5261

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Star Wars: Episode VII (cast list released!)

« on: December 02, 2014, 10:44:54 PM »

This one is my favorite

That Y-wing is gonna get real hot real fast in space.

5262

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Star Wars: Episode VII (cast list released!)

« on: November 29, 2014, 12:52:31 AM »

I don't think they're intended as hand guards.

The saber seemed faulty. Like this is a person who had no master and made a saber with no guidance. They look more like vents that help stabilize that chaotic energy.

Based on the design, I figure JJ said "I want a broadsword light saber" and that's what they gave him.  Because Broadswords are awesome or something.

What made the lightsaber so iconic is that is was already perfect. He took something perfect and fucked it all up.

You think all of the lightsabers in the movie are going to be like that? Lightsaber variants have existed for a long time. Actually, a crossguard variant has existed for a long time.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Crossguard_lightsaber

errr...

5263

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Star Wars: Episode VII (cast list released!)

« on: November 28, 2014, 10:34:32 PM »

I don't think they're intended as hand guards.

The saber seemed faulty. Like this is a person who had no master and made a saber with no guidance. They look more like vents that help stabilize that chaotic energy.

Based on the design, I figure JJ said "I want a broadsword light saber" and that's what they gave him.  Because Broadswords are awesome or something.

5264

Technology & Information / Re: Windows 10 Technical Preview

« on: November 28, 2014, 06:27:26 PM »

Aside from locking users out from installing their own OS on a Microsoft device, what else have they done?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARD_code

This is an early example, but still one of the best, thanks to the internal memos revealed as a result of the ensuing antitrust case. Microsoft haven't changed their modus operandi since then; a more recent example is their push for standardisation on their unnecessarily complicated OOXML document format, despite the existing (and much simpler) OpenDocument format which achieves the same goal. If any testament is needed to the complexity Microsoft are trying to force onto the rest of the world's developers, how about the fact that Microsoft's own office suite didn't support it fully until more than four years after it was adopted as a standard?

Point taken.

5265

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Star Wars: Episode VII (cast list released!)

« on: November 28, 2014, 06:18:46 PM »

I agree, the laser hand guards are a horrible idea.  Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't hand guards designed so that when two blades cross, the enemy can't just slide theirs down your blade and cut your hand?  As far as I see, Lightsabers don't have that problem as sliding doesn't really occur.

The lightsaber is a weapon of finesse.  It's extremely light weight allows you to swing it around very quickly and very close to your body.  Adding lasers sticking out the side gives you less options on how you swing it.  And I get the impression that they're going to throw the "I swing it like a broadsword" which is really stupid for a light saber.

But I shall reserve full judgement for until I see it in action.

5266

Technology & Information / Re: Windows 10 Technical Preview

« on: November 28, 2014, 03:23:33 PM »

They do?  I just thought that Microsoft optimized DirectX for windows and that developers chose it to reach the largest market rather than trying to do two graphics platforms and increasing their development time significantly.  And as developers started using DirectX exclusively, graphics card venders did similar by not putting in as much effort into OpenGL drivers.  As seen by the Valve "Get those OpenGL drivers awesome or else" push they had last year.

OpenGL exists on literally the entire market, therefore if you want to reach the entire market you'd use OpenGL. Devs get paid to use DirectX.

Not evidence, per se, but a good story none the less:
http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/60544/why-do-game-developers-prefer-windows

5267

Technology & Information / Re: Windows 10 Technical Preview

« on: November 28, 2014, 02:29:48 PM »

And?  It's not like they said "Oh yeah, you totally have to use this or you'll be banned from Microsoft."  OpenGL, as far as I know, has always worked in Windows.  If developers chose what they felt was the better platform, we can only complain with our wallets.  Which we don't do.

Except that they pay devs to optimize only for DirectX, Parsifal was pointing out that Microsoft isn't trying to make themselves better, they lock out the competition using other means. If you use OpenGL exclusively, you are effectively "banned from Microsoft." Good luck playing any mainstream game.

They do?  I just thought that Microsoft optimized DirectX for windows and that developers chose it to reach the largest market rather than trying to do two graphics platforms and increasing their development time significantly.  And as developers started using DirectX exclusively, graphics card venders did similar by not putting in as much effort into OpenGL drivers.  As seen by the Valve "Get those OpenGL drivers awesome or else" push they had last year.

5268

Technology & Information / Re: Windows 10 Technical Preview

« on: November 28, 2014, 01:39:17 PM »

Not sure I follow you.

Aside from locking users out from installing their own OS on a Microsoft device, what else have they done?

And?  It's not like they said "Oh yeah, you totally have to use this or you'll be banned from Microsoft."  OpenGL, as far as I know, has always worked in Windows.  If developers chose what they felt was the better platform, we can only complain with our wallets.  Which we don't do.

5269

Technology & Information / Re: Windows 10 Technical Preview

« on: November 28, 2014, 01:26:19 PM »

Not that I've used Windows phone or anything, but it's not like it's hard to outdo Android and iOS

Yeah, but this is Microsoft we're talking about. Faced with a decision between being better than the competition, and thinking up some creative way to lock users out of the competition's products, they'll always pick option B.

Not sure I follow you.

Aside from locking users out from installing their own OS on a Microsoft device, what else have they done?

5270

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: R.I.P. Ferguson

« on: November 27, 2014, 01:58:51 PM »

Do y'all think it's possible that white guys will shoot quickly when they find a black person because the area they're in has a lot of crime done by black people? 

I mean, you aren't a racist if you're in Iraq and shoot a kid who may have had a gun.  Why?  Because plenty of them do and will shoot you.  Just so happens that THAT one kid didn't.

Anyone got the statistics on white cops shooting ARMED black people ages 12-21?

5271

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Tamir Rice

« on: November 27, 2014, 02:16:13 AM »

For them to not point guns at a dead kid with a BB gun.

Pure speculation on my part, but here's a hypothetical explanation: To them, at the time, it's a kid with what might be a gun. They also can't know for sure if he's dead. What they can know is that he's down, and that he still has what may be a gun. If he's not dead, he might still reach for it and start shooting.

But once he drops you kick the gun away while your partner covers you.  At that point you see its a BB gun and go "oh shit".

5272

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Tamir Rice

« on: November 27, 2014, 02:09:58 AM »

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/video-shows-cleveland-cop-shoot-12-year-old-tamir-rice-n256656

Personally, I can't really see what's going on. It does look like he got shot basically the moment the cops arrived, which is strange to say the least.

I watched it but I'm... confused.  It looks like they kept the kid covered by their guns even after they shot him.

What did you expect? For them to speed off after shooting?

For them to not point guns at a dead kid with a BB gun.

5273

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Tamir Rice

« on: November 27, 2014, 01:33:58 AM »

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/video-shows-cleveland-cop-shoot-12-year-old-tamir-rice-n256656

Personally, I can't really see what's going on. It does look like he got shot basically the moment the cops arrived, which is strange to say the least.

I watched it but I'm... confused.  It looks like they kept the kid covered by their guns even after they shot him.

5274

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Recommend a Game

« on: November 26, 2014, 08:01:55 PM »

Pain Killer.

It's simple fun. 

5275

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: R.I.P. Ferguson

« on: November 26, 2014, 06:39:21 PM »

Of course the best way to get justice is to burn down your own home. Brilliant people those Fergsonians.

I liked your original post better.

But then people might think I'm raciss.

How did you edit it without the edit tag?

5276

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: R.I.P. Ferguson

« on: November 26, 2014, 06:05:31 PM »

I think people who are extremely quick to jump to racism do so because they themselves are racist and it only makes sense to them that other people just don't have their racism under control. People tend to assume others think similar things to them but act differently.

Or they can't imagine a more complex answer(like lack of applicants due to social pressures from their peers), having never had to deal with such a situation.

5277

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Recommend a Game

« on: November 26, 2014, 05:56:42 PM »

Why not start up Dragon Age?

5278

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: R.I.P. Ferguson

« on: November 26, 2014, 01:02:20 PM »

Know what else affects these statistics?  Attitude.

Anyone here get just "a warning"?  Think that's in the official log?  Especially if the officer should have given you a fine?  I doubt it.
Now, how do you best get out of a violation (speeding ticket perhaps)?  By being nice.  So what happens if you tell the cop " Why the fuck you pull'n me over cracker?" Do you think you'll get a warning or the ticket?

Blacks in St. Louis find the police force undeserving of respect for whatever reason.  Maybe it is racism, maybe its not.  But I'm sure we can all agree that if you disrespect the authority, you're not gonna get just a warning.

I'm fairly certain that doesn't have much impact on getting pulled over in the first place, which is what we're talking about

No, but it may account for recorded pull overs/stops rather than unofficial ones.  If an officer pulls someone over for speeding but doesn't give them a ticket, is that in your data? 

Also, shouldn't there be more blacks pulled over than whites by default since whites only account for like 30% of the population?
http://www.city-data.com/city/Ferguson-Missouri.html

Also:
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/aug/17/andrea-mitchell/ferguson-police-department-has-50-white-officers-t/

I'm not surprised at most of the police force is white if the black community is anti-police.  Why join the thing you hate?
And since it's not an uncommon statistic (the 75% national average) I'm on the fence about calling it racism.  Hell, looking at the educational level of the area, I'm not even sure the black community could muster enough qualified applicants.

And apparently it's not an uncommon problem:
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/09/14/achieving-diversity-among-police-ranks-not-easy/


Hey, anyone know the opinion of the three black guys on the force?  You know, the guys who work with the white "racist" officers?

5279

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: R.I.P. Ferguson

« on: November 26, 2014, 04:50:18 AM »

Know what else affects these statistics?  Attitude.

Anyone here get just "a warning"?  Think that's in the official log?  Especially if the officer should have given you a fine?  I doubt it.
Now, how do you best get out of a violation (speeding ticket perhaps)?  By being nice.  So what happens if you tell the cop " Why the fuck you pull'n me over cracker?" Do you think you'll get a warning or the ticket?

Blacks in St. Louis find the police force undeserving of respect for whatever reason.  Maybe it is racism, maybe its not.  But I'm sure we can all agree that if you disrespect the authority, you're not gonna get just a warning.

5280

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Dinosaurs

« on: November 25, 2014, 05:40:28 PM »

Maybe they're only using small, vegetarian dinosaurs this time.

No T-Rex?  Fuck that.