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User: vrwarp

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Comments · 42

  1. Re:DNA, RNA, and Genes on Ruling Upholds Gene Patent In Cancer Test · · Score: 1
    ars technica also covers this reasoning and added that if that perverse reasoning is correct, then the following reasoning should also be correct:

    The ruling focuses on how having a different arrangement of bonds in the DNA that is isolated is enough to distinguish it in its natural state. But the court was faced with briefs that suggested this was a dangerous line of reasoning, since elements like lithium are reactive enough that they only exist naturally as part of a chemical compound. Does this mean that someone can patent pure lithium? The court indicated the answer is no, because "elemental lithium is the same element whether it is in the earth or isolated." That would also seem to be true of a gene whether it is in the body or isolated, as the dissent pointed out; the decision doesn't elaborate on where it sees a difference.

    source: http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/07/appeals-court-overrules-lower-court-upholds-breast-cancer-gene-test.ars

  2. Re:Latest beta is the worst on Firefox 4, A Huge Pile of Bugs · · Score: 1

    Issues that make the beta unusable should be blockers for beta releases at the stage Firefox 4 is /in theory/ suppose to be in. Beta 9 on os-x is something I expect in minefield (hence the name), not milestones.

  3. 802.11a on Wireless Routers for Congested Areas? · · Score: 1

    You can try setting up an 802.11a router up. It has shorter range and it isn't as widely supported as 802.11b/g but it operates around 5ghz instead of 2.4-2.5ghz.

  4. Re:Ohhh on RFID Passports Cloned Without Opening the Package · · Score: 1

    Well... they can always just shield the passport before sending it?

  5. Re:CDMA+GSM+WiFi? on Another Linux PDA to Challenge the Nokia 770 · · Score: 1

    Isn't T-Mobile testing a program where they distribute a wifi router with a tmobile firmware and a phote with wifi capabilities to go with it. The idea is that when you're at home, you'll use the wifi and when you're not, you'll just use it as a regular phone.

  6. Re:Is that Optimus? on Peter Cullen Chosen to Voice Optimus Prime (Again) · · Score: 1

    Will megatron still transform to a gun :P?

  7. Re:What's the point? on World Firefox Day · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the FAQ: How will our names be included in Firefox 2? If both you and your friend opt-in to have your names included, we'll add your names to an interactive Firefox friends display that will be accessible from within Firefox 2.

  8. Re:My Question on 'Bad' Protein Linked to Numerous Health Problems · · Score: 1

    Now.. now.. Being fat is not always viewed as something terrible, at one point it is viewed as preferable. In some countries/cultures it still is. In Taiwan, for example, some of the folks view being thin as being unhealthy. It's roots obviously stem from the idea that fat means well fed.

  9. Re:Wireless Possibilities on School Admins Demand Access to Students' Cellphones · · Score: 1

    I always marveled at the argument that cellphones are used to assist cheating. If the teacher lacks the competence to try to prevent cheating, then cellphones are hardly the problem. You can solve the cellphone problem by simply telling the students that they are not allowed to leave to go to the bathroom during the test unless they have handed their paper in. If you argue that the student somewhat hides the cellphone and views it under the desk. Then as I said before, if the teacher lacks the competence to prevent cheating (as in walk around to make sure people aren't cheating), then using the cellphone is not a problem because there are a host of other media that students can cheat with. Think little slips of paper in pens, writing inside the bottle, even just sheets of paper under the table. Once I was taking a test and a student, who was cheating by looking at notes under the table accidentally dropped a couple of sheets of paper. The teacher came around, picked up the paper, and gave it right back to the student as if nothing has happened.

  10. Re:There's always something you can do. on School Admins Demand Access to Students' Cellphones · · Score: 1

    Well recently, our genius councilor for the NYC public schools decided to enact random metal detector/x-ray searches at random middle schools and high schools every day. It's all good and well until you find out that the police are confuscating cellphones, _cd players_, and _ipods_. According to the documents released, you _can_ refuse the search and the police _cannot_ deny you attendance to the school and send you home. Instead they have to send you to the principal. Of course the principal can then suspend you for insubordination but that is purely up to the principal. That's at least the case for NYC public schools.

  11. Re:Quick question. on School Admins Demand Access to Students' Cellphones · · Score: 1

    A cell phone is quite nice for planning things out after school. Of course, "planning things out" could mean anything from trafficking drugs to bowling. Maybe in the local zoned high school, cellphones are not quite as important because everyone lives around the high school, but for the high schools where students often have to commute 1-2 hours, then being able to contact your friends becomes a whole lot more important. Parents of students who commute 1-2 hours probably want their children to carry cellphones.

  12. Re:Yeah, but what format? on iRex's iLiad E-ink eBook Reader is Now Available · · Score: 1

    It supports PDF, XHTML, TXT, and some others.

  13. Re:It may have gone like this... on Lenovo Backtracks on Linux Support Statement · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I thought the announcement that Lenovo was going to drop linux support was odd since they are a China based company after all. The last time I checked, the chinese government wanted to move away from windows and instead, back linux.

  14. Re:Windows Live Favorites Feature on Hotmail On Your Desktop · · Score: 1

    Same with live clipboard --> pastebin

  15. Re:A little fishy to me on Unique and Productive or Just More Eye-Candy? · · Score: 1

    This was posted on the Ubuntu forums quite a few days ago and I think the tips jar was already there.

  16. Re:Science != Religion on Slashback: BlackBerry, Cloning, Smart Hotels · · Score: 1

    Yes, science does fail at answering what the hell was going on right before and after the big bang and why the big bang even happened. But as you said, science offers a great deal of answers to _smaller_ questions. However, its these smaller questions that build a foundation to answer larger questions. How can you ask, "why did the universe begin?" when you still have "why do things fall?" to answer? Fine, maybe religion at the very least gives an answer to questions like, "why do things exist?" but why don't you try looking up "why things fall?" in the bible?

  17. Re:I would agree on Firefox-based Social Browser Flock Launches · · Score: 1

    Well there is always firepuddle for bittorrent

  18. Re:Don't pin your hopes on their first format on China To Develop Its Own DVD Format · · Score: 1

    the parent is leaning more towards the idea that china has quite a big market domesically... therefore losing a few markets here and there is probably not very devestating

  19. Re:Why don't I understand the big deal? on VoIP Providers Worry as FCC Clams Up · · Score: 1

    Troll. just in case you didnt quite notice (too busy scratching your head?), you can really just pick up your voip setup from the address you *registered* it to and move to the other end of the country and it'll work just as it did before. thats the key problem with voip. its a big deal (again... the reason is stated in every single damn article on the 911/voip problem) is that people expect 911 to work because we were taught so and when they dont, they sue the voip company and complain.

  20. Re:This makes the author an expert? on Columbine Student on VG Violence · · Score: 1

    no this particular person warned the police about the portenital shooting... link: http://www.konformist.com/1999/colorado/report/rep ort.htm fta: "If you look up Brooks Brown on google, you'll learn a lot about me."

  21. Re:The joys of computer controlled phones! on VoIP to Fuel Plague of 'Dialing for Dollars'/Spam · · Score: 1

    Blocking "UNKONWN" and "UNANVAILABLE" probably wont' help much because of the caller id falsification servies. Also there are quite a number of people who require international calls in and out of the US to keep in touch with family, relatives, and friends.

  22. Re:SP2 is actually a good thing. on Ready or Not, Here comes Windows XP SP2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    On the other hand, SP2 does not solve many problems with security as seen here. Yet it can potentially break critical applications.

  23. Re:Big question on First Portable Media Centers Hit Store Shelves · · Score: 1

    http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/pmp-120.aspx
    Here you go :) A list of video codecs that it supports (from the site): DivX 3.11, 4.0, 5.x, XviD, ISO MPEG-4 SP

  24. Re:how... Bizzare on Reverse Graffiti · · Score: 1

    A better analogy would be if you started cleaning up your friend's room then sudden stop and because of this, your friend's mom yelled at you.

  25. Re:why is X.org's better? on First Experiences with X.org's X11 Server? · · Score: 1

    its license... thats probably the only reason to use it at this moment.