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User: DigitalGoetz

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Comments · 26

  1. Re:They don't want to on Congress's Techno-Ignorance No Longer Funny · · Score: 1

    In politics, sanity seems to be a hindrance more than a benefit. It seems that when someone makes a mistake, they are trapped along 3 major paths: accept the blame and have it destroy your career, blame someone else and destroy their career, or find an "expert" who will agree with you and use him as a scapegoat and destroy his career. Experienced politicians seem to have learned the safest route is the third option.

    Did I miss anything?

  2. Re:nice hack on US Sentinel Drone Fooled Into Landing With GPS Spoofing · · Score: 2

    It's a simple and cunning means of scooping up years and billions of dollars of research. The fact that it was so easily captured is simply the blind faith that the military and intelligence community put into GPS systems. It's been reported a few times now that there are methods of exploiting, or at least disabling, GPS for certain regions. It's just sad that the billions of dollars didn't include someone as crafty as the Iranian engineer or engineers who came up with the drone-trap plan.

  3. Re:Disappointed on Predator Drone Helps Nab Cattle Rustlers · · Score: 1

    I'm just waiting for the "Cow Tipping Ring busted by Predator B drone" headline.

  4. Re:Citation please on NTSB Recommends Cell Phone Ban For Drivers · · Score: 1

    Actually, driving kills so many people, we should outlaw any machinery that can be driven. Then we could finally be free of all driver-related injuries/deaths. Even the global warming crowd could get in on the less burning of fossil fuels and the conservatives couldn't deny the sheer volume of jobs created by the newly bolstered rickshaw industry! It's the perfect solution!

  5. Re:Why do people bag yard waste? on Should Composting Be Mandatory In US Cities? · · Score: 1

    Some cities have ordinances against "garbage" left out in view. They tend to consider leaves/branches in large piles as reasonable enough to collect fees (taxes) from.

  6. Re:Ready, fire, aim on Anonymous Threatens Robin Hood Attacks Against Banks · · Score: 1

    Ah, good point. I hadn't thought about those accounts and you're correct in that anonymous is dubious at best in their skill regarding differentiating those they steal from.

  7. Re:Quote Investigator to the rescue! on Does Open Source Software Cost Jobs? · · Score: 1

    Because we're in a recession and those private firms would cost orders of magnitude greater than utilizing the US military (which is already doing construction for other countries.) I'm not saying that this is something that should be standard procedures for our country, but our infrastructure is in dire need of some repair. Basically, I do agree that we should have private industry perform these tasks, if our taxes are already tasking our military to build infrastructure... why not have it be on our own soil?

  8. Unreasonable regulation on Should Composting Be Mandatory In US Cities? · · Score: 1

    I can see how certain cities can see a value in regulating their citizens to recycle/compost certain items. I just can't see how this will work in certain area's especially like NYC where people have such small living areas already. Will they be required to keep a compost heap within their apartments, or just haul it to the roof for a communal heap?

    I just dont think it would be feasible for people who don't own any outdoor property to fulfill this type of directive. When I lived in Queens, I did own outdoor property, but it consisted of approximately 4 square feet in front of my apartment that already was taken up by a bush. Perhaps composting is much more complicated than I've been led to believe, but then this just becomes a money saving venture for the city (which won't lead to a tax break) and more work for it's citizens.

  9. Re:Ready, fire, aim on Anonymous Threatens Robin Hood Attacks Against Banks · · Score: 1

    Wait, you store your actual cash inside a credit account? I thought that savings/checking accounts stored your money and credit lines were simply lines of accounting that you borrowed against and paid back (sometimes with interest/fees) at a later date.

    That said, if you get a credit card statement later in the month, you'll still have your checking/savings money to pay your bills and just dispute the credit card statement PRIOR to paying it in full. I mean, if you get a statement that says you owe $15 trillion dollars you're not going to go "well, guess I'll just mail the banks all that I have for now and hope i can pay it off before the sun explodes." No way. You'll call your credit card company or bank and dispute those fraudulent charges then and there.

  10. Re:See. Patents/Copyright spur innovation. on Patent Expires On Best Selling Drug of All Time · · Score: 1

    I'd rather see my government throw a few hundred million on clinical trials that lead to cheap and effective medicines than let it throw billions away on innane military ventures.

    Actually, for every dollar wasted in Iraq and Afghanistan I would bet we could have been closer to curing many currently uncurable diseases. Close to 1 trillion dollars put into research can go a remarkably long way.

  11. Re:I don't see what's to stop... on Civilian Use of Drone Aircraft May Soon Fly In the US · · Score: 1

    For once, a great means of spending my tax dollars! Effective law enforcement with a hint of zazz!

  12. Re:Quote Investigator to the rescue! on Does Open Source Software Cost Jobs? · · Score: 1

    Well, if we assume they had (for example) 1 million dollars. Did they spend it on a few roads, or buy 1 million dollars worth of signs?

    The a few roads in my area that have the signs still look like they did 5 years ago and no work has been done on them (that I can see.) Most do look fixed/repaired/new, but there are at least 3 that look terrible.

  13. Re:Quote Investigator to the rescue! on Does Open Source Software Cost Jobs? · · Score: 1

    Or better yet, slash entitlement spending and only cut down military actions on foreign soil and diminish. Put the armed forces to work here in America what they're trying to do elsewhere: building infrastructure.

    I know... that's not all they're doing in Iraq/Afganistan, but the military is filled with already-paid, able-bodied men and women who could be tasked at doing labor that results in improved quality throughout the country. Add to that the fact that those throngs of men and women would be earning money that would be spent inside America it would certainly aid the smaller towns that they would be working around. It's just a terrible idea that would never work, however....

  14. Re:Quote Investigator to the rescue! on Does Open Source Software Cost Jobs? · · Score: 1

    There will always be lobbyists.

  15. Re:No on Will NASA Ever Recover Apollo 13's Plutonium From the Ocean · · Score: 1

    Like throwing a glass of water into the ocean.

    Let there be no confusion... all those stars toss more radiation than our little toys.

  16. Re:Why do you want to be hired? on How Does a Self-Taught Computer Geek Get Hired? · · Score: 1

    Following this, you can also build a fairly decent portfolio quickly by finding local businesses that seem to be doing well in their area, but dont have any website. In every town I've lived in from Philadelphia to rural Ohio, there are tons of businesses that do well, but are hesitant to make the jump into the internet. I'm not saying that you make them an internet business platform, but even a simple, well-designed site that can provide their business some internet presence.

    This is usually a simple task and those businesses (especially in smaller towns) have friends in other businesses that they'll gladly recommend your services to (if you do a decent/good job.)

    The biggest task in "How to get hired" is two areas: Education and Experience. You idealy should have both, but one can often suffice for the other. Many companies are afraid of hiring new grads because they have 0 experience, and with that constant feeling throughout the majority of hiring companies, you could get a foot in the door if you simply have a body of work that PROVES your experience (they dont want to hear how good you are in interviews, they'd much rather SEE your work in action.)

  17. Re:Corporate Dead Pool 2012 on AT&T Stops T-Mobile Merger Bid With the FCC · · Score: 1

    If Apple computers are a certain % higher than the average PC, would they also have similar pricing plans for their phone network?

    That could be quite scary as a current T-Mobile subscriber. I'd hate my $60 / month bill going into the 200 / month range.

  18. Re:Corporate Dead Pool 2012 on AT&T Stops T-Mobile Merger Bid With the FCC · · Score: 1

    And they were the first adopter of Android phones with the HTC Dream (G1)

  19. Re:Corporate Dead Pool 2012 on AT&T Stops T-Mobile Merger Bid With the FCC · · Score: 1

    Even those without any technical backgrounds, even those who can't set the time on their microwaves, and even those who still double-click url links in internet explorer... all of these people will still buy a "dual core" phone over a "single core" due to the nature of advertising. More numbers is better and that's why so many people buy items that are overkill for their needs. Sort of like people who buy sports cars that can go X mph for casual driving while the speed limit caps out at X/2. It's the sheer power of bigger is better.

  20. Re:not terminators...yet on Robots To Patrol South Korean Prisons · · Score: 1

    Make Love (bots), not War (bots)!

  21. Re:Too bad, cable needs competition on Netflix Expects To Be Unprofitable In 2012 · · Score: 1

    I think the problem also arises that many of the newer content that Netflix may want, is in some manner owned (either via corporate connections or already outbid streaming licenses) by the cable companies. They, in turn, want to kill off Netflix and feed their own streaming services. All in all, I do like netflix and it's pricing scheme (even the new cost increase is affordable) but I simply can't see them outlasting the deep-pocketed Cable companies.

    Either they'll dwindle in numbers of subscribers or simply be bought outright, we'll be paying 50+ for the same service Netflix provides right now in a few years time.

  22. Re:Netflix pissed off all the whiny brats on Netflix Expects To Be Unprofitable In 2012 · · Score: 2

    If you pay a mere pittance for a service, and it goes from that to a paltry sum... it's still cheap. Sure my netflix went from 8 to still under 20, the only basic cable package in my area went from 20 per month in 2001 to it's current 140 per month.
    Netflix may not work for some, but it cant match the greed exhibited by your average local-monopoly cable providers.

  23. Re:expensive cupcakes on Baker Has to Make 102,000 Cupcakes For Grouponers · · Score: 2

    To be fair, the 99% over this last decade spent a lot of their money getting these overpriced snacks/drinks while filling the coffers of the 1%.

  24. Re:I blame Norquist on Debt Reduction Super Committee Fails To Agree · · Score: 1

    So, trickle-down economics works? We funnel as much money into Defense Contractors (corporations) and they'll invest that money in hiring more people state-side and pay the U.S. tax on that money earned in foreign lands? I'm not sure on that, but I think they'll keep their current employees and sure, they might hire a few more, but I doubt it will make a grand change in unemployment here. Also, do we (the U.S.) receive any taxes from the money earned on contracts performed on foreign soil?

  25. Re:Looser? on Pakistan Bans 1600 Words and Phrases For Texting · · Score: 1

    I think Gadget_Guy meant why the list only included Jesus Christ and not the whole slew of other contemporary dieties. That said, I totally look forward to the world getting an influx of imported Urdu slang. The only way they can truly curb this is to perform a 100% 1984 move and just turn that list of 1600 words and replace it with a list of ONLY 1600 speakable/writable worlds. Even then, the almighty innuendo will fight the good fight.