Search found 126 matches
- Sun Jul 01, 2018 10:33 am UTC
- Forum: What If?
- Topic: What-If 0157: "Earth-Moon Fire Pole"
- Replies: 30
- Views: 15227
Re: What-If 0157: "Earth-Moon Fire Pole"
What if the tether didn't break when we connected it to the ground? How much of the Earth and Moon would have to be magically anchored to the tether so it won't rip out? The Earth's rotation would be slowed, and the Moon's sped up until they matched, but would the tether wrap around the planet and s...
- Fri Mar 11, 2016 5:19 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1654: "Universal Install Script"
- Replies: 57
- Views: 20277
Re: 1654: "Universal Install Script"
How do I install my keyboard?
- Fri Mar 11, 2016 4:59 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1002: "Game AIs"
- Replies: 251
- Views: 86770
Re: 1002: "Game AIs"
No, you're not dead yet, little thread. AlphaGo is currently 2-0 in a 5 game series against Lee Sedol. Match 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFr3K2DORc8 Match 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GsfyVCBu0 Anyone know how the best poker bots are performing these days? I know starcraft AIs are sti...
- Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:09 pm UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1572: "xkcd Survey"
- Replies: 366
- Views: 122411
Re: 1572: "xkcd Survey"
Ahh, I was looking for this. What the comic reminded me of: ad8-15-1-620x912.jpeg Courtesy of http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/08/15/i-saw-it-advertised-one-day-what-do-you-think-about-alligators-cabbage-and-negroes/ . Hmm, I guess I fail. Or maybe the test fails. Anyway, here are my a...
- Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:21 pm UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1572: "xkcd Survey"
- Replies: 366
- Views: 122411
Re: 1572: "xkcd Survey"
I only buy one kind of socks, but I don't really care if my underwear match.
- Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:38 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1356: Orbital Mechanics
- Replies: 36
- Views: 13163
Re: 1356: Orbital Mechanics
AdmiralJustin wrote:There's absolutely nothing like that moment where you totally blow your moon capture and slingshot yourself into the sun.
Again.
That's a lot like stubbing your toe in your living room and accidentally flying to Antarctica. There's either some missing steps, or some missing information.
- Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:33 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1251: "Anti-Glass"
- Replies: 147
- Views: 27397
Re: 1251: "Anti-Glass"
Interesting idea. Does a 20mW laser targeting any security/facial recognition cameras count as a crime? It would at least block you out, and probably damage the sensor. Plus working out who did it would be difficult. How would it determine where the cameras are? Would it shine a laser at every obje...
- Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:37 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1244: "Six Words"
- Replies: 24
- Views: 14133
Re: 1233: "Six Words"
Pff. That's not even a proper interplanetary transfer. Not unless you're making the burn with an ion engine running for months in KSP. The Eve gravity assist should take place 180° from the initial interplanetary burn.
- Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:28 pm UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1240: "Quantum Mechanics"
- Replies: 201
- Views: 43575
Re: 1240: "Quantum Mechanics"
Unless you're in physics class, and plan to go into physics, semiconductor, or superconductor research, this comic is probably true. Even if the sentence is completely accurate, it has no relevance to the decisions of the average person.
- Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:39 am UTC
- Forum: What If?
- Topic: What-If 0050: "Extreme Boating"
- Replies: 110
- Views: 28801
Re: What-If 0050: "Extreme Boating"
I've seen liquid tungsten.
Through a welding hood, naturally.
Through a welding hood, naturally.
- Wed Feb 27, 2013 12:28 am UTC
- Forum: What If?
- Topic: What-if 0034: "Twitter"
- Replies: 74
- Views: 38473
Re: What-if 0034: Twitter
This reminds me of 2 things: 1) The Freefall comic (can't find the right one, but it is about tweeting all possible combination of letters and dictionary words and storage capacity limits) 2) There are leap years. =_,= (super evil grin) That conversation between Florence and Dvorak starts here: htt...
- Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:38 pm UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: From a rumor site: Intel making a big move this year?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5598
Re: From a rumor site: Intel making a big move this year?
Intel is pretty much forced into the mobile space, there isn't really any consumer software demanding and ubiquitous enough to keep driving regular desktop upgrades, and Intel needs high volumes to support it's fabs. Yes, Broadwell will be BGA only, which isn't really a problem if all the Broadwell ...
- Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:26 pm UTC
- Forum: What If?
- Topic: What-If 0024: "Model Rockets"
- Replies: 44
- Views: 17371
Re: What-If 0024: Model Rockets
For aerodynamic reasons it might be better to have a rocket shaped something like a starfish instead of a pancake, the problem is how to transmit the force of the rockets near the tips of the arms, or edge of the pancake, to the central spire without much additional mass.
- Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:03 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1134: "Logic Boat"
- Replies: 135
- Views: 29411
Re: 1134: "Logic Boat"
Step 2.5:
Somebody stole my goat!
Somebody stole my goat!
- Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:13 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Graduated tax.
- Replies: 237
- Views: 30128
Re: Graduated tax.
The rich pay lower taxes than everyone else, because social security and sales taxes are all regressive. I would suggest a constant 30% income tax, and ban all the regressive taxes, like sales tax.
- Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:08 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: For those of us in non-swing states
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7918
Re: For those of us in non-swing states
None of the above. I have better things to do than waste an evening at the polls. If I wanted to influence politics, I'd buy a lobbyist for an hour.
- Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:02 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1124: "Law of Drama"
- Replies: 67
- Views: 17588
Re: 1124: "Law of Drama"
I have left a couple online communities due to drama, or more specifically, because there was nothing left in those communities EXCEPT drama.
- Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:29 pm UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: Trying to upgrade CPU, seeking input
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4821
Re: Trying to upgrade CPU, seeking input
I'd suggest 3220/B75. It will be faster than any AMD chip single threaded, and roughly equivalent to a 4 core AMD chip multithreaded. If you want to play new games you'll need to upgrade the video card. PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz ...
- Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:57 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Voting Third Party.
- Replies: 103
- Views: 22392
Re: Voting Third Party.
Im not going to vote, it's pointless where I live. If I was going to vote I'd write in 'Cthulhu"
If you actually want to influence politics, give money to someone.
If you actually want to influence politics, give money to someone.
- Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:57 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Animal Rights?
- Replies: 283
- Views: 33330
Re: Animal Rights?
Domesticated animals have no rights, wild animals have the right to anything that doesn't get them killed. Is that a statement of fact? If so, some kind of citation or explanation would be interesting. If it's just your opinion, how do you rationalize that with all of the laws against animal abuse ...
- Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:48 am UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: Need A New Comp, But Not Sure What Route To Take
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2575
Re: Need A New Comp, But Not Sure What Route To Take
Nice list, though I have a couple of questions. First, why two hard drives? I know one is solid state which is faster for programs to run, but I still feel like it's doubling the budget there to just get a little over 100GB more space. Also, what would be saved there, as opposed to the normal drive...
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:48 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Animal Rights?
- Replies: 283
- Views: 33330
Re: Animal Rights?
Domesticated animals have no rights, wild animals have the right to anything that doesn't get them killed.
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:26 am UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: Need A New Comp, But Not Sure What Route To Take
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2575
Re: Need A New Comp, But Not Sure What Route To Take
Definitely build your own, I took the liberty of putting together a parts list: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter) CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($75.98 @ Outlet PC) Motherboard...
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:38 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Is morality a bad thing?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 11150
Re: Is morality a bad thing?
Define "bad" without using morality? Well whether ANYTHING is good or bad depends on the goal with which you determine it's value. Any set of rules or guidelines, morality included, can sometimes be useful, but will never be universally optimal. What matters is acting competently on your m...
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:26 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Is it possible to have a rational debate on global warming?
- Replies: 1714
- Views: 303856
Re: Is it possible to have a rational debate on global warmi
The question isn't whether global warming is happening, whether it's man caused or whether we can prevent it. It's always going to be a question of what's in MY best interests. Climate change is good for those that can adapt, and bad for those that can't. Earth it's self is going to be fine, she's s...
- Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:57 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: "The __ word"
- Replies: 160
- Views: 23892
Re: "The __ word"
It's quite possible to stop giving a fuck about the idiots that are incapable of challenging their prejudice. What I'm suggesting is that it's difficult if not impossible to control triggers to emotional responses. My terror of insects cannot be 'rationalized' away; the fact that a spider isn't goi...
- Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:19 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: "The __ word"
- Replies: 160
- Views: 23892
Re: "The __ word"
I suspect you can't be offended by someone that has zero power over you Humans just aren't wired this way. Everyone has some power over you, even if it's just a sliver. We care about what other people think. It takes a lot for us to stop caring. It's quite possible to stop giving a fuck about the i...
- Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:54 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: "The __ word"
- Replies: 160
- Views: 23892
Re: "The __ word"
Actually, some people do have control over what triggers an emotional response, but it's a frame of mind that's taken before the trigger is present, not a reaction to the event. You can't give offense, it must be taken. The word alone isn't enough, there must be some other context for it to be offen...
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:26 am UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: Upgrading a ancient PC.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4181
Re: Upgrading a ancient PC.
If I try super hard I can muster four hundred. My budget is tight with Otakon coming up. Here's a very low budget gaming parts list, but you may be able to find something cheaper used: PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks CPU: Intel Celeron G540 2.5GHz Dual-Core Process...
- Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:10 am UTC
- Forum: Hardware
- Topic: Upgrading a ancient PC.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4181
Re: Upgrading a ancient PC.
It has an AGP slot, but you're probably better off just building a new computer. Even an i3 with integrated graphics is going to be better than any video card you can put in that machine. What's your budget?
- Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:15 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: The effect of religion upon morality
- Replies: 124
- Views: 20150
Re: The effect of religion upon morality
Then there's the moral value of irresponsibility, that someone else can take guilt for your own transgressions. Like someone that died thousands of years ago, or your descendants, still unborn. I find the whole idea rather despicable.
- Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:22 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Nuclear energy
- Replies: 545
- Views: 87150
Re: Nuclear energy
Outages caused by severe weather are not blackouts in the classic sense. In most cases the grid never completely goes down, including the disruptions in the North East. They are service interruptions are caused by local damage, power lines down, breakers tripped and so on, last mile issues. Long li...
- Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:59 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1063: "Kill Hitler"
- Replies: 278
- Views: 66813
Re: 1063: "Kill Hitler"
I'm pretty sure hat guy just jumped forward enough to check the lotto numbers, or the time machine was fake and he's just trolling.
- Tue May 22, 2012 9:23 am UTC
- Forum: Gaming
- Topic: Diablo III
- Replies: 2188
- Views: 365489
Re: Diablo III
boss fights are WAY easier than blues or yellows in inferno.
with bad gear(12k dps) I can solo izual or diablo, but i can't even touch a blue or yellow mob.
with bad gear(12k dps) I can solo izual or diablo, but i can't even touch a blue or yellow mob.
- Wed May 16, 2012 5:42 am UTC
- Forum: Individual XKCD Comic Threads
- Topic: 1056: "Felidae"
- Replies: 170
- Views: 43198
Re: 1056: Felidae
To be honest, Tiger was a better OS than Leopard or Snow Leopard. Not sure where lion and ML fall as I have never used them.
- Sat May 05, 2012 5:23 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: The Morality of Serving in the U.S. Military
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7621
Re: The Morality of Serving in the U.S. Military
The problem is that control of information is a big part of the chain of command, you don't always know whether or not the order is lawful.
- Wed May 02, 2012 4:03 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Nuclear energy
- Replies: 545
- Views: 87150
Re: Nuclear energy
Everywhere where lives hang in the balance (hospitals, the nursing home I worked at, that kind of thing) have back-up power and extra generators in case something like this happens, and as far as I know nobody has died as a result. Is this different outside of Australia? We had deaths from out rece...
- Wed May 02, 2012 3:41 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Is monotheism a non-doctrinal rational stance?
- Replies: 178
- Views: 20437
Re: Is monotheism a non-doctrinal rational stance?
Good luck bullying the monotheist into giving you a precise enough definition of god to make this judgement.
- Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:50 pm UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: The Morality of Serving in the U.S. Military
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7621
Re: The Morality of Serving in the U.S. Military
It's never a nice or good thing to declare war, on occasion it's a smart thing. When deciding whether to engage in war or not a leader should weigh the costs and risks of war against the potential benefits, and likelihood of success, whether the war is defensive or offensive doesn't really matter, w...
- Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:46 am UTC
- Forum: Serious Business
- Topic: Are we on the brink of passing the Turing test?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 14462
Re: Are we on the brink of passing the Turing test?
I don't think so, not until the bot can properly associate context with identity and personality, you don't need to emulate "humanity" you need to build a consistent character with much limited scope. While humans may talk about the consequences of war and science, squee over shoes and Twi...