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User: garymcg

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Comments · 35

  1. Re:Naval Gazing? on The Rise of Digg.com · · Score: 1

    Anyone that doesn't give trolls +5 is missing out on the rare but exceptionally humorous troll, such as The Troll Polka . Funniest thing ever on Slashdot, it you don't mind the rude subject matter.

    I come to Slashdot for the comments. The stories are timely on Digg, but the comments over there are just plain tiresome.

  2. Based on experience on True.com Wants Warnings On Personal Ads · · Score: 1

    Based on some internet dating experience, the warning should actually read:

    WARNING! SUBJECTS IN ADS MAY BE LARGER THAN THEY APPEAR!

  3. Re:In other news... on Consensus on Global Warming · · Score: 1

    "Any time you see every scientist agree on a very controversial topic, be very suspicious."

    Controversy: A dispute, usually an expression of opposing views on a matter that cannot be conclusively settled one way or another.

    If every scientist agrees, it's not really controversial, is it?

  4. Re:Crazy Fad or New Social Activity on Geeks Playing Poker? · · Score: 1

    Fad.


    Those darned kids and their movies. Remember when "Color of Money" came out and all those fancy new pool halls opened up? They're sure not very crowded now. "Rounders", poker same thing.

    Once all of these johnny-come-latelies realize that for every winner at the table there is at least one loser, and more likely 2 or 3, it will begin to lose its appeal.

    The thing is, back when the U.S. had a military draft virtually every american male knew how to play poker as the army/navy etc was where you learned how to play. During the last 3 decades the number of competent poker players has declined dramatically.

    At least it won't be as bad as the cigar fad; I used to be able to buy a box of cigars for $28.95, after about 3 years of all those new "afficionados" the price rose to $84.95, and it still hasn't come down.

  5. Re:Perpetual also-rans have a place in this world. on Ask Jeeves Looks to Outshine Google · · Score: 1

    Pepsi operates "at a world class level", but they "just have a different flavor" than Coca-Cola.

    Burger King operates "at a world class level", but they "just have a different flavor" than McDonalds.


    We're talking "Ask Jeeves" here. I think they would align more closely with RC Cola and Hardees. We're not even close to number 1, but amazingly there are some people who prefer us.

  6. Re:Dieblod Rep Conversation on Vote Tabulator Security Hole Exposed · · Score: 1

    That's not how a paper receipt works. The paper is displayed in a locked glass container, you examine it then hit "OK" or some such to approve your vote. When you approve the vote the paper receipt is then dropped into a locked receptacle, the end user has no paper to take away from the voting booth.

  7. Re:Dell is by far the worst... on Annual Customer Support Rankings · · Score: 1

    I work for a pretty large subsidiary of a very, very large corporation. The subsidiary is the only division that has a contract with Dell, and boy does Dell want some of that huge corporate parent moolah! The few times I've had to call them (Dell "Gold" support) I get transferred immediately to Mr. Super Knowledgeable Tech, he even told me that when we call there's a little note on our customer info screen that says we're the gateway to a huge corporate contract. I get so much attention I now know what it feels like to be a beautiful woman with large breasts.

  8. Re:Just media wide bias... on Supreme Court Rules Against Anti-Porn Law · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Hey, I just read the UCLA study. The "true center" in the report being the "average member of congress." The last time I checked, both the House and Senate have a Republican majority, which would mean that "average" is a little to the right.

    Also, the only criteria they used was how many times news articles (not editorials or other opinion pieces) mention a think tank against how many times members of congress mention the think tanks. I'm sure this study gives the studiers some sort of data, but it's beyond me what use it is.

  9. Re:Ummm on War Kayaking · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You must be new here....

    Seriously, I completely agree with the parent poster. I thought the whole point of outdoor leisure activities was to get away from laptops, cell phones, pagers, television, etc.

    I scuba dive, and it is a whole other world down there. A world with no cell phones, internet etc. where no one even knows exactly where you are. Well no one but your dive buddy, and even that's doubtful given his poor underwater navigation skills...

  10. Re:Simple Solution for the power problem on Army Plans Overhaul of Infantry Gear · · Score: 2, Funny

    build their helmets with solar panels

    Until the reflexion of all the solar panels gives your position away, that sounded like a good idea. However, we are not only looking for practicality, we are looking to keep our troops alive... Nothing like a bringt reflection to make it easier to aim your rifle...


    In order to avoid the reflection problem, maybe they should only use the solar panel helmets at night!

  11. missing ingredient on Can Star Wars Episode III Be Saved? · · Score: 3, Funny

    Star Wars III, and every movie currently playing in theaters, coule be improved by the addtion of Orcs. Ask yourself, what would be a funnier movie, "Johnson Family Vacation" or "Orc Family Vacation?"

    Wouldn't "Troy" be more exciting if the Trojan Horse opened up and Uruk-Hai came pouring out? Wouldn't "Passion of the Christ" be more interesting if the Orcs were marching Christ to be crucified, got a little peckish, ripped Jesus limb from limb and ate him before they got there?

  12. USA Today and Linux on USA Today and NYT on Linux rising · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was reading USA Today at lunch, and in the article about Frank Quattrone being found guilty for generally being sleazy, the writer states that "Frank Quattrone helped take numerous high-tech companies public, including Linux."

    Just another example of us little guys being shut out from an IPO. Not only that, it's been kept secret until now...

  13. I tried not to laugh on People with real l337 speak names? · · Score: 1

    I once played golf with an older Asian gentleman who introduced himself as "Harry Wang". I'm not kidding.

  14. Re:I buy my insurance from signs on telephone pole on Congress May Force Revealing of Car Computer Secrets · · Score: 1

    It's the individual drivers that get their trucks jacked up by the guy at the truck stop, the fleet owners/managers do everything they can to prevent this from happening.

    If you're a driver and can circumvent the speed limiting, you can get in a quickie with your girlfriend in Gary IN and still make your stop on time.

  15. Re:Cars, DVDs, what's the difference? on Congress May Force Revealing of Car Computer Secrets · · Score: 1

    Also, the fuel map/lookup table cannot be accessed using standard diagnostic equipment.

    The problem is that users who acquire the knowledge/equipment to "hack" their engines do so for performance reasons with little regard to engine life.

    I don't know about cars, but here's a truck story.

    I can tell you right now that there is a rogue engine hacker running around Indiana/Illinois truck stops, broadcasting on CB that he will reprogram any Detroit Diesel, Cat, or Cummins engine for $50. Just last week he cranked one up to max out the horsepower, and an hour later the turbo blew. Was the fleet owner angry at the rogue programmer? No, at the engine manufacturer for not controlling access to the ECU more strictly.

    There's a business reason for controlling who programs your ECUs; the fleets can always buy engines from another manufacturer who will.

  16. Re:Too bad it sucks on Latest SnapStream PVR App Reviewed · · Score: 1

    If you have a card that does not support hardware encoding and you are previewing the video, simply alter your desktop settings to 16 bit color instead of 32. You'll be amazed at the load it takes off the processor! I was having capture problems until I tried this, now I can capture large Huffyuv files with no problem.

  17. It's a user interface problem on The Impact of Technophobes · · Score: 1

    I provide hardware/software support for diesel engine mechanics. When you look up "power user" in the dictionary you certainly will not see their picture. On the other hand, most of these guys can overhaul an engine blindfolded, they don't suffer from a case of general ineptness.

    I've often thought that if they could have a PC designed specifically for them it would be much easier. Instead of software on CD the storage medium would be shaped like a standard hex nut which they would screw on to a bolt to install the program. Also, instead of the typical squealing/static noises the modem makes, if it made diesel engine sounds that reflected the communnications state ("sounds like your modem's idling kind of slow there Earl, we should probably bump the speed up a notch") the diesel heads could solve their own problems.

    Similarly, if EMachines desktops had a toilet flush handle attached to the side that rebooted the PC when you jiggled it the owners could solve more of their own problems. It's all about what you're accustomed to and what you intuitively understand.

  18. Re:Digital Speedometers on Ten Technologies That Refuse to Die · · Score: 1

    Build an adapter? You already have one built into the vehicle, it's the diagnostic connector.

    All you need now is a protocol translator and the appropriate software on your laptop and you'll be viewing real time engine/vehicle performance data while you drive.

  19. Black lung on The Absolute Worst Working Environment? · · Score: 1

    I work upstairs in a large engine manufacturing facility, there is an air vent right above my cube. I swear the ventilation system is sucking metal filings from the cylinder boring department and depositing them on my head. Once a week I have to clean a layer of chunky black dust off my cube and file cabinets. I'm going to be the first IT worker to contract black lung disease.

  20. Re:Da Vinci code, TOTAL DRIVEL on Best and Worst Books of 2003? · · Score: 1

    It's a great book, assuming you've never read a book before.

    You forgot to mention the horrid prose style and 1 dimensional characters.

  21. Obligatory Fluid Dynamics Joke on So You Think Physics is Funny? · · Score: 1

    Two hydraulics engineers are walking down the street when they spy a beautiful woman:

    First engineer: "Wow, look at her!"
    Second engineer: "Big deal, she's 80% water"
    First engineer: "I know, but what surface tension!"

  22. Nomination on CMU Unveils Robot Hall Of Fame · · Score: 2, Funny

    I nominate Al Gore, the robot that invented the internet!! Everyone thinks he dropped out of public life, but he's just resting until it's time to reemerge....as Skynet!!

  23. Re:Test Equipment on Plug-and-Play for Automobile Embedded Systems · · Score: 1

    This won't even come close to solving this problem. All of the major manufacturers use different protocols which are not compatible, that is why there is no standard one-tool-fits all diagnosticl tool. When they came out with the OBD (on board diagnostic) standard, the only thing that was specified was a standard connector, each manufacturer developed their own implementation using whatever protocol they thought best. It's chaos for engine diagnostic software developers. There was a time not long ago when different divsions of GM used different protocols, a Buick data reader wouldn't work on a Pontiac.

  24. Simple solution on Half-Life 2 Delayed Following Code Leak · · Score: 1

    Since we all want to avoid a rash of game-nerd holiday depression related suicides, would whichever one of you 1337 haxx0rs stole the code please just return it to Valve? They seem to have a problem with internet security, so simply print out the stolen code and mail it back to them. TIA.

  25. Surprising benefits of being dead on The Surprising Benefits of Being Unemployed · · Score: 1

    1. Normal geek-level body odor smells like roses compared to my decomposing peer group

    2. No more meetings!!!

    3. Or spam!

    4. Extra-hot chicks enjoy epic challenge of making dead man come.

    5. RIAA getting bad publicity from suing me.

    6. Have more time to vote repeatedly in Chicago municipal elections.