Good question. First, I didn't say we don't know how to look for it. I said we looked for common terrestrial forms. My first suggestion is to look for uncommon terrestrial forms also. But we could broaden that a bit.
How about we limit the search to chemical based life. Then we can come up with a scientific definition. The definition would include organized chemical processes that reduce their own entropy at the expense of the environment with the goal of reproduction.
Assuming the energy per square meter falling on the planet is nearly the same as earth. Maybe it is so high that creatures have to move at peak times to avoid getting fried. Or perhaps no light reaches the surface.
Assuming photosynthesis developed and had nearly the same efficiency as terrestrial plants. The currently accepted theory is that photosynthesis developed some time after the origin of life on earth. If you accept that, then there was a period when life existed here with no plants.
Assuming some other form of energy does not dominate the environment. Perhaps deep water sulfur vents are the dominant source of energy.
My guess is that when we first encounter life on another world, we won't even recognize it as such. My guess is that there is life on Mars, we've just missed it because we concentrated our searches for something that looks like a common terrestrial form. And there is evidence to support that guess.
A.223 is certainly more effective, but I don't want to use one on my porch.
Besides, it doesn't instill any fear into 'em; they never have a time to be afraid;-)
And the slashdot entry is also wrong. The article
doesn't say anything about "an off-by ten error in btrees".
It doesn't talk about btrees except for a passing reference.
It talks about heaps and heapsort.
Change all the locks on your place and your girlfriends place to use
the same key. Make a key ring for each vehicle with only that vehicles
key and one abode key. You might have a few other must-have keys.
Put them on your main vehicles key ring.
First, you don't know that.
Second, you think you know something about
Jessica Simpson's knowledge of math, but I don't
believe you know her.
Third maybe Jessica Simpson would have a lot more money if she had more knowledge of math.
Were did they say they were getting a science degree?
Needing to take a few math courses to wrap up a degree
implies that most of the course work is done. I can't think
of a science or engineering major that would allow you
take the required courses without having completed
calculus first.
I never said "it’s perfectly okay for cops to use their government-given power to harass people who flip them off". In fact, I never once said the cop's actions were ok. I simply stated what they would do. Nice straw man though, way to change the subject.
You can try and hold cops to any standard you want. However, they are people. Besides shooting you, people's reactions will include punching you in the face, vandalizing your car, flipping you off back, and ignoring you.
The flipper is an asshole and aggressively stupid. He gets no sympathy from me.
There are plenty of truly innocent people that much bigger hassles from the law. Them I care about.
Um, earth to clone53421?
I suggest you run an experiment. Go around flipping
random people off, including cops. See if the worst
thing that happens to you is spending a night in jail.
The flipper who is an aggressively stupid asshole spends the rest of the day and that night in the tank and is released. Then, because the flipper aggressively insist on his right to be stupid, he tries to sue for false arrest, discovers that the legal system is biased toward law enforcement by design to deal with idiots like him, and loses.
If the officer knows what he is doing, the flipper spends the rest of the day and that night in the tank and is released. Then, because the flipper is aggressively stupid, he tries to sue for false arrest, and loses. Which costs him more time and money. Nothing happens to the law enforcement officer at all.
Aggressive Stupidity: Definition: Insisting on your right to be stupid.
I think any judge would allow that flipping off an officer of the law is probably cause
to assume that the flipper is under the influence. The officer can now pull over said
flipper and administer a field sobriety test. Pass or fail is a judgment of the officer, so
needless to say, flipper fails. See where this is going?
Slashdot Mirror
Steve Jobs is building a monument to himself.
Where are my mod points when I need them.
Best reference ever on /.
For an alternative way see "The Timeless Way of Building" by Christopher Alexander.
Good question. First, I didn't say we don't know how to look for it.
I said we looked for common terrestrial forms. My first suggestion
is to look for uncommon terrestrial forms also. But we could broaden
that a bit.
How about we limit the search to chemical based life. Then we can
come up with a scientific definition. The definition would include
organized chemical processes that reduce their own entropy at
the expense of the environment with the goal of reproduction.
Then you begin to look for unexplained chemical processes. Like
excess methane on Mars. http://www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1758
Or Formaldehyde http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050221/full/news050221-15.html
Famous Last Words
Assuming the energy per square meter falling on the planet is nearly the same as earth.
Maybe it is so high that creatures have to move at peak times to avoid getting fried.
Or perhaps no light reaches the surface.
Assuming photosynthesis developed and had nearly the same efficiency as terrestrial plants.
The currently accepted theory is that photosynthesis developed some time after the origin
of life on earth. If you accept that, then there was a period when life existed here with
no plants.
Assuming some other form of energy does not dominate the environment. Perhaps deep
water sulfur vents are the dominant source of energy.
My guess is that when we first encounter life on another world, we won't even recognize
it as such. My guess is that there is life on Mars, we've just missed it because we
concentrated our searches for something that looks like a common terrestrial form.
And there is evidence to support that guess.
The universe is not only stranger than we imagine,
it is stranger than we can imagine - Arthur C. Clarke
Why does anyone assume that life on another world
would include something we would categorize as a plant?
If focused was computer controlled. Each tiny mirror needs servo controls.
Randy.
A .223 is certainly more effective, but I don't want to use one on my porch.
Besides, it doesn't instill any fear into 'em; they never have a time to be afraid ;-)
Agreed. I have found that a 22 instills quite a bit of fear into opossums and raccoons. Sometimes it is only for one brief moment though.
EOM
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://api.ning.com/files/7AYtkLa6eOoH9h9JNNRsjPSpVXZ6CXlJYJ1Zt8wV9HlYobeRjsnRYEVbbOjMF8sYQDvhCwT41kA*ZlTgAuUkAeMjY7m6fdpo/preparedness.jpg&imgrefurl=http://activitypit.ning.com/xn/detail/1981927:Album:1521363%3Fxg_source%3Dactivity&usg=__4kcLjAeQ7W63NoS9Ifg7dgm7ehg=&h=636&w=640&sz=120&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=sofGa6K6AY7W2M:&tbnh=123&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpreparedness%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1005%26bih%3D561%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=380&vpy=93&dur=2460&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=137&ty=125&ei=I8ZtTLHjKYm8sAP26fnwCg&oei=I8ZtTLHjKYm8sAP26fnwCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
And the slashdot entry is also wrong. The article doesn't say anything about "an off-by ten error in btrees". It doesn't talk about btrees except for a passing reference. It talks about heaps and heapsort.
Funny, I call mine a brief case. Nice quality leather. Soft side. Looks like something a lawyer might carry. But it is a purse.
Change all the locks on your place and your girlfriends place to use the same key. Make a key ring for each vehicle with only that vehicles key and one abode key. You might have a few other must-have keys. Put them on your main vehicles key ring.
I'll have you know that my breasts are pretty darn healthy, you betcha!
First, you don't know that. Second, you think you know something about Jessica Simpson's knowledge of math, but I don't believe you know her. Third maybe Jessica Simpson would have a lot more money if she had more knowledge of math.
A lack of knowledge of mathematics is hazardous to your health, wealth, and well-being.
Were did they say they were getting a science degree? Needing to take a few math courses to wrap up a degree implies that most of the course work is done. I can't think of a science or engineering major that would allow you take the required courses without having completed calculus first.
Chewed up apple.
I can't mod on this thread. Please somebody add +funny!
I never said "it’s perfectly okay for cops to use their government-given power to harass people who flip them off". In fact, I never once said the cop's actions were ok. I simply stated what they would do. Nice straw man though, way to change the subject.
You can try and hold cops to any standard you want. However, they are people. Besides shooting you, people's reactions will include punching you in the face, vandalizing your car, flipping you off back, and ignoring you.
The flipper is an asshole and aggressively stupid. He gets no sympathy from me.
There are plenty of truly innocent people that much bigger hassles from the law. Them I care about.
Um, earth to clone53421? I suggest you run an experiment. Go around flipping random people off, including cops. See if the worst thing that happens to you is spending a night in jail.
The flipper who is an aggressively stupid asshole spends the rest of the day and that night in the tank and is released. Then, because the flipper aggressively insist on his right to be stupid, he tries to sue for false arrest, discovers that the legal system is biased toward law enforcement by design to deal with idiots like him, and loses.
Fixed that for you.
If the officer knows what he is doing, the flipper spends the rest of the day and that night in the tank and is released. Then, because the flipper is aggressively stupid, he tries to sue for false arrest, and loses. Which costs him more time and money. Nothing happens to the law enforcement officer at all.
I think any judge would allow that flipping off an officer of the law is probably cause to assume that the flipper is under the influence. The officer can now pull over said flipper and administer a field sobriety test. Pass or fail is a judgment of the officer, so needless to say, flipper fails. See where this is going?