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User: howajo

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  1. Re:Everyone is concerned about the crash rating? on UBC Engineers Reach Mileage Of Over 3000 MPG · · Score: 1

    You Betcha.

    2001 Kawasaki Concours

    Sadly, only 108 HP, :-(

    Oh well, after college.

    If everyone rode motorcycles, there'd be a lot less dumb ones (and smart ones probably).

  2. Everyone is concerned about the crash rating? on UBC Engineers Reach Mileage Of Over 3000 MPG · · Score: 3, Funny
    I can say in all sincerity that I support MORE dangerous vehicles. We have, for the most part, eliminated the healthy and positive phenomenon of natural selection. I think that there SHOULD be a significant penalty for commiting stupid acts.

    With that in mind, I suggest that this ultralight vehicle be produced, but instead of a tiny 54cc engine, it should have about 500 hp. Also, it should have a bitchin' loud sound system, and old school bag phone, no seatbelt, and a shelf to hold your #5 combo. Maybe a coozy for your beer too.

  3. Re:Reverse Racism on Is There Still Racism in IT Hiring Practices? · · Score: 1

    Well said. I would add though, that language shapes thought. Unfortunately this terminology is often used by people who don't really understand the socio/psycho-logical meaning. By chosing a word whose literal translation doesn't imply that racism is (I'll just say it) a "white" flaw, responsible parties could help people deal with the real issue; Racism drives people apart, deprives us of wisdom, generates violence, and obscures opportunities. With the flood of media showing people of different cultural backgrounds engaged in heated conflicts, it is very easy for people of any race or social class to find themselves slipping into racist thought patterns.

  4. Re:A unique Black sysadmin's opinion on Is There Still Racism in IT Hiring Practices? · · Score: 1

    I am a white male with a fairly high IQ (although not as high as yours by any means). I have encountered many scenarios similar to what you have described. In my case, I have attributed it to my age. 40-something managers and salespeople don't like having a 20-something (at the time) technician tell them what's what. I think it is possible that much of what you attribute to racism might be as easily attributed to ego. My two cents worth... keep the change.

  5. Re:Reverse Racism on Is There Still Racism in IT Hiring Practices? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "There is a useful distinction..."

    I can appreciate that distinction, but the implications of the term "Reverse Racism" are offensive to the majority. It creates the impression that only the majority are capable of racism and so racism by the minority is "reverse racism". Racism should be seen as ugly no matter who is the target. Sociologist and Psychologist should find another word without the unintentional connotation.

  6. Re:Reverse Racism on Is There Still Racism in IT Hiring Practices? · · Score: 1

    The term reverse racism is not logical. There is either racism or the absence of racism. Hating, or discriminating against a person on the basis of race is racism regardless of who is hated and who is doing the hating.

  7. Extremist Unite! on Forecasting Doomsday · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The tragedy of this debate is that there seems to be no one to voice a rational position. There are The Ostriches who's greatest desire is to believe that they are safe and scoff at anything that suggest otherwise. There are the Industrial Interest who are more than willing to tell the Ostriches what they want to hear so that they can continue business as usual. There are the Chicken Littles who run screaming "The sky is falling" every time there is an extra inch of rain. Let me suggest a different position: We live in a complex system. Rational estimates say it is Very very old relative to our own lifespans. We are only reasonably aware of the last couple of thousand years of its operation. Everything else is speculation. We are aware (those of us who don't fall into the Ostrich category) that we are able to effect some changes to the system through our activities. We really have no idea how much of an impact we have had, or will have. It might be that everything is fine. It might be that all the bizarre weather from the last year means something is seriously wrong. I don't think anyone REALLY knows. While I don't think that "It's the end of the world", It seems to me that since we have access to only one "experiment", that maybe some extra caution is warranted. The old "better safe than sorry" position may be the smartest choice for anyone with a long view.

  8. Re:And this is supposed to make me feel better on Taiwan Breeds Transgenic, Fluorescent Green Pigs · · Score: 0

    I am not sure that I have fully developed a position on this issue, but...

    What disturbs me about this... There is no line. The research is so diverse, that there is no clear boundary between research on humans and research on other organisms. I foresee a time in the future where lawyers wrangle over whether or not their clients particular pig, human, soybean, whatever is illegal, or has human rights, or is ok to harvest parts from.

    I don't think it's realistic to expect this technology to not be pursued, but I think that we lack even the vaguest clue about the vastness of the implications.

  9. Re:Maybe it's because... on Computer Makers Cater to Big Business, IT Depts. · · Score: 1

    Dear Inarticulate, Subpar IQ, Antisocial Cockbiter, Good catch on the grammar.

  10. Wasted Opportunity... on Retrofitting an iPod into a Geiger Counter · · Score: 1

    If you've got a cool old geiger counter with a GIANT case and you want to put you're ipod in it, you should: A) Add a really big battery. B) Install the 200 GB Ipod Nano Hack. C) Try and maintain the cool vintage appearance D) Use Silver Spraypaint and crappy design to make it look like something off an episode of the original Star Trek. (Think William Shatner) Apparently D) is the correct answer.

  11. Reasons why this is lame (impractical/pointless) on Want a Cool and Quiet PC? Dunk it in Oil · · Score: 1

    1) I notice the power supply and hard drive stay out of the oil... seems like it would still be fairly noisy. Even if they did submerge the power supply, the hard drive has tiny air vents, and I bet a hard-drive full of Wesson has a very limited lifetime. Without submerging these components, is the system quiter than the many "media center" cases around? 2) The Giant Mess. I don't know about these guys, but I find myself in my system several times a year at least. This seems a bit impractical. 3) The final product suffers from some seriously ghetto workmanship.

  12. Maybe it's because... on Computer Makers Cater to Big Business, IT Depts. · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... when you go to get a slice of pie, you want the biggest slice in the pan. Also, there is the volume issue. The less flavors you offer, the more of a single flavor you can "buy", which reduces cost for everyone, including the end user.

  13. One way to spice up the party... on Geeky Gadgets for Halloween Parties? · · Score: 1

    ... try girls. Sure to scare any true geek out of his socks. :-)

  14. Re:Rather impractical on Morse Code on Cell Phones? · · Score: 0

    Way to break down this ridiculous topic. :-)

  15. should have been... on Linux For Losers According To De Raadt · · Score: 1

    ... Linux is for posers... The majority of those using linux are doing so because they think it makes them 7337 (or whatever). There lots of legitimate uses for linux, but at this time none of them involve a "home" computer. I, in my quest to see what all the fuss is about, have tried Debian, Mandrake, Gentoo and Mepis varieties. So far Mepis hit closest to the mark for a home solution. The problem is all of them have little problems which cannot be fixed by a nice little configuration box. It is difficult for the home user to go in, learn the language, and edit some config file to fix every little problem that presents it's nasty little head. This is why the mighty and bloated "windblows" continues to dominate. Any idiot (myself included) can install it on pretty much any hardware and get it configured and working properly in a few hours. I tried for the better part of a week to get all the little problems with Mepis cleared up. Finally, in frustration, I went back to that dirty old whore M$ Windows XP. For those who care what problems I had this last go 'round, here's the list:

    Grub not configured properly by config program (fixed)
    No RAID support
    No Hotswap USB support
    Disappearing Tuner Card Driver
    Disappearing Mail folders (to be fair Mozilla's problem)
    Disappearing Favorites (again Mozilla's problem)

    I am sure that If I stuck with it for a few weeks, I could have resolved all these issues. The thing is, I could move a dumptruck load of sand with a teaspoon, but that doesn't make it a viable solution.

    Just for the record, the Mepis Live Boot CD is TITS!!! Makes me wish the rest of the experience had been so smooth.

    Well, I guess I've spent my two cents.

  16. Not Government Property on Military Seeks Approval to Develop Space Weapons · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Space does not belong to the US military. Space does not belong to the United States. I would rather not have those who pioneer the exploration of space have to ask for permission to pass the US military's ring of Death Stars.

    This move should be viewed by citizens of the world in the same light as Native Americans might have viewed US military outpost showing up in the west.

    With the immenent exporation and and exploitation of space, the Military WILL try to lock down control before it becomes an area outside their jurisdiction and control.

  17. missing out? on Ho, Ho, Ho · · Score: 1

    I think not. I want my 8 minutes and 26 seconds back.

  18. Re:Sure, so long as on MPAA Sues Movie-Swappers · · Score: 1

    My bad. Apologies for not reading carefully enough. For me personally, if I like an artist, I want to buy the CD as a sign of my appreciation and support. I think that is where the disconnect is with the record companies. Perhaps they think that people are not buying (enough) music because they are pirating it, when I think it's more likely that they are producing music that no one is willing to pay for, or at the very least, music that only appeals to people who are unwilling to pay for music.

  19. Re:Sure, so long as (offtopic, sorry) on MPAA Sues Movie-Swappers · · Score: 1

    uh... I didn't understand any of that.

  20. Re:Sure, so long as (offtopic, sorry) on MPAA Sues Movie-Swappers · · Score: 1

    This issue is a lot less simple than you are... The problem is this... Some people are quite able to judge their limits and are able to tell when they have had too much to safely operate a vehicle. Some people can't. Some people have never had a drink in their life and are unsafe to operate a vehicle (my grandmother). The delimma is that no one else can tell, so they make a blanket rule in an attempt to make things reasonably safe. This is why someone who drives drunk should not be punished as heavily as someone who drives drunk and kills someone.

  21. Re:Sure, so long as on MPAA Sues Movie-Swappers · · Score: 1

    There is a flaw in this logic. The assumption that downloading a movie will eliminate one sale is essentially untrue because many people are willing to download a movie that they would not be willing to pay for. I cite "Scooby Doo" the movie as an example.

  22. secure... until... on U.S. Military To Create Its Own Internet · · Score: 1

    6 hours later a 14 year old in starbucks hacks it, post it, and the next day you can google it.

  23. Re:color VGA with RED backlight?? on Olympus Preps MP3 Player With Cam & Color Display · · Score: 1

    The point is... Red light is the least damaging to night vision, so you can adjust your device without contracting your pupils and temporarily losing your night vision... That's why pilot's flashlights are often red, or come with a red filter. Guess it's not as cool as blue (which screws your night vision)...

  24. Re:Genetic engeneering for the future world on Harvard to Clone Human Embryos? · · Score: 1

    Well Put, not sure I agree, but this is imho the most insightful and intelligent "pro" argument on the page.

    I don't think most people have any clue how big a can of worms this is. Life has an almost infinite ability to adapt and change and surprise us. Tampering with that is Russian Roullete on a scale never before seen.

    The Many of the problems we have in the US right now stem from our interference with the natural process. We protect everyone from the natural results of their genetics and behavior and in return, those people have more offspring which will share those traits than the people doing the protecting. It can't last.

    Life doesn't care about intelligence, or motives, or legislation, or stem cell research, it does what it does as long and as hard as it can and may your particular diety help you if you get in the way.

  25. Lamest Mod Ever. on Build Your Own iPod Battery · · Score: 1

    Cigarette Lighter Plug + Firewire Plug = Virtually Unlimited 12 to 15 Volt power. This hack would only be cool if you were on a deserted island with gilligan and the professor rigged it up so you could listen to your iPod. Even then it is still outclassed by the coconut radio.