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User: Colin+Smith

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  1. Re:massive innefficiency on 19th Century Airship Technology for Port Security · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, it can see further than the ground and means you can probably get rid of the AWACS planes. It's unmanned and the project is far far cheaper than a single AWACS plane.

  2. Like compared to a plane? on 19th Century Airship Technology for Port Security · · Score: 1

    70,000 feet is 13 miles straight up. You got something that can shoot that far?

  3. Re:3rd party tactics in the UK on Libertarians Lose Case to Block Presidential Debate · · Score: 1

    "You're mostly right, but I wouldn't call the LibDems centrist."

    To be honest I wouldn't either if we analyse things, it's a simplification. I really don't think the old left/right thing applies any more. They have policies which could be considered left wing, but also policies which could be considered right wing, so do Labour for that matter.

    Election debates? I'm yet not sure whether they are a gimmick or are really useful for enunciating policies and challenging politicians.

  4. 3rd party tactics in the UK on Libertarians Lose Case to Block Presidential Debate · · Score: 3, Informative

    In the UK we have a similar state of 2 party politics however, there is a 3rd party gaining ground at the expense of the main 2. The Liberal Democrats, a centrist party.

    They are starting to take serious chunks of support at a national level and they've done it by concentrating at a local level first. Get seats on local councils first, target resources at councils where you are most likely to gain seats or win. Leverage the councils and council seats to demonstrate competence.

    It's taken 20 years so far and realistically they're still well back in 3rd place but as their vote increases, the other parties are having to take account of and answer questions posed by the LibDems, in addition, there are now no majority parties at all, it's painfully obvious that the existing electoral system is not up to the task of representing the population.

  5. Re:Modifying everything to suit us? on Genetically-Modified Everything · · Score: 1

    "the goal of most GM projects, that I know of, is to modify something so that it most benefits humans."

    Sorry, too naive. The goal is to increase profits. Ask Monsanto.

  6. Re:Canola is/was a brand on Genetically-Modified Everything · · Score: 1

    Canola plants and rape plants can cross pollinate. They are the same species.

  7. Canola is/was a brand on Genetically-Modified Everything · · Score: 1

    For everyone outside America, it's Rapeseed oil.

  8. Sure, but guess what the 1st use was... on Genetically-Modified Everything · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lovely in theory, but the sole purpose of very first GM products on the market was to allow the manufacturer to sell more herbicide!

    Not only that, but they then have the temerity to go and prosecute people who's fields have been contaminated by their products for patent infringement. They should be made responsible for clearing up gene flow. After all the bloody stuff is now immune to the conventional herbicides.

  9. Cool on Two Ways To Use GPS With Linux · · Score: 1

    What about leisure sailing? Can it integrate with the stuff published by the Admiralty?

  10. Admiralty maps? on Two Ways To Use GPS With Linux · · Score: 1

    Electronic Admiralty maps/software are currently Windows only. Anyone know of Linux stuff?

  11. Squeak is designed to be *easy* on Croquet Project Releases Initial Developer Release · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The kind of easy you can give to children and complete beginners who've never seen a computer before. You can get into it as deeply as you like, it's basically smalltalk.

    e.g.
    http://www.squeakland.org/

    It should really be the default development environment for normal users on Linux desktops.

  12. Re:validity of the study on Global Air Pollution, From Above · · Score: 1

    Interesting the concentration round the industrial north of Italy as you say, bounded by the mountain ranges.

  13. "Going Equipped" on RIAA, MPAA Ask High Court To Review P2P Decision · · Score: 1

    Carrying crowbars, knives, screwdrivers is an offense.

    http://www.police-law.co.uk/law/policelaw.nsf/0/ 2f a0cfe7d9867e6480256baa005c13bf?OpenDocument

    It all depends on intent and use.

  14. You know you don't have to install *EVERYTHING* on Slackware Likely To Drop GNOME Support · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's not compulsory.

  15. Re:AFS and encrypted filesystems on Indymedia Seizures Initiated In Europe · · Score: 1

    Contradiction? How does making use of technology to ensure free dissemination of information and guaranteed continued operation any way contradict free, open source, open protocols. It's *all* about personal freedom and not only from governments, no excuses necessary.

  16. Re:Distributed hosting, not encrypted filesystems! on Indymedia Seizures Initiated In Europe · · Score: 1

    And AFS is a global filesystem with multiple replicated servers which can be placed all over the world.

  17. Re:AFS and encrypted filesystems on Indymedia Seizures Initiated In Europe · · Score: 1

    The keys can be stored anywhere in the world. The only reason for any European personnel to even have permission to access them is busibess convenience, if security is important they could be administered from anywhere.

  18. AFS and encrypted filesystems on Indymedia Seizures Initiated In Europe · · Score: 1

    Pretty much solves that problem...

    Using an encrypted device, e.g.

    http://www.linuxsecurity.com/docs/HOWTO/Encrypti on -HOWTO/Encryption-HOWTO-4.html

    And use AFS on top of that in order to provide global redundancy.

    http://www.openafs.org/

  19. Gnustep apps on eWeek Reviews Gnome 2.8 And KDE 3.3 · · Score: 1

    It's basically the same API as the Mac OSX so apps written for GNUStep should build relatively painlessly on the Mac, though I'm not sure it implements enough of the API for the reverse to be true.

  20. Relative performance? on eWeek Reviews Gnome 2.8 And KDE 3.3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've found that KDE is quite a bit more responsive than Gnome, especially running applications remotely, it's difficult to tell when KDE apps are remote but performance wasn't mentioned. Has this changed for the latest versions?

  21. No, I'd just switch them on on If Mac OS X Came to x86, Would You Switch? · · Score: 1

    The anthrax would be cooked in seconds.

  22. Re:*cough* Fuel Cells *cough* on Microbatteries Built on a Bed of Nails · · Score: 1

    Yeah, instead of plugging your laptop into the mains to recharge when the battery runs down, you'll be stuffed if you can't find a computer shop supplying the particular model of container which fits into the proprietary fuel cell adaptor built into your machine.

  23. Doesn't have to be that way on Presidential Candidates Arrested at Debates · · Score: 1

    "Such is the way of politics."

    It's the electoral system which strongly encourages a two party state. Change that, you fundamentally change the political makeup.

  24. Actually, some SUVs are just crap on Smart Cars Coming to Canada and U.S. · · Score: 1

    For safety. All that big metal, doesn't necessarily help safety. Jeeps and one of the GM SUVs in particular did badly in the past. They seem to be improving now, but they're really still no better than other big cars.

  25. It's a city car on Smart Cars Coming to Canada and U.S. · · Score: 1

    It really only needs to be able to do 25mph. It's as tall as any other car and can be seen fine.

    "just don't force your decision on everyone else."

    WTF?