If you are fine with them blocking SMTP to protect their network from zombie machines running large, why is it wrong for them to block bitTorrent to prevent their network from grinding to a halt. (Arguements of "unlimited" internet aside)
When two of my grandparents died, one was tragic, one was "we knew it was coming" we made a few jokes at the funeral, heck it was part of the service. We told funny stories, remembered the times, all that sort of thing.
It is perfectly reasonable to not have families collapse in a pile of unrelenting grief at a tragedy. I would in fact consider such a thing a perversion of the person's memory. It may have been tragic, but it doesn't have to be debilitating for everyone else around them.
Now thats not to say we shouldn't be upset or or even a little angry at the circumstances, but lets not get carried away. Like they say, people take life way too seriously, we all die in the end anyway.
I always got the impression that Dr. Eggman didn't like Sonic very much.
Having your attempts at world domination thwarted all the time tends to put a damper on any relationships.
I am afraid I still have to disagree, you do make good points, but:
The first transistor was created in 1947 according to a quick google search.
Thats 60 years from the first transistor to what we have now. Thats not a long time especially considering that we will retain our knowledge of how they worked. I'll admit, we will lose a lot of stored knowledge yes, but surely you would have to admit that it would not take 60s years again.
Now assuming progression of any sort, that gap widens and, without any further information on this scenario, this would increase the technical learning curve to beyond a single generation.
However, it should also be noted that as things pass from cutting edge to mundane and consequentially are considered common knowledge, the age in which one acquires this knowledge becomes lower. For example, in 1947, the first transistor was probably not taught in first year engineering courses, but now heck I know 14 year olds that know how it works, and given the proper materials could probably fashion a crude one from scratch. So as the technology gap increases so does common knowledge of this technology.
Well there would certainly be setbacks, I cannot argue this, I still believe that we could bounce back within a reasonable time frame.
Heck, we basically live in a sci-fi world looking through the eyes of a 1930s person.
They would have never have thought you could get a computer into the size of a watch.
Secondly, there is more to computer and technology group than coders. I don't know what your background is specifically, but something that electronic engineers learn in their very first year of classes is a little thing called the transistor and boolean algebra. Thats kind of pretty much where our modern electronics stem from at the moment.
I can build you an AND gate an OR gate, a NAND gate out of 3 cent transistors. If I plug enough of those transistors together in logical patterns I can basically make the equivalent of a processor (it would huge and weak compared to today) but its a start. Size would take a step back till the miniturization could be redone I suppose, but its not quite the apocalyptic scenario you make it out to be.
I actually have a version 2 of the Evoluent mouse and I quite like it.
I find it incredibly comfortable to use and it had completley removed the pain I used to get in my hands and forearm.
Now, I do understand what you are saying and when I first got this mouse that is what I had done, gripped it with my palm cause otherwise if didn't feel right not having some grip on it. However, after a week of that, it wasn't very comfortable, so what I do is keep no grip on it. When I move my hand it just moves the mouse as if Im sweeping it. My thumb moves the mouse right, my palm moves it left, back of my palm forward, and my fingers move it back (the clicks are not so senstitive that you can do this quickly without accidently clicking) then I just use my fingers to click, using the space between the thumb and palm as the resting point to push against.
I keep my hand completely relaxed (no using muscles to keep it in a position) and maintain fast mouse movement and clicking. Now I will admit, I am still technically faster with a standard button on top mouse, but Im twitch gaming to get a headshot and its plenty fast enough. It did take a little while to get used to using it this way though, but it has been incredibly helpful, even to teh point that I can use a normal use the odd time without getting pain like I used to. I also don't use wrist movements to move the mouse, but rather my forearm, that helps as well I found.
You just have to make sure you don't focus your eyes on anything and concentrate on keepign them still. After a few moments everything starts fading away to black, it kind of looks black ink spilling over your eyes.
Or heck, I suppose Im not entirely sure, it could be something else.
You consider "no drugs" to be an example of a rule they shouldn't obey?
Ok, getting high in your buddies basement is not exactly the epitome of evil here, but I certainly would not advocate they that go out and do so.
I would that the drug laws are for the most part good things. Children, and most adults should not have or be using recreational drugs. Most are harmful, and cause bigger and long term problems.
I don't agree with smoking at all cause if you smoke its not always my choice, frankly I shouldn't have to breathe in your poison if I don't want to. Drinking, well responsible use is fine. Perhaps Im a little hypocritical here with saying drinking is fine, but other recreatioanl drug use isn't, but I firmly believe there is a point where for some of them where moderation is easily handled and the damage is either not there or neglible, or even helpful according to some studies. Harder drugs, are terribly addictive and have long term ramifications, both on the user themselves and the people and society around him.
Not that I necessarily with the GP, but if everything is mapped out, the fact that you put a person at that cliff and whether or not he jumps is also pre-determined.
Your little experiment proves nothing, as you assume that either you or the jumpee is outside the pre-determination in your scenario.
He didn't jump because it was pre-determined, and you knew you he wouldn't because it was pre-determined that you would think that. It was also pre-determined that you would put that person in that situation.
Oddly enough, if everything is pre-determined and you can somehow prove that, and see the pre-determination, it should logically follow that that itself was pre-determined. That gets into the whole "time travel" (again hypothetically if you could) thing, that if you know the future, can you change it, or does the future you see exist as the future cause of the pre-determined state you would see it as.
At least in Saskatchewan, we have basically Sasktel (Phone) and Shaw cable.
Sasktel does not cap, whether they say they do or not, I have never seen them do it, none of my friends have had it capped, and I have several friends now that work for them and even one in that department and they do not cap. Heck they even allow me to run servers, off my basic home DSL, I actually asked and they said it was no problem. I believe the basic home is 1M down / 256 up, and you can go up to 5 down 1 up for an extra 10-15 dollars and then there is another level after that for another 20-25 dollars, but I don't remember what it was.
Oh and neither makes you sign a contract, you sign up and cancel when you want, heck I bought out the hardware for both and jump back and forth between companies as I need different services (Shaw is faster for cheaper, but has a few other limitations), takes a day to shift and if you talk nice to the representatives they will even refund parts of the month you didn't use if you get them to shut it off right away.
Shaw cable caps me at about 75 GB total used up and down, but will attempt to contact you and ask you to be respectful of the bandwidth first. If they fail to contact you, they will cut you off, but a simple call back will get you hooked up. They don't actually cut you off completely if they get a hold of you, but usually if they have called me, I watch my use for the rest of the month.
There is Telus in other provinces, but it is an evil corporation.
I may be a minority, but I get nausious, light-headed, disoriented around most CFLs, or at least most that you find for ceiling lights and lamps for houses.
I have several friends that swtiched over and I lost balance and was sick within about 10 minutes.
Heck, for one lamp I went into convulsions, spasms and pretty much blacked out.
Office lights bother me, but I find that covering them with approximately a 50% transparent cover alleviates the effect enough, although I still get bad headaches. Or most of the time I keep them off.
Ok, now I understand the whole too much dilution of electrolytes thing, but does this too much as easily apply to other liquids as well.
I easily and more often than I should drink up to 8 litres of milk within a 6 hour period. I'm pretty addicted. My doctor said I should cut back due to health concerns, but that was for fat and calorie intake, not necessarily an overabundance of liquid.
I would be curious what sort of effects or how closely too much of other liquids would have.
I am entirely sure about this, but walking capable humans get around a lot better than our wheeled counterparts. Varying and drastic terrain is easier for a pair of legs than a some wheels or treads.
Im sure the technology has to go a lot further, but a robotic armor a la mechwarrior or Gundam would have its place. Variable-movement limbs are very handy.
If I remember correctly, and I am sure I do, the eternal life of the holy grail only worked within the cave, once you stepped out, you kept the regenerative effects, thus he saved his father, but you still age as normal.
I think you're a little naive if you think that putting 30 second McDonalds commercial in your game will get the MMO company to eliminate monthly fees.
They will just pocket the extra cash and say its all for the consumer so that they maintain the "quality" of the game.
I don't if I necessarily agree with Final Fantasy XII.
I consider it an excellent, and I did all the sidequests up the final plot point and explored a few optional areas at around the 65 hour mark maybe. I could have done it much quicker, but I like just playing around.
That was fine. However, I find the extra optional game elements extremely annoying and tedious. Getting the mats for the Tournesol (best 2 handed sword) is a horrible grind. Stupid Souls of Thamasa, drop faster or let me kill more than 6 ghosts every time through the dungeon (don't ask me why, maybe its me, but as soon as I kill 6 Oversouls, and that horse spawns, I never get anymore until I head 2 areas away from the Necrohol)
And the Crystal optional area, my characters are lvl 89ish, have the best weapons for what I want them for (Durandal for tank and Tournesol for damager, masamune for mage - minus the zodiac, stupid chests) I have the Grand armor and various good accessories, including 2 ribbons if necessary, and some of the enemies are still pounding the crap out of me. Having the groups of 6 bombs self-destruct or chain reaction for 2k each with protect and shell up all at the same time, while my cure spell is put on hold because magic queues against the enemies, is frickin insane.
The Hell Wyrm was cool, had to leave and heal mp once a little over half way through, but it was an exciting and interesting battle, but some of the optional elements seemed way too tedious.
And I've done that. I was in the middle of a boss battle, he was dealing some elemental damage, so I as going to switch armors to half it, well I didn't have the licenses for it, but I had tons of points in getting up to the boss so...
I opened up the board, got the few slots I needed and re-equipped them.
I found it very useful. Also very useful is to switch armors and accessories in the middle of battles to absorb, counter whatever the boss is doing; he's casting confuse - bowline sash, darkra - bone mail, firaga - fire shield, etc.
All right so changing armor weapons and shields in the middle of a "frozen time" moment is stretching the suspension of disbelief a bit, but hey thats strategy.
Im confused by the Slashdot captchas. Mainly because I don't get any Captchas when I sign in or post a comment to Slashdot, yet I hear people mention anytime a related article pops up.
I have Javascript turned off on the page, is this causing it?
The iAudio X5 from Cowow is by far the single greatest player I have ever know.
Plays many differnt formats such as.ogg,.mp3,.avi (limited and can convert to its own format for better),.wav,.wma (non-DRMed, but its supposed to be getting that as well).
Does radio and recording as well.
Has timers and alarms for auto-shutoff and on. Can schedule recordings.
Nice battery life, I think it says 14hrs, but I get about 13 hours in real use.
I would suggest that something might be wrong with your Windows then. I have 4.2 installed on my Windows XP notebook and it is fully updated. Now it is Windows Media Centre 2003 I believe, maybe that has something to do with it. However I also have it here at work Windows XP professional completely updated (well except the WGA).
While, for one, the individual steps may not be perfectly secure they are certainly far more complex and involve several expert and natural language systems. But besides that, I figure if you can find the pieces, put them together in the right order (several times) and decrypt them, then my hat's off to you and I deserve whatever I get for my arrogance in my security.
First I would encrypt the original file, split it up into 10-100 pieces, encrypt those, hide them in other files, encrypt those, then store them in random locations around the internet either by emailing a piece to a webmail or uploading to a server somewhere, posting the binary or hex sequence to a forum, things like that.
Heck sometimes I'd repeat the repeat the encrypt/split/hide process several times, or even put the last step as hidden. Yes I realize anyone with any computer talent could find a file hidden in another one, but it keeps it out of plain sight. I also remove any identifiable information on what order the pieces go in, I rely on myself to remember. Or leave clues elsewhere. I'll admit sometimes it takes like 3 days to gather and assemble them if I need them, though.
I use it for things that are better off gone forever than being leaked.
I can assure with you with the utmost certainty that any legal download mechanism will filled with DRM "goodness" as well. You aren't going to escape from that. And in fact it has the potential to be even worse.
Downloads that can only be played on one machine, so you can't take that disc over to a friends house, and if you get a new computer you have to buy it all over again.
Slashdot Mirror
If you are fine with them blocking SMTP to protect their network from zombie machines running large, why is it wrong for them to block bitTorrent to prevent their network from grinding to a halt. (Arguements of "unlimited" internet aside)
Both have legitimate and devious uses.
My family has always been light-hearted
When two of my grandparents died, one was tragic, one was "we knew it was coming" we made a few jokes at the funeral, heck it was part of the service. We told funny stories, remembered the times, all that sort of thing.
It is perfectly reasonable to not have families collapse in a pile of unrelenting grief at a tragedy. I would in fact consider such a thing a perversion of the person's memory. It may have been tragic, but it doesn't have to be debilitating for everyone else around them.
Now thats not to say we shouldn't be upset or or even a little angry at the circumstances, but lets not get carried away. Like they say, people take life way too seriously, we all die in the end anyway.
I always got the impression that Dr. Eggman didn't like Sonic very much. Having your attempts at world domination thwarted all the time tends to put a damper on any relationships.
I am afraid I still have to disagree, you do make good points, but:
The first transistor was created in 1947 according to a quick google search.
Thats 60 years from the first transistor to what we have now. Thats not a long time especially considering that we will retain our knowledge of how they worked. I'll admit, we will lose a lot of stored knowledge yes, but surely you would have to admit that it would not take 60s years again.
Now assuming progression of any sort, that gap widens and, without any further information on this scenario, this would increase the technical learning curve to beyond a single generation.
However, it should also be noted that as things pass from cutting edge to mundane and consequentially are considered common knowledge, the age in which one acquires this knowledge becomes lower. For example, in 1947, the first transistor was probably not taught in first year engineering courses, but now heck I know 14 year olds that know how it works, and given the proper materials could probably fashion a crude one from scratch. So as the technology gap increases so does common knowledge of this technology.
Well there would certainly be setbacks, I cannot argue this, I still believe that we could bounce back within a reasonable time frame.
Heck, we basically live in a sci-fi world looking through the eyes of a 1930s person.
They would have never have thought you could get a computer into the size of a watch.
Secondly, there is more to computer and technology group than coders.
I don't know what your background is specifically, but something that electronic engineers learn in their very first year of classes is a little thing called the transistor and boolean algebra. Thats kind of pretty much where our modern electronics stem from at the moment.
I can build you an AND gate an OR gate, a NAND gate out of 3 cent transistors. If I plug enough of those transistors together in logical patterns I can basically make the equivalent of a processor (it would huge and weak compared to today) but its a start. Size would take a step back till the miniturization could be redone I suppose, but its not quite the apocalyptic scenario you make it out to be.
I actually have a version 2 of the Evoluent mouse and I quite like it.
I find it incredibly comfortable to use and it had completley removed the pain I used to get in my hands and forearm.
Now, I do understand what you are saying and when I first got this mouse that is what I had done, gripped it with my palm cause otherwise if didn't feel right not having some grip on it. However, after a week of that, it wasn't very comfortable, so what I do is keep no grip on it. When I move my hand it just moves the mouse as if Im sweeping it. My thumb moves the mouse right, my palm moves it left, back of my palm forward, and my fingers move it back (the clicks are not so senstitive that you can do this quickly without accidently clicking) then I just use my fingers to click, using the space between the thumb and palm as the resting point to push against.
I keep my hand completely relaxed (no using muscles to keep it in a position) and maintain fast mouse movement and clicking. Now I will admit, I am still technically faster with a standard button on top mouse, but Im twitch gaming to get a headshot and its plenty fast enough. It did take a little while to get used to using it this way though, but it has been incredibly helpful, even to teh point that I can use a normal use the odd time without getting pain like I used to. I also don't use wrist movements to move the mouse, but rather my forearm, that helps as well I found.
I don't think its impossible.
You just have to make sure you don't focus your eyes on anything and concentrate on keepign them still. After a few moments everything starts fading away to black, it kind of looks black ink spilling over your eyes.
Or heck, I suppose Im not entirely sure, it could be something else.
You consider "no drugs" to be an example of a rule they shouldn't obey?
Ok, getting high in your buddies basement is not exactly the epitome of evil here, but I certainly would not advocate they that go out and do so.
I would that the drug laws are for the most part good things.
Children, and most adults should not have or be using recreational drugs.
Most are harmful, and cause bigger and long term problems.
I don't agree with smoking at all cause if you smoke its not always my choice, frankly I shouldn't have to breathe in your poison if I don't want to.
Drinking, well responsible use is fine.
Perhaps Im a little hypocritical here with saying drinking is fine, but other recreatioanl drug use isn't, but I firmly believe there is a point where for some of them where moderation is easily handled and the damage is either not there or neglible, or even helpful according to some studies.
Harder drugs, are terribly addictive and have long term ramifications, both on the user themselves and the people and society around him.
Thats not a valid defense for free will.
Not that I necessarily with the GP, but if everything is mapped out, the fact that you put a person at that cliff and whether or not he jumps is also pre-determined.
Your little experiment proves nothing, as you assume that either you or the jumpee is outside the pre-determination in your scenario.
He didn't jump because it was pre-determined, and you knew you he wouldn't because it was pre-determined that you would think that. It was also pre-determined that you would put that person in that situation.
Oddly enough, if everything is pre-determined and you can somehow prove that, and see the pre-determination, it should logically follow that that itself was pre-determined. That gets into the whole "time travel" (again hypothetically if you could) thing, that if you know the future, can you change it, or does the future you see exist as the future cause of the pre-determined state you would see it as.
At least in Saskatchewan, we have basically Sasktel (Phone) and Shaw cable. Sasktel does not cap, whether they say they do or not, I have never seen them do it, none of my friends have had it capped, and I have several friends now that work for them and even one in that department and they do not cap. Heck they even allow me to run servers, off my basic home DSL, I actually asked and they said it was no problem. I believe the basic home is 1M down / 256 up, and you can go up to 5 down 1 up for an extra 10-15 dollars and then there is another level after that for another 20-25 dollars, but I don't remember what it was. Oh and neither makes you sign a contract, you sign up and cancel when you want, heck I bought out the hardware for both and jump back and forth between companies as I need different services (Shaw is faster for cheaper, but has a few other limitations), takes a day to shift and if you talk nice to the representatives they will even refund parts of the month you didn't use if you get them to shut it off right away. Shaw cable caps me at about 75 GB total used up and down, but will attempt to contact you and ask you to be respectful of the bandwidth first. If they fail to contact you, they will cut you off, but a simple call back will get you hooked up. They don't actually cut you off completely if they get a hold of you, but usually if they have called me, I watch my use for the rest of the month. There is Telus in other provinces, but it is an evil corporation.
I may be a minority, but I get nausious, light-headed, disoriented around most CFLs, or at least most that you find for ceiling lights and lamps for houses.
I have several friends that swtiched over and I lost balance and was sick within about 10 minutes.
Heck, for one lamp I went into convulsions, spasms and pretty much blacked out.
Office lights bother me, but I find that covering them with approximately a 50% transparent cover alleviates the effect enough, although I still get bad headaches. Or most of the time I keep them off.
Ok, now I understand the whole too much dilution of electrolytes thing, but does this too much as easily apply to other liquids as well.
I easily and more often than I should drink up to 8 litres of milk within a 6 hour period.
I'm pretty addicted.
My doctor said I should cut back due to health concerns, but that was for fat and calorie intake, not necessarily an overabundance of liquid.
I would be curious what sort of effects or how closely too much of other liquids would have.
I am entirely sure about this, but walking capable humans get around a lot better than our wheeled counterparts. Varying and drastic terrain is easier for a pair of legs than a some wheels or treads.
Im sure the technology has to go a lot further, but a robotic armor a la mechwarrior or Gundam would have its place. Variable-movement limbs are very handy.
If I remember correctly, and I am sure I do, the eternal life of the holy grail only worked within the cave, once you stepped out, you kept the regenerative effects, thus he saved his father, but you still age as normal.
I think you're a little naive if you think that putting 30 second McDonalds commercial in your game will get the MMO company to eliminate monthly fees.
They will just pocket the extra cash and say its all for the consumer so that they maintain the "quality" of the game.
--------------
is pretty obvious and I doubt anyone would need to be reminded of it.. Did you mean
(x^(1/2))^2 != x for x is less than 0
?
--------------
Actually it holds true for x is less than 0 as well
(X^(1/2))^2
Lets examine this
Say x = -9
x^(1/2) = -9^(1/2) = 3i
3i^2 = 3^2 * i^2 = 9 * (-1) = -9
I don't if I necessarily agree with Final Fantasy XII.
I consider it an excellent, and I did all the sidequests up the final plot point and explored a few optional areas at around the 65 hour mark maybe. I could have done it much quicker, but I like just playing around.
That was fine.
However, I find the extra optional game elements extremely annoying and tedious. Getting the mats for the Tournesol (best 2 handed sword) is a horrible grind. Stupid Souls of Thamasa, drop faster or let me kill more than 6 ghosts every time through the dungeon (don't ask me why, maybe its me, but as soon as I kill 6 Oversouls, and that horse spawns, I never get anymore until I head 2 areas away from the Necrohol)
And the Crystal optional area, my characters are lvl 89ish, have the best weapons for what I want them for (Durandal for tank and Tournesol for damager, masamune for mage - minus the zodiac, stupid chests) I have the Grand armor and various good accessories, including 2 ribbons if necessary, and some of the enemies are still pounding the crap out of me. Having the groups of 6 bombs self-destruct or chain reaction for 2k each with protect and shell up all at the same time, while my cure spell is put on hold because magic queues against the enemies, is frickin insane.
The Hell Wyrm was cool, had to leave and heal mp once a little over half way through, but it was an exciting and interesting battle, but some of the optional elements seemed way too tedious.
Hah, you actually have an interesting point.
...
And I've done that. I was in the middle of a boss battle, he was dealing some elemental damage, so I as going to switch armors to half it, well I didn't have the licenses for it, but I had tons of points in getting up to the boss so
I opened up the board, got the few slots I needed and re-equipped them.
I found it very useful.
Also very useful is to switch armors and accessories in the middle of battles to absorb, counter whatever the boss is doing; he's casting confuse - bowline sash, darkra - bone mail, firaga - fire shield, etc.
All right so changing armor weapons and shields in the middle of a "frozen time" moment is stretching the suspension of disbelief a bit, but hey thats strategy.
Im confused by the Slashdot captchas.
Mainly because I don't get any Captchas when I sign in or post a comment to Slashdot, yet I hear people mention anytime a related article pops up.
I have Javascript turned off on the page, is this causing it?
Plays many differnt formats such as .ogg, .mp3, .avi (limited and can convert to its own format for better), .wav, .wma (non-DRMed, but its supposed to be getting that as well).
Does radio and recording as well.
Has timers and alarms for auto-shutoff and on. Can schedule recordings.
Nice battery life, I think it says 14hrs, but I get about 13 hours in real use.
http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/iaudio/x5/
I would suggest that something might be wrong with your Windows then.
I have 4.2 installed on my Windows XP notebook and it is fully updated.
Now it is Windows Media Centre 2003 I believe, maybe that has something to do with it.
However I also have it here at work Windows XP professional completely updated (well except the WGA).
Heh,
While, for one, the individual steps may not be perfectly secure they are certainly far more complex and involve several expert and natural language systems.
But besides that, I figure if you can find the pieces, put them together in the right order (several times) and decrypt them, then my hat's off to you and I deserve whatever I get for my arrogance in my security.
I've been doing something like this for years.
First I would encrypt the original file, split it up into 10-100 pieces, encrypt those, hide them in other files, encrypt those, then store them in random locations around the internet either by emailing a piece to a webmail or uploading to a server somewhere, posting the binary or hex sequence to a forum, things like that.
Heck sometimes I'd repeat the repeat the encrypt/split/hide process several times, or even put the last step as hidden. Yes I realize anyone with any computer talent could find a file hidden in another one, but it keeps it out of plain sight.
I also remove any identifiable information on what order the pieces go in, I rely on myself to remember. Or leave clues elsewhere.
I'll admit sometimes it takes like 3 days to gather and assemble them if I need them, though.
I use it for things that are better off gone forever than being leaked.
Yes, I know this is off-topic, but ...
I don't even get a captcha to log in.
Am I supposed to?
I block flash and java on all pages, perhaps that has something to do with it.
I can assure with you with the utmost certainty that any legal download mechanism will filled with DRM "goodness" as well. You aren't going to escape from that. And in fact it has the potential to be even worse.
Downloads that can only be played on one machine, so you can't take that disc over to a friends house, and if you get a new computer you have to buy it all over again.