Why Robot Trucks Could Be Headed To Afghanistan (And Everywhere Else) 135
malachiorion writes "I'm surprised I haven't seen more coverage of Lockheed Martin's autonomous truck convoy demonstration — they sent a group of robotified vehicles through urban and rural environments at Fort Hood, without teleoperation or human intervention. It's an interesting milestone, and sort of a tragic one, since troops could have used robotic vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan. What's fascinating, though, is that Lockheed is hoping to get into Afghanistan just before the U.S. withdraws, to help ferry gear. Plus, they have their sights set on what would be the defense contractor's first real commercial product—kits that turn tractor trailers into autonomous vehicles. Here's my post for Popular Science."
Racial overtones to "MOVIN' ON UP"? (Score:0, Interesting)
My understanding is that the phrase "MOVIN' ON UP" comes from the theme song of a 1970s and 1980s American TV show called The Jeffersons. It is also my understanding that the show revolves around an African-American couple and the trials and tribulations they must deal with in their daily lives.
Given its ties to the African-American culture and experience, I find it a very odd phrase to be used here. While there are African-Americans here, no doubt, it is my understanding that the Slashdot demographic is generally that of the middle-aged white male.
The contrast between the phrase's origin and how it's being used here gives me the impression, perhaps wrongly, that we're being mocked by it.
It's inherently contradictory, at its most elemental level. The Slashdot beta is obviously inferior to the existing site. Some may even go so far as to say that the beta site is a steaming pile of horse shit. So being forced to use it clearly is not comparable to "moving on up" in society.
At a deeper level, the use of that phrase gives me the impression, again perhaps wrongly, that we users of Slashdot are considered an "underclass" here, much as African-Americans have been historically treated as such in the United States. It's as if we're being told that we are individuals with no free will; we are forced into doing the bidding of others. In this case, we are forced against our will to use the rancid Slashdot beta site.
I think it's a very poor choice of words, personally. While I don't care much for political correctness, I also do not care much for the unnecessary use of phrases that may be misinterpreted so easily. I care even less for wording that may very well be mocking me and my fellow Slashdot users, especially when there's the possibility that there's a racial element to it.
Re:Why is there no slashdot beta poll on slashdot? (Score:5, Interesting)