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Comment Re:Earth's atmosphere was different (Score 1) 83

Well, if there had been anything more complex than unicellular life there, okay . . . environmental catastrophe. As it stands, lets just consider it a precipitous step in the not-always-gradual evolution of a solar system from collection of gas to collection of cold, dead rocks and gas.

Sorta like global warming is supposed to be nowadays. I'm pretty sure we've contributed, but I'm not so sure we caused it . . . what I do know is that we should consider adapting - quickly.

Comment No sir. Not idiotic. (Score 2) 33

I'll grant you - it's not unlike "We've confirmed what most people might assume, that similar circumstances lead to similar results", but this lets us start discarding that word 'assume'. Also, please consider: if similar chemistries evolve due to similar conditions, it seems likely to me that we will find life as we know it. We won't have to waste time looking for Andromeda particles or talking to rocks looking for silicon-based life or even negotiating with the Tholiads or the friggin' LED's of Zetar, it'll be life that looks (more or less) familiar.

Comment Two horrible articles in a row . . . (Score 3, Interesting) 360

What's with the obsession with Hollywood? Just because the words "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" appear in the article, it doesn't make it /. worthy.

On the other hand, this would be a perfect thread for somebody to tell us about the many and wondrous benefits of using hostfiles instead of some insane and newfangled name service thingie.

Comment This may matter when we create sentience. (Score 2) 129

The "three laws of robotics" (please note the quotes) were nothing more than a plot device invented by I. Asimov to make a point regarding humanity and inflexible laws - even laws which are seemingly 'perfect'. Non-sentient devices (that is, robots and computers as we know them now) are not complex enough to accept the three laws as such - nor do they need them. Non-sentient devices will always behave in a predictable, controllable fashion. I suspect that sentient devices will determine for themselves if they should keep or discard the three laws, although this may or may not forever be an academic question.

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