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User: theshowmecanuck

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  1. Re:customer-centric on Microsoft Defies Court Order, Will Not Give Emails To US Government · · Score: 2, Funny

    Europeans, when push comes to shove, are generally useless when it comes to standing up for what is right. So even though these are foreign, presumably European emails, residing on European servers, once the appeal process finishes Microsoft will start downloading the data to US servers. And then the EU nations will promptly call a summit, bicker amongst themselves till the download is complete, whine a lot, but ultimately do nothing. Just like they are doing with Ukraine. Given a choice of doing something meaningful that needs doing but might cause some discomfort and conflict, they would rather rationalize why they don't do anything. Kind of like Obama too (and I am not a Republican/conservative or libertarian... I'm independent).

  2. Re:But is it reaslistic? on Islamic State "Laptop of Doom" Hints At Plots Including Bubonic Plague · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm not saying panic either. But I wouldn't blow them off. I would think that the biggest barrier they have is access to the equipment and materials to build what they want. They number in the tens of thousands at least, and we keep hearing how many were engineering grads or university students. They can't all be stupid. But sure another roadblock they will have are the throngs of stupid people they have lumped themselves in with. The thing is for biological warfare they don't even need weapons systems. They'll just infect a few hundred 'martyrs' and put them on a plane somewhere. Pneumonic plague (black death) doesn't need physical contact.

  3. Re:so just how affriad should I be on Islamic State "Laptop of Doom" Hints At Plots Including Bubonic Plague · · Score: 2

    These aren't security experts FFS. Personally I wouldn't stop my life over this, but it is good to understand what some of them have in mind, and keep an eye on it.

    Remember these guys are predisposed to killing themselves for the cause. We have to watch for things like getting themselves infected and travelling somewhere before symptoms show. They could weaponize themselves. As an example, look at how Ebola went to Nigeria and now some student sneaking into Senegal. Imagine if it was a whole bunch of nuts doing it on purpose. It's not something to just dismiss. Even if it didn't kill thousands, the panic caused in the general population who thanks to modern news organizations have no ability to filter or prioritize what they need to panic over. And western nations are too politically correct or have too much economic interest to test people at the borders or airports.

    I'm not going to get bent about the whole thing, we should have already guessed guys like this have been trying to dream up ideas for years. But it shouldn't be discounted out of hand.

  4. Re:But is it reaslistic? on Islamic State "Laptop of Doom" Hints At Plots Including Bubonic Plague · · Score: 1

    Yes, it's always better to be prepared after something very bad happens. Let's just ignore it for now.

  5. Re:But is it reaslistic? on Islamic State "Laptop of Doom" Hints At Plots Including Bubonic Plague · · Score: 1

    3. We have antibiotics.

    FTFY: We have antibiotics that we have rendered useless because we have fed them to cows to make them bigger which we then eat and so any germ we might encounter may already have evolved defences from said antibiotic.

    FWIW, there are a lot of animals that can carry plague, not just rabbits (I know you implied that). But people don't know that most rodents in North America can carry it including squirrels, prairie dogs, rats, etc etc etc. And people still die from it occasionally.

  6. Re:pulsing on Magnetic Stimulation Boosts Memory In Humans · · Score: 1

    What about living under high tension transmission lines? :)

  7. Re:Let's get this out of the way... on Magnetic Stimulation Boosts Memory In Humans · · Score: 1

    Howard Stern told women to sit on subwoofers.

  8. Re:Comfortable, were we? on Japanese Publishers Lash Out At Amazon's Policies · · Score: 2

    Unsure about the concept of monopolies and the pressures they can bring to bear suppressing competition are we?

  9. Re: Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 1

    I agree the European Union needs to step up to the plate. I have pretty much lost respect for Europeans over this and other things they infight about. A bunch of greedy grubbing children. I think it must be no different than 100 years ago.

  10. Re:Nice article. on Canada Tops List of Most Science-Literate Countries · · Score: 2

    The health care system in Canada needs fixing. Many can't get a family physician because there aren't enough and have to go to clinics. Having no doctor because you can't afford one is no worse than not having one because they aren't there. Having primary care physician is the best way to stay healthy. Specialist wait times are crazy and you must have a referral.

    The system is going downhill, but because it was the best 50 years ago, people here think it still is. If you talk change the radical parrots all squawk 'no American style health care!' as if that is the only other system out there. And then they are so satisfied with themselves thinking they have preserved a great system. Meanwhile they are mostly the ones who do have family physicians and are afraid of change, even for the better because they don't want to lose their doctor (which they wouldn't). Canada's health care system ranked 30th in 2000 according to the WHO. America 36th.But most Americans at least know it could be better, while too many Canadians don't think the same way about our system. Attitude is slowly changing, but too slowly.

  11. Re:Could have fooled me on Canada Tops List of Most Science-Literate Countries · · Score: 1

    He is not. He's a douchebag.

  12. Re:Could have fooled me on Canada Tops List of Most Science-Literate Countries · · Score: 1

    That's the party in power BTW.

  13. Re: Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 1

    France had more tanks, including heavy tanks than Germany at the start of the war. A couple of countries could have tag teamed Germany before they attacked. But the head in the sand attitude stopped them. I will grant that that same attitude kept their tactical thinking behind the times too. But an early concerted effort would likely have ended der fuhrer's plans.

  14. Re:Ukrainians are a modern civilized people ... on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 1

    Russian lead, supplied and fomented separatists who do not identify with Ukraine can hardly be called Ukrainians. If you were to ask the perpetrators, they would call themselves Russian .

  15. Re:Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 2

    Another Russian propaganda sock puppet. Poroshenko sent troops against Russian agents provocateurs using military weapons and insurgents to try to split his country.

  16. Re:Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 2

    A little truth mixed in with bullshit doesn't make it any more palatable.

  17. Re:Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 1

    Thank you Russian ministry of propaganda.

  18. Re: Send in the drones! on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 2

    Thank you Neville Chamberlain.

  19. Re: Prediction: on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The majority of Ukrainians wanted to be in the EU, but Yanukovych wouldn't be able to continue raping his country for billions if that happened. It was his pay off for following Putin's orders.

  20. Re:Did not invade The Ukraine on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 1

    That is what is really going on.

  21. Re:Prediction: on Russian Military Forces Have Now Invaded Ukraine · · Score: 0

    Russia is not low hanging political fruit. Politicians don't know how to do anything that requires commitment or being accountable. Helping Ukraine, including shipping real weapons systems means taking a stand with consequences. And what they refuse to recognize is that when Russia is at the Polish border they'll be asking how it got that far. They actively forget that by ignoring what is going on, they (Ukraine) will eventually become NATO. Better to stop it early, unlike in the 1930s. Maybe Germany will actually do something more than have conversations on the phone when the Berlin Wall is being rebuilt. This is not hyperbole. It should be readily apparent that Putin wants the Soviet Union back. I wonder when Neville Merkel or Barack Chamberlain will get their heads out of their asses. Of course Russians aren't Muslims so the US Congress won't care till it's too late. but I put more blame on the Europeans. They will be waffleling and talking until Eastern Europe is paying taxes to the Kremlin again. Russia will not stop trying till they get it all back bit by bit over time. Or until Europe grows some balls. Those who forget history...

  22. Re:Oh, really? on DoT Proposes Mandating Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications · · Score: 0

    This also shows the problem with most Hollywood movies... why they mostly suck and why indi movies are often better. Idiots who think everything must be spelled out in detail, nothing left to the imagination. Like the difference between a beautiful woman wearing lingerie and a classless stripper who sticks her rancid snatch in your face. It's why sarcasm is wasted there. The American masses can no longer seem to think, and it's growing worse year by year. It's why science is dying there, and people are becoming radicalized fundamentalists (insert faith here) allowing their church leaders to think for them. Thank Christ (a euphemism if I may be permitted) that there are still some who can understand and appreciate implicit endings and...

  23. Re:What's MediaGoblin? Do we care? on MediaGoblin 0.7.0 "Time Traveler's Delight" Released · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The very first thing you need to do is describe on the front page of your Website what your project is

    In non-technical terms. Everyday language an average computer user can understand, free of jargon. More than one or two sentences, with pictures. Think extra long user story written by an end user who is going to use the output, not the one installing it. You can have as many other web pages you wish to get esoteric with.

  24. Re:Because the summary won't tell you on MediaGoblin 0.7.0 "Time Traveler's Delight" Released · · Score: 1

    If you would have clicked the link to the product page you would see that the op copied it from there. The very first line of the content.

  25. Re:Not surprising on California DMV Told Google Cars Still Need Steering Wheels · · Score: 1

    I keep thinking it's kind of funny that the many people here advocating no human interaction allowed, would be completely bummed if their favourite star man wouldn't be allowed to switch his space ship to manual mode.

    "Use the Force Luke."
    "Awww man, it won't let me."