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User: MurphyZero

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Comments · 359

  1. Re:Mojave? on SpaceX Brownsville Space Port Opposed By Texas Environmentalists · · Score: 2

    There was a bird on a Shuttle when it launched at least once. That bird got the scare of its life. It also almost certainly died. Another pair of birds got hit by a shuttle and fell into the exhaust. So yes there are animals that got scared or died from the launches. That alone isn't reason enough to stop. Also Falcon has a minimal amount of toxic chemicals, at least compared to most launch vehicles. Brownsville isn't ideal, but it's not bad if their purpose is to avoid some of the bureaucracy--they won't get away from it completely, they'll still have to deal with the FAA, more in fact than they do now. Better than Mojave or anything inland by a great deal.

  2. Re:It's not just the textbooks on Math Textbooks a Textbook Example of Bad Textbooks · · Score: 1

    In my first year of college I went to a branch campus of my university. They decided to have a 'First Annual' math contest for a modest prize. I had competed and done well at high school level and figured I could get the cash. The last problem was misworded so that it had an uninteresting answer (I think it was zero) ON my answer sheet, I answered both the problem as written and the stated how it should have been written and that answer. The other problems were also easy and I collected the prize. There was no second annual.

  3. Re:Time for a launch loop on Glory Satellite Lost To Taurus XL Failure · · Score: 1

    That fully redundant system you designed costs $1 billion to launch a 10lb payload. There are several groups that could all be at fault here. CEO (makes decisions involving costs), Management (Choosing to cut corners, bad decisions), Engineers (bad design and/or bad procedures), Technicians (not following procedures), Manufacturing (crappy products)

  4. Re:Doubt it would make any difference on New Hampshire Bill Could Lead To Adoption of Approval Voting · · Score: 1

    The correct response is to vote for Z. Serves two purposes: 1) vote of no confidence in the two main parties' candidates and 2) gives confidence to more people to reject the two parties. If third party votes remain limited, people choose to not vote in greater numbers or do the way you do--choose a lesser evil. However, it's in the interest of both evils to continue the system. Yes occasionally they lose, but they win often enough in the system to keep them in a modicum of power. With three of more parties, their power diminishes and *gasp* compromise might be necessary.

  5. Re:Class Difference on The Rise and Rise of the Cognitive Elite · · Score: 1

    It's amazing how many military officers have history and/or political science degrees. For the most part it does them very well, but they often end up way out of their element in Space Command. Then, it matters how they treat their subordinates, who can save their asses. I think a lot of officers with those degrees realize that they are well-prepared for a career in the military and little else and make the military a career while those with technical degrees have options. Therefore, senior levels have an abundance of history majors.

  6. Re:No hydrogen = poor exhaust velocity on New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel · · Score: 1

    I'd mod you up if I didn't already make other comments.

  7. Re:Solid rockets - Real Answer on New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel · · Score: 1

    Actually they unzip down the side of the case. They stop at the aft segment though. That's enough to release the pressure though. RSO hands are not going to be anywhere near the button unless something is going wrong. But yeah half a second at most when the decision is made-transmitting the signal and propagating it thru the system will likely take as long. And NASA calls them RSOs, but they call themselves (M)FCOs (Mission Flight Control Officers)

  8. Re:Solid rockets on New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel · · Score: 1

    I thought all the extinguishable solid rocket motors were the hybrids-a solid propellant ignited by a liquid/gaseous oxidizer. Stop the flow of the oxidizer and the engine turns off. Hybrids are usually not grouped with pure solids. Most (or all I believe) solid propellants in use today mix and the fuel and oxidizer and just require an ignition source and then it is a self-sustaining operation,at least inside the rockets itself, which is why they can not be turned off.

  9. Re:Hydrochloric acid? on New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel · · Score: 1

    The LH2 by itself is the best fuel by Isp, but it comes at the price of enlarged tanks to hold it. There are some other fuels that provide a slightly better comparison based on dry mass for tanking and engine and such. LH2/LO2 technology is pretty well understood and fairly reliable but cryogenics provide other problems. The right choice of propellant depends on the tradeoffs.

  10. Re:Shuttle SRBs are neither cheap nor reliable on New Molecule Could Lead To Better Rocket Fuel · · Score: 2

    Solids do have some advantages over liquids. Primarily acceleration. But for human payloads, liquid rocket engines make more sense--particularly if an accident does occur, the engines can be shut off, allowing escape rockets to take the passengers away from the rest of the rocket. This is the Ares rocket's biggest problem--there are periods of time where the escape rocket may not be able to escape the solid vehicle underneath it..

  11. Re:Well... on Free Radicals May Not Be Cause of Aging · · Score: 2

    Well it would be a solution to the politician, banker and lobbyist problem in this country.

  12. Re:Of course... on Google Warns Irish Government Against Tax Increase · · Score: 1

    The solution is to have the majority of countries, or at least those with the bulk of the money, blackball those countries who try to low ball everything. Additionally, to write their tax codes such that corps in their own country who try to avoid taxes still have to pay. The goal at the end is that each country would have a roughly equal chance to attract companies, and a framework for taxation of multi-nationals can also be achieved and be somewhat equitable. I agree that it should be a world wide leveling. But it also means nailing the cheapest bastards. Because that hurts the corporations that take advantage of the cheapest bastards you have to go after both the countries and the corporations. And given that most politicians are paid more by the corporations than by the countries, it is unfortunately highly unlikely to happen.

  13. Re:Doh on Immune System Killer Mechanism Identified · · Score: 1

    Since when are Senators respected? Tolerated, maybe. Bought, sure. Respected? Maybe as a war hero, but you don't find many of those anymore.

  14. Re:What a typical waste on Apple, Startup Go To Trial Over 'Pod' Trademark · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The fact that Apple has used the 'i' in their product names, mean that Video Pod is unlikely to dilute the Apple trademark. No one would confuse Video Phone with the Apple product, I say likewise for the word Pod. These cases should be quickly tossed out. Not associated with the legal system as I don't what little reputation I do have to suffer greatly.

  15. Re:Headline FAIL on Layoff Anxiety Is Top Risk To Space Shuttle · · Score: 1

    Trust me, NASA's ability to identify & estimate risks is sub par at best. But they are getting better. Those you listed are among the chief risks. But the biggest risk in space flight has always been human error. Mainly because you don't launch unless you've addressed the external environmental risks. Stress just increases the chance for human error. All that means though is that the chance of a catastrophic failure goes up from about 1.6% per launch to 3 or 4%. Hopefully that's all. NASA will probably says those odds are more like 500 to 1 or maybe in the range from 75-150 to 1 (they'll blame most of that on micrometeorites and orbital debris), but they said the chance of a Challenger disaster was 100,000 to 1.

  16. Re:They collected $75,000... on Officials Use Google Earth To Find Unlicensed Pools · · Score: 1

    You are right about your post in general. The sticking point is that 'minimum standard' and 'minimize risk' part. My job is risk analysis. You'll never minimize risk. You can minimize within reason (cost, time, etc.) plus what is one person' minimum is excessive to another. My point is that some of these rules have gone well beyond minimums-an apparent cash grab in many cases.

  17. Re:If you've nothing to hide... on Facing 16 Years In Prison For Videotaping Police · · Score: 1

    I think the comment "If you've nothing to hide... ... you've nothing to be afraid of." was meant for the police officer. What are they (the officer and his bosses) afraid of? Probably a lot of laws they have been breaking becoming common knowledge.

  18. Re:Maybe they just haven't figured out docking yet on China Shoots Down Another Satellite · · Score: 1

    Except for the fact that GPS satellites are not in LEO orbit. It would not affect the GPS constellation at all. It could affect future launches of GPS by preventing future launches. Most, but not all comm satellites are in higher orbits. Also with the same caveats on future launches.

  19. Re:There is an app for that. on When Telemarketers Harass Telecoms Companies · · Score: 1

    Yes but the work itself violates article 3: an existence worthy of human dignity. So, therefore, no a telemarketer does not have a protected right to work at that job. Let's face it, a shit-hauler has a higher social acceptance than a telemarketer.

  20. Re:Cheating as a principle on Hollywood Accounting — How Harry Potter Loses Money · · Score: 1

    And since the viewers all understand this, viewers understand that pirating is expected. In fact, Hollywood DEMANDS it. IF you don't, you're not Hollywood.

  21. Re:Why did they change the business model? on Why Google, Bing, Yahoo Should Fear ACTA · · Score: 1

    You're missing the point. Radio allows the user to get it for free. If the user uses the radio to listen to music instead of buying a CD, then the recording industry doesn't get paid (for a CD purchase). If everyone switches to radio and stops downloading, then the recording industry would still be complaining.

  22. Re:Yeah... on Verizon Charged Marine's Widow an Early Termination Fee · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And the person has the right to burn down Verizon property worth millions following their dickish actions. Sure they'll have the right to remain silent afterwards, and the right to an attorney and all those other rights. And in the unlikely event they get a good enough attorney they'll have to walk around free. As you see, the right to be an asshole often leads to negative actions. Unfortunately, not often enough nor negative enough in the case of businesses. Oil companies come to mind right now. Cell phone carriers are close behind. Those two are by no means an exhaustive list.

  23. Re:Driving after watching 3D TV on 3D Displays May Be Hazardous To Young Children · · Score: 1

    I have strabismus. In my case, I had it as a child, corrected by surgery, but a car wreck at age 19 damaged my eye, and it got worse over time (20 years almost now). Much worse when driving. My glasses need high levels prism to adjust. When I had a pair without it, I often had to drive cyclops (close one eye) so I didn't see two sets of cars. I don't have this problem walking. Probably because it was so bad that near items appeared blurred but distance objects were completely separate items, though one was more of a ghost than the other.

  24. Re:Next Stop: Murder! on Guess My Speed and Give Me a Ticket, In Ohio · · Score: 1

    According to Congress, who writes the laws, everyone of us is a criminal. If you're not, they'll write a law that makes you a criminal. Then that justifies 'protecting' you from those other criminals who live next door to you, taking your bribe money (either taxes, or actual bribes)

  25. Re:Monsanto v. Schmeiser on First Superbugs, Now Superweeds · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Since Monsanto sues anyone who grows anything with that genetic code for patent infringement, and no one else is selling the weeds, it is obvious that Monsanto is responsible for the weeds. The farmers should sue as they clearly asked for soybeans not weeds.