Slashdot Mirror


User: oodaloop

oodaloop's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
3,112
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 3,112

  1. Re:Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 1

    Yeah, that would be the ANALYSTS at the CIA. CIA employs intelligence analysts just like DIA does. As a matter of fact, it was a retired CIA intelligence analyst who first taught me about Analysis of Competing Hypotheses, among several other tools. That was some of the best training I ever received in critical thinking, though I am utterly unimpressed with CIA as an organization.

    Now, don't get me wrong. Anyone would benefit from learning tools like ACH. But spies don't NEED it to perform their jobs. The analysts using what they provide, and incorporating it into the bigger picture, need the training mentioned in the article.

    And in any case, CIA employees think they are God's gift to the intelligence community, so I doubt they think they need the training.

  2. Re:lies! damn lies on Humans Nearly Went Extinct 70,000 Years Ago · · Score: 1

    I hope and pray you're joking. No, wait. Maybe it's just hope.

  3. Re:Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 1

    To which assumptions are you referring? I'm all about using computer simulations to augment analyst and other training. The Marine Corps was using Doom-like FPS games that simulated the inside of Embassies for Security Forces at least 12 years ago, and I thought that was fantastic. I think we should be using Second Life to the extent security allows (the games in the article reside on classified networks) etc etc.

    It's the part about calling this spy training to which I'm objecting. DIA is NOT training spies with these games; they are training all-source intelligence analysts, or at least methods of all-source intelligence analysis to other intelligence professionals. Calling it spy training is just trying to grab the readers' attention, since intelligence analysis isn't sexy enough. That was my only point.

  4. Private Insurance not quite dead on Bill Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination Moves Forward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The health insurance I pay is probably based more on phenotypic differences rather than genotypic. I don't smoke, but I do ride a motorcycle. Maybe I have the genes for some disease or another, but it's far from certain that I will develop it. OTOH, the fact that I don't smoke (or work in a popcorn factory, etc) means I am virtually assured of not getting lung cancer, and if I continue to ride often I am virtually assured of sliding down the highway at least once. The way we choose to live our lives will probably weigh more heavily in the way we continue to pay for health insurance than a nascent science whose findings will change year to year.

  5. Re:There are two kinds of coders... on Are C and C++ Losing Ground? · · Score: 2, Informative

    OK, kidding aside.
    I thought the joke went: There are 10 kinds of coders...
  6. Re:The scatological aspects of astronomy. on Black Hole Particle Jets Explained · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ok, so its juvenile and stupid. Not really. You may not be aware, but one of the reasons the term Black Hole stuck around was to annoy French astrophysicists (the term translates to a bodily orafice in French). The question was later posed (by Wheeler, I believe) as to whether black holes have 'hair', meaning do they give off observable radiation or other phenomena, much to the chagrin of his French counterparts. The question was posed, FWIU, mostly just so American physicists could snicker while French physicists had to talk about black holes and hair in public conferences. And it turns out that yes, black holes do in fact have hair.

    Now we have black holes expelling mass. I'm sure you're not the only one finding this humorous.
  7. Re:Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 1

    Sure, but I may have to rush you through training.

  8. Re:Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 1

    Train any like him? LIKE him? I taught him everything he knew. What? He's a fictional character from the fictional future? Yeah, that's what they WANT you to believe.
  9. Re:In Soviet Russia, on Patch the Linux Kernel Without Reboots · · Score: 5, Funny

    "But does it run linux?" That's a joke? I thought that was just one dedicated user who kept asking on every article.
  10. Distorted? on Bill Gates On the GPL — "We Disagree" · · Score: 1

    Correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure someone would regardless if I asked), but doesn't the GPL not only allow improvements but stipulate that if you improve the software you are required to give back the improvement to the community, or something to that effect? Saying that you can't improve on software covered by the GPL seems like a bald-faced lie, not a mere distortion. Not that I'm surprised he said it, but maybe the author could call him on it instead just labelling it a 'distortion.'

  11. Re:Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 2, Informative

    Jack Bauer is right out. And don't even get me started on Jason Bourne.

  12. Re:In Soviet Russia, on Patch the Linux Kernel Without Reboots · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's get the rest of the usual jokes out of the way while we're at it.

    If there were no kernel, it would necessary to create our non-rebooting robot overlords are belong to Chuck Norris.

  13. Spies? on US Spies Use Custom Video Games for Training · · Score: 5, Interesting

    These video games ara not for spies, they are for intelligence analysts - NOT the same thing. I am an all-source military intelligence analyst and instructor by trade and I do not do any spying. Spies are collectors; they do not need training in critical thinking, analysis of competing hypotheses, logical fallacies, biases, ad infinitum. Anyone at the DIA who calls himself a spy has watched too many Bond movies and/or is just trying to impress chicks. And the authors of this article should have known better. This is why we get new analysts who are disappointed they're not going to be James Bond. Hell, they're not even going to be Jack Ryan.

  14. In the DARPA lab... on DARPA Working On Arthur C. Clarke Weapon Idea · · Score: 4, Funny

    First engineer: You've got your flamethrower in my railgun!
    Second engineer: You've got your railgun in my flamethrower!
    Both: Two great tastes that taste great together!

  15. Re:I may disagree on German Wikipedia To Be Published As a Book · · Score: 1

    Mostly this stems from the fact that in any topic on which I am an expert, I can generally stumble across several very glaring errors. Then fix them. Duh.
  16. Re:I just tried this E85 stuff.. it sucks on $1/Gallon "Green Gasoline" In Sight · · Score: 1

    Yeah, an electric car that runs off my home's power. That would be awesome! Except that my power plant runs on coal.

  17. Re:Smooth USB keydrives? on Laptops Can Be Searched At the Border · · Score: 1

    ...in which case there is no need to shove it in your rear USB port. Just keep it in your pocket.

  18. Re:Smooth USB keydrives? on Laptops Can Be Searched At the Border · · Score: 1

    They will if you beep on the walk-through scanner and the subsequent wanding. And when they find it, you can be sure they will be DAMN curious what was so important on that drive that you had to hide it in such a fashion.

  19. Re:Really? ebay? on FBI Concerned About Implications of Counterfeit Cisco Gear · · Score: 1

    The people buying routers for DoD et al are not generals or other senior IT-clueless individuals. They are the systems geeks, many of them probably /.ers, or should be. I am a former Marine, currently a defense contractor, and being a geek myself I've met many IT people within DoD. Typically, there's a young super-smart geek who effectively runs the IT dep't, and whatever he wants to buy, the leadership will go along with. I don't think anyone outside the geeks who put together the network really have a clue where all the equipment comes from. Also, within DoD at least, having a router coming from China doesn't seem like too much of a threat to me. Most of our systems are not connected to the internet at all. If a Chinese router were installed in SIPRNet (Secure Internet Protocol Router Network), for instance, there's no way information would make it back or come from China. Everything is encrypted and separated from the internet. Aside from the few that would used on NIPRNet (Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network: the lan we use to connect to the internet), I don't see the threat, but maybe I'm missing something. I didn't RTFA after all.

  20. Re:History on Chinese Blogs, Netizens React To the Tibet Issue · · Score: 1

    Well, let's see, they also hemmed and hawed as we presented intelligence so they could see more of what we had. It also turns out they were profitting from Oil For Food scandals and were probably opposing the war to keep making money. Oh, and let's not forget they were providing Iraq with medium range ballistic missiles which were explicitly forbidden in the same UN resolutions they passed (somehow when we found recent French made MRBMs in Iraq, it didn't get much media coverage). Oh, and after the war ended they were clammoring to be involved in the lucrative defense contracts. Yeah, I boycotted the French then and I still do. F em.

  21. Re:Air? on Growing Plants on the Moon May Be Feasible · · Score: 2, Funny

    So all we have to do is build an airtight dome around the plants and maintain the right type of atmosphere inside it? Thank god we don't have to do anything difficult like bring dirt!

  22. Re:With Careful Training? on Nerve-tapping Neckband Allows 'Telepathic' Chat · · Score: 1

    I think he was intimating he invented the wireless keyboard. But still...

  23. Re:LOL on Cat Ownership Correlated With Heart Health · · Score: 4, Funny

    so i really can has cheezburger?

  24. Re:WTF. on British Airport Will Require Fingerprints From Domestic Passengers · · Score: 0, Troll

    Really? The terrorists have won? I guess Al Qaeda will be claiming victory and going home any day now. I'm no fan of intrusive governments, searches without warrants, etc, but Al Qaeda and their affiliates don't give a DAMN what laws we pass. They want us destroyed and will fight until, "the flag of Islam flies over the White House," as more than one senior leader has put it. They don't care how long it takes, they don't care how many of them are killed, and they certainly don't care if a few Americans or Brits have their rights infringed in the process. This is a war to the death, and we're not taking it very seriously. Bin Laden even said that he had to do 9/11 because we didn't listen to any of the previous attacks. Each one was bigger than anything they did before, and now they're working on nukes. They've warned us each time they were going to attack, but no one cared. They've warned us they're going to use nukes. But hey, since some laws requiring travelers use fingerprints was passed, I'm sure they'll abandon those plans. They already won.

  25. Re:This Whole Solo Idea Is Creepy Beyond Words on Will Mars be a One-way Trip? · · Score: 1

    That's just ridiculous. He wouldn't have to wait for his oxygen to run out. He could simply shoot himself in the head.