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User: Lost+Engineer

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Comments · 1,266

  1. Re:Bummer on Drivers License Swipes Raise Privacy Concerns · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't know if that was a joke... but I'll bite. Ever since certain states passed laws that say that you must card everyone who looks under 27, 30, 35, or whatever, stores have tried to one up them. It's easier to implement a consistent, if ridiculous, policy than to trust your underlings to correctly judge age.

    The reason he should be able to get away with it wrt video games is that there is no legal authority going around busting stores for selling games to underage games, unlike say alcohol or tobacco-containing products.

    As a sidenote, I was turned down by a local grocery store the other day because my license had a hole in it, while I was waiting for a new one to come in the mail. The clerk explained: you need a valid photo ID. I explained that the ID was still valid and unexpired despite bureau-jerks at the DMV putting a hole in it and that I had a paper temporary, but that didn't hold water in her mind. I haven't bought beer there since.

  2. Re:You get what you wanted all along on What's the Problem With US High Schools? · · Score: 1

    The point is that special needs students are getting their help at the expense of other students, who are dropping out in droves. I don't see what you've said to refute that. The solution is not to write off special needs students but to balance their needs with that of the general population. Besides, why shouldn't parents be paying the extra money their childrens' special needs cost the taxpayers?

  3. Re:why pick on Picking Sides In the Console War · · Score: 1

    Yes, think of all those airline miles and rewards points.

  4. Re:I hope they trade their 360s in.. on PS3 and Wii — Head To Head · · Score: 1

    I don't know about you, but I'd rather not spend time trying to figure out which buttons to press to say things. Even with voice chat, half the time I only get off half of "sniper spotted, under the stairs..." and the like.

  5. Re:"I am so high right now" on PS3 and Wii — Head To Head · · Score: 1

    On a somewhat related note, I'm really glad I don't have a pot-related gamertag. Theyre so cliched right now. I suppose you could get MS to change it for you, though, as it is probably considered inappropriate.

  6. Re:Technically, PS3 wins - Heart, Wii wins on PS3 and Wii — Head To Head · · Score: 1

    I think it depends on the game entirely. In a realistic feeling game, better graphics improve suspension of disbelief. Gears "feels" more realistic than any other (console) shooter I've played for this reason. As the grandparent said, gameplay can ruin that for ya. I think that once games look as good as a professionally rendered movie, then we will have diminishing returns. This is much harder now that HD is prevalent.

    I understand where youre coming from, but I think games still have a long way to go before improved graphics start having no effect on the fun factor.

  7. It's nice to hear different reasoning, but... on RIAA President Decries Fair Use · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How can you steal a concept, a feeling, or an idea? If I do an excellent moonwalk, have I stolen exclusivity from Michael Jackson? Do Robin Williams' impressions infring on the exclusivity of the impersonated? You can't steal an idea of exclusivity, only money associated with the loss thereof.

    I'm much more comfortable with the argument that piracy is stealing from the (mostly well lined) pockets of record companies and artists. This at least holds water when directed at those who could have/would have otherwise paid for the content.

    By your logic, artists could sue for the pain and suffering their loss of exclusivity caused them.

  8. Re:Prediction on Congressman Calls for Arrest of Security Researcher · · Score: 1

    Currently, at least some airlines charge $100 for the privelege of having a paper ticket.
    Getting a boarding pass is diffrent though. You can still use the machines that are at nearly every checkin counter if you're not checking bags. These print boarding passes on authentic cardstock.

  9. Re:It's obviously the best solution on If Not America, Then Where? · · Score: 1

    Some of these problems, including America's beligerent foreign policy will change as soon as (the current) Bush is gone. None of the people pegged to replace him, and I'm talking about republicans here seem to be nearly as myopic and radical.

    Yes, many of our problems will remain, but we should look better to the world.

  10. Re:Strawman much? on VDARE Fights Blocking By Censorware · · Score: 1

    I would like to point out that the quote you included never appears in the linked page. I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you mislinked, but I am not inclined to. You're full of shit.

  11. Re:what if problems arise? on 7-9 Million Wiis by 2007? · · Score: 1

    The worst I ever got from Nintendo was the need to constantly blow dust out my NES games.

  12. Re:They job is to collect money from on What Do Geek Squad Technicians Actually Do? · · Score: 1

    If CEOs were interested in cocaine and hookers, they wouldn't need so much money, and I'd better understand their fix. No, it's more like raiding the pension fund to pay for a new yacht. Besides, the grandparent is talking about hard sells, which are far away from the boss man's office.

  13. Re:Its inevitable on The End of Native Code? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your link is a bit vague for me. I have used a Cray cluster lately, and I was forced to handle parallelism on my own, using MPI, UPC and like paradigms. What parallelism do Cray compilers handle automatically?

  14. Re:Kaching! on Software Options for Operating a Mid-Sized Hotel? · · Score: 1

    I've often made the same "if it hasn't been automated, there's probably a reason" argument... under other circumstances, but you have to consider the corrolary as well. If you've managed to find a real untapped market you could really make an assload of money and make a lot of peoples lives easier if you spent some time working on it.

  15. Re:This was never really in doubt... on Cannabinoids Induce Brain Cell Growth? · · Score: 1

    Apples are quite effective as well, and personally, I prefer the appley flavor.

  16. Re:I think they just don't care. on Windows Vista May Degrade OpenGL · · Score: 1

    I disagree, but I think a real effort would require some sort of enforced driver certification/verification, maybe aided by DRM hardware, which is impractical in the compatible x86 world... Apple on the other hand could do it, if they wanted to.

  17. Re:Zealotry on Real Feels iTunes Backlash · · Score: 1

    Except music companies. I don't think anyone Real, Apple or otherwise wants to sell DRMed files - just doesn't make much market sense the way things are right now. It is record companies that demand these things to preserve their "monopoly" on music distribution. I put monopoly in quotes because everyone knows there are at least 5 other major labels: Kazaa, Bittorrent, Gnutella, Direct Connect, and eDonkey.

  18. Re:Wow. Wow. Just wow. on Turn Real Life Into A Cartoon · · Score: 1

    Well let's let these guys do something they actually stand a chance at.

  19. Re:Yeah and? Stupid criminals go to jail. Old stor on Blaster Variant Creator Pleads Guilty · · Score: 1

    Ethos, true. Doesn't it make sense though to maximize the benefit to society, if we're going to spend all this time/money/effort to punish people. Revenge maximizes the benefit to no one, whereas rehabilitation reduces the chances that this person will do it again. Revenge merely perpetuates the cycle of violence, on all levels, personal and society. In fact, you're living in a society (I'm assuming USA which I prolly shouldn't) dealing with the consequences of revenge punishment. These are prisons filled to the brim with nonviolent offenders and the almost inevitable return to crime of those who emerge.

  20. Re:Payment for Work Units on TeraGrid v. Distributed Computing · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That might be legal already. IANAL, if 60% of my computing power goes to SETI, can I write off that percentage of the depreciation of the box as a charitable donation?

  21. Re:Coming events on New IE Malware Captures Passwords Ahead Of SSL · · Score: 1

    Don't most businesses use switches by now? I know I dont pick up anything sniffing at work.

  22. Re:We have a free market of ideas in this country. on Fahrenheit 9/11 Discussion · · Score: 1

    /agree Regardless of party, people on the left and the right more or less want to control your life. After all, it's part of their platform.

  23. Re:no need for conspiracy theories on Rocket Hobbyists Get Blown Away by Regulations · · Score: 1

    It isn't about rockets. It's about fear. The government will outlaw/regulate out of existence as many things as possible. Just like drugs, trying to clamp down on explosives is impossible. All you need is cow shit and gasoline for Christ's sake. And of course Homeland Security knows this. Like the granparent says, it's all about fear.

  24. MOD PARENT UP on Rocket Hobbyists Get Blown Away by Regulations · · Score: 1

    Where are those mod points when I need em.

  25. Re:Someone wanna lend me $300? on iTMS Europe: 800,000 Tracks In A Week · · Score: 1
    Musicmatch came as a default on the computer I am typing on now. It was removed immediately.


    What is it with musicmatch? Seems like every craptacular oem i buy from likes to bundle it. Even ta-da Apple (with my original 5gb iPod). Don't they realize it sucks?