Borland bcc tools into "better quality", unless there's something I don't know (which is a good chance). From my experience using C++ templates, MS VC++ has provided better support for a loooooong time. (I've never used Intel compiler but assume it has better support than Borland -- aren't Intel C++ tools free only to Linux?) Bcc (at least the free compiler tools) are good, but are not up with the latest C++ standards like the other compilers -- the last time I checked they didn't support the typename keyword for templates and only class could be used instead (again, the free tools).
Is it just me, or does something seem to be missing from this sentence? For example -- injection of proposed content >> -- "however the software failed to recognize a Halliburton executive from a West-African Pygmy ".
Just walk around the airport with a goofy look on your face. You'll never be suspected ... by the facial recognition equipment. Or better yet come through the cafeteria with chunks of food smeared on your face. That's inconspicuous.
These earth-like ideas of conservation don't map onto Mars and other planets *yet*. Roping off an area of Mars where the ships should not land!?! We're just starting to explore it. We don't yet know which areas are best to conserve and which are best to settle upon. Given that settlement could be an awfully boring and restrictive lifestyle, I'm sure that a lot will be conserved because of the harshness of the environment. Humans will have a hard-enough time preserving themselves in the Mars environment at first. I'm sure NASA's going to blow up a $25 mil. ship (or whatever amount of $) when they see it's accidentally heading for a conserved piece of land. I think these people's efforts would (in the meantime) be better applied here on earth. It's a novel idea for Mars but way too early. Let's not legislate Mars quite yet.
Let's deplete the moon. Yay!
May I counter that question with: Should we playing "with random evolution"? Sure, why not.
I find it infinitely interesting that when social culture says we shouldn't be doing something often (G/g)od is thrown in because it seems to justify that something should not be done -- it can provide a reason we want give to ourselves. So an evolutionist might say "playing god" whereas a creationist might say "playing God". However both camps are creating a reason against something.
What does the reason "god" (with a small 'g') give you? What can it give you?. I am going to assume it can be paraphrased with "the natural order of things no matter how they came together".
The fact is, *if* this all came together randomly then it doesn't matter how much we play with it or how many (g/G)od/s we throw in. So what if that human piece of evolution doesn't get a heart because that sheep piece of evolution go it. Maybe the sheep are more deserving because they will evolve to be smarter than us anyways -- not looking like that right now :) So give it to the sheep or the human. It doesn't matter because they're both important to somebody and eventually they're both going to die no matter ... and after both are dead the location of that heart ain't gonna' matter.
I think we might as well leave god (with a small 'g') aside because from the evolutionist point of view God (if he exists) is besides the point, so that cannot justify anything.
We can create our own rules and define them in any context we want. So what if we inadvertantly destory it ... it might all come together again. But maybe we will enhance it and make it better. Who knows.
article post: but mice are sporting human brain cells
Brings a whole new context to Stuart Little.
I would guess you're in a situation of working too many hours that you cannot get out of, and you are envious of the previous poster's situation. I am guessing you want out but seem stuck.
You have found the need to put the poster down personally proving you disagree with what he says. The difference between attacking the poster instead of his story tells me you don't want this type of story to be told. You are in an unfortunate situation. I don't envy you.
You will have a hard time getting the independence you want, until you see the truth in the previous story instead of fighting against it. By fighting against it you are helping to keep your self in an undesirable situation.
From your bitter comment, I don't expect to receive an answer -- what's better is no answer, but that you do some serious thinking instead. I hope you get things straightened out because it's never fun to be in a bad situation.
Whew! How do you feel now? :)