It still sounds like you're saying there "must be life" out there, or there "should be," or doggone it, there "has to be" because our methods of detecting ETs are so crude.
I'll put my lot in with the folks who say there's nothing out there, since this is where the current (lack of) scientific evidence leads. The fact that a lot of people "want" there to be life out there doesn't make it any more likely.
Given that I know that the chances of life sprouting up spontaneously is astronomically, astronomically low, (Close enough to "no chance at all" for me- it takes a whole lot more than throwing the right chemicals in a soup, mind you, for life to appear.)
My conclusion is a very, very reasonable assumption.
But just because you find the idea "ludicrous" or offensive doesn't make it more true/false one iota.
It could very well be that the "arrogant" or offensive answer is the right one. The total lack of any evidence for extraterrestrial life, intelligent or otherwise, should be a strong indicator that we are very, very alone.
This can only lead to one thing. Or rather, many confusing things.
1. "Measures and Units" version 1.0.
2. "Measures and Units" Enterprise Edition.
3. "Measures and Units" on struts.
4. "Measures and Units" version 1.1.
5. "Measures and Units" version 1.2. Compatible with code written in 1.0, but not 1.1 nor EE.
6. "Measures and Units" for mobile devices 1.0. (Compatible with 1.1, but not 1.2, 1.0 nor EE.)
7. "Measures and Units" 1.3 for SunOS. (Requires a patch to the OS to make it work)
This will make our unit conversions so much easier.
"over 800 million PCs" (On which Java still does not run fast; weighed down by a slow, hulking framework, all with who knows what version of the runtime, which works with who know which apps, on which the Java graphics *still* do not refresh correctly in desktop windows, even after 10 years of Java.)
There, fixed that for ya.
And no, I'm no fan of Apple, but Apple's stuff just works.
What if you need to call 911, and some strange app crashes your phone? I think that's at least part of the reason Apple has closed off the iPhone.
Now, picture a Java phone. You are in trouble and need to call 911. Man, it's so slow from that bloated framework that the buttons respond 1 second after I press them. Then- *crash!*
This thread so far reads like the end of your typical "Star Trek: TNG" episode-
Wesley Crusher: Of course! We can defeat the aliens if we hydrogenate that wormhole near the stellar core whatchamajigger, since superconducting SIS mixers and Jopsephson junction local oscillators achieve a phase-locked operation up to 500GHz.
Geordi LaForge: That could destabalize the laser beams at frequencies exceeding 1 PHz (10^15 Hz) which have been precisely controlled, phase locked, and tuned to have frequencies that are *exact multiples* of our best microwave frequency standards.
I can assure the Slashdot community that the term paper is alive and well. It certainly has been for me this week. (winks with eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep...)
Slashdot Mirror
It will be most sensational, inspirational, celebrational and multiplicational.
The important question is: does it come in shiny brass color, and can it hold a lightsaber?
They just need to put a letter 'i' in front of its name in order to make it catch on.
It still sounds like you're saying there "must be life" out there, or there "should be," or doggone it, there "has to be" because our methods of detecting ETs are so crude. I'll put my lot in with the folks who say there's nothing out there, since this is where the current (lack of) scientific evidence leads. The fact that a lot of people "want" there to be life out there doesn't make it any more likely. Given that I know that the chances of life sprouting up spontaneously is astronomically, astronomically low, (Close enough to "no chance at all" for me- it takes a whole lot more than throwing the right chemicals in a soup, mind you, for life to appear.) My conclusion is a very, very reasonable assumption.
But just because you find the idea "ludicrous" or offensive doesn't make it more true/false one iota.
It could very well be that the "arrogant" or offensive answer is the right one. The total lack of any evidence for extraterrestrial life, intelligent or otherwise, should be a strong indicator that we are very, very alone.
In the long run, it will cost the most money of all to keep Al Gore and his Global Warming empire propped up, too.
(I know the "Troll" mod is coming. Now, continue your flames against Bush, 'cause that's different.)
This can only lead to one thing. Or rather, many confusing things.
1. "Measures and Units" version 1.0. 2. "Measures and Units" Enterprise Edition. 3. "Measures and Units" on struts. 4. "Measures and Units" version 1.1. 5. "Measures and Units" version 1.2. Compatible with code written in 1.0, but not 1.1 nor EE. 6. "Measures and Units" for mobile devices 1.0. (Compatible with 1.1, but not 1.2, 1.0 nor EE.) 7. "Measures and Units" 1.3 for SunOS. (Requires a patch to the OS to make it work)
This will make our unit conversions so much easier.
I, for one, welcome our new tiny overlords lodged in the abdomen of some unimportant dude on Mars.
See! ;)
I've come to think that comments on /. get modded up/down not for their insightful value or lack thereof, but based on whether people "like it or not."
/. to never again:
For example, I've learned on
(1) say something negative against the Java programming language, or
(2) defend my religion, or
(3) challenge darwinian evolutionary groupthink
Since a pack of wolves instantly jump on me and call me a troll everytime I do.
Given that there is never any absolutes
Are you absolutely sure of this? This statement assumes that itself is true, no?
Seems like all of the "Myths" are on one side of the coin. Isn't this just a little suspicious?
So it's safe to assume from your colorful language then, that you're a Java enthusiast?
So I dare question the almighty Java, and get modded down to 'Troll'. Nice.
I merely project what I see from Java on the desktop to a phone. So I'm now a troll?
"over 800 million PCs" (On which Java still does not run fast; weighed down by a slow, hulking framework, all with who knows what version of the runtime, which works with who know which apps, on which the Java graphics *still* do not refresh correctly in desktop windows, even after 10 years of Java.)
There, fixed that for ya.
And no, I'm no fan of Apple, but Apple's stuff just works.
I don't understand... regular Java is nothing like that. (..begin masking hysterical laughter..)
What if you need to call 911, and some strange app crashes your phone? I think that's at least part of the reason Apple has closed off the iPhone.
Now, picture a Java phone. You are in trouble and need to call 911. Man, it's so slow from that bloated framework that the buttons respond 1 second after I press them. Then- *crash!*
Yes, I can picture it now- a world without war, a world without hate.
I can also picture us attacking that world, 'cause they'd never expect it.
That's right- so be nice to dolphins or they will flee to their expanse thingy and say, "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"
This thread so far reads like the end of your typical "Star Trek: TNG" episode-
Wesley Crusher: Of course! We can defeat the aliens if we hydrogenate that wormhole near the stellar core whatchamajigger, since superconducting SIS mixers and Jopsephson junction local oscillators achieve a phase-locked operation up to 500GHz.
Geordi LaForge: That could destabalize the laser beams at frequencies exceeding 1 PHz (10^15 Hz) which have been precisely controlled, phase locked, and tuned to have frequencies that are *exact multiples* of our best microwave frequency standards.
Wesley: Right. Just like in the academy.
Picard: Make it so.
Where's Lotus Notes??? Should be in the top 5. Horrible, horrible, non-intuitive mass of confusion.
Everything a UI shouldn't be.
Maybe it just needed to be mounted on the head of a shark.
I can assure the Slashdot community that the term paper is alive and well. It certainly has been for me this week. (winks with eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep...)
So now we have non human "people", yet human "non people" (unborn fetus)
What a piece of work this society is.
The scientific explanation for this will undoubtedly be:
"It must be the magnetic field."
I, on the other hand, think it's just a huge snowflake.