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User: crazyjj

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  1. Re:A *lot* of microfinance is just a scam on Researchers Demo Hack Against African Micro-Finance Accounts · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I once heard someone say that you can tell how corrupt a charity is by the kind of car its director drives. If a charity's director is driving a new Mercedes, it's a pretty safe bet that most of your donations aren't going to feed hungry children. So now that's my rule of thumb for a charity: look into the intentions and lifestyles of the heads of the charity and you will probably see its true heart.

  2. A *lot* of microfinance is just a scam on Researchers Demo Hack Against African Micro-Finance Accounts · · Score: 3, Informative

    I know this is somewhat off-topic, but I was a big supporter of the whole micro-finance thing at one time myself. Sounds like a great idea and all, right? But then I saw former micro-financier Hugh Sinclair's BookTv segment and read his book and it opened my eyes to how much of this micro-finance fad has become a feeding ground for scammers, con men, and other vultures in the countries they're ostensibly supposed to be helping--and how much corruption there is in many of these "charitable" non-profits and financiers that sell the idea of micro-finance to well-meaning supporters.

    Again, I know it's not directly related to the hack. But every time micro-finance comes up, I like to point out this info--since the vast majority of people still think of the subject in very naive and rosy terms, oblivious to the deep corruption that has become so pervasive in its execution.

  3. Re:This is how it should be on The Top Paying Tech Companies For Interns · · Score: 1

    Wait, I thought everyone was supposed to work for free on some hippie FOSS project.

    [ducks]

  4. Like policians care on $616.57 Three Strikes Verdict Cost RIANZ $250,000 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Citizens see the cost situation like this:

    Cost to pursue and prosecute these cases -(is greater than)- The return in fines + the benefit to society.

    Politicians see it like this:

    Donations to my campaign from the media industries + Future support from my party -(is greater than)- Any backlash from voters about the cost

  5. Re:They are behind the schedule on IBM's Watson Goes To College To Extend Abilities · · Score: 1

    Eh, Cyberdyne is still faster than the Half-Life 3 development team.

  6. Re:Really? Extend? on IBM's Watson Goes To College To Extend Abilities · · Score: 1

    I wonder what frat he'll pledge.

  7. Re:How about just not naming them real names? on How Videogames Help Fund the Arms Industry · · Score: 2

    I hate to let you in on a little-spoken-of secret, but a LOT of those Medal of Honor stories (especially the ones awarded posthumously) are...ahem..."exaggerated."

  8. Re:Who's dropping the ball? on FTC Gets 744 New Ideas On How To Hang Up On Robocallers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The feds and ISP's are too busy busting kids for downloading movies in their dorm rooms.

  9. Re:Google Voice call screening on FTC Gets 744 New Ideas On How To Hang Up On Robocallers · · Score: 1

    Or how they disguise their sales pitch as a "survey" to use THAT loophole.

  10. Why I got rid of the land line on FTC Gets 744 New Ideas On How To Hang Up On Robocallers · · Score: 1

    It also helps to never give out your cell # except to friends and family. I found that a lot of the businesses I was giving my phone number to were somehow passing it along to telemarketers (I could tell because sometimes I would vary my name slightly just to see).

  11. Re:A James Randi reality show? on Interviews: Ask James Randi About Investigating the Truth · · Score: 1

    Thank god we still at least have Mythbusters. With Bullshit gone, if we lose Mythbusters it will be the end of any voice of reason in the sea of pseudoscientific and paranormal hogwash that cable TV floats on these days.

  12. Re:A James Randi reality show? on Interviews: Ask James Randi About Investigating the Truth · · Score: 0

    *Once* respectable.

  13. Re:Check truth in political speech on Real-Time Fact Checking With "Truth Teller" · · Score: 1, Informative

    This is too true. Politicians are the masters at manipulating "truth" to their own agendas. You can say something completely factually accurate and still subtly *imply* with the statement something completely false. A simple statement like "This President says he wants to fight terrorists, this President Barak Hussein Obama, claims that he's going to fight Muslim terrorists" is 100% factually accurate. But it conveys something much more sinister and 100% false (that the President is somehow sympathetic with, or perhaps even in league with, Muslim terrorists).

  14. How ever, once open wifi is the norm

    Fine, but you boys go first.

  15. Re:Placebo Effect-iveness of faith healing on Interviews: Ask James Randi About Investigating the Truth · · Score: 0

    Nonsense! Placebos are actually some of the most effective known treatments for all psychosomatic illnesses.

    I've got an aunt whose fibromyalgia was cured by a legendary Native American healer who happened to also bear a strong resemblance to a Hispanic actor who I knew from work.

  16. A James Randi reality show? on Interviews: Ask James Randi About Investigating the Truth · · Score: 2

    It greatly saddens me that in the 21st century, there is still this spate of "ghost hunter" and paranormal reality shows, even on once respectable networks like the History Channel and other cable network channels. But has there ever been talk of doing a James Randi or skeptic-based reality show (akin to Penn & Teller's Bullsh*t)?

  17. Re:It was just $6.37 for the actual infringement on NZ Copyright Tribunal Fines First File-Sharer · · Score: 2

    oops, misread my own quote. It was $6.57 (NZ), or $5.49 (US).

  18. It was just $6.37 for the actual infringement on NZ Copyright Tribunal Fines First File-Sharer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    An amusingly reasonable finding from the tribunal:

    So, with guilt under current law established, the Tribunal set about the task of a financial punishment. According to regulations, in a downloading case the cost of the infringed products must be considered. Man Down is available of iTunes for $2.39 (US$2.00) and Tonight Tonight at $1.79 (US$1.50). ...
    With this in mind the Tribunal said it would order the subscriber to pay RIANZ double the iTunes price of Man Down (2 x $2.39) and the same for Tonight Tonight (2 x $1.79) – a total of $6.57 (US$5.49). This aspect of the Tribunal’s decision will be a huge disappointment for RIANZ.

  19. Re:OK. Next? on 64GB MS Surface Pro Only Has 23GB of Free Space · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just once, I'd like to run into a cult of bunny worshipers.

    The first rule of the Church of Peter is you DO NOT talk about the Church of Peter.

  20. Re:OK. Next? on 64GB MS Surface Pro Only Has 23GB of Free Space · · Score: 1

    Can the apps and OS be removed?

    Aside from a few off-brand tablets, have you ever known any tablet that you could do this to (without jailbreaking them)?

  21. Re:They're taking the right approach on RIM's BB10 Campaign Requires Some Serious Work · · Score: 1

    They still have some clout in enterprise circles, where they're coasting on their name and one-time legendary rep, basically.

    Not saying that's going to be enough. Just saying that if there is a CHANCE, this is the best hope they've got.

  22. Re:What's the point? on Facebook To App Developers: Good Idea, Now Stop Using Our API · · Score: 1

    So someone else can take all the risk of testing out a new idea, while Facebook gets to reap all the rewards when they integrate it later.

  23. They're taking the right approach on RIM's BB10 Campaign Requires Some Serious Work · · Score: 2

    Selling it as a phone that combines the security and safety of an enterprise phone with the features an fun of a "home" phone is the right approach. But they're still going to have to prove themselves on both fronts. And the clock is definitely ticking.

    I don't think it's too late for them, but it's definitely the 11th hour.

  24. Re:Please include flash! on Mozilla To Enable Click-To-Play For All Firefox Plugins By Default · · Score: 1

    I would probably go to Chrome if they had noscripts too.

  25. He's nothing if not a PR master on Elon Musk Offers Boeing SpaceX Batteries For the 787 Dreamliner · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Have to admire the guy.