Slashdot Mirror

I haven't trusted blackberry since 2012. They already sold out back then.

Blackberry sold out to governments giving them access back in 2012

Slashdot: Only 36 Percent of Indian Engineers Can Write Compilable Code Says Study

India Graduates Millions, but Too Few Are Fit to Hire

Only 7 per cent engineering graduates employable: What's wrong with India's engineers?

BTW, what does this have to do with the price of Apple's stock?

I'm guessing the grandparent was intended as a reply to my first link here, since on slashdot's front page it's right below this story on Apple right now.

I thought you were on to something, but you revealed yourself when you started to blame feminists for mob violence and male suicides.

It's true that India has a rate of reported rapes in the two per hundred thousand range. But, given how your post drips with hypocritical spin, I wasn't surprised to find out these mitigating facts:

(1) Marital rape is not a crime in india, but 2/3rds of married women surveyed reported at least one instance of marital rape.
(2) Buy one measure, 90% of rapes in India go unreported.

So then I realized you are just another butthurt man who spins everything he can to justify his own bigotry and has learned to mimic the language of the disempowered to do it. Congrats on that +5 mod, I'm sure you and all your social injustice warrior buddies are feeling pretty good about 'winning' that battle.

Yeah, because the "regulated" taxi industry *never* has these problems. Oh, wait.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/ci...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/s...

Note the last one there is a gang rape.

The problem, as always, is that people like you think that "regulation" of the taxi industry has anything to do with the stuff that the regulators claim it's about. Look up "regulatory capture" when you have a spare hour or so. I'll warn you - your world view is about to get a dramatic overhaul.

France electricity prices do not reflect the actual cost. This is not a free market situation.

Most electrical systems are not "free market" systems, as rates are heavily regulated by rate commissions and production is tightly controlled by government planning and approval. In any case, can you demonstrate that France's electricity price is not real? I'm pretty sure rate payers there don't see more than the billed amount get debited each month from their accounts. From a taxation perspective France is also lower than Denmark, so what's your point again?

My point is that France's electricity is cheap because the government pays so it cannot be used as argument why nuclear is cheap did. The general lexel of taxation has nothing to do with this.

Even for existing technology nuclear is not really competive, actual 3rd generation projects see immensive cost explosion

There's a couple of reasons for this:

1. We haven't been building them, so building few units at a time is expensive.

True. But see below..

Curiously though constructing over 50 units over 15 years didn't bankrupt France in the 1970s and 1980s.

Yes. it did not bankrupt France but is was very expensive. The true cost was not know for a long time but had to be estimated in public studies (e.g. Grubler A, The costs of the French nuclear scale-up: A case of negative learning by doing, Energy Policy 2012, 38: 5174-5188, let me quote from the abstract: "Its most significant finding is that even this most successful nuclear scale-up was characterized by a substantial escalation of real-term construction costs."). Only recently (2011) there was an audit by France's Court of Audit with the result hat is was much more expensive that previously thought.

thorium is currently just vapourware

Complete and utter vaporware, just like the other vaporware that was actually ready for deployment in 1994, but was killed by political action (although the concept having survived in Russia).

"The design is ready." As I said: currently just vapourware. You need to build a complete fuel cycle. This means building up a complete industry, developing technology, procedures, etc.. India is trying to do this.

As for LFTR, you are right, there are currently no ready and licensed designs, but that doesn't mean that we can't pursue them. The physics is clear, as is most of the chemistry.

Neither physics nor chemistry is the problem. An LFTR is an *engineering* nightmare.

If we'd spent a small fraction of the money sunk into renewables into these nuclear projects we could have had a design ready to roll a decade ago (we had the IFR, as I said before, but that was killed for political reasons).

Nonsens. We have already spent much more money for nuclear than for renewables and the technology is still so expensive that nobody seriously invests into it without massive amount government subsidies. And newer designs are *more* expensive while renewables are already competitive and getting cheaper every year. Economically, investing in nuclear is a poor decision.

France electricity prices do not reflect the actual cost. This is not a free market situation.

Most electrical systems are not "free market" systems, as rates are heavily regulated by rate commissions and production is tightly controlled by government planning and approval. In any case, can you demonstrate that France's electricity price is not real? I'm pretty sure rate payers there don't see more than the billed amount get debited each month from their accounts. From a taxation perspective France is also lower than Denmark, so what's your point again?

Even for existing technology nuclear is not really competive, actual 3rd generation projects see immensive cost explosion

There's a couple of reasons for this:

1. We haven't been building them, so building few units at a time is expensive. Curiously though constructing over 50 units over 15 years didn't bankrupt France in the 1970s and 1980s.
2. China is actually building them on time and on budget thanks to volume purchasing, high levels of standardization and coordination.
3. Environmentalists' pushback is creating a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy in that they delay construction projects, these then escalate in cost and the same environmental groups subsequently complain about delays and budget overruns.

So it can and has been done, all it takes is determination and united will.

thorium is currently just vapourware

Complete and utter vaporware, just like the other vaporware that was actually ready for deployment in 1994, but was killed by political action (although the concept having survived in Russia). As for LFTR, you are right, there are currently no ready and licensed designs, but that doesn't mean that we can't pursue them. The physics is clear, as is most of the chemistry. What needs to be really worked out are the operating principles and doing all of the detailed work to actually get a permitted design off the ground. If we'd spent a small fraction of the money sunk into renewables into these nuclear projects we could have had a design ready to roll a decade ago (we had the IFR, as I said before, but that was killed for political reasons).

Internet is yet to obliterate Asian - especially Indian -magazines.
Caravan - http://www.caravanmagazine.in/
Open - http://www.openthemagazine.com...
The above two are new ventures, here are some older ones...
India Today - http://indiatoday.intoday.in/
Frontline - http://www.frontline.in/
And no one has mentioned New Yorker - probably the best over the years.

The United States prevented Russia...

I am very skeptical of that and of the links you have posted.

Since when does Russia give a shit what the US tells them to do?

This link will clarify your doubt. This is a very respectable Indian magazines (India Today) 1993 article: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-blocks-critical-cryogenic-deal-forces-india-to-indigenise/1/302683.html Quote from article:

Russia caved in only because President Boris Yeltsin is desperate for Western aid to bail out his nation from the economic mess it is in. And the US had also threatened that it would stop all future space contracts with Russia including joint launches. So Yeltsin, who had pledged to uphold the deal when he visited India in January, instructed his negotiators to yield. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-blocks-critical-cryogenic-deal-forces-india-to-indigenise/1/302683.html

The United States prevented Russia...

I am very skeptical of that and of the links you have posted.

Since when does Russia give a shit what the US tells them to do?

This link will clarify your doubt. This is a very respectable Indian magazines (India Today) 1993 article: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-blocks-critical-cryogenic-deal-forces-india-to-indigenise/1/302683.html Quote from article:

Russia caved in only because President Boris Yeltsin is desperate for Western aid to bail out his nation from the economic mess it is in. And the US had also threatened that it would stop all future space contracts with Russia including joint launches. So Yeltsin, who had pledged to uphold the deal when he visited India in January, instructed his negotiators to yield. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-blocks-critical-cryogenic-deal-forces-india-to-indigenise/1/302683.html

It has a capacitive display.

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/review-datawind-ubislate-7ci/1/190518.html

Do you know how many illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are in India and where?
 

Your indignant vitroil and personal attacks aside, cannot answer where, but majority of them are located in slums in Delhi and Mumbai and other various major cities, and quite a few all over India. How many? As per census difference extrapolation and media reports the number is anywhere between 2 million to 20 million...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_in_India#Bangladeshi_immigrants

Do you think even if all of them were given citizenship and free beer, they will even make 0.05% dent to the number of voters in an Indian constituency?

If congress moves these across to certain key constituencies to rig the election there, hell yes. You could pretty much block the opposition key candidates from even clearing the election. Like I said muslims vote en masse, unlike hindus.

I am not commenting on the feasibility of this strategy. But this IS what congress is attempting. Here are the various media reports btw..

http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/illegal-bangladeshis--pan-out-in-india-to-cement-their-aadhar.html

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-12-14/news/35820254_1_aadhar-cards-bangladeshi-intruders-bjp-leader

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/15-illegal-Bangladeshi-migrants-held-one-with-Aadhaar-card/Article1-988057.aspx

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aadhaar-cards-supreme-court-uidai-illegal-immigrants-anil-divan/1/311349.html

All of above are very respected and established news medias in India. Not sure if they are flaming racist xenophobic.

Now, you were saying?...

India is fourth most dangerous place in the world for women
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html

India is an uncivilized nation for your girl child.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html
1. Every 22 minutes a rape.
2. The conviction rate is below 25%.
3. Police refuse to register victim's complaint.
4. Insane politicians are saying gang-rape is consensual sex.
5. Rapist family members visit victim's house to show off their caste=hegemony.
http://ncrb.gov.in/CD-CII2011/cii-2011/Chapters.htm
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main54.asp?filename=Ne061012Dalit.asp
http://www.firstpost.com/india/a-rape-every-22-mins-what-makes-us-so-complacent-489080.html

And India is 4th most dangerous place in the world for women.
It is only a little better than war-ravaged Afghanistan and Congo.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html

Fair enough - and I certainly support your skeptical point of view. One would be remiss to NOT fact check.

That said, I consider my point of view on Monsanto to be informed. You may or may not choose to agree - but there are certain points which are troubling for me.

To answer your quotes, I've tried to use neutral news - but I admit that some of these sources are biased.

That's amazing to me. BP fucks the ocean, and Haliburton makes money disappear for a war, and the guys who sell this [nature.com] are the evil ones.

Corporate evil is nothing new - my first exposure was the Bhopal disaster.
Concerning BT Cotton - well - that rosy success is turning out to be a washout. The Maharashta government has had to bailout the cotton industry, and studies are showing that BT Cotton is depleting the soil of minerals (Roundup chelates minerals, making them metabolically unavailable for some period of time).
http://digitaljournal.com/article/321958

Ah, that explains why they are selling the insecticide reducing Bt crops in the above link.

In fact Monsanto said themselves that BT cotton has failed in India for bollworm protection.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Bt+cotton+has+failed+admits+Monsanto/1/86939.html

And also the usage of pesticide in Indian BT cotton has returned to normal levels after the initial lowering.
http://indiagminfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Bt-Cotton-False-Hype-and-Failed-Promises-Final.pdf
(see section CONSUMPTION OF PESTICIDES IN VARIOUS STATES DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS 2005-06 to 2009-10 )
http://ppqs.gov.in/IpmPesticides.htm

How so? Let me guess, 'superweeds' and 'superpests'? Please, resistance breakdown and herbicide resistance are nothing new, are more cultivation issues than crop issues (particularly the resistant pests) and worst case scenario is you lose the benefits already provided.

Yes - those are problems, but problems that are solvable with traditional cultivation. My main concern with Roundup is the reduction in essential and rare minerals in foodcrop, thus requiring remediation and supplements. I'm concerned that there may be long-term effects in human and animal health.
http://www.agweb.com/assets/import/files/58P20-22.pdf

I also think that the most important research performed by Princeton's Dr. Huber deserves scientific evaluation. He is a true expert and has made some striking claims on the danger of Roundup-ready crops. Perhaps this is somewhat biased, but his resume is certainly impeccable.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1161030109000628
And an overview of Dr. Huber's presentation
http://www.greenpasture.org/fermented-cod-liver-oil-butter-oil-vitamin-d-vitamin-a/dr-huber-and-the-impact-of-glyphosate-in-the-food-chain/
And Monsanto's rebuttal:
http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/huber-pathogen-roundup-ready-crops.aspx

That must be why farmers willingly buy them, why farmers in developing countries wait in lines to get their bag of GE seed.

There are plenty of good GE seeds!! I think there are specific problems with some glyphosate-ready crops and neonicotinoid-treated seeds (which are being linked to CCD in bees). That said

India is working on a space program and planning moon exploration, they have a nuclear weapons program. They send foreign aid to Africa. If you consider the state of their infrastructure and levels of poverty throughout the country - go figure. Welcome to government spending - its not just for the US anymore.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106876605
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-announces-five-billion-dollars-aid-for-africa/1/139212.html
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/nuke/

Got any sources? Because I've got one that says it ain't so, and that's for damn sure.

What an unfortunate name... from the article you linked: "But the Sheila Dikshit government refuted the party's claim."

Its pronounced Dixit or Dixhit (probably closest English pronunciation),. If that were my surname I would spell it that way too, ISO 15919 notwithstanding.

Got any sources? Because I've got one that says it ain't so, and that's for damn sure.

What an unfortunate name... from the article you linked: "But the Sheila Dikshit government refuted the party's claim."

they have much better spending oversight

HAH. oh lordee, the Indian government has better spending oversight than the US? HAH. ...

Wait, I'm sorry, you're serious? The rest of your post makes sense, but that line there just asks to be called out. Got any sources? Because I've got one that says it ain't so, and that's for damn sure.

1. Make resource allocation more efficient. For example, there is a concept of basic items like rice, wheat etc... being sold subsidized to poor people. That mechanism is very inefficient and red tape laden presently.The ID is supposed to streamline it .

"The recurring problem with the PDS is not that above poverty line families creep into the system but that many worthy BPL families are out of the ambit of the scheme. A 2005 Planning Commission study found that about 58 per cent of subsidised foodgrain does not reach BPL families. The UID in no way guarantees benefits and the new law doesn't prevent various service providers from seeking other background documents even if an applicant has a valid UID number." from India Today article titled "Identity Crisis"

2. Currently there is no concept credit history in India other than a credit card. There is no way a dealer would sell you a TV on credit unless you bring somebody known the dealer along with you.

Imagine US without SSN. That is what it is now in India. very inefficient.

I see that as a feature of Indian economy. As opposed to credit driven US economy, savings are encouraged and is the normal way in India. Though, I agree people here also started living on credits, but I don't think that is something to be encouraged.

Sorry, when I used "hybrid" I meant plants that had been selectively bred for specific traits, not "hybrid" in the true meaning as you cite. I will try to be more careful in the future.

Your Google-fu must be weak, a quick search of "monsanto suing farmers" found the following;
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Monsanto/farmerssued.cfm
http://nelsonfarm.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_Canada_Inc._v._Schmeiser
plus many more so its not an "urban myth" as you currently think.

Though I think the one you cite as being intentional is the Schmieser case. The court found in favor of Monsanto and upheld Monsanto's claim that Schmieser knew the canola he planted contained Monsanto's IP. Remember that just because the court says something it does not always mean that is what happened. And lets face it, Monsanto would not sue someone claiming it was accidental contamination.

As to the worrying about GMO crops your right, there are things to worry about, like this, this and this. Lots more where those came from.

The fact that there is any kind of major dispute over the safety of GMO supports my point that the GM tech belongs in the lab until it is better understood so we don't get things like this happening.

Enough citations for you?

It doesn't appear as though India is pulling out of the IPCC at all. They are just sending a representative (or "minder" depending on how you look at it).

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/82542/India/India's+IPCC+'tracker'+soon.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-expresses-confidence-in-IPCCs-work-lauds-Pachauris-leadership/articleshow/5540596.cms