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User: kpwoodr

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  1. Re:They're make up for it on Radiohead Says Name Your Own Price for New Album · · Score: 1

    I'm inclined to go with $0 download the album and evaluate it. If I like it, I'll come back pay what I think it's work. I think $5 is a good price for an album I accept from a group I don't follow. So, if I like their work, I'm inclined to contribute and will likely continue to follow the band. If it's a band I like, I may contribute more. I'm even more inclined to contribute if I have some assurance that it's going to the artist and not the record company.

    Now if I don't like it, I'm not out anything, and they're only out the bandwidth. I'm happy to not get stuck with $9 worth of hard product (CD, Case, inserts) that is worthless to me anyway. I'm too lazy to share it out on teh interwebs, so they're no worse on account of me not paying for an album I didn't like in the first place.

  2. Re:2 ears, 2 speakers on Why 7.1 Surround Sound is Overkill For Most Homes · · Score: 1

    > The game's sound and visual field are not a real world one. Me moving my head should have no effect on the sound I hear. If it does, I've done something wrong, like waste money on four more speakers.

    Congratulations, you hear in mono! You are correct in saying that moving your head has no effect on the sound you hear. Instead, moving your head changes the effect the sound you hear has on you. If you turn your head the visual effect does change...you can no longer see it.

    Say you turned 180 degrees. Sounds previously coming from in front of you now come from behind you. This works in the real world, and in an artificial sound field.

    For your next arguement, I'd like for you to deny the existence of the doppler effect.

  3. Re:1500 feet not a mile on Continued Success for Space Elevator Tests · · Score: 2, Funny

    Rule #2.

    If you submit an article, you should be required to first RTFA!

  4. Re:Do google pay for bandwidth? on Verizon Threatens Google's 'Free Lunch' · · Score: 1

    >> Essentially, in POTS terms, they want both the caller and the callee to pay for the same conversation.

    You mean like they did with cell phones? Originally we had to pay on both ends..sending or receiving. Seems that didn't work out. When they realized no one wanted to pay in-network, they added mobile-to-mobile for free (at least AT&TCINGULARBELLSOUTHSBC did). Another approach has been to make all incoming calls free (NEXTEL I think).

    Same process in reverse...rather counter intuitive, unless your a drug dealer. Everyone knows the fist one's free. Having worked for SBC in the past, this is not at all unexpected.

    The fight is aimed at google to make an example out of them, and scare the sh!t out of VOIP companies. Google has already made it clear they will stand up and fight. I'm interested to see what the Micro$oft stance will be when they attack the MSN messenger service as it also provides a form of VOIP.

  5. Re:left out on Google to Create a Private Internet Alternative? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Isn't this how AOL started. You had access to the "internet" but most of what you saw was their own content. "Use AOL Keyword..." It seems to me that Google is rapidly switching gears from "Don't be evil" to practices more similar to one of the most evil companies on the planet.

  6. Re:What do you mean "Most of the editors are human on On the Subject of Slashdot Article Formatting · · Score: 1

    Republicans working for slashdot? now I know you're joking!

  7. Re:Fit-for-Purpose on The Importance of Commenting and Documenting Code? · · Score: 1

    A good way to solve this is to have a company-wide standard, and allow individual programs to determine how they will implement the standard based on what will work for their product.

    If you have 2 people working on a small web applet, you probably don't need to be implementing FAGAN. Likewise, development and QA go hand in hand, and should be defined to support the product being developed.

  8. Re:Are you mad? on The Importance of Commenting and Documenting Code? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That works in some companies. But be careful, it can bite you in the ass.

    I recently took a promotion on another team within my company (a large Aeronautics firm). Because I was saddled with a high customer exposure product and given no support I am the guy that >"everyone needs to...ask for a fix when thinks [sic] break." I did an average job of commenting, I believe in using meaningful variable names to help self document the code. Lots of people I work with over comment ie: //Set i equal to 5
          i = 5; //get the element in the fifth slot of the array //array is zero based, so be sure and subtract 1 //from i beforehand
          int iBS = somebullshitarray[i-1]; //now that we have iBS we need to......

    I've also written and kept up to date several high level overview documents that help new developers get acquainted with the code quickly.

    Unfortunately, I was handed my transition plan for moving to my new team yesterday. The >"employment insurance" you speak of came in the form of a transition that is slated to last through March of 2007. So sure, I have a job for another year minimum, but it's the one I've been trying to escape for the last 2 years. Not to mention that my new salary won't kick in until after the 50/50 transition point in June.

    My point: Comments can be good if they are meaningful. If you are trying to protect yourself and your product to ensure it is maintainable, the best way is to ensure that more than one developer is familiar with each product. Always have a backup plan for one of your developers getting hit by a bus, or leaving for another team.

  9. Re:lol no its not a virus on Email Plugs Into Social Networking · · Score: 1

    This must be the product they were researching when I kept getting those emails about "send this to everyone in your contact list and Bill Gates will buy you a car". Never got the car, and I must have forwarded it like a million times!

  10. Re:If you are at DeVry on Learning Java or C# as a Next Language? · · Score: 2, Funny

    True story, my 3rd day working for SBC in the IT arena, I was diciplined for my conduct on a conference call. It was very brief, but we were going around the rooms and telling our name and where we went to school. A 40 year old guy anounced that he had just graduated from DeVry, and I laughed out loud. I caught myself reasonably quick, but still had to write a letter of appology to the douche bag, as well as the director that was holding the call.

    Nothing against DeVry, but they had just finished telling us how we were the cream of the crop (standard corporate BS), and he was one of the first people to talk.

  11. Re:No thanks. on Sony Announced Hybrid Digital Camera · · Score: 1

    So does this mean you got an Xbox 360 without the crash problem?

  12. Re:I don't think it'll be cheap on First Cell Phone for Dogs · · Score: 2, Funny

    > Funnily, I've seen FAR more "lost cat" posters than "lost dog" posters.

    I'll be the first to admit it...if my wife's cat goes missing...I ain't gonna make any damn posters.

  13. Re:The crime is in getting caught... on Barcode Scam Redux - Target's $4.99 iPod · · Score: 1

    > For example, they know that some percentage (surprisingly large) will walk out the door, either in customer's or employee's hands (i call it shrinkage).

    I hate to be the one to break it to you, but "shrinkage" has to do with something totally different. Think turning your iPod video into an iPod flea...

  14. Re:What? on John Seigenthaler Sr. Criticises Wikipedia · · Score: 2, Insightful

    History is but a thin veil of agreed upon lie...write that down. By definition Wikipedia provides a revisionist view of history (not sure if their EULA says that or not). Wiki is a great resource, don't get me wrong, but it must be taken for what it is. Just because I have knowledge about a subject doesn't make me an expert. If you're looking for an encyclopedia, try Britannica (but who's to say they don't spin as they see fit...they just happen to have a longer track record.). If you're looking for a collection of work a diverse group of people, Wiki is the way to go.

  15. Re:And in todays news... on Xbox 360 Very Unstable · · Score: 1

    Yeah, makes you wonder if Harley's were as rockin back then as they are now.

  16. Re:An Evening With Kevin Smith on Superman V: The Sordid Story · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This may be a little off topic, but If you're a Kevin Smith fan, (and how could you not be?) you you should check out The Passion of the Clerks which has recently wrapped, and entered post production. He has a blog that's actually worth reading, and several video posts made during production.

    Good stuff, I've been waiting for this one ever since that rag Jersey Girl...

  17. Re:hehe. on Stealing Legos for fun and profit? · · Score: 1

    But wouldn't the irony have truely been in modding the parent "+1, funny"

  18. Re:ultimate myth? on Ask The Mythbusters · · Score: 1

    Can you bust the myth that geeks make better lovers?...on second thought...nevermind.

  19. Re:Favorites on Ask The Mythbusters · · Score: 1

    > Now that would be a hell of an episode. No pun intended.

    Or it could be a heavenly episode....eek, now I'm just asking to incur the wrath of the moderator!

  20. Re:Favorites on Ask The Mythbusters · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The title of your show is "Myth Busters". That said it would seem to your benefit to have more bustable myths than not. Your reputation seems to be at stake with the need to stay above .500. Otherwise you might have to change the name of your show to something like "Myth Guys" or "Guys who sometimes bust myths, but only easy ones".

    Are there any myths that the network won't let you have a crack at?

  21. Re:Sun has the fix for global warming! on New Server Chip Niagara · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately, they neglect to tell you that the making of the new processors consumes a megajillion trees. So after you plant the megajillion equivalent, you're back to where we are now. Only with better servers...

  22. Re:This is getting stupid on Amazon Gets Patent on Consumer Reviews · · Score: 1

    True,

    But this whole thing infringes on my patent for filling out a form. So, does making this comment mean I'm infringing myself?

    Boss: "This is just my little way of sticking it to the man"
    Lackey: "But you are the man...so you're sticking it to yourself"
    Boss: "Maybe..."

  23. Re:More from Mark on California Class Action Suit Sony Over Rootkit DRM · · Score: 1

    Here's another link that give a breakdown of what this thing is really doing.

    I long for the good old days (late 90's) when music was free.

  24. Re:No Credit? on Microsoft's Unique Innovation · · Score: 1

    I think Al Gore should get credit for inventing Microsoft.

  25. Is this a magnet? on Red Hat Seeks to Deliver Most Secure Linux · · Score: 1, Interesting

    So does anouncing to the world that you want to be the most secure platform place a giant target on Redhat? It almost seems like an invitation for everone to come try and get a piece.

    Granted, I think Red Hat has a much better head start on MS, but that may partly be due to the amount of market share they command. If they can pull it off, more power to Red Hat!