Search found 308 matches
- Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:30 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Where is Bill Gates when you need him ?
- Replies: 159
- Views: 44985
The laptop idea has a lot of merit in some ways. India has come a long way in development based solely on some forward-thinking implementation of computer technology in that country. That said, it's done very little to deal with the class problems there... sure Mumbai looks a bit like New York, but ...
Heck, even Pascal had a built in object, the "record" for use in creating data structures, and that was released at just about the same time. Though I suppose that this just makes it "structured" and not neccessarily "object-oriented." Data flow architecture is, indeed "slick." But it's so slick tha...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:13 pm
- Forum: Theory
- Topic: Why 10-25 times net power?
- Replies: 114
- Views: 54207
Dave, Yes, very much I'm simplifying. That was intentional (I didn't want to have to post a link to a massive spreadsheet). I'm trying to understand what the unknowns are, specific to a BFR. Yes, as Rodney Dangerfield's character from Back to School would inform us, there are going to be costs we're...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:08 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Where is Bill Gates when you need him ?
- Replies: 159
- Views: 44985
You mean the "Wintel" model of computing? Yep, that's Gates' fault. He caused all the damage by "unifying" operating systems (read "stealing"). But this has nothing to do with the direction of his philanthropy, vis a vis fusion. I apologize for starting this new thread tangent. If anybody knows anyt...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:00 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
I see you say that they've done so. You've gone through the evidence yourself? Analyzed the data? You know that they're cherrypicking because....? I find that the usual response to this is that sombody on the other web-site said so. If, in fact, that somebody has done an actual scientific study of t...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:38 pm
- Forum: Theory
- Topic: Why 10-25 times net power?
- Replies: 114
- Views: 54207
The "It" is the initial investment. This seems pretty simple to me, but then I probably have it all messed up. Let's see using some simplified exaples like the ones used: Steam Plant -------------- Power Req: 100 MW Power Produced: 300 MW Net Output: 200 MW Potential Profit: $200 M Cost to Build/Mai...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:05 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
I'm sorry. A flip "yep" is not convincing. In several ways. Again, are we talking the original Mann work, or his revised... I'm pretty sure it's the latter from what I've read. Have those revised Mann figures actually been looked at by a statistician the way the originals were? Or are we just going ...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:41 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Where is Bill Gates when you need him ?
- Replies: 159
- Views: 44985
Well... at least some of the money goes to research grants to find ways to combat diseases like AIDS and Malaria. That's not "Science and Technology" with long-term effects? Or is it just that none of them are funding your pet project? Last I heard we were funding this fusion project called ITER to ...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:23 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
The point, Duane, is that "elite" is slung around to mean... well pretty much whatever the slinger needs it to mean. Basically somebody who thinks that they're better than others, and, therefore, will presumably try to enforce their will upon those others. As opposed to, you know, somebody who might...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:09 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:46 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
Here's another with a very ambiguous message about climate: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081222113522.htm Basically we still have lots more to learn. This is what I find convincing. That's just AGW, however. There are other potential bad side-effects of so much CO2: http://www.scienc...
- Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:15 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: PDO explains twentieth century warming?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 22374
That doesn't void Tom's point. Even if Mann is shown thoroughly to be corrupt, for instance, that doesn't mean that everybody on his side of the debate is also corrupt. Or their data bad. Guilt by association? As long as either side has as part of their argument, "The other side is biased, so it mus...
- Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:09 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Human Nature not a constant ?
- Replies: 84
- Views: 39557
My point wasn't that we weren't doing a relatively good job: I for one think we are (then, again, I would). I'm just saying that you're portrayal of hypocrisy is simply wrong. I do think that Bush's overall strategy is flawwed, too. But that's another subject entirely. Mike P.S. Come on. Kids are de...
- Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:19 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Human Nature not a constant ?
- Replies: 84
- Views: 39557
The implication is preposterous. If Satan sins... we would comment on that why? If God sins, that's comment-worthy, no? Everybody and his brother denounced the Hussein regime. Starting with those crazy liberals over at Amnesty International. If they're criticizing the US, it's because they expect be...
- Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:57 pm
- Forum: News
- Topic: IEC Fusion 2008 Conference - Kyoto
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4389