Aleatoric

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Actually, based on seismic data, we have a reasonable good idea about the structure of the core. There are still unanswered questions (and possibly even a complete re-evaluation of the data might happen at some point), but there's a pretty high confidence factor in the current viewpoint. The estimated temperature of the core is about 5000 to 7000 degrees Celsius (roughly equivalent to the temperature of the surface of the sun). It is cooling slowly (the current accepted idea is that it

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Thanks for that info on the core and the magnetic field. We are never too old to learn new things. I really was taught that the core was solid, this just shows what a dynamic field science is. You're welcome That's one of the reasons I'm a scientis

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

We certainly have quite a bit left to learn, but that does not necessarily invalidate what we already do know. There are quite a few things in the geological record that indicate that the gravitational force of earth was not significantly different from now. There apparently has been some variation, but that variation is currently estimated to be within a few percentage points at most. Just as (to stay on topic) the evidence in favor of the accuracy of the plate tectonics model

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Here's a model image of the earth's magnetic field.

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

The core of the earth is molten liquid iron and nickel (with small amounts of other metals). It is under sufficient pressure to be effectively solid, but it still radiates heat, which pushes out on the other layers. If the core were to cool completely and become truly solid, the magnetic field would disappear (there might be a remnant of magnetized metal, but it would have nothing like the current level of intensity). The magnetic field (according to current theories) is created from th

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Additionally, there's no geological evidence to suggest that the surface gravity of earth was significantly different between the time of the dinosaurs and now. Most paleontologists are comfortable with the idea that the structural characteristics of the dinosaurs was sufficient for them to exist satisfactorily on land in a 1G gravitational field (some of the very largest may still have existed primarily in bodies of water, but were still able to exist on the land for periods of time).

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

As far as I can remember of what I've learned about it, the size of the earth is believed to have been pretty much constant for a good portion of its later existence (last 2 billion years or so, at least). Earlier than that, the amounts of dust and other matter collecting on the earth would have been greater than it is today, meaning that it could have increased in mass at a greater rate in the early days. You can increase the size of a body without increasing its mass (which w

Reply to Cell Phone Thoughts in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Simple, get the least expensive phone you can that has all the features you *need*. It's one thing to have a nice toy if you can afford it, but when you get right down to it, as a phone, they all pretty much do the same thing. The other thing to consider is the service plan. Figure out how much usage you plan to put on the phone, and get the plan that is just above that (in other words, get the least expensive plan that you won't go over minutes on).

Reply to Plate Techtonics: Is the Earth getting Bigger? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Plate tectonics as a whole is the theory of crustal plate movement and the mechanisms that cause it. The actual movement of the plates is an observed characteristic. The confidence in the evidence in favor of plate tectonics as a valid theory is quite high. The crust of the earth averages about 30 miles thick, although it can be quite thin in places. It 'floats' on the mantle, which is the outer layer of the earths core, which consists of what we call magma, which is primarily molten ro

Reply to Does anybody like cars here? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

But the point is my car was made IN america by American workers and when it was paid for a American got the money. Thing is, for quite a few 'import' autos, the same is true. A lot of them are actually built here in the U.S. (not to mention that a good portion of some 'American' cars are built in Canada and overseas). A solid dividing li

Reply to Does anybody like cars here? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

wombat, I stand corrected But those aren't really general production cars, and as such, are in a different class. I'd also place the Callaway Corvette in that class, as well.

Reply to Does anybody like cars here? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

If your only interest is going in a straight line, I would basically agree with you. If I were going in that direction, I'd still choose an old hemi or LS6 chevelle over any of the newer stuff, including the Viper. However, the mark of a *true* sports car is the whole package; handling, braking, power, etc. There isn't a current American car that can do all of that as well as the better imports (although the 'vette is remarkably close), and the imports are often less costly, as well.<br

Reply to Does anybody like cars here? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Hey joe! Yep, a new Z. I listed the 350Z convertible For one of the current crop of new cars, that'd be right up there on the top of the list (It'd be a close call with the Z4, but the Nissan costs quite a bit less). I listed cars that I figured I could *possibly* have a chance to acquire (therefore no McLaren F1 or Ferrari F50, etc.), however a *true* wishlish would have those

Reply to Does anybody like cars here? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Top 10 wishlist, in no particular order: 1955 Chevy Belair Convertible Plymouth Hemi Barracuda, any year (68-69 is best, convertible better ) 1970 LS6 Chevelle Nissan 240 or 260Z 64 Pontiac GTO Porsche Carrera or 911 BMW Z4 3.0 Nissan 350Z Convertible. Honda S2000 67 GT350 Mustang Kona, As for imports, a few things, 1. If it wasn't for t

Reply to recent poll in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

I tend to prefer to buy a skin (or suite) one at at time or in a small 'skin pack' type of distribution, rather than buying a mass set. I prefer to have the option to buy what I like. Even so, I'll tend to spend about what's in the poll choices in a year, anyway, so even if I didn't like half of what was offered, it would still probably be a pretty good deal. As for raising the price of OD or WC, I don't have a fundamental problem with that, but I think I'd rather see the option to buy

Reply to The Freedom Tower... in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Grayhaze, While I agree that there are some issues with the various foriegn policies of the US, and that changing some of the policies might go some way to mitigating the damage, it won't make the problem go away, so we'll have to deal with it one way or the other. As for the tower, no matter what we build in its place, it won't change a thing in regard to those who would attack us. While a memorial park could have some value, I still prefer a working monument of some type. It

Reply to TGT Soft sues Stardock (just in time for the holidays :( ) in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

I don't think TGT Soft can make any claim at all for teh msstyles format, as it is the format that Microsoft themselves provided for the three original themes.

Reply to TGT Soft sues Stardock (just in time for the holidays :( ) in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Jafo, I agree about the EULA (although the reverse engineering clause is void in Europe, and other places, and has never been actually tested in the states). Even if valid in the EULA, that makes it a contract or licensing issue, and is still not a priori illegal (apart from the terms of the license).

Reply to TGT Soft sues Stardock (just in time for the holidays :( ) in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Actually, there's nothing illegal, per se, in reverse engineering, nor should there be (even the DMCA, as bad as it is, allows reverse engineering for compatiblity and interoperability purposes). The problem lies in how the reverse engineering is done (i.e., clean room vs copy and paste). That said, what TGTSoft is trying to do is to use a copyrighted format without permission. They're on pretty shaky legal ground there.

Reply to The Freedom Tower... in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

The thing is, even though the original towers provided some representation of what it symbolized, if they hadn't existed, the terrorists would simply have targeted something else. I, for one, can think of no better memorial than one that still represents what the originals stood for, and that also symbolically gives 'the finger' to those who want us to cower in a hole.

Reply to Cell phones: Necessary convenience or Invasive privacy intruder? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

I have a cell (mobile) only, tanked my landline completely. That said, I agree about the etiquette issues involved (don't use where not appropriate, turn it OFF when not needed or when it shouldn't go off, or set to silent, as needed).

Reply to Pixtudio does it again ! in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

Yup, got it. Truly excellent work!

Reply to Dvorak: Blogging doomed? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

It's been a while since I've read any of his columns, so I might have to go read a few to see if my impressions have changed. He was a generally decent technical columnist, but a poor prognosticator. I don't think he's had even a 1 in 20 hit rate on his predictions. Dvorak is far from the first to disparage blogging, both as a concept and as an avenue for expression. It's my feeling that many of these naysayers are scared to death of being irrelevant (and as a result, generally

Reply to Colours Skin Pack for WindowBlinds from essorant.com in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

Excellent as always! Of course, now I have to decide which one to use

Reply to 1024 & 1280. Who uses more? in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Kona, The things may be smaller (even though there's room for some changes in font size and the like), but I can read everything quite nicely at 1600x1200. I can also get a lot more on a give page (document or web page, etc.). People have different comfort levels with visual abilities, so what works best for you is cool I know people who have 640x480 on a 21" monitor. I can read