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  1. Re:Should we? on Could We Abort a Manned Mission To Mars? · · Score: 1

    It will be done, but should it be the USA?

    When we went to the moon, we were deep into a PR battle with the USSR. There was a general perception that they were beating us in space. We rallied our enthusiasm and resources and took the Great Leap- sending humans to the moon. We got lucky.

    Now we are the leaders in space. We have nothing to prove. Others; India, China, Europe, Russia--are eager to demonstrate their prowess.

    Let them. Lives are expendable in many parts of the world. The rewards justify the risks in some places. Anyone who might perish will be remembered as a hero around the world.

    But the failure of a US mission would be costly to our worldwide image and to taxpayers. Others will take up the challenge. Let the US support them, encourage them, and stand aside.

  2. Re:Science vs scientist on How Our Botched Understanding of "Science" Ruins Everything · · Score: 1

    Science doesn't always work to the high standards I mentioned. I have a personal interest in some medical research. Unfortunately much of that is supported by drug manufacturers. Their interest is to prove as rapidly as possible that their new drug works and has few undesirable side effects. The research that they pay for is not to DISPROVE anything. And there is nobody with the major investment available to seek a truthful assessment of the drug.

    To the extent that someone wants to PROVE something, science will be undermined.

  3. differentiating science on How Our Botched Understanding of "Science" Ruins Everything · · Score: 1

    This explanation may be helpful to some in explaining a common approach to science:

    A scientist has an idea about reality, which she carefully states as a theory. She performs experiments in an effort to DISPROVE her theory. After many experiments, if the theory isn't disproven, she publishes her theory and others will attempt to DISPROVE the theory. If it survives all these tests, it begins to gain respect and may someday be accepted as fact by educated people.

    A non-scientist has an idea about reality, and without ever making a defining statement of the idea, proceeds to look for proof that it is true. Contrary evidence will probably be ignored.

  4. um yes, but will it ... on Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave · · Score: 1
  5. yes, but will it... on Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave · · Score: 1
  6. please be specific on Ask Slashdot: Is iOS 8 a Pig? · · Score: 1

    It's been 4 days since the exhaustive Ars review of iOS 8 was discussed here
      http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/09/17/1553225/ios-8-review/
    Have you compared your experience with theirs?
    Did you notice the methodical way in which they examined each aspect of performance?

    As already stated, your specific device should be mentioned, as well as the conditions under which you are experiencing problems. If a particular app or group of apps are giving you problems, they should be specified. You seem to be pro-Apple, so don't just let this vague complaint hang there.

  7. looking down on Chinese City Sets Up "No Cell Phone" Pedestrian Lanes · · Score: 1

    So instead of looking down at their devices, they are looking down at the signs on the sidewalk; and taking photos of them. A questionable improvement.

  8. California incentive on Direct Sales OK Baked Into Nevada's $1.3 Billion Incentive Deal With Tesla · · Score: 1

    In a recent debate with the Republican candidate for governor, Governor Brown had to defend his business incentive policies. Particularly the loss of the battery factory. He simply stated that the incentives that Tesla demanded were too much of a burden on taxpayers in CA. Now we know that he was probably correct.

  9. older & newer studies... on "Eskimo Diet" Lacks Support For Better Cardiovascular Health · · Score: 1

    By the '70s, the Eskimos were already eating Twinkies like the rest of us. The important study of aboriginal diets, including Eskimos, was that of Dr. Robert Price in the early 1900s. This study was conducted when Eskimos were still consuming traditional foods. You can learn more about this at the still vibrant Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation ( http://ppnf.org/ ).

    In addition, you may wish to read the cover story of Time magazine which says to Eat Butter. Dr. Atkins advised this over 30 years ago and 30,000,000 people benefited by following his advice. Eat fat, avoid carbohydrates- simple advice but the medical establishment still supports General Mills, Kellogg, and the Wonder Bread lookalikes.

  10. Re:Cash and checks on Credit Card Breach At P.F. Chang's · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "I use credit cards for 99% of my purchases. That way I avoid the issue of dealing with change and refilling on cash. I've never been held responsible for a fraudulent charge."

      - OTOH, I use CASH for 90% of my purchases. Only one retailer (a major online company) knows my card number and they are unlikely to leak it. Similarly I have no revealing 'loyalty cards' for grocery & drug store purchases.

    So my wallet is much thinner than yours and I have little fear of identity theft. I carry $200-$400 at all times. If it is stolen, I will be unhappy but not as much as if my identity is stolen.

    I don't think it's anyone's business if I purchase adult diapers or pron or medicines or alcohol. Should I reveal that in return for 'rewards'? You will have to decide for yourself if you want to advertise your lifestyle in exquisite detail to worldwide data marketers.

  11. ""I'm curious whether there are good prospects for 'time capsule encryption,' one of several ways of storing information that renders it inaccessible to anyone until certain conditions â" such as the passage of time â" are met?"

    The motivation for this question is vague. It could be that the OP has information about a criminal element that she wants released if she suffers an untimely death. It could be that the OP has solved the problem of nuclear fusion but is not ready to share it yet. The motivation is so vague that there is no way to address the question coherently - let's assume it's just for releasing info at a much later time.

    'Time capsule' - I attended a time capsule burial a while back. Someone will dig it up in 100 years. It contains a variety of stuff- printed text, objects & some digital material. The digital stuff will probably be indecipherable with equipment available in the year 2108. The 'time capsule' concept might still be best despite our gravitation to digital and the 'cloud'. Encryption will not be necessary.

    Printed text on quality paper should be good for well over 100 years. Physical materials might be the best way to preserve the message. A physical location might be the best place. A simple timer that sets off a weak explosion that exposes the trove might be ideal. Locate the capsule thoughtfully- not in downtown London, not in Antarctica, not in the Mariana Trench. Protect the payload from the elements. The timer & explosives need to survive the time you set. You might offer hints to potentially interested parties about the locale and timing of the release of your important capsule.

    But before you go to all this trouble you should ask yourself- what information do you have that might matter to people in the future? Is this just an ego stunt or something that might really benefit someone in that time?

  12. hype on New Car Can Lean Into Curves, Literally · · Score: 1

    The car is designed to ride ~5 inches above the road surface. A normal car like this might tilt 2 degrees in a curve, toward the outside of the curve, causing that part of the car to be ~4 inches from the road surface. This Mercedes could conceivably tilt 2 degrees toward the inside of the curve, causing that part of the car to be about 4 inches from the road.

    The total difference between the tilt of a normal car and this Mercedes is perhaps 2 inches. Not at all like a motorcycle tilt in the same curve, in fact probably not detectable by the driver except for the cost of the extra complexity.

  13. our greatest hopes on Why NASA's Budget "Victory" Is Anything But · · Score: 0

    "... putting our greatest dreams of exploring and understanding the Universe on hold."

    You talkin' to me white boy?

    It may surprise some that not everyone has high falutin' dreams about space exploration. Some people would be happy with a safe place to sleep, relief from disease, or a hot meal. Until those dreams are fulfilled for every human, space can wait.

  14. Re:SSC? on The Brakes That Stop a 1,000 MPH Bloodhound SSC · · Score: 1

    irritating summary

    And what is the braking problem? Whatever an SSC is, it will stop by itself eventually. Or, perhaps someone wants it to stop within a particular distance; but of course speed and mass would have to be considered in addition to materials technology and heat dissipation.

    Neither the summary nor the comments seem to offer a holistic picture of the problem (if there is one) or a solution. If you expect readers to follow three links to piece this together, count me out.

  15. WEST Antarctica ? on Scientists Warn of Rising Oceans As Antarctic Ice Melts · · Score: 1

    Help me out here. In my ignorance, I imagine Antarctica as a disk with a pole near its center. How do I find the Western part? Or the Eastern part? Uh, the Northern part??

  16. blinding me with science on Study: Earthlings Not Ready For Alien Encounters, Yet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    - The scientific community now accepts to some degree -
    - a clinical neuropsychologist and human factors specialist -

    While some may prefer citations
    and some may prefer credentials that include some basic science skills,
    others will be happy to forge ahead with imaginative fantasies.

  17. where's the money? on Google's Project Ara Could Bring PC-Like Hardware Ecosystem To Phones · · Score: 1

    TFA doesn't explain what would motivate entrepreneurs to invest in this concept. Suppose you have a great idea for a module- are you willing to design & fabricate it for an unknown number of buyers? Not as easy as selling an app for a known market of millions.

  18. all thinkers are confused on Mathematicians Are Chronically Lost and Confused · · Score: 1

    Never trust the one who has the answers. The politician. The Preacher. The grammar school teacher. Seek those who have questions.

    I'm a writer and inventor, I hope to come to understand things with my writing. I may draw a concept in an attempt to understand it better. I have written programs to unravel mysteries (you've seen the 'game of life'?) I try to reserve judgement when presented with an obvious 'truth' on Slashdot (as most of you do !).

    Here's my email sig, feel free to share it:
    "Your life is not going to be easy, and it should not be easy. It ought to be hard. It ought to be radical, it ought to be restless, it ought to lead you to places you'd rather not go." - Henri Nouwen

  19. you heard the one about ... on Mathematicians Are Chronically Lost and Confused · · Score: 1

    the constipated mathematician ?

    He worked it out with a pencil.

  20. Atkins never promoted protein on Low-Protein Diet May Extend Lifespan · · Score: 2

    "opposite of what's urged by many human diet plans, including the popular Atkins Diet"

    Even Atkins followers seem to forget that it's not protein but FAT that is important in their diet. He clearly advised that excess protein will cause glucose to be created in your body and counteract the purpose of the diet.

  21. Re:Why single out Whole Foods? on Whole Foods: America's Temple of Pseudoscience · · Score: 1

    For every shopper with gluten intolerance there are 100 who are diabetic. How many low carb products do you find at Hole Foods? Diabetes is so yesterday -- gluten free is where it's at!

  22. long arm of the law... on Quebec Language Police Target Store Owner's Facebook Page · · Score: 1

    Quebec's irrational ide'e fixe reaches to Southern California and Mexico as well.

    Many products in local stores have packaging printed in two languages- French & English. In my American city we have roughly 10,000 Spanish speakers for every French speaker. In Tijuana the imbalance is more extreme.

    The language police have a long reach.

  23. what is it ? on Media Player Nightingale Reaches 1.12.1; First Release Since Songbird · · Score: 1

    I followed link after link at their site - forum, wiki, blog, etc. Lots of technical stuff for developers & fans. Not a word about what it is, what it does, why I might want to have it. No contact/feedback link. It is any wonder that open software lives in a dark corner of civilization?

  24. please skip this story on Spacesuit Problems Delay ISS Repair Spacewalk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Slashdotters are clever and generally well informed, but this is way out of your league.

    I'm trying to moderate today but the fact is that none of you know anything about space suits.
    Consider yourselves modded down one point.

    For many years, many well trained people have devoted time, energy and tons of money to devise a better space suit. It's hard to imagine even a very clever reader here having anything worth contributing to the issue. Please move on to a story where your comments will be competent.

  25. Re:Important details missing on Multivitamin Researchers Say 'Case Is Closed' As Studies Find No Health Benefits · · Score: 1

    Not just missing details, but overwhelming evidence: what about the hundreds of thousands of studies that say nutritional supplements are beneficial?

    These 3 studies (that we are not allowed to read) are a poor counter to existing data. Thanks also to PapayaSF for pointing out the distinction between RDA amounts that protect against immediate death, and "optimum level of supplementation".

    Finally, while I believe that there is something odd about the LEF founder, I believe that his organization is at the leading edge of research and formulation of useful nutrients.