4401

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 26, 2014, 02:29:37 AM »

Not quickly enough. Again, we have historical data about this. When similar things have happened in Earth's history, there have been mass extinctions over it. And mass extinctions aren't necessarily bad on a natural scale, since they tend to result a massive spike in biodiversity afterward (since there are all sorts of empty niches to fill), but in the short run it's bad for us humans.

Guess I better use my Bitcoin money to start building that bunker, then.

4402

Technology & Information / Oculus Rift Acquired by Facebook

« on: March 26, 2014, 01:55:03 AM »

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10101319050523971?stream_ref=1

Facebook is here to crush your gaming hopes and dreams. What the fuck Oculus? How could you sell out A CROWD FUNDED PROJECT? YOU TOOLS.

Minecraft on the Oculus is now cancelled. Notch claims he refuses to work with Facebook.

Watch an entire community meltdown in HD: http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus

4403

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 25, 2014, 02:04:52 AM »

Not like this. Basically, as the oceans get more acidic there's less calcium for calcareous plankton (which is what I meant when I said algae, which was wrong) to make shells with. We've been able to measure the decrease in shell growth, and we've been able to measure its effect on fish populations. This isn't something they can just evolve around in a few decades, and the siliceous plankton probably won't be able to rise to fill the gap they leave if they disappear. We're probably screwed.

I'm not overly worried. A reasonable assumption of convergent evolution would demand something will take their niche rather quickly, as they use a most basic resource to survive (sunlight), something else will thrive using that resource. Since that something else will inevitably use photosynthesis, the overall impact will be the same, even if the new plankton do not produce shells.

4404

Technology & Information / Re: Steam on Linux

« on: March 25, 2014, 01:53:45 AM »

Why, because Lord Dave is a noob and software developers aren't perfect?

No, I mean the way he fixed the error in the first place. Linux gaming will only win against Windows gaming if it is easier. Security, cost, and speed are great, and Linux can probably deliver all three to the gaming world, but usability is the #1 thing that increases adoption. If I can't download Steam on Linux, double click an executable, and have it just work, then I won't use it on Linux, and neither will millions of other gamers. What Valve is trying to do is admirable, but until they really get their shit together no one is going to touch their SteamOS or Linux in general. This will ultimately kill Steam on Linux. Valve will either make it easier or abandon the project. This all started because of Gabe's pissing contest with Microsoft and I'm pretty sure it'll end just as quickly.

Linux isn't used by many people the same reason Bitcoin isn't used by many people. It's hard as shit to use and anyone who doesn't actually need the functions it provides would never use it.

4405

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 24, 2014, 04:07:14 AM »

There isn't much we can build to stop the algae from dying. We're on a fast track to destroying the radiolarians and forams through ocean acidification, for example. It's hardly going to be the end of civilization, but it could certainly cause massive, global famines.

Organisms such as algae tend to evolve more rapidly and respond quickly to environmental changes. Worse case scenario it can be motivated to evolve a certain way under laboratory conditions in just a few years. The fish on the other hand, well, that might be a problem.

4406

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 24, 2014, 03:15:49 AM »

Or a few to demonstrate you've never taken a course in the environmental sciences.

Whatever you say I guess.

No, the cyanobacteria were the result of this. Methanogens created massive global warming through the sheer power of breathing over hundreds of millions of years until they couldn't sustain themselves anymore, and then the cyanobacteria took over.

Another example is the Carboniferous era plants. They completely took over the surface of the Earth and, again through the sheer force of breathing, took so much carbon out of the air that they created a runaway ice house effect. They all died and that carbon turned into the coal that we're putting back into the atmosphere as fast as we possibly can.

I think there are other examples, but I can't remember them and I don't feel like researching it.

Well I think a key difference is that bacteria and plants aren't going to build themselves tools to stop the coming apocalypse.

4407

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 24, 2014, 01:30:50 AM »

It is making you pay for negative externalities, which should be in place in many more places. If you don't like paying the real cost of a product, then don't buy it. Don't complain about something not costing $1.00 when it costs $2.00.

That's a lot of words just to tell someone you've never taken an economics class.

4408

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Fred Phelps is dead.

« on: March 23, 2014, 09:34:19 PM »

His hardcore trolling has rustled millions of jimmies. One could only dream of such triumph.

4409

Technology & Information / Re: Steam on Linux

« on: March 23, 2014, 08:29:06 PM »

This thread is a monument to why no sane person would use Linux as a gaming platform.

4410

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 23, 2014, 08:14:30 PM »

In the United States, over the past 10 years, the production of renewable electricity with non-hydroelectrical techniques has increased by over 150%, giving it the highest rate of increase by percentage in the USA. Currently, renewable energy currently constitutes about 6.25% of the United States' current electricity production, as opposed to the 2% in 2004. This easily demonstrates the results of recent efforts to use renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.

That is a result of recent subsidy programs in place, whereas you're suggesting atrocious tax hikes which do literally nothing to help.

4411

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 22, 2014, 08:08:04 PM »

It's happened before. Historically speaking, every species that has become dominant over the Earth has screwed it up so badly that they could no longer survive on it. The only difference is that we're smart enough to stop before we go too far. Hopefully.

Huh? Are you saying that the dinosaurs were somehow responsible for getting themselves nuked by an asteroid?

4412

Technology & Information / Re: Coin (not to be confused with bitcoin)

« on: March 22, 2014, 04:28:40 PM »

Yeah. I heard about this a long time ago. Just about everyone agreed that having one electronic vehicle for all of your finances is all kinds of dumb.

4413

Flat Earth Theory / Re: Discovery a challenge to UA?

« on: March 22, 2014, 03:03:38 PM »

So what?

When discussing science you never ask "why" or else you'll get a basic logic response. "Why is an apple an apple?" Because it is an apple. There is no "why" in science. "How is an apple an apple?" Well, that's a different question entirely, isn't it?

4414

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 22, 2014, 03:00:35 PM »

This thread is awful.  I don't even know which side is making worse arguments now.

4415

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 22, 2014, 03:52:10 AM »

Is this an online course for crashing the economy? If it is, there are better ways to do it.  If it isn't, well... that's a shame.

4416

Technology & Information / Re: Sony's Project Morpheus

« on: March 21, 2014, 11:11:41 PM »

Why, Sony? Who is the one thinking of all your accessories? You should probably fire them.

4417

Flat Earth Theory / Re: Discovery a challenge to UA?

« on: March 21, 2014, 11:09:11 PM »

If gravitation can occur in the heavens, then why can't gravitation occur on the earth?

The Earth is not the heavens.

I specifically would like to hear from FEers who do not subscribe to any sort of gravitation, if there are any here.

4418

Flat Earth Theory / Re: Discovery a challenge to UA?

« on: March 21, 2014, 05:04:39 AM »

http://forum.tfes.org/index.php?topic=1309.msg21116#msg21116

Curious to know what FEers who do not subscribe to gravitation of any kind make of the article that DDDDats linked to.  Would this make you reconsider the existence of UA?

Gravitation can occur in the heavens.

4419

Flat Earth Theory / Re: Satellites

« on: March 21, 2014, 03:13:45 AM »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LORAN

/thread

Next idiot RE'er, please.

4420

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Anthropogenic Climate Change

« on: March 21, 2014, 03:03:02 AM »

Less than ten percent of people actually own a car. Owning a car comes with certain responsibilities, and if you aren't willing to accept those responsibilities, then go to Somalia. It isn't our responsibility to deal with the crap you pump into the atmosphere. If you want to use the atmosphere as a dumping zone, then you're going to pay the fee.

Wow.