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ISO/IEC 26300:2006 PDF version (en) 13368 KB CHF 340,00
ISO/IEC 26300:2006 CD-ROM version (en) CHF 340,00
Interestingly, I can download the USB standard for free but I need to pay big bucks just to view a copy of the OPEN Document standard online? How OPEN is it when I can't even afford to see it?
I can download linux from Redhat at no charge, and Redhat is a For-Profit company, yet ISO is a non-profit organization. I can understand charging for the CD, but why such an outrageous price to download?
I would agree that science demands proof, and religion demands belief. But before I'm a scientist or a Christian, I am HUMAN. If you never make a decision without PROOF then you will never earn any money on the stock market (there is always risk), or trust the recommendation of your doctor (who may not have time to PROVE to you how your smoking habit will kill you).
Keep in mind none of us live our lives in a vacuum and we all make decisions without all the facts/proof that we wish we had. We are born into society and have parents, family, teachers, TV, and (for some) church. Most Christians, myself included are pretty much 'born' into it, as are most Muslims/Buddhists/etc, Democrats/Republicans, Rich/Poor, you get the idea.
That being said, I would probably be an Agnostic if I were not already a Christian, but since I have been a Christian, I need to "disprove" my beliefs for myself before changing over, and there are just too many points of contention and little practical motivation to change. After all, what eternal paradise is waiting for me when I 'convert' to atheism.
I try to live my life as objectively as possible and rely on scriptures to back up what seems common sense. Tolerance, peace, sharing, forgiving, loving, etc. are great ideals to live by and when my faith supports those ideals, all the more reason to make daily decisions according to those beliefs. The Bible may mention Hell, damnation, and judgment from God. The biggest issue I hear from non-believers is "how can a loving God allow suffering." That's an issue that I have to grapple with, but in my daily activities I know one thing - I am not commanded to kill or destroy, in fact I am forbidden from doing so. Therefore I can live my life doing NO HARM to others, which I think everyone should strive for. I can be comfortable knowing that I don't have all the answers and if there is no God and no paradise waiting for me, I will not suffer any more than the athiest that is convinced.
Fundamentally, religion (any religion) must be a personal choice and it is only natural that we are more likely to believe in the same things as the people with which we associate, but the rational person will keep these beliefs personal, will not go through exteme measures to win converts, and will understand that a world of various beliefs is best when each person has individual freedoms and laws exist only to protect the rights of those individuals.
That's right! It will be a great place to dump all the burned out solar panels. We can just dump them right into the holes left at the A-bomb test sites. Nevada has many other great uses as well: nuclear waste storage, WMD storage and disposal, and don't forget Las Vegas, where we can store and dispose of burned-out entertainers as well.
On a more serious note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the amount of energy required to make solar panels in the first place. I know that refining silicon is a complicated multi-step process that involves melting at temperatures of 1300-1400 C. For PV cells to be a practical alternative to fossil fuels, they need to at least produce enough energy and last long enough to make up for the energy used to produce them while at the same time supplying our gluttonous energy demands. If "low cost" PV panels means cheap, disposable products, then we'll end up burning more fossil fuels just to keep replacing PV panels. This is almost like the problem we have with the negative energy balance in producing ethanol from corn. At least agricultural waste can be burned or bio-degrade on its own.
I, for one, welcome our coal-burning centralized overloads and will wait until global warming heats my home during the winter before investing in shaky silicon technology. After all, once we block out the sun, all your fancy "clean" technology will be useless! *fades away into creepy laughter*
The pollution (and therefore environmental damage) caused by using a rocket to put one ton of payload into space is about a zillion times what would be caused by using the space elevator for the same load.
By pollution do you mean the steam (fresh water) that is ejected from the thrusters as oxygen (that stuff you breathe) and hydrogen (the most abudnant element in the Universe) are ignited?
And as an added bonus, it will automatically delete all of your archived messages, attachments, and contacts if you forget to check your mail in 30 days.
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Add to shopping basket Size Price
ISO/IEC 26300:2006 PDF version (en) 13368 KB CHF 340,00
ISO/IEC 26300:2006 CD-ROM version (en) CHF 340,00
Interestingly, I can download the USB standard for free but I need to pay big bucks just to view a copy of the OPEN Document standard online? How OPEN is it when I can't even afford to see it?
I can download linux from Redhat at no charge, and Redhat is a For-Profit company, yet ISO is a non-profit organization. I can understand charging for the CD, but why such an outrageous price to download?
I just don't get it.
I would agree that science demands proof, and religion demands belief. But before I'm a scientist or a Christian, I am HUMAN. If you never make a decision without PROOF then you will never earn any money on the stock market (there is always risk), or trust the recommendation of your doctor (who may not have time to PROVE to you how your smoking habit will kill you). Keep in mind none of us live our lives in a vacuum and we all make decisions without all the facts/proof that we wish we had. We are born into society and have parents, family, teachers, TV, and (for some) church. Most Christians, myself included are pretty much 'born' into it, as are most Muslims/Buddhists/etc, Democrats/Republicans, Rich/Poor, you get the idea. That being said, I would probably be an Agnostic if I were not already a Christian, but since I have been a Christian, I need to "disprove" my beliefs for myself before changing over, and there are just too many points of contention and little practical motivation to change. After all, what eternal paradise is waiting for me when I 'convert' to atheism. I try to live my life as objectively as possible and rely on scriptures to back up what seems common sense. Tolerance, peace, sharing, forgiving, loving, etc. are great ideals to live by and when my faith supports those ideals, all the more reason to make daily decisions according to those beliefs. The Bible may mention Hell, damnation, and judgment from God. The biggest issue I hear from non-believers is "how can a loving God allow suffering." That's an issue that I have to grapple with, but in my daily activities I know one thing - I am not commanded to kill or destroy, in fact I am forbidden from doing so. Therefore I can live my life doing NO HARM to others, which I think everyone should strive for. I can be comfortable knowing that I don't have all the answers and if there is no God and no paradise waiting for me, I will not suffer any more than the athiest that is convinced. Fundamentally, religion (any religion) must be a personal choice and it is only natural that we are more likely to believe in the same things as the people with which we associate, but the rational person will keep these beliefs personal, will not go through exteme measures to win converts, and will understand that a world of various beliefs is best when each person has individual freedoms and laws exist only to protect the rights of those individuals.
That's right! It will be a great place to dump all the burned out solar panels. We can just dump them right into the holes left at the A-bomb test sites. Nevada has many other great uses as well: nuclear waste storage, WMD storage and disposal, and don't forget Las Vegas, where we can store and dispose of burned-out entertainers as well.
On a more serious note, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the amount of energy required to make solar panels in the first place. I know that refining silicon is a complicated multi-step process that involves melting at temperatures of 1300-1400 C. For PV cells to be a practical alternative to fossil fuels, they need to at least produce enough energy and last long enough to make up for the energy used to produce them while at the same time supplying our gluttonous energy demands. If "low cost" PV panels means cheap, disposable products, then we'll end up burning more fossil fuels just to keep replacing PV panels. This is almost like the problem we have with the negative energy balance in producing ethanol from corn. At least agricultural waste can be burned or bio-degrade on its own.
I, for one, welcome our coal-burning centralized overloads and will wait until global warming heats my home during the winter before investing in shaky silicon technology. After all, once we block out the sun, all your fancy "clean" technology will be useless! *fades away into creepy laughter*
By pollution do you mean the steam (fresh water) that is ejected from the thrusters as oxygen (that stuff you breathe) and hydrogen (the most abudnant element in the Universe) are ignited?
BOO water vapor... HURRAY JP-8 jet fuel !!!
Pirates? Ninjas?
This thing ought to look like what it really is - the real life MAX HEADROOM !!!
(Anyone here not too stoned to remember the '80s?)
"but governments always abuse their powers sometimes"
Sometimes I always agree.
And as an added bonus, it will automatically delete all of your archived messages, attachments, and contacts if you forget to check your mail in 30 days.