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User: Epi-man

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  1. Re:Ignoring the real problem on 2008 Is the Coldest Year of the 21st Century · · Score: 1

    Only oil and nuclear have limited supply.

    Ummm, solar is also limited. You can't get more than ~500 W/m^2 no matter what you do. There is a maximum amount that can be pulled, that's called a limit.

    My wife and I are looking at putting solar panels on our house, I would love to do it, but don't tell me that it is an "unlimited" resource. It is unlimited in terms of (practical) time, but definitely limited in terms of output.

  2. Re:When will it stop? on IBM and AMD Create First 22nm SRAM Cell · · Score: 1

    Well, a single silicon atom has a radius of 110pm.

    I'm surprised no one has pointed this out yet, but the radius of the atom isn't as critical as the spacing of the atoms in the crystal. For crystalline silicon, you are looking at a spacing between atoms of around 543 pm (why pm? Most people talk about Angstroms at this level?), or about 40 atoms under the gate, of course the channel is smaller than the gate area due to sub-diffusion of the source and drain regions during processing...I miss device engineering.

    (yes, I am a device physicist)

  3. Re:Thanks, media, on 550 Metric Tons of Uranium Removed From Iraq · · Score: 1

    The invasion was illegal under international law in any case.

    Interesting, I had always thought if you violated a peace treaty (well, end of hostilities agreement) it essentially returned two nations to a state of war (hostility). The invasion may have violated international desires, but it violated approximately zero "laws."

  4. Re:The US is DESTROYIING its stockpiles on 550 Metric Tons of Uranium Removed From Iraq · · Score: 1

    You live on a dream world, the "Intel" was faked by the Bush admin, I remember the time well, only the rabid neocons and their sycophants like yourself believed the laughable evidence at the time.

    Fantastic! Finally someone that can answer the question I have been asking for nearly 5 years now! Please post the sources of anyone prior to the invasion that stated Iraq/Saddam had no WMDs. I beg you to do this. I have asked in many threads on this topic, so far, not a single reply with any sources.

  5. Re:A Fitness center analogy.. on Beating Comcast's Sandvine On Linux With Iptables · · Score: 1

    The worst the fitness company could complain about is that these 28 people are causing "undue stress" to the machines (which is ridiculous anyway).

    I happen to live in one of the fattest cities in America...no, people causing "undue stress" to fitness equipment (thinking treadmill) certainly isn't ridiculous!

  6. Re:Don't forget... on First US Offshore Wind Power Park In Delaware · · Score: 1

    Dogfish Head beer is made in Rehobeth DE.

    That alone makes Delaware worth a vist, if only to check out the brewery and then drink oneself into oblivion... to avoid having to face the reality that you did, indeed, got to Delaware for a vacation.

    My family took a family vacation to visit other family in Delaware last summer (near Rehobeth...of course, in DE, anything is nearby) and it was an absolutely fantastic time. Very family friendly, and my kids were thrilled to see the schools of dolphins/porpoises jumping less than a mile out (at least it seemed they were that close, but not living near the ocean, my sense of distance may be WAY off) from where we were swimming. I HIGHLY recommend a summer vacation to the DE beaches.

  7. Re:Dolt on Prediction Markets and the 2008 Electoral Map · · Score: 1

    My (not well asked, but what I was intending to point out) question to you goes unanswered, how do you define "better?"

    Still awaiting your answer here.

    If I were you, I wouldn't trust the medical system here. They are in it for money, and they don't care if you ever get better. In fact, more profit for them if you don't.


    Then why are both my mother and mother-in-law still alive? Both cancer survivors (vs. the grandmothers-in-law, both dead in England). You see, you continue to ignore what I am getting at, the US system may not be the best when looking at the nth percentile (where n depends on which study you look at), but it is vastly superior for the mth percentile (again, m depends on the study). So how do you define what makes a "best" overall system? I personally like the one where people (I know) live instead of die. I like the one that is not socialized. Yes, we are talking opinions here, but you haven't quite answered how to define a non-opinionated comparison.

    Am I saying the US system is a model of perfection....pretty sure you never heard those words from my keyboard. Am I saying I vastly prefer it over the socialized systems, you beat your ass. But again, your metrics are obviously not be mine.
  8. Re:Dolt on Prediction Markets and the 2008 Electoral Map · · Score: 1

    That's great, you have studies. My (not well asked, but what I was intending to point out) question to you goes unanswered, how do you define "better?" If you ask the rich of the world, they will tell you the US has a better medical system because that's where they go to get their care. If you ask poor people, they will say countries that give them medical care at no direct cost to them is better. If you ask me, I say the US system is better because it tends to handle cases on a case-by-case basis vs. the formulary approach of the British system as outlined above. If you want your medical care to be defined by bureaucrats, then you will consider the socialized systems better. For my family, your idea of mimicking the European nations systems will not provide us with better health care, so I want nothing to do with it, yet you seem to think you should force it upon me?

  9. Re:Dolt on Prediction Markets and the 2008 Electoral Map · · Score: 1

    So socialized medicine, which has been proven to work far better than privatized medicine in the entire rest of the developed world, somehow equates to 100% of Americans losing their property rights?


    Interesting. Care to prove that the entire rest of the developed world has better medicine than the US? I have counterpoints, both of my wife's grandmothers died horribly slow, painful deaths in England due to the "better" healthcare system over there. My wife (a doctor) was appalled at the "care" they received. Her maternal grandmother basically starved to death due to a tumor in her throat. Super care there, no? Her uncle is starting down that same path with heart problems. Again, the health "care" system hasn't a clue what to do with him. Fortunately, she is getting involved earlier this time and telling him what to tell them needs to be done.

    Additionally, if the systems are so great, why do all the wealthy in the rest of developed world head to the US for treatment of cancer?
  10. Re:No, You. on Prediction Markets and the 2008 Electoral Map · · Score: 1

    Competition among private services gives private companies an incentive to provide the best possible service at the lowest price


    Is that why the cost of text messaging has increased from free to $0.02/ea to $0.10/ea to $0.15/ea to $0.20/ea? Is that why my cable bill goes up each year even though they face competition from satellite and even the telco (in some areas)? Is that why nearly every major credit card company adopts fee increases and draconian policies like universal default at the same time?


    Umm, you sort of answered your own question right there. The market accepts it. Why are you still a cable customer? Obviously the rate increases don't really bother you or you would turn to these "competitors." Why does texting get more expensive, because people seem to think they "must" have it. As one who doesn't have cable (or satellite, we use an antenna), who uses his cell phone as a phone...period, your sentence strikes me as comical.
  11. Re:In the US no one wants to buy light cars on Efficiency? Think Racing Cars, Not Hybrids · · Score: 1

    When was the last time you bought a car? I bought my '07 Hyundai Elantra last year, and I can tell you that there were at least as many manual on the lot as there were automatics. I shopped Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics too (not as extensively), and they too had plenty of manuals on the lots.


    When I shopped in 2000, 2002, and 2003, every dealer sort of looked at me funny when I said I wanted a stick. They also tried to convince me that the "sport shifting" automatic was the same thing without a clutch (ummm, no, nearly all of them would decide to shift for me if I didn't, and wouldn't left me downshift to first). Also, what does "plenty of manuals" mean? They had 2 or 3 of their 20 cars with sticks? Finally, were you shopping in the US, I know the US is completely automatic dependent, not a high percentage of drivers in the US can drive or have driven a stick.
  12. Re:Not my support. on 35 Articles of Impeachment Introduced Against Bush · · Score: 1

    And if Bush is a criminal, then so is the congress that authorized him and handed over the money.


    That would depend upon the evidence that they had at the time they voted for the war. But I'm in favour of charging them, too. Any of them that voted for the war. Including the Republicans who are no longer in office. Let's be thorough on this.


    But let's leave all the Democrats out of it? Boy, you sure aren't showing your political stripes, are you?
  13. Re:The sad thing... on Private Donor Saves Fermilab · · Score: 1

    If engineers designed machines like lawyers made laws, you'd need to hire an engineer to operate even the most trivial machine (car, elevator, TV).


    Now just a ding-dong minute. As an engineer, I would just like to point out that most of our devices are built with the idea that we are allowed one or two buttons to do what needs to be done, the users isn't going to have a clue so you must follow the KISS principle, anyone needs to be able to pick up the device and make it work, every time.
  14. Re:Is this REALLY a problem? on IPv4 Address Crunch In 2 Years, IPv6 Not Ready · · Score: 1

    Is this really a problem for most people? NAT really.


    Don't you mean:
    Is this really a problem for most people? NAT relay.
  15. Re:Is anyone really surprised by this? on Lawmakers Debate Patent Immunity For Banks · · Score: 1

    You'll see a failure to increase a program budget by the proposed X% is called a "cut". If your boss didn't give you that 10% raise did your salary go down?


    If inflation is greater than 10%, yes it did.


    Umm, no, no it did not go down. Your salary is the number of dollars you are paid for your work, that number did not go down, it went up (assuming there was a raise). What went down (with inflation a higher percentage than the raise) is the purchasing power of your salary, not the actual salary. I believe this is the parent poster's point, that the masses have been "re-educated" in the meaning of the word "cut" (although the media usually prefers to use the word "slashed" vs. "cut" when it comes to government programs, I suspect those whose budget requests weren't met are behind the wording).
  16. Re:Is there a hidden 3rd party? on Negroponte vs Intel · · Score: 1

    What I want to know is ... is there a hidden 3rd party pushing Intel *cough*Microsoft*cough*?


    Highly unlikely, Intel has no love for Microsoft (despite their symbiotic relationship) and views them as a potential threat (Microsoft will help AMD just as quickly as Intel if it means more sales).
  17. Re:Now here's where the hope comes in on Colbert Ballot Bid Shot Down · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I just hope for the Democrats' sake that they are smart enough to pick someone who can win based on the fact that they should be President, and not just throwing out the candidate who is most effective at saying "I'm not the other guy."


    Why should they break with tradition?

    I have yet to hear any candidate with a convincing tale that they should be President...have you?
  18. Re:Silicon wafers are not the answer for longterm on IBM Recycles Waste CPU Wafers Into Solar Panels · · Score: 1

    While most PV is currently constructed from wafer silicon, this is not a viable long-term strategy because it takes so much energy to make a wafer. To make real progress, PV needs to move to alternative technologies.


    Great point...except this article is talking about using wafers that were already made for CPUs. So all this energy it takes to make the wafer has already been expended, it is done, over with, can't be returned, end of story...except now they can get some of it back if they use the wafer for solar cells!

    Where I used to work already did this (sold scrap wafers to a solar cell company)...I haven't RTFA, but I assume IBM has found a much better/cheaper/more efficient way to do this.
  19. Re:To working.... on Where Does Linux Go From Here? · · Score: 1

    I simply want to be able to click and launch it, and have it install.


    This is so timely for me. I just received some USB network interfaces for work (which indicated Windows and Mac OSX support, but not Linux. Of course I checked online first to see if they would work) and have both XP and Linux machines to use them on. I was amazed at what a pain in the ass the XP install was. I had to insert the CD, it opened this screen that gave me the option of seeing which flavor of Windows Readme. I then plug in the device, and I believe 4 mouse clicks later it is finally done installing the drivers, and after (seriously) about 5 minutes I am ready to use my NIC. On the FC6 and the Ubuntu 6.10 boxes, I plug the device in, and within 15 seconds it is ready to go. This project has really made me wonder how anyone gets anything done in Windows anymore.
  20. Re:Jail time need on Man Hacks 911 System, Sends SWAT on Bogus Raid · · Score: 1

    The victimized family should bring a a civil suit and make sure they get a monetary judgement


    This is the key. The blame here does not lie with the law enforcement (do note, I have not RTFA) but with the twit. As a citizen, I would like to have a very strong response should I call 911 and indicate my wife/son/daughter is about to be killed. I would want to see the "good guys" coming in with riot gear, MP-5s with laser sights, all that good stuff. Make sure the bad guys know it is suicide to kill hostages. Most importantly, get my family out of the mess as efficiently as possible. I live in a town home invasions are relatively common (one on the news ever few weeks it seems), so perhaps that has warped my perspective.
  21. Re:It's asshats like this one on Man Hacks 911 System, Sends SWAT on Bogus Raid · · Score: 1

    It's "hackers" like this who give "hackers" a bad name! Not saying that hacker is the most glorious title to have


    This is why we must continue to fight the good fight to distinguish between a hacker and a cracker. I completely disagree, in the realms of computers, a hacker is just about the most glorious title to have. Cracker is certainly not a glorious title. Continue the fight, correct everyone you can, with our numbers, there is hope to change the tide back but we must all be diligent.
  22. Re:Fret not! on History of Slashdot Part 3- Going Corporate · · Score: 1

    Taco, as a fairly long-time reader and contributor of comments, let me add the following statement:

    You gained something more important then that and that's despite all the pissing, moaning and shoveling dreck into your general direction: Credibility & integrity and that's not a bad feat after being scrutinized to hell and back for ten years.

    Congratulations to the whole team!


    Interesting to see the sub 100k userids come to say the same. Seems like a lot of us (relative) old-timers are really enjoying this series and reliving the past. I can't believe I have at least checked the headline of just about every story over the past 8 years. Granted I will miss some on the weekends, or manage to resist the urge to review when I go on vacation, but I really enjoy the quick synopsis of things going on I wouldn't hear about otherwise being available anytime (what a messy sentence, sorry). Taco, just in case you weren't aware, there are literally (hundreds of?) thousands of us that greatly appreciate the work you do every day, but I suspect you knew that.
  23. Interesting on Geek and Gadgets Set Cross-US Speed Record · · Score: 1

    Reading the comments of outrage about this guy is interesting to me. When I was in college I would make 4 junkets from the Midwest to Texas, a trip of just over 1100 miles. I had a 1986 CRX, and I would fly. This guy was trying to do 2800 miles in 32 hours, averaging around 88 mph. In my dinky little CRX I was able to cover my route in under 16 hours once. Needless to say, I was breaking the speed limit, but I was on interstate most of the way, with little traffic. I was cruising just shy of 90 mph most of the time, and only stopped to gas up at my pre-determined spots. I of course tripped my triple digits on the long bridge in LA (and only when no one else would be in the way). My average speed, nearly 70 mph (this is in the early days of the national 65 mph speed limit). Was I endangering everyone else on the road? No more than the other people running in the 80s, some would even say less given the small vehicle I was driving. At least I wasn't like the kids would paced me for a while in MO and held up their bong just before exiting (I assume offering me a hit, I'll pass, I actually had somewhere to be).

    I have no doubt this guy isn't driving intelligently, but I certainly don't think the speed limits imposed on our interstate system are anything more than a money grab. Safety isn't why legislatures have passed them folks, it's all about the green. If you want to talk about dangerous drivers, talk about those that don't respect the "left lane is for passing only" law (in some states, should be a law in all states if you ask me), talk about those who are going over 80 mph on the loops in the cities, talk about those going 50 mph on the loops in the cities, talk about the cell phone users, leave the long distance, sparsely populated highway, fast drivers out of it.

  24. Re:hands up on Google Vows to Increase Gmail Limit · · Score: 1

    I get 300GB storage and 3TB of bandwidth for under eight bucks a month


    3TB isn't a bandwidth measurement, but more a monthly throughput number. Bandwidth should be measured as a data rate, data/time...or should I give up trying to keep such things in order in this world, much as I have nearly given up the hacker vs. cracker distinction?
  25. Re:NO dilates blood vessel and not always desired. on Banked Blood May Not Be As Effective As Hoped · · Score: 1
    Sorry, but I saw too many spelling, grammar, and homonym errors to not correct them. I figured such a great post deserved it.

    In natural circumstance, for exemple, it is produced during effort to divert blood to region where it is needed (because the adrenaline has a global effect of closing the blood vessels).

    circumstances, example, regions

    In medicine, products that create NO like Nitroglycerin are used to dilate vessels and increase blood flow to the heart in case of angor (not enough blood in the heart muscle because of cholestrerol-clogged arteries).

    cholesterol (I had to look up angor, new word to me, thanks!) Some more filler material trying to get this through, grrr!

    Sildenafil (Viagra) is an inhibitor which stops the destruction of NO, thus maintaining enough level of NO, so the vessels are dilate and there's enough blood flow to fill the penis and provide erection.

    (high) enough levels, vessels dilate (or are dilated)

    Yes, if there's not enough NO, a stroke may appear.

    I'm definitely splitting hairs here, but I think of strokes as occurring, not appearing? May be dialect differences.

    That's why Nitro-glycerine is given to avoid it.

    nitroglycerin, as you have it originally, unless that is a trade name variation?

    Yes, transfused blood is more dense than other substance that can be injected to compsensate blood loss (other substance = Ringer solution = physiological serum = basically isotonic sterile salty water with some additional sugar thrown in). And this increased viscosity may increase the risk of stroke.

    substances, compensate for (lost blood), shouldn't start a sentence with and.

    Now, just concentrate for a moment : to whom are you going to transfuse blood / perfuse physiological serum ?

    moment: to...serum?

    People who lost a lot of liquid (bleeding wounds, burns, etc.).
    Why ?

    Why? (no spaces before punctuation)

    Because their blood pressure is dropping and there is a risk of shock (= schematically, not enough blood pressure to irrigate brain and other important organs).

    I would say irrigate the brain...but that may again just be me. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.

    Now, all /. (not only medical geeks, but also people who watch medical shows like ER and House. Not Grey's Anatomy) know that, in those circumstance, dilating the blood vessels by adding NO is the last thing you want to do, because the dilatation will drop the blood pressure again. In fact what you give those people is adrenaline, which *contracts* the vessels, and cause the pressure the rise back to the normal.

    cause the pressure to rise back to normal (levels).

    But as said before, contraction increase the risk of not enough blood flow in the coronary arteries, thus risk of stroke.

    (I/was) said before,
    Not enough blood flow in the coronary arteries would lead to heart attack, not stroke, right?

    Now to go back to the situation, all the people from the study cited by the Times had (supposedly - didn't read the actual study yet) low blood pressure. Some got blood transfusion, other did not (I suppose they recieved physiological solutions instead).

    received

    25% of the blood reciever had heart attacks.

    receivers

    It may be caused, as the sponsor would like us to believe (the company makes NO products), because NO binds to hemoglobine and helps releasing oxygen.

    hemoglobin

    Why didn't the physiological receiving patient had problems ?

    patients have....at least I assume they had an n greater than 1.