General Questions Thread

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Y
No, not really. While forum sites like AnimeSuki do exist in "the cloud", as do all other social-networking sites, there isn't any "computing" being done.

In any case, "cloud computing" is really no more than a fad label, like "Web 2.0" for example. The idea of sharing computing resources over distributed networks is as old as the Internet. It's just that it's now easier than ever before, so some smart hack came up with the name, ran with it, and finally pushed the concept into mainstream consciousness.

Bingo! "Cloud computing" is essentially a marketing term and a "pointy-headed boss" term. I'd bet 90% of the people you see using it really have no idea what it means without waving their arms about magical invisible assets that they hope aren't in their budget.

People who remember networks made up of smart terminals (e.g. X terminals) and server clusters where apps and data reside chuckle into their beer steins when someone says "cloud computing".

[MeoTwister5]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Bingo! "Cloud computing" is essentially a marketing term and a "pointy-headed boss" term. I'd bet 90% of the people you see using it really have no idea what it means without waving their arms about magical invisible assets that they hope aren't in their budget.

People who remember networks made up of smart terminals (e.g. X terminals) and server clusters where apps and data reside chuckle into their beer steins when someone says "cloud computing".

Heh. Dilbert reference. Heh.

[Vexx]

"Dilbert" is not comedy... its the god-forsaken Truth :P

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Vexx

"Dilbert" is not comedy... its the god-forsaken Truth :P

Bloody hell I wish it wasn't.

Question : How long can a human technically survive without food? Just water.

[Konakaga]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Question : How long can a human technically survive without food? Just water.

If I remember right, I think it would be somewhere between 21 and 31 days depending on the person, environment, and etc.

[dragon4dudes]

Also assuming he has enough water. Nor too much nor too little. But a good benchmark is 3 weeks

[thevil1]

^ Lets just hope I never have to find out from experience.

[zebra]

Might be better in one of the gaming threads, but oh well:

Do UMDs of Platinum Editions have a different cover than the normal ones?
I lost many of my UMDs and want to replace them (I cried ... lots), among them are special editions too so I'd like UMDs that look the same.

Aaaand I wanna buy something from the US PSN store. I have access to an US account, but I can't register my credit card to it. So I wondered:
Can I use the german network cards to load some money on the US account?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by zebra

Might be better in one of the gaming threads, but oh well:

Do UMDs of Platinum Editions have a different cover than the normal ones?
I lost many of my UMDs and want to replace them (I cried ... lots), among them are special editions too so I'd like UMDs that look the same.

Just get the special edition. UMDs are all the same.

Can't answer your second question since I don't own any Sony consoles other than a PSP.

Question : Can 白栗 (white chestnut) read as hakuri? Been trying to consult a few people who know Japanese and they all give me different ways of reading.

[dahoosafeth]

Question, in many south east asian, and east asian countries, why is it that prostitution is very prevalent in places, where, laws are otherwise extremely strict? for example, you get caught with a couple of grams of marijuana in japan, and as a foreigner you're as good as gone from the country. Cultural differences isn't what I'm looking for, perhaps a more fleshed out answer than that . Is it the prostitution that is looked upon more leniently, or the drugs and other things that are looked upon more harshly? and any idea why?

[MeoTwister5]

Originally Posted by dahoosafeth

Question, in many south east asian, and east asian countries, why is it that prostitution is very prevalent in places, where, laws are otherwise extremely strict? for example, you get caught with a couple of grams of marijuana in japan, and as a foreigner you're as good as gone from the country. Cultural differences isn't what I'm looking for, perhaps a more fleshed out answer than that . Is it the prostitution that is looked upon more leniently, or the drugs and other things that are looked upon more harshly? and any idea why?

It isn't that prostitution is being considered lightly by countries, but remember the economic status of most SEA countries. Prostitution is almost always first and foremost a poverty issue. With the exception of those who enter the flesh trade because they like it, women are forced into prostitution because of dire financial straits.

To a certain extent in developing nations prostitution isn't looked down upon as in more developed nations outside the Asian sphere despite having laws against it. People will do what it takes to survive even if it means selling their bodies and their dignity. People will defy these laws if it means survival and putting food on the table. As a poverty minded region many people here have come to accept that indeed, with so many poor people, people are a bit more... understanding of the problems of mere survival the poor face on a daily basis. It's not that people accept prostitution per se, but people accept that this is one of the last resort the dire and destitute have in order to live.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by dahoosafeth

Question, in many south east asian, and east asian countries, why is it that prostitution is very prevalent in places, where, laws are otherwise extremely strict? for example, you get caught with a couple of grams of marijuana in japan, and as a foreigner you're as good as gone from the country. Cultural differences isn't what I'm looking for, perhaps a more fleshed out answer than that . Is it the prostitution that is looked upon more leniently, or the drugs and other things that are looked upon more harshly? and any idea why?

Prostitution is prevalent because it is freelance. To put it easier, it is like MLM - nobody knows who the head is, but the money still goes up and around : and the main point is that everyone gets a fair share.

There ARE girls in Asia who are willing to sell themselves to earn quick bucks - it is a byproduct of the materialism Asians tend to see as "pragmatism" and "reality". It is often a reflection of screwed-up and narrow thought processes put forward by a misjudged mentality of "hard work pwns all else".

Of course, it could also be a misconception of female social escorts : not all of them are willing to take a large spindle and spin gold thread between their legs (multiple entendres and 12th Night pun intended).

[Skane]

Prostitution exists everywhere, no matter your creed or race.

The thing about prostitution is that it sells the one thing that all living things are programmed to want to do. Sex.

While some rings are illegal, legal prostitution is also commonplace (the Netherlands being one example), and street walkers can be found all around the world. Some do it for quick money, easy money, desperate money, etc... ...

So yeah...

[dahoosafeth]

Still doesn't answer my question. Japan and China are hardly underdeveloped. Moreover, compare it to say South Asia, where prostitution is relevant but much more looked down upon. Also, if poverty leads to prostitution, shouldn't the same go for drugs and other illegal activities? But its not; there's plenty of prostitution in China or Japan for example, but getting caught or doing drugs is a whole other story. why is that?

Maybe I should rephrase the question, I'm not asking why prostitution is relevant. I'm asking why prostitution is relevant where other forms of illegal activities, mainly illicit substances, are not. I know for example in Indonesia, getting amphetamines is supposed to be the easiest thing, but what about China? Japan? Why does the contrast exist?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by dahoosafeth

Still doesn't answer my question. Japan and China are hardly underdeveloped. Moreover, compare it to say South Asia, where prostitution is relevant but much more looked down upon. Also, if poverty leads to prostitution, shouldn't the same go for drugs and other illegal activities? But its not; there's plenty of prostitution in China or Japan for example, but getting caught or doing drugs is a whole other story. why is that?

Maybe I should rephrase the question, I'm not asking why prostitution is relevant. I'm asking why prostitution is relevant where other forms of illegal activities, mainly illicit substances, are not. I know for example in Indonesia, getting amphetamines is supposed to be the easiest thing, but what about China? Japan? Why does the contrast exist?

Tourism? I don't know about that, but I do know that adventurous people not only enjoy visiting new places on Earth, but also on bodies of different nationalities, literally.

Originally Posted by Skane

Prostitution exists everywhere, no matter your creed or race.

The thing about prostitution is that it sells the one thing that all living things are programmed to want to do. Sex.

While some rings are illegal, legal prostitution is also commonplace (the Netherlands being one example), and street walkers can be found all around the world. Some do it for quick money, easy money, desperate money, etc... ...

So yeah...

One thing though - I was wondering if prostitution is actually legal here in Singapore. I can find a few legal articles prohibiting "sale of sex", however, they still exist out there under a few channels.

Is it supposed to be an open secret of sex trade or is it really legal?

[FateAnomaly]

Prostitution is legal but most things related to it like soliciting, pimping and brothels are not.

[Skane]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

One thing though - I was wondering if prostitution is actually legal here in Singapore. I can find a few legal articles prohibiting "sale of sex", however, they still exist out there under a few channels.

Is it supposed to be an open secret of sex trade or is it really legal?

Refer to the sources.

Cheers.

[dragon4dudes]

Originally Posted by dahoosafeth

Still doesn't answer my question. Japan and China are hardly underdeveloped. Moreover, compare it to say South Asia, where prostitution is relevant but much more looked down upon. Also, if poverty leads to prostitution, shouldn't the same go for drugs and other illegal activities? But its not; there's plenty of prostitution in China or Japan for example, but getting caught or doing drugs is a whole other story. why is that?

Maybe I should rephrase the question, I'm not asking why prostitution is relevant. I'm asking why prostitution is relevant where other forms of illegal activities, mainly illicit substances, are not. I know for example in Indonesia, getting amphetamines is supposed to be the easiest thing, but what about China? Japan? Why does the contrast exist?

I can't really explain Japan, but I do know that China is huge, and I mean really huge. 2 billion people, second largest country or something. Also, most of the industrialization we see in China is on the coast, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, etc. The further west we look at China's industrialization progress, the more rural countryside we see. There are a few small cities (roughly a million people :P) but they pale in comparison to the eastern cities.

As a result, we see a lot of poverty in China as a whole. There are many prostitutes from rural China. They may be shipped to various parts of China. Also, remember, China is still relatively poor. Sure they maybe be one of the top economies in the world, but the workers there, even middle income, are paid abysmal salaries by US standards. which is also part of the reason that everything is being outsourced to China or India.

[Kudryavka]

I just watched House, the episode with the bratty jerk kid who beat some other kid when he won a chess match. Why do chess players always bang on the timer every time they make a move? I thought it would be to see how fast they can think what to do on their turn, but they don't even look at the clock when they bang it, they just keep at the game.

[thevil1]

Originally Posted by Komari

I just watched House, the episode with the bratty jerk kid who beat some other kid when he won a chess match. Why do chess players always bang on the timer every time they make a move? I thought it would be to see how fast they can think what to do on their turn, but they don't even look at the clock when they bang it, they just keep at the game.

It's how long it takes to make each move. It's a counter. It marks each time you hit it, and then starts for the other guy. If you look at chess logs for a match you'll see it says how long each move took. That starts from when you opponent ends his/her turn by hitting it, and until you hit it back the time will keep going for you.
Understand?