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  • I like about half the new features. I like the close to shore aspect for the spectators, but the bay aspect does make it a bit cramped. Open water with the chance of a bit heavier seas would be fun. The catamarans look awesome, and the speeds and acceleration are really great, and the wing rather than sail also make it super science fictiony or magicy. But yeah, I'd love for the safe distance between the boats to be about 10cm, rather than "holy shit, these boats will disintegrate if they come within 10 meters of each other".

    I think one really great technological advancement is the TV coverage with the live graphics overlay, rather than always cutting away from the action to see the graphics. The cameras on the boats too really bring it to life too.
  • So this one is aimed more at parents.

    When children are asking you how stuff works and it is obviously beyond their scope of understanding, say how a camera works, is there anything wrong by saying "Magic". Like when they ask how the world came about.
    My father explained this to me once, when I asked for the same - he said that if the student can't at all grasp the materiel, it's a failure of the teacher, not the student. If you can't simplify it to a level that is at least somewhat understandable, then it's on you. However, when talking to a child, you encounter a number of different problems - no point explaining exactly how a camera works with Refraction, optical glass, lenses, CCDs, etc, etc to a three year old, because they simply can't understand, not from lack of knowledge, but lack of ability to perceive the world in the right way.

    I'd take the middle ground on this one - magic is a cop-out, but you can't give them something that's too hard for them to grasp, so I'd call it acceptable to simplify things in the extreme. For example, you wouldn't explain refraction and so on, but you could say "Light comes in here through special bits of glass, and that light shines on a little bit inside the camera that remembers what the light was like, which makes a picture."

    It's hard to say, when you don't know about the individual kid, though. Some children will get it, some won't.
    To use the camera analogy and going for the middle ground if they said "how is it recorded" it wouldn't be so bad to say "well there is a small imp inside who paints ever picture"? This is coming from the persective of someone who was not science.


    Also all boat racing would be improved if as well as speed there was a test of seaman ship. Like taking down the sails and stuff like that. Also gunnery practice. It would be an awesome crew that could give a full broadside, hit the target and keep speed.
  • edited September 2013
    To use the camera analogy and going for the middle ground if they said "how is it recorded" it wouldn't be so bad to say "well there is a small imp inside who paints ever picture"? This is coming from the persective of someone who was not science.
    Bad? No. But why wouldn't you just give a simple version of the truth? How is it recorded? Well, there's a little computer inside that does it. You also have to not be afraid of saying "I don't know."

    Also, are you looking for an answer, advice, or justification of something you've already done? Because you've got the first two now, so here's the third - No, telling young children that things work by magic is probably not going to do any lasting harm, children learn new things over time that explain what is previously "magic." It's not what I'd choose, but there's nothing inherently wrong or bad about choosing it, and it causes no lasting harms as far as I know or can tell. So it's probably okay. As long as they enjoyed it.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • AmpAmp
    edited September 2013
    I think it boils down to me wanting to tell kids shits magic.

    Edit; Also I think Im looking for the solution to the childs continues "why?" question.
    I should point out this is just one of the musings I have at work. Along with ideas such as why dudes don't get their nipples removed and how come Britain doesn't have more care pool lanes these gems just crop up.
    Post edited by Amp on
  • Edit; Also I think Im looking for the solution to the childs continues "why?" question.
    I should point out this is just one of the musings I have at work. Along with ideas such as why dudes don't get their nipples removed and how come Britain doesn't have more care pool lanes these gems just crop up.
    I just keep answering, while avoiding getting stuck in recursions.

  • What happens when you want to end it though and they carry on? I kind of feel that just turning to them and saying that a wizard did it and you not being a wizard would not understand. Then again even as I type this I can see how dumb this thought train is.
  • What happens when you want to end it though and they carry on? I kind of feel that just turning to them and saying that a wizard did it and you not being a wizard would not understand. Then again even as I type this I can see how dumb this thought train is.
    I once argued about the nature of gravity on a daily basis for two years, venturing into ever more esoteric and philosophical territory. They'll get bored of it before I do.

  • edited September 2013

    Also all boat racing would be improved if as well as speed there was a test of seaman ship. Like taking down the sails and stuff like that. Also gunnery practice. It would be an awesome crew that could give a full broadside, hit the target and keep speed.
    On Friday the wind was so light both teams got their spinnakers out. As these aren't used very often on the AC72's it became a bit of a test. Team USA got a massive knot in a sheet, had to use two crew members to untangle it, then cut it off and replaced it entirely. Turns out that race was abandoned, so it didn't play into the final result, but it was still a test that they failed.

    I think the work of the crews is pretty good this time out. There's no powered winches for raising sails, so any power is provided by the crew itself. Lifting and control of the hydrofoils is a whole new skill for boat crews, and over the coming years they are going to get better and better at it. Just over the course of the last few weeks racing both teams are getting better.
    Post edited by Luke Burrage on
  • How do you remove recessed, stripped screws?
  • Try putting a wide, thick rubber band between the screw and the driver.
  • edited September 2013
    If you have access to the far side of the screw, you can drill out the near side and unscrew the thread from the far side with a set of pliers.
    Try Sonics method first as this way is much more destructive.
    Post edited by Omnutia on
  • I need a better wireless mouse and keyboard. Any suggestions?
  • Specifics?
  • They interfere with each other (the keyboard wont recognize what I'm typing, or the mouse wont move for a few seconds). I've swapped back to a wired keyboard, and no problems with the mouse (same for when I plugged in my mouse and had the wireless 'board).
  • Well logitech's stuff uses a single reciever you can attach several devices to. What are you using it for? Just navigating the HTPC interface or something more?
  • Eventually for an HTPC (inside a few months I'll have enough saved up to get the HTPC and a tv worth attaching it to), but right now it's all plugged into the back of my desktop.
  • edited September 2013
    Well the mouse might not move for a bit as it's waking up from power saving mode, which I think is true of most wireless mice, unless you want to get something like the G700 which is wireless or wired but it's a gaming mouse so not the cheapest.
    Post edited by Omnutia on
  • That I expected, but it has a tendency to not work in the middle of a game. Awkward, especially when I'm CS'ing.

    I think I'll have to look at getting a Logitech keyboard to go with my mouse.
  • edited September 2013
    Ah, go with a G700 if CS is what you're playing, there's the Mamba but that's $100.

    Oh, there's also the Razer Orochi which is a closer equivilent.
    Post edited by Omnutia on
  • Do you plan on gaming with it, or will it ultimately be used for couch surfing the web/watchinv videos, etc?

    The Logitech K400 is pretty awesome for couch surfing content.
  • K400 confirmed for great HTPC option.
  • Couch surfing. I'll use a Xbox controller if I want to game.
  • Recommended games for starting a board game night?
  • It all honestly depends on the type of people you're inviting and the experience of board games they have played. How many people you are bringing? If it's a large group, are they willing to be cool to split into two group?

    Some decent games to start people with and that can accommodate a larger number of people, I would recommend Tsuro, Carcassonne, or King of Tokyo if you have the expansion.

    Also you have to consider what kind of games did they once played and liked that are more known. If someone says that they liked playing Risk, I recommend Smallworld. If they like Scrabble, get Bananagrams. Apples to Apples, get Cards Against Humanity. I will make a disclaimer, while CAH is a funny game and is great for large numbers, it loses it's luster if played frequently. There are other game comparisons out there, but I can't recall. Spot It and Jungle Speed are fun reaction games as well.

    If you're friends were into M:TG, they might like Dominion or various other deck building games, but Dominion is by far the best. Ascension seems to be the more popular game this day, but it's not as good as Dominion.

    Hope those recommendations help out.
  • edited September 2013
    Thanks. I forgot about Jungle Speed. We're already getting CAH (been playing it online) and we were thinking about Dominion. I think we're just gonna do vanilla Risk to start rather than a similar game. Tsuro also looks good. We're starting with Risk, CAH, Ultimate Showdown and Munchkin.
    Post edited by Pegu on
  • What do I need to look for in a good bicycle?
  • Wheels. Make sure it has two.

    Also, used or new?
  • Wheels. Make sure it has two.

    Also, used or new?
    Also has more than one speed and has working brakes.
  • If you're in the sticks get hybrid or dirt tires.
  • All that matters is personality. Don't focus on looks.
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