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User: davidsyes

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  1. Re:Watch out for monoliths on Russia to Search For Life on Europa · · Score: 1

    My my, we've got some humorless wretches here. It's not as if I initially said they could do the Trotsky or something to that effect (or, even affect...).

    But, if they (or whomever) can find life, they'd better hope it's not superior to us. Or, shit WILL really hit the fan.

  2. Re:how many? on Anti-Missile Technology To Be Tested on Commercial Jets · · Score: 1

    This is mostly just feel-good, I suspect. The US public is the US-government's largest state-sponsored ATM machine.

    As for ballistic protection, I'll make an argument similar to my assertions that it isn't NECESSARY to SINK a carrier: just warp the flight deck, bend the shafts, or exfoliate the mast gear. Even a mild nuke can damage the FD/props/shafts/comms/electronics and just render the bitch non-mission capable. No need to sink and kill 5,800 people.

    So, no need to SHOOT DOWN the planes: just make home-made flares/chaff launchers and fire away. EVERY SINGLE LAUNCH will have to be taken seriously. Soon, air travel will go the way of surface cruise lines. Hell, life might actually improve if things slow down a bit.

    Anyway, another comment suggested home-brewed systems. Ts don't need to go all-out, super-sophisticated. They don't need to be accurate 100% of the time, either, not even 50%. Only significant changes in foreign policy, staying out of others' business, and letting locals resolve their own issues (as long as they are within their borders) will diminish much of the Terrorist hate for the west. But, it's all bullshit anyway, since virtually everybody outside of the US has some stake in not destroying it, even mullahs, ayatollahs, sheiks and so on. So, they're probably moderating the radio-hot Terrorists to a great degree. Well, that is, until the value of doing business in China and Russia and the EU and Australia more than overshadows the the worth of engaging the US in commerce/etc.

  3. Re:Watch out for monoliths on Russia to Search For Life on Europa · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Wouldn't it be easier to search Uranus? There's a whole flora and fauna in that hot, dark world...

  4. Re:"It's a digital issue" There WON'T be bricks... on There's No Such Thing as 'Wireless HDMI' · · Score: 1

    That IS be true... (A play on "thar weel be blood", hehehe, bad one, huh?)

  5. Re:Same old story... on Microsoft Giving Xbox Live Users a Free Game · · Score: 1

    Ohh, poor microsoftie bear... I must have hurt your poor little insignificant feelings and over-valuing of self...

  6. Re:underwhelming RRRRR on Scientists Recycle CO2 with Sunlight to Make Fuel · · Score: 1

    Maytee. Thar be garlons in those pumps and rings...

  7. Re:"It's a digital issue" There WON'T be bricks... on There's No Such Thing as 'Wireless HDMI' · · Score: 0

    But, thar WEEL BE BLOOD. WHen the FCC starts shitting bricks over the backlog of anal log uptake constriction. They can give out all the coupons they want, but there will be those who don't or won't get them, and they'll be cut off. I don't know if they'll be in some place in Tennessee or the Ozarks, but if they get their hands on congress, thar will be blood... It'll be crude, but it'll be red...

  8. Re:Same old story... on Microsoft Giving Xbox Live Users a Free Game · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think Whitten's excuse is a BULLSHIT excuse. With ALL the technology at microsoft's disposal, they have to stoop to or lie that the holiday season is the reason.

    So, I, microsoft, call BULLSHIT on you. What happened to the virtualization capabilities msoft claims it has? Couldn't they have simulated an influx of 500 new Xbox 360 users? Besides, even if it is 25,000 new users, they should have known in advance there'd be this problem, and they could have pre-warned users about it. (Or, did they pre-warn the users?)

  9. Re:backwards on Google Algorithm to Search Out Hospital Superbugs · · Score: 1

    Even at WORK I use the drying paper towel to manipulate the door handle. Going in, I touch the handle with a pinkie (the door is not terribly hard to open), and I wash my hands before even touching my zipper. Why? Hell, I do NOT know if at work or anywhere elsse whether or not anyone has some STD they could pass to the door seconds before I arrive. I tend to flush the urinals BEFORE I use them because I do not want piss from someone ahead of me splattering out onto my pants (after all, I set magazines and such on my lap on the bus or train...).

    I also wash my hands frequently at work, even when prepping my break. When I sneeze (and I have been doing this since at least age 14) I sneeze into my arm pit so as to keep it from reaching others. I cannot TELL you how offensive I find to be the bastard walking ahead who sneezes a bad wet one and gets me because I happen to be downwind. I realize that if we OVERinsulate ourselves, we will be more vulnerable due to less immunity, but some people are just plain goddam inconsiderate, nasty, and lazy.

    When my mom used to do *keypunching* (aka data entry nowadays) at a hospital, she would cringe at the sight of doctors and nurses doing their thing in the toilet room and then not washing their hands before departing. Chances are, they rationalized that they'd have to wash them again upon return to their station, but it sure, would (or probably would) LOOK nice to have washed.

  10. Re:backwards on Google Algorithm to Search Out Hospital Superbugs · · Score: 1

    Thanks all for responding to my ignorance and for informing me. But, probably it is good that I posed the statements I made because, afterall, we did get some VERY informative responses, and honestly, until I made my statement, I did not feel many here even GOT what was going on.

    Anyway, about clogged shower heads... when we see orange-ish goop on a showerhead (say we visit a friend and use the shower), should be be worried? If not *real* worried, then *how* much worry?

  11. Re:That is LAME. Is THIS Lame? on Is Apple Killing Linux on the Desktop? · · Score: 2

    Right now, you cannot clone, download, or virtualize cars. So, THAT analogy I don't get.

    Maybe Linux developers who don't want to outright sell or enter the vicious retail market should try "rentware". I know some choose to go for donations (donorware?), and some choose to give away things, but...

  12. Re:Mosquitos on Did Insects Kill the Dinosaurs? · · Score: 1
  13. Re:backwards on Google Algorithm to Search Out Hospital Superbugs · · Score: 1

    But, don't forget the black market. People WILL get hold of these. At some point, if antibiotics became illegal, then when does the kick-in/reporting to law enforcement start for the attending physician?

    Also, since we're on meds/drugs/pandemics, drug abuse should be managed in more creative ways. See:

    Drug debate in Spain (4:00)
    http://theworld.org/wma.php?id=01020812

    Overdose Rescue Kits Save Lives
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17578955

    Global Obesity Series
    http://theworld.org/wma.php?id=010108full

    South Africa law focuses on teen sex (4:00)
    http://theworld.org/wma.php?id=01020810

    Just in case anyone's interested...

  14. Re:backwards on Google Algorithm to Search Out Hospital Superbugs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hell, part of this could be stemmed by:

    -- installing or increasing more air-locks/decontamination/containment/quarantine areas
    -- improving anti-bacterial ventilation and air cleaning/recirculation equipment
    -- setting up scanners points to look for flush/sickly people who emit fumes of certain bug signatures

    -- make the doctors and staff ALL wear anti-microbial/bacterial surgical masks EVEN FOR NON-SURGICAL visits (hey, they may be amped on anti-biotics, but aren't they still carriers?)

    -- emulate (if not doing so already) practices of the travel/cruise industry which separates various linens according to bacterial or viral risk (using color-coded collection bins) to keep certain bugs out of warm linens while keeping less contaminated items from contact. This reduces staff exposure time to numerous critters

    Most of all, given today's mass-travel economy/environment, hospitals and clinics should not be "walk-in-as-you-will" facilities. They should have screening or quarantine areas to separate and manage ENTRY of DETECTABLE vermin/air-borne agents. (Might even spark wild, new hospital designs, create jobs, and give politicians something new to do...)

    For any interest in medical and tourism practices in effect, see:

    http://www.riph.org.uk/pdf/healthAndHygieneOctober2003.pdf

    http://www.bundesbank.de/download/meldewesen/bankenstatistik/kundensystematik/naics_2007_canada.pdf

    http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/4614B679-B2EB-4DD8-A486-C4FFDA7A542D/0/CommunityContainmentSupplement1.doc

    http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup8.html

  15. Re:Go figure on Microsoft Patents Frustration-Detection System · · Score: 1

    To award a patent for such an obvious idea would be beyond ludicrous.

    It's a shame though, that virtually EVERY developer OUT there has not grafted onto the final product some frustration/annoyance detection in the help menu. It could work by monitoring the user's actions, monitoring their use of the help files, and asking them what result they EXPECT.

    I am sure someone will say, "Oh, but it doesn't add revenue", or "it's bogs down the program", or some such things, but shitty products go through less testing. Even relatively superior products still irritate the hell out of users.

    I myself for years have asked (but like most of us, never acted upon) the very idea of this.

    It's time that patents awarded be reduced, and the market to decide. Patents need to be shared, and whichever company best IMPLEMENTS a WORKING, pay-worthy product will win. The one with crappy implementation should not be allowed to go whining to the courts unless they can prove IP theft-- as in physical files, materials, etc. But NOT the idea itself, even if it becomes a product. That's probably why some software companies don't sue, they set up strategic, temporary alliances or partnerships until the campaign/service/product fizzles out. It's a lot cheaper than supporting busy-body lawyers who need REAL cases, not drummed/propped-up cases.

    A no-man's land/neutral zone is needed.

  16. Re:It's not about security. on UK Moves to Outlaw 'Hacker Tools' · · Score: 1

    You can bet ANYTHING that people like steve ballmer are behind this. See LXF Christmas 2007:

    "No Unauthorized Innovation in Oceana", around para 6 or 7.

  17. Re:At Least they aren't changing Thinkpads. on Lenovo Announces the IdeaPad · · Score: 1

    Then, that's regrettable to have happen to you. I wonder if they're learning anything. I wonder if this new product line is to diverge from "ThinkPad" or to appease those wanting less costly, but similar machines that just have "ThinkPad" in image association.

  18. Re:face recognition.. Dual Hard Drive, GEEKS! on Lenovo Announces the IdeaPad · · Score: 1

    Yeh, I've sorta been there, done that, too (USB disks hanging off the side), but it looks tacky as shit when at an I-cafe, where tables are small and a rat's nest of wires unsightly.

    But, what I like is being able to hit F-10, select which disk from which to boot, then select the OS of choice for the task at hand.

    Since my P-6301 has TWO CPUs, I *wish* it had the capability (or it does but I don't know how) to run TWO os's simultaneously, independent of needing VMs. Just add a toggle to deal with sharing video and peripherals. Hell, put in a 2nd vid card... I guess that would add $30 more to the lappy.

  19. Re:Implications on mac world- Travesty? on Lenovo Announces the IdeaPad · · Score: 1

    Considering that MANY Asian-region laptops sell WITH Linux and are DESIGNED for Linux, it's nothing less than a TRAVESTY that we in the US cannot get hardware designed to not exclude Linux at point of market release. Sure, they use Unix/Linux/OS-Agnostic designware, but to foist on the Public hardware that is windoze-centric just to prop up msoft is just a sheer tragedy.

    MOST of the components are os-agnostic, anyway. So, I have ALWAYS suspected the existence of BIOS- or motherboard-loaded obfuscatory code meant to stymie the power-saving capabilities when it comes to Linux.

    There should be some investigation into this, and if I'm wrong, then the suspicion could be put to rest. WHY is it SOO goddamn painful to institute safe, reliable, consistent, windows-comparable/superseding power management? Somebody's getting paid, or their existence is being threatened.

    Lenovo would be smarter to in-house question where they are going and what they are doing. IF Lenovo shook up the market by flooding the world with Linux-FIRST laptops, windows second (but not EXCLUDING windows), then the playing field might be less fraught with cliffs and swamps for companies that WANT to cater to ANY customer, but whose very survival depends on not pissing off microsoft.

    Also, I WISH the lamers in the OEM/hardware sales companies would STOP emblazoning their products with "[manufacturer] recommends microsoft [ms product/os] for all your computing experience..." It's plain disgusting. It's just making impressions that don't need to be made because by default, ms windows is ON some 90% of the existing retail-sold hardware due to marketing dollars to big to resist. THAT sounds like collusion to me. The DOJ ought to take a look at this. Even a cursory read of business law will pretty much lead to that unless you are a ms lawyer...

  20. Re:face recognition.. Dual Hard Drive, GEEKS! on Lenovo Announces the IdeaPad · · Score: 1

    "Lenovo's Secondary Hard Drive solution gives you two, totally separate hard drives, one of which can be hot-swapped and used in other systems (via slot or cable)."

    How many geeks WOULDN'T like to have TWO internal HDDs? When I laid eyes upon the Gateway P-6301, with a 17" LCD, at $699 (or $649?), all other laptops with S-Vid out, and several other ports I hardly use anyway, were no longer contenders. However, I wish the drive caddies SLID out instead of requiring me to flip over the l/t. However, at least the bay cover snaps and screws on, meaning the screws aren't really needed in my case. But, I suppose Dell has a patent on the slide-out caddies in the modular bays...

  21. Re:At Least they aren't changing Thinkpads. on Lenovo Announces the IdeaPad · · Score: 1

    Dude, go to CompUSA and TOUCH one of these. It's a kewl looking laptop. Actually, I saw another model, but it LOOKS like the 15.4" model. It has the same orange, semi-circle volume control. It weighs nicely, feels nice, and looks REALLY nice. I'd have bought it instead of the Gateway (cough, cough, ACER P-6301), but it was around $900, or some $300 outside of my limit.

    I hope people give the Lenovo brand a chance. They are a nice design change from many of the tired, old designs rolled out over the past 2 years by others.

  22. Re:sun renewable? Thanks for ... on Molten Salt-Based Solar Power Plant · · Score: 1

    'enlightening' me...

  23. Re:Ummm. Not necessarily... on US Government To Release Electronic Passport · · Score: 1

    There might be for the Joe-Six-Pack (and undoubtedly for government/state department agents and military personnel) some sort of mask or even a false or variable-false nationality beacon into which to slip the Real ID, umm, passport.

    This way, they can arrive and pretend to be from Antigua but be a diplomatic courier or even armed Marshal. But international agreements, they'll be waived in or briefly asked questions so they don't appear to be "special", meaning they likely won't be a target if hijackers are able to get onto the plane or vessel.

    However, this means anyone with the ability to obtain a fake, verifiable, unchallenged ID can carry weapons (by pre-arrangement between governments, maybe?) when not actually authorized. So, as easily as Air Marshals, future, armed hijackers/skyjackers may have a new or another way to board unchallenged. Well, assuming the screeners don't know HOW MANY armed sets the threshold for a spot security check before takeoff/departure/sailaway.

  24. Re:No air travel?! Well, Ho, Ho, Ho, on US Government To Release Electronic Passport · · Score: 1

    Green Giant (bling!)

    If the Band-Aid were made for the Jolly Green Giant, then would be sealed, provided there's blood-proof adhesive tape.

    But, seems to me, there will be facial recognition and gait matching records mixed in without card-carrier's consent/awareness. After all, at what point before customs officers' desks will electronic data be matched to the face of the card holder?

    With a rush of 2,000 to 5,000 cruise liner PAX and more than in an hour (or even 15 minutes) at major airport, that's way too much for humans to facially verify. That means ANYone resembling the holder can commit fraud, unless a hand scan, retina scan, breath scan or a plain-old dog-chip implant in the coccyx or cranium are part of the "trust but verify" processing.

    I wonder if the Bahamas or other cruise liners will have to employ these things just to get tourists back ONTO the ship. Wait, I think they do, already. If a passenger "misses movement" I wonder what kind of alerts or missing persons reports go out for them. Never know, they could be off training in a cell somewhere...

  25. Re:Nuclear's the future. on Molten Salt-Based Solar Power Plant · · Score: 1


    Not sure, but this morning on NPR/KQED, I heard something about flexible solar panels. It might have been another company/startup product. But, in the interest of putting up something...

    http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/products/military/armytents/index.htm

    http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/products/military/foldables/index.htm

    http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/index.htm