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User: NetRAVEN5000

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  1. Re:Fallacy on RFID, Sign of the (End) Times? · · Score: 1

    So?
    The "666" isn't a number in the Book of Revelation, it's a name tattooed to the creature's forehead, IIRC. Meaning that it could be three of the Hebrew digits for the number 6. Or maybe "XI XI XI". Either way the idea portrayed to the ancient Christians would've been the same - that the Emperor was evil - and wouldn't have had any meaning to any Roman who happened to find and read it.

  2. Re:Fallacy on RFID, Sign of the (End) Times? · · Score: 0

    Like I said earlier, "666" DOES NOT AND WAS NEVER MEANT TO represent the Devil. It refers to the Roman Emperor of that time period.

  3. Re:Fallacy on RFID, Sign of the (End) Times? · · Score: 3, Insightful
    How is the End of the World going to come "as a thief in the night" if you recognize the mark? Will it be a surprise to anyone if they predicted it? Or do you think that no one will recognize the mark and we're all damned to Hell?

    There's a lot of confusion here in general, and this whole thing is stupid. The Book of Revelation doesn't predict ANYTHING. It was written as a coded message to the early Christians - it was written so that only they could understand it, which is why there's so much confusion about it.

    Let me help things out a bit:

    1) In ancient times, the Jews and Christians had a special system for translating names and words into numbers. "666" could be the translated form of "emperor" or whoever the emperor was at that time (maybe Nero? I'm not sure).
    2) Certain numbers in the Bible represent different things - the number 3 represents God, 6 represents man, 7 represents perfection. Therefore, a 3-headed beast with the number "666" meant a man pretending to be a god - and the Romans believed that their emperor was a god. So it would've represented the emperor, whoever that was.

    What did the Mark of the Beast represent? I don't know. Maybe the Romans dressed differently than the Christians. Maybe it was the Romans' brutality which only the Christians saw as a problem. Maybe it was their inability to be non-conformist (the Christians were seen as "unpatriotic" because they were pacifists and refused to become warriors - certainly there must've been others in Rome who didn't want to fight but did so simply to avoid prosecution?)

  4. It looks like the answer is "yes" on Linux Support for Hybrid Hard Drives? · · Score: 2, Informative
    I've got the 2.6.15.4 kernel and there's a spot to enable support for "Memory Technology Devices".

    Here's the description:
    "Memory Technology Devices are flash, RAM and similar chips, often used for solid state file systems on embedded devices. This option will provide the generic support for MTD drivers to register themselves with the kernel and for potential users of MTD devices to enumerate the devices which are present and obtain a handle on them. It will also allow you to select individual drivers for particular hardware and users of MTD devices."

    It's got options for a whole bunch of things, such as "FTL (Flash Translation Layer)", "NFTL (NAND Flash Translation Layer)", and "INFTL (Inverse NAND Flash Translation Layer)".

    Given that it says the hard drives will use "a one-gigabit OneNAND flash chip" (according to the article), it sounds like it will work.

  5. Re:Is it me or does this seem pointless? on Linux Support for Hybrid Hard Drives? · · Score: 1
    No, the new "Hybrid" hard drives don't just add more cache, they actually have built-in flash memory similar to what you find in USB Flash drives.

    Flash memory lasts quite a while - even longer than a hard drive, from what I've heard.

    The Mybrid drives load commonly-used files into their flash memory - not only for faster access, but also to prevent wear-and-tear on the hard drive's cylinders.

    Whatever is in this flash memory is already committed to the flash memory, and it'll stay there until it's overwritten with new data.

    Solid state memory is still a little too expensive to be able to buy a 250GB drive. These Hybrids kind-of alleviate the problem by being half-solid state and half-mechanical. They provide the benefits of solid state - high speed and durability - with the benefits of a mechanical drive - low price and high amount of storage.

  6. Re:Fallacy on RFID, Sign of the (End) Times? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No. We already know it's not whether the other inventions were or not. How? Because the Bible says that NO ONE knows when it'll happen.
    Plus, the Book of Revelation was written as a consolation to the early Christians who were being prosecuted.

    And wasn't the War in Iraq also supposed to be the beginning of the Apocalypse? I don't believe that one bit, but I'd certainly believe that more than I'd believe RFID is the beginning of the Apocalypse.

  7. Re:Funny quote from the article on Microsoft Claims Worlds Best Search Engine Soon · · Score: 1

    The funniest part is that just after that, it says they're integrating it into Windows Messenger, which (at least in XP, and probably in Vista too) is integrated into Windows and is a little tricky to remove. . .

  8. Re:Haven't we heard this before? on Microsoft Claims Worlds Best Search Engine Soon · · Score: 1

    Yeah but don't you think if they really had something better they would wait until its release to announce it? It'd be better to say "it really is better - don't believe us? Check it out yourself!" than to say "it's better. . . well, we think so, anyways. . ."

    And a good portion of cars at the Auto Show are NEVER made. The Auto Show isn't to build interest, it's to see if there is any interest. They show you a concept and see how much people are interested in it. If lots of people are interested in buying a car like that they make it. If not the car isn't made. Ever. No matter how cool you thought it was, or how much you'd be willing to pay to get one.

  9. Re:gah... on Golf in Space · · Score: 1

    The ball will hit other space objects at a fairly low speed, but (if/when) it falls back to Earth it will fall back down to Earth at terminal velocity. And I would assume that it eventually will - I doubt the astronaut is THAT good of a golfer.

    Of course, the golf ball will probably burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

  10. Question. . . on Let Joe Average Help You Code · · Score: 1

    . . . if these "average Joes" want to learn to program, why don't they just get a book on Java or C++ or something?

  11. Re:Translation on Microsoft Confirms 6 Versions of Vista · · Score: 1
    I don't know anyone who uses "XP Home" at home - I've got Pro, and my dad's PCs came pre-installed with Pro, my laptop came preinstalled with Pro. . .

    And correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think XP did have hyperthreading support - I thought they didn't come out with hyperthreading until after XP came out. . .

  12. Re:a "program" isn't needed on Beware the iPod 'slurping' Employee · · Score: 0
    "email is a lot more easy to monitor than copying files over the network, and is likely backed up too; I dont think that would be a great method for espionage, heh"

    If you're not using their e-mail servers (ie if you use GMail, Yahoo, or Hotmail or something) I'm not so sure they'd have a very easy time catching it.

  13. Re:a "program" isn't needed on Beware the iPod 'slurping' Employee · · Score: 1
    "All that is needed is for someone to mount the ipod as a disk drive"

    Actually you don't even need an iPod at all - ANY storage device would do just fine -- flash drive, portable hard drive, camera, cellphone (I think SOME cellphones have some sort of storage functionality through bluetooth so if the PC has bluetooth you might be able to transfer the data to your phone), non-iPod MP3 players. . .

    Hell, if the files are small enough you could just e-mail them - many Web e-mail services allow up to 10MB or so filesizes. Just send them to your Yahoo! or GMail account.

  14. Re:I don't get it. on Beware the iPod 'slurping' Employee · · Score: 1
    "What's the big deal that an iPod can do it?"


    Didn't you know? iPods are magical!


    Seriously though - there's nothing special about it - the same thing could be done with a flash drive or a CD burner.


    The only thing special about it that I can see is maybe the app runs on the iPod and does it automatically for you. But I don't see how that's much different from running a simple VB app that does the same thing. . . I think one of the /. editors is just trying to conjure up some hatred of Apple.

  15. Let's not forget. . . on Orson Scott Card on Games, 21 Years Ago · · Score: 0
    . . . that at one point in time first-person shooters were considered "original". How many Wolfenstein and DOOM clones/sequels are "original?"

    The way I see it, no FPS is "original" except THE original, Wolfenstein. But some people still consider Halo "original" since it follows a storyline - like Marathon didn't?

  16. Re:reality on Houston Police Chief Wants Cameras in Homes · · Score: 0

    Could also have to do that a lot seem to be protesting for NORML. . . if you know what I mean. . .

  17. Re:Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    I'm not locked into thinking the gyro is the only way. I just know that the gyro works great for what it needs to do - not only does it keep the device upright, but it also detects whether you want to turn left or right, and how sharp of a turn, and whether you want to go forward or backward, and how fast. With all the extra stuff you might need to make it without the gyro, it might not even be much cheaper. Plus, like I said, one of the main purposes was to make the iBOT cheaper. People have criticized the Segway for being expensive and not very useful, but the iBOT is very useful to those who might need it.

    As for accomplishing goals. . . you missed the "goal" of the Segway. Dean's cover was to sell it as a transportation device (which it is) but it's real "goal" is to make the iBOT cheaper.

    I agree with you - as an affordable transportation device, a gyro wasn't the way to go. But Dean was more interested in making wheelchairs that climb stairs and let you reach high places more affordable than he was in selling a perfectly mobile person a transportation device.

    And what I was saying before was that you can't simply "add a third wheel" to make things work - it's not quite that simple, especially since the gyro isn't just for balance - it's also for steering and speed control. Yes, there are other ways of doing these things, but then what keeps balance? There are other ways to keep balance, too, but if you can find a way to do all these things with just one component, that's often a good way to go in terms of weight and complexity. Think about it - in Dean's design, it's basically a big gyro with two wheels and motors - but in yours it's three wheels, some sort of balancing device, speed controls, and direction controls. In this case it might not be much more complex, but there are still more parts that can break.

    Not to mention I still don't know how you'd keep it from tipping over when the user tries to stop unless you made something quite a bit bigger. But then there goes the ability to ride it on the sidewalk, as well as some of its efficiency.

    We can argue this forever. My point is, though, it's not as simple as "let's just give it a third wheel" because that still doesn't solve some of the problems that the gyro does.

  18. Re:Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    Okay, genius - how would you control speed with a fucking button? Oh, that's real smart - either "go" or "stop". Well guess what, smart one, we're not all "stop/go" drivers - that's why they haven't replaced the stupid idea of a pedal in cars with the INGENIOUS idea of a button. Hell, they wouldn't need brakes either - they'd automatically lock up when you hit the button again! Never mind the fact that locking up your brakes is almost never what you want to do, or the fact that the car doesn't know the difference between stopping for a red light and stopping for a kid who comes out of nowhere on his bike.

    You could use a knob for speed, but how would you steer without a steering wheel? And don't say you can use a joystick for steering because there's bumps in roads and guess what Mr. Genius - according to the laws of physics, the joystick's gonna jiggle when you hit a bump and you'll go right in the ditch. So what's your other option, a touchpad? That's great until you're in the cold - all the laptops I've had (and my iPod) have had trouble when they're cold. What about a button? That's great, if you're always going to turn at preset angles. Can't use the steering wheel because your hands need to be near the speed controls in case Johnny runs after a Frisbee without looking both ways - plus since you're standing straight up you'd fall on your face wouldn't you Mr. Rocket Scientist?

    I hope you're not an engineer.

    We have a real world. Problems with a boxing game are a little less serious than problems with human transportation technologies. Just ask Firestone. Having poor controls for a game is OK, but having poorly-made tires is not so good. And I certainly hope you realize that I'm smarter than you think if back in '89 I said something like that - I didn't even know who Mike Tyson was or what video games were. Not because I was stupid, but because I wasn't even in preschool and was more interested in Duplos or something.

    They knew the gyroscope thing would work well, and that's why they made it with a gyroscope.

  19. Re:Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    Thanks for not learning about Dean Kamen before posting about him! All he's ever invented is the Segway. Home dialysis machines, stair-climbing wheelchairs that raise up to let you reach high shelves, heart stents, and the internationally-known FIRST Robotics program all magically appeared out of nowhere.

    Dean Kamen is one of today's most important inventors. Do a little research before you criticize his work.

    And so what if I mistook the invention parent was talking about (Segway human transporter) for another (iBOT wheelchair)? He's still wrong - the third wheel would've caused as many problems as it solved. How would you determine whether the person's leaning forward or if the third wheel is just pushed up because the thing's on a hill? You wouldn't without extra hardware. How would you determine if the person is leaning left or right? Again, you wouldn't without extra hardware. Plus, one of Dean's goals with Segway was to use the parts on the iBOT to make the iBOT cheaper to produce.

  20. Re:No, what you didn't know was... on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    And also because Dean Kamen's a problem-solver - he saw how people use cars for EVERYTHING and the toll it's taking on the environment (and our health) and found a way to get us out in fresh air more and make us less dependent on cars.

    His new one is four-wheeled and is more like a trick bike or something - no doubt more aimed at the sort of people who race dirtbikes and stuff for fun.

    If I had the money, I'd LOVE to have one of these. They look like they're pretty fun - and I've heard the originals go up to 20MPH or so!

  21. Re:Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    Yes, I forgot about this feature.

    FYI I either read or saw on the news somewhere that they had a football player try to knock it over, and they had quite a bit of trouble. Now THAT'S a hell of a gyro - I doubt anything will tip you over in that!

  22. Re:Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 1
    Ah, I see.

    However, the "third wheel" idea would be hard to make work with the Segway - because if you had that, the Segway would also have to know whether or not the ground is flat because standing straight up on a hill would look the same to the machine as leaning forwards.

  23. Learn the subject matter on Segway Inventor Turns To Environment · · Score: 4, Interesting
    "Someone remind me, is this the same guy who used a gyroscope with a 60 Hz sampling rate for stability rather than, I don't know, a third wheel?"

    Yes.

    And now I ask you - what good would a third wheel do for a wheelchair that climbs stairs? Especially when it already has more than three wheels.

    The gyroscope was so that the chair would stay level when it had to go up on its hind wheels to climb the stairs.

  24. Re:Screenshots from article on KDE 4 Screenshots · · Score: 3, Informative

    Might wanna re-check your sources - that foot in the corner indicates that it's GNOME, not KDE.

  25. I wonder. . . on Polite Cell Phones · · Score: 1

    How good would this "polite" cellphone be if it belonged to a doctor or someone else who had to be on-call all the time?