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User: brainboyz

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Comments · 465

  1. Re:Is it just me? on "Synthetic Tracking" Makes It Possible to Find Millions of Near Earth Asteroids · · Score: 1

    That's exactly what they're doing: brute force analysis. All directions and all "reasonable" variations of speed for a given series of spot pictures, then filter for spot intensity. Decent use for super computing.

  2. Re:Still pissed on NYC Is Tracking RFID Toll Collection Tags All Over the City · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Funny you mention gay sex and then go on to list the only ones that care about privacy are those doing something "illegal, immoral or otherwise dangerous." Have you not been paying attention to Russia lately? Gay sex recently became illegal again. Just because society and politicians don't care NOW doesn't mean they will continue not caring.

  3. Re:"Leave all electronic devices in the car" on Device Security: How Border Searches Are Really Used · · Score: 1

    Actually, many of us do something about it. The problem is so many people either believe the "for the children" bullshit or default to the "doesn't affect me" logic that those of us that care are a drop in the bucket. I think the fact that we can't get away from a two-party system is evidence of that.

  4. Re:Between the two organizations on NRA Joins ACLU Lawsuit Against NSA · · Score: 2

    You're misinterpreting their stance. Their stance is that the way Section 215 is being read to allow government agencies to demand "business records" (aka the phone routing records) would also feasibly allow them to go to gun stores and demand the transaction log that all gun stores are required to keep. Thus, while they wouldn't be directly tracking guns it would allow them to rebuild a list of who has what firearms and doing so is specifically against another part of the law.

  5. Re:First Amendment on Encrypted Email Provider Lavabit Shuts Down, Blames US Gov't · · Score: 1

    From what I remember, the Attorney General isn't too keen to use these laws against anything related to government regardless of circumstances.

  6. Re:Or we could, you know... on Better Factories Through Role Playing · · Score: 2

    Given how shitty American-built cars tend to be despite great pay and benefits, I think the training and manipulation might work better.

  7. Re:Nothing to predict on Sci-Fi Stories That Predicted the Surveillance State · · Score: 1

    Cannons and Gatling guns are both perfectly legal to own Federally, and only limited by a few of the more liberal states.

  8. Re:Should have turned to the HAMs! on Detroit's Emergency Dispatch System Fails · · Score: 2

    Someone's got a giant ignorant chip on their shoulder!

    As an EmComm amateur radio operator, it's pretty obvious you've got no idea what HAM does in emergencies. We've stepped in when hospital phone systems fail, we've helped get health & welfare messages out of disaster areas when infrastructure isn't working for miles (call it unimportant but family outside the disaster zone sure appreciates it), we're actively involved on a mobile ad hoc basis when volunteer groups are deployed, and our equipment works despite cell towers being overwhelmed or out of power.

    Are the end-all to communication? Hell no, we prefer when the cell and radio networks stay up. But, to say amateur radio is less relevant than ever is ignorant. We're a stop-gap until infrastructure can be replaced. After many major disasters those trucks can't get in, and it may be days before the roads are clear enough to get them in. Guess who's on the radio and organizing within an hour? The HAMs.

    If needed my city does, in fact, have a plan for deploying amateur radio operators with units or trucks as needed. Ideally that won't be the case, but we've trained for it. The local sheriff was actually annoyed when we weren't activated during a power outage. He wanted the extra manpower to do useful, but non-priority, situational awareness tasks like checking neighborhoods and intersections for power. Cell towers were swamped, so non-comm volunteers would've had trouble dialing home.

    Are our radios of limited use while infrastructure is alive and kicking? Sure. Do we train on redundant radios during non-emergency events? Yup, and yes, it seems silly to be using a handheld when the walkie-talkie works just fine at event-sized distances. But most of the city leaders are happy to have us.

  9. Re:Easy on How the Smartphone Killed the Three-day Weekend · · Score: 1

    This is how I handle it. If I'm not on the clock, they don't get a response. Hell, a lot of the time my weekends are spent 10 to 20 miles from the nearest cell coverage.

  10. Re:I'm In Favor Of This Actually on FBI Considers CALEA II: Mandatory Wiretapping On Every Device · · Score: 1

    Completely agree. Evil doers like Aaron Swartz and Cody Wilson are the only ones that they will be motivated to use this on.

  11. Re:Public Safety on Of 1000 Americans Polled, Most Would Ban Home Printing of Guns · · Score: 1

    Spoken like someone who has no clue about firearms. First, it's perfectly legal to make your own guns at home thus "bypassing regulation." Second, with guns in America the rules are different due to the phrase "shall not be infringed." Third, freedom of speech is regulated in instances where the speech is intended to cause a dangerous situation. Guns are already similarly regulated where use in a dangerous manner is illegal. The word "fire" is not illegal because it's illegal to shout in a crowded theater. Similarly, I can make and own almost any semi-automatic gun I want legally, but it is illegal to go shooting in a crowded theater or in public.

  12. Re:Personal Responsibility? on Of 1000 Americans Polled, Most Would Ban Home Printing of Guns · · Score: 1

    "shall not be infringed."

    It's an important part of the 2nd. Being heavily regulated means it's no longer a right, it's merely a privilege which can be taken away on a whim. How expensive is gun ownership in most of Europe? That limits access to the poor. I also know in many countries you must keep the firearm at a gun club. Further reduces access by the poor. Additionally means the firearms are unusable for defense.

    Hmm, seems less like a right and more like a privilege already.

  13. Costal Cities on Increased Carbon Emissions Creating Giant Crabs · · Score: 2

    City defense teams should be ready with butter...

  14. Re:House Republicans on How the U.S. Sequester Will Hurt Science and Tech · · Score: 1

    Given the massive amount they're spending over budget this IS a good thing. Blame congress as a whole for where the cuts are being made, but the cuts are good. This is no different than a city saying "if we don't increase taxes, we'll have to reduce police and fire presence." They neglect to mention they've paid themselves and pet projects FIRST when threatening to defund and cut vital services.

  15. They'll Be Back on Ask Slashdot: Starting From Scratch After a Burglary? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Whatever you decide on, don't buy everything all at once. They'll be casing your place again in a few days because they know you'll be replacing everything with nice NEW stuff.

  16. Re:He looks like he's up to no good? on NBC Apologizes For Editing Zimmerman 911 Call · · Score: 3, Informative

    Most states DO have this. It's called "brandishing." Exposing the firearm for the purpose of intimidation not related to a defensive reason.

    The thing is, if you get punished for pulling it w/o using it, you'll end up with a lot more people shot in the back. Why? Many times simply pulling a concealed gun ends the threat: the idiot threatening you has a sudden stroke of intelligence and bolts or submits. Thankfully, a lot of things can and do change in the half second between breaking leather and presentation on target. That saves many idiots' lives.

  17. Re:Maybe science itself is to blame? on Conservatives' Trust In Science Has Fallen Dramatically Since Mid-1970s · · Score: 1

    I was about to link to the same thing. It's not that they distrust science. They distrust academia and the amount of crap they've spewed to shape policy to their desire.

  18. Then they farm it... on Scientists Work Towards Naturally Caffeine-Free Coffee · · Score: 2

    If they farm it and it cross-contaminates the world coffee DNA, there will be an apocalyptic uprising of caffeine deprived people.

  19. Re:California on Coca-Cola and Pepsi Change Recipe To Avoid Cancer Warning · · Score: 1

    You're right, but like most cheap plastic products they're meant to be disposable and replaced when they start having issues. Can find "natural" and "organic" everything in the supermarkets, except the women. Finding a natural version of that product in CA seems exceedingly difficult (so I'm not letting mine go anytime soon).

  20. Re:California on Coca-Cola and Pepsi Change Recipe To Avoid Cancer Warning · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because CA has gotten to the point where they label anything that might conceivably cause cancer in doses 1000s of times higher than anyone would normally be exposed to. Yes, we know, everything causes cancer in high doses.

    Hell, fast food joints have Prop-65 warnings because cooking potatoes and coffee causes a trace amount of some chemical to form in certain circumstances, which causes cancer in high doses. Yes, they have reason to be dismissive and laugh because reason has left the building.

  21. Re:Good on SFPD Breathalyzer Mistake Puts Hundreds of DUI Convictions In Doubt · · Score: 1

    No actually, there have been people convicted of DWI/DUI without surpassing the limit because it was argued that they were impaired. Sadly, there are plenty of stories of the cops refusing to tell the driver what they blew and taking them to the station anyway.

  22. Re:Would you kindly... on RIAA CEO Hopes SOPA Protests Were a "One-Time Thing" · · Score: 1

    Any loss of rights is deplorable, agreed. The 2nd tends to put teeth on the defense of them.

    My point was there are still civil ways to enact change. I believe the popular phrase is "Soap box, ballot box, jury box, ammo box: use in that order." While the system is slow, it can still be used if people pull their heads out and stop voting for "both" sides; stop picking those who talk out of both sides of their mouth, and start convincing good local people to run for positions.

    Rallying, protesting, and otherwise showing political force is good. The guns shouldn't be pulled out until all else is failed, but that in no way means you should sit while the state crumbles around you. SOPA is a perfect example. Tons of money behind that, but people spoke out in numbers and the politicians backed off (except the few, particularly in CA, who are known to not give a damn what people want).

  23. Re:Would you kindly... on RIAA CEO Hopes SOPA Protests Were a "One-Time Thing" · · Score: 1

    You're off topic and trolling now, but for amusement sake: now you sound like the nutters that claim income tax isn't legal because it wasn't ratified. 2A was signed in as part of the original 10 and happens to be the reason you can enjoy the other 9, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

    Oh, and the militia is defined as all able-bodied men between 17 and 45 per US Code. But for equality we've let every adult have one if they so choose and haven't had the right taken by court order.

  24. Re:Would you kindly... on RIAA CEO Hopes SOPA Protests Were a "One-Time Thing" · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Try and take them. ;)

    Sorry, we believe in the liberty to be a moron. We don't like it, but it's your right. If people would stop voting for corrupt sly assholes and actually paid attention to what they do, guys like this wouldn't get a foothold. Ain't a gun-applicable problem yet, but give it another 15 to 20 and it might be.

  25. Re:Good luck ruling it without ICANN on UN Pushes Plan To Assume Internet Governance Role · · Score: 2

    You do understand mutually assured destruction right? The US could easily give the finger and default on the loans. That alone would instantly tank the world market across the board. Much of China's economy is based on selling cheap shit to other countries, primarily the US. They're not quite to the point of subsisting on their own yet.

    It would be disastrous, but it means the loan holders don't have the control one might think.