Well, it depends on how one would define "overcrowded" but my point is that humanity will not accept a population limit.
Current activities and past history indicate that overcrowding, poverty, disease, and starvation still don't stop people from procreating.
Due to the large number of factors involved, I think the population would see a pendulum effect, but the backswings will be far more drastic when the planet can no longer sustain everyone.
I've always figured that eventually the human race is going to have to branch out to somewhere other than Earth in order to survive. That's ignoring any "ice age/global warming" threats, or even the cataclysmic doomsday event. Eventually, we're going to run out of space and resources to live. Human kind certainly isn't going to stop there, and say "I think we've got a pretty good thing going here."
Yeah... I'm surrounded by co workers who insist on making the worst jokes and puns imaginable at every possible opportunity. I let my guard down a bit when I'm on Slashdot, and this one slipped through... dammit..
Diamond dust is a very common by-product from industries that use larger diamonds Synthetic diamonds are also a lot cheaper than most people think. Diamond-embedded grinding and cutting tools have been cheaply mass-produced for quite some time now. Compared to current LCD/plasma display costs, I don't think it'd be crazy expensive. I guess it depends how perfect you want it.
Just because someone doesn't do their job correctly doesn't mean it's a bad idea for info lines to carry power. Considering that all the wires in Cat5 equipment aren't always used, I don't see why a standard can't be developed. The basic phone line carries power all the time, and a ringing voltage spike. I just got finished with the home inspector for my new place. We found 4 outlets wired with the hot/neutral reversed. They're outlets. Nothing new and confusing to anyone currently alive.
Anyone can make a mistake, but people need to learn to test things before they use them.
Personally, I've always wanted to see high tech rear view mirrors in cars. Perhaps something that could display the view from an IR camera at night, and act like a normal mirror during the day. Just one of many ideas.
Don't confuse the will of California with the will of the USA.
Several years ago, Connecticut abandoned all toll booths in favor of a gas tax. Gas isn't as cheap as surrounding states, but there's no money wasted on the tollbooth infrastructure. Or GPS units.
I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but making claims about finding Atlantis based on preliminary sonar imagery might be jumping the gun a little bit. In a sea that's been heavily travelled since human kind first built boats, it could be a lot of different things. Even if it's a civilization, it could be one of many Mediterrannean settlements that nobody knew was missing.
My point is that until they come up with some underwater photos, artifacts, or both, it's a bit early to claim that they found something that might not have even existed in the first place.
I really don't think there's a perfect energy solution, especially not on the scale that we consume it. I think there are definitely ideal sources for certain uses, too. This just shows that people largely thought that 'green' energy solutions were harmless, but they can still have a negative effect.
I'm all for making steady progress, and trying new stuff, but people also need to sit down and think about these solutions and their ramifications before passing laws in the name of environmentalism.
After writing my previous response, I realize that the Simpsons sum it up nicely:
Back at Moe's Tavern, Moe begins to put the crayon in Homer's nose.
Moe: All right, tell me when I hit the sweet spot. Homer: Deeper, you pusillanimous pilsner pusher! Moe: All right, all right. [with a small hammer and chisel,
taps the crayon further up Homer's nose] Homer: De-fense! [woof-woof] De-fense! [woof-woof] Moe: Eh, that's pretty dumb. But, uh... [taps once more] Homer: Extended warranty? How can I lose? Moe: Perfect.
That's nothing new, though. Radio Shack, and later Circuit City, have been offering that "Tandy Service Plan" for decades. Instead of the receipt, you had that sticker where they wrote the warranty number on it. But the ink never stayed on the foil sticker, so after a while you had a worthless warranty.
I actually did this 3 years ago!!
on
Dremel Pumpkin Carver
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I used the flex shaft adapter, and the sideways cutting bit that's designed for drywall.
The UConn Engineering dorm representative pumpkin was designed and carved by me... the words "Pumpkin Pi" carved around the crown, and the midsection of the pumpkin had 3.141592654..." spiraling around it. It took a long time to do, and made a mess, but it was a damn good pumpkin. It didn't win the competition, but it should have.
Fry: Hey, as long as you don't make me smell Uranus. (laughs) Leela: I don't get it. Professor: I'm sorry, Fry, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all. Fry: Oh. What's it called now? Professor: Urectum. Here, let me locate it for you.
Perhaps they don't use it more... but can they pay for it? Last time I was in the ER was for a broken collarbone, and the person next to me was a walk-in who had a bad cough. Even volunteered that she had no insurance or money. But she still smoked.
These factors add a TON of cost to the insurance for hospital bills in the US. Combine that with the fact that poor people with no health insurance use the emergency room for their personal health clinic, because they cannot be refused care. They can't pay, they have no insurance, the hospital eats the bill. Hospitals eat the bill on an IMMENSE amount of treatment.
These 2 factors are just part of the reason why health insurance is so expensive.
And I can't imagine that a gov't controlled health care system would make it any cheaper. I work for a gov't contractor, there's no way it will happen.
No, they're going the HD-DVD path instead of Blu-Ray, but they're trying to push it to market first in the computer sector. Sony, Pioneer, Fox, and JVC are signed on for Blu-Ray, and want to make that the universal standard. They've already announced Blu-Ray camcorders, and the next PlayStation as using Blu-Ray technology.
Just sounds like another marketing punch to sway people to their side. No real technical reason.
There is a large market for people who like stand-alone gadgets but aren't interested in learning software and having to use the computer to do everything. It's definitely not the "geek" mentality, but a lot of people see the computer as a very complicated addition to the process, and would rather buy something that skips that step.
It's a business, people. There's a market and they'll continue to make stuff like this as long as someone will watch it.
Whether you think it's a good idea or bad idea, at least it will be creative. And likely better than most of the reality TV crap that's on the air.
I'm not asking people to like Lucas, or love everything Star Wars. But they're right... there is no way to please everyone.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, it depends on how one would define "overcrowded" but my point is that humanity will not accept a population limit.
Current activities and past history indicate that overcrowding, poverty, disease, and starvation still don't stop people from procreating.
Due to the large number of factors involved, I think the population would see a pendulum effect, but the backswings will be far more drastic when the planet can no longer sustain everyone.
I've always figured that eventually the human race is going to have to branch out to somewhere other than Earth in order to survive. That's ignoring any "ice age/global warming" threats, or even the cataclysmic doomsday event. Eventually, we're going to run out of space and resources to live. Human kind certainly isn't going to stop there, and say "I think we've got a pretty good thing going here."
Spreading is inevitable.
Yeah... I'm surrounded by co workers who insist on making the worst jokes and puns imaginable at every possible opportunity. I let my guard down a bit when I'm on Slashdot, and this one slipped through... dammit..
Diamond dust is a very common by-product from industries that use larger diamonds Synthetic diamonds are also a lot cheaper than most people think. Diamond-embedded grinding and cutting tools have been cheaply mass-produced for quite some time now. Compared to current LCD/plasma display costs, I don't think it'd be crazy expensive.
I guess it depends how perfect you want it.
Just because someone doesn't do their job correctly doesn't mean it's a bad idea for info lines to carry power. Considering that all the wires in Cat5 equipment aren't always used, I don't see why a standard can't be developed. The basic phone line carries power all the time, and a ringing voltage spike.
I just got finished with the home inspector for my new place. We found 4 outlets wired with the hot/neutral reversed. They're outlets. Nothing new and confusing to anyone currently alive.
Anyone can make a mistake, but people need to learn to test things before they use them.
Personally, I've always wanted to see high tech rear view mirrors in cars. Perhaps something that could display the view from an IR camera at night, and act like a normal mirror during the day. Just one of many ideas.
I don't know, but if you light a lego man on fire, he burns steadily like a candle for several minutes.
I also find it sad that I recognize your user name from the UConn LAN and the Phynd project. My computer was Skywalker...
the same thing the politicians do now... lie. They'd use the "know it to be true" tense, and pass it off without flinching, or evena hint of guilt.
Don't confuse the will of California with the will of the USA.
Several years ago, Connecticut abandoned all toll booths in favor of a gas tax. Gas isn't as cheap as surrounding states, but there's no money wasted on the tollbooth infrastructure. Or GPS units.
I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but making claims about finding Atlantis based on preliminary sonar imagery might be jumping the gun a little bit. In a sea that's been heavily travelled since human kind first built boats, it could be a lot of different things. Even if it's a civilization, it could be one of many Mediterrannean settlements that nobody knew was missing.
My point is that until they come up with some underwater photos, artifacts, or both, it's a bit early to claim that they found something that might not have even existed in the first place.
I really don't think there's a perfect energy solution, especially not on the scale that we consume it. I think there are definitely ideal sources for certain uses, too.
This just shows that people largely thought that 'green' energy solutions were harmless, but they can still have a negative effect.
I'm all for making steady progress, and trying new stuff, but people also need to sit down and think about these solutions and their ramifications before passing laws in the name of environmentalism.
After writing my previous response, I realize that the Simpsons sum it up nicely:
... [taps once more]
Back at Moe's Tavern, Moe begins to put the crayon in Homer's nose.
Moe: All right, tell me when I hit the sweet spot.
Homer: Deeper, you pusillanimous pilsner pusher!
Moe: All right, all right. [with a small hammer and chisel,
taps the crayon further up Homer's nose]
Homer: De-fense! [woof-woof] De-fense! [woof-woof]
Moe: Eh, that's pretty dumb. But, uh
Homer: Extended warranty? How can I lose?
Moe: Perfect.
That's nothing new, though. Radio Shack, and later Circuit City, have been offering that "Tandy Service Plan" for decades. Instead of the receipt, you had that sticker where they wrote the warranty number on it. But the ink never stayed on the foil sticker, so after a while you had a worthless warranty.
I should push you down the stairs just for bringing back that long forgotten memory. Damn you.
Call up Bill Clinton.
I used the flex shaft adapter, and the sideways cutting bit that's designed for drywall.
The UConn Engineering dorm representative pumpkin was designed and carved by me... the words "Pumpkin Pi" carved around the crown, and the midsection of the pumpkin had 3.141592654..." spiraling around it. It took a long time to do, and made a mess, but it was a damn good pumpkin. It didn't win the competition, but it should have.
I've never carved one without the Dremel since.
Fry: Hey, as long as you don't make me smell Uranus. (laughs)
Leela: I don't get it.
Professor: I'm sorry, Fry, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all.
Fry: Oh. What's it called now?
Professor: Urectum. Here, let me locate it for you.
Perhaps they don't use it more... but can they pay for it? Last time I was in the ER was for a broken collarbone, and the person next to me was a walk-in who had a bad cough. Even volunteered that she had no insurance or money. But she still smoked.
These factors add a TON of cost to the insurance for hospital bills in the US. Combine that with the fact that poor people with no health insurance use the emergency room for their personal health clinic, because they cannot be refused care. They can't pay, they have no insurance, the hospital eats the bill. Hospitals eat the bill on an IMMENSE amount of treatment.
These 2 factors are just part of the reason why health insurance is so expensive.
And I can't imagine that a gov't controlled health care system would make it any cheaper. I work for a gov't contractor, there's no way it will happen.
No, they're going the HD-DVD path instead of Blu-Ray, but they're trying to push it to market first in the computer sector. Sony, Pioneer, Fox, and JVC are signed on for Blu-Ray, and want to make that the universal standard. They've already announced Blu-Ray camcorders, and the next PlayStation as using Blu-Ray technology.
Just sounds like another marketing punch to sway people to their side. No real technical reason.
There is a large market for people who like stand-alone gadgets but aren't interested in learning software and having to use the computer to do everything. It's definitely not the "geek" mentality, but a lot of people see the computer as a very complicated addition to the process, and would rather buy something that skips that step.
It wouldn't be much of a party. Everyone would be in line for the bathroom.
Or it could be the beginning of a career for someone who's not mainstream. Kind of like the actors in the original Star Wars.
It's an opportunity for the many other creative people who never really get the door open.
It's a business, people. There's a market and they'll continue to make stuff like this as long as someone will watch it.
Whether you think it's a good idea or bad idea, at least it will be creative. And likely better than most of the reality TV crap that's on the air.
I'm not asking people to like Lucas, or love everything Star Wars. But they're right... there is no way to please everyone.
But Basketball is a peaceful planet!