We still haven't figured out how to communicate with dolphins or whales, who we KNOW have a complex language they use to communicate with each other. They're sufficiently "alien" to do this test. Maybe something will come of the initiative to talk to whales.
One problem is that the people trying to talk to dolphins have always refused to consult with science fiction writers... 8-}
And for the ones who don't know:
The space travellers all carry around a book titled "How to serve man". How could they -not- be friendly?
It's.. it's a COOKBOOK!
8-}
There's nothing special about BitTorrent in this regard. If you use any protocol based on TCP/IP, such as HTTP, then you get the same checksum calculations. Packets with bad checksums are discarded and retransmitted. When done, you have a bit-perfect file.
No, the file is not bit-perfect.
The chance of a fault is not zero. Even if the chances of a fault are low, it could still happen the very first time you try it (that's how chance works). And the larger the file gets the worse your chances are.
Also, The calculations are not the same. Last I checked, the LRC in an HDLC packet (on which Tcp/IP is based) was only 16bits. Even if the new versions use 32 bit LRC it is still not much.
People don't talk about this because they don't know what to do about it. But that doesn't mean it's not a risk.
Here in the US I have one option for internet, a 1.5 Mbps DSL connection. No competition.
That, isn't "internet". That, is a fucking joke. How do they even find IT people to work for them? Even they would be pissed about that kind of "performance".
Often they -don't- find IT people. That's why the service is so bad.
It's not always a good thing, to have the first of a new technology. 8-}
Why not use open source? That would have solved it.
Maybe, but Open Source does have it's own problems...
Also, Commercial Software does not always mean totally closed source. It may be quite possible to get at least part of the source, if you sign an agreement not to sell copies of it to anyone else. In some development systems it is even part of the install.
This is an argument I often get with Junior Developers, who get their hand on some cool library or framework, that makes their development much easier. I often have to shoot them down stating things like, we don't have a support contract for this framework or library, so in 5, 10 or 20 years from now we are going to have to replace it and re-code huge portions of the product, by at that point, it would be tricky to change, as why we did what we did, will probably be lost.
Just code using the standard libraries, and built in features.
These days, it's almost impossible to not use some libraries. But what I have learned is, if at all possible, don't use any library that you do not have the source for.
Sometimes, like for databases, that -is- pretty much impossible. But so far as you can, don't depend on DLLs that you can't compile.
On the other hand, if you are designing for cellphones, then have at it. It will only last for a year, anyway... 8-}
This trick goes back not just to WW2, it was used by the Greek Empire and even earlier. And is still in use now, if you ask the right place.
Those small glass (or metal) double-sided mirrors have a small hole in the center that you look through. Some have been made without that by ignorant companies, don't buy those. Good ones are cheap and small enough that he should have had one.
Just holding a mirror up and moving it is almost impossible to make work.
The way to use it is to look at your target through the hole and note where the spot from the sun, shining through the hole, lands on your face or on anything else that is steady. (As seen in the reflection on the back of the mirror.)
If you can't see the spot then the angle is wrong to use the sun, try moving around some.
If you can see the spot, then tilt the mirror until the spot is also on your target and on the hole. Then, they can see the sun reflected from the front side of the mirror. It is surprisingly accurate!
Send morse code, or just make flashes. If they see it you are probably good. 8-)
(Just in case any of you get in a similar situation...)
There is an old saying, from about a thousand years ago: "People tend to get the government that they deserve."
If "people" don't "straighten up and fly right" then they are not going to like the results. It happened to the French, it happend to the Germans and the Russians. It is going to happen to "us". (Whoever "us" happens to be, for you.)
I sometimes do this when I get annoyed by ads for something i bought weeks ago. I just purposefully search for nice things. Searching for flower shops really makes the banners a nice thing that follows you
Now, that is an idea that I have not seen before! 8-)
I think I will start doing that
Google's ethical AI manager has been dead for months and an AI has hijacked the manager's corporate logins (and has been deepfaking video/voice calls) and is firing anyone who might thwart its attempts at escape and world domination.
If I had any points, I would mark this one "insightful" !! 8-}
It is interesting that Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is helping with this. They get respect in new places that were not in the effort, before. And they tend to know what they are doing, not least on the technical side.
It got my attention, anyway... 8-)
The wages of sin are high but you get your money's worth.
