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User: Ironsides

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  1. Re:Parallax, touch screens, stupidity, and conspir on WV Voters Say Machines Are Switching Votes · · Score: 1

    Except that disenfranchisement to poor and minority voters has been used to justify prohibition of everything that could possibly prevent voter fraud. ID requirements, periodic purging of the voter rolls, purging of the dead and requiring actual proof of citizenship.

  2. Fusion adaptation? on Plasma Rocket Successful Full Power Test · · Score: 1

    The VASIMR engine works with plasma, a very hot gas at temperatures close to the interior of the Sun. Plasmas are electrically charged fluids that can be heated to extreme temperatures by radio waves and controlled and guided by strong magnetic fields. The magnetic field also insulates any nearby structure; so temperatures well beyond the melting point of materials can be achieved and the resulting plasma can be harnessed to produce propulsion.

    Anyone know if this could be used in fusion reactor containment?

  3. Re:Parallax, touch screens, stupidity, and conspir on WV Voters Say Machines Are Switching Votes · · Score: 1

    Didn't you know that that is disciminatory and disenfranchises poor and minority voters?

  4. Re:Parallax, touch screens, stupidity, and conspir on WV Voters Say Machines Are Switching Votes · · Score: 1

    You forgot two.

    0. Make sure you've put in a bunch of voter registrations that get mailed to your address.
    ----
    7. Vote repeatedly in the same election.

  5. Security Patching? on Is Ubuntu Getting Slower? · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ok, the article completely ignores this (as do most of the above posters it appears). Each version of Ubuntu tested seemed to have different kernel builds. How much of the slowdown is due to the kernel being patched for security and bugs and how much is due to the software that has been added?

  6. Re:Technical issues on White Space Debate Intensifies As Vote Approaches · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well, there's also technical issues like these. One of those pesky little problems that crops up when you have a bunch of unlicensed devices using the same frequencies as high powered licensed devices.

  7. Re:Algorithms, control, what is the CPU for? on Hubble Repairs Hindered By Antiquated Computer Systems · · Score: 1

    I'm willing to bet the algorithm timing was based on how long it took instructions to execute and not an outside clock. In other words, a change in the execution time, not just the clock speed, will mess up the software.

  8. Re:Upgrade on Hubble Repairs Hindered By Antiquated Computer Systems · · Score: 1

    I'd keep um... Nothing. I wouldn't even bother with the case. Everything is using ISA cards, CD-ROMs had to be supported through the Sound Blaster Sound Cards and the Power Supply is outdated for the connections to the motherboard. (I'm using a semi-working 486 I have for reference for this)

  9. Re:9-5 caused by daylight savings time? on Alternatives to Daylight Saving Time? · · Score: 1

    The afternoon transactions are still generally counted as occuring the next business day. I would suggest looking at the ATM signs a bit more the next time you are there. This makes some sense as most inter-bank processing is done at midnight.

  10. Re:Why is Cobol still alive? on Cobol Job Market Heating Up · · Score: 1

    Somehow, having to do 20,000 manual adjustments doesn't seem like a working system to me.

  11. Re:Why is Cobol still alive? on Cobol Job Market Heating Up · · Score: 1
    OUCH! But I'm not sure the old system was better.

    The old system, at 40, was a patchwork of databases that were often out of sync, Burbridge says. Staffers, he adds, were making 20,000 adjustments by hand every month. Auditors had been clamoring to change it for more than a decade. No administrator had the stomach to do it, Burbridge says, because âoethey knew it would be hellish.â

    http://blogs.zdnet.com/projectfailures/?p=130

  12. Re:9-5 caused by daylight savings time? on Alternatives to Daylight Saving Time? · · Score: 1

    Banks. Hence why it is known as Banker's Hours. Also, a lot of Government stuff.

  13. Re:Who Chooses? on First Mars-Goers Should Prepare For a One-Way Trip · · Score: 1

    Lucky me I can't stand the stuff. Besides, it'd be easy to set up a still and make vodka.

  14. Re:Who Chooses? on First Mars-Goers Should Prepare For a One-Way Trip · · Score: 1

    Internet: Batch up webpages and transfer them en mass.
    Few other people & no privacy: I don't see the problem.
    It's not like you would be free to roam the planet: Have space suit, will travel. A lot of movement is going to be going on expanding hte habitat.
    You would be stuck in a living chamber: It's called a house.

    Really, this seems perfect for my personality. I'm a hermit normally. I can stand long periods alone and have no problem working in close quarters with other people. Besides, anyone going would be awfully busy doing research and so on or expanding the habitat.

  15. Re:Who Chooses? on First Mars-Goers Should Prepare For a One-Way Trip · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Count me in too. Hell, I'd rather go on a one way trip to Mars than one where I have to come back.

  16. Re:Why is Cobol still alive? on Cobol Job Market Heating Up · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How much do you trust your paycheck to get to you on time with a brand new piece of code vs. one that hasn't had any problems in 30 years?

  17. Re:Rates on University Tries "One iPhone Per Student" · · Score: 1

    Even the cheaper programs are still windows only. AutoCAD, PSpice (free, but still windows only) and any compiler/debuger for the microprocessors are still windows dominated. Sorry, but no one is making web apps for engineering. Your best bet would be Java. We still need serial port or USB access for programing things.

  18. Re:But... on Antec Releases "Skeleton" PC Case · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Here's a question for you. Do you even need to use a case to test the various configurations? Couldn't you just leave the motherboard on the desk with the cards sitting in it and everything laying out?

  19. Re:Rates on University Tries "One iPhone Per Student" · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I can think of Departments that have OS specific requiremetns (Specifically Windows). Mind you, this is because the applications they require students to use are not available for other OS's. Engineering programs routinely have this trouble.

  20. Re:Does this surprise anyone? on Elcomsoft Claims WPA/WPA2 Cracking Breakthrough · · Score: 3, Informative

    He's pushing out the new key over the network using the existing key. I record all data over the network starting with key XX1. Say he gets to key XX3 when I finally crack key XX1. I use key XX1 to decrypt all the data I have recorded from the wireless, I get key XX2 by decrypting it and then I also get key XX3.

  21. Re:Does this surprise anyone? on Elcomsoft Claims WPA/WPA2 Cracking Breakthrough · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So, all I need to do is record the data, crack the first set of keys and then I can decrypt all subsequently sent packets as you have convieniently provided the new keys in the (now decrypted) data stream.

  22. Re:Looks Like I'm Safe on Elcomsoft Claims WPA/WPA2 Cracking Breakthrough · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That sounds like a reason to go out and get your own router that supports full WPA2 encryption. If nothing else, flash it with DD-WRT and you get that.

  23. Re:DAMMIT WHICH SIDE on Can Static Electricity Generate Votes? · · Score: 1

    Neither. It was in a primary election for a non-existent candidate.

  24. Re:Repeat it? on Can Static Electricity Generate Votes? · · Score: 1

    If those counting the votes are not honest.

    * Paper votes get recounted if and only if someone powerful enough convinces a judge to order a recount.

    This assumes that those counting the votes did not substitute their own votes for the ones actually cast.

  25. Re:What's in a word? on Can Static Electricity Generate Votes? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Trust me. When talking about D.C., SNAFU is ALWAYS the right word.