The book you refer to is "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" by Cory Doctorow. It's a excellent book from a excellent author. Check out craphound.com/someone for the (e)book.
Err...i'm not sure if its different for you guys over there in the states, but here in Australia the PC version of mass effect doesn't need the disk in the drive to play. That's what the online auth is all about...
Why not try out a live-CD image? From memory, you can use a USB stick to hold all volatile/user data. Either that, or you can use a script to make a live-usb stick - I did this to get ubuntu on to my EEE.
For those of you too lazy to click on the link - its a porn film from a company called Private. Set during a space program, it was notable for the time for featuring a zero-G uh, "explosion" from one of the male characters. From memory, the production company booked the "vomit comet" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomit_Comet the article I read about the subject described "...cast and crew scrambling out of the way of the gently floating blobs..." - A visual that has stuck with me (no pun intended) ever since I read it...
So, google should ask *everyone* if they're willing to have their house photographed?
_really_?
Okay, then, everyone is opt-in. A theif, browsing google streetview for interesting targets (as you do) sees a house, a house and...oh, what's this? someone has opted out? Hmm, might be worthwhile going to see what they have to hide...and hey, while they're there, they may as well rob the place - otherwise they've wasted their journey!
In the same way that everyone knows basic electrical theory (because we've been using electric lights, appliances, etc) for the last 50 years? Or the same way that everyone knows basic automotive theory (checking your oil, water, making sure your tyres are inflated properly, and your brake pads are okay) for the same reason?
Please, if you're going to use the ideas of another person, at least credit them for it. In this case, you're quoting Robert Heinlein's idea for property tax in his novel "The Number of the Beast" - specifically, when the group of bold adventurers go to a alternate universe where land tax was assessed in that manner.
If I recall correctly, it was put thus:
The owner appraises their own property, and pays tax on that value. However, anyone can come along and against the owners wishes buy the property - at which point the owner has two options: sell, or raise their valuation of the property to a price so high that nobody would want to buy it. However if they did this, they would be required to pay five years back taxes of the new, higher value.
One of the characters in the book (Zeb? I can't recall...) when it was pointed out to him that this was unfair, replied with "if some fool wants 5 hectares of useless, hilly land, we'll simply take his money and buy elsewhere..."
...this is a result of (god/allah/the great bellybutton in the sky) playing billiards. He was aiming for the moon to get knocked into the corner pocket, but ended up putting a bit too much force into the shot. Oh well, his next shot should be golden, he's going to try and pocket the Earth into the sun. Ever wondered why the Mayan calendar counts down?
So...what you're saying is, if you're depressed, you're not likely to attempt to kill yourself because you wouldn't succeed? I don't think that's the case. If you've got a optimistic frame of mind, I think suicide would be pretty far down the list...rather than thinking "there's no way out of this, death is my only option" it'd be more like "I can pull myself out of this, all I really need to do is try". Chemically-assisted affirmations, if you will...
Slashdot Mirror
The book you refer to is "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town" by Cory Doctorow. It's a excellent book from a excellent author. Check out craphound.com/someone for the (e)book.
What a strange game.
Well, I asked a blizzard rep exactly this question - and he replied "no, no problem at all!"
And if you can't trust the *makers* of the game, who can you trust?
Err...i'm not sure if its different for you guys over there in the states, but here in Australia the PC version of mass effect doesn't need the disk in the drive to play. That's what the online auth is all about...
Don't forget! Those spheres need to be on a chessboard!
Why not try out a live-CD image? From memory, you can use a USB stick to hold all volatile/user data. Either that, or you can use a script to make a live-usb stick - I did this to get ubuntu on to my EEE.
I am not a number. I am a free man. Be quiet, 590345!
Oh, that's already been done. Almost 10 years ago now:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310288/
For those of you too lazy to click on the link - its a porn film from a company called Private. Set during a space program, it was notable for the time for featuring a zero-G uh, "explosion" from one of the male characters. From memory, the production company booked the "vomit comet" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomit_Comet the article I read about the subject described "...cast and crew scrambling out of the way of the gently floating blobs..." - A visual that has stuck with me (no pun intended) ever since I read it...
Moon Pies, eh? What a time to be alive!
I'm guessing that the +funny mods are the slashdot equivalent of the kid in your class who would go "hahahaha...wait, I don't get it..."
In my case, I _was_ that kid.
Isn't 2038 also the year that Unix runs out of bits to store the date?
Guess we're doubly screwed, then.
So, google should ask *everyone* if they're willing to have their house photographed?
_really_?
Okay, then, everyone is opt-in. A theif, browsing google streetview for interesting targets (as you do) sees a house, a house and...oh, what's this? someone has opted out? Hmm, might be worthwhile going to see what they have to hide...and hey, while they're there, they may as well rob the place - otherwise they've wasted their journey!
Ah, that reminds me of the old joke:
Q: what do you call a man with no arms and no legs, lying in front of a door?
A: Matt.
Q: what do you call a man with no arms and no legs, floating in the ocean?
A: Bob.
No Australian drinks Fosters. We'd rather drink our own wee.
Nope.
Ooompa-Loompas.
In the same way that everyone knows basic electrical theory (because we've been using electric lights, appliances, etc) for the last 50 years? Or the same way that everyone knows basic automotive theory (checking your oil, water, making sure your tyres are inflated properly, and your brake pads are okay) for the same reason?
:)
hmm.
Please, if you're going to use the ideas of another person, at least credit them for it. In this case, you're quoting Robert Heinlein's idea for property tax in his novel "The Number of the Beast" - specifically, when the group of bold adventurers go to a alternate universe where land tax was assessed in that manner.
If I recall correctly, it was put thus:
The owner appraises their own property, and pays tax on that value. However, anyone can come along and against the owners wishes buy the property - at which point the owner has two options: sell, or raise their valuation of the property to a price so high that nobody would want to buy it. However if they did this, they would be required to pay five years back taxes of the new, higher value.
One of the characters in the book (Zeb? I can't recall...) when it was pointed out to him that this was unfair, replied with "if some fool wants 5 hectares of useless, hilly land, we'll simply take his money and buy elsewhere..."
Yes.
Yes it is.
Given that car analogies on slash are generally a bad idea... (like putting a 350 chev in a camry, heh heh)
I gotta ask. Have you yourself driven a Ferrari Enzo? Or any 600+ hp car?
are you sure that this guy or perhaps this guy can't help out?
My first thought was the Douglas-Martin Sunpower screens from Heinlein...
Brick-like things with multi-pin connectors like...videogame cartridges? or expansion cards? What about USB keys?
...this is a result of (god/allah/the great bellybutton in the sky) playing billiards. He was aiming for the moon to get knocked into the corner pocket, but ended up putting a bit too much force into the shot. Oh well, his next shot should be golden, he's going to try and pocket the Earth into the sun. Ever wondered why the Mayan calendar counts down?
Optimism, of course! :)
So...what you're saying is, if you're depressed, you're not likely to attempt to kill yourself because you wouldn't succeed? I don't think that's the case. If you've got a optimistic frame of mind, I think suicide would be pretty far down the list...rather than thinking "there's no way out of this, death is my only option" it'd be more like "I can pull myself out of this, all I really need to do is try". Chemically-assisted affirmations, if you will...