Comments for Technology Trends & Opinion » Blah, Blah! Technology blog http://www.blahblahtech.com Tech' views that are 667% more interesting than the tech' news itself... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on The myth of Global Warming by Wayne Smallman http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326961515/the-myth-of-global-warming.html Wayne Smallman Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:31:48 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=597#comment-3378 Hi guys, as always, thanks for commenting! Ben: <em>"Finally! Someone that agrees with me that Global Warming is not happening because of anything we have done, it just is."</em> I'm making to claims either way, fella. That's the very thing I'm avoiding! Ben Ayers, thanks for all the figures, but that's really not the purpose of what I'm getting at. I'm simply uninterested in statistics. Nommo, you touch on some points that I kind of lean towards in a two-parter of mine looking into <a href="http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/05/serious-science-is-there-alien-life-in-the-universe-part-2.html" rel="nofollow">the question of there being alien life</a>. Tangential I know, but related. Good observations, too! I think you make some really valid points. Dan, have you read Gaia by James Lovelock? Worth reading. The idea that the Earth is a super organism is strangely compelling. Also, the idea that we're acting like a virus on our host makes sense, too. Jerry, glad you agree! We need to change things quickly... Hi guys, as always, thanks for commenting!

Ben: “Finally! Someone that agrees with me that Global Warming is not happening because of anything we have done, it just is.”

I’m making to claims either way, fella. That’s the very thing I’m avoiding!

Ben Ayers, thanks for all the figures, but that’s really not the purpose of what I’m getting at.

I’m simply uninterested in statistics.

Nommo, you touch on some points that I kind of lean towards in a two-parter of mine looking into the question of there being alien life.

Tangential I know, but related. Good observations, too! I think you make some really valid points.

Dan, have you read Gaia by James Lovelock? Worth reading. The idea that the Earth is a super organism is strangely compelling. Also, the idea that we’re acting like a virus on our host makes sense, too.

Jerry, glad you agree! We need to change things quickly…

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/the-myth-of-global-warming.html#comment-3378 Comment on The myth of Global Warming by Jerry Loggins http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326961516/the-myth-of-global-warming.html Jerry Loggins Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:10:04 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=597#comment-3377 You are absolutely right in the sense that people will not change voluntarily, and that we will need to scare the bejeezus out of them to change their ways. I guess that's what needs to be done to slow down how badly we are damaging the earth. You are absolutely right in the sense that people will not change voluntarily, and that we will need to scare the bejeezus out of them to change their ways. I guess that’s what needs to be done to slow down how badly we are damaging the earth.

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/the-myth-of-global-warming.html#comment-3377 Comment on The myth of Global Warming by Dan http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326961517/the-myth-of-global-warming.html Dan Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:16:46 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=597#comment-3375 I will agree there are some issues of Global Warming that are shaky, but I still believe that we humans have added the the growing problem, and have damaged this planet. Humans are violent animals who see themselves at the top of the food chain, when in fact we are not. Lock a naked human in a cage with a tiger and see what happens. Technology does not automatically move us to the top of the chain. Afterall, Ebola will kick your ass given the chance. The planet will attempt to correct itself. If you believe Chaos theory then all the strip mining of the planet is also causing problems with our climate. Regardless if we are affecting the climate, we are affecting the planet and we need to stop. Mankind is a virus that invades an area, takes it over, destroys its resources, and moves on to another area. In man vs nature, nature will win... because nature has more time than we do. We have destroyed this planet without ever once saying thank you to it. I will agree there are some issues of Global Warming that are shaky, but I still believe that we humans have added the the growing problem, and have damaged this planet.

Humans are violent animals who see themselves at the top of the food chain, when in fact we are not. Lock a naked human in a cage with a tiger and see what happens. Technology does not automatically move us to the top of the chain. Afterall, Ebola will kick your ass given the chance.

The planet will attempt to correct itself. If you believe Chaos theory then all the strip mining of the planet is also causing problems with our climate. Regardless if we are affecting the climate, we are affecting the planet and we need to stop.

Mankind is a virus that invades an area, takes it over, destroys its resources, and moves on to another area.

In man vs nature, nature will win… because nature has more time than we do.
We have destroyed this planet without ever once saying thank you to it.

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/the-myth-of-global-warming.html#comment-3375 Comment on Just what is technology? by Sciencebase http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326741825/just-what-is-technology.html Sciencebase Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:13:49 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3374 But, there are robots cooking food already (hey, no McDonalds jokes, now) in factories, they're not like the mechanical-arm robots that put cars together, they're just computer-controlled machines, but a lot of ready meals etc are made by such machines... I doubt we'll have a cordon bleu chef with a silicon chip on his shoulder any time soon though. But, there are robots cooking food already (hey, no McDonalds jokes, now) in factories, they’re not like the mechanical-arm robots that put cars together, they’re just computer-controlled machines, but a lot of ready meals etc are made by such machines…

I doubt we’ll have a cordon bleu chef with a silicon chip on his shoulder any time soon though.

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3374 Comment on Just what is technology? by Wayne Smallman http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326506370/just-what-is-technology.html Wayne Smallman Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:51:21 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3372 Ngozi, thanks for commenting and the interesting question. I suppose we could argue that our food is already prepared by machine, certainly in terms of harvesting, cleaning, cutting / chopping and irradiating et cetera. But it's a different thing to have them to actually cook the food prior to being eaten. Worthy of a discussion in its own right, I'm sure... Ngozi, thanks for commenting and the interesting question.

I suppose we could argue that our food is already prepared by machine, certainly in terms of harvesting, cleaning, cutting / chopping and irradiating et cetera.

But it’s a different thing to have them to actually cook the food prior to being eaten.

Worthy of a discussion in its own right, I’m sure…

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3372 Comment on Just what is technology? by Ngozi Alywin Erem http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/326506371/just-what-is-technology.html Ngozi Alywin Erem Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:34:35 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3371 It is quite amazing, that technology is moving human race at a very fast pace. We now have machines, that do what we want it to do. They are specially manufactured for such and are called "Robots". We also have home robots. Soon we Shall have cooking robots and that would be very fascinating. I am looking forward to seeing technology applied in cooking. I wonder whether people would want to eat food prepared by robots. It is quite amazing, that technology is moving human race at a very fast pace. We now have machines, that do what we want it to do. They are specially manufactured for such and are called “Robots”. We also have home robots. Soon we Shall have cooking robots and that would be very fascinating. I am looking forward to seeing technology applied in cooking. I wonder whether people would want to eat food prepared by robots.

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2007/10/just-what-is-technology.html#comment-3371 Comment on The myth of Global Warming by nommo http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/323957061/the-myth-of-global-warming.html nommo Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:04:04 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=597#comment-3357 I like the way you constructed this article - unlike the first commenter - I understand that you are NOT saying that Climate Change is a myth - but that there is a 'mythical' status about it caused by the polemic 'chipping-in' of the moonbats and wingnuts on the subject. It is quite simple really - when looking at cybernetics and game theory (neither of which I am an expert in I hasten to add!) 1. In order to 'win' - the game must come to an end - that is capitalism/consumerism - and with regards to resource exploitation - the end game is that it will run out (not without a number of people converting those natural resources into more liquid and portable forms of wealth). I am sure there will be some kind of 'selfish gene' explanation regarding the accumulation of wealth beyond our ability to benefit directly within our lifetime but I will not go into that now. 2. We (humans) are not capable of creating perfect systems. Nature has been trying for millions of years and has only just come close with planet earth (and look what we are doing with that little system). What makes us so great that we think we can start creating systems that are sustainable at this point in our evolution..? (I will answer that one - greed see above or delusions of grandeur). Just my 2 pence's worth :) I like the way you constructed this article - unlike the first commenter - I understand that you are NOT saying that Climate Change is a myth - but that there is a ‘mythical’ status about it caused by the polemic ‘chipping-in’ of the moonbats and wingnuts on the subject.

It is quite simple really - when looking at cybernetics and game theory (neither of which I am an expert in I hasten to add!)

1. In order to ‘win’ - the game must come to an end - that is capitalism/consumerism - and with regards to resource exploitation - the end game is that it will run out (not without a number of people converting those natural resources into more liquid and portable forms of wealth). I am sure there will be some kind of ’selfish gene’ explanation regarding the accumulation of wealth beyond our ability to benefit directly within our lifetime but I will not go into that now.

2. We (humans) are not capable of creating perfect systems. Nature has been trying for millions of years and has only just come close with planet earth (and look what we are doing with that little system). What makes us so great that we think we can start creating systems that are sustainable at this point in our evolution..? (I will answer that one - greed see above or delusions of grandeur).

Just my 2 pence’s worth :)

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/the-myth-of-global-warming.html#comment-3357 Comment on Signals are strong for next generation Wi-Fi by Cyril http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/322929184/metamaterials-next-generation-antennas.html Cyril Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:25:04 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=598#comment-3356 Interesting. God forbid if all this electromagnetic radiation is proved to have a link to serious health problems, or cancer. One thing is for certain, the airwaves are getting more and more clogged with them to keep up with bandwidth needs. I thought you might find this interesting Wayne. The electric car is back. 2 cents to the gallon, can you believe it? http://www.teslamotors.com/ Interesting. God forbid if all this electromagnetic radiation is proved to have a link to serious health problems, or cancer. One thing is for certain, the airwaves are getting more and more clogged with them to keep up with bandwidth needs.

I thought you might find this interesting Wayne. The electric car is back. 2 cents to the gallon, can you believe it?

http://www.teslamotors.com/

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/metamaterials-next-generation-antennas.html#comment-3356 Comment on The myth of Global Warming by Ben Ayers http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/320432071/the-myth-of-global-warming.html Ben Ayers Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:47:35 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=597#comment-3337 There is consensus about anthropogenic climate change and it includes the following: 1) the climate is undergoing a pronounced warming trend beyond the range of natural variability; 2) the major cause of most of the observed warming is rising levels of the greenhouse gas CO2; 3) the rise in CO2 is the result of burning fossil fuels; 4) if CO2 continues to rise over the next century, the warming will continue; and 5) a climate change of the projected magnitude over this time frame represents potential danger to human welfare and the environment. These conclusions have been explicitly endorsed by ... Academia Brasiliera de Ciências (Bazil) Royal Society of Canada Chinese Academy of Sciences Academié des Sciences (France) Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (Germany) Indian National Science Academy Accademia dei Lincei (Italy) Science Council of Japan Russian Academy of Sciences Royal Society (United Kingdom) National Academy of Sciences (United States of America) Australian Academy of Sciences Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts Caribbean Academy of Sciences Indonesian Academy of Sciences Royal Irish Academy Academy of Sciences Malaysia Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences In addition to these national academies, the following institutions specializing in climate, atmosphere, ocean, and/or earth sciences have endorsed these conclusions: NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Academy of Sciences (NAS) State of the Canadian Cryosphere (SOCC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Royal Society of the United Kingdom (RS) American Geophysical Union (AGU) American Institute of Physics (AIP) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) American Meteorological Society (AMS) Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) There is consensus about anthropogenic climate change and it includes the following:
1) the climate is undergoing a pronounced warming trend beyond the range of natural variability;
2) the major cause of most of the observed warming is rising levels of the greenhouse gas CO2;
3) the rise in CO2 is the result of burning fossil fuels;
4) if CO2 continues to rise over the next century, the warming will continue; and
5) a climate change of the projected magnitude over this time frame represents potential danger to human welfare and the environment.
These conclusions have been explicitly endorsed by …
Academia Brasiliera de Ciências (Bazil)
Royal Society of Canada
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Academié des Sciences (France)
Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (Germany)
Indian National Science Academy
Accademia dei Lincei (Italy)
Science Council of Japan
Russian Academy of Sciences
Royal Society (United Kingdom)
National Academy of Sciences (United States of America)
Australian Academy of Sciences
Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts
Caribbean Academy of Sciences
Indonesian Academy of Sciences
Royal Irish Academy
Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
In addition to these national academies, the following institutions specializing in climate, atmosphere, ocean, and/or earth sciences have endorsed these conclusions:
NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
State of the Canadian Cryosphere (SOCC)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Royal Society of the United Kingdom (RS)
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
American Meteorological Society (AMS)
Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS)

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/the-myth-of-global-warming.html#comment-3337 Comment on Social Networking: convenience versus experience by Phil http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommentsForTechnologyTrendsOpinionBlahBlahTechnologyBlog/~3/320432072/social-networking-convenience-versus-experience.html Phil Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:50:34 +0000 http://www.blahblahtech.com/?p=595#comment-3335 I was enamored w/ Pownce for a while but the darn thing seems so slow. I've just returned to Twitter and Jaiku using Imified to post to both simultaneously. One of my growing priorities is to have access without running additional software. As a developer I demand maximum performance from my machine. I've also moved towards reducing my number of networks as there seems to be a diminishing return and lack of time to give multiple networks much attention. I was enamored w/ Pownce for a while but the darn thing seems so slow. I’ve just returned to Twitter and Jaiku using Imified to post to both simultaneously.

One of my growing priorities is to have access without running additional software. As a developer I demand maximum performance from my machine. I’ve also moved towards reducing my number of networks as there seems to be a diminishing return and lack of time to give multiple networks much attention.

]]> http://www.blahblahtech.com/2008/06/social-networking-convenience-versus-experience.html#comment-3335