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User: paulthomas

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Comments · 305

  1. Carbon Sequestration on Paper Manufacturer Launches "Print More" Campaign · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I present Trevor Blackwell's theory on how printing and then putting the paper in landfills may actually stop global warming:

    http://www.tlb.org/faq.html (scroll to the bottom)

  2. Not exactly what you want, but on How Do I Keep My Privacy While Using Google? · · Score: 5, Funny

    # cat > /etc/hosts
    > google.com 127.0.0.1
    > doubleclick.net 127.0.0.1
    > youtube.com 127.0.0.1
    > google-analytics.com 127.0.0.1
    > # ...
    > EOF

  3. Google Wave on Has Google Broken JavaScript Spam Munging? · · Score: 1

    Google Wave may mean that web sites and blogs will be implemented as embedded Waves. The wave demo at http://wave.google.com/ shows how this would work for blog comments & galleries.

    In this demo, they basically hint that because of this, Google is rethinking what embedding & javascript mean on a page because they envision a future where the content can and will live anywhere and won't be represented by static HTML.

    As you point out, this is already happening, albeit to a lesser degree than I think Google anticipates.

  4. Re:They have a AAA rating on Microsoft Raises $3.8B in Bond Sale · · Score: 1

    You have it backwards: if inflation occurs, woo-hoo. Inflation means that each future dollar is worth less than each dollar today. When you borrow money today via a bond offering, your payments are (typically, and in this case) fixed for the term, but you will be earning more dollars for equivalent value in the future.

    Your conclusion, that now is a good time to borrow, is probably correct.

  5. Re:It depends on Sun Announces New MySQL, Michael Widenius Forks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Agreed. See x.org for how quickly a community can switch to a fork.

  6. Re:second amendment rights on Rocket Hobbyists Prevail Over Feds In Court Case · · Score: 1

    Knife. Crime.

  7. Re:Usable Navigation on What Features Should Be Included With iPhone 3.0? · · Score: 5, Informative

    The reason you don't get turn-by-turn directions with Google maps is that Google's agreements with map/GIS data providers (all those with copyrights listed in the bottom corner of your map) forbid it.

    A license that allows turn-by-turn directions that is controlled by GPS costs money, hence why there aren't any free apps that do this, except for one, AndNav for Android, that uses Open Street Map data instead of commercial map data.

    In fact, AndNav started out doing this with Google Maps until running into this problem.

  8. I bought one. It matters because of "intents" on Google Dev Phone 1 Banned From Paid Apps · · Score: 1

    I have paid, including the developer fee and taxes, $450 for an ADP1 from Google. One of the key selling points for developers is that they can publish hooks that are available to other apps, called "intents." Most major actions, like "call so and so," or "go to the home screen" are done with intents. New ones can be added and then called by other apps.

    In light of this, I think it is pretty shitty of them to restrict access to software that will be publishing intents that applications I develop could interact with. I suppose I'll have to independently contact developers and see if they'll play nicely.

  9. Paying could be worth it on AP Considers Making Content Require Payment · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A lot of people want to read news so that they can be informed about what's happening in the world, not so that they can share and comment on it. These people might be willing to pay if it means continued access to news from on-the-ground, professional correspondents.

    My hypothesis about making people pay for access to a news site is this: you get people who value it, and you keep out a lot of the crap.

    Sorry if that's not egalitarian, but have you ever looked at your local paper's web site? On mine, each article typically has hundreds of comments to the effect of "how is babby formed," or "barrrak hussein osama gonna give teh aids." Why would anyone intelligent put in the effort to contribute to a discourse like that?

    The counterpoint is not "slashdot." At least we have moderation and most of the crap gets pushed to -1.

  10. Bigotry? on Arctic Ice Extent Understated Because of "Sensor Drift" · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I like how you liken "climate change deniers" to religious bigots. "Religious zealots" would be more appropriate, and they exist on both sides.

    Yeah, this is the basic idea of how science is supposed to work, but that's not the point that comes across in your post. The parent post is a troll.

  11. Completely out of control on Apple's Terms No Longer Allow ITMS Purchases Outside of US · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The last time I was presented with the "agreement" for the iTunes store, I pulled up a terminal and ran wc on it. It was 4,931 words long, not including referenced agreements. You can go buy a CD at a store with out signing a contract, much less one nearly 5,000 words long.

    It contained all manor of claims of how Apple could unilaterally change the terms for purchased music and required that you "agree to agree" to future terms.

    Having taken some contract law courses ( but IANAHPAADL - I am not a highly paid Apple attack dog lawyer), much of it seemed unconscionable. Specifically, consideration from Apple (ability to play already purchased songs, access the store, etc.) seems weak-to-non-existent in light of the fact that it can be arbitrarily revoked according to the terms.

    Also, I am generally an Apple fan, but this is one area where I think they are really out of control.

  12. Phishing side-effect on Could Fake Phishing Emails Help Fight Spam? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let me get this straight -- we should suggest to people who are highly credulous that there is the possibility that they might receive legitimate email from "suitably important-looking government address"?

    That will never cause bigger, more successful phishing scams.

  13. DMCA take-down notice on Associated Press Wants RIAA Case Webcast · · Score: 2, Funny

    Exhibits A, B, C, and G will be grounds for a DMCA takedown notice. The youtube version will have the sound muted so as not to leak any copyrighted material without just compensation.

  14. Re:CSI NY on Daemon · · Score: 1

    "GUI Interface" is redundant. I think that's the qualm, or at least part of it.

  15. Re: !literally tag on Sugar-Coated Drug-Dealing Game Approved For iPhone · · Score: 1

    A wonderful Best of Craigslist rant about the meaning of "literal": http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/van/144733448.html

  16. Re:Delete it & forget about it on Tricked Into Buying OpenOffice.org? · · Score: 1, Offtopic
  17. Re:Right answer, Wrong question. on Saving Journalism With Flash and Java · · Score: 1

    Ah,

    the time cubed theory

    anti-godism doodad careers. We,

    MOM & DAD & I concur.

  18. Re:Er... what? on Here Comes iPhone Nano, But Not In the US · · Score: 1

    Moreover, the iPhone only sells through the secondary market in mainland China -- you can buy unlocked iPhones in Hong Kong due to regulations.

  19. Re:stupid question but..... on Obama Proposes Digital Health Records · · Score: 1

    The net expense of government healthcare is driven by mandate and legislation, not by economic factors. That, on average, the expense is lower in countries where it can be completely arbitrary should not be surprising.

    As for quality of care at a given price, talk to the people who take medical holidays to the United States.

  20. Re:want $1bn from Govt? on US Corps Want $1B From Gov't For Battery Factory · · Score: 1

    Looking at the replies, mine included, my conclusion is now: "how resourceful!"

  21. Re:want $1bn from Govt? on US Corps Want $1B From Gov't For Battery Factory · · Score: 1

    I agree with your sentiment, but it's "Laissez-faire", and you'll be more convincing if you don't sound proud of your ignorance when you've got the whole internet at your service.

    http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Laissez-faire&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

  22. Re:Check Engine on Microsoft Knew About Xbox 360 Damaging Discs · · Score: 1

    Some have replied that you should go buy a reader and read it yourself. That costs time and money*. If you only want to spend time, Autozone and other parts stores will check and reset codes for free.

    Call ahead to double check that they perform the service for free obviously in case it isn't available where you live.

    *I know this is slashdot, and there is something innately cool about being able to get the data out of your car's sensors, so if this is the motivation, go for it.

  23. Blip.tv on Lessig Launches Open Transition Principles · · Score: 1

    According to this version of blip.tv's wikipedia article, Lessig has praised blip.tv for already meeting some of these standards.

    In general, blip.tv is an open platform. It offers direct download links for all videos it hosts, including videos that it has transcoded (i.e. Flash videos). This led Creative Commons founder Larry Lessig to call blip.tv a "true sharing site" (along with Flickr and Eyespot, among others) in contrast to YouTube's "fake sharing site" because blip.tv "explicitly offers links to download various formats of the videos it shares." [1]

    The actual source is an article on Lessig's blog.

  24. Summary is incorrect on Mark Cuban Charged With Insider Trading · · Score: 4, Informative

    Mamma.com took a private investment at a discount (a PIPE). This is a sign of weakness, and the announcement sent the shares lower. The SEC alleges that Mr. Cuban sold his shares with insider knowledge of the PIPE, liquidating his stake before it got battered the next day.

    WSJ article (report updated since I saw it earlier; it now erroneously says it was an investment in a private company).

  25. Thomas Szasz on Mind Control Delusions and the Web · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "If you talk to God, you are praying. If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia." -Thomas Szasz, Psychiatrist