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User: Dare+nMc

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  1. Re:How's it unfair? on Hackers Clone Passports In Driveby RFID Heist · · Score: 1

    might land them in dog shit land, but it's not illegal in the US. IE I look at the company web page all the time to match a photo with a persons name, if you carry something that willingly broadcasts your name and photo that's your business, all these guys did was let you know thats what your doing carrying a passport that is not held securely closed, or wrapped in a conductor.
        The FCC is the only one allowed to impose laws against wireless communications (in US), and outside the cellular bands "as long as the communication is not divulged or does not `benefit' the interceptor."

    So collect all the names photos, etc of everyone you can, business cards, etc. As long as you don't start using those in a criminal manner, your good.

  2. Re:Wasted Energy on New Paper Offers Additional Reasoning for Fermi's Paradox · · Score: 1

    went through a brief period of wideband, and then switched to

    I would also assume that broadcasting any signal that can be picked up a few light years away, and broadcasts in anything but very short bursts, is so overpowered and wasteful that use for more than a very brief development window in history is unlikely.

  3. Re:Faraday cage? on Local Police Want To Jam Wireless Signals · · Score: 1

    1) reading through the FCC site, clearly shows a Faraday cage that is created for the primary purpose of interfering with communications is jamming, and would be just as illegal.
    2) you can't turn it on and off easily. Or change the shape easily.
        They could then install cell phone repeaters then get the control back. That might even make the Faraday cage legal.

  4. Re:Oh yes that's lying! on Lie Detector Company Threatens Critical Scientists With Suit · · Score: 1

    If he doesn't close it, then that's a lie*.

    No, if he never had the intent to close Guantanamo at the time the statement was made, then thats a lie. If he just never gives it a all out effort (and it doesn't happen) thats a flip-flop. The statement seams pretty clear to me, IE he would use his office to put a end to the use of Gitmo as the excuse to ignore US and international laws. As such no one can claim his statement was a lie if the prison is closed, but the facility is kept in use for other purposes (or even kept as a prison but with US/international scrutiny.)
    Now things like when McCain said obamas tax plan would raise taxes on 90% of small businesses, and when Obama claimed Iraq had a $5 billion surplus (for example) even though both statements were based on a honest mistake at one time, but they both knew they were misleading, at best, at the time stated in the 2nd debate.

  5. Re:My first experience with LED lighting... on LED Lighting As Cheap As CFLs Invented · · Score: 1

    probably in the transformer, I think most LEDs are not over 2V, so 70 or so in series wouldn't need a transformer from 110 (DC peak voltage is the important part.) Because inefficient transformers are cheaper and smaller... It is bigger and more costly to make efficient ones. You were likely buying a small enclosure with few leds and a transformer packed in a very small space...

  6. Re:slushbox autos. on Progress On Electric Cars · · Score: 1

    not really, under load you lose 15-25% of the power to the auto transmission. (some in the transmission, + the extra fans to cool the transmission) But then I would have to get a 20% bigger engine to get the same towing performance as a manual... maybe 50% is a little exaggeration, I get 50% better economy from my 6 cylinder towing than my brothers 8 on the same trailer (10mpg to 15 mpg) but he can definitely pull the hill faster because he has more than the required 125% HP. is more like 15% when not towing (17 vs 20MPG) But I have noticed if I shift like his, example: pulling empty down hill his auto unlocks the gear and engine turns under 1200RPM, if I shift in N every time down hills, I get 22MPG not 20, but who wants to do that every hill, light, speed zone, etc?

  7. Re:slushbox autos. on Progress On Electric Cars · · Score: 1

    auto does seam to be a feature heavily encouraged by manufactures, I assume because you cant grenade the engine in one shift, and they have higher maintenance that is heavy dealer profit (and not under warranty.) So they publish only the standard specs that show similar performance and economy. Economy is from optimal shifting in a auto that is not taught for manual (rules changed with EFI, carburetor teachings persist). Performance shown is 0-60, mostly because trans losses don't matter in the critical 0-20, and responsiveness isn't tested.
    Especially for towing I could tow the same with the smaller engine and a manual, or the larger engine and auto + extra towing cooler + $500/year increased maintenance + 50% less economy + 1/2 or less lifetime of trans.

  8. Re:In fact on Progress On Electric Cars · · Score: 1

    according to wikipedia radon reportedly causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.[2] now that could be a argument that we need to get that nuclear material out of the soil so it'll quit producing the gas. ;^) But to be fair that is a significant risk in or near the mines, smelters, etc that produce the materials needed for nuclear. But since we get copper, and everything else first from all the U mines, those deaths/ injuries wouldn't necessarily be attributed to nuclear power either.

  9. Re:Nuclear power on Progress On Electric Cars · · Score: 1

    well someone please tell the tree huggers or you won't have that supply, we are currently using up our nuclear reserves quickly and they are trying to kill the one place that we know of with enough supply http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Dam,_South_Australia. Check out the related links at the bottom for all the reasons they try to kill mining at the one place needed to try and keep a realistic nuclear powered future alive.

  10. Re:That's it? on Progress On Electric Cars · · Score: 1

    well some of that comes from the dynamics of a differential that causes unexpected shifts in power, especially if you have a spinning wheel grab traction. Amplified by automatic transmissions that have jumps in torque without warning (and a single pedal that controls shifting, power, and speed that makes precise control difficult at best.) With separate electric motors on each side all of a sudden it's possible to control torque precisely and instantaneously. Of course that also means they need to do good software because it would be easy to do it precisely wrong. This somewhat assumes they use AC motors, and separate control. Even if not they will behave much more reasonably than the seemingly random jerk jerk you currently get.

  11. Re: becoming a citizen from H1B. on Microsoft Says H-1B Workers Among Those Losing Jobs · · Score: 1

    well becoming a citizen from H1B is (generally) a very expensive process. So apply it. I do agree the citizen route is when H1B should work best for this country. I don't think having a higher processing cost for firing the H1B worker first is good. I also think having a "all H1B employees must go first" as a policy serves the greater good only for reelection prospects for Mr Grassley...

  12. Re:WHO IS JOHN GALT? on Microsoft Says H-1B Workers Among Those Losing Jobs · · Score: 1

    The only thing that I worry about is the "incentive" built into the system to keep H1B first. It is my understanding that companies must agree to pay the expenses to move H1B workers back home. So if they want to save money this quarter, it would cost more to can the H1B. Maybe the rules should change that the companies have to pay that expense up front (maybe into a 3rd party, or government fund)

  13. Re:Require pay and benefits parity on Microsoft Says H-1B Workers Among Those Losing Jobs · · Score: 1

    I take it that is a pro H1B visa statement. Since the point of H1B is to make them all come live off the same expenses in the US. The alternative to H1B is that the jobs (should) move to the countries that have or will allow the workers needed to be present. Like you say, much easier to compete against workers that must move to your country to work, than to compete against workers when I have to move countries, and learn their language.

  14. Re:What about open source phones? on New Law Will Require Camera Phones To "Click" · · Score: 1

    or you know spilling a liquid on the speaker. need to outlaw anything that could make a hole, like drill bits, self tapping screws...
    ---
    which reminds me, I need to get back to work on a plan to hijack a plane with a bra and panties. Just to make sure they all have to be removed while going through security.

  15. Re:Insanely stupid. on New Law Will Require Camera Phones To "Click" · · Score: 1

    great, just what I need, make it illegal for me to spill my soda/coffee. After all that ruined the speaker phone speaker on my last phone. With bluetooth headsets you could disable every speaker/noisemaker on the phone it's self, and still have a useful phone.

  16. high Precsion = 40* larger bang, not a 0 bang. on Oldest Weapons-grade Plutonium Found In Dump · · Score: 1

    If they come up with 2 lbs of WeaponsGrade material (50* more than was found in the safe), and overbuild the initial compression by a factor of 10 (ie build the 4 Ton Hiroshima bomb, from directions available) likely they get the same result the US did on it's first, second, and third tries, which was sized at 10k Tons of TNT.
    Contrast that with the precise weapon you describe, that is possible with the correct data, that the US builds now. With less than the same 2 lbs of material, and now comes inside 1/4 the total weight (1 Ton) and now can produces a 4 MegaTon bang.
    so if 10k ton bang is all they wanted, not much else needed than the materials, and time. if you want the whole 4 MTon, or a small enough package to transport discreetly, then you need the data.

  17. Re:Reactionary. on Whistleblower Claims NSA Spied On Everyone, Targeted Media · · Score: 1

    Wow.. that sure is a biased view.

    thank you.

  18. Re:That's the whole point on Whistleblower Claims NSA Spied On Everyone, Targeted Media · · Score: 1

    2 things:
    1) this is not about 1 constitutional right, it is about several. For example foreign press in this connected world is still press, and should still be protected by the US constitution. So intentionally targeting the press, even when some of it is foreign, hasn't been challenged, and seams likely to be a violation.
    2) all of your comment applies to precedents for use by the judiciary branch of government, this story is about improper use of those tools by the Executive branch, towards suppression of free speech.
    3) legally OK doesn't make morally OK, so blowing the whistle on clearly morally wrong actions especially along the lines of closing these loop holes is needed. IE when they blew the whistle on Blagojevich, for things that may not have violated the law, but it was still "blowing the whistle" because it was for actions that are clearly wrong, the same as the actions accused here.

  19. Re:Reactionary. on Whistleblower Claims NSA Spied On Everyone, Targeted Media · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wanting Bush hung for treason is totally biased.

    agreed.

    Bush has not levied War against the United States, nor has he made common cause with our enemies.

    are you sure about that ( Plame affair)? I mean if Bush intentionally interfered with our CIA, our diplomants, and messed with the rightful secession of power from a dully elected president ( Al gore) as he has been previously accused, then treason has indeed been alleged.

  20. Re:Un huh. on Do Nice Engineers Finish Last In Tough Times? · · Score: 1

    Your post is saying you can't fix the drain cock permanently once broke off, without draining. The parent seam to describe breaking the drain valve and fixing it temporarily. Now wheres the proof this is difficult? The needed tools, pliers to break the drain cock end, small tube to slide over the remaining stem with required burst pressure/temperature, hose clamp and plug. (or no remaining stem, then some JB waterweld.)

  21. Re:Tax policy on GAO Reports Bailout and Tech Firms Love Tax Havens · · Score: 1

    I agree there is no absolute correct answer. But, since the top % control business they have the choice, pay themselves more or invest more in the business. Also many expenses are taken by the company, IE fly the corporate jet on all outings, drive company cars, took no income & paid no taxes on that (gets taken off the top of profits as a expense.) While they may pay double in taxes, that doesn't include the cost of many benefits they enjoy. Also IMO it is more likely for those not in control of a business to spend personal income to improve productivity. Myself, and all my co-workers spend money on many tools that we use at home, at work, and have plans to produce with these tools. Until we start producing significantly, it isn't worth our time hiding this by creating businesses to offset the taxes. Those up high already have the havens setup, would be stupid for them to buy any tools, etc from income, only toys.
    Not to mention the golden parachutes are all taken overseas, so they likely will never pay US (or even close to the same Tax) on these as the workers without direct say in what the company will do.

  22. Re:Exactly on Woman Claims Ubuntu Kept Her From Online Classes · · Score: 1

    They are typically, ancient Word 97 produced affairs, devised by a "self educated" whiz

    well, from my experience openoffice is on equal footing with ms office on this front. IE those documents will not look the same on Word 2000, or 2003, or whichever, and likely will not print on any paper size but the one it was originated on...
    At work it is fine, they install office 2003 for everyone, designer must update his document or change it to a pdf, etc.
    I even found openoffice to be a good filter, IE the document is smaller in size, and more compliant once I open and save as msoffice in OO once.

  23. Re:It's a good day. on Breathalyzer Source Code Ruling Upheld · · Score: 1

    not sure it's a no brainer, if their is sufficient proof of function, that would be more useful than any source code inspection. I don't agree that "no source = not usable as evidence."
    Clearly this devices multitude of inputs, outputs, and configurations are driving the need for source. I also think voting, open sourcing isn't even enough, it again needs a well verified (independent verification) of methods used.

    If the methods are correctly verified, I don't care whats in the "black box" just that it was verified, and unchanging in it's processing. Sometimes that is easier to do looking at software, sometimes not. Diebold has been sufficiently proven to fail this in all regards, so their source code would be useless (at least without the ability to fix it.)

  24. Re:Food Coloring + recycling ? on Future Astronauts May Survive On Eating Silkworms · · Score: 1

    recycling anyone? I doubt these silkworms produce nutrients out of sunlight, so I guess they must eat crap. St pattys day taught me a little food coloring can make a round trip (at least the green stuff.) Choose one color, it exits the same color, the worms web becomes colored the next trip, qty of coloring needed is reduced...

  25. Re:$400 a month? on Switching To Solar Power — Six Months Later · · Score: 1

    inefficient if the temperature drops below 40 degrees F

    Technically it's only when the output of the outside coil is below the frost point, then they have a severe drop off in efficiency (of course your talking a outside air exchange heat pump, not a ground water heat pump, since they have no such issue.) Probably in most of CA, 40 would qualify as below the frost point.