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User: SSCGWLB

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Comments · 141

  1. Re:Virtualisation on ILM's Datacenter · · Score: 1

    Because raw processing power is what's important. Lets say you have 1000 SMP machines, each processor running a rendering process (2000 render nodes). Does adding another process to each CPU (4000 rendering nodes) double your processing capabilities? NO! Because each processor is mostly utilized, with only a small percentage of idle cycles. You have a finite number of CPU resources, dividing them up into small pieces does not improve anything (in this case). It would make sense if rendering CG was more network intensive (i.e. one process could rending while the next frame was being received). However, in rendering (like most tasks typically performed by clusters) the vast majority of the time is spent number crunching. The brief periods the CPU is idle/near idle is when the OS is sending results and getting new data, follow by long (in CPU terms) period of processing.

    ~nate

  2. Revist? So soon? on Recounting Bioware's Baldur's Gate II · · Score: 1

    Revisit? I am playing it for the first time right now!! It is, however, a very good game. Got to love Minc and his critter.

    ~nate

  3. Re:Raw capacity doesn't matter on Holographic Storage Crams in 0.5TB Per Square Inch · · Score: 1

    What about backups, archives, and transferring large quantities of data? Hard drives have moving parts; they can fail at pretty much any time. Static discharges can fry their controller card, strong magnetic fields can corrupt some/all of the data, etc. Hard Drives really are fragile media to store your backups on. These areas are where I think this technology will really be useful.

    Need to send 1TB of data to your friend in Tibet? Would you rather FedEx him a well padded holograph disk, multiple hard drives, or a lot of tapes?

    Have 5TB of old project data that must be saved for years? Four of these disks would do.

    I say about freaking time, when can I get one?

    ~nate

  4. Re:Canadians on Drugs May Offer AIDS Prevention · · Score: 1

    Agreed. There is undoubtedly room for them to cut some profits and not advertise so damn much. Why advertise for ED, IBS, herpes, insomnia, etc?? If you have one of these conditions, I would think you would have noticed and gone to a doctor! I still disagree with the people who say they should sell drugs at/near cost.

    ~nate

  5. Re:Worst. Mod. EVAR. on God of War, Counter-Strike, 360 Design at GDC · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What, no kamikaze mode? They should be able to strap 10 HE grenades to their spandex torsos and fling themselves at the other team!!! I bet the loosing team doesn't even have to commit Seppuku! Kids these days, sure don't have the starch of their ancestors.

    ~nate

  6. Re:Canadians on Drugs May Offer AIDS Prevention · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Somebody has to pay for the R&D on all those drugs the rest of the world takes for granted/steals. Those companies spend billions developing, testing, and getting FDA approval on a single drug. Then, after that, they have to bear the legal liability if there are unintended side effects (Vioxx anybody?). I don't even begrudge them making money, that's why these corporations exist (gasp!). Personally, I am glad I live in the best country in the world that has the innovation and R&D infrastructure to develop a drug like this. That way, if I get sick, they may have developed a drug to cure me!

    Thanks for playing,
    ~nate

  7. Re:It *IS* released Nov 2006 worldwhile on PS3 - Lateness With Linux? · · Score: 1

    Wow, you either:

    1) Live in a different America from me. I live in the America between Canada and Mexico, you might have heard of it

    2) Don't live in America and blindly believe whatever stereotypes you hear.

    Either way, most of us American's don't "believe almost anything a marketting team and a salesperson wanting commission tells them". Thanks for playing.

    ~nate

  8. Re:You forgot option three: on Sony's PS3 Strategy Brilliant or Insane? · · Score: 2

    Not to nitpick, but Sun Tzu was Chinese. As for the 360, I figure why not wait a few months for Rev. 2 to come out? I don't really want to be a beta tester.

    ~nate

  9. Re:pointless on Female Gamers Duke It Out · · Score: 1

    You know, the parent asked the most reasonable and insightful question here, and he is modded flamebait!! What a travesty. On a more serious note, does anybody here really want to play most of the games an women would design? Women are interested in different things then men *gasp*! They obviously like different types of games also (Catz *shudder*, sims, etc). I want to be able to take over the world, shoot things, chop offending races into mincy slivers, fry the landscape with fireballs, and then visit my girl for a hot beverage. So, no need to change something that works for us guys. Instead, make something NEW that girls want to play.

    ~nate

  10. Re:The EU is more corrupt than Microsoft. on Microsoft Accuses European Union of Collusion · · Score: 1

    I agree with you, I have never said the American Gov was perfect. Money corrupts and governments/corporations have lots of money. I can think of many governments around the world (including the US) that have suffered again and again from corruption. All I was trying to do was respond to "Now, perhaps you could list a list of SPECIFIC cases where the EU is seen as corrupt?" with a few specific cases. Now that we both acknowledge our respective governing entities need a butt kicking, we should get on it!

    ~nate

  11. Re:Pfffff on Microsoft Accuses European Union of Collusion · · Score: 1

    Really?
    EU in turmoil after [entire] executive commission resigns
    If they can do whatever they want, why did they resign? Curious.... Could it be because they can't do whatever they want?!??!

    *ding ding ding*. Next!

    ~nate

  12. Re:The EU is more corrupt than Microsoft. on Microsoft Accuses European Union of Collusion · · Score: 1

    *blah blah * bush *blah blah* Is that really the entire substance of your argument?

    Examples of EU/EC corruption:
    Auditors reject EU accounts again
    For E.U. Critics, a Cautionary Tale
    Kinnock EU whistleblower 'hung out to dry'
    EU accounting worse than Enron, says whistleblower
    New scandal hits EC over insider trading
    EU in turmoil after executive commission resigns

    Wow, you are right, the EU/EC is a regular shining white pillar of purity. I'm being sarcastic, BTW. I found these examples with 3 minutes and google. Yes, there where many more. ~nate

  13. Re:Man's cruelty to animals seems boundless on Stealth Sharks to Patrol the High Seas · · Score: 1

    You cite a wiki (by definition freely editable and not a reliable source of information) as reference against Merriam-Webster... Convincing. Besides that point, surgeons have been putting electrodes in people's brains for years, is that cruel? Or is it only cruel when it's done to non-human animals? I imagine you see killing and eating animals as cruel. I realize all of this 'Seems rather cruel' to you, but that's your prerogative. I, obviously, disagree.

    I would agree that DARPA considers the shark's possible pain/death less important then its primary mission. Since one if its primary missions is to save human life, I have no problem with that.

    As for which country has a better grasp of the English language, its quite possible you Brits do. What that has to do with this argument, I have no idea. As for 'teaching' us anything, ha!

    ~nate

  14. Re:Man's cruelty to animals seems boundless on Stealth Sharks to Patrol the High Seas · · Score: 1

    What? Cruel? So in addition to being a PETA (Formerly: People Eating Tasty Animals) member, you have a poor grasp of the English language:

    This is the definition of cruel courtesy of Webster's Dictionary: Main Entry: cruel
    Pronunciation: 'krü(-&) l
    Function: adjective
    Inflected Form(s): crueler or crueller; cruelest or cruellest
    Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin crudelis, from crudus
    1 : disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings
    2 a : causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
    b : unrelieved by leniency


    Since you obviously didn't RTFA, they plan on using sharks as stealthy scouts. Its not like they are torturing sharks to make them killing machines then attaching drills to their heads.

    Sheesh

    ~nate

  15. Re:This is what I want as an american. on Stealth Sharks to Patrol the High Seas · · Score: 1

    Dear Troll,

    As an American, I also want lower taxes and better public transportation but you can keep the national health care. Why should my hard earned tax dollars be wasted on financing someone else's bad health? Maybe if they have to foot the bill people will eat and smoke less and exercise more... In addition, national health care costs money, money that will be raised by increasing taxes. So, you can pick #1 or #3, personally I like #1. This is, however, beside the point. We are discussing sharks, with freakin' laser beams. Personally, I hope they put a lowlight camera on those sharks and let us watch (or control!!) what they are doing... Go technology!

    ~nate

  16. Re:Bah. on Indestructible Super Mug To Save Humanity · · Score: 1

    As another Alumni of the 'university in Socorro' which is not a university (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology), I must concur. Much beer is wasted every day and this must be stopped!!!