It says so right in the Bible. Take my word for it!
Without interference from the government and people who actually know things, free enterprise will be able to create more marketable, affordable, and Job Creator-friendly realities for today's busy consumers.
It's sunny and beautiful in Oregon, but I'm checking the news regularly.
My sister lives on Long Island full time, my brother weekdays; they live on either side of Irene's current projected path through Nassau County. It's odd and disquieting to see the line going through familiar places like Hempstead and Muttontown.
Two cousins live in NYC, one far enough south in Manhattan to be in the "B" Zone.
Batten down the hatches, folks. Don't do anything stupid.
And remember: Creamed Eels, Wadded Beef and Corn Nog don't keep without refrigeration!
. . . to see bearded guys in furs hanging around in Penn Station, waiting for the track announcement for the train to Moscow (first stop Secaucus Junction, of course).
The Rust Belt states are the places most in need of grass roots innovation, and I'm really glad to see that the Maker Faire there has appeared for a second year running.
But FWIW, MAKE has very California roots. The magazine is published by O'Reilly, and the first and longest running Maker Faire is held in San Mateo. And there's a joyous hippie transgressive vibe to it that must seem very alien to old-school manufacturing hubs but is unmistakably west coast.
The next "big" Maker Faire (there are mini faires all over the place) will be in New York City in September. It too could use a shot of happy weirdness.
. . . the Morlocks. They may be ugly anthropophages, but I figured they'd have to be smarter than the Eloi, and got to play with ancient machinery to boot.
With the exception of Project Orion, all of the nuclear propulsion concepts I've read about, and even the actual trials made in the 1960s, have much lower thrust than chemical fueled rockets. In the case of ion and plasma thrusters, vanishingly little thrust. Even in the case of fission/thermal rockets (e.g., NERVA), only about a third of the thrust of chemical rockets. They are less suitable for getting stuff into orbit than chemical rockets.
Once you're in orbit (or beyond), thrust counts for much less than exhaust velocity.
And as for Project Orion: Yeah, some of the proposed designs could heave a pretty damn big ship into orbit, But the fear of fallout from hundreds of little atomic bombs going off in the atmosphere is anything but irrational. One of the principles of the project, Freeman Dyson, specifically stated that the risk wasn't worth it. (I mean, maybe if there was a big asteroid on the way . ..)
And . . . jeeze: "Water, when exposed to vacuum, freezes."
You are entirely correct in your assessment of SF versus F in the literary world.
But to a TV programmer, the audience for these genres is A) hardly distinguishable, and B) hardly worth targetting programming at.
Why? There aren't a lot of products they can specifically target to SF&F fans. At least, products from industries that make enough money to make television advertisements and pay for airtime.
Science fiction and fantasy programming, no matter how high-quality or compelling, do not draw a sufficiently advertising-targetable, high-spending audience to justify a seperate channel.
In lieu of this, Syfy has chosen the fallback position, which is to appeal to a much broader but reliable audience, young men. Programmers know what shows appeal to this demographic, and advertisers know which products to pitch to them during the breaks.
Science fiction is not the only genre or category to suffer. A&E and Bravo were concieved as outlets for artsy movies. MTV used to show music videos and be about, well, music. What kind of programs do these channels show now?
Under the current rules of broadcast and cablecast TV, the situation will never get better. Non-premium channels will get more and more generic and lowbrow. Cheap "reality" shows and infomercials will fill more and more programming slots.
If you really want high-quality SF&F content, you're going to have to be willing to PAY for it. Either on a premium channel, or by some kind of net subscription.
A high school class went on a class trip to Chinatown in '77. (I remember the year because on the same trip I picked up a copy of Analog with the original short story version of "Ender's Game.")
The highlight of the visit was this arcade. It was in a lot better shape, but still not exactly a palace. There was a little "Chinatown museum" in the back, but it was closed on the day we went.
I honestly don't remember many of the games, but we made the chicken dance and the other chicken play tic-tac-toe. As I recall, you got a "consolation prize" of a fortune cookie.
Also, a thuggish kid, maybe 16, offered to sell us switchblades.
Notice that the parent doesn't deal with any of the issues at hand. It's just talking points and ideological scary-talk (Oooh, "bureaucrats," "control," "clowns," "nannies!")
This disturbed jerk has provided the Pave the Earth right wing with a new Emanuel Goldstein.
"SEE? We told you all the environmentalists hated humanity! This is all the proof we need that global warming is a hoax and that Yellowstone Park should be sold off to create timeshare resorts!"
It was a Junior high school field trip to Chinatown. Other than seeing a bum sleeping on the street, and picking up a copy of ANALOG with a Joe Haldeman story, I don't remember anything else BUT this arcade.
A tough kid offered to sell us switchblades.
We played the "chicken" games.
If there were video games, I don't remember them specifically. But they'd certainly be old school stuff that make the "classics" mentioned above seem science fictional.
Slashdot Mirror
It says so right in the Bible. Take my word for it!
Without interference from the government and people who actually know things, free enterprise will be able to create more marketable, affordable, and Job Creator-friendly realities for today's busy consumers.
Oh, wait, sorry . . . I was thinking about last year's protestors.
It's sunny and beautiful in Oregon, but I'm checking the news regularly.
My sister lives on Long Island full time, my brother weekdays; they live on either side of Irene's current projected path through Nassau County. It's odd and disquieting to see the line going through familiar places like Hempstead and Muttontown.
Two cousins live in NYC, one far enough south in Manhattan to be in the "B" Zone.
Batten down the hatches, folks. Don't do anything stupid.
And remember: Creamed Eels, Wadded Beef and Corn Nog don't keep without refrigeration!
Obligatory Simpsons References.
Lay in supplies of wadded beef, creamed eels, and corn nog to feed the IT staff shackled to the A/C units.
. . . to see bearded guys in furs hanging around in Penn Station, waiting for the track announcement for the train to Moscow (first stop Secaucus Junction, of course).
Discount multi-species alien space brothel.
Nothing, nothing, could be better for NASA, budgetarily speaking.
Scientists will want to take advantage to examine a variety of intelligent species in once place.
Moralizing blowhard conservatives will want to mount an expedition to close the place down.
A large portion of the Internet geek community will lay out serious money for the chance to get them some alien tail.
The Rust Belt states are the places most in need of grass roots innovation, and I'm really glad to see that the Maker Faire there has appeared for a second year running.
But FWIW, MAKE has very California roots. The magazine is published by O'Reilly, and the first and longest running Maker Faire is held in San Mateo. And there's a joyous hippie transgressive vibe to it that must seem very alien to old-school manufacturing hubs but is unmistakably west coast.
The next "big" Maker Faire (there are mini faires all over the place) will be in New York City in September. It too could use a shot of happy weirdness.
. . . the Morlocks. They may be ugly anthropophages, but I figured they'd have to be smarter than the Eloi, and got to play with ancient machinery to boot.
. . . Fox News correspondents were seen sweating, nervously adjusting their collars, and making "SHHHH!" gestures to Mr. Olsen.
I sign on to make a wise-ass comment about creationism and Texas and find two others beat me too it.
Either /. commenter creativity has hit a new low, or Texas's reputation is so overpowering that such jokes are inevitable.
I'm sure there's a good reason. I'm just curious.
Long-standing rules require that cooling system pumpbs be turned by thirteen blind eunuchs running on a treadmill, backwards.
Backup systems powered by steam engined fueled by burning kittens and the tears of homeless orphans are becoming popular.
With the exception of Project Orion, all of the nuclear propulsion concepts I've read about, and even the actual trials made in the 1960s, have much lower thrust than chemical fueled rockets. In the case of ion and plasma thrusters, vanishingly little thrust. Even in the case of fission/thermal rockets (e.g., NERVA), only about a third of the thrust of chemical rockets. They are less suitable for getting stuff into orbit than chemical rockets.
Once you're in orbit (or beyond), thrust counts for much less than exhaust velocity.
And as for Project Orion: Yeah, some of the proposed designs could heave a pretty damn big ship into orbit, But the fear of fallout from hundreds of little atomic bombs going off in the atmosphere is anything but irrational. One of the principles of the project, Freeman Dyson, specifically stated that the risk wasn't worth it. (I mean, maybe if there was a big asteroid on the way . . .)
And . . . jeeze:
"Water, when exposed to vacuum, freezes."
No, it evaporates.
. . . about how MMO players wearing "Depends" are just putting themselves off their game.
Best wishes for a fash recovery, devxo!
It wouldn't make a difference.
You are entirely correct in your assessment of SF versus F in the literary world.
But to a TV programmer, the audience for these genres is A) hardly distinguishable, and B) hardly worth targetting programming at.
Why? There aren't a lot of products they can specifically target to SF&F fans. At least, products from industries that make enough money to make television advertisements and pay for airtime.
It boils down to this:
Science fiction and fantasy programming, no matter how high-quality or compelling, do not draw a sufficiently advertising-targetable, high-spending audience to justify a seperate channel.
In lieu of this, Syfy has chosen the fallback position, which is to appeal to a much broader but reliable audience, young men. Programmers know what shows appeal to this demographic, and advertisers know which products to pitch to them during the breaks.
Thus: Wrestling, ghost hunting, lurid monster movies.
Science fiction is not the only genre or category to suffer. A&E and Bravo were concieved as outlets for artsy movies. MTV used to show music videos and be about, well, music. What kind of programs do these channels show now?
Under the current rules of broadcast and cablecast TV, the situation will never get better. Non-premium channels will get more and more generic and lowbrow. Cheap "reality" shows and infomercials will fill more and more programming slots.
If you really want high-quality SF&F content, you're going to have to be willing to PAY for it. Either on a premium channel, or by some kind of net subscription.
A high school class went on a class trip to Chinatown in '77. (I remember the year because on the same trip I picked up a copy of Analog with the original short story version of "Ender's Game.")
The highlight of the visit was this arcade. It was in a lot better shape, but still not exactly a palace. There was a little "Chinatown museum" in the back, but it was closed on the day we went.
I honestly don't remember many of the games, but we made the chicken dance and the other chicken play tic-tac-toe. As I recall, you got a "consolation prize" of a fortune cookie.
Also, a thuggish kid, maybe 16, offered to sell us switchblades.
I'm TOTALLY going to $&*# with the cat's head!
Notice that the parent doesn't deal with any of the issues at hand. It's just talking points and ideological scary-talk (Oooh, "bureaucrats," "control," "clowns," "nannies!")
. . . for mockery and bullying.
"No, NO! Not the wire cutters!"
"I'm not a battlebot! I'm not a battlebot! Please take me out of the arena I'm not . . ." ggzzzzzZZZZZ-CRASH!
"OK, who put caltrops under Lyndon's Bot's wheels?"
The Opossum's most effective predator is the Reticulated Gap-Toothed Yokel.
They're not liable to freeze to death, but they'll likely get killed off by wandering into traffic while looking up at them big tall buildings.
. . . you can program it to clean out its own orifices.
I mean, yeeech, think about it.
Or better yet, let's all don't think about it. It's almost lunchtime.
This disturbed jerk has provided the Pave the Earth right wing with a new Emanuel Goldstein.
"SEE? We told you all the environmentalists hated humanity! This is all the proof we need that global warming is a hoax and that Yellowstone Park should be sold off to create timeshare resorts!"
. . . in NINETEEN SEVENTY SEVEN.
It was a Junior high school field trip to Chinatown. Other than seeing a bum sleeping on the street, and picking up a copy of ANALOG with a Joe Haldeman story, I don't remember anything else BUT this arcade.
A tough kid offered to sell us switchblades.
We played the "chicken" games.
If there were video games, I don't remember them specifically. But they'd certainly be old school stuff that make the "classics" mentioned above seem science fictional.
We need a Sex Change Ray with a setting for Immediate Menstruation.
We can call it the Burqanizer.