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User: MagicM

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Comments · 553

  1. Re:verification on How To Lose An Election · · Score: 1

    That's the problem with computerized voting. When you check a box on a paper ballot with a pen, and then drop the ballot in a box, you KNOW that your vote is in that box.

    When you push a button and a message on a screen says "thank you", you have no idea whether your vote actually registered.

    It's the difference between trusting the laws of physics and the quality of the computer code.

  2. Re:This just in.. on DHS Says Cellular Outage Reporting is Terrorist Blueprint · · Score: 1

    The word 'terrorist' is becoming the modern version of (..) 'witch.'

    Thank you! Before, people shouting "terrorist" would just annoy me, but now I have a Monty Python reference to calm me down and make me smile instead.

  3. Re:DDR = on Dance Dance Revolution Hastens Heart Attack · · Score: 1

    And if you're too drunk to say that, you shouldn't play it or you could get hurt.

  4. Re:Is this really a good thing? on IEEE Approves 802.11i · · Score: 1

    That's the funniest thing I've read today. Thank you!

  5. ooo on How Microsoft Develops Its Software · · Score: 2, Informative

    Quote:
    12. Portability is for canoes.

    'nuff said.

  6. makes you wonder... on Mutation Creates SuperKid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If in most humans there is a process that actively limits muscle growth, then there must be a downside to being muscular... I wonder what it is.

  7. imperial ~ binary on Our Friend, The Meter · · Score: 1

    You'd think that geeks would love the imperial system. Volumes are great!:

    1 gallon
    = 4 quarts
    = 8 pints
    = 16 cups
    = 256 tablespoons

    Measurements however are all messed up. 12 inches in a foot? 12!?

  8. Firefox + Thunderbird = Mozilla? on Mozilla 1.7 Released · · Score: 3

    Can someone please explain to me the direct relationship between Firefox, Thunderbird and Mozilla? Does Mozilla have anything that the stand-alone apps don't have? Vice versa?

    (I know I'm losing "Slashdot cool points" by asking this, but damn it all, I want to know.)

  9. independent cost estimation bureau on Preview of Moon-To-Mars Report · · Score: 1

    ROFL!

    Thank you. That is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time.

  10. Re:Fast Food is not the enemy... on McDonald's and Sony Offer Music Downloads · · Score: 1

    people will eat what they buy

    I don't know that that's true. Virtually every American restaurant gives you oversized portions. They also give you the option of getting a container so you can take left-overs home with you.
    McDonald's burgers (or at least the Big Mac) come in their own take-home container! Why should people feel like they have to eat their entire meal, when they don't feel that need at a 'good' restaurant?

  11. Re:Slightly OT, but... on McDonald's and Sony Offer Music Downloads · · Score: 1

    McDonald's food is killing people.

    You make it sound like the burgers just jump off the grill and start feeding on your skull. Food doesn't kill people; people eating food kills people.

    Coincidentally, people NOT eating food also kills people. If McDonald's is responsible for people dying from eating their food, is McDonald's also responsible for people dying from NOT eating their (nor anyone else's) food?

  12. what's new? on Virtual Real Estate Boom Draws Real Dollars · · Score: -1, Redundant

    In other news, people appear to be shelling out large amounts of dollars for 'Virtual Real Estate' along the 'Information Superhighway'. Large amounts of actual dollars are spent on virtual concepts such as 'Domains'.

    Is there really a difference?

  13. Same in the Netherlands on One-Time Pads To Protect Electronic Bank Access · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ever since a popular Dutch bank started allowing electronic access (initially through dial-up using a modem) some years ago, they have required a user-code, and two passcodes (one picked by the bank, one by the user) to log in.

    Additionally, if you want to transfer any money, you have to input a number from a list they send you through the mail. This list is printed while it's in the envelope (like some US banks do for overdraft statements and such) so no people other than the recipient ever see it. When you get close to using the last number, they send you a new list automatically.

    Since they moved the whole system to the Internet, things are pretty much the same. You can log in and check your balance wherever you are, but you can only transfer money if you have your transfer-code-list with you. To me, this feels like the perfect system; in-your-way security restrictions only on the stuff that really matters.

  14. so don't release stuff with a delay! on Night Vision Goggles vs Pirates · · Score: 2, Insightful

    1. They lose money from people making bootleg copies.
    2. Bootleg copies are made because the movie is released early in the UK.

    Why go through the trouble of trying to prevent (1), when it's a lot easier to prevent (2)? What's the deal with the 4-day delay anyway? Do they need the extra 4 days to translate British to American?

  15. Re:Two kinds of hard on Tough Love - Can A Game Be Too Hard? · · Score: 1

    I remember Maniac Mansion: DOTT, where you had to paint the fence and have the cat rub up to it to make it look like a skunk so you get someone out of the way.

    Somehow, it all made sense.

  16. Re:A long way to go on The Gimp from the Eyes of a Photoshop User · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, damn that GIMP for depending on The Gimp Toolkit!

  17. Water? Meat! on Earthlings: Ugly Bags of Mostly Water · · Score: 1

    I thought it was already decided that humans are made out of meat.

  18. Loom! on LucasArts Reduces Staff After Cancellations · · Score: 1

    Aaarrgghh! You just reminded me that I have Loom laying around on 5 1/4" floppies, and I don't have a 5 1/4" drive anymore!

    The sadness. Loom was probably my first introduction to adventure games (along with LSL1.)

  19. Goo on Google Files for IPO · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope they get a "GOO" ticker symbol.

    Sweet precious GOO.

  20. It's magical! on "Missing Link" In Windows Emulation Unveiled? · · Score: 5, Insightful
    There is no need for additional memory and disk storage to execute and store the middleware code

    Apparently, you don't even need to install it! What will they think of next...
  21. The answer. on A DIMM Future for RAM Bundles · · Score: 1

    1. Create a good product.
    2. Slow down production, call it "increased demand" and raise the prices.
    3. Profit!

  22. Re:Shit. on WirelessCabin: Use Your Mobile Phone on Airplanes · · Score: 1

    Exactly. If you're important enough to *need* your cellphone while on the plane, you're important enough to charter your own jet. Or at the very least be in business class with the business people who might understand.

  23. ARG on The Novel as Software · · Score: 1

    This sounds more like reading the past events of an ARG than a novel.

  24. high and mighty on THG Linux Migration, Part Two · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Not to disrespect Tom or anyone else that cares, but this article just sounds way too "high and mighty" for my tastes. Some snippets:
    In Windows, you don't have much of a choice with browsers, as you probably used Internet Explorer.
    In essence, you get to see what is under the "hood of your car," as compared to Windows, where the hood is welded shut.
    While this may be true, it makes it sound like this article is for the typical "windows idiot", in which case "make sure you download the GTK+ development library" is WAY not enough information. And for someone willing to try to move to Linux (and get Oracle, Apache and SMB working), this is just insulting.
  25. moonrock on Personalized Moon Crash · · Score: 2, Funny

    If anyone has a moonrock laying around, I think they should send it back up there.

    For some reason, that would make me chuckle...