Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

I stumbled upon this gem circa 1954 while browsing Google tonight. They were just a wee bit off in estimating the advancement of computer technology.

The caption reads: "Scientists of the RAND Corporation have created this model to illustrate how a "home computer" could look like in the year 2004. However the needed technology will not be economically feasible for the average home. Also, the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology, but 50 years from now, scientific progress is expected to solve these problems. With teletype interface and the Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use and..." It cuts off after that.

Must have been.

I was thinking it looks a bit like a control panel for a cruise ship. For some reason I don't really see that being "user-friendly" but then again, this was sketched up during a time when the ENIAC was the top computer technology. It was based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and drew so much power that it caused brown-outs in Philadelphia 140 miles away!

Edit: It's a fake; but a well-done fake at that. http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/computer.asp

While we're browsing Snopes...

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

He was not trying to take credit for something he didn't do. He was instrumental in funding and pushing the intitiatives that made the Internet what it is today.

If you think global warming is a "scare tactic" pushed by a minority of scientists, you really do have your fingers in your ears and your head up your ass. The only debate is on what effect it is having on current weather patterns, and what amount of it is anthropogenic (caused by human activity). The only minority of scientists are the ones being paid under the table by oil and coal companies to censor the majority which believe warming is occurring at a much faster rate than can be explained by normal global trends over the last 50-100 years.

http://royalsociety.org/displaypagedoc.asp?id=13619

The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) represents the consensus of the
international scientific community on climate change science. We recognise IPCC as the world’s most
reliable source of information on climate change and its causes, and we endorse its method of achieving this
consensus. Despite increasing consensus on the science underpinning predictions of global climate change,
doubts have been expressed recently about the need to mitigate the risks posed by global climate change.
We do not consider such doubts justified.

In May 2000, at the InterAcademy Panel (IAP) meeting in Tokyo, 63 academies of science from all parts of
the world issued a statement on sustainability in which they noted that “global trends in climate change …
are growing concerns” and pledged themselves to work for sustainability – meeting current human needs
while preserving the environment and natural resources needed by future generations. It is now evident
that human activities are already contributing adversely to global climate change. Business as usual is no
longer a viable option.

http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-repor ... apter9.pdf

The evidence from surface temperature observations is
strong: The observed warming is highly signifi cant relative to
estimates of internal climate variability which, while obtained
from models, are consistent with estimates obtained from
both instrumental data and palaeoclimate reconstructions. It
is extremely unlikely (<5%) that recent global warming is due
to internal variability alone such as might arise from El Niño
(Section 9.4.1). The widespread nature of the warming (Figures
3.9 and 9.6) reduces the possibility that the warming could have
resulted from internal variability. No known mode of internal
variability leads to such widespread, near universal warming
as has been observed in the past few decades.

I could go on, but I don't have the time nor the desire. It's obvious you are one of those people to whom overwhelming evidence and facts (other than the "facts" that support your opinions) mean nothing. I for one will gladly "keep the change"-the change that removed your kind from control of our government.

ER801 wrote:What the hell is the big steering wheel for?

Well duh! It's for playing "Need for Speed" and "Grand Theft Auto"!

How about Mario Kart Wii?

Same thing, not hardly.

These scientists have been tracking, and becoming concerned about global temperature trends years before Mr. Gore came out with his "product". They have no vested interest in the issue other than doing their jobs, which is observing what the natural world is doing and reading what it is telling us. There's no emotion to it, just data, unfiltered by lobbyist dollars.

I swear some conservatives think the only functions of government should be to enforce religious dogma (state-sanctioned discrimination against homosexuals) and to shoot back when other religious fanatics attack us.

Oh wait...they don't need to do that either. Citizen's militia and all.

I'm glad the current economic climate, brought on by rampant deregulation of Wall Street and the banking system, is working out well for you.

Mike, new thread as you see fit.

ER801 wrote:"Doctors recommend ultra fit weight loss supplements" ...Ok, so you got a couple of fellas with doctorate degrees to promote your product, same thing.

Crack open an almanac and take a look at the heat waves that happened in the early 1900's. Then it cooled down again. Just like it does each winter and summer.

Regardless, it is very obvious that algore was trying to take credit for something he didn't do, by his quite clear statement, that is blatantly apparent, even if you have too strong of an opinion to comprehend anything against someone you apparently side with.

But hey, if you want or need the government to take care of you and tell you what to do, then go for it. But I can do just fine without all that nonsense and hinderance. Y'all print up all the money you can and pass it around. Don't know if we'll have anything to back it up, but hey, it sure feels good to give, eh? Just let your emotions be your guide....

Sheesh

Oh what have I done?