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User: Lil'wombat

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Comments · 169

  1. Re:advanced financial modeling on Finance, Scientific Users Get ActivePython Updates · · Score: 1

    ActivePython is just another CPython Distribution. Previously, the SciPy and NumPy libraries were modules were only found 'pre-compiled' in the Enthough Python Distribution. Now when I download ActivePython I have two fewer modules to hunt down. In the windows world, it is a pain to try and build scipy and numpy. It's not enough to have the correct version of C and C++, you need a Fortran compiler as well.

  2. Re:Yup. on Homer Simpson Named Greatest TV Character · · Score: 1

    Vir will forever have a place in my heart for this quote:

    Ambassador Vir Cotto: I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look up into your lifeless eyes and wave like this.
    [waves]
    Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?

  3. Re:All for it on Thumbprints Used To Check Books Out of School Library · · Score: 1

    I'm less concerned about faking my prints than I am about false matches. How accurate is this scan and hash method? They only need to lift a fingerprint at a murder scene, run it through the same process and match it to the large database of former US public school students to generate a list of "Persons of Interest" and suddenly you have your life turned upside down.

  4. Re:And nothing of value is lost on UK Newspaper Websites To Become Nearly Invisible · · Score: 1

    The subscription price is really just to offset the distribution cost. Someone looked at the New York Times distribution costs and determined that they could buy a kindle for every person who subscribes or buys an issue from the newsstand with the money used for distribution and STILL save money in one year!

  5. Re:Technology is not the problem on Recrafting Government As an Open Platform · · Score: 1

    Repeal the 17th? Really?

    I'm from Illinois where Roland Burris was appointed to fill Obama's vacant senate seat by a then under investigation governor/ since then impeached with his trial slated to start next month. So leaving the senate process at the state legislature level would just be a disaster in some states.

  6. Re:Technology is not the problem on Recrafting Government As an Open Platform · · Score: 1

    The USPS sucks for many reasons not the least of which is a strong union that blocks any changes to improve efficiency.

    Other more compelling reason include:

    Universal Service - The post office must deliver everywhere, 6 days a week.
    Postal Regulations - Any changes to postal regulations must go through a convoluted approval process with testimony, federal register publishing, Postal Rate Commission and Board of Governors approval required.
    Congress - 535 people with a vested interest in making sure none of the jobs/pensions/benefits/etc are lost in their district.

  7. Re:Technology is not the problem on Recrafting Government As an Open Platform · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The problem I have with Parties is not the designation on the ballot, but the fact that the two parties have written all of the election laws effectively preventing other parties from being on the ballot.

  8. Re:Exploration on Where Were You When PLATO Was Born? · · Score: 1

    You had "Wrong. Try Again". The luxury! In Physics 107 at UofI we got the most basic prompt "No"

  9. Good Luck with that. on Developer-Friendly Banks? · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Banking thrives on secrecy. That last thing they want are outsiders poking around with their data and protocols - lord know what you might find. You best bet would be to hit up the next bank president you come across on the golf course (private - not public). Barring that you could try dealing with one of the online banks like ING or perhaps a credit union?

  10. Re:Why use an unknown AV program? on Fake Antivirus Peddlers Outpacing Real AV Firms · · Score: 1

    You know if you keep the blinker fluid topped off, you can avoid the brake fluid flush as the systems are linked. As a benefit, you won't have problem of a slow blinker. And the Zafren rockers - make sure those get lubed every 7,000 miles.

  11. Re:Global economy baby ! on Supreme Court To Consider First Sale of Imports · · Score: 1

    What's the problem with that? I'll keep it with my citizenship paperwork and my medical records and dna profile.

  12. Re:They pay the bills, so STFU on Website Mass-Bans Users Who Mention AdBlock · · Score: 1

    Ad systems could be developed that inject static content into the page and are transparent to the browser

    Actually if they did this, I'd have less of an issue with ads. My big beef is when a page view is held up because the 3rd party ad server in outer Mongolia has a 5 sec ping time. If the ads were served by the site itself, it would mean the site admins had some level of control or review.

    True marketing is about making a connection with your customer. Better Homes and Gardens doesn't take ads sight unseen from unknown parties. Web site interested in maintaining a community would be wise maintain some element of editorial control over their branding.

    If I'm shoving ads to doubleclick et.al. and paying for eyeballs, do I really care about to whom I'm advertising? If I accept ads from those same bozos, what does it say about how I value my visitors?

  13. Re:The Microsoft way! on Microsoft Refuses To Patch Rootkit-Compromised XP Machines · · Score: 2, Funny

    So this is a vendor software issue? Those rootkit developers should have a better testing process. I'm not going to go to all of the trouble of rooting 100k servers just to have my botnet BSOD on the next update. I demand a refund

  14. Re:Hmm... on Tracking Water Molecules Could Unlock Secrets · · Score: 4, Informative

    Maybe. Check out this explanation:

    http://www.howdoeshomeopathywork.com/

  15. Re:No "find" and "grep"? on Learning and Maintaining a Large Inherited Codebase? · · Score: 1

    THIS is why I read slashdot! I learn something new that will save me tons of aggrivation. Thank You.

  16. How far does this go? on Amazon Pulls Book Publisher's Listings; Ebook Wars Underway? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I wonder how far Amazon will take this? Since the retail book industry is essentially consignment sales, does Amazon have the option to return all Macmillian books in inventory as unsold? What about pre-orders for unreleased books? Now Macmillian is owned by Simon and Schuster which is a division of CBS.

    Will Amazon expand their conflict to all Simon and Schuster Titles?

    Maybe stop selling CBS and Viacom products as well. (DVD and CD's)?

    This could get real interesting, real fast. FYI: Amazon stock closed at $125 friday, CBS at $12.93

  17. Re:WTF is up with the summary? on Another Crumbling Reactor Springs a Tritium Leak · · Score: 4, Funny

    The words "crumbling," "decrepit" and "poorly run" are pretty loaded, especially referring to levels of tritium around half the limit found on site, and no detectable levels off site.

    But in his defense, he did refer to Illinois, and those three words should be the state motto.

  18. Re:Science Fiction? on Avatar Soars Into $1-Billion Territory · · Score: 1

    South Park said it best: Dances with Smurfs

  19. Re:Strange... on Is Early Childhood Education Technology Moving Backwards? · · Score: 1

    Have any of you people used a PLATO terminal? Physics 107 at U of I. Oh the pain, the pain of it all.

  20. Re:Burden on NY Times, LA Times Want Amazon To Collect More State Taxes · · Score: 1

    The solution to this is even more insidious. Let Amazon and others be required to provide a list of product shipments, and sales amounts to addresses and let the various taxing entities collect the use tax/sales tax from the recipient. That way the governments get their money and our privacy is destroyed!

  21. Re: on NY Times, LA Times Want Amazon To Collect More State Taxes · · Score: 1

    Admit it this is just a petty swipe at liberals and linux. Your still an idiot.

    You are still an idiot.

    Fixed that for you.

  22. Re:How do you think it works in the EU ? on NY Times, LA Times Want Amazon To Collect More State Taxes · · Score: 1

    Yes, and there are several counties that have come into existence since the last update. 10 years is bit too infrequent for a business.

    The 2002 TIGER/Line files include files for all counties and statistically equivalent entities in the United States as well as files for Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. The 2002 TIGER/Line files are released by county or statistically equivalent entity based on the current boundaries in effect as of January 1, 2002 as reported to the Census Bureau by April 1, 2002. Since Census 2000 there have been changes in the universe of counties or statistically equivalent entities. In Colorado, Broomfield County was created from parts of Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld Counties. This change has resulted in the creation of a separate TIGER/Line file for Broomfield County, Colorado. In Virginia, the independent city of Clifton Forge changed its status to become Clifton Forge town and is now part of Alleghany County, Virginia; it appears in the Alleghany County, Virginia TIGER/Line file. Beginning with the 2002 TIGER/Line files, the Census Bureau no longer will produce a TIGER/Line file for the Midway Islands.

  23. Re:Who's Steve Dahl on Your Opinion Counts At CNN — But Should It? · · Score: 3, Informative

    Close. Steve Dahl is a former #1 rated daytime talk radio host turned weekly columnist for the Chicago Tribune when his the balance of his contract was bought out and a non-compete in place during a radio format change. His contribution to history was the 1979 riot at Cominsky Park during a double header intermission. The riot occurred during the Disco Demolition entertainment event when a large pile of records (discounted admission if you brought a record) was exploded in center field.

    I think Steve Dahl would agree that your statement is only 2/3rds correct.

    a better statement

    A professional idiot with a Mac and a DSL

  24. Re:Some More Names to Consider on What Belongs In a High School Sci-Fi/Fantasy Lit Class? · · Score: 1

    ADIAMANTE. Best Book Ever.

  25. Re:Where was this class for me? on What Belongs In a High School Sci-Fi/Fantasy Lit Class? · · Score: 1

    Lord Foul's Bane? Really. I'll give you that the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Non-Believer is a fantastic series, I almost didn't read it because LFB was such a crappy book.