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User: SRain315

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  1. Re:Plain inaccurate on New Zealand To Allow 'Text-Speak' On Exams · · Score: 1

    This was covered in plenty of detail yesterday morning on Language Log. See this post.
    It's just like Snopes is for urban legends. If you see a funny language article, check Language Log first.

  2. Welcome to ADA! on Should Online Stores Be Subject To ADA? · · Score: 1
    As an architect, I would like to extend a warm greeting to a whole new class of designers who are just learning the joys of ADA. You may be unfamiliar with the liabilities associated with this wonderful law, so here's a short primer.
    ADA is Civil Rights legislation. If a person feels that his/her rights have been violated they can bring a lawsuit against ANYONE who may have had a role in said violation. That includes you, Designer! Here are some examples which are similar to my experience in a different field:
    • If you design it, and it is not accessible, you can be sued.
    • If you design it, and it is accessible, but the client changes it to be non-accessible later, you can be sued.
    • If you design it, and it is supposed to be accessible, but gets screwed up by a non-compatible browser, you can be sued.
    • If you design the logo but have nothing to do with the design of the site, you can probably be sued.
    The bottom line is that it better be accessible, period. Nobody is going to double-check you, and there are no protections (even for honest mistakes!) outside of defending yourself in a lawsuit.
    Now don't get me wrong, I think the goals of ADA are laudable and commendable. But the implementation under Civil Rights law leaves much to be desired. People who have trouble gaining access have no legal recourse short of a lawsuit, and owners/designers have no defense. I expect this issue to get much bigger before it goes away. My advice? Watch Wal*mart and match the accessibility they provide.
  3. Yeah, but... on Google's DNA · · Score: 1
    would you:

    - drink Google Beer?

    - wear Google Glasses?

    - drive a Googlemobile?

    - see a movie at the Googleplex?

    - wear Google #5 parfum?

    - wipe with "don't squeeze the Google!"

  4. Re:Effluent of the affluent? on Where Computers Go To Die · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wait a sec, folks. I think you're missing the forest for the trees here.

    Somebody. On Slashdot. Used "effluent" and "affluent" in the same sentence. Correctly.
    Don't give me this "global responsibility" crap in the face of a God Damned Miracle!

    Cheers! -J

  5. Tense Issues on The Best of Macworld SF 2006 · · Score: 1

    cast (v)
    Present tense: cast
    Past tense: cast

    broadcast (v)
    Present tense: broadcast
    Past tense: broadcast

    podcast (v)
    Present tense: podcast
    Past tense: podcasted?!?

    They tell me English is evolving, and I try to remember that evolution produces many non-viable branches...

  6. Re:Of course, that's cheating ... on Modded Hybrid Cars Get Up to 250 MPG · · Score: 1

    And it's cheating on the environmental front, too. That electricity was produced from a)Oil b)Coal c)Nuclear d)Hydro e)Wind f)Geothermal g)Tidal, etc., etc. which all have environmental impact _beyond_ the hydrocarbons coming out of _his_ tailpipe. Especially Coal (which is ~45% of North American electricity production)! Out of sight, out of mind.

  7. Group Hug! on In Which OS Do You Feel More Productive? · · Score: 1

    Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
    Trying to forget my feelings of love.
    Teardrops rolling down on my face,
    Trying to forget my feelings of love.

    Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
    I wish I've never met you, [OS of my dreams];
    You'll never come again.

    Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
    wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms.
    ----

    Seriously, though. Have you heard of the Scientific Method, whereby one establishes an hypothesis and tests it? Feelings don't enter into it!

    Feelings happen after the results are in and we argue about whether they're valid and how to interpret them. -- You've just jumped the gun here. First the testing, then the flamewars.

  8. Education on Geeks in Management? · · Score: 1

    In my experience, management is education. But it's not like being a teacher, it's an Education Optimization Problem.

    Q: What's the least amount of direction I can give to get the desired result?

    A: Management. Use what it takes - text, slides, pictures, cajoling, screaming fits, etc. Empathy is key. Now is a good time to remember all the good teachers/bosses you ever had or saw, and how they managed. Remember that your minions are not you. They may learn much differently than you do, so you have to tailor your efforts.

    P.S. - Technocrats/Meritocrats are not always good at communication or teaching. We tend to be elitist and condescending. You may have some hurdles here.

  9. Bad Analogy on Morse Code Used by Human Cells? · · Score: 1

    The signalling system the article describes is much more like Port-Knocking than Morse Code. (Transcription Factors = Ports. Extend analogy as required.)

    And it'll be just as hard to figure out. Imagine an internet or two. Now try to identify the port-knocking codes. Now develop a mechanism to emulate/reproduce them.

    At least the Developer is on vacation - and we have the source code...

    But I'm guessing that I won't live to be 1000 after all.

  10. Non-Comparable Results? on Math Skills Survey Shows U.S. Lags Behind · · Score: 1

    I caught the tail end of an NPR (National Public Radio at NPR.org) piece on this yesterday, and it was mentioned that the US tests a _much broader_ group of students than other countries, who only test "college-track" students. That could explain some of the disparity. As an Ivy-League product of the US Public School System (NJ, CA, NY, WI, PA) I can say that there's always room for improvement - but it's mostly in parenting.

  11. Re:So why is Gentoo the right choice for this? on Embedded Gentoo? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As of right now, Gentoo is the right choice because _they already did it._

    Location:Real Estate::Available:Technology

  12. Re:Jobs on Mach 10 X43A Flight Successful · · Score: 1

    That's not what Al Gore said...

  13. Totally Worth It! on If Windows Came to PPC, Would You Switch? · · Score: 1


    I would love to hook up a used iBook with WinXP and go to CoffeeBucks and wait for a Mac Addict to come around. I could even hook up a webcam so I could watch the faces again and again... The Horror! The Look of Betrayal! The Scream!

    As an aside, I've spent the last week transferring my mother-in-law's data from her old OS9 iBook to her new OSX iBook and I have to say that no, Macs don't "just work." Neither does Windoze. Neither does Linux.
    But that's the fun, isn't it?

  14. "We Lead By Example" on MIT Names First Female President · · Score: 1

    MIT is following the lead of another fine institution.

    President Tighlman was installed in 2001. Her background is also in the life sciences.

  15. Re:Would never happen on Feed · · Score: 1

    Ah. School(TM). (Ivy League(TM) no less!) Well that certainly guarantees that he's not a dipshit.

    I'm sure he can tell his Mercedes(TM) from his Rolls-Royce(TM) and his Beluga(TM) from his foix-gras(TM).

  16. Just let me know... on Windows Compatability on the Linux Desktop · · Score: 1

    ...when they get AutoCAD (and all 12 sub-packages: ADT, Land, MDT, etc, etc.) and REVIT to run under Linux.

    And before you tell me I should be running VectorWorks or MicroStation (yuck!) or whatever else: No, we can't, our clients require AutoCAD - It's not an option.

    And before you tell me I should be working on a Mac: You give me the money.

    ---

    "Just answer the question." -John Bender

  17. Speed of Quantum Entanglement on Baby Steps Toward Quantum Computers · · Score: 1

    Articles on this subject never specify whether quantum entanglement is limited by the speed of light or not. Has it been tested? Could QE be used for faster-than-light communication?

  18. Mod Parent Flamebait! on What Keeps You Off of Windows? · · Score: 1

    How _do_ you moderate a posting as "Flamebait"?

  19. Re:Architecture on Is Caps Lock Dead? · · Score: 1

    To expand a little, most current drafting standards (all of 'em that I know, including the National CAD Standards through 3.0) require ALL CAPS FOR EVERYTHING. It has to do with legibility on plotted drawings.

    Of course the software (AutoCAD, MicroStation) doesn't have any helpful text tools to facilitate this. Come to that, they don't have _any_ text tools to speak of. (Anyone at AutoDesk listening?)

    I can't imagine living in the ALL CAPS world without that handy little LED to brighten my day.

  20. Non-Programmable RPN on The Future of RPN Calculators · · Score: 1

    I'm still looking for a NON-programmable RPN to use on examinations where programmable calculators are forbidden.

    Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

    Perhaps the OpenRPN group will hear my plea.

  21. Re:Middle button? on Dealing with the Unix Copy and Paste Paradigm? · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've always thought it odd that Mac users don't have a middle button.

    I _know_ they have a middle _finger_ because they show it to me all the time...

    ---

    (Sure, mod it flamebait. I _am_ an insensitive clod.)

  22. The Google Seal of Approval on Google's Software Principles · · Score: 1

    This reminds me of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

    I wonder if Google is intentionally modelling their program on that one? Or if they intend to move in that direction?

  23. Re:"Road Marker" on Road Marker Marks You · · Score: 5, Funny

    The theft of multiple road markers is therefore referred to as "compiling RPMs"

  24. Re:Wouldn't it be... on H2G2 Film Website · · Score: 1

    I think the intent was Hitch-Hiker's Guide Galaxy = HHGG = H2G2

    This was Douglas' creation, so he's to blame.

  25. Re:Identity on Privacy in the Woods? · · Score: 1

    We have the same thing on our freeways - a big network of radar and pavement detectors.

    But they're not used to identify speeders and give tickets, just to provide information to drivers and law enforcement about road conditions (see www.sigalert.com).

    On the other hand, Southern California freeways have more traffic than your typical woodsy trail. The lack of volume is a big challenge to anonymity.