NASA Backs Quantum Computing Claim

narramissic writes "Canadian startup D-Wave's demonstration via Web link of a prototype quantum computer in mid-February was met with skepticism in the academic community, but NASA has confirmed that it did, in fact, build a special chip used in the disputed demonstration. According to an article on ITworld, D-Wave designed the quantum chip and then contracted with NASA to build it."

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Re:Privateered NASA

[Doc Ruby]

Denmark has had its military budget mostly paid by the US, ie. me since the 1940s. It's your choice if you want to minimally subsidize the huge subsidy. By "your" I mean you, because Denmark has a democratic government. Its accountability to citizens works both ways: the Danish people are accountable for the government you elect. If you voted against it, or otherwise opposed it or this policy, you might have an exculpating excuse. But you didn't, so you don't. To make matters worse, that missile defense system you're collaborating with is part of a giant system, Star Wars, to defraud Americans of $TRILLIONS more in insecurity extortion, and generations of counterproductive fearmongering to grease its wheels. I expect that the US system will add tremendous value to Denmark's infrastructure, even if it's only value lies in extracting more money for boondoggle, distracting military contracts. Your preference for that system is your problem, except to the extent to which your problems further entrench mine. But you're way out of line expecting me to have the same accommodating attitude that you have.

Meanwhile, Canada is another recipient of huge American military budget subsidy. This NASA work further subsidizes Canada, and no doubt its military (and intel) industries. Which compete with US businesses whose success is much more in my interest. But subsidized by my taxes. Which I oppose. As I've opposed the NASA administrator, Griffin, who oversees it. As I opposed the Bush Republican government urgently and often, every chance I've had.

And which I directly oppose in this simple case of paying for foreign corporations to compete with my domestic ones. Which is a simple self-interest that can be argued with only from the standpoint of someone with their hand out. Like so many foreigners who arrogantly ignore the huge subsidies I'm already paying for our mutual interests, have been for our lifetimes.

You've got some kind of European compulsion to call me, as an American, "arrogant". You're the one who's arrogant. You have such a sense of entitlement to US subsidy that you deny my right to complain about it. And so arrogant that you are insisting over and again that I have called my government deluded into entitlement, when I am calling you that. Because you are, as you have so consistently demonstrated in this thread.

I've been paying your bills your entire life. That doesn't mean every foreigner who bribes a (probably Republican) Congressmember is also so entitled. It does mean you should stop insulting me when I act like a democrat, and instead deserve a "thank you". Doubt I'll see it. You're welcome, anyway. But not to grab more, or insist that some other foreigners have that privilege without my opposition. Leveraging a half-century of mostly mutual interest into expectations of further subsidy well beyond mutual interest, or even mutuality, is the kind of arrogance that is so common among non-Americans that it even legitimizes some of the excessive American attitude to ignore foreigners entirely. Since I have lived in Canada for years, and traveled extensively in Europe (and well beyond), I can tell the difference. You evidently cannot.