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User: svendsen

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Comments · 426

  1. How do you prevent scooping? on Research Data: Share Early, Share Often · · Score: 4, Insightful

    One reason scientist's don't share is because if the data gets out early and gets around (damn slutty data) is that other scientist's might steal/copy/scope/whatever the data. Unless there is a great way to prevent this the suggestion proposed here will never go anywhere.

  2. Re:Interest Rates on US Student Loans Exceed $1 Trillion · · Score: 1

    Yet the banks can be loaned money at 0% so isn't the government losing money then by lending at the rate? So why not have the government lend to people at a higher rate then the banks? The banks aren't loaning the money so it might do more good to lend to the people and free up cash flows for the population vs. a few banks.

  3. Interest Rates on US Student Loans Exceed $1 Trillion · · Score: 1

    The one thing that kills people with student loan debt (or mortgage for that matter) is the high interest rates. If banks can get near 0% loans why can't those with student loans (or again mortgages) refinance to a much lower % (say 1.5% which would more than cover admin costs if you get the money at 0%). While this wouldn't solve the amount of debt someone as it would at least help lower the monthly payments and take some pressure off. It would also help if student loan interest was allowed to be deducted no matter how much you make. I hate seeing that I cannot deduct student loan interest because I make too much money.

    But on the other hand the unemployment rate for those with college degrees is about 4.5% which beats the national average ~10%.

  4. Re:Sport...pfft. on Taking the Fun Out of StarCraft II · · Score: 1

    I agree with hidden context the parent (though not the pity part) and I'm a tech geek. It may take a lot of skill to do 500 clicks a minute but I don't consider it a sport. A sport IMHO requires a physical component and mental component. So when people tell me their sport of choice is poker I also raise an eyebrow (I don't discriminate). I think in today's society lot of people try to call things sports so they feel better about their lack of physical skills (i.e. poker).

    On the flip side I also consider physical activities not a sport. I don't think power lifting is a sport (sorry to all the power lifters). Is it easy? No. Does it require training? Yep? Does it require an ounce of brain power? No, if I go by all the power lifters I've ever meet at the gym, school, etc.

    Does that mean things like poker, games, darts, whatever are easy? Not at all especially at high levels of play. But, for me, I don't consider them a sport. Yes you can make a gob of money in them so I don't look down on anyone with the time to be good in their area and bring home the bacon.However that level of play is an exception.

    Just my 2 cents...

  5. Need a stable government first on Can Open Source Hardware Feed the World? · · Score: 1

    No stable government...no stable food production. While this does not apply to all developing nations it is a huge issue in many African countries dealing with unrest.

  6. Re:Same content, alt sites on US Military Blocks Websites To Free Up Bandwidth · · Score: 0

    I see your point. Mind you they don't get paid a lot (I think a PVT. gets about 20k/yr?) for what they sacrifice. I'm currently joining the Army Guard and trust me it isn't for the money when compared to just my base salary at work.

  7. Does it work? on Time Warner Cable Launches iPad App With Live TV · · Score: 1

    Just downloaded it on my fiances iPad2. I either get a "service not available" or when I sign on the application keeps saying it is signing on but never goes past that.

  8. Re:Limited much? on Time Warner Cable Launches iPad App With Live TV · · Score: 1

    Mine is free. Digital TV + one HD box + Internet + high speed roadrunner = $83/month as of yesterday when I called them.

  9. Re:Same content, alt sites on US Military Blocks Websites To Free Up Bandwidth · · Score: 0

    Wow your act of compassion and self sacrifice is amazing....

  10. Re:profits? on Microsoft Recruiting For Next-Gen Console Development · · Score: 1

    If MS is using the game consoles (XBOX, 360, and what's next) as a beach head strategy then taking losses or very small profits might be acceptable. The next wave IMHO of technology/home entertainment is seamless integration. If the 360 is already in millions of homes and people need to buy new tech (TVs, computers, phones, etc) they might buy things that can integrate into the 360 (or next console) over things that can't.

    Has worked for apple in the PC world very well.

  11. Re:siting in a room for as low as $5 a day sucks y on Lawyers Using Facebook Research For Jury Selection · · Score: 1

    Ya but you normally have a few weeks notice for your summons. So I think a person would have enough time to load up on a few books by then.

  12. Re:Keep it simple on Facebook Private Info Increasingly Used In Court · · Score: 2

    I understand what you are saying but it can be helpful. In my example I need to get military clearance. I have to list every placed I have ever lived and a reference for each place. If it weren't for face book I would have no clue how to contact a lot of these people from many years ago.

    But I don't post, don't have my real pic up, locked it down from people seeing anything and just use it to remain in touch.

  13. Re:Let's bring everyone on the same page on Judge Declares Federal Healthcare Plan (Partly) Unconstitutional · · Score: 1, Insightful

    >> i won't insult you and assume you are an idiot, like you are doing with me,

    >> you are really only insulting your own intelligence

    Sounds like you are trying the famous backhanded insults. The last resort of someone who lost an argument is to insult the other person. Perhaps when you can have a conversation without insults we can talk another day!

  14. Re:Let's bring everyone on the same page on Judge Declares Federal Healthcare Plan (Partly) Unconstitutional · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    I do which is why my karma is excellent. Perhaps you need to comment with clear words, actually explain yourself, and use facts.

    And it is NOT mandatory if you have a car. In fact in some states you don't need insurance to drive on the public roads (i.e. in WI you can put a bond down instead which removes the requirement for insurance.).

    So even your "clarified" statement is wrong.

    So now you are 0 for 2 and you really think you can discuss the health care law?

  15. Re:Let's bring everyone on the same page on Judge Declares Federal Healthcare Plan (Partly) Unconstitutional · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    >> Look: car insurance is mandatory in the USA. If you understand the logic behind that, you understand why health insurance should be mandatory, and not some evil socialist plot to destroy America, blah blah blah, >>FUD and propaganda paid for by health corporations.

    No it is not mandatory. Else explain why friends with no cars aren't getting fined or in jail.

    And since you can't even get that basic thing right I question the rest of your :logic."

  16. Re:But I have to have auto insurance... on Judge Declares Federal Healthcare Plan (Partly) Unconstitutional · · Score: 2

    Federal Government doesn't force you to have auto insurance if you have a car. The state governments say if you want to drive your car on the public roads then you have to have insurance. I know lots of people with a) no cars and b) vehicles never taken on public roads (think real rural areas on massive amount of private land) who don't have auto insurance.

    This law basically says you have to have health insurance. Period. Big difference.

  17. We've Lost on TSA Bans Toner and Ink Cartridges On Planes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The terrorists really did win...

  18. Re:Double edged sword on On Several Fronts, US Gov't Prepares To Regulate Online Privacy · · Score: 1

    How is the parent a troll? I've been involved in clinical drug trials, pharma, health care, and a few other health sector businesses. The amount of time and money required to prove you are in compliance is HUGE! At one clinical drug trial comapny they were hundreds of people whose only job was to ensure compliance with all the regulations. lawyers, auditors, etc. Big bucks.

    Right now in the health insurance industry we are having to hire a lot of external lawyers just to figure out how to comply with some of the health care refrom laws that are so vague we don't know what to do but have to prove we are in compliance. You have no idea the amount of work involved.

    Small businesses get a huge shaft when trying to deal with all the regulations because of the amount of time/money/expertise needed.

  19. Re:What happens when human life is at risk? on Firefighters Let House Burn Because Owner Didn't Pay Fee · · Score: 1

    There are other articles that point out this: The city stated if a life was at risk then the SOP would have been for the fire fighters to go in and rescue them. Since there were no lives at risk, the fire fighters were not going to risk their lives to fight a fire that the home owner refused to pay the $75/yr to save possessions.

    Also mentioned in other articles was that the fire fighters/city insurance would have not covered any injuries because of the situation (i.e. no contract with the home owner who was outside the city limits) for fire services. So what would have the bill been if a fire fighter got hurt/killed and no insurance to cover them?

  20. Re:The Better Policy on Firefighters Let House Burn Because Owner Didn't Pay Fee · · Score: 1

    This issue has been beaten to death on a lot of other sites but just in case you missed it:

    It was stated by the city IF there had been people inside they would have rescued them. That is their SOP. However, since there was no one inside (and animals != people under the law) they couldn't do anything.

    Another issue that was brought up was fire departments insurance. Assume the fire fighters had gone in and gotten hurt (which on a lot of fire you have some) would the insurance have covered the injuries with a non contracted house outside of city limits?

    As for the fixed fee would the owner pay it? If not does the city have any recourse? I mean the person didn't bother paying $75/yr for a service. You think they will pay the cost of putting out the fire?

  21. Re:Well on Senate Approves the ______Act Of____ · · Score: 1

    Don't you mean the deficit should stabilize? Unless all our interest on our existing date becomes 0% the debt will continue to grow every year even if we are deficit neutral....

  22. Tentacle Raping Skills? on Videogame Driving Skills Don't Apply In Real Life · · Score: 1

    Does this mean my tentacle amine Japanese school girl raping skills don't apply to real life either? :-(

  23. Re:I actually kind of miss the old combat system on Review: Mass Effect 2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Don't worry it will get much better. I am 25 hours in and so far all I have done is the side quests which have that "just one more mission" addiction. I find the character development and story line much better than ME1, and I thought ME1 was great in those categories. The space exploration part kind of takes me back to the Star Control 2 days.

    My only pet peeve? Scanning the damn planets. Even with the upgrade it is a PITA.

    Other than that I like the no inventory management system and instead focus on upgrading what you have. The selection of weapons I like in that it isn't over whelming. The anti material sniper rifle with full upgrades + Solider focus = lots of 1 head shot kills.

  24. Re:Pay for service, not hours on Universal, Pay Those EFFing Lawyers · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How is that different that any other professional job? If you screw up you eat the costs not me.

  25. FLOSS Developers need... on What Tools Do FLOSS Developers Need? · · Score: 0, Redundant

    crest? colgate? Mouthwash?