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User: LinuxFreakus

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  1. Re:To be fair to the cop, it would appear that... on Georgia Cop Issues 800 Tickets To Drivers Texting At Red Lights · · Score: 1

    Technically most phone GPS apps would be illegal even if you weren't entering data since they get the map data over the internet. This whole nonsense is a slippery slope, why is it safe to use the car's built in GPS, but not the phone? Should it be illegal to adjust your climate control knobs? What about chewing gum? You can't legislate away stupidity.

  2. Re:Problem not lack of interest on US Air Force Reporting Pilot Shortage · · Score: 1

    Selectivity is not *the* problem, but it is the reason they can't find people. The main reason the number of qualified applicants keeps shrinking is because obesity is out of control, our country is turning into a bunch of lazy fat asses.

  3. Re:Problem not lack of interest on US Air Force Reporting Pilot Shortage · · Score: 1

    No I'm pretty sure the main problem is the requirements I mentioned above coupled with the raging obesity epidemic which continues to spiral out of control. The number of people who can fit the requirements keeps shrinking because we are a bunch of lazy fat asses.

  4. Re:Problem not lack of interest on US Air Force Reporting Pilot Shortage · · Score: 1

    Those are general requirements. The chances of someone with 20/50 vision actually being made a fighter pilot as opposed to some other role are basically zero unless they have absolutely amazing abilities otherwise. They'll tell you anything you want to hear during recruiting, but you have almost no chance no matter what they say.

  5. Re:Problem not lack of interest on US Air Force Reporting Pilot Shortage · · Score: 2

    They don't have to be musclebound freaks. They need to have exceptional vision, hand-eye coordination and other sorts of spatial awareness aptitudes. It is a different set of physical requirements from what you are thinking of.

  6. Problem not lack of interest on US Air Force Reporting Pilot Shortage · · Score: 2

    Many many people desire to be fighter pilots. The problem is not a lack of people wanting to sign up. The problem is that the USAF is highly selective about who can be a fighter pilot. You need to meet all sorts of physical requirements, then you need to meet very high academic standards, then you have to meet a whole bunch of psychological/personality requirements, etc, etc. By the time they go through the pool of applicants there is nobody left.

  7. Re:MSRP of $62,400 Though? on Tesla Motors May Be Having an iPhone Moment · · Score: 1

    You shouldn't assume BMW and Mercedes drivers paid a lot for their cars. I paid only $16k for my used Range Rover. Way better vehicle than other comparable used vehicles and pretty much the same price. It is 10 years old still looks brand new (despite harsh new england winters), there isn't a single rattle, the interior is still flawless (I clean it once in a while but I'm not a neat freak). Granted, someone did pay about $90k for it originally. I would love to thank them for taking the depreciation hit for me :)

  8. Re:additional advice: on Lead Developer of Yum Killed In Hit-and-run · · Score: 1

    The only way this might be true is if you are going really slow (i.e. walking/jogging speed). At 25 mph which most cyclists who are in decent physical condition are more than capable of riding, you won't be able to react as easily as you think. Far, far safer to ride with traffic the same as other vehicles and OBEY the traffic laws... it is unbelievable how many riders I see running stop signs and lights, making illegal turns, etc, etc... it is so dangerous. Just get mirrors to see behind you. Mount on handlebars and/or helmet.

  9. Re:additional advice: on Lead Developer of Yum Killed In Hit-and-run · · Score: 1

    It is all kinds of dangerous to ride on the wrong side unless you are going no faster than a walker/jogger. If you want to see what is going on behind you get mirrors on your bike and/or helmet. Problem solved.

  10. Re:Same as last time on No, the Tesla Model S Doesn't Pollute More Than an SUV · · Score: 1

    That said... if I were buying a new vehicle today, I'd buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the new diesel engine option. The Range Rover outside the US has a fantastic diesel as well but due to the stupidity of Americans, we can't get that option here. The Jeep is fairly close to the capabilities of the Range Rover and that diesel (made by Mercedes) should last many years while only sipping fuel compared to my V8 in the current vehicle. Remains to be seen how the interior of these new Jeeps will hold up over time, but so far the reviews are looking good, they've really improved quality in recent years.

  11. Re:Same as last time on No, the Tesla Model S Doesn't Pollute More Than an SUV · · Score: 1

    And I might also add that although I only have about 150k miles so far, I know several who are well over 300k, some as much as 500k with the original engine... most of those guys who are over 200k have replaced the transmission once or twice though. The newer models have better transmissions though and probably would last longer than the one I have, but there is no point in getting another new one when this one is still in such good condition.

  12. Re:Same as last time on No, the Tesla Model S Doesn't Pollute More Than an SUV · · Score: 1

    Clearly you have never actually owned one. I've had mine for 10 years so far (and perform all maintenance myself, the money pit reputation is because of the rates the dealers charge for parts/labor) and never had a single problem. It still drives exactly as it did when it was brand new, and it can take me anywhere I want to go including the house in the wilderness which is only accessible by 4x4. Not a single rattle, interior still looks great, no rust, I see no reason it won't keep going another 10 or 20 years.

  13. Re:Same as last time on No, the Tesla Model S Doesn't Pollute More Than an SUV · · Score: 0

    What if I keep my bullet proof range rover for 30 years, while the crappy prius quickly falls apart and makes it economically unviable to keep any longer? You also have to factory in all the energy and resources used to manufacture 2 or 3 cheap shoddy vehicles instead of one well made one which will last much longer. Might not be as much of an issue with the Tesla though if the reviews about its build quality are true.

  14. Re:This is here, because? on Belief In God Correlates With Better Mental Health Treatment Outcomes · · Score: 1

    This is a simple logic problem, I don't know why so many people struggle with it.

    Atheism literally means "without theism". An atheist is someone who does not accept, as true, claims that assert the existence of gods.

    Considering the claims regarding the existence of a god, there are two possible claims:

    1. 1. God exists
    2. 2. God does not exist

    For either claim, there are two positions one can take with regard to belief:

    1. 1. belief or acceptance of the claim
    2. 2. disbelief or rejection of the claim

    For claim number 1 (God exists), the theist's position is one of belief, while the atheist's position is one of disbelief. For claim number 2 (God does not exist), the theist's position is one of disbelief, while atheists can hold either position.

    Capisci?

  15. Re:This is here, because? on Belief In God Correlates With Better Mental Health Treatment Outcomes · · Score: 1

    Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true. If you believe in god, then to you it is a fact. No, it doesn't mean you believe that everyone else must believe it too or else they should be stoned to death, or burned at the stake, but it certainly places you in the theist "camp".

  16. Re:This is here, because? on Belief In God Correlates With Better Mental Health Treatment Outcomes · · Score: 1

    That makes no sense. You cannot "lack belief that there is no god" without believing in god unless you are atheist, or agnostic.

  17. Re:This is here, because? on Belief In God Correlates With Better Mental Health Treatment Outcomes · · Score: 1

    No, that is not correct, you're reading it wrong. Theism is belief in god, Atheism is not believing in god. It is exactly what I said. Just because you don't believe, doesn't mean you positively assert that there is no god. It just means that you don't believe. Why is it so hard to accept that maybe there are some questions we can't answer? There is no point in wild speculation... why wouldn't it make sense for some people to simply not care?

  18. Re:This is here, because? on Belief In God Correlates With Better Mental Health Treatment Outcomes · · Score: 1

    What are you talking about? I obviously can't speak for everyone but I don't think a lot of atheists (myself and every atheist I know) positively assert that there is no god or higher power. They merely lack belief in god/higher power. Not the same thing at all.

  19. Re:Really? on Microsoft Creative Director 'Doesn't Get' Always-On DRM Concerns · · Score: 1

    A macbook air doesn't weigh that much and it will play diablo 3 just fine (assuming I have an internet connection!). But yeah, if you take off in the woods for a couple weeks or more backpacking, it is nice to be able to have a laptop, what can I say. I could bring a lot more with me if I wanted to, I've carried as much as 100 pounds while backpacking before (which included transporting supplies to a remote cabin), but if you are in shape and have a nice pack it is very easy. Typically I probably carry about 30 - 40 pounds and I hardly notice it. My folding solar panel generates more than 80 watts on a nice day which is enough to power the laptop and charge it at the same time. Folds up to about 6 inches and only weighs a couple pounds. Its probably not for everyone, but I like it. I can even get work done while I camp in the wilderness if I find a spot with good cell reception.

  20. Re:Really? on Microsoft Creative Director 'Doesn't Get' Always-On DRM Concerns · · Score: 1

    Clearly as demonstrated by the stupid comments of the Microsoft employee, they are not targeting such uses. But you hardly need to haul a big diesel generator to use a computer while backpacking. There are excellent lightweight portable solar power options and a full charge (at least on my laptop) is good for 7 hours or so once the sun goes down.

  21. Re:Really? on Microsoft Creative Director 'Doesn't Get' Always-On DRM Concerns · · Score: 1

    I bring my laptop backpacking all the time. Solar power. Also, you might be surprised how far out into the wilderness you can go on expeditions with a fully equipped 4x4 like a Land Rover, Jeep, Hummer, etc, and you can carry a lot of battery power with you. Don't forget to bring lots of tools and spare parts too so you don't end up stranded in the middle of nowhere in canada hundreds of miles from the nearest town, not that this has ever happened to me :)

  22. Really? on Microsoft Creative Director 'Doesn't Get' Always-On DRM Concerns · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What's so hard to understand? I like to have a games on my laptop or other device which I can play on an airplane, on the commuter rail, on a camping trip, etc... there are many times where I play games and do not have reliable internet... not to mention the potential security flaws which may exist in the networking code of said games which could compromise my devices. Maybe some people don't want to be online all the time. No?

  23. Re:What is he on.. on The IDE As a Bad Programming Language Enabler · · Score: 1

    You might also be surprised to learn that in college, I refused to buy the "required" TI junk calculators which the professors insisted upon and instead used my trusty HP with RPN... But how did you get by when they used all the TI programs in class from the textbooks you might ask? Well, I made my own programs that did the same thing only better, generally wrote them during the lectures while there was nothing better to do :)

  24. Re:What is he on.. on The IDE As a Bad Programming Language Enabler · · Score: 1

    Yeah its pretty much impossible not to be familiar with eclipse and netbeans unless you live under a rock. That still doesn't mean that one has to use them once they get the job. I usually have one or both installed someplace because there are occasions when someone wants to pull something up on my machine, maybe during a demo or a meeting, or collaboration etc, and I know they would look at me like I had two heads if I pulled up VIM :)

  25. Re:What is he on.. on The IDE As a Bad Programming Language Enabler · · Score: 1

    Yeah, eclipse starts doing all that stuff without asking you, but if you want to change how it works it is still as much work as anything else, you either live with the fact that eclipse doesn't quite do what you'd like or you write your own plugin. I will admit I don't do hot code changes while the debugger is still running, but I have never really felt the urge to either (though I suppose it would be possible to add on if sufficient need was there). I mange all my vim configuration and modules/scripts with git, each time I add something for a new task I needed to do, I dont' need to do it again the next time... after 15 years, I'm pretty much to the point where I don't need to change it much unless I start using a new language but even then most of the stuff is pretty generic. I've worked on large teams, and indeed most people choose to "jump right in" with eclipse, and most have never met anyone like me who doesn't do that... but that doesn't mean it doesn't work, I can still work with those people and they would have no idea that I wasn't using eclipse if they didn't know it. The bottom line is that there is no one true editor... if you like using an IDE, use it. I'm just saying, that stories like this one where people assert that eclipse is some how "required" for productive java programming (or any other language for that matter) are absolutely wrong. There are alternatives which do not require quad core laptop with 16GB of RAM (though the actual product you are working on may use that much or perhaps far more depending on the scale, but I digress).