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User: cataclyst

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Comments · 63

  1. Re:I wonder how long until it "accidentally" leaks on South Park's Episode 201 — the Expurgated Version · · Score: 1

    ..obvious troll is obvious..

  2. Other possible causes.. on How Norway Fought Staph Infections · · Score: 1

    Am I really the first one to point out that (at least here in the US) it is a common practice to feed antibiotics to cattle in order to fatten them up more quickly? Gee, ya think that some of those farmers might be constantly coming in contact with small amounts of those antibiotics and develop MRSA or worse!?

  3. Re:That's only 20 Amps at 115V on NASA Developing Nuclear Reactor For Moon and Mars · · Score: 1

    Ah, but that is based on some really inefficient lighting, my friend. Arrays of LEDs can be lit at generally 5% or so of the energy cost of a halogen light providing a similar amount of available energy for the plant to use in photosynthesis. Most of the energy grow lights put out isn't actually used, as it is too far in the infrared, IIRC.

    So really, instead of your 1.3KW grow light (which would be a bank of 2 600W High Pressure Sodium, or Metal Halide lamps maybe?) you would just need an array of a few hundred red and blue LEDs, each sucking 0.1 watt or so and putting out light with a much sharper wavelength peak near the chlorophyll absorbance maxima. Oh, BTW, the lifespan of LEDs tends to be considerably greater, which would also make it a more likely candidate, considering how far any replacement bulbs would have to travel..

    Plus, by having the ability to control the relative ratio of red and blue light, one can be better in control of the physical characteristics of the plant, allowing for some short bushy plants or some tall gangly ones based on whatever space may be available.

  4. Re:Oh please, those can be bought for peanuts on Microsoft Raises $3.8B in Bond Sale · · Score: 1

    Wow, I don't know which is more pathetic: your seemingly unfounded claims, or your use of "more then" instead of "more than". No wait, it all makes sense now..

  5. Re:How Much Really? on Microsoft Loses Appeal of "Vista-Capable" Lawsuit · · Score: 1

    The difference is, with Vista, with the minimum requirements, it not only is dog slow, but there are many features of it that you simply can't run.

    Like what, other than... oooh, SHINY OBJECT!!
  6. UAC is the bane of my existence on Vista at Risk of Being Bypassed by Businesses · · Score: 1

    Well, I know it does somewhat diminish the "strong security" built into Windows Vista, turning UAC (User Account Control) off would have prevented this issue.

    And if you are actually interested in protecting your computer [unlikely, or you would be running *nix], you would probably know to not make your default account have Admin rights, [which would make UAC all-but-pointless anyway, but most Windows users don't know WTF an Admin account is, so here we are..]

    I turned that crap off on my Vista box immediately, even when I was playing with RC2. (I work in desktop support and needed to be proficient with Vista as it's a bitch for your average Joe Consumer to get a new computer with any other version of Windows on it.. that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

    Maybe I'm missing something here?

  7. Re:Huh? on Official - Bungie Departing Microsoft · · Score: 1

    Hate to break it to you, but there are 64-bit versions of all of the Vista flavors (AFAIK, basic may not have a x64 counterpart, but I believe it does), so it's more than 10 versions of OSes over the last few years.

    Does make a little sense for licensing purposes, as your everyday Joe Schlub doesn't know about Linux and may not be willing/able to spring for an OS with all of the bells and whistles. OOhh, aero glass is so _shiny_.. blech

  8. Confirmation on Briefcase Sized DNA Analysis System · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From the blurb:

    The same test would take at least a day to a week (if re-testing or conformation is required) in the lab.

    Um, correct me if I'm wrong here, but the 1-7 days is still gonna be the case if/when you're verifying your results. This is just a "quick and dirty" test that will gain more acceptance and weight that it will deserve (::cough::POLYGRAPH::cough::). My guess is that it will just be a tool that Homeland Security/Your Average Cop will use to hold you until other tests *conclusively* provide a definite presence/absence answer (like PCR done by an ISO certified lab, HPLC done by an ISO certified lab, GCMS done by.. well you get the point.)

    Just my $0.02 here.

  9. Re:Highly improbable on Deathbed Confession Says Aliens Were at Roswell · · Score: 1

    Yours is the same response I give to the nutjobs that talk about the Apollo program being a hoax, or the "9/11 conspiracy." Occam's razor, baby!

  10. Planned repairs. on Shuttle Atlantis Being Readied For August Launch · · Score: -1, Troll

    Hope this one isn't going to need mid-mission repairs. Anyone else noticed that the last shuttle needed to undergo those heat-tiling/insulation related repairs after all the engineering $$$s were spent to make sure such a thing didn't happen?

    Or did we only notice the problem because of the additional safeguards put in place since the last 'incident' ?

  11. Re:Contracts to Consumers on How to Deal w/ Dubious 'Contracts'? · · Score: 1

    Um.. read the fine print, maybe?

    I know it'll take a few extra minutes, but c'mon already.

  12. Re:Stick it to 'em on How to Deal w/ Dubious 'Contracts'? · · Score: 1

    Parent is a retard.
    Simple answer: get a lawyer..

    Longer answer: if it's worth finding a lawyer over something, it's always cheaper in the long run to get a good one.

    IANAL

  13. Re:More than Likely... on Pharaoh's Gem Brighter Than a Thousand Suns · · Score: 1

    ...or at least they used to be.

  14. Re:Sounds to me on World Of Warcraft Crushing PC Game Industry? · · Score: 1

    I admire your lack of intelligible syntax and, well, any real point whatsoever.

    I feel dumber having read your post.

    Thanks for the flamebait..

  15. Re:Fair pay... on Researcher Jailed for Falsifying Research · · Score: 1

    Obviously you know nothing about grants...

    Not spend grant != Save grant money for future expenses.

    THAT is why things are often purchased near the expiry date of a grant, in order to pad the budget. Um, always completely legitimate expenses too... Who the fuck moderated this guy +5 insightful?
     
    stupid fucking slashdot monkeys.

  16. Re:Corporation == Person (legally) on Spammer settles with MS and Texas · · Score: 1

    Who says that people have the right to vote? Know any felons?

  17. Corporation == Person (legally) on Spammer settles with MS and Texas · · Score: 1

    Um, legally corporations have the same rights as individual citizens. It's just that they tend to have better legal counsel.

  18. Fiduciary Responsibility on UK's Journalists Calling For Yahoo! Boycott · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Um, am I the only one who will acknowledge that Yahoo has a legal duty to its shareholders, as a corporation, to maximize profits using any legal means necessary.

    Don't get me wrong-- I don't have any loyalty to Yahoo ('specially that worthless search engine), but if Yahoo didn't take this opportunity on "moral grounds" you can be 100% certain that they would immediately be sued by their shareholders...

    Just my $0.02, and btw IANAA (I am not an attorney), just spend too much time with a few that I know.

  19. hmm... on Scientists Couple Nerve Tissues With Computer Chip · · Score: 1

    In other news, the institute has created a for-profit spinoff with the strange name SkyNet.

  20. Re:No surprise here move along on ISPs Offer Faster Speeds, Why Don't We Get Them? · · Score: 1

    You can get around this if you have any room/house mates.. Just cancel your account and have a different person sign up for the intro offer. I've been able to swing that 3 different times in our house over the last ~2 years.

  21. Car or... on Low Emission Cars Continue to Gain Popularity · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Is it just me, or does it look more like a souped up go-kart than a car...

    Judging from the photos, doesn't look like this thing has ANY trunk/passenger/leg/head space. Other than that, it looks great and I can't wait to buy one[/sarcasm]

  22. Re:Really? That's it? on Wifi and Laptops Adds Up To Theft · · Score: 1

    Millions of people?!? Whoa, buddy, watch the hyperbole...

    http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06075.h tml

    Census bureau says less than 800,000... Maybe you're thinking of the San Francisco Bay Area?

    BTW, shame on you moderators for modding this +5 insightful... that's BS...

  23. Umm... basic economic principles... on Frustration With Oblivion Mod Costs on Xbox Live · · Score: 1

    Adam Smith (I believe) said

    "Anything is WORTH what its purchaser is willing to pay for it."

    So, you idiots who are saying that this would make the game disk, with thousands of skins worth thousands of $$$.

    This is a great argument for some sort of functional financial Darwinism; if you're dumb enough to pay ANYTHING (yea, I know.... $2.50 isn't THAT much) for a different skin for your horse, then you deserve to be paying for it.

  24. Utility? on World's First Completely Transparent IC · · Score: 3, Funny

    What are the possible... oh, I C...

  25. Re:WTF!? on No More Next Big Thing? · · Score: 1

    Genomics... no genetic "drag" when 'surgically' splicing DNA with Restriction Enzymes, instead of inbreeding... just to name a thing or two off the top of my head.