Yield is not the same as (short-term) profit. The Roundup-ready solution can produce better profit in a crop year even though it reduces yield. This is because application is simpler and it actually does a good job of killing non-resistant plants (weeds).
The problem with reduced yield is that for us (as soybean consumers) to get the same amount of soybeans through the Roundup-ready system, we need more land and more pesticide to do it.
But yes, studies show that it is a profitable approach.
BTW, I think your usage of the farmers is misleading. It gives the impression that our food is grown by individual landowners wearing John Deere hats and overalls.
The most important factor in usage of Roundup-ready crops and the herbicide itself is probably marketing pressure from Monsanto on growers. Unfortunately, the data for this factor is solely anectodal, but in talking to people in agriculture, it seems Monsanto has an unnerving amount of power over what we eat.
So, should I leave public policy to the politicians and corporate lobbyists? I mean, they're the ones paid to do the job right? I, a mere layman, certainly have no place questioning their decisions.
And yes, I believe this is a public policy issue. If it were talking about the theoretical possibility of creating this grass in a laboratory, then I would agree with you. Leave it to the scientists. But this is about releasing a new species (or variant, whatever) into the wild, and it's about letting golf courses being able to carpet-bomb the entire area with pesticide.
Hope for One-Click to get thrown out? No, I don't think so.
The lesson here is that the patent office is on the side of large corporations with billions of dollars. Don't hold your breath that AOL/TW's patent will be invalidated just because many independant web developers can see that it's trivial.
So all genetically modified plants are a good thing?
Have you heard of the "Roundup Ready" GM corn plants? Basically their purpose is to allow farmers to pour more pesticide on their crop (think about effects to soil and water), and to "lock in" customers.
Furthermore, farmers who develop Organic Certified crops have their livelihoods threatened/destroyed when a GM crop moves in next door.
Hmm, so you're saying my analogy is incorrect. Lets flip back to my original comment:
sjbrown: Would you use my analogy? I hope not. So stop using the "Break In" one.
Oh, so upon actually reading my comment, we can see that I never claimed my analogy was correct. Instead, my point was to show that using these lame "real world" analogies when discussing computer cracking/hacking is extremely misleading. Discussion of these types of activities is made ridiculous and useless when we introduce such analogies.
I was not making an argument about whether he was a criminal, or whether he was responsible.
Ugh. How many times are we going to see this analogy. Slashdot's lameness filter should be able to catch this one by now. If you're trying to prove that it's easy to abuse analogies, congratulations, point made. Here let me help:
This is the same as putting up a big sign on your home that says "We Have Pay Per View Movies In Here!", then, some kids walk up to your huge picture window and look through the glass and watch your Pay Per View Movies.
Would you use my analogy? I hope not. So stop using the "Break In" one.
I could make a similar argument (you know, the kind with no hard data to back it up) by saying that the real figure of personal Linux machines is probably more, because Linux users are more likely to have UserAgent strings that are either:
spoofed to look like Win32
not recognized by Google's Zeitgeist
(seriously, where did that 4% come from, cell phones and OS/2?)
As far as I remember Smeagol was one of the "river folk" which were "not so different from hobbits".
However, it does seem weird that it corrupted Smeagol so fast. There was an implication that the corrupting effects were stronger when Frodo carried it because Sauron was returning. Bilbo was not corrupted though he had it for decades, but it took under 13 months for Frodo to become corrupted.
When you get down to it, this is no different than a criminal breaking and entering into someones house, then saying "the owner left his door unlocked
Ugh. How many times are we going to see this analogy. Slashdot's lameness filter should be able to catch this one by now. If you're trying to prove that it's easy to abuse analogies, congratulations, point made. Here let me help:
This is the same as a bank putting up a big sign that says "We Have Money In Here!", then, when someone comes up to a teller and asks for some money, the teller just hands it over instead of checking to see if they have an account.
Did you miss the dot-bubble? A simple supply-demand / "rational participants" view of capitalism betrays a fundamental lack of understanding in the real market.
The price war could run the providers out of business. It's a long shot that all providers would die, but it could happen. There could be companies who have a vested interest against VoIP that can either a) buy up the remaining VoIP companies and turn them into the living dead, or b) just put non-VoIP services so low that the VoIP companies can't compete.
Admittedly, there could be tiny scattered companies still doing VoIP business, but nothing that would be considered real competition
I didn't mind the ending, seeing as the last 4 or 5 chapters were the only chapters where something actually happened. Up until that point, Jordan basically reiterated stuff we already knew and described how about 20 Aes Sedai looked or held themselves. It was my least favourite book of the ten.
Note to Jordan: Your fans would appreciate it if, in the future:
stuff actually happens
you include glossary entries for minor characters (how am I supposed to remember the difference between Reene, Renna, and Reine, when they were last mentioned in 2 paragraphs 4 books ago?)
you wrote faster. Maybe consider hand steriods
Of course, for all the criticism, I highly enjoy the Wheel Of Time series and would reccommend it.
Slashdot Mirror
- under $250 CDN
- syncs with Linux
- 80 character width
- source code / text editor
Yeah, that's what I want to know too. Where are the numbers?
RC spectrum stuff is an unlicensed area, and its limit is 4 watts.
Good point. I should clarify.
Yield is not the same as (short-term) profit. The Roundup-ready solution can produce better profit in a crop year even though it reduces yield. This is because application is simpler and it actually does a good job of killing non-resistant plants (weeds).
The problem with reduced yield is that for us (as soybean consumers) to get the same amount of soybeans through the Roundup-ready system, we need more land and more pesticide to do it.
But yes, studies show that it is a profitable approach.
BTW, I think your usage of the farmers is misleading. It gives the impression that our food is grown by individual landowners wearing John Deere hats and overalls.
You claim that Roundup-ready crops result in much less pesticide use.
Then you challenge the reader to "Read up on it" to prove your point. I wonder whether you yourself have read up on it.
Multiple studies have been published that show that Roundup-ready soybean crops not only have less yeild, but also do result in more pesticide use.
Some studies report 2 to 5 times more use.
Here is the PDF of one such study: pdf paper
The most important factor in usage of Roundup-ready crops and the herbicide itself is probably marketing pressure from Monsanto on growers. Unfortunately, the data for this factor is solely anectodal, but in talking to people in agriculture, it seems Monsanto has an unnerving amount of power over what we eat.
It's called clover. It's green, it's short, and it competes well with weeds. Needs no mowing.
I'm trying to encourage it to fill my lawn. 1/3 of the way there.
So, should I leave public policy to the politicians and corporate lobbyists? I mean, they're the ones paid to do the job right? I, a mere layman, certainly have no place questioning their decisions.
And yes, I believe this is a public policy issue. If it were talking about the theoretical possibility of creating this grass in a laboratory, then I would agree with you. Leave it to the scientists. But this is about releasing a new species (or variant, whatever) into the wild, and it's about letting golf courses being able to carpet-bomb the entire area with pesticide.
Yes there is.
.ogg files too -- for the discriminating tastes.
Audio Lunchbox
Slashdot Story About Audio Lunchbox from March 19.
They sell
Umm.. maybe you should check out what the Ludum Dare competition actually is.
Lack of capital is not a consideration. Free time on the chosen weekend is the only real limiting factor.
I entered last year using PyGame and Gimp. I spent $0. I got 2nd place in the Cosmetic category.
Well, they just got me to buy an album due to that very feature.
And now I have incentive to tell my friends about this site.
They have eliminated barriers to entry for some users. I guess time and money will tell if that is sufficient to keep them in business.
Hope for One-Click to get thrown out? No, I don't think so.
The lesson here is that the patent office is on the side of large corporations with billions of dollars. Don't hold your breath that AOL/TW's patent will be invalidated just because many independant web developers can see that it's trivial.
So all genetically modified plants are a good thing?
Have you heard of the "Roundup Ready" GM corn plants? Basically their purpose is to allow farmers to pour more pesticide on their crop (think about effects to soil and water), and to "lock in" customers.
Furthermore, farmers who develop Organic Certified crops have their livelihoods threatened/destroyed when a GM crop moves in next door.
Monsanto's Roundup-Ready Canola
I don't get it. I thought we were talking about SPF. What does SMTP-Auth have to do with that? Why did you provide that link?
Is SPF implemented in postfix?
While on the topic of Pygame, you should check out the Pygsear project, which is aimed at making things very simple for novices.
Perhaps your son can make a silk purse with it.
Pygsear
The book that goes along with it
Hmm, so you're saying my analogy is incorrect. Lets flip back to my original comment:
sjbrown: Would you use my analogy? I hope not. So stop using the "Break In" one.
Oh, so upon actually reading my comment, we can see that I never claimed my analogy was correct. Instead, my point was to show that using these lame "real world" analogies when discussing computer cracking/hacking is extremely misleading. Discussion of these types of activities is made ridiculous and useless when we introduce such analogies.
I was not making an argument about whether he was a criminal, or whether he was responsible.
This is the same as putting up a big sign on your home that says "We Have Pay Per View Movies In Here!", then, some kids walk up to your huge picture window and look through the glass and watch your Pay Per View Movies.
Would you use my analogy? I hope not. So stop using the "Break In" one.
Yes, I know. IHBT. Whatever.
(seriously, where did that 4% come from, cell phones and OS/2?)
I've found some very well designed and functional bags and carrying cases for laptops (and other high-tech doodads) at Koie Products' website.
Main Site
Here are a few links to laptop specific stuff:
one
two
three
four
Why do you think Smeagol was a hobbit?
As far as I remember Smeagol was one of the "river folk" which were "not so different from hobbits".
However, it does seem weird that it corrupted Smeagol so fast. There was an implication that the corrupting effects were stronger when Frodo carried it because Sauron was returning. Bilbo was not corrupted though he had it for decades, but it took under 13 months for Frodo to become corrupted.
Official Site
Short Blurb from Time Magazine
Descriptive Article (with pictures)
Details Regarding its Supercomputer Status
When you get down to it, this is no different than a criminal breaking and entering into someones house, then saying "the owner left his door unlocked
Ugh. How many times are we going to see this analogy. Slashdot's lameness filter should be able to catch this one by now. If you're trying to prove that it's easy to abuse analogies, congratulations, point made. Here let me help:
This is the same as a bank putting up a big sign that says "We Have Money In Here!", then, when someone comes up to a teller and asks for some money, the teller just hands it over instead of checking to see if they have an account.
Yes, I know. IHBT. Whatever.
Who is pay and why do you belong to him? Some kind of S/M thing?
Did you miss the dot-bubble? A simple supply-demand / "rational participants" view of capitalism betrays a fundamental lack of understanding in the real market.
The price war could run the providers out of business. It's a long shot that all providers would die, but it could happen. There could be companies who have a vested interest against VoIP that can either a) buy up the remaining VoIP companies and turn them into the living dead, or b) just put non-VoIP services so low that the VoIP companies can't compete.
Admittedly, there could be tiny scattered companies still doing VoIP business, but nothing that would be considered real competition
Note to Jordan: Your fans would appreciate it if, in the future:
Of course, for all the criticism, I highly enjoy the Wheel Of Time series and would reccommend it.
Non sequitur much?
Actually that's the point they do make up for the cost difference. And then some. Unless maybe you're living in an apartment and not paying utilities.
The principal from Lean On Me was a former prime minister of Canada?