See this article:  NY Times

This journalist has got to defy all common sense to write this stuff. Isn't it a good thing that internet chatters have no sense of inhibition when they write? Instead of demonizing the internet, let's look at why the internet is the ultimate anti-socializer platform.

1.  Chatrooms are so common and available that people outgrow small talk, which is only a face-to-face social mechanism people use to be careful around strangers.

2.  Instead of having to put up with other people's concerns, we can block or close the window. Here's why this is important. First the human instinct leads one to whine and complain that life isn't perfect. Next, impressionable socializers who think everyone should get along bend over backwards to meet the whiney baby's concerns. Finally, as a rat learns to get cheese by pressing a lever, the whiner learns to control people through this form of negative motivation. The internet is an anathema to this peer pressure.

3.  We can finally be straightforward with compensatory narcissists without worrying about the consequences of offending them.

4.  Despite the common complaints that the internet lacks social cues such as body language and tone of voice, people's writing tells you everything about them. Instead of finding another excuse not to read, just learn how to do more than make small talk.

5.  5 / 10 socializers end up watching television together.

Verbal communication demands a response by default. Writing and typing give people a chance to think before responding. When they don't, you know they're stupid. You people need a judge, a jury, and irrefutable evidence to be convinced that someone isn't your best friend who'd die for you. Therefore, I will teach you how to use fair judgment online and be social.

I.  The more they talk about nothing, the dumber they are

Extroverts are stupid. One can only spend so much time giving you a biography before you realize they need to shut up and go to the library. You know how to recognize an attention-seeking parasite.

II.  Beware of those who expect everyone to get along

Parents:  this means you. People can be fence-sitting jerks when you're trying to correct someone. Sometimes these losers will stand up to you, the adult, and treat you like the bad guy for "not being social." That is why you must call everyone kids, because most naughty kids only behave because an adult is around anyway. And on the internet, good kids behave around adults because nothing's stopping them. Isn't that something to be proud of?

III.  Accept those who resist and oppose social norms

You need to reinforce the disinhibition effect of the internet so that others, especially children, feel accepted on some other basis than whether they regard certain social norms. The norms I mean are 1) not using vulgarity, 2) not talking about politics or religion, and 3) not showing their true feelings.

One time I drove by an adult and some kids who were playing sports out in the neighborhood street. I stopped to drop off my brother, and this adult approached my car saying, "Sir? Sir?" I knew by his tone that he was going to scold me for driving fast. In his mind, I endangered those kids...but who encouraged children to play in the street where reckless or drunk drivers might come by? Mr. Polite, that's who.

Being a gentleman is 100% social act and 0% character.

IV.  Don't expect picture-perfect children or behavior

Socializing is not the end-all of creation.

Yes, these 14 year olds have hormones, and that isn't going to change just because you don't want to deal with it. The last thing a child needs in his or her life is some blubbering idiot who doesn't know how to handle codependency but knows how to hide the problem from others.

Instead of understanding how to identify predators, most girls are paranoid about talking to adult males but still pursue kiddie relationships with boys their own ages. In other words, these girls see the morality of building positive relationships as a social norm not a virtue to be valued.

You can force your kids to act like angels, but you can't force them to love you. Codependents pursue relationships for one reason: misery loves company. When little girls cry, Daddy gets angry. It's amazing that a stranger on the internet would know more about your child than you.

V.  If you aren't an adult, why are you talking anyway?

Make children aware that crying isn't something everybody does from time to time. It's not normal for people to cry over rejection or to suck up to people who abuse them.

Adults understand that a child's puppy love will only get them into trouble, and we can help every child avoid major heartache by educating them on codependency. We are up against miserable people like Hillary Clinton who encourage other miserable people to tolerate bad life partners.

The internet is a great resource for reaching out to children everywhere. Predators are out there. Why aren't you?

This rivalry reeks of politics, so I'm putting it here to punish you.

Duke Nukem is a popular FPS video game character who kills space aliens, mutants, and is mean to everyone in the process. In Duke Nukem 3d, several of Duke's one-liners come from characters played by Bruce Campbell.

The problem:  Campbell thinks Duke's writers are unoriginal rip-off artists. Campbell fans attack Duke fans.

From a fan's perspective, Duke's attitude (and one of his weapons) reflects some of Campbell's, and this game has many parodies on hollywood like Star Wars, Aliens, etc. Some Duke fans believe Duke's quoting of Campbell and Piper was respectful. Duke fans eat this stuff up. So what happens when Duke fans hear where Duke's lines came from? I watched Army of Darkness like three times.

Mistake #1:  Campbell never played Duke Nukem yet has an opinion about it. Congratulations, Bruce, now everyone knows you're an impressionable idiot. Hail to the king, baby!

Mistake #2:  Campbell took a confrontational posture about possible legal action. Isn't the world full of enough morons who are ready to fight as soon as they have a bad impression of someone? Let me repeat that; if you assume there is a gremlin, there's a good chance you'll find one.

Mistake #3:  Campbell fans act like Megadeth fans right after Metallica stole The Four Horsemen from Mechanix. There's only one major difference: Campbell fans and Metallica fans deliver pizza and pick up the trash for Megadeth fans. Actually, Dave Mustaine did have a problem with others biting his style, but they lost their teeth and got carpal tunnel. So Dave is happy.

And now, kids, let's learn today's two lessons.

1.  In a celebrity deathmatch between Duke Nukem and Campbell, the winner would be Maddox.
2.  The way to keep fans is by stirring up less controversy than a politician.

Greetings, peasant. We the government of the United States greet you.

We do offer the following powers and statuses for the price of your obedience.

1.  You may copyright your intellectual works, and you must respect others' works as they deem fit.
2.  You may marry, receiving tax deductions, and you must respect others' marriages.
3.  You may drive and do business as long as you do them as we tell you to.
4.  You may speak on the public airwaves as long as you speak the way we want you to.
5.  You may own property until we find a better use for it.
6.  You may sue any business in the event you harm yourself.
7.  You may procure welfare, food stamps, and medicare at the taxpayer's expense.
8.  You may donate as much to political campaigns as we deem necessary.
9.  You may religiously congregate tax-free as long as you don't preach about politics.
10.  You may buy the things we approve of, when we approve.
11.  You may murder your in-womb children via an approved procedure.

Welcome to the best nation on earth. We say. You do.

Thank your parents for empowering us to empower you.

Look, America...

You love the way things are. You republicans love knowing you can use the power of government to run Mexicans out of the country, force drug addicts to live in the shadows, and assert your calvinist values as the law of the land. You democrats love knowing you can spend other people's money on yourselves while telling everyone how to live. You both love government because nothing but power will sedate your desire to be important.

So go ahead...make your government as big and strong as you can.

Now...if you really want to test your strength...stay right where you are -- Vegeta

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Shaun, JFK said, "Ask not what your country can do for you," and people cheered. I said the same thing, and now I'm a skull-and-bones conspiracy theorist?

I was wrong. Nobody loves power. You kids love the truth, and I'm an idiot.

I am a 3 foot tall gremlin that lives in your computer. I steal your socks and sell them to drug lords. You can learn a lot from a gremlin.

To begin with, let's talk about how to deal with Gremlin Personality Disorder.

---------------------------------------------

1. Be willing to back up your statements with facts - or at least some pretty sound reasoning.

2. Don't expect them to respect you or your viewpoints just because you say so. Gremlin respect is earned.

3. Be willing to concede when you are wrong. The average Gremlin respects the truth over being "right". Withdraw your erroneous comment and admit your mistake and they will see you as a very reasonable person. Stick to erroneous comments and they will think you are an irrational idiot and treat everything you say as being questionable.

4. Expect debate. Gremlins like to tear ideas apart and prove their worthiness. They will even argue a point they don't actually support for the sake of argument.

5. Do not mistake the strength of your conviction with the strength of your argument. Gremlins do not need to believe in a position to argue it or argue it well. Therefore, it will take more than fervor to sway them.

6. Do not be surprised at sarcasm.

7. Remember that Gremlins believe in workable solutions. They are extremely open-minded to possibilities, but they will quickly discard any idea that is unfeasible. Gremlin open-mindedness means that they are willing to have a go at an idea by trying to pull it apart. This horrifies people who expect oohs and ahhs and reverence. The ultimate Gremlin insult to an idea is to ignore it, because that means it's not even interesting enough to deconstruct.

8. Do not expect Gremlins to actually care about how you view them. They already know that they are arrogant monsters with a morbid sense of humor. Telling them the obvious accomplishes nothing.

9. Don't cross a Gremlin. They are evil, scheming, vengeful little creatures that will come back to haunt you.

---------------------------------------------

Now that you are familiar with Gremlins, you and I can communicate. Let's start with my first response from Lyons.

To respond to your inane assumptions about American policy and immigration on the one hand seems rediculous on the other it is necessary. One cannot allow such mindless utterings to go unanswered.

However, it isn't just our government that classifies people who are visiting this country, legally or non, as non citizens. The dictionary does that. How else could they be classified?

Have you heard of the rule of law? We are a nation of laws. Individuals coming here without correct documentation are breaking our law. Why don't you think that important?

In order to take up residency in this country, many of these entering illegally and the individuals profiting from human traffiking, have resorted to stealing documents from "American Citizens", it's called idenity theft. Big crime!!! And I'll bet that if you had been a victim of this crime, you might think differently of those committing the crimes and their "noble" purpose for doing so.

To summarize Lyons' points and questions:

1.  I am making inane assumptions.
2.  Why shouldn't we classify illegal immigrants the current way, deporting them on capture?
3.  Why don't I think enforcing illegal immigration is important?
4.  Illegal immigrants steal American identities.

My response:

If you assume there's a gremlin, then look for one, you'll probably find a gremlin.

How am I supposed to steal socks to feed my slug army? You must think I love Mexican socks. ;lasjdfsd;aklsdf what is wrong with you?! You Americans don't reproduce. Mexicans keep your population rate above extinction. George Bush knows that. Gremlins know that. Why don't you?

If you want to see a real invasion, just wait until I conquer your refrigerator with 20,000 slimy gastropod molluscs. Your kitchen, your meat, and all your produce will be mine nyahahahaha! That's right. The Mexicans and I are taking over America, and there's nothing you can do about it! You're going to lose everything!

But we'll let you keep a dictionary. Maybe once you learn how to spell you'll be able to do things like deal with multispecies insurgencies.

While the West has the military might, it does not have the conviction to destroy its enemies. The West is a multicultural nation, a divided nation. The left is really going to defund the war, and the right is going to struggle to balance being gentlemen while trying to win the war.

Our barbarian enemies understand how to manipulate the barbarian element within our culture to work in their favor.

I believe our enemy's future objective is to make a nuclear attack on a major American city. By displaying superior power, the enemy will accomplish the goal of lulling the American left into negotiations. They'll demand Israel, and they'll get it.

I know what you're thinking. If the enemy has nuclear weaponry, why haven't they used it yet? We're not dealing with sadists. Our enemies are strategizers who use their destruction to achieve goals. They kidnap people to demand ransoms, sometimes in the form of released prisoners. They are not fighting to win but to grow. And like any collection of war-like barbarian tribes, they're not committed to each other.

Al-Qaeda's recent attempted attacks in Europe show that Bin Laden does not have nuclear weaponry. Just think. If he did, then he would have Hezbollah, Hamas, and every enemy tribe after him with great hostility. In this tribal culture, wielding the most power amounts to ascension as leader of all the tribes.

Here is Iran's motivation for developing nuclear facilities. Ahmadinejad may behave for a while as long as his nation becomes the most powerful Islamic nation in the Middle East, but tribal leaders need plunder and glory to please their constituents. Here is the case for war and terrorism.

Unlike Bin Laden, Ahmadinejad has a taste for world politics. He is playing the game well whereas Bin Laden is an unsophisticated rebel who has no hope of raising a real army. Iran arms the local tribal armies, which we in the West call terrorists, to feed its barbarians the plunder and glory they want. These armies attack Israel and openly take credit to advertise themselves. Killing is their business, and business is good. Thus Iran is a nexus for dedicated warmongerers.

As these armies spread their name, the promise of glory gets in the ear of the disenfranchised Muslim youth. This is the calculation our enemy Iran made though. They are willing to sacrifice their own children for war because they continue to gain power as a result. It's just like how a rat learns to get cheese when it pulls a lever. Iran's actions are systematic. Iran funds tribes which cause chaos. Iran therefore gains more popularity, and its power (influence) swells.

Iran wants to be every terrorist's friend because the terrorists 1) have insufficient influence and weaponry to conquer Iran and 2) can supply Iran with means to obtain greater power and popularity over the Middle East.

But when nuclear weapons enter the game, these rules change. Iran will not tolerate a random tribe possessing nukes because they would be a threat. Read that again. None of the Muslim tribes want the other tribe to get a nuke; they will spy on each other and hunt down the bomb if its location is known. Such a scenario could play out without anyone in the modern world knowing.

When, not if, Iran gets nuclear weapons, Iran will use tribes to attack Europe or (more likely) America rather than Israel, because Israel is sacred to Muslims. Iran will use nukes to win all of Israel because razing has proven too slow. Mahmoud wants victory in his lifetime.

Barbarians raze (sudden purposeless attack destroying life and/or property) their enemies to intimidate them into negotations. This is business as usual between the Middle East and Israel. Thus, our mimickry of their behavior has not done the job. Barbarians know when their enemies are not willing to fight.

Iran is backing both sides of the Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq. That wouldn't win any real friends, but in barbarian-land this is how you weaken your allies into committing to your cause. The media doesn't get it. Read this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/14/wirq114.xml

In the same article, the writer states that Iran is backing both sides of the conflict and Iran is supporting the Sunnis because other nations are supporting the Sunnis. In the civilized world, this is called a contradiction. The media doesn't understand Iran. Michael Rubin does: Iran is happy with managed chaos.

If we leave Iraq then Iran will wear them out until they submit. The fighters themselves have no choice. Even if they knew Iran was using them, they would still fight because to not fight is to let the other side win. If Iran controls the Middle East, Iran controls the oil and could blackmail the universe.

So here we are. The Democrats are rewarding Iran for ruining the democracy that our men and women gave their blood, sweat, and tears to build. The Democrats are blaming Bush for everything Iran is guilty of. Rice tried to put Iran on notice, but Iran has called her bluff; the Dems are in control and Iran can do anything it wants.

And that's it. Now Iraq can be truly called Vietnam because the Democrats have again empowered a fascist to kill and conquer innocent people by removing the only thing in that dictator's way: the United States.

When Iran forces Iraq into submission, decent Westerners will question the merit of leaving, saying Iran has a history of aggression against Iraq, saying this end result was predictable. The left will conveniently forget our supplying of weapons to Iraq even though the left used this as a basis for their anti-American argument: the United States causes wars abroad by funding dictators. The left is as strategic in their propaganda as Iran: skeptically question my enemy and blindly trust me.

Unfortunately, the left is too inept and rich to notice the Iranian threat to their existence. Their overconfidence will buy Iran the time it needs to assert control over the Middle East. The left doesn't perceive these tribal armies as a threat because they fight with conventional weaponry. That's how Iran wants the Middle East to be perceived until it has nuclear weapons.

At that point, the international community will be divided for two reasons:  the need for oil and the need for neutrality in the face of a hostile conflict. China may become Iran's hired mercenary as Iran makes its move to assimilate Muslims (and the nations they live in) abroad.

Hillary Clinton may be the best Democrat for president after all. If she's elected, she probably won't put up with Iran's crap. She's a strategist. Just imagine Democrats negotiating with Muslims the way Democrats negotiate with Republicans!

Here are a few suggestions to improve your relationship with your children (and friends).

1.  Don't beat them when they use foul language.
2.  Don't beat them when they get bad grades.
3.  Don't beat them when they break, lose or forget things.
4.  Don't beat them when they don't respect you.
5.  Don't beat them unless they try to beat you first.

As long as you avoid being a compensatory narcissistic, other people may actually like you. Nobody likes someone who resorts to force as an end-all solution to problems. We put people like that in jail because their language, their violent body language, is foul.

I was conditioned to believe that kind of parenting is normal, that I was the bad kid, and that everyone else's families are the same. I believed I was supposed to excel at everything. The truth is that you can't expect much from a gassed Jew.

The biggest insult is when these child abusers try to use my Bible, my religion, and my God to justify their violence by saying, "Spare not the child the whip." Don't worry. You violent people will neither be spared the belt nor mercied. God will destroy you with more violence than the world has ever known, and we will cheer Him on as you burn.

Isn't this wonderful?

http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2368
http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2368&p=2

Intel's adding cores and caches to improve performance until stacked-die technology becomes absolutely necessary. This means that Intel will probably stay ahead of the game and drive AMD's prices down.

Stacked-die tech will allow computers to better emulate 3d physics because of the new connection between the CPU and RAM. Of course, operating systems will first have to be updated to give programmers access to this memory, but these changes will probably happen after 2015.

In 3d physics emulations, collision detection consumes a lot of CPU power. The current BSP or octree solutions (3d maps divided into channels, partitioned to reduce the number of object XYZ-location comparisons) will likely make first effective use of stacked RAM.

Imagine a game like Morrowind using normal RAM to hold world gamedata and map information, loading the local on-screen environment into stacked RAM. Let's not worry about invalid pointers yet. 

201x computers will probably have 256 MB stacked RAM and 512 MB to 2 GB RAM. RtCW uses 128 MB RAM and a 300 MB swapfile. Now what happens when the BSP is in that stacked RAM? The collision detection speed increases because the RAM is so easy to read. So that means we can skip BSP altogether because it's RAM-intensive right?

No. Although BSP will use up stacked RAM in this scenario, BSP allows an engine to efficiently spend CPU cycles. Other than physics calculations, 3d games don't have any other major purpose for stacked RAM. Games will be able to increase the number of objects and clients in a map. Yes, asynch socket communications will be done in stacked RAM.

While bandwidth won't yet allow for anything super cool like 3d mesh deforming across a server-client connection, server-client games will have more dynamic objects and collision detection. This means more details. I expect enhanced player model mesh collisions: tripping, bumping, hitting your head.

Broadband clients are ready to download big data, but game servers can't do the work. Let's look at some specs.

"In general you would like to be able to provide an update rate to all players of at least 20 updates per second."

T1:  (150,000 bytes / sec) / (32 players) = 4688 bytes / sec / player
T2:  (630,000 bytes / sec) / (64 players) = 9843 bytes / sec / player*
T3:  (4,500,000 bytes / sec) / (256 players) = 17578 bytes / sec / player*
T4:  (27,400,000 bytes / sec) / (1024 players) = 26757 bytes / sec / player*
* Inferred stats

http://rocketland.planetquake.gamespy.com/haqsau/serversetup.shtml

A few good servers out there run games on T2 lines or better (probably college students or dedicated hobbyists). Some companies rent out game servers, and the cost ranges from $20 - $150 / month.

The value of 3d games which use stacked RAM should increase demand for higher bandwidth solutions. 256 player games in the year 2015? I'm game, aren't you?