Humans are changing that, we're sucking all the sequestered carbon out and putting it into the atmosphere where it hasn't been since the dinosaurs. Before all the science deniers reply, this is scary because humanity was born in the ice ages of the Pleistocene we've never experienced a planet as warm as the dinosaurs where there weren't any ice caps and it was 100 degrees in the northern reaches of Canada (yes I know the continents were in different places so Canada was at a lower latitude).

No. during the age of the dinosaurs, Canada was pretty much exactly where it is today. Yes, it was A LOT WARMER (as in tropical) but as you note, the atmosphere had more carbon back then. Here'sa map of da woild for ya, ca. 100Mya

http://www.sonoma.edu/users/f/...

1. It's the SOFTWARE FIRST ,the OS is (mostly) irrelevant.
2. figure out WHAT you want to do in music and select the software that fits your needs from there.
3. Buy the hardware that supports your software the best.

Frankly, in terms of just "getting shit done" Windows (7) is basically as good as Mac. Linux isn't so friendly, but if the software you need to get shit done is only on Linux, then, you're on Linux.

Now, there is a caveat with the software first thing, which is, your interface. If the audio in/out device you're using is Mac only, then you're using a Mac. Etc for the rest. So, for example for my home studio, I have a MOTU Ultralite MkIII hybrid running on windows 7 HP laptop. It's a bit quirky, but the sound quality is excellent and the preamps are smooth - for the price, it's hard to beat. There is better, but it costs more. Luckily, the MOTU is Mac/Win, and I happened to have this HP laptop not doing anything, so bingo: instant home music set up.

For software I run Ableton Live Suite - the fullblown monster. Why? Because what I do is more performance /composition based. If I was in a band and I was recording through some big multichannel interface, I would go with ProTools, because that's what I learnt in school, and it's pretty much the "MS Office" of the audio world (in more ways than one...) I also use Audacity, which is the swiss army knife of audio editing (i.e., small, crude, but effective)

For monitors at home I have a pair of EVENT PS8 monitors. They're a little bass heavy, but over all, very good sounding at a very reasonable price.

I don't use a mixing desk, I have an AKAI control surface and a Yamaha (XS6) synthesizer. Between them, I have plenty of ways of making things happen.

At work, things are very different - I have a ProTools C24 console and an SSL mixing desk with Bryston amps and Dynaudio 5.1 monitors and a Mac Tower running Protools, AVID, Audacity, Melodyne, Autotune, and a pile of other gear (compressors, processors, etc.) But that's almost half million bucks right there. So, "let's not go there" and let's focus on what you're trying to do.

So, get yourself an audio interface and some kick ass speakers, FIRST. Then figure out what software you need, and that will guide you to the hardware. When all is said and done, what computer you use is trivial, both in terms of effectiveness and expense. I bought my HP laptop (an old i5 running win 7) for $300 used. It works FINE. Ableton Live Suite literally costs THREE times as much. My laptop is one of the cheapest pieces of gear I own (my speakers were $650). So, don't sweat the hardware. Figure out the kind of music you want to make and proceed from there.

Here are some general suggestions
1. Rock Music: ProTools / Logic / Whatever - Focus on microphones and a good compressor.
2. Electronica: Ableton Live. Get a good control surface (I don't recommend Akai - mine sucks...) and a good keyboard
3. Dance Music: I would suggest a combo of FL Studio and Ableton Live
4. Composition: Finale and (whatever: Logic / Ableton / ProTools / Reaper / whatever) Your main point is to generate good composition - the software is just there to make it do something, so it will be more a question of what softsynths you use...)
5. Experimental: Cycling 74 Max/MSP or Processing. You'll need to get a Mac for that.
6. Jazz: See Rock.

That should get you started. DON'T TALK TO SALESMEN. They will try to sell you things. Things you probably don't need. Focus on what your interests and skills are, and then build your studio around that.

FUCK YOU

Because being a fascist dickhead is only cool if a Republican is president.

"And it looks like a pair of ordinary Raybans...."

If not, then: FAIL.

It's a little dated (from the Bush Regime Era) but the principles are still true:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

looks like friends of the copyright shill found me... Assholes.

1. Get something like a WD MyNet N900 Central.
2. Set it up so that it is an open WIFI network
3. Set it up so that guest users cannot write to the drive
4. Load the drive to the gunnels with ebooks
5. put a few wifi laptops or tablets around the library and set them to read the drive.
6. Post the Guest User password in prominent place.
7. Let them learn.

Done. Total Cost? About $150. Get the ebooks for free. There's jillions of places to get those....

FUCK YOU.

You don't need a "complex" password to have a strong password. You need a long password. Uppercase / lowercase / weird chars don't matter as much as sheer length in brute force attacks.

https://xkcd.com/936/

FUCK YOU.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

"Each resort is maintained by reliable computer technology, and peopled by lifelike robot men and women..."

firstworldproblems

My roommate back in the early 90s went on a job interview in the late 80s. He said he walked into the place, took one wiff and said "No. Fucking. Way." But, he had budgeted the time, so he figured, "Why not?" So he goes to the interview and he's interviewed by some twit (we'll call him "Jimmy") right out of university who has no idea what he's doing. He's reading questions off a card. At that point, my friend, Mr.Max, had had enough and said to himself, "fuck this shit."

So, the conversation went like this:

Jimmy: so, Mr Max, um, what was the worst job you ever had? M: Pulling the gold teeth out of the mouths of people who had just been shot. JImmy (appalled, but compelled to follow form): And, uuuuh, why did you leave that job? M: No career advancement - what was I supposed to do, graduate to actually shooting people? I don't think so. That requires skill. Jimmy: OK... well let's change subject to more psychological questions. What is your favourite colour? M: Clear. Jimmy: Clear's not a colour. M: I have a crayon that says it's clear. Crayons have colours. If I had said teal, or Forest Green what that have been OK? They have crayons for those too, ya know. Jimmy: Right. Well one more question... What do you like best about yourself? M: (leaning in closely to Jimmy and in a low voice): I'm a good friend.... Jimmy: Well, thank you very much and we'll call you if we feel there is a position for you here. M: Right. Have a nice day! Jimmy: good bye... (throws resume in trash...)

I have a bicycle with a trailer that can carry 60 kg of groceries. The nearest grocery store is about 1/2 a km away. The only time I use the family car to get groceries is when there's ice on the ground.