You quoted "convert a chemical energy supply into mechanical work with even more efficiency than a car engine."
Is there any common direct conversion of chemical energy to mechanical other than the internal combustion engine?
I guess coal-, gas- and oil-fired power plants convert chemical energy to mechanical (and then to electrial) but those aren't very portable. I also don't know whether any of them are internal-combustion on a grand scale or how efficient they are.
"Pointing out that an expert in physics has a certain belief in a religion isn't in any way relevant, and is a very well-known logical fallacy - an Appeal to Authority."
Very good point.
Similarly, pointing out that 75 experts in biology share a certain belief about religion (e.g. they may all doubt the existence of a Divine Creator) isn't in any way relevant either.
For those readers that have a hard time with comprehension: This post is meant to be an addition to the parent post, not a criticism. I actually agree with the point made in the parent.
That's the Realtor(TM)'s way to increase their proportion of non-discerning customers. You know, the kind that make a decision without getting the relevant, available facts first. Some people's favorite kind of customer.
To me, if you see evidence of child abuse, you report it.
As far as I can tell here, the real problem is not that the technician saw something and reported it, but that the police didn't get a warrant once they had probable cause.
It's hard to tell, because the flames being fanned in the article doesn't see to go along with the meager facts in the article. It makes me wonder what was left out.
Start your own store? (The prices will have to be higher, because someone will have to pay for the shoplifting.) Make your own clothes. (Though you can't make them as cheaply someone in China can.) Know your size before you shop? (Then there's the problem with vanity sizing, mostly with women's clothing. Sweats and T-shirts should still be OK.) Bring a measuring tape? (But, then you'd have to teach yourself what and how to measure.) Somehow build a successful grassroots effort that makes dishonesty no longer socially acceptable, thus decreasing the likelyhood that that cameras in dressing rooms save more than they cost. (That would be extremely difficult, but would have a LOT of side benefits.)
I have an old 2.5GB Quantum Bigfoot that still works. (FYI: Quantum made the Bigfoot drives that are 5.25" quarter-height. i.e. two fit in a normal 5.35" bay)
1- If it really is an emergency enough for the doctor to HAVE TO speed, then he won't mind risking (paying) the ticket. If paying the ticket isn't worth it, then it wasn't a real emergency.
2- "the cop, having heard that old story a dozen times, not believing" That's why I never want to be a policeman. Who wants a job where you have to listen to people lie to you all day long to avoid the consequences they deserve. Being a college teacher and hearing the lame excuses from my students was bad enough.
Although I agree with some opinions mentiond in your post and disagree with others I would like to comment on only one phrase: "their lack of support for measures that would help those living in poverty"
I am completely in favor of helping people that live in poverty. I donate money and time to help such people.
I am very against any government (i.e. tax money) support for such help.
If I think that it is our moral obligation to help those less fortunate than me, then I should pay for it with my own time and money, not force you to pay for it. Not only do I believe that there is no justification for forcing you to use your money to support such help, but I believe that such mandatory charity programs hurt both the "giver" and the recipient.
(The "giver" loses all the [spiritual/psychological/social] benefits that we usually associate with altruistic acts. The recipient gains a sense of sloth, because the law says that he/she deserves something for nothing.)
And yet, a MUCH higher percentage of people manage to afford college now than in the 1920's.
I went to enough college to get a Master of Science degree, and supported a wife and 2 children before I finished (my wife didn't work after we had our first child), and ended up with less than $10,000 total debt. (All from one year that I had to take 20 semester credits during the summer, making extra expenses and less income that year.)
My parents never paid any of my school or living expenses. (Though my dad did give me an old car that I gave back when I got married.)
Related aside: A friend of mine (from Hong Kong) once told me, "There's no such thing as a poor college student."
When I asked him what he meant - because I thought I was poor - he explained that if you can SURVIVE without everyone in your family working all day, every day, you aren't poor.
(Note: Survival doesn't imply a computer, the luxury of fast food, or 50+ sq ft of living space per person.)
I was actually thinking of grade inflation, which is one facet of social promotion. (Promoting whole classes to A, B, C, or D, when their work would have been given a B, C, D, F (insert time lag here) ago.)
My conclusion that playing solitaire in class supports social promotion is based on two assumptions.
1- As much as we (educators) would like to have concrete, objective educational standards, the reality is that we create the standards based on our variable, subjective experience of what students have learned. Thus, if student performance consistently decreases, the standards will decrease also. (It is likely that standards based on wider experience will change more slowly, but they'll still change.)
2- As much as we (students) would like to think that our standard for what is "working hard" in class is concrete and objective, the reality is that we create this self-standard based on what we see other students doing. When one student plays in class, this lowers the "working hard" standard in other students.
"The professors at my school are certainly not afraid to fail people; only 4 CS students in my class (of about 200 incoming) will be graduating next year"
I've had an Epson Stylus Color 740 since summer 2000. (Bought it refurbished.)
We use it at least a few times/month, but often have to run the cleaning utility if we haven't used it for a week or so.
When the ink dries in the print heads we just run the cleaning utility a couple of times and we're good. We haven't had to replace any print heads after 5 years of periodic print head crusting.
After trying various 3rd party inks I've settled on some that's a little less than $4/cartridge. (One black cart. and one color cart.)
Photos come out looking like photos.
The paper path is nearly straight, so cardstock, envelopes, etc. work great.
Slashdot Mirror
Kind of like guilting the grief-stricken into thinking that the corpse prefers gilt, chrome, concrete, air-tight seals and a headstone to a dumpster?
Funerals are for the living.
This reminds me of Bill Cosby's idea of having your tape recorded voice play near the coffin at your funeral.
"Don't I look like myself?"
Thanks. I don't know why I didn't think of them.
You quoted "convert a chemical energy supply into mechanical work with even more efficiency than a car engine."
Is there any common direct conversion of chemical energy to mechanical other than the internal combustion engine?
I guess coal-, gas- and oil-fired power plants convert chemical energy to mechanical (and then to electrial) but those aren't very portable. I also don't know whether any of them are internal-combustion on a grand scale or how efficient they are.
"Pointing out that an expert in physics has a certain belief in a religion isn't in any way relevant, and is a very well-known logical fallacy - an Appeal to Authority."
Very good point.
Similarly, pointing out that 75 experts in biology share a certain belief about religion (e.g. they may all doubt the existence of a Divine Creator) isn't in any way relevant either.
For those readers that have a hard time with comprehension: This post is meant to be an addition to the parent post, not a criticism. I actually agree with the point made in the parent.
Ham radio is also a worldwide form of communication that isn't based on government- or corporate-controlled equipment.
That's the Realtor(TM)'s way to increase their proportion of non-discerning customers.
You know, the kind that make a decision without getting the relevant, available facts first.
Some people's favorite kind of customer.
To me, if you see evidence of child abuse, you report it.
As far as I can tell here, the real problem is not that the technician saw something and reported it, but that the police didn't get a warrant once they had probable cause.
It's hard to tell, because the flames being fanned in the article doesn't see to go along with the meager facts in the article. It makes me wonder what was left out.
Start your own store? (The prices will have to be higher, because someone will have to pay for the shoplifting.)
Make your own clothes. (Though you can't make them as cheaply someone in China can.)
Know your size before you shop? (Then there's the problem with vanity sizing, mostly with women's clothing. Sweats and T-shirts should still be OK.)
Bring a measuring tape? (But, then you'd have to teach yourself what and how to measure.)
Somehow build a successful grassroots effort that makes dishonesty no longer socially acceptable, thus decreasing the likelyhood that that cameras in dressing rooms save more than they cost. (That would be extremely difficult, but would have a LOT of side benefits.)
I have an old 2.5GB Quantum Bigfoot that still works.
(FYI: Quantum made the Bigfoot drives that are 5.25" quarter-height. i.e. two fit in a normal 5.35" bay)
I think we would need two.
Always have a backup.
I'm sure my moped would do pretty well
1- If it really is an emergency enough for the doctor to HAVE TO speed, then he won't mind risking (paying) the ticket. If paying the ticket isn't worth it, then it wasn't a real emergency.
2- "the cop, having heard that old story a dozen times, not believing"
That's why I never want to be a policeman. Who wants a job where you have to listen to people lie to you all day long to avoid the consequences they deserve. Being a college teacher and hearing the lame excuses from my students was bad enough.
In the US, the speed limit is a legal UPPER limit, not lower.
(Don't be fooled by normal driving habits of the residents.)
Although I agree with some opinions mentiond in your post and disagree with others I would like to comment on only one phrase:
"their lack of support for measures that would help those living in poverty"
I am completely in favor of helping people that live in poverty. I donate money and time to help such people.
I am very against any government (i.e. tax money) support for such help.
If I think that it is our moral obligation to help those less fortunate than me, then I should pay for it with my own time and money, not force you to pay for it.
Not only do I believe that there is no justification for forcing you to use your money to support such help, but I believe that such mandatory charity programs hurt both the "giver" and the recipient.
(The "giver" loses all the [spiritual/psychological/social] benefits that we usually associate with altruistic acts. The recipient gains a sense of sloth, because the law says that he/she deserves something for nothing.)
Here I am.
Pay up!
--
500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
And yet, a MUCH higher percentage of people manage to afford college now than in the 1920's.
I went to enough college to get a Master of Science degree, and supported a wife and 2 children before I finished (my wife didn't work after we had our first child), and ended up with less than $10,000 total debt. (All from one year that I had to take 20 semester credits during the summer, making extra expenses and less income that year.)
My parents never paid any of my school or living expenses.
(Though my dad did give me an old car that I gave back when I got married.)
Related aside:
A friend of mine (from Hong Kong) once told me, "There's no such thing as a poor college student."
When I asked him what he meant - because I thought I was poor - he explained that if you can SURVIVE without everyone in your family working all day, every day, you aren't poor.
(Note: Survival doesn't imply a computer, the luxury of fast food, or 50+ sq ft of living space per person.)
I used to think that it wouldn't be illegal to make a (real, for backup purposes) backup copy of a DVD that you own.
When you subtract all the expense involved with printing, binding, transporting the physical books, maybe the profit is more than 3x.
Lots of business have gotten along just fine without computers. Many have succeeded quite well without electricity or running water either.
"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it" -- George Santayana
I was actually thinking of grade inflation, which is one facet of social promotion. (Promoting whole classes to A, B, C, or D, when their work would have been given a B, C, D, F (insert time lag here) ago.)
My conclusion that playing solitaire in class supports social promotion is based on two assumptions.
1- As much as we (educators) would like to have concrete, objective educational standards, the reality is that we create the standards based on our variable, subjective experience of what students have learned. Thus, if student performance consistently decreases, the standards will decrease also. (It is likely that standards based on wider experience will change more slowly, but they'll still change.)
2- As much as we (students) would like to think that our standard for what is "working hard" in class is concrete and objective, the reality is that we create this self-standard based on what we see other students doing. When one student plays in class, this lowers the "working hard" standard in other students.
"The professors at my school are certainly not afraid to fail people; only 4 CS students in my class (of about 200 incoming) will be graduating next year"
Ah, but are they afraid of teaching?
Their solitaire during class was supporting social promotion (grade inflation, etc.).
I've had an Epson Stylus Color 740 since summer 2000. (Bought it refurbished.)
We use it at least a few times/month, but often have to run the cleaning utility if we haven't used it for a week or so.
When the ink dries in the print heads we just run the cleaning utility a couple of times and we're good. We haven't had to replace any print heads after 5 years of periodic print head crusting.
After trying various 3rd party inks I've settled on some that's a little less than $4/cartridge. (One black cart. and one color cart.)
Photos come out looking like photos.
The paper path is nearly straight, so cardstock, envelopes, etc. work great.