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Comments · 137

  1. Re:Nuclear power is a battery on US Nuclear Plants Expanding Long-Term Waste Storage Facilities · · Score: 2

    This comment is simply not true. Long-lived minor actinide/fission product waste transmutation can be accomplished in an energy-producing power reactor.

  2. Transmutation in SFRs or LWRs too on US Nuclear Plants Expanding Long-Term Waste Storage Facilities · · Score: 4, Informative

    The link goes to information about proposed accelerator driven subcritical reactors, but you can transmute plutonium, minor actinides, and fission products in sodium fast reactors (SFRs) or light water reactors with inert matrix fuel (LWRs). SFRs have nearly the same spectrum neutron energy spectrum as most proposed ADS blankets, and the technology readiness level is much higher. Basically anything you can do in an ADS you can do in an SFR, but you don't have the added cost of an accelerator. Moderated targets would be required for fission product transmutation.

    Passive decay heat removal is necessary whether you are talking about an ADS or an SFR. Other than the worst reactivity insertion accidents (which can be mitigated by negative reactivity coefficients) I do not see serious benefits to an ADS over an SFR.

  3. 6750M/6770M on GPUs Dropping Dead In 2011 MacBook Pro Models · · Score: 1

    For the 2011 macbook pros, my guess is that this mostly impacts the AMD Radeon HD 6750M and AMD Radeon HD 6770M.

    I would imagine the AMD Radeon HD 6490M doesn't get hot enough to be impacted :)

  4. 2011 Refurbs on GPUs Dropping Dead In 2011 MacBook Pro Models · · Score: 2

    Some early/late 2011 refurbs have been popping up on the Apple Refurb Store occasionally still (although there are none on there now there was some several weeks ago). My guess is these are machines Apple is replacing for folks with AppleCare and then they are replacing the logic board and battery and reselling them as refurbs.

    I have a late 2011 (a work machine with applecare) and have never seen any issues.

  5. Global vs. local effects on How Weather Influences Global Warming Opinions · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Global warming is exactly that- a global trend, not a local one. Locally, the effects have been most pronounced near the north pole, which is not exactly a place where many people live.

    Global climate change seems to have resulted recently in a "warming" trend, but as we know from Al Gore's movie, if the North Atlantic current gets shut off we are in for a polar vortex on a much longer time scale.

    I am not sure who coined the phrase "global warming"; is it a PR failure by the scientists involved or a reporting failure by the news media? To quote a well known meme: "why not both?"

  6. Re: Uh, that's a huge spread on Record Wind Power Levels Trigger Energy Price Fall Across Europe · · Score: 1

    He said 'short term' ... that means for me in hours or less.
    Current reactors don't do that. If you power a reactor a bit down it gets difficult to power it up again, due to different characteristics of moderation (waste products).

    The difficulty is due to xenon, which can limit the magnitude of the load follow. However, trust me there are reactors that can follow. History of load following reactors from the American Nuclear Society

  7. Re:bfd on Record Wind Power Levels Trigger Energy Price Fall Across Europe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Although wind power does not contribute to global warming through greenhouse gas emission, it does extract kinetic energy from the atmosphere and therefore may alter global climate even at continental scales

    It may be the lesser of evils compared to some other supplemental energy options but it isn't perfect- and it isn't a good candidate for base load

  8. Re: Uh, that's a huge spread on Record Wind Power Levels Trigger Energy Price Fall Across Europe · · Score: 1

    Load following nuclear plants are possible and many designs (such as the PBMR) are intended to follow load. This is patently false

  9. Re:Uh, that's a huge spread on Record Wind Power Levels Trigger Energy Price Fall Across Europe · · Score: 2, Informative

    On a daily basis, December was a month of extremes for Germany, with day-ahead base prices closing on December 10 and 11 at less than €60/MWh – the highest over-the-counter levels seen all year – only to fall to its lowest level December 24 to €0.50/MWh.

    I have seen a nice bumper sticker before: Solar and wind are allright, but nuke's do it all night.

    I agree with this sentiment. Shame Germany is phasing out nuclear in favor of coal.

  10. Hypothesis vs. conclusion on Is Earth Weighed Down By Dark Matter? · · Score: 2

    The dark matter ring is merely a hypothesis. In my field (or science, engineering, or mathematics generally) we should follow the scientific method when reporting results at a meeting.

    This guy was unfortunately presenting a hypothesis. He should have waited and tried to find more compelling evidence before presenting. New Scientist should be familiar enough with the scientific method to avoid publicizing a radical and unproven hypothesis.

  11. Should've carried them on on US Customs Destroys Virtuoso's Flutes Because They Were "Agricultural Items" · · Score: 1

    I don't really agree with most of this comment- but I do agree he should have kept them with him.

    Wife and I learned the hard way when we had a bunched of stuff stolen out of our luggage flying from ORD to IST- if something has monetary and/or sentimental value, always keep it with you.

    Turkish airlines sent us $100 check for the $500+ stuff that was stolen.

  12. Maybe profit is one motivation... on Utilities Fight Back Against Solar Energy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Excess energy on the grid is a real issue, especially if there has been a significant wave of people adopting these systems. If there isn't demand for all the electricity being pumped onto the grid, there has to be a place to dump the energy. This is an even bigger issue with wind and other intermittent sources.

    If the grid is overwhelmed and there is no demand, should folks expect to get paid for that energy, which could actually cost the utility money to dump somewhere?

    Something else to bear in mind- the utility has to operate base load plants no matter what.

    Recent literature indicates that these issues can be overcome (one example from Utilities Policy ), but that the process will take time. Utilities are a very conservative industry and are often slow to adapt new systems because they have stringent boundary conditions.

    Just playing the devils advocate here- I'm sure profit is a part of it.

  13. Re:Only big busniess is allowed to steal my info on Tech Leaders Push Back Against Obama's Efforts To Divert Discussion From NSA · · Score: 1

    I know this is a joke- but at least in those cases you can choose whether to use the companies products or make informed decisions that will protect your privacy. Facebook is optional- making phone calls is not.

  14. Pragmatism intersects with idealism on Tech Leaders Push Back Against Obama's Efforts To Divert Discussion From NSA · · Score: 1

    Sometimes it seems rare that personal rights and business interests intersect- but that is happening here.

    The NSA activities are really harming the credibility of the federal government and that will hurt everybody where it matters- the pocketbook.

  15. $300 million- insurance for how many? on Oregon Signs Up Just 44 People For Obamacare Despite Spending $300 Million · · Score: 0

    They could have bought insurance for a lot more than 44 people with $300 million.

  16. MSR: a great paper reactor on Nobody Builds Reactors For Fun Anymore · · Score: 1

    MSRs look great on the drawing board.

    The salts are corrosive and solid at room temperature.

    On site chemical processing of the salt stream with fuel and FPs is required.

    Huge proliferation risk.

    Chemical plants are much more accident prone than nuclear reactors.

    Interesting and elegant concept. There is a reason that the technology has been pursued only half-heartedly since the demo facilities the 1960s.

  17. This only applies to newly purchased phones on What You Need To Know About Phone Unlocking · · Score: 2

    My understanding is that this only applies to newly purchased phones, starting today, 1/27.

    Any phone purchased on 1/26 or before can still be legally unlocked.

    Please correct me if I'm wrong.

  18. It's all about individual cases on New Plan Lets Top HS Students Graduate 2 Years Early · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I went to the University of New Mexico at 14. Graduated at 19, Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in engineering. Masters from Purdue at 21. I'm now 23 and a semester away from my Ph.D.

    Believe it or not, I am extremely social!

    My girlfriend, who is a foreign national, started her University studies at 16.

    It is all about individual cases. Great to see more flexibility in the educational system.

  19. Bankruptcy on RIAA Recommends Students Drop out of College · · Score: 1

    Its called bankruptcy, and if you truly cannot afford to pay the RIAA you can file for it

  20. Re:Old news on The Decline Of The Desktop · · Score: 1

    Yeah yeah, mobility will kill desktop PCs, it's been around the corner fro what? Half a decade? As soon as the next generation of shiny CDMA connections or mobile phones or ultralight laptops or desktop replacement laptops or mobile phones or Starbucks comfy chars launch, the desktop PC will be nothing but a memory. There are some things that never change:

    Broadband over powerlines is just around the corner
    The desktop PC is dying


    Also, sustainable breakeven fusion is always 20 years away.

  21. Re:my phase change on Asetek's Extreme CPU Cooler Tested · · Score: 1

    phase change has one and only one use as far as I can see

    Yes, the rankine cycle in power plant systems. I dont know what you are talking about with this silent office crap.

  22. Re:France has never been big on freedom of the pre on Yahoo! Not Protected From French Anti-Nazi Laws · · Score: 1

    I'm so glad CNN and Fox News aren't in the hands of those dirty commies, so we always get FAIR AND BALANCED reporting from the US press.

    Good point, but remember that what the parent poster was trying to point out is that, because of speech laws, france lacks a free press. In the US, our major media outlets may be controlled by relatively conservative types, but other sources can still report the truth. This is unlike France, where criticizing the president is illegal(According to the parent).

  23. Re:This is being done by Republican-SUPPORTERS, ri on Hackers Take Aim at Republicans · · Score: 1

    I'm a liberal because the Founding Fathers were liberals.

    The founding fathers were classically liberal, which is somewhat different from modern liberalism. The only real difference is property rights: as I classical liberal, I believe in an absolute right to property, whereas a modern liberal might be in favor of high rates of taxation.

    The founding fathers were much more libertarian than modern democrats.., but certainly they were not theocratic conservatives like Coultier. I must ask though: are you in favor of the second amendment? It amazes me how so many liberals are supposably in favor of civil liberties, yet they totally deny the efficacy of that significant liberty.

    Certainly, you are correct, the founding fathers were liberal, but in a slightly different sense of the word than modern liberals, though there are many similarities. In other words: the founding fathers were liberals who supported the second amendment, and were opposed to the usurpation of property rights.

  24. Re:Who gives a shit about pro sports anyways? on TiVo Has to Fund Your Local Stadium · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Who gives a shit about pro sports anyways? I cannot think of a more useless waste of time than sitting down and watching an NFL game.

    I care. Pro sports invokes a number of base emotions, and hence its popularity. To the geek who does not care I would suggest this: why not try following a team, such as the Packers, the Steelers, or the Raiders for awhile. In other words, follow a team with a real identity. One might be surprised at how interesting and fun it is, and even if this is not the case, one might gain an appreciation for the NFL and its devoted following.

    The reality of the matter is this: the average person, football fan or not, is ambivalent about their government. Football fans run the gamut: from distinguished intellectuals to the practically uneducated.

    It is sad to see this elitist view about the NFL still rampant among some "nerds" today: the same foolish individuals who claim to reason and think critically display an utter lack of understanding or open mindedness when it comes to sports. In a way, maybe a "joe six pack" football fan displays more wisdom than you do.

  25. Re:Corporate welfare on TiVo Has to Fund Your Local Stadium · · Score: 1

    Exactly. Hawkins goes on to explain that "they'll never sell out those December games if they are unable to enforce the blackout rule" (meaning manipulate, coerce and destroy consumer choice). The honest answer, however, is that the value of a northern market outdoor stadium seat significantly diminishes as it gets damn cold in December. And this is the consumer's problem how?

    This may be true in some markets, however, the steelers have not had a game that did not sell out since the early 1970s. Part of it is about the quality of the product on the field. If the bengals are 3-10 in december, then, shit, why would anyone want to go see that fucking bullshit. Contrast that to the steelers, who have consistently won over the last thirty years, and we see the real root of the problem: winning, or lack thereof, and NOT television coverage.
    The NFL needs to pull their heads out of there asses about this: there is a reason that Pittsburgh and Green Bay sell out and yet are bitterly cold in the winter: they win.