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User: imasu

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  1. Re:Are they worth it? on Are Code Reviews Worth It? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The first case is canonical and often pointed to, but I find it problematic in many cases. Mentoring is always a good goal but I think that for real development work, if there is a large disparity between the skillsets it can lead to the more experienced engineer becoming frustrated and essentially feeling less productive (as the mentoree is not contributing much in the way of actual implementation). Similarly, it can be like drinking from a fire hose or the less experienced person. So while it is an effective technique in some cases, it is (in my experience) quite domain and problem specific, and if the gap in skills is too large, it simply does not work well. The second example you give is where it really can stand out though, in the spirit of the first example as well; bringing a second experienced dev up to speed in the first dev's domain.

  2. XKCD ftw on Ancient Fossil Offers Clues To Primate Evolution · · Score: 1
  3. Re:Well, on iPhone App Causes Google To Shut Down SMS Service · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How is this abuse, exactly?

  4. Re:Russia Saves US Manned Spaceflight? on Russia Aims Towards Mars · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why not let (extraorbital) US Manned Spaceflight die for now?

    Before you reply, consider for a moment the relative gains we have gotten from things like Hubble, Cassini, the mars rovers, Japan's Hinode solar satellite, etc, to what we have achieved with the ISS and the projected goals of Orion, versus the costs of the programs.

    I have a strong knee-jerk reaction against letting manned spaceflight die too; dammit, I *want* people to walk on Mars. But the fact is, we are learning a hell of a lot from unmanned missions at a tiny fraction of the cost.

    We can resurrect the idea of extraorbital manned missions at any time; would it make sense to shelve them for now though?

    Also, I wouldn't frame the argument for manned spaceflight as "will of the people" if I were you; what you and I want in this respect is likely quite different than the (general) "will of the people".

  5. Re:Russia Saves US Manned Spaceflight? on Russia Aims Towards Mars · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually the budget deficits were not manageable; they were simply pushed back.

    This is not a partisan issue at all; increases in the national debt are public record and there for anyone to see, be it on wikipedia or .gov websites.

    The Reagan administration borrowed more money than all the presidents before him, combined. Basically, it was the same idea as living "well" by maxing out credit cards and getting new ones when you fill up the old ones. Fun while it lasts, but someone has to pay for it eventually.

    So, we get to where we are today, with the interest on the national debt being more than 20 times NASA's annual budget. Granted, a lot of that came from both presidents Bush too, especially the latter. GHWB kind of inherited a problem there from Reagan.

    Anyway, remember that when you look back to the Reagan years as some kind of boon for the space industry. Short term, definitely; long term, not so much.

  6. Re:Moving ISS not a crazy idea at all on Russia Aims Towards Mars · · Score: 1

    Might not be so bad. The thrust required to get it into a transfer orbit might not be so large, and it is not too difficult to think of ways to mitigate the modular asymmetry. For example, put the thruster on one side of the station CG, and on the other side, build out a boom that then supports all the individual modules via guy wires or cables. Not trivial, but probably easier than building a second station in the location you would want to move the ISS to.

  7. Re:Moving ISS not a crazy idea at all on Russia Aims Towards Mars · · Score: 1

    I was just about to post this. Putting the ISS into a transfer orbit to move it to the moon has been discussed before and actually seems like an excellent idea to explore if we are planning for prolonged lunar missions in the future.

  8. Re:Clock can run in reverse. on National Debt Clock Overflowed, Extended By a Digit · · Score: 1

    MOD PARENT UP

  9. Re:Clock can run in reverse. on National Debt Clock Overflowed, Extended By a Digit · · Score: 1

    Don't forget Phil Gramm has a Ph.D in econ too, and according to him, we should all just stop whining. Forgive me for not being unduly impressed by advanced degrees in economics these days.

  10. Re:How it is on Fire Your IT Boss · · Score: 0
    As usual, Cringely is right.

    You realize everyone stopped reading your post at that line, right? Which is too bad, because other than this one colossal epic fail of a statement, the rest is pretty good.

  11. Guaranteed success on Any Suggestions For a Meaningful Geeky Wedding Band? · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just pop the question with no ring and tell her it's because you want everything to be perfect and want to go pick it out together with her. Then let her have 100% say.

    Get used to this algorithm, you'll be applying it to all sorts of problems in the future. It even handles otherwise NP-complete issues with ease.

    Trust me on this.

  12. Re:Cultrual Blah Blah on Google's Streetview Seen As Culturally Insensitive In Japan · · Score: 4, Interesting
    You're making the author's point for him, although you don't get it yourself. Read these sentences you just wrote a few times:

    My neighbors leave their windows open during the summer and one can see and hear what's going on if you simple look and listen. Public baths and hot spring baths are everywhere.

    That's part of the *culture*. And while there is certainly plenty to see if you pry, the cultural etiquette is to not overtly look in on your neighbors and certainly not to photograph people in their private lives. This is indeed a cultural difference, whether you like it or not. The analogy would be you suddenly photograph and blog your neighbors and the local onsen. Try that for a while and get back to us on how well it works out for you.

  13. Re:I LOVE Google Streetview! on Google's Streetview Seen As Culturally Insensitive In Japan · · Score: 1

    You've never been to Japan, have you?

  14. Re:_second_? on Second Mac Clone Maker Set To Sell, With a Twist · · Score: 1

    This indicates a gross profit (pre-tax, etc) of approximately $52M for the preceeding nine months. Now, those numbers are obviously cooked a bit; net profits after everything is deducted appear to be around $8M (3.1%) for the same period, call it $12M/year, roughly. That's after paying salaries, bonuses, etc.

  15. Re:_second_? on Second Mac Clone Maker Set To Sell, With a Twist · · Score: 1

    Actually, Apple rescinded their license to produce mac clones and bought and liquidated them, a company with $400M/year revenue, for $100M in stock.

  16. _second_? on Second Mac Clone Maker Set To Sell, With a Twist · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is not the second Mac clone maker, it's the third. How soon everyone forgets Power Computing, and what Apple did to them.

  17. We have the technology... on Spore Editor Available June 17th · · Score: 2, Funny

    This editor will allow is to finally reanimate Duke Nukem to kick some mutant ass, in... Duke Nukem SPOREVER!

  18. Eat me! on PETA Offers X-Prize for Artificial Meat · · Score: 1
    The question I always had about this- if they can take one sample from one animal and clone it in a vat and feed this world, will the vegans be ok with that?

    Oh hells yeah! Take a sample from my arm! Oh the endless potential!

    "Would you like to eat me? Your friend ate me last night!"

    "So. That sausage. You like it? Want some more? I've got some RIGHT HERE."

    They WRITE THEMSELVES.

  19. Re:Future projects on DARPA Chief Outlines Array of Future Projects · · Score: 1

    I defy you to name a "race" that is not as class oriented and xenophobic as another group.
    I don't know, but if we find them, I bet they will be pushovers!
  20. Re:Future projects on DARPA Chief Outlines Array of Future Projects · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Interesting that that was just modded "troll". I'm curious who exactly I was supposed to be trolling with it.

  21. Re:One of eight on DARPA Chief Outlines Array of Future Projects · · Score: 1, Troll

    Develop core technologies that maintain U.S. military superiority.

    "We call this one, 'ImpeacherBot'. Its mission is to save what army we still have."

  22. Re:Future projects on DARPA Chief Outlines Array of Future Projects · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    To be fair, it should be noted that the programs will be effective against foreign OR domestic brown people.

  23. Re:Xbox Live changes affect Sony? on WiiWare Week Round Up · · Score: 5, Informative

    I agree with your question, though one has to be careful before attacking the 360 in the console space right now. Look at the top ten games on Gamespot right now and then criticize Microsoft's 360 strategies. As of today, it's 4 360, 3 PC, one Wii, and two PSP games.

    Console game sales charts are even more 360-biased. It's utterly dominating game sales, which is of course where the real money is. And even the crappy XBL games get like 100k downloads.

    Microsoft, in spite of themselves, are doing pretty damn well with their 360 strategy.

  24. It could be worse... on United Tech Bids $2.6B for Diebold · · Score: 1

    Diebold could be buying Diebold.

  25. In other news... on Tellme Founder Tells Yahoo Not to Worry Over Microsoft Takeover · · Score: 5, Funny

    Locutis of Borg tells Riker that "it's not so bad in here!"