npts2020
-
Posts
1291 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by npts2020
-
-
4 hours ago, J.C.MacSwell said:
Clearly a very significant performance gap remains for XY and XX elite level athletes, regardless of their declared gender, medical interventions notwithstanding. If there is something inherent motivating gender declaration, it clearly doesn't show as being significant compared to XX vs XY.
Doesn't that depend on the sport? In equestrian events and auto racing men and women compete against each other and I would say Simone Biles is as good as any gymnast in the world.
0 -
1 hour ago, Peterkin said:
What will it cost?
Well, about 15 years ago I estimated the cost of rebuilding most of the roads in the US to accommodate an automated system at around $3-4 trillion. A vast sum, to be sure, but a good deal less than we collectively paid for the then current system (which we still have). By coincidence, the amount of paved roads in the US is almost exactly the same as the area of solar panels required to power the entire country. All of this is an entirely different discussion from the OP, tho.
9 minutes ago, swansont said:Transit systems yes - rail systems, for example - but we were specifically talking about self-driving cars. Roadways are very interconnected.
And it’s not just the isolation of the system. The discrete nature of trains simplifies the problem, as opposed to the many cars and many destinations of road systems.
In a system where ALL of the vehicles are automated and you don't have other random obstructions, AI could easily deal with varying speeds for local or long distance commuting and safely put vehicles in their proper lanes.
0 -
On 8/10/2023 at 6:18 PM, sethoflagos said:
Me too. Das Kapital is essentially the algebra of capitalist microeconomics and should imho be essential reading in any education system. It is not particularly 'political'.
The Communist Manifesto should also be essential reading in view of its historical impact and amazing prose, but it is definitely a child of it's time.
Or at least a "Cliff Notes" of both. I find Marx to be very repetitive but one of the few economic writers who actually make sense.
0 -
16 hours ago, swansont said:
Roads are not a self-contained system.
At present, they are not but it isn't impossible to make transit systems self contained.
1 -
14 hours ago, swansont said:
The statistics speak to that. As with John Cuthber’s comment earlier, the space shuttle didn’t have to avoid pedestrians and cyclists, or heed stop lights and signs, or contend with other shuttles in its flight path. Or traffic cones.
Exactly. That is why a self contained system will be required, otherwise you are trying to automate a system that is centuries old...
0 -
11 hours ago, swansont said:
But if there are more deaths (or accidents) from an automated system as compared to human-controlled, it means the automation is the problem, and not (yet) a solution.
I guess you are right, computer controlled vehicles can't operate as safely as humans. You need to let the space shuttle people know so they can put human pilots in charge next time to be safer.
0 -
On 8/6/2023 at 6:54 PM, wtf said:
18 confirmed autonomous vehicle deaths so far and counting. The evidence does not support your hope.
These deaths are NOT in an automated system! They are result of trying to mix predictable automation with unpredictable human action.
On 8/6/2023 at 11:45 AM, TheVat said:Though it might not be real fun to be in a fast-moving vehicle when a strong solar flare causes a massive EMP on Earth. Maybe it could work okay with robust Faraday caging and a good onboard mechanical backup that reliably stops the vehicle if there is electronic failure.
On 8/6/2023 at 8:14 AM, mistermack said:This is why you build "fail-safe" shutdowns into the system.
0 -
11 hours ago, popcornfrenzy said:
I wanna that if there is no concrete definition or widely agreed upon definition of an abstract concept then what do you do with those that are given by various philosophers throughout time. Do you choose which one to use? For example the terms Philosophy, Environment, Love, Justice, and Equality. I'm pretty sure that it doesn't work in a way like "Oh I think I'll use Plato's definition of Philosophy cause I want to," which in this case is very arbitrary? In a way, it kinda led me to the question of what is real and what is not for all these concepts which only made me more confused.
Language can be as precise or ambiguous as you choose. Science generally has pretty universally well defined definitions for terms used and where there isn't agreement the narrator should define the terms in context of their narrative. One reason scientists (especially in the same field) seem to understand each other very well. Politicians, on the other hand, like ambiguity...
0 -
It could be used to automate the entire transit system to cut the ~40,000 annual fatalities to nearly zero and allow everyone to use the system.
0 -
7 hours ago, KrallSpace29 said:
Then you may look at global warming as the result of an improperly functioning atmosphere instead of a problem directly related to greenhouse gases.
Do you think there is any level of greenhouse gases that could cause global warming? If so, at what point would that be?
0 -
Mostly C-Span but when I need to know what I am supposed be upset about on a given day; PBS, local tv or once in a while fox, AP, Reuters, Deutsche Welles, BBC or RTV.
0 -
On 8/4/2023 at 5:54 PM, disobey said:
If I was allowed to say what I wanted,
Near as I can tell, you haven't been stopped from saying anything (or even going on saying nothing other than how you aren't allowed to say anything). In this forum, however, you are expected to make a topic, discuss it, and back up whatever you DO say with things like maths and/or experimental evidence.
0 -
Read below. Vaclav Havel was a very smart man.
0 -
On 7/27/2023 at 11:33 PM, StringJunky said:
Do you think the west would be supporting him with billions of dollars if he was that corrupt?
Well the US (and frequently the rest of "The West") often supports unsavory and/or corrupt governments. Here are a few examples...
https://www.salon.com/2014/03/08/35_countries_the_u_s_has_backed_international_crime_partner/
0 -
Sometimes that works for me but more often I will recall something later, I couldn't dredge up at the time, doing or thinking about something else completely unrelated. (I often tell people "I have a photographic memory, it's the photographic recall I have troubles with.
)
0 -
Not to mention that many animal populations, some (swans for example) much smaller than Bigfoot, are estimated using satellite imagery. AFAIK, no satellite has ever returned an image of Bigfoot...
0 -
Oaks are great for mushroom aficionados
https://mushroomgrab.com/mushrooms-that-grow-under-oak-trees/
0 -
On 6/12/2023 at 7:05 PM, md65536 said:
This probably typically works but I think you have to make use of "at least one pirate must be willing both to take the pile, or to let someone else take it," unless you say that the pirates judgment are all strictly different by some known amount. Otherwise you could have multiple pirates who have the same opinion no matter how finely you adjust a pile.
You can't "make an identical pile" if you're relying on the pirates' judgment to determine their equality, as they won't necessarily agree on that. It would be the same reason that making 5 identical piles at the start, wouldn't work.
SpoilerWell, it kind of assumes they all want to make an agreement. There is the possibility in virtually any group that there could be one or more members who will be unhappy no matter the outcome, so will always call at the same time as someone else. One solution would be to allow the first (then second, then third etc) to withdraw if they feel they can get a similar share later or force a recount. Eventually, the loot will get divided with no valid reason for any of them to complain.
0 -
Spoiler
Seems to me they could start a pile and keep adding to it until one of them will accept it as their 1/5 share and repeat the process until the last two where; "one cuts, the other chooses". (if 2 pirates want the same pile and there isn't equivalent items to make an identical pile, repeat process using different combinations of items until only 1 accepts)
1 -
Weather, especially moisture and temperature changes;
"Much of the weather-related deterioration of solar panels is due to rapid swings between hot and cold, freezes during periods of high humidity, hot and humid weather and UV radiation. Rapid changes in weather can cause materials to expand and contract, weakening connections like the soldering inside the panels. During freezing temperatures with high humidity, expanding ice can create separation between materials. UV radiation can cause discoloration of surfaces, which can limit the amount of light that reaches the solar cells. Discoloration was one of the most common problems in one study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (though that information [PDF] is over 10 years old at this point)."
Weather deteriorates solar panels more than any other factor and is usually calculated at .5% efficiency loss/year so that after 20 years panels will still produce at 90% of whatever peak performance was to start. This is "worst case" outlook so actual efficiency loss may be as little as .1% or less annually. Germany seems to have some still producing electricity, even after 40+ years of operation.
2 -
On 6/2/2023 at 4:50 PM, swansont said:
OTOH, Skynet should have already become self-aware and carried out this scenario (with nukes)
and HAL-9000 should have taken over the space program by now.
0 -
12 hours ago, StringJunky said:
The problem is he hasn't got a coherent message. If you think he has, tell me what it is.
I suppose coherency is in the eye of the beholder but Roger is pretty consistent in condemning violence (especially wars), promoting civil rights and trying to alleviate poverty among other things
0 -
27 minutes ago, Genady said:
Now, let's consider an electric train.
SpoilerLOL. Any rotating or reciprocating parts unless aligned as specified above will run into the same "going backwards" scenario. However, at some point the train will be moving fast enough that even that "backward" movement relative to the train will still be going forward relative to the ground, albeit at a much slower rate. The whole proposition rests on whether that point is with the operating parameters of a current trains, which I know nothing about. It would be easy enough to compute if you knew the shaft diameter and/or piston stroke length and rpm but I have little idea of those parameters on a train. BTW, the range I got was from fast walking speed to well beyond the velocity of any current trains. (was hoping someone had a better idea of the size and speed of such things)
Spoiler0 -
I say goooo Roger. There definitely needs to be a broader discussion about control of the world's resources and how they are used, thanks for helping facilitate it. IMO nothing will come of this, it is simply harassment by those who don't like what he has to say and resent that his platform reaches so many people.
0
Observations on Socialism
in Politics
Posted
Pretty funny I didn't catch that because I do editing and frequently have to get the same sort of changes made in manuscripts. I probably should have said, "one of the few pontificators of economics".