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User: zerofoo

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  1. The cost "equalities" of degrees on Writer: "Why I Defaulted On My Student Loans" · · Score: 1

    It's enormously unfair that colleges and universities charge the same amounts for different degrees. Nothing else in life is like that. Things that are in high demand have high prices - things that are in low demand are priced lower. Simple economics.

    Colleges have gotten away with charging the same for every course of study - that is absurd. A communications degree should not cost the same as pre-med or engineering.

    The way we fix this is to index loan amounts to starting salaries in the field of your degree. Lower starting salaries get lower loan amounts. This market feedback will either force people to study things that can generate income, or force colleges to lower tuitions for courses of study that have low market demand.

    Funding all courses of study equally is stupid policy.

  2. Pragmatic Libertarian here... on Why Americans Loathe Cable Companies · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I prefer free-markets where I can get them, but the last mile is anything but a free-market.

    It's time to declare the last mile a public utility - just like roads, sewer, and power. Build and maintain fiber networks just like we build and maintain roads, sewers and the power grid.

    Any number of companies could compete to offer data, voice, and video over that publicly maintained infrastructure.

    This way maximizes competition where possible and minimizes monopolistic control over things that are "natural" monopolies.

  3. Re:Anti-robo call service on PayPal Will Be Able To Robo-Text/Call Users With No Opt-out Starting July 1 · · Score: 1

    I too use Google Voice - it's fantastic.

    I use nomorobo to protect my landline. My wife works from home and is on conference calls all the time - a landline is the best and most reliable way to handle that.

  4. Re:Anti-robo call service on PayPal Will Be Able To Robo-Text/Call Users With No Opt-out Starting July 1 · · Score: 1

    Yes, I use it. It's wonderful. A robo call rings my house once, and then the service picks up the call.

    So far, it has been very accurate. I've only gotten two unwanted phone calls in the year i've been using the service.

  5. Anti-robo call service on PayPal Will Be Able To Robo-Text/Call Users With No Opt-out Starting July 1 · · Score: 2

    https://www.nomorobo.com/

    It's free and a fantastic service. It uses your phone company's simultaneous ring feature to weed out robo calls.

  6. Why I bought the small office version on Keurig Stock Drops, Says It Was Wrong About DRM Coffee Pods · · Score: 1

    When our last Keurig died, I bought this one:

    http://www.keurig.com/Brewers/...

    I chose this one since it was a heavier duty machine that could accept a plumbed water line - and NO DRM.

    All Keurig needs to do is make good quality hardware and source good quality beans for their K-cups - it's not a difficult business model.

  7. FU Disney on Disney Replaces Longtime IT Staff With H-1B Workers · · Score: 1

    As if I needed one more reason not to go to their hell-hole parks.

    I got dragged to their parks a few years back to make the wife and kids happy. It was a miserable time, but my kids loved it.

    No more. I won't give Disney another dime of my money. I'm going to vote with my wallet on this one. No more Disney toys, lunchboxes, clothing, movies...etc.

    F these guys. Let them build parks in India for all I care.

  8. AMD vs Intel in the datacenter on AMD Withdraws From High-Density Server Business · · Score: 1

    We've got Intel and AMD based servers running VMware in our datacenter and honestly - in the real world - I can't tell them apart.

    The limiting factor on most of our boxes is memory and storage. Add enough to either chip company and you get similar performance.

  9. You can outsource the work not the responsibility on LA Schools Seeking Refund Over Botched iPad Plan · · Score: 1

    School districts are notorious for having just enough tech staff to keep end users functional, but absolutely no staff to "think ahead".

    This district needs tech leadership that can look forward at technologies that may or may not be useful, then it needs implementation and testing staff to make sure those tech plans become reality.

    I suspect this district thought they could simply sign a contract with Pearson - and like magic, the tech would deploy itself and the staff would automatically learn the tech and integrate it into the curriculum.

    Our schools have moved away from iPads - management tools are sparse and the tech simply isn't that great in the classroom. We've settled on Chromebooks. The management tools are great, the devices are cheap - and Google Apps is free for schools and non-profits.

    If LASD had competent technology leadership, they would have known about all of these challenges and limitations during their pilot phase - before dropping a ton of coin on a half-baked solution.

  10. Airbus cockpit door procedure video on Germanwings Plane Crash Was No Accident · · Score: 1

    It's a well thought out system. The if the person at the controls was simply unconscious, the other pilot would be able to gain entry to the cockpit:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    This incident looks deliberate.

  11. Similar to Mobileye technology on Ford's New Car Tech Prevents You From Accidentally Speeding · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mobileye developed road sign recognition tech a while ago. I think BMW was integrating Mobileye software into their cars. Ford is listed as an OEM partner - I wonder if this is the same tech?

  12. Google censoring search results - not new news on FTC: Google Altered Search Results For Profit · · Score: 1

    Google has been censoring searches relating to firearms for years now. Here's an article from 2012:

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/fr...

    I love Google and most of their products, but they are far from impartial providers of a search service.

  13. Not everything needs to be "social" on Google+ Divided Into Photos and Streams, With New Boss · · Score: 1

    Google made the first step by removing the Google+ requirement for Hangouts. Splitting photos and streams is also welcome news.

    I like the Google ecosystem, but not everyone wants a social "wall". Apple seems to have managed delivering core functionality without the need for social integration.

  14. I've already integrated tech into my dashboard on Apple Hiring Automotive Experts · · Score: 1

    I installed a bracket to hold my Nexus 6 - best thing I ever did.

    Dashboard infotainment systems are pretty much garbage - and the aftermarket stuff is even worse.

    Bluetooth handsfree and a bracket is all you need.

  15. Microsoft's strength - business software. on Microsoft Launches Outlook For Android and iOS · · Score: 1

    I'm no Microsoft fan, but for years I've been questioning their insistence on competing in "consumer" level stuff. Bing, tablets, phones - none are market leaders - they are too little too late. These non-business products are simply a distraction from Microsoft's core competencies.

    Their strength has been, and will always be, business. Their software is cheap-ish, and works well enough in those spaces. Sure, sharepoint is a turd, and there isn't a problem that can't be solved badly by excel and access - but businesses like that stuff.

    There is no shame with taking billions of business dollars to the bank.

  16. Visit an emergency room... on IEEE: New H-1B Bill Will "Help Destroy" US Tech Workforce · · Score: 1

    ...then when the bill comes, simply do not pay it.

    Medicaid will foot the bill:

    http://kaiserhealthnews.org/ne...

    Sure, it's the worst way to get healthcare - but it is free - at least for some.

  17. "Court-ordered" searches? Baloney! on Justice Department: Default Encryption Has Created a 'Zone of Lawlessness' · · Score: 1

    If law enforcement wants access to encrypted data, then the court order must specify that the owner of that data must produce it (or decrypt it).

    What if you lived in an impenetrable house? Could a court order force you to open the door? If so, how are encryption keys any different? Does the 5th Amendment protect physical keys? Does the 5th protect the keys in your head the same way?

    Let's be honest - the complaint here is that default encryption denies access to data that, up to now, has been obtained via warrantless methods. A court can still order you to hand over your encryption keys.

  18. All been heard before on Tumblr Co-Founder: Apple's Software Is In a Nosedive · · Score: 1

    When Steve jobs first left apple, we heard similar complaints of declining software quality.

    Then when he returned and started the iDevices trend - we heard about declining software quality.

    Then after Steve Jobs passed, we heard about declining software quality.

    The bottom line is that Apple is always releasing something new - and a bit half baked. This has been going on for the better part of two decades now. If you want stable Apple products wait about 3-6 months after release before adopting.

  19. A good reason not to: on Why Run Linux On Macs? · · Score: 3, Informative

    EFI updates. On Mac hardware, they can only be delivered by a Mac OS update. Run Linux exclusively, and you will not get firmware updates.

    I'm as Mac a fanboy as one can be - but if you want to run Linux, build yourself a nice PC - far less pain that way.

  20. A government powerful enough.... on Parents Investigated For Neglect For Letting Kids Walk Home Alone · · Score: 1

    to raise your kids, is powerful enough to take them away.

  21. Re:This fight is intentional - printing guns is le on Gun Rights Hacktivists To Fab 3D-Printed Guns At State Capitol · · Score: 1

    Sure, the ATF could change anything they like, but are unlikely to do so without a mandate from elected officials.

    An outright ban on homemade firearms would definitely trigger a SCOTUS eligible case. The ATF and anti-gunners do not want that until the SCOTUS deck can be stacked with more liberal judges.

  22. This fight is intentional - printing guns is legal on Gun Rights Hacktivists To Fab 3D-Printed Guns At State Capitol · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most gun control laws, as currently written, are unconstitutional. The reason they have stood for so long is either challenges were not brought, or the supremes refused to hear the case.

    Heller and Peruta affirmed the individual right to bear arms for the purposes of individual self-defense as well as group defense . It is legal to manufacture firearms for personal use (and always has been). Licensing and serialization are only required if you choose to manufacture arms for sale to others.

    The bottom line is that manufacturing your own weapons is legal - as per the ATF FAQ:

    http://www.atf.gov/files/firea...

    9. May I lawfully make a firearm for my own personal use, provided it is not being made for
    resale?
    Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer’s license under the GCA
    provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or
    possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semiautomatic
    rifle or shotgun from 10 or more imported parts, as set forth in regulations in 27 C.F.R. 478.39. In
    addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and advance approval by ATF. An
    application to make a machinegun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing
    that the firearm is being made for the official use of a Federal, State, or local government agency (18
    U.S.C. 922(o),(r); 26 U.S.C. 5822; 27 C.F.R. 478.39, 479.62, and 479.105).

    Currently there is a very pro-gun trend throughout the country. I do not see lawmakers stomaching any more gun-control any time soon. Personally, I would like to see many of our unconstitutional gun-control laws repealed or struck down by the courts.

  23. Technological improvements had nothing to do with on Study: Red Light Cameras Don't Improve Safety · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ABS, crumple zones, airbags, traction control, and high-strength steel had far more to do with reducing highway fatalities than lawmakers could ever hope to achieve.

  24. OK, we get it...its the keyboard on Review: The BlackBerry Classic Is One of the Best Phones of 2009 · · Score: 2

    Anyone that wants a physical keyboard can have one. There are TONS of phone cases with bluetooth keyboards. I don't know of a single modern smartphone that doesn't support them.

    But hey, there are dozens of Blackberry fans that will love this product.....so it's got that going for it.

  25. Software assurance for consumers? on Microsoft's New Windows Monetization Methods Could Mean 'Subscriptions' · · Score: 1

    How exactly, is Microsoft going to get the end consumer (who just gave a bunch of money to Dell, HP, or Lenovo) to continually pay for an operating system and applications when Google and Apple are giving theirs away for free?

    I guess we will finally find out how much people really like Windows and Office. Do they like it enough to pay forever?