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User: hackstraw

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Comments · 4,286

  1. Re:It should Flash Crash to about 5000 on Flash Crash Analysis of May 6 Stock Market Plunge · · Score: 1

    I don't buy stocks based on their current value. I buy them because I believe their future value will be more than what I'm paying now.

    Its just like poker. You bet when you think you can win, doesn't matter what cards you have or what cards your opponent has. Statistically, the cards always even out. However, the better player either in stocks or cards always comes out ahead over time.

  2. Re:So... on ICANN Likely Finally To Approve .xxx For Porn Sites · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've been saying this for years. Most people don't know about the different TLDs, and because of that most popular sites buy up the other TLDs that match their domainname to prevent people from squatting there, and they redirect (or not) the traffic to their "proper" TLD. Take for example http://slashdot.org/ http://slashdot.com/ http://slashdot.net./

    I've always held that country code TLDs are of value. It sucks to do some online searching to buy something and end up at a .com address that is in the UK.

    Actually, I don't dare type a URL in my location bar that is not already in my history and/or bookmarks that is automatically completed. Too dangerous if you misspell the sucker. Google is the real DNS provider. Sometimes names aren't what they would think they are either. EG, its not bmw.com, its bmwusa.com.

    To belabor this stupid point further. WTF is up with .name and .museum ? TLDs have digressed from their original goal. To simplify and classify things. I mean, how is slashdot.org really a .org anymore? Its a commercial entity. What was ever the point of .net? .biz? And then countries sell off their TLDs like .to, .fm, and .tv, and those are rarely used.

    Google (or similar) is the authoritative TLD master, the rest is just novelty.

  3. Re:Pushes Big Red Shiny Button on Australian Police Ask Facebook For Police Alarm Button · · Score: 4, Funny

    Police: Do you have pictures of yourself on Facebook?
    Me: Yes
    Police: Are you a female?
    Me: Yes
    Police: Do you have small boobs?
    Me: Err, umm, yes.
    Police: We will be right there, thanks for turning yourself in.

    For those that think I'm trolling: http://www.google.com/search?rls=en&q=australia+small+breast+law

    Not sure what is going on down under these days.

  4. Current software is fundamentally broken on Adobe Warns of Flash, PDF Zero-Day Attacks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The closest platforms to getting it right are Apple and Linux distros. I say that because they provide a central software base and can push out updates all coming from one place. If you use something like Windows, you have to get updates from Microsoft, your hardware manufactures and then your 3rd party software. AFAIK, Windows still does not come with a PDF viewer, and I think its time for 3rd party plugins to completely disappear from web browsers. I've held the plugin belief for over 10 years.

    Even if I say that Apple and Linux are better, they too are broken. And then there are 3rd party apps that continually want you to upgrade them before you run them. Its obnoxious. I can't think of any consumer or professional piece of equipment that needs such care and feeding. If my car has issues (yeah car analogy), then there is a recall. Its a big deal. I would never drive a car that says, "Before you start your car, there is an important safety update, do you want to install that update or blow it off?"

    I guess I'm saying that now that internet access is available via cell technology and wifi and wired devices, and I don't know of anybody that uses a compuer not connected to one of these things, that bandwidth needs to increase and "cloud" or computing as a service needs to become a reality. Sure, nobody trusts these big bad internet companies with their data besides the exceptions like online tax services, online banking, facebook and their ilk, ISPs with their logs and their email, ecommerce, and other random services. But maybe, just maybe in the near future there can be a stable computing platform.

  5. Is this new data? on Caffeine Addicts Get No Additional Perk, Only a Return To Baseline · · Score: 1

    I was a caffeine freak for years. I would drink coffee from waking to bedtime, frequently I would go to bed and read and then go to sleep with a coffee mug that still some coffee in it. Sometimes on weekends when I was doing other things, I would get headaches from not having enough coffee. I would tell people that coffee did not keep me up, it merely gave me the option of wether or not I wanted to sleep. The other drugs I've been addicted to were a different story. Actually, I guess alcohol and nicotine are the only drugs that I have been addicted to. Getting off of alcohol was rough. Still smoke like 2-3 packs a week. Drink coffee in the morning. Only drink like 6 beers a week max. Getting old or something.

  6. Re:Counterpoint on HTML5 vs. Flash — the Case For Flash · · Score: 1

    So true. I find it a feature that flash is not a necessary part of the web. Enabling it for a video is a temporary hack. Eliminating most ads is great. Eliminating most all obnoxious ones is even better.

    I've said this a million times over, remember the late 90s where there were plugins necessary for almost every website that you didn't have installed? Remember when java was so powerful that having a java applet in your web browser could give you anything and everything (cross platform to boot)?

    Flash's days are numbered. I just read above that even the Flash people didn't believe that Flash was intended for video. Well, it was OK for video for a while, and that is about to change with open web standards.

  7. For web servers on 10 Tips For Boosting Network Performance · · Score: 1

    Write your HTML in notepad, just like the linked article :)

    Seriously, I was almost shocked to see such a barebones site. Its been that long.

  8. Re:Linux on Latest Top 500 Supercomputer List Released · · Score: 1

    I've never did Windows admin work, but plenty of Solaris and Linux, mostly Linux and some other UNIX OSes over the years. I've also worked as a Windows developer for a while, and I kinda agree that Windows is harder to develop on and I would assume to admin as well.

    I've always held high regards for Windows developers. They don't have the internals (source), nor the POSIX standards (yes, I know there are some POSIX stuff for Windows). When I was a Windows developer, I felt like I always had to reinvent the wheel. As a kind favor to a friend this weekend, I reinstalled windows and office on a virus infested computer, and it doesn't even seem as though Microsoft even uses their own APIs for their OS. Office 2007 (I think) looked nothing like any other programs in Windows.

  9. Water crops with Coca-Cola on Intel Sucks Up Water Amid Drought In China · · Score: 1

    It has electrolytes.

  10. Stupid question, stupid answer on How Do You Handle Your Keys? · · Score: 1

    I recently got my keys down to 1 house key, 1 USB memory stick, and 1 key/FOB thing for my car. I really wish my FOB opened my house door. The USB memory stick is optional.

  11. OTH? on ABC Pulls Channels From Cablevision · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I skimmed the article, and the summary seems pretty good. So, isn't ABC still broadcast over the air? I didn't see a list of the other ABC channels, but most everything focused on the main ABC one like Lost, Good Morning America, Oscars, etc.

    Also, this seems to be a trend with ESPN and other companies and cable providers having standoffs. Yes, I'm one of those that got rid of cable and haven't bothered with hooking an antenna to my TV. Even with a DVR, the commercials and lack of good content just makes watching too much effort (and cost) for the reward.

  12. Re:Depends what you mean by an atomic bond on A Balanced Look At Cellphone Radiation · · Score: 1

    Dunno about cancer or if its a problem with people, but popcorn has issues with cellphone radiation:

    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-t?l?phone-portable-micro-o_news

  13. Re:It just occured to me on New Wave of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria · · Score: 1

    Most antibiotics are off of patent and make little money for drug companies. Compared to maintenance drugs or even viagra, antibiotics are almost a charitable product for drug companies. A friend of mine had MRSA, and he was given a 50 year old antibiotic that isn't used anymore. That was the one that worked best. It was dirt cheap. Now his total bill ended up being over $100,000, but that is a different story.

  14. Re:Nothing quite like a "timely" response on Microsoft Finally To Patch 17-Year-Old Bug · · Score: 1

    You're missing the key difference here. Microsoft is making money hand over fist

    Tell that to their stockholders. They will laugh.

  15. Re:The value of an education. on "Doomsday Clock" Moves Away From Midnight · · Score: 1

    So does having a degree makes the laureates make them more or less credible then the crazy bum on the corner?

    I dunno, what id being the crazy bum on the corner ever get the crazy bum on the corner?

  16. Re:Caps Lock Key on Does Your PC Really Need a SysRq Button Anymore? · · Score: 1

    Most programming languages have a function to make letters upper case. It would seem that the serial number reader could implement one of those functions.

  17. Re:What about Europe and Asia? on US Youth Have Serious Mental Health Issues · · Score: 1

    I don't have data on EU or Asia, but here is a piece of data for the US:

    In 2008, Zyprexa was Lilly's best-selling drug, with $4.7 billion in sales, ...

    Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic. When an atypical psychotic is the number one selling drug for a drug company, it makes me wonder.

  18. Re:Result on Man Tries To Use Explosive Device On US Flight · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Please don't talk about 9/11 like its an annual holiday. It was 9/11/2001. Almost 10 years ago. Flying is safe. Safer than taking a shower.

  19. Re:Why stop there? on The Environmental Impact of PHP Compared To C++ On Facebook · · Score: 1

    Why stop there. FPGAs FTW!!!

  20. Re:Yes... on Scientology Charged With Slavery, Human Trafficking · · Score: 1
  21. Re:Finally!!! on New Dating Sites Match People Through DNA Tests · · Score: 1

    DNA matching for a partner may work for children, but the getting along/liking them part seems like a stretch.

  22. Finally!!! on New Dating Sites Match People Through DNA Tests · · Score: 1

    My anti-social personality and my not desiring long walks on the beach can find me a mate!

    Seriously, I have trouble dating and I've thought about using one of these services, but there is more to a person than their DNA. Plus, we can see much of people's dna from "interviewing" them and their family.

  23. Re:Rum and coke on Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks May Be Illegal · · Score: 1

    Huh, just learned that miller bought Sparks.

    I drink them from time to time, and I can drink more than an average person for my body weight. I cannot drink more than 2 Sparks. Just becomes nasty. Leaves a film on your teeth, etc.

    Sparks are a great "Lets start the night" drink, or to have one or two, but they don't sell them by the six pack for a reason. Oh, and they are 6 and 7% alcohol. Well above most beers.

  24. Re:Mines a vodka and red bull... on Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks May Be Illegal · · Score: 1

    Usage of alcohol went up during prohibition and then down afterwards. Its the 80/20 90/10 or whatever rule that its the minority that does the majority of the drinking/drug use, etc. So, it may not affect the teetotalers, but for those that participate, you have to be in the "club" once its illegal, and then you want the most powerful dosage you can get because its more bang for your buck, easier to conceal, etc.

  25. Re:Theres one technical point on Tim Berners-Lee Is Sorry About the Slashes · · Score: 1

    Who says WWW unless they intentionally mean World Wide Web? People just say goto google.com or wikipedia.com. Yes, I know wikipedia is under the .org domain, but the .com works just fine. Same with slashdot.com for slashdot.org. So, I say skip the web. as well.