bughunter - Slashdot User

Submission + - Saturday is National Gaming Day at Your Library (ilovelibraries.org)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday November 12, 2010 @03:19PM

bughunter writes: "On November 13, 2010, libraries across the country will participate in National Gaming Day 2010: the largest, simultaneous national video game tournament ever held! Kids (and their parents) will be able to compete against players at other libraries and track their scores while playing at their local library. In addition, libraries will be offering a variety of board games for all ages to play together. I know I'll be taking my six-year-old son, whose Mom has vetoed every suggestion to buy a console... for good reason. But until she relents, she'll at least give up one Saturday morning each November."

Submission + - Help Me Introduce a Non-geek to SF

Submitted by

bughunter

on Thursday March 18, 2010 @05:02PM

bughunter writes: "I'm having trouble identifying a novel that would interest my wife in science fiction. I've tried a couple of times to introduce her to the genre, without success. She's mildly curious as to why I'm interested in it, and why I aspire to writing it. But she holds quite a few misconceptions about it, probably due to the horrible examples set by SF movies and TV series. I still think that no one has ever shown her a good example of the genre, not even me.

She seems to have been under the impression for a long time that "SciFi" was about aliens, space ships, and ray guns... that the only appeal of the genre was the nerdier analogue of a penchant for spaghetti westerns or monster movies. And she's not interested in classical space opera at all.

I've tried to explain the concept of hard SF and how it differs from science fantasy or space opera. I'm not emphasizing the scientific rigor and plausibility of hard SF as much as I want to demonstrate how its depend on scientific speculation or mysteries. Not many SF films have conflicts and key plot elements that are built upon scientific or technical propositions (as opposed to using enabling devices that are sheer fantasies, like Stargate). I have used the few that exist as examples, for instance "What if humans encountered an active artifact of an advanced civilization?" [2001: a Space Odyssey] or "Is a machine consciousness any different from a human one?" [Blade Runner].

I've given her a couple of SF novels that she's attempted to but she quickly lost interest. I thought that she might enjoy Neal Stephenson, so I gave her what I thought was one of his more approachable novels: Zodiac. But she found the main character, Sangamon Taylor, too arrogant to identify with. I really enjoy Bruce Sterling, and thought that she could handle Distraction, but she wasn't interested in it at all. Perhaps I should have tried Islands in the Net, instead.

After this, why am I persisting? Well, she frequently complains she has nothing to read, and I have a huge library of SF novels, mostly boxed up. And she says she's interested in my interests, that she wants to understand them. Perhaps I'm taking her too literally, and that she just wants to hear me explain it, to see me express my passion for it. But for now, I'm still interpreting her to mean that she'd like to try reading SF. She claims to have really enjoyed Carmac's The Road, but from what I can gather, that's more about the characters and not really SF.

Lately I've been reading all the New British Space Operas I can get my hands on: Hamilton, Reynolds, Banks, etc. I'm considering something like The Player of Games or Use of Weapons, but I'm afraid that Banks' post-scarcity milieu might be just too exotic for her. Maybe something more pulp, like Altered Carbon, or more classic but still rigorous like Footfall? I'm also considering things like Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, or Card's Ender's Game. I suspect that she's probably more receptive to the soft science fiction or social science fiction subgenres than I am, but I haven't explored them very deeply so I'm at a loss for good examples.

I really want to demonstrate to her that science fiction is more than a horse opera set in space. I'd like to be able to demonstrate that SF is a serious branch of literature that employs scientific premises or plausible technology advances to create plots and conflicts that just can't be translated to other genres. Is that even possible? Is the idea of literature as "thought experiment" just too self-indulgent? What are good examples that would appeal to someone who reads Anna Karenina and The Snowball?"

Submission + - Should I Be Afraid of "Smart" Electricity Metering (msn.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Monday February 08, 2010 @04:23PM

bughunter writes: "Last week, Southern California Edison included a notice in my bill announcing that SCE would be installing "SmartConnect" electricity meters in my neighborhood. After reading SCE's PR blurbs about the 'advantages' of the system, I'm not sure I want it. Color me skeptic, but SmartConnect seems to be primarily a way to charge me more for daytime use, and to turn my power off on a moment's notice. The benefits to the subscriber claimed by SCE sound more like marketing spin on the new abilities granted to the utility. Here is more information about the program, and more information about the meters. How many slashdotters already have this type of meter? What are your experiences with it?"

Submission + - Systems Engineer: The Best Job in America (cnn.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday October 09, 2009 @03:15PM

bughunter writes: "According to CNN/Money — which ranked 50 jobs for 2009 according to Salary, Demand, and Quality of Life — Systems Engineer came out as number one because, 'Pay can easily hit six figures for top performers, and there's ample opportunity for advancement.' (Note that lack of stress was not cited.) It's especially nice to see Engineering get some recognition as a rewarding career. Eleven of the Top 50 Jobs are engineering or IT related, with IT Project Manager and Computer/Network Security Consultant sharing the top 10. I really love my job. As a systems engineer with 21 years of experience working for NASA and aerospace firms, I get involved early in the concept phase of new projects, and I've helped determine how some really cool stuff happened, from atmospheric science, to innovative UAVs, and commercial space launches. And I did it all with a Bachelor's Degree. Engineering Rocks."

Submission + - Habitable Planet Discovery Expected "Anytime Now" (dailygalaxy.com) 2

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday October 02, 2009 @06:08PM

bughunter writes: "Planet hunters from NASA, Harvard University and the University of Colorado are collaborating on an effort to find Earthlike planets orbiting other stars. David Latham, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, is quoted at saying, "It could happen almost any time now. We now have the technological capability to identify Earth-like planets around the smallest stars." Using the COROT and HARPS observatories, they expect to soon find our first candidates for extrasolar colonization. Now all we need is a Bussard Ramjet and a few volunteers."

Submission + - Senate to Reconsider Wiretap Immunity (wired.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday September 25, 2009 @12:00AM

bughunter writes: "According to Wired Threat Level, "Lawmakers are considering key changes to the Patriot Act and other spy laws — proposals that could give new life to lawsuits accusing the nation's telecommunications companies of turning over Americans' electronic communications to the government without warrants. On Oct. 1, the Senate Judiciary Committee likely will consider revoking that immunity legislation as it works to revise the Patriot Act and other spy laws with radical changes that provide for more government transparency and more privacy protections." This is big. Now would be a great time to donate $20 to the EFF, since it appears they will be heading back to court on our behalf."

Submission + - Why is Metamoderation Broken?

Submitted by

bughunter

on Tuesday July 21, 2009 @02:59PM

bughunter writes: "For the past two days, the same posts are given to me when I go to metamoderate, and they all retain my past metamoderation choices. This persists even when I switch to a different browser on a different computer, so it ain't me."

Submission + - First Flight of Powered Flapping Wing Vehicle (yahoo.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Wednesday July 01, 2009 @01:54PM

bughunter writes: "Pioneers in autonomous, solar-powered and human-powered aviation, Aerovironment, Inc. (AV) has accomplished another first: the controlled hovering flight of an air vehicle system with two flapping wings, using only the flapping wings for propulsion and control while carrying its own power source. (More information and video here.) Employing biomimetics at an extremely small scale, this nano air vehicle (NAV) is ultimately intended to provide new military reconnaissance capabilities in urban environments. The "Mercury" R/C test vehicle is capable of climbing and descending vertically, flying sideways left and right, as well as forward and backward, for a duration of 20 seconds. The NAV program was initiated by DARPA to develop a new class of air vehicles capable of indoor and outdoor operation. In response to this success, DARPA has awarded AV a Phase II contract, which will focus on improving the NAV's endurance and performance."

Submission + - New Mac Clone Maker 'Quo' to Open CA Retail Store 1

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday May 29, 2009 @06:39PM

bughunter writes: "Cnet is reporting that Mac clone maker Quo Computer plans to open its first retail location, selling Mac clones, on June 1. To start, Quo will offer three desktop systems: the Life Q, Pro Q, and Max Q. While details of the components are not yet available, De Silva said they are looking at Apple's system configurations for guidance. Pricing has also not been finalized on the desktop machines, but the company is looking to start pricing at less than $900. While Quo is starting off with the desktop machines, De Silva said it is looking at offering an Apple TV-like media server and a smaller computer similar to the Mac Mini. Plans on those systems have not been finalized. The Quo Web site is being worked on now and is set to launch next week. The retail store, located at 2401 West Main Street, Alhambra, Calif., will open for business on June 1."

Submission + - Linden Lab to Crack Down on Adult Content? (secondlifeupdate.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday March 13, 2009 @04:56PM

bughunter writes: "According to Second Life Update, the Second Life administration is planning to clean up its virtual world. 'Linden Lab lab announced today in their blog a huge crackdown on adult content in Second Life. If you remember the outlawing of gambling in Second Life, crackdown on advertising in Second Life, or the new virtual land restrictions then this may not come as a surprise change for the virtual world.' Darn, I procrastinated, and now it's too late to start roleplaying a callipygous zoomorphic nymphomaniac."

Submission + - Nvidia Fires Back at Intel, Drops Via's Name (tomshardware.co.uk)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Thursday February 26, 2009 @01:43PM

bughunter writes: "'Today, Nvidia fired back with arguments of why Ion is the best solution for the Atom.' That's from the Tom's Hardware lede, but the quote from my boss is more entertaining:
Now Nvidia comes back with a point for point response. I have to say this is quite entertaining for a geek like me. Intel only looked at the worst case numbers with the CPU and GPU drawing peak power continuously. Nvidia points this out and shows that under nominal conditions the ION platform that is more powerful only draws a half watt more. Then as a zinger Nvidia suggests that the ION platform can be accomplished just as well with a VIA processor in place of the Atom. Kapow! This is the "Days of our Lives" equivalent for tech nuts.

We've got an application for Ion right now... I wish they'd kiss and make up already."

Submission + - Will Orbiting Carbon Observatory find missing CO2? (popularmechanics.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Monday February 23, 2009 @03:27PM

bughunter writes: "The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) is slated for launch tomorrow, February 24, 2009. OCO is the first earth science observatory that will create a detailed map of atmospheric carbon dioxide sources and sinks around the globe. And not a moment too late. Popular Mechanics has an accurate, concise article on the science that this mission will perform, and how it fits in with the existing "A-train" of polar-orbiting earth observatories. JPL's page goes into more detail. And NASA's OCO Launch Blog will have continuous updates as liftoff approaches and the spacecraft reports in and checks out from 700km up."

Submission + - UK Porn Filesharers Get RIAA Treatment

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday December 05, 2008 @04:10PM

bughunter writes: "Thousands of internet users have been told they'll be taken to court unless they pay hundreds of pounds for illegally downloading and sharing hardcore porn movies. This Newsbeat story describes how people across the UK have been accused of using file-sharing networks to get hold of dozens of adult titles without paying for them. A German company called DigiProtect claims the users are breaking copyright law and is demanding £500 to settle out of court. Many recipients of DigiProtect's 20-page legal letter deny copying the movies and say they have no idea why they were identified in the first place. TorrentFreak appears to have identified this activity as early as November 18 (potentially NSFW URLs on target page)."

Submission + - Most Business-Launched Virtual Worlds Fail (informationweek.com) 1

Submitted by

bughunter

on Saturday May 17, 2008 @02:51PM

bughunter writes: "Internet consultant firm Gartner claims that only 1 in 10 commercial virtual worlds succeeds, and most fail within 18 months

"Businesses have learned some hard lessons," Gartner analyst Steve Prentice said in a statement released Thursday. "They need to realize that virtual worlds mark the transition from Web pages to Web places and a successful virtual presence starts with people, not physics. Realistic graphics and physical behavior count for little unless the presence is valued by and engaging to a large audience."
Nonethless, Gartner advises businesses to keep trying. Virtual worlds can add value initially to training and simulation exercises, and suggests it will eventually provide a venue for more mundane collaboration."

Submission + - War of the Future: Robot vs. Robot (thestar.com)

Submitted by

bughunter

on Friday May 02, 2008 @01:53PM

bughunter writes: "This spring, it seems everyone is publishing breathless fearmongering stories of killer robots run amok, but this story is a refreshingly insightful treatment of unmanned warfare. While it doesn't go into depth, The Star does accurately represent the technical limitations, challenges, and the paths being blazed by Unmanned Systems companies. Sensor data fusion, personal equipment, force protection and civilian awareness are the current focus of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Unmanned Ground Vehicle development, in the UK as well as at my company in the US and also abroad.

"It is a weird extrapolation, the idea that war is becoming a scenario of `Your robots versus our robots,' Why not just fight it out on a video game instead?" said Mindsheet's Tribe. "But this is where things are moving."
Yes, we played Starcraft in our spare time, too. But credit goes to Orson Scott Card, who saw this coming over thirty years ago."

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