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User: Bloke+down+the+pub

Bloke+down+the+pub's activity in the archive.

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  1. Re:Isn't is supposed to be legal? on Australians Allowed to Format Shift Media · · Score: 1
    Well, there are these things called computers...
    And there were these things called tape decks.
    While copying from one medium to another may have been possible before computers were widespread and powerful, it wasn't such an issue.
    Am I the only one who remembers the "Home taping is illegal and it's killing music" labels that were either stuck on albums[1] or printed on the inside sleeve?

    [1] A kind of large, primitive CD that relied on physical contact via a pice of stone to retrieve the data.

  2. Re:Misleading summary on Sarbanes-Oxley Costs Exceed Benefits · · Score: 1
    The biggest fallacy is that if you can't predict everything perfectly, you can't predict anything approximately.

    As to beginners' texts not explaining things, I just pulled an intoductory economics book aimed at business students from the shelf. Elasticity is covered in the third chapter of nineteen. Perhaps Afrosheen hasn't studied it to even that level, but it's probably better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak out and prove it.

  3. Re:Give up on Budgeting for Layoffs? · · Score: 1
    I myself have been employed at several places

    yet you continue to work there?

    From his use of the perfect tense (indicates a completed action in the past), I'd conclude that no, he doesn't.
  4. Re:long term effects on Ship Logs Suggest Upcoming Polar Reversal · · Score: 1
    maybe they used to fly north for the winter instead of south?

    I live in Australia[1] you insensitive drongo!!!


    P.S. compasses here work backwards anyway. Something to do with the water coming up the plughole instead of going down it. Or something. Giz another beer, mate!

    [1] Disclaimer: I do not live in Australia.

  5. Re:Did they alreay win? on FreeBSD Vows to Compete with Desktop Linux · · Score: 1

    If you mean it will run on a desktop machine, true.

    If you mean usable by the average desktop user, no. Not yet. It's getting there.

  6. Re:Duh. on Ship Logs Suggest Upcoming Polar Reversal · · Score: 1
    I'd say just line up with the other side of the magnet.
    If by "side" you mean "end", I'd agree; just treat the red end (or whichever was North before) as South. If you rotated the compass as some suggest, you'd be transposing East and West.
  7. Re:50% between bonds and money market on Examining the New Bubble · · Score: 1
    By moving that money from stocks to bonds/money market now you lose out on the potential interest in the meantime.
    Stocks pay interest?
  8. Re:Stupidity is involved in a more subtle way on Examining the New Bubble · · Score: 1
    A good explanation of the well known greater fool theory.

    I'm not sure whether people think that they're clever or that everyone else is stupid - but often the line is rather fine. I agree that it's fascinating to watch as long as you're not personally involved. Sort of like a road accident.

  9. Re:Misleading summary on Sarbanes-Oxley Costs Exceed Benefits · · Score: 1
    If all investors practiced this not-so-subtle bit of wisdom, Enron would never have gotten a dollar from the investors they ultimately defrauded.
    And the Web 2.0 boom and the subsequent crash would never have happened.
  10. Re:Misleading summary on Sarbanes-Oxley Costs Exceed Benefits · · Score: 1

    I'm glad someone is awake! I was originally intending to add something like "What? You never did Econ 101? Really? I'd never have guessed!" but lunch got in the way.

  11. Re:Misleading summary on Sarbanes-Oxley Costs Exceed Benefits · · Score: 1
    There are no supply and demand economics at work here. If that were the case, then one would have to assume that over the last 5 years, US consumption has tripled, because prices have tripled.
    I suggest you read your economics 101 course notes and see if you can find the bit where the laws of supply and demand mention the word "linear".
  12. Re:Polish politeness. on Americans Are Scarce in Top Programming Contest · · Score: 1
    The Polish school was by far the most challenging of all of them in every aspect.
    I'd tend to agree, but then I don't speak Polish.
  13. Re:My Profession on Americans Are Scarce in Top Programming Contest · · Score: 1
    That's easy to do until you're laid off and you no longer have legal access to most of your last decade's worth of work.
    That's why I download all my work every week, zip it & email it to myself & the cat. What's that you're saying, boss? Non-disclosure? Don't worry, it's just an offsite backup. Exactly - in case the disks crash and the building burns down. Again.
  14. Re:charge 'em on Cutting Off an Over-Demanding End-User? · · Score: 1
    There is nothing wrong with pointing a customer to another source so you don't offend them.
    But the person in question isn't a customer. If you'd RTFA you'd see that he didn't supply the systems.
  15. Re:uhhh on The Soda Situation - Succulent Drinks w/o the Sweets? · · Score: 1

    In English English any such infusion is referred to as "insert_name_of _fruit_or_herb tea". There is no common equivalent of the French word "tisane", which means a tea that isn't tea.

  16. Re:Before re-inventing the wheel... on Japan Solicits NASA's Help on Supersonic Jet · · Score: 1

    It crashes if it hits a bit of wreckage that some idiot left on the runway.

  17. Re:I would switch. on Cox May replace its own DVRs with TiVos · · Score: 1
    Having my Tivo learn what types of shows, actors, and even directors I like and having it record "Suggestions" on spare device space, things that other people who like the same types of things that I do also liked.
    Fine, as long as it doesn't think you're a gay Korean Nazi
  18. Re:Just the beginning on Day of the Robotic Tentacle · · Score: 1
    they're hard to watch because every time you actually see Cthulhu, you lose sanity points.
    Surely that would make it easier to watch?
  19. Re:I think he's probably right. on McNealy Created Millions of Jobs? · · Score: 1
    I'm not claiming anything. Merely pointing out that your sample is probably a bit small to draw any meaningful conclusiions from. But since you've added another one, you've fixed that.

    Now it's only biased. (Hint: You might want to try somewhere that doesn't begin with a U, or that ends with Inc, PLC, SA ...).

  20. Re:Behold WareRIM! on RIM Strikes Back, Files Countersuit Against Visto · · Score: 1
    More than once I would be interrupted during an interview to have some little dork read his email.
    No need to get annoyed, just don't hire the git.
  21. Re:Well I do declare! (as grandma said) on Sun to Change Java License for Linux · · Score: 1
    they will have better long term control over the standard/spec by maintaining control over the reference implementation.
    Huh? Open source doesn't mean anyone else can tinker with Sun's implementation. I'm assuming here that it would remain as the reference.

    Just like I can't fiddle with the code on Alan's or Linus's box. Submit changes, yes. Mung my own copy till my arms fall off, you betcha.

  22. Re:Wow, these are still around? on Self-Heating Coffee Cans Recalled · · Score: 1
    Calcium oxide is just lime
    Yeah, but don't let any dihydrogen monoxide get near it. They react EXOTHERMICALLY!!! These things are an accident waiting to happen.
  23. Re:Bad Math on Wal-Mart to Offer Components for DIY Computers · · Score: 1
    3200 stores exist. 1200 stores are getting it now. 1400 will have it by the end of the year
    Maybe he misread it as 1400 more by the end of the year. Er, wait...
  24. Re:I hope prices drop! on Wal-Mart to Offer Components for DIY Computers · · Score: 1
    It was introduced at the same price ($2/pound) as the branded version, but now, ironically, the generic-labelled version is about 76 cents a pound more expensive

    Perhaps they worked out that pounds are different to kilos?
  25. Re:Did anyone ever make... on The 50 Year History of Play-Doh · · Score: 1
    I may be wrong, but didn't kerosene (aka paraffin) used to be used in medicines? I think it's a laxative.

    Then again they used to use some wierd stuff as medicines back in the old days, so it doesn't mean it's a good idea.