I think that would be one of the key issues for sure.

Also, what kind of weird stuff would happen if we just started duplicating ourselves in the same way you can duplicate an operating system installed on a computer. We could wind up with millions of copies of our brains all existing at the same time, having conversations with each other.

Haha, a whole new meaning to forking indeed.

I think it's reasonable to assume that once we have the technology to mimic a human brain (the most complex part of the human anatomy?), we would probably be able to have completely artificial bodies (including reproductive capabilities).

This is kind of off topic, but this reminds me of an article I read (maybe in time magazine) that was about how in the next 40 years or so we will have computers powerful enough to emulate a human brain. The point of the article was that once we reach that capability, humans will basically become immortal because we would just copy our brains onto a computer and not have to worry about our fragile organic bodies failing on us.

It's very interesting to think about all the effects a breakthrough like that would have on humanity, but I also wonder if something like that is even possible. Just because we can emulate the human brain doesn't mean we can transfer information off of our current brains. Even if we can transfer the information, will our consciousness with a computer brain be the same as our consciousness with an organic brain or will we experience the world completely different than we do now? Once we have eternal life as computers do we even bother reproducing anymore? If our only existence becomes as pieces of data in a computer are we even humans at that point? And is the real way humans wind up going extinct just the result of a power outage at the datacenter where we keep our brains?

Like I said, this was pretty off topic. But the title reminded me of that article I read. This might be it, I'm not sure though.

You'll be happy to know the current generation mac minis are a breeze to upgrade the RAM on. There is a bottom cover that twists open to reveal the RAM slots.

I can totally relate to upgrading RAM on the previous generation minis. We utilize a lot of minis at work so I got pretty good at it using a box cutter, putty knife, and a few small screw drivers in about 20 mins. It's still something I hate doing though.

I can't believe OS wasn't an option. Switching OSes was by far the best thing I have ever done in terms of increasing the overall satisfaction I had with my computer.

If this is strictly a hardware question though I'd have to go with SSD.

I would also be in the latter group. Blatant cheating and judgement calls are very different though.

A better (but not perfect) analogy would be:
Some people call selling their own properties to other players at a different cost than on the card in Monopoly, "part of the excitement of the game". Some people call it cheating because players could wind up being overcharged or undercharged.

Maybe there should be a calculator buit into the game that calculates the values of all properties based on each players assets so a player only ever has to pay the exact value of the property and we won't have to worry about anyone being cheated? Would something like that make the game more or less enjoyable?

Customer: "In fact I have, which is why I left the phone. My personal phone number is on there." *winks*

Actually, I think determining all that to a very high degree of accuracy is possible with just software based on a certain set of criteria, but I don't think it matters anyways.

Sports are overall very subjective. They are heavily based on emotion, feeling, and the heat of the moment. When I go to a hockey game I don't go thinking "I hope every call is made perfectly", I go thinking "I hope this game is exciting and I have a good time". Part of what makes sports so much fun is the drama of good and bad calls and players pushing themselves to their limits.

If a hockey player makes a great steal, dekes out 2 defenders and then blasts a slapshot past the goalie, then that's exciting and is the reason why most people watch the game. But if one of his teammates, who wasn't even involved in the play, was offsides by something only noticable to a computer and play is stopped or the goal disallowed, then the game becomes less interesting.

Judgment calls are made all the time based on extenuating circumstances. For example, during the playoffs officials typically call much fewer penalties than they do during the regular season. This gives players a little more margin for error so they can play harder and helps prevent a game (and potentially a series) from being decided based on a ticky-tack call.

Sorry to totally hijack this and make it about hockey, but I'm just not that familiar with baseball. :(

tl;dr: Sports are games played by people, for the enjoyment of people, and should be judged by people.

Forget this whole notion of printing pictures or burning videos onto DVDs. Just pass on the memories via word of mouth. Bed time stories, campfire songs, etc... The best part about this is by the time your great-great-grandkids start reminiscing about you and your family, (as far as they know) you'll be 10ft tall nobel prize winners who vanquished dragons and discovered the moon.

I wonder how many people will only hold onto the actual handle part and avoid grabbing the "blade" section. Everything I know about lightsabers tells me that the glowing colorful part is the dangerous end, so even though I know that these are decoration and are not real, I might still instinctively only grab the handle part.

Might be interesting to set up a camera and see how many people hesitate before grabbing the "blade" or if anyone just only goes for the handle, even if it is awkward to hold on that way.

Yeah, I noticed that too. I did notice at least one cop in the videos who was holding a camcorder and recording the protestors. It would be interesting to see the footage from that perspective as well.