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User: jklovanc

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  1. Re:Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    Just pointing out how the Sudetenland is different than Ukraine.

    All kinds of noise was made about Hitler's early moves, it's just that other than noise, everyone sat.

    The difference is that France and England activly tried to appease Hitler by giving him land. That is not happening in the Ukraine. No foreign power had done anything close to that.

    Not saying there's much to conclude from that, but it's certainly a similar thing thus far.

    Sorry but the situations are very different.

  2. Re:Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    Take a look at this map. There would be plenty of Ukraine left if areas with most Russian speakers succeeded. If you look at what is going on right now eastern Ukraine is far from joining Russia.

  3. Re:Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler in Berchtesgaden on 15 September and agreed to the cession of the Sudetenland; three days later, French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier did the same. No foreign power had done anything similar to that in regards to Ukraine.

  4. Re:Maybe you should have read more than one senten on Wikipedia Admin's Manipulation "Messed Up Perhaps 15,000 Students' Lives" · · Score: 1

    The barrier is a data plan or a data link that does not use cellular bandwidth. The only difference between Wikipedia Zero and the rest of the web is that you don't get charged data rates for Wikipedia Zero in some countries. India is not even one of those countries.

  5. Re:Maybe you should have read more than one senten on Wikipedia Admin's Manipulation "Messed Up Perhaps 15,000 Students' Lives" · · Score: 1

    Wikipedia Zero is an agreement between Wikimedia and certain carriers to not charge for data coming from certain IPs/URLs. It is far from a walled garden.

  6. Re:Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    That was because the world then sat on the sidelines when Czechoslovakia was invaded. This time may be different. It is not inevitable.

  7. Re:Maybe you should have read more than one senten on Wikipedia Admin's Manipulation "Messed Up Perhaps 15,000 Students' Lives" · · Score: 2

    Wikipedia Zero has not been launched in India. Check the map.

    The article does not say that Wikipedia Zero is their only connection to the internet just that it is free. If one has enough money to spend on tuition to a business school one probably has enough money to do a Google search to verify a Wikipedia entry.

    they also had been led to believe that they had researched by drinking from the unerring fountain of all human knowledge.

    Anyone who still believes that needs help.

  8. Re:Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    In eastern Ukraine there is a large Russian ethnic demographic. Putin is using that as a pretext to "free" his people. This pretext does not hold for central or western Ukraine. Ukraine will exist but it may be smaller.

  9. Re:Nukes are obsolete on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 1

    Comparing precision guided bombs to nuclear bombs is like comparing a spring shower to a force 5 hurricane. Precision guided bombs do not kill whole cities and the millions of people in them in one shot.

  10. Ukraine? on How Nuclear Weapon Modernization Undercuts Disarmament · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Most nuclear countries will see Ukraine as a cautionary tale. They disarmed and got invaded.

  11. Re:Maybe you should have read more than one senten on Wikipedia Admin's Manipulation "Messed Up Perhaps 15,000 Students' Lives" · · Score: 1, Insightful

    what we have is a world where people like yourself take all of your outrage, and point it at the victim for being "stupid"

    The world is not a black and white as you seem to see it. In most cases both parties carry some blame with the majority going to the perp.

    all crimes can be described in a manner where the victim has done something stupid along the way and so they "deserve" it

    Sorry but leaving a car with the engine running outside a store while one goes shopping is stupid. If the car gets stolen the driver is at least partially to blame.

    because you further victimize the victim

    We also teach the victim ways to avoid the issue in the future.

    and you let the perp get away without any blame or focus.

    No, the perp needs to have consequences for his bad act.

    some even laud the criminal for being strong and tough for picking on the stupid and the weak.

    Rarely does that happen.

    The problem with the "victim" attitude is the lack of personal responsibility and illusion of control. By putting the blame completely on the perp the victim appears completely helpless. That is often not true. There are many things a victim could do to avoid the situation. In this case a little more research could have avoided the issue. Being a powerless victim can lead to depression and suicide. The other issue is the illusion of control. I can only control myself, and sometimes not very well at that. I have no control over what other people do. When I get into an issue all I can do is figure out what I can do in the future to avoid other situations. All we are doing is explaining what could be done in the future to avoid such scams.

    just take solace in the knowledge there are a hell of a lot of douchebags out there like yourself who blame the victim all the fucking time

    There is a problem with using terms like "all the time". Most people do things "most of the time" and extremely rarely "all the time". Absolutes rarely apply. For example I doubt many people would blame an innocent bystander who was killed in a drive by shooting. Each instance has to be analyzed on it's own merits.

    Sorry but your idea of the victim always being blameless and the perp always being completely to blame does not work in the real world.

    there should be a morality iq test in this world.

    There are different morals in the world. Your seem to be that there are powerless, innocent victims and powerful, evil perps and nothing in between. Other people have different views. Personally I see victims that can learn from their or others' experiences and fight against the evil perps. Whose morality should we measure against?

  12. Re:We should stop using the word renewable on Costa Rica Goes 75 Days Powering Itself Using Only Renewable Energy · · Score: 1

    Since the concrete production is centralized, it can be sequestered on site, and concrete naturally re-absorbs that carbon over the decades.

    The same can be said for fossil fuel powered generators.

    since concrete production is a mere 1% or so of total CO2 output by the US

    Where does this number come from? All the articles I have seen put that number at 5% of world CO2 emissions.

    concrete naturally re-absorbs that carbon over the decades.

    How much does it absorb and what consequences?

    So, how much calcium dioxide is absorbed in concrete and how long does it take? The answer is that we do not know.

    Here is a quote from the article you referenced;

    The exact amount of emissions depends greatly on site-specific characteristics. However, current estimates suggest that life-cycle emissions can be over 0.5 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour [5,6].

    To put this into context, estimates of life-cycle global warming emissions for natural gas generated electricity are between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour and estimates for coal-generated electricity are 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour [7].

    The 0.5 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour for hydro is not one tenth that of the 0.6-2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour of natural gas.

  13. Re:And now why this can not be done in the USofA on Costa Rica Goes 75 Days Powering Itself Using Only Renewable Energy · · Score: 1

    The problem is in america, we are still stuck on the idea of Big Energy large grids covering the nation.

    There is a reaso behind that; 81% of the US polulation lives in urban/suburban environments. Small communities make up a very small proportion of the US population.

    The main reason larger installations are used is called economy of scale. As things get bigger they generally get cheaper. Sure one could run a lot of smaller installations but they would be more expensive and less reliable. Why do we have such a big grid? Reliability. As one plant goes down for immanence there is always another to take up the slack.

  14. Re:We should stop using the word renewable on Costa Rica Goes 75 Days Powering Itself Using Only Renewable Energy · · Score: 1

    Then there is a case to be made for Hydro electricity not being NCE. First the huge amounts of concrete involved that take lots of emissions and the area that used to be covered with foliage that is now under water and no longer sequestering CO2. Then there is the fact that many dams silt up and have reduced capacity or do not work after a number of decades,

  15. Re:There is no evidence Mars One is not sincere on Mars One Delayed 2 Years, CEO Releases Video In Response To Criticism · · Score: 1

    There is no evidence Mars One is not sincere in their attempts.

    How about this quote from an article dated March 16 2015.

    So, here are the facts as we understand them: Mars One has almost no money. Mars One has no contracts with private aerospace suppliers who are building technology for future deep-space missions. Mars One has no TV production partner. Mars One has no publicly known investment partnerships with major brands. Mars One has no plans for a training facility where its candidates would prepare themselves. Mars One’s candidates have been vetted by a single person, in a 10-minute Skype interview.

    What more evidence do you need?

    Lets look at the article "refuting" the criticisms.

    This is simply a polite request asking them to continue their support of Mars One, as they are now very close to being part of their project.

    The subtext being that if they do not donate they will become less " close to being part of their project".

    Even though it would be desirable that Mars One corrected every false statement, they cannot be held responsible for how the media interpret and phrase their reports about Mars One.

    For statements like this it is the responsability of Mars One to correct such big misconceptions. But they will not as te false information helps them.

    Whether they completed the application process to the video stage may be where you begin to see different numbers.

    So anyone who clicked on "apply here" is counted in their numbers. That is completely skewing the numbers and they know it.

    It would have consumed inordinate amounts of time and money to go through rigorous testing for 660 Round 2 candidates.

    It is strange that the couple of million dollars to interview 600 candidates is too high but the 3,000 time that amount to get to Mars is not. They also told round 2 candidates there would be interview and then changed. That is a classic bait and switch.

    The primary source of finance is to be an investment firm in the first stages of the mission (leading up to and including the first manned mission).

    Where is this investment firm? Why won't you name them? Do they even exist?

    The $6 billion in revenue was never stated to be entirely funded from one source.

    While this is factually true, it plays on the use of absolutes. If even 0.1% of revenue comes from other sources that statement is true. According to the Mars One site their major sources of income would be Media and IP. Notice they never say just how much they expect to receive from each source. They just show the numbers for the Olympics. Had they shown the number for Big Brother it would be more accurate.

    Scam implies profit. If Mars One is a scam, show who you think is getting rich.

    The executives running Mars one are getting paid an unknown amount.

    Show who is being cheated/harmed when all of the candidates are participating voluntarily and are aware of the low probability of success?

    Here are some things and people being harmed;
    Other space programs who's funding is being wasted on Mars One.
    Future similar projects will always have to deal with the "Mars One" stigma.
    Any future large crowd funding will have to deal with the "Mars One" stigma.
    Anyone who was ever on the list will be ridiculed for falling for the "Mars One" scam.

  16. Re:Also apparently causes bee colony collapse... on WHO Report Links Weed Killer Ingredient To Cancer Risk · · Score: 1

    I guess you didn't read the summary of the first study;

    There were no significant effects from glyphosate observed in brood survival, development, and mean pupal weight. Additionally, there were no biologically significant levels of adult mortality observed in any glyphosate treatment group.

  17. Re:It is time to get up one way or the other on Obama: Maybe It's Time For Mandatory Voting In US · · Score: 1

    A government is not allowed to fix prices in a free market but they can institute competition laws. The problem was the car companies were competing unfairly so the government chose to not allow them to compete. What would your suggestion be for a replacement law?

  18. Re:Future? on Lyft CEO: Self-Driving Cars Aren't the Future · · Score: 1

    You might have some points, but none of the issues you raise are show-stoppers.

    How about these?
    Inability to find road edge without pre-scanning and/or a white line
    Inability to differentiate between a plastic bag and a rock on the road.
    Inability to operate when road covered in snow or ice
    Inability to operate at night in heavy rain.

    Other companies' cars could as far back as 2013 detect those things in real-time on their first exposure to the road.

    Detection is only part of the issue. Differentiation is the issue. Currently all the Google car can detect is a blob of pixels. That blob could be a mailbox, a child, a policeman, a deer, an elderly person, etc. A driver reacts to these items differently. Since the car can not differentiate between them it reacts the same. One of the reasons the roads have to be pree-scanned is so the Google car can differentiate between stationary objects and people who just happen to be standing still. By the way, could you supply references to these other companies' cars that could detect those things?

    That will only get better, making your concerns less valid as time goes on.

    As I said it is a matter of time. The crux being how much time.

    it's just round the corner.

    How long have flying cars and fusion power been "just around the corner"?

  19. Re:It is time to get up one way or the other on Obama: Maybe It's Time For Mandatory Voting In US · · Score: 1

    I guess nowhere else in the world had Henry Ford using unfair business practices to drive out competition.

  20. Re:Space for solar hasn't been much of a concern on Deploying Solar In California's Urban Areas Could Meet Demand Five Times Over · · Score: 1

    Pumped storage:
    Each pumped storage installation has a limit on the amount of electricity it can draw or supply and a limit on the total amount of electricity it can supply before the reservoirs run dry. What happens of there is 200MW of extra power generated and only 100MW of pumped storage available? What if there is 200MW of demand and only 100MW of pumped storage available. What if there is any demand and the pumped storage high reservoirs are dry? Capacity has a big impact on the

    Do you finally agree that you only have use for significant amount of storage when un dispatchable production reaches (or exceeds) the 80% to 100% range, or not?

    I would say 70%-100% depending on the ramping ability of local conventional producers (natural gas ramps much faster than coal) would cause a problem. Considering this article is talking about producing 500% of demand do you see how their "solution" could be a problem?

  21. Because neither you nor other /. where talking about the 500%

    Read the third post in this thread

    The article touts producing 500% of daytime need. See the problem with the "solution"?

    For a grid to work you don't need significant more storage than any 'grid in good shape' already has.

    Ever seen the duck graph. Basically it shows how the drop off in solar near sunset can cause a requirement for very rapid switching to conventional power. Conventional generators have a limit on how fast they can ramp up. If the conventional plants can not ramp fast enough the grid collapses. Storage can extend this ramping period so that it is not so steep and conventional plants can handle it.

  22. Re:Then ID would be required on Obama: Maybe It's Time For Mandatory Voting In US · · Score: 1

    According to this Australia is also moving to showing documents to support a voter's identity.

  23. Re:It is time to get up one way or the other on Obama: Maybe It's Time For Mandatory Voting In US · · Score: 1

    Or the idiotic idea that car companies may not have their own shops

    That law came about because car makers were selling through dealers until the dealers established a market in an area. Then the car companies would open a dealership in the same area, undercut the dealer prices and drive them out of business. Tesla does not meet that model because they do not have dealers to undercut. That does not mean that the original law was stupid.

  24. Re:Not sure how to feel about this on Uber Shut Down In Multiple Countries Following Raids · · Score: 1

    Uber drivers *can* pickup street fares, but you still have to request and pay through the app.

    You too may need to do some research.

    “Our technology platform is used to connect riders and drivers through our lead generation software. Any solicitation independent from the app is strictly prohibited. We communicate this to all driver partners,” said Uber spokesman Taylor Bennett.

    Moreover, Uber’s insurance policy applies only to rides that are digitally booked, raising liability and public safety issues.

    When a ride is requested by a person picked up before the request is put in it may not go to the same driver. Another car may be dispatched to that location.

    There is also no non-compete clause (because they are contractors) so they can work for Lyft and Sidecar at the same time.

    The US Courts are hearing cases on whether drivers are employees or contractors.

    I guess I was wrong about not working for multiple companies. Though that may change with the rulings about being an employee.

    By the way, if you investigated so thoroughly then why no references?

  25. Re:Oligopoly on Uber Shut Down In Multiple Countries Following Raids · · Score: 1

    "But we were talking about UberX!!".

    I am talking about Uber as a whole. Uber does follow some of the rules some of the time but they ignore the rules they choose to ignore.