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User: buback

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Comments · 241

  1. Google and SpaceX on Google and Facebook Cancel Satellite Plans · · Score: 1

    Google just invested a large sum of money in SpaceX
    http://www.wired.com/2015/01/g...

    SpaceX has a big leg up in this race since it's very likely Google or Facebook would have launched on SpaceX rockets anyway.

  2. "annyong" on Facebook's "Hello" Tells You Who's Calling Before You Pick Up · · Score: 1

    If it doesn't catch on, at least there's always money in the Banana Stand.

  3. Re: I know! on The Key To Interviewing At Google · · Score: 1

    Actually the answer they are looking for is "hmm, I don't know. Let's google it".

  4. I can't wait for the Ron Popeil 3d printer! on 3D Printers Making Inroads In Kitchens · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Instead of having to clean a counter top, you only have to clean various hoppers and extruders, and the build plate. And all the prep tools and bowls. And you'll also have to program in all the steps. and it will only print one at a time.

    It's so much easier than that 'old fashioned' way!

  5. Re:Action vs. inaction on Blackberry CEO: Net Neutrality Means Mandating Cross-Platform Apps · · Score: 1

    Well, Comcast has no obligation to Netflix. Nor youtube or Hulu or any other website. But it does have an obligation to its subscribers to provide access to the internet. If its customers can't access Netflix because of a deficiency in the Comcast network and its connections to the web, it should be Comcast's responsibility to remedy. This is the net neutrality argument, and has generally been the status quo.

    Currently, Comcast is arguing that Netflix is the one who has to pay to fix Comcast's deficiency, and so far, Netflix has caved and is paying.

  6. USPS on FBI Seeks To Legally Hack You If You're Connected To TOR Or a VPN · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So the Postal service is still the most secure legally protected method for sending data. Just mail CDs.

  7. Hydrogen blimps on NASA Study Proposes Airships, Cloud Cities For Venus Exploration · · Score: 1

    I don't see why they would use helium. Hydrogen would be much easier to deal with since it can be readily extracted from the hydrogen sulfide clouds. There wouldn't be any Hindenburg's since there's no oxygen in the atmosphere to react with.

    It's also more bouyant, so the gas bag would be smaller for the same weight, and you could launch it from earth with less delta V.

  8. Gas volume vs Liquid volume? on Multiple Manufacturers Push Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars, But Can They Catch Tesla? · · Score: 1

    Is that a 122 L tank or is it the volume of Hydrogen at STP?

    Why not compare the distance you could travel with 122 L of liquid Hydrogen against 122 L gasoline vapors? (of course, that wouldn't fit with the narrative they are trying to put forward)

  9. Have you ever watched Cosmos... on Carl Sagan, as "Mr. X," Extolled Benefits of Marijuana · · Score: 1

    ...on weed?!?!

  10. Re:Yeah sorry, no on Forest Service Wants To Require Permits For Photography · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, exactly like the Bureau of Land Management, the greatest land grab perpetrated against the people of the United States.

    There are a bunch of Native Americans who might disagree with you, there.

  11. Re:Is this surprising? Twice as many stars on The Milky Way Is Much Less Massive Than Previous Thought · · Score: 1

    *2y dark matter mass to our y dark matter mass*

    It would be 18y dark matter to Milky Way y matter.

  12. Re:Is this surprising? Twice as many stars on The Milky Way Is Much Less Massive Than Previous Thought · · Score: 1

    So then really what they are confirming is that inference; that matter and dark matter are in a 1/9 ratio, and that if our galaxy has x stars and Andromeda has 2x stars, then Andromeda will also have 2y dark matter mass to our y matter mass.

    That seems to be a more interesting finding.

  13. Is this surprising? Twice as many stars on The Milky Way Is Much Less Massive Than Previous Thought · · Score: 1

    I've been taught that Andromeda has approx. 2x as many stars as the Milky Way. I learned this years ago, as far as i can remember.

    Is it really surprising news that a galaxy with twice as many stars is twice as massive? Were these researchers just fact-checking?

  14. Creative can suck it. on Ode To Sound Blaster: Are Discrete Audio Cards Still Worth the Investment? · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm still bitter about Aureal.

  15. Cosmic rays on Moon Swirls May Inspire Revolution In the Science of Deflector Shields · · Score: 2

    Protecting from solar radiation is great, but i understand that the greater threat is cosmic rays. Solar radiation is somewhat easy to block, because you just put a light element shield, like hydrogen tanks, between the astronauts and the sun.

    Cosmic rays are much harder to shield from because they are so high energy. They also come from everywhere, so require a omnidirectional shield.

  16. SUVs on Greek Government Abruptly Shuts Down State Broadcaster · · Score: 1

    *cough* USgasolinesubsidies*cough*

  17. counterproductive on Australian Police Move To Make 3D Printed Guns Illegal · · Score: 2

    3d-printing of guns: the quickest way to create legislation regulating the sale of bullets.

  18. Re:Flooded batteries on Solar Panels For Every Home? · · Score: 1

    you were also missing half your roof. By your logic, you shouldn't put a roof over your head because a tornado might damage it.

    PS. Homeowners insurance will cover and replace the solar panels that are damaged.

  19. Re:Don't Strong Storms Eat Solar Panels? on Solar Panels For Every Home? · · Score: 1

    If a tree* lands on your roof, solar-panel covered or not, you've got enough problems. But that's what homeowners insurance is for.

    *or anything heavy enough to break a solar panel

  20. Re:Extremely expensive on Solar Panels For Every Home? · · Score: 1

    As you say, better generators cost more, and the power they generate is significantly more expensive than grid power. You would need to have a lot of power outages and spoiled food in order to break even on the cost during the usable lifetime of the generator.

    A $2-3k generator and the cost of instillation is about 30% of the equipment costs of a solar installation, and the equipment is getting cheaper all the time (labor costs are flat or increasing). And a solar installation will pay for itself half way through it's warranted lifetime (about 1/3 of the way through it's usable lifetime).

  21. Re:Ouch on Apple Gets the Importance of Packaging; Why Doesn't Google? · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well I don't see what's so weird about displaying them on a bookshelf or table. Maybe with a nice tablecloth on top, and some candles and incense.

    It's also a good place for me to put my sacrifices and to focus my prayers

  22. Re:This is the exciting bit. on Intelsat Signs Launch Contract With SpaceX · · Score: 1

    I think the pintile injector they are using, while not "new," is still exciting. This is old technology that hasn't been used much for first stage engines, in the US at least.

    The pintile injector probably allowed such a safe and rapid shutdown during the first launch attempt.

  23. Re:Ending congestion? on How Would Driver-less Cars Change Motoring? · · Score: 1

    Yeah they would. Imagine perfect, zipper-like merging at highway speeds, and merging into a single lane to route around accidents, road work, or freight. The cars can all break and accelerate as one, and cars with equal acceleration/deceleration would be grouped together.

    There is no lack of capacity on American highways. We could even reduce the number of lanes in each direction to two if everyone had driver-less cars.

  24. Re:The Department of Redundancy Department on University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department · · Score: 1

    Yeah because the primary purpose of a university is to make a profit. Sure, in the past the athletics programs were there for the benefit of the student body, but now it's the scholastic programs that are there for the benefit of the fans.

  25. Retrofits aren't usually cost effective on Ask Slashdot: Home Testing For Solar Roof Coverage? · · Score: 1

    I took a solar installer class, and learned that it's usually not cost effective to retrofit a house. Few houses have the proper size roof at the right angle to maximize efficiency. If there are trees in the way you can't cut down, just forget it.

    but lets assume you want to find out anyway. well, you first need to look at how much power you use, because it will impact the size of installation you'd need. add up everything that draws electricity in the house. You'll probably find you need a much bigger array than you have roof space.

    Now, that will be the size of the array at optimum efficiency. you'll have to subtract out all the efficiency losses for incorrect angle and shade, and add extra panels in order to get you back up to your needs.

    I'm assuming you need certified installers in Floria because of the hurricanes, plus you'll need to get an electrician to install the inverter and breaker boxes, and probably a second electrician from the electric company to wire it up to the grid. If Floria has installation rebates, you'll need to do everything up and up in order to get your rebate.

    So, first thing first: find a way to reduce your power draw by at least 1/3. it'll start saving you money now, plus you'll need a smaller array if you do commit to installation. it's much cheaper to start with efficient appliances and adequate insulation than it is to overcome it with more solar panels. Panels are getting cheaper, but labor costs are at least half of the costs. and while equipment costs go down, labor costs are flat or rising. If you build a house, build it with solar in mind and you'll save a ton of money up front, and you'll break even much much sooner.