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User: spads

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  1. This doesn't sound so great: on Artificial DNA Replicates and 'Evolves' · · Score: 1

    "Faithful genetic transmission over successive DNA-to-XNA cycles allowed researchers to select for only those XNAs that attached to certain target proteins from a pool of random samples — a process akin to evolution over multiple generations."

    A material's just being "sticky" is no kind of confirmation of the sequence uniformity. They would have to be sequenced to confirm this.

    The article only provides the most superficial description, and this is Science and Nature, though it also smacks of some (by no means atypical these days) grand-standing.

  2. Simple to anyone who's watched any dime store on Police Forensics Team Salvage Blind Authors' Inkless Novel Pages · · Score: 5, Funny

    detective shows. You just shade over it with a pencil, revealing the indentations. Of course, first you make a xerox copy in case you corrupt the original.

  3. how the hell can you beat turbo tax? on Ask Slashdot: Open Source Tax Software? · · Score: 1

    I have been using their online service for ~6+ years now, previously at the Premium level (~$50). This year I saw something pretty much unprecedented for an online services provider. They advised the Deluxe level (about half the price) for returning customers. (Note: they say that pretty much any version should be adequate for just about any normal user to fill out their forms correctly. They all have access to the same forms. The only difference is in the tools and menus that facilitate the data entry.)

    For the first time I made an error filling out one of the forms and had a smooth 2-stage process talking to their support (first technical, then tax) to correct it. At only $30 I still save about $270 compared to going to a professional, and have decent confidence. At that price I can justify it on the convenience of fairly mindlessly filling out e-forms (ie. as opposed to hard copy) alone.

  4. I don't know about you all, but those no-nonsense on Waterboarding Whistleblower Indicted Under Espionage Act · · Score: 1

    covert operators give me wood.

  5. Re:Near Infinite on Double-Helix Model of DNA Paper Published 59 Years Ago · · Score: 1

    Agreed. That statement, actually nearer than near, is coincident with idiotic, and the article unworthy of its subject.

  6. Re:Just so we're all clear on Maryland Team Completes Most Extensive Face Transplant Yet · · Score: 1

    Better he should have shot your face off, then for the doctors to replace it with your ass. Heck, I'd want a gander at that!

    You saying no one (yourself included) has ever made a mistake?

  7. Re:propel itself "indefinitely"? on Researchers Create Chemically Powered Robotic Jellyfish · · Score: 1

    Yeah, and perhaps that might take some energy? Though there is the potential to do this with sunlight. When that happens, it will impact everywhere.

  8. propel itself "indefinitely"? on Researchers Create Chemically Powered Robotic Jellyfish · · Score: 1

    So, where is it supposed to get all its hydrogen gas UNDER WATER, hmmm?

    Though, honestly, that shape-shifting sandwich stuff does sound pretty cool!

  9. Re:it was written in assembly language on Researchers Seek Help In Solving DuQu Mystery Language · · Score: 2

    I think it could be even well above the advanced neck beard. These guys wanted to do all the damage possible, without giving them any technology they could figure out and use.

  10. Re:Uhh what? on Researchers Seek Help In Solving DuQu Mystery Language · · Score: 1

    Could be that it's a completely custom compiler which the thing downloads then wipes after use. Unless someone recognizes the language, it might be quite hard to figure out.

    "This compiler will self-destruct in 10 seconds - 'squelch...'"

  11. Re:What in hell could have prompted them to do all on World's First Quadruple Limb Transplant Fails · · Score: 1

    Yes, that bares consideration. Hopefully they had a good reason for it, though that business about them being an up and coming transplant center (eg. "first face") does make one wonder.

  12. What in hell could have prompted them to do all 4 on World's First Quadruple Limb Transplant Fails · · Score: 1

    at the same time in the first place? Sounds like a bit of shameless headline grabbing to me.

  13. Re:The lesson here isn't about free speech on Man Ordered To Apologize To Wife On Facebook · · Score: 0, Troll

    I think this has actually improved since its hey-day in the 80/90's, though I imagine there are still "a few" (lol) remaining neanderthal back-waters. Myself, I wouldn't marry one of these damn (American) women if you put a gun to my head. Modern rabid feminism is the greatest visitation by the Angel of Death AT LEAST since the Nazi holocaust, imo.

    I feel that judge and any like him/her deserve to be impeached.

  14. Oracle should be forced to pay all legal on Oracle's Java Claims Now Down To $230 Million · · Score: 1

    fees incurred for refuting the claims, and perhaps some penalties (and so on). That should take (a) chunk(s) out of what's left.

  15. I have done the best on Craigslist. on Ask Slashdot: Where Are the Open Source Jobs? · · Score: 2

    I never did ~~stink~~ on those big corporate job boards, though I guess I eventually got into some recruiters' DBs from there, which helped a bit over time. Oh, and "keep your day job until your night job pays!" :)

  16. More "executive-think", like how the prevailing on Former Google Exec: Traditional Search Market Shrinking · · Score: 1

    sentiment of optimal job hunting strategy was to go out and start asking everyone you meet on the street, up to and including canines and sign posts.

    Should file this under "dumpster diving"

  17. It's all about attitude. Don't act scared, act .. on Ask Slashdot: Transitioning From 'Hacker' To 'Engineer'? · · Score: 1

    ...smart

  18. Did anyone see the paper? on UCSD Researchers Create Artificial Cell Membrane · · Score: 1

    What's this membrane they're talking about? A soap bubble is a membrane for godssakes.

  19. Wow, with presidential goals like this, the US on What If the Apollo Program Never Happened? · · Score: 1

    really must be headed for the ash heap! With Obama calling for the restoration of industrial manufacturing, and a major challenger calling for a re-run of the space race, what'll they think of next, Washington recrossing the Potomac? ("Oh, yeah, he can come BACK across now! (did he find his coin?)" )

  20. I tell you, what really kills me, though, is on Tackling Open Source's Gender Issues · · Score: 1

    this attitude that because the women are not well suited to the work, the men should apply themselves or excel at it either because it makes the women look bad. Yes, let's make sure everything is the same right down the middle! And we can all look forward to going back to living in caves, except from now on all we'll have to eat will be dirt. Though I'm sure some ~~miraculous~~ woman is about to invent a perpetual motion machine any day now...

  21. Maybe the just can't "hack" it. Did you ever on Tackling Open Source's Gender Issues · · Score: 0

    stop to think of that?

    Also, last I checked, OS projects don't have any AA incentives, like their corporate corporate world counterparts.

    I know this will get moderated for flaming, but I am so sick of all these patently false, politically correct positions.

  22. Re:Human Resource Management Perspective on The Bosses Do Everything Better (or So They Think) · · Score: 1

    I mod-d you down, before I saw your category was "funny", so I have to comment to back that out.

    I will lose a couple other mods, but your joke definitely does deserve to be heard, though it is probably a flamebait. Ie. "1-2 minutes at a time when code is not being typed into the terminal" posted on slashdot - puh-lease! Funny as hell, though, b-gard!

    So, now that I'm posting anyway, would just say this whole "what not known is easy" is a perfect illustration of the danger of being impulsively optimistic. Realism will trump it every time. Oh, yeah, and a lot of manager are trying to make up for feelings of personal inadequacy, by lording the only thing they have over others - their power.

  23. Similar to other serious bacteriological on Gut Bacteria Can Control Diabetes · · Score: 2

    conditions like ulcerative colitis, I don't think this is due to the accidental depletion of normal GI flora, such that it could be remedied by re-application. It is due to life-style issues which are non-conducive to those organisms. Just because we are willing to submit ourselves to some of the things we do, doesn't mean that certain critical passengers will be willing to. We need to pursue critical life-sustaining activities and quality rather than so-often depending in medical miracles, which are often temporary band aids at best.

  24. Re:My thoughts and reply on Are Brain Teasers Good Hiring Criteria? · · Score: 1

    Yes. They gauge how you handle stress, albeit arbitrary stress.

  25. Re:Well, they're a good indicator of intelligence on Are Brain Teasers Good Hiring Criteria? · · Score: 1

    Passions can be different. If you're a manager (ie. lacking a significant creative outlet), you might have a passion for drinking blood, which is opposed to (and opposes) a creative passion. This can be a tricky evaluation to make, depending on which side you are coming from.