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User: flattop100

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  1. Invasion Iowa? on The Many Iterations of William Shatner · · Score: 1

    I can't believe no one has brought this up yet - from IMDB: "William Shatner spoofs/punks a whole midwestern town, (Riverside, Iowa, aka: the birth place of his Star Trek character, Captain Kirk) who think he is in town to shoot a big-budget, action-adventure film." A definite must-see for Shatner fans!

  2. Wouldn't this also cause vertigo? on The Bus That Rides Above Traffic · · Score: 1

    If you're in a car under the "bus," wouldn't you get a sense of vertigo from the bus frame moving slower or faster than the road surface and surrounding scenery? That seems like the *biggest* problem to me.

  3. Now I see! on Sex Boosts Brain Growth · · Score: 1

    Alcohol = kills brain cells.
    Sex makes you smarter.

    No loss, no gain!

  4. Re:Education on What's Wrong With the American University System · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wait, are you saying we haven't rebuilt New Orleans because we *don't know how*?

    That is patently false. New Orleans isn't getting rebuilt because no one wants to live there. Likewise, new home sales have crashed not because we lack a knowledgeable workforce, but because *no one is buying.*

  5. O RLY? on Dell Selling Faulty PCs · · Score: 1

    Beep beep - it's the Surprised Bus!

  6. Re:Technical schools? on Too Many College Graduates? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There are all kinds of technical and vocational schools - realize that fundementally, this is a discussion about education vs. training. I don't know about where you're located, but in the Minneapolis area, some training/vocational schools include:

    Dunwoody
    Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MNSCU - NOT part of the University of Minnesota system)
    Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute
    MN School of Business
    Normandale Community College
    Anoka-Ramsey Community College
    Metropolitan State University
    North Hennepin Community College
    Hennepin Technical College
    Inver Hills Community College
    Dakota County Technical College ...and I know I'm leaving several out.

    If it's EDUCATION you want (to be well-rounded, in other words), there's:
    Macalaster
    St. Thomas
    University of Minnesota
    Augsberg
    Bethel
    Hamline ...and so on.

    These schools exist. They're not hard to find.

  7. 3 words: on How To Build Roads To Control How Fast You Drive · · Score: 1

    Roundabouts, roundabouts, roundabouts.

  8. Re:This is a good start on Planned Nuclear Reactors Will Destroy Atomic Waste · · Score: 1

    You'd swallowed "green" message hook, line, and sinker: "Upgrade technology, don't bother conserving." For one, I schedule my thermostat to turn down FROM 68F to 58F. Every night. In Minnesota. In the winter. It can be done, it saves real money, and it saves real energy. Does it mean I've saved the USA from having to buy natural gas? No, but it's an incremental savings, and if more people did it (like yourself), our consumption would drop dramatically. I work for a Fortune 500 company as an Energy Training Specialist. We are currently in the process of nearly rebranding the company to emphasis "Energy/Green/Sustainability" initiatives. The reality is - we specialize in HVAC controls and energy use off-sets. We specialize in saving people money by reduced energy use. One pilot project at a school has saved $200,000 by using controls (room sensors to shut off lights, scheduling the HVAC system to shut down at night and during breaks, etc, turning off vending machines) and behavior change (getting teachers to turn off unused computers, shutting of classroom lights during lunch, etc). AND ONLY 50% OF THE MECHANICAL CONTROLS ARE INSTALLED. They could easily saving another $200k when all is said and done. That $200k in savings has allowed the school district to keep an elementary school *open*. The district was going to close the school. These kinds of conservation measures and controls can be implemented in every school, hospital, government and commercial building around the world. We have other contracts where we save companies MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year in energy use. You said "There simply isn't enough "waste" to make conservation a workable plan for fulfilling our future energy needs" to which I say "You are ignorant about this topic.' You're subscribing to a life of energy gluttony. It's too bad that conservation has turned into a dirty word.

  9. Re:some facts about nuclear energy. on US To Build Nuclear Power Plants · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not complete true. Minnesota has had a moratorium (a "ban" if you will) on new nuclear power plants for 15 years. If it's against the law to build it, credit is the least of your worries.

    Not sure about other states.

  10. Sheesh, really/ on Google Considered Too Big To Fail · · Score: 1

    kdawson posts the stupidest stories on /. I'm going to categorically skip anything posted.

  11. More on Titan I on Computer Scientist Looks At ICBM Security · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd like to point you all to the Titan I Epitaph website: http://www.chromehooves.net/Titan_Epitaph_main.htm . It's 2 parts urban exploring, 2 parts history, and a surprising amount of original technical documentation (including a "guidebook for the planning, construction, phasing, systems integration, installation and checkout, turnover and activation of the operational Titan I complexes and their support facilities"). If you've got an afternoon to waste, you won't be disappointed.

  12. Re:Like who? on NSA Ill-Suited For Domestic Cybersecurity Role · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "But they are a working tool - and they get the job done. It's difficult to argue against something that, so far, seems to work." What is it, exactly, that they get done? And how do you know it works? You're turning a blind eye to a government agency with a huge amount of power that is performing illegal surveillance. I'm not nearly as trusting as you are...

  13. TFA/Summary written by non-musician... on Software Enables Re-Creation of 'Lost' Instrument · · Score: 1

    " The software opens up the possibility that brass instruments could be customized more closely to the needs of individual players in the future -- catering more closely to the differing needs of jazz, classical and other players all over the world."

    Please. This has been the case for years! As someone who has played a brass instrument for 18 years, I can authoritatively tell you that there are already significant differences between a trombone made for jazz music, classical music, and beginning players, to list only a few categories. As far as "customized," Edwards Trombones http://www.edwards-instruments.com/index.shtml can heavily customize an instrument to the player - having played one, I can tell you specifically how my embouchure differed from the owner of the horn. Leadpipe, bell flare, material, even the finish can be customized and predictably constructed to match the player. This is not a "new" concept based on a history professor with a computer - this is an extension of the tradition and history of instrument-making.

  14. The Computer will lose on How IBM Plans To Win Jeopardy! · · Score: 1

    "I'm sorry, Watson. Your answer must be in the form of a question."

  15. Re:Units? on More "Miles Per Acre" From Bioelectricity Than Ethanol · · Score: 1

    Geez you nitwit - it's the equivalent of Libraries of Congress per parsec!

  16. Airplanes? on Energy-Beaming Space Collector To Also Alter Weather? · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm guessing it would be disastrous for an airplane to fly in the "beam", no?

  17. April Fools on IPv6 Over Social Networks · · Score: 1

    This is an April Fools, right guys? Right?

  18. Obligatory... on New Lossless MP3 Format Explained · · Score: 1

    It's like storing the World Wide Web inside the Library of Congress!

  19. Re:The EFF is wrong on this one on Choruss Pitching Bait and Switch On P2P Music Tax · · Score: 1

    Isn't the model effectively scrapped already? Sure, CDs are still sold - I would bet that physical media will still be around for quite a while. However, with Amazon and iTunes providing legal channels for purchasing music, and torrents for alternative sourcing...well, it's not like there's only one place to buy music anymore. It used to be records or nothing. That brings me to another point - RIAA's founding purpose was to be an organization that set technical standards (an equalization curve for records to prevent low frequencies from bouncing the needle off the vinyl). Now that the EQ curve is established, and that audio technology effectively dead...isn't it time for RIAA to close up shop? HINT HINT.

  20. Re:Which country? on ISS To Become Second Brightest-Object In the Sky · · Score: 1

    Armenia? /ducks

  21. Finally! 2009 is... on 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron Mini Netbooks Sold With Linux · · Score: 2

    the year of Linux on the nettop!

  22. It's just an incinerator... on A Waste Gasification Plant In a Truck · · Score: 1

    ...right? In its configuration as a power generation plant, it's a portable incinerator. What's the big deal?

  23. After all... on Press Favored Obama Throughout Campaign · · Score: 1

    Reality has a well-known liberal bias. (Thank you once more, Mr. Colbert.)

  24. 2009! on A Linux-Based "Breath Test" For Porn On PCs · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's the year of Linux on the Desktop! And to think of what the reaction would be if this ran on Windows.

  25. Can I demand a paper ballot? on Video Shows Easy Hacking of E-Voting Machines · · Score: 1

    I've been googling, but coming up short. What are my rights as a registered voter? Can I walk into a polling station and demand a paper ballot instead of an electronic vote?