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User: Anachragnome

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Comments · 1,458

  1. Ahem.......You sure about that? on Any Suggestions For a Meaningful Geeky Wedding Band? · · Score: 1

    Do you really want to put something that signifies the almost complete destruction of life on our planet on your wifes finger?

    The fear of sudden superpowers would put me off quite well, thank you.

    You can do what I did. My wedding band is a tattoo. I think it stated my feelings, as well as my commitment, more then I could have with words. As much to myself as my wife.

    And you don't have to take it off to make bread, work on the car, etc.

  2. Re:Full Refund is self righteous B.S. on The Gamer's Bill of Rights · · Score: 1

    Funny you say that.

    I had the exact same experience with two of the Rainbow 6 franchise games. Yeah. I was stupid enough to go back a second time, but that was the experience that led me to investigate, and further my knowledge of, the entire gaming industry. Odd side effect, but it actually improved my gaming experience in the long-term.

  3. Can I expect the obvious? on The Gamer's Bill of Rights · · Score: 1

    Can I expect that their next release will live up to each and every one of these rights?

    If so, I am already interested.

    If not, then I have to assume this is all bravado in order to paint their company in a "Holier then thou" image.

    As the man said, "Put your money where your mouth is".

  4. Re:Wrong. on Lenovo Requires NDA For Windows License Refund · · Score: 1

    I think your missing my point entirely.

    "The Constitution is about governmental powers."

    I disagree. It is about the LIMITATIONS of governmental powers, and the extent to which they apply to the RIGHTS of citizens, granted by the same document.

    "Citing the Constitution in reference to agreements between private parties is like citing the rules of baseball in a hockey game."

    Again, I disagree. In no court has it been found legal for someone to require you to relinquish your constitutional rights, for any reason, other then being convicted of a felony, or becoming a member of the armed services(I find that highly ironic, that the people sworn to protect the Constitution, and everything it stands for, must sign away those very principles.).

    That being said, you'll be pulling my copy of the Constitution of the United States from my cold, dead fingers before I willingly relinquish any of the rights granted to me by it. And I feel that a NDA is doing exactly that, asking me to sign away my constitutionally granted freedom of speech.

  5. Re:Quote from the Future on McCain Picks Gov. Palin As Running Mate · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As a former 10 year resident of Fairbanks, Alaska, I can say, without exception, that I do not trust a SINGLE Alaskan politician.

    Even the ones I DID trust, to some extent, have either been charged with some form of corruption or have been found guilty of it.

    Most of the people that I know that still live up there pretty much feel the same way. Nepotism, corruption, and insider-backroom deals seem to be the norm up there.

    Granted, I do not know much about this Palin person(aside from the fact that I loved the opening scene......"It's!"), but I am very leery when someone mentions Alaska and politician in the same sentence.

  6. Re:What is wrong with Forumla One? on Rocket Racing League Flights With Armadillo Engine · · Score: 1

    I've seen Formula One races that appeared to do exactly that.

    Laguna Seco is a good example. Bottom of the Corkscrew you often find half the pack facing the other direction.

  7. Re:All I can say......... on Chronicling the Failures of DRM · · Score: 1

    MIAA = Conjunction of MPAA(Motion Picture Association of America) and RIAA(Recording Industry Association of America), or, as I put it, Missing In Action Artists.

  8. All I can say......... on Chronicling the Failures of DRM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ....is, it's about time.

    The companies that are using DRM are finding concrete, solid evidence that people will pay if they STOP using DRM. The stereotypes of users that they felt were accurate, and reinforced by entities such as the MIAA and such, are, in fact, inaccurate, and now they can start taking that realization to the bank.

    Common sense begins to prevail. Imagine that.

  9. What is wrong with Forumla One? on Rocket Racing League Flights With Armadillo Engine · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Already cars are at the outer most limits of traction and control.

    Is this simply a bid for more spectacularly "entertaining" wrecks?

    Air races do not seem to be subject to the same rate of catastrophic wrecks as Formula One racing (or NASCAR for that matter), but ROCKETS? It seems to me that the margin of error is lowly being minimized to the points that wrecks are almost a certainty.

    But, then again, who would go watch NASCAR if there wasn't wrecks? Even as a race fan, I find NASCAR as interesting as the commercials shown while watching it.

  10. Re:Make product on MIT Secretly Built Mega-Efficient Nano Batteries · · Score: 2, Funny

    Apparently you have never observed legos under an electron microscope.

    They are MADE of nano-legos.

  11. Whats the difference? on Bloatware Removal Threatens PC Industry Profits · · Score: 1

    When I purchase a new machine, the first thing I do is spend a couple hours scouring it, removing all this crap anyways.

    What few things I don't remove, I try out, then end up removing anyways because they end up being demos or need to be paid for to unlock full utility.

    As far as I am concerned, it is just another advertising channel and I do my best to snuff those out anyways.

    Maybe the companies that spend "Hundreds of millions" would be better advised to spend that money perfecting their products and let the quality speak for itself.

  12. An explanation for other issues. on 88% of IT Admins Would Steal Passwords If Laid Off · · Score: 1

    Maybe this is an explanation for all the HUGE leaks of customer information from large Corporations.

    Simply a way of "getting back at the man" for being laid off. Steal the data, then release it to the web, or specifically, to people that would put the info to nefarious use.

    Another good reason to make it these companies financially responsible for damages incurred by the loss of such private data. Put the onus of security firmly in their hands, and maybe, just maybe, the losses will begin to decrease.

    I remember a story from back in Santa Cruz many years ago about a Taco Bell restaurant that fired an employee, then made him finish his shift. He went in the back of the store, SHIT in the huge pot of simmering refrieds, finished his shift then left. The result was dozens of seriously ill customers (due to some intestinal parasite the guy had). Taco Bell got the pants sued off of them. I am sure they do not make employees finish their shifts after firing them now.

  13. Re:Whizbang for lighting & textures, not 3D-ne on Capturing 3D Surfaces Simply With a Flash Camera · · Score: 1

    Not sure what you mean by that.

    Another story that came to mind Was "The Sun Dog" by Stephen King.

  14. Re:Well, am I grandfathered? on Comcast To Cap Data Transfers At 250 GB In October · · Score: 1

    I probably will.

    Already, I no longer use the cable television signals that comes with the service. Comcast packs even the local channels with their own commercials to the extent that for every minute of content, I have to sit through a minute of advertising, on top of the stupid ads the networks now overlay the content. It is pretty much a steady stream of advertising.

    I have already pretty much assumed that services, be they cable TV or Internet, or a Veterinarian have become "Use it 'til they screw you" services. I'll use credit cards as an example. They draw you in with introductory rates, ease you into a slightly higher rate, then eventually jack your ass with the highest rate they can get away with legally. At that point, I jump ship, usually with another competitors introductory rate.

    SOMEONE will jump in to take advantage of the situation, offering a service to pick up all the customers that Comcast loses over this. I will probably be one of them.

    Customer loyalty has become a thing of the past. And it is ENTIRELY the fault of the company, not the customer.

  15. Re:Wrong. on Lenovo Requires NDA For Windows License Refund · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A moron? For thinking that my constitutionally granted freedom of speech can be subverted by a piece of paper?

    I believe it an inalienable RIGHT.

    ANYTHING that subverts that right is counter-productive, as I can no longer function to my fullest capacity.

    At least I have the balls to post my firmly held beliefs using my login.

  16. Re:Well, am I grandfathered? on Comcast To Cap Data Transfers At 250 GB In October · · Score: 1

    The advertising did not say "Unlimited for the next 16 months".

    Current law does not allow for a company to make you sign away any legal rights. That includes advertising. Just as a waiver does NOT relieve a company of legal obligations (it does not allow them to break a law, just because you signed a piece of paper that says they can), the same holds true for truth in advertising laws.

    I smell a class-action in the works.

    Why? Because Comcast simply did not anticipate the introduction of such things as Netflix Instant View suddenly sucking up their bandwidth. I did. That is precisely why I chose an "unlimited plan". Their lack of foresight does not relieve them of obligations to their customers. And I am sure I am not alone in that sentiment.

  17. Re:Effects of Cannabis on WCG Tournament Director Admits Drugs In E-Sports · · Score: 1

    From my own experience, it has the effect of allowing total concentration. I can much more easily "get into it", especially in an environment full of distractions.

    It essentially allows me to "tune out" distractions. For some reason unknown to me, I can also complete mundane tasks not only far better, more thoroughly, but far faster. A good example is house cleaning.

  18. Wrong. on Lenovo Requires NDA For Windows License Refund · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No. They offered him what he asked for, with conditions. He did not ask for those conditions.

    Sounds like they were rather distasteful to him. As they should be. The loss of ones freedom of speech should NEVER be a condition to anything.

    NDAs are counterproductive. Learn how to discern people that you can trust and you shouldn't have to rely on them.

    I for one, will NEVER sign one, regardless of context. I view them as unconstitutional. Simple as that.

  19. Well, am I grandfathered? on Comcast To Cap Data Transfers At 250 GB In October · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because when I signed a contract with them, it said NOTHING in regards to usage limits. To the contrary, we decided to go with Comcast specifically because it was advertised as "Unlimited".

    Are they rewriting my contract without notice? The contract says that they will notify me in writing of any changes, and thus far, have not.

  20. Re:No Oil for Volts! on The Power Grid Can't Handle Wind Farms · · Score: 1

    Big Oil, is, for the most part, also the supplier of natural gas.

    Don't know if you noticed, but natural gas usage is on the rise. Who do YOU think is supplying it all?

    I don't remember many CNG ships in Long Beach Harbor when I was a kid. Now its economically feasible to do so.

    It is also easy to shoot down a "conspiracy" if you blindly consider it one. It is also easy to shoot down other peoples opinions, or theories by simply labeling them a "conspiracy".

  21. Re:Meh on Large Content Patch To Precede Upcoming WoW Expansion · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is a difference between choosing to go somewhere unprepared (Ultima Online)and not being able to go there until you ARE prepared (WoW).

    Ultima Online left that decision up to the players, not the developers. Example? Try taking your Level 13 WoW Toon into Sunwell for that fat loot. Not possible because the developers choose to make it so.

    In Ultima Online, you CAN take an underdeveloped character into such a place, but only if you had numerous friends there to protect you. Far more logical and REALISTIC. But more importantly, from my perspective, to be able to make that decision myself.

    Another aspect is that a player with really good actual SKILL at playing UO can get into places with very little preparation or ingame skills. In other words, that "unprepared" character CAN go into such dangerous places IN THE HANDS OF A HIGHLY SKILLED PLAYER. As such, very skilled players are rewarded with even more freedom. I remember getting my ass handed to me by butt-naked Mages simply because they out-classed me skill-wise. They didn't need the gear. Skill was enough. Granted, that has changed somewhat, but not entirely.

    Try taking a butt-naked lvl 70 into Alterac Valley. I assure you that you will not last long regardless of skill.

  22. Re:Meh on Large Content Patch To Precede Upcoming WoW Expansion · · Score: 1

    That's the same thing. You're running Sunwell REPEATEDLY to get the loot you want. Same content, over and over. I can go to 50 different locations in UO and have exactly the same chances of getting exactly the same loot.

  23. Curious.... on Digital Storage To Survive a 25-Year Dirt Nap? · · Score: 1

    Why does it have to be stored digitally?

    To be honest, you would probably avoid all the issues by going with printed images.

    Unless, there is some specific reason for them to be stored digitally, I think it is probably the LEAST viable way to store images for a time period of 25 years. Print off high quality images, then put them in a nitrogen filled container. The only concern at that point is making a container that will not leak off all the nitrogen in that timeframe, or otherwise become contaminated.

    I remember breaking up a concrete pad in a friends back yard with jackhammers, only to find that the people who poured the slab had cut corners by filling it with balls of scrunched up newspaper. The newspaper was still perfectly legible after 39 years(The date of the newspapers confirmed this, unless they used old newspapers) and newsprint is notoriously high acid content.

  24. Re:Wind Farm short-term energy storage? on The Power Grid Can't Handle Wind Farms · · Score: 1

    Sorry to respond to my own post, but I had another thought.

    If the location is near hills (as a lot of wind farms tend be), the "extra" energy could be used to pump water, in a closed system, to a holding tank at the top of the hill, then used for hydro-electric re-generation as the water is allowed to flow back down to a tank at the bottom of the hill during peak usage or at times of less congestion on the grid.

    Sure, there would be some energy loss due to inefficiency of such a system, but it seems better to me then just shutting down the system and getting zero output.

  25. Wind Farm short-term energy storage? on The Power Grid Can't Handle Wind Farms · · Score: 1

    It seems to me that the "spikes" in output from sudden wind changes at wind farms could be converted into heat, and stored for a short time in underground, insulated heat sinks. When the spike calmed down, or as usage increased, that heat could then be converted back into electricity (steam turbine?) for release onto the grid.

    Am I missing something here?

    Another thing that occurred to me is that this entire article and all it represents are merely a ploy on the part of Big Oil to put the idea of wind power in a bad light.