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User: erick99

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  1. Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Technology Magazines on Ask Slashdot: What Do You Like To Read? · · Score: 1

    I like very long (40+ hours in unabridged audio) fantasy novels that are based in England in the 1400s. I like Science Fiction that is at least within the realm of possibility so that I can "willingly suspend my disbelief." One of my current favorite authors is Neil Gaiman (might not have spelled his name correctly.) I love the articles in these magazines: Wired, Popular Science, and Discover. Finally, I like to read a book in a field outside of my own (psychology). A recent example was a 400+ page book on String Theory for non-physicists. Enjoy your trip and enjoy your reading. Something we know from the world of neuro-psychology and functional neuroanatomy is that our brain is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition. People that do as few as two puzzles a week are far less likely to develop a dementia in old age than those who don't. People with graduate degrees, compared to the general population, rarely get dementia unless they had many first degree relatives who had an age-related dementia. Reading is a fantastic way to use your brain. So is surfing the web. Watching TV is a very passive activity and does little for brain health.

  2. Magazines to the left, Magazines to the right. on Time's Person of the Year Is "The Protester" · · Score: 1

    I used to subscribe to both and enjoyed both, especially in the late 70s and early 80s. Over time, they both became very liberal. I prefer a magazine that reports the news in a more neutral manner. I shouldn't be able to tell if they lean left or right. I want to read articles and decide how I feel about a subject. I enjoy excellent reporting and excellent journalism but I do not enjoy having someone else' opinion proselytized - even when I agree with that position. The only magazines that I still enjoy, these days, are science magazines and maybe a few others that manage not to preach.

  3. Yes, but . . . on Massive Radio Telescope Starts Observing the Skies · · Score: 2

    Despite the shortcomings (perceived and real) that many will discuss regarding this particular telescope, it is still a very good thing that the U.S. and other countries continue to spend the money to develop, build, and implement new 'scopes. Considering how tight money is (worldwide) it can't be easy to find the funding for these projects.

  4. Re:Ha! on Bluetooth Keyboards With a 10-Year Charge Promised · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have a 12 year old bathroom scale still running off of the original lithium battery that was factory installed. I am amazed at how long it has lasted. Lithium is, admittedly, a different beast than alkalines. But 12 years is pretty good for any battery.

  5. Re:Prevention as well on Proteins Build "Cages" Around Bacteria · · Score: 1

    I agree with everything you said. But it still intrigues me and it could still be a part of another solution that needed the last piece of a puzzle. But, yes, there would be a lot of not-so-good unintended consequences.

  6. Prevention as well on Proteins Build "Cages" Around Bacteria · · Score: 2

    Perhaps, if this approach ends up working, not only could it be used for treating diseases but possible could be used to prevent diseases by somehow encoding them into genes. Not sure if you would do that just for folks who have a history of a disease or offer such a solution to a larger group much in the way we do inoculation for disease.

  7. Re:Apple knows Samsung is better... on Apple Can't Block US Sales of Samsung Devices · · Score: 1

    I have almost no idea what you are trying to say but I am sure you mean well.

  8. Re:Apple knows Samsung is better... on Apple Can't Block US Sales of Samsung Devices · · Score: 1

    should have read "Apple has not done well in the past WITHOUT Jobs . . ."

  9. Re:Apple knows Samsung is better... on Apple Can't Block US Sales of Samsung Devices · · Score: 3, Interesting

    And, Apple has lost Steve Jobs and when his legacy of ideas is used up, I don't see Apple doing well. Apple has not done well in the past with Jobs and they won't in the future. Jobs was Apple. Jobs is gone. Apple will not continue to innovate and bring out "game changer" products because they lost the guy who envisioned those products and knew how to bring them to market.

  10. Re:They've created an Us and Them situation... on Apple Can't Block US Sales of Samsung Devices · · Score: 1

    I'm not sure it could be demonstrated that Apple ". . is still five years ahead of everyone else." Five years is a great deal of time in the technology world.

  11. Re:Municipal broadband is on its way, then on Web Usage-Based Billing On Its Way · · Score: 1

    Excellent point. I stopped watching TV in 2005 and I don't watch it online. I don't miss it all. I love Internet radio (I have one on my nightstand) and audiobooks and surfing the web. I teach psychology for a living and we talk about this in social psychology quite a bit. It's a great discussion and I do know that there are some great aspects to television but it still isn't a preference for me (anymore).

  12. Re:Evolution can be a good thing on Nature Publishes a "Post-Gutenberg" Electronic Text · · Score: 2

    It would could make textbooks more dynamic and update more often. I would also like the ability to mix & match among text books to create a custom text book - especially for my General Psyc classes and my Abnormal Psyc classes. Not sure how that would work with copyright, etc., but it would be great for my students.

  13. Evolution can be a good thing on Nature Publishes a "Post-Gutenberg" Electronic Text · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So far eBooks have not varied much from the formatting of printing books. I like the idea of taking advantage of the technology available for eBooks and perhaps making books more interesting or with more content, etc. I teach psychology at two colleges and I have noticed that some of the publishers of text books are beginning to do this (Pearson and McGrawhill are two).

  14. One isn't enough but it's a good start on DNA Test To Determine Kids' Sports Futures · · Score: 1

    One gene and probably just one trait. How much can you infer from a single trait other than you have at least one ingredient for a recipe for whatever skill or gift is desired.

  15. My teenager is cool, too. on Teenager Builds $300 Open Source Eye-Tracking System · · Score: 1, Funny

    My teenager took the trash out this week without being asked,

  16. All subjects welcome. on Schools Buy .xxx Domains In Trademark Panic · · Score: 1

    I am a psyc professor and some of my lectures on sex probably, while not porn, would be x-rated.

  17. Re:Dibs! on Canary Islands Eruption Could Create New Land · · Score: 2

    Is there international law to deal with new land? I would be curious to know if that is the case. If land popped up in the middle of the ocean, well outside whatever countries consider to be within their own waters, how could one go about claiming the land? By the way, I don't want any land - I have a hard enough time keeping a townhouse with a tiny front yard and tiny backyard maintained.

  18. Brilliant? Not. on Facebook Forming a PAC · · Score: 1

    Another brilliant PR move by FaceBook. Stepping on their collective dicks seems to be a growing trend within the company.

  19. Re:I am offended on NY Senators Want To Make Free Speech A Privilege · · Score: 1

    Somebody paid attention in social psychology (taught in other courses as well)! I hope a few of my students can do this in a few years. Indeed, it is called confirmation bias.

  20. Not convincing on Climate Change Driving War? · · Score: 1

    It's not that hard to find a relationship between any two large-scale variables but it still doesn't allow for a causative statement. I teach statistics to freshman and sophomores and spend a lot of time on trying to explain to them how to critically examine articles such as this. I'm not saying that it's wrong, but I don't see the scientific legwork that would make it a more substantial statement.

  21. Kindle has been a useful gadget for me. on So Far, More Than 50,000 Kindle Fire Pre-Orders Per Day · · Score: 1

    I bought a Kindle last August (when the Kindle 3 was announced) and it is one of the few gadgets that has gotten regular use. I like not having to wear reading glasses to read a magazine or a book (I just keep increasing the font size). The e-ink technology is easy on my eyes and much easier than reading on a computer screen. I am not sure if I want a tablet or not but I pre-ordered one anyway. If I don't want it I will put it on ebay or give it as a Christmas gift. I don't think that the Kindle Fire is an iPad killer because it is not competing with the iPad on features. It is intended to be a basic tablet for surfing, media, and, of course, buying lots of Amazon music, video, product, etc.

  22. Replacments on Blurring Lines — Dual Core Atom To Lift Netbooks · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think we are looking at netbooks mostly occupying the place of notebooks and notebooks just about completely replacing desktops. I haven't bought a desktop since Feb 2004 but I have bought three notebooks since then (most recently a Dell Studio 17 this past September).

  23. Re:too bad that's where hi-speed comes from... on One In Eight To Cut Cable and Satellite TV In 2010 · · Score: 1

    Comcast increases Internet services price immediately after tv service is canceled. I do call every year and ask for a promotional price in exchange for not canceling and that has been working for the past four years.

  24. Faster anything is good. on World's "Fastest" Small Web Server Released, Based On LISP · · Score: 1

    Even though Internet throughput seems to be increasing (bandwidth) in leaps and bounds, the server is often a bottle-neck. Anything that is faster is a welcome addition to life in the very, very fast lane.

  25. Re:Meh? on Where To Buy A Machine With Linux Pre-Installed · · Score: 1

    I wonder if the business model for all OS will eventually be to give away the OS and charge for Internet-based enhancements, add-ons, help, etc.