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User: pigwiggle

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  1. Some people are only suited on Why Automation Won't Displace Human Workers (diginomica.com) · · Score: 1

    to dull, dangerous, and dirty work. But not a bunch, which is why their chronic unemployment is easy to look past. Soon, though, automation will take a bite out of work for those who are only capable of simple tasks under supervision. That's quite a few more people. And eventually complicated, smarts demanding task will be automated too. That some jobs for the top 10% of the employment pool were created wont solve the mess.

  2. I've maintained a clearance for the DOE, on Clinton's First Email Server Was a Power Mac Tower (arstechnica.com) · · Score: 1

    and there is constant compliance crap that *everyone* has to do. Loads of web quizzes and regular, mandatory seminars. Can't imagine DOD doesn't have the same sort of compliance stuff.

  3. Fine, then ... on Bill Nye Slams Donald Trump, Republicans On Climate Change (cnn.com) · · Score: 1

    what is his body of work? Where are his original contributions? His publications? His bona fides seem to be more along the lines of when and where he lends his brand, not the science he's produced. Which is fine. But a scientists? More like a Science Personality.

  4. Not Exactly on N. Korea Launches Ballistic Missile · · Score: 1

    There is a specific, dedicated, social security tax. That tax money goes into a pooled account which is later used to pay out when people qualify.

    Except it doesn't really go into any traditional sort of "account". That pooled account doesn't represent actual money. It represents an *obligation*. That "specific, dedicated, social security tax" is, instead, used to fund a whole host of other things the federal government wants. And in turn they've promised to repay as needed. Which means additional taxes on top of that "dedicated" tax.

    Basic accounting. Hardly. Imagine if a bank were allowed to loan itself money and then call it an investment - and count it as an asset toward their balance.

  5. Re:Cyclists DON'T obey the law! on Why Biking Injuries and Deaths Are Spiking In the US · · Score: 3, Informative

    if your a cyclist can you can't make road speed, then you're impeding traffic and are breaking a law anyway

    No. You're ignorant of the law. Cyclist aren't required to make road speed. And your ignorance demonstrates something I've long suspected. Motorist who complain about cyclists breaking the law are in some fashion complaining about laws they imagine to exist.

  6. Re:Cyclists DON'T obey the law! on Why Biking Injuries and Deaths Are Spiking In the US · · Score: 1

    Not at all, I'm saying if I can give you a meter of room I will, except normally there is no way to do that, so I don't have a choice.

    I'm teaching by oldest daughter how to ride her bike in traffic. I think her most important lesson is to learn just how entitled drivers can be. And this comment captures it nicely. You've gone on and on about how cyclists don't follow traffic law, and in the same breath talk about how you wont if it's inconvenient. If you can't give the proper distance, then you can't legally pass. End of story. It doesn't matter if you like the law. Or you're late for work. Or whatever. It's the law.

  7. They are different. on Why Biking Injuries and Deaths Are Spiking In the US · · Score: 1

    At least in my state. Stop signs are effectively yield or stop. Stop lights are stop then yield. There are requirements for position within a lane depending on intent. Cyclist are allowed to ride two deep. There are no requirements for passing distance as there are for autos. I could list more if I just sat here and thought. But you get the idea.

  8. Re:The real message is lost on you on Two US Marines Foil Terrorist Attack On Train In France · · Score: 1

    IN THE REAL world the guy busting into a room has the gun at the ready

    Maybe. Or maybe not. I've used a gun in self defence. A man was trying to break into my home. I called the police, then confronted him and told him to leave. When he didn't, I brandished my gun. And then he left. I doubt that's all that unusual. Likely more so than the type of home invasion you describe.

    ASK ANY experienced police officer and they will tell you that over 60 percent of guns that wind up on the street are stolen from property crimes

    And how would your average police know that? They hardly know the laws they're tasked to enforce. The US ATF has, surprisingly, looked into this. They believe stolen guns account for 1 in 10 guns used in crimes. The largest source is straw purchases. Then corrupt federally licensed gun dealers.

  9. Part of the problem is that no-one is incentivized on Can Bad Scientific Practice Be Fixed? · · Score: 1

    "Part of the problem is that no-one is incentivized to be right."

    Yeah, bullshit. A significant mistake will permanently cripple a young scientists career, if not outright end it.

  10. And it can cause Uveitis. on Ebola Lurked In Cured Patient's Eye · · Score: 1

    Which is what Ebola did to this guy.

  11. Not news. on Ebola Lurked In Cured Patient's Eye · · Score: 1

    As another commenter has pointed out, this is not news. It is well known that viruses can cause Uveitis. Several are well known for it. Others not. In the absence of a rheumatological disease, unresolved Uveitis is presumed to be viral. A couple of years ago I had what I thought was the flu. It started to go away, I was on the mend, then it destroyed me. Several days in bed, 107 fever, rigors, probable encephalitis. 6 weeks later I developed Uveitis. My doctor has yet to identify a virus. Twice I've had PCR of the fluid in my eye looking for the usual suspects. No luck. So now I'm on a 6 month course of antivirals in the hope of killing whatever it is.

  12. Live stream on What To Say When the Police Tell You To Stop Filming Them · · Score: 1

    when your record the cops.

  13. Most courses are bi-modal. on The Programming Talent Myth · · Score: 1

    The top distribution are the students who are committed to school - and that is more or less normally distributed. The bottom end are the folks who have other stuff going on and are on their way out. My experience, and that of my colleagues anyway.

  14. Typical of most course curves. on The Programming Talent Myth · · Score: 1

    Most of the classes I've taught - math, chemistry, physics - have a bimodal distribution. It's a reflection of the two kinds of students. Those that are committed to school and those that have other things going on and are on their way out the door. The distribution for the top end is more or less normal.

  15. Not a genetics paper. on Scientists Have Paper On Gender Bias Rejected Because They're Both Women · · Score: 1

    The paper they submitted was not in their field of education. It was a social science study on gender and the culture of science. The authors haven't made the manuscript available, so this is all speculation - but, the bits of the review they chose to share might actually make sense in the context of the manuscript. And they may very well have overreached themselves in a fit of hubris, believing that a couple of biologists should be able to do social science without any formal training. Earning the harsh rejection.

  16. Whose an idiot? on Liquid Mercury Found Under Mexican Pyramid · · Score: 1

    Whose an idiot?

  17. Not true. on Ask Slashdot: Scientific Research Positions For Programmers? · · Score: 1

    PhD in physical chemistry, theory. All my research experience was computation. A full time coder is a huge asset in a computation research group. They quickly become versed in the sorts of things they need to know - science wise - and contribute in that way. Really, how can you write code to solve a problem you don't understand? They are part of the group, actively participate in research, and are acknowledged with authorship. And since their tenure isn't limited by graduation, the next postdoc, or a professorship, they quickly become the most senior members of the group. If they have a PhD, they will become an assistant professor. However, these positions are very rare. As it's been pointed out, very few groups are large enough to support a full time programmer.

  18. The small fish do share. on How Open Source Could Benefit Academic Research · · Score: 2

    "Sharing can’t hurt the small fish. Almost nobody sets out to beat Daniel Lemire at some conference next year. I have no pursuer. And guess what? You probably don’t. But if you do, you are probably doing quite well already, so stop worrying. Yes, yes, they will give you a grant even if you don’t actively sabotage your competitors. Relax already!"

    The big fish (and I've worked for them) don't, and it's likely they got that way by protecting their turf. Science is cut throat.

  19. Re:Not an assault rifle on Man Orders TV On Amazon, Gets Shipped Assault Rifle · · Score: 1

    No one is killing deer with an AR-15. Like the parent said, SIG716's calibre is more suited for deer. The AR-15 isn't, as it is much smaller and less powerful. You like Twain? No doubt you've heard this attributed to him "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt". Good advice.

  20. I am a PhD Physical Chemist on Ask Slashdot: Teaching Chemistry To Home-Schooled Kids? · · Score: 1

    (I do theory - started my schooling with a BS in Chemistry and BS in Mathematics with a Physics concentration) and I failed out of my high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry classes. Why? I loved science as a kid, and obviously have a strong aptitude for it. Somehow the "qualified educators" in my school were completely unable to get traction with a student who should have been the easiest to reach. I would have been just as well off watching Dukes of Hazard reruns at home.

  21. The US military couldn't put down a popular revolt *in the US*. The US military has a difficult time with insurgencies. Take a read about Operation Vigilant Resolve in retaking Fallujah. Now, do you really think the military could convince it's rank and file to fight with that kind of violent enthusiasm in the towns and cities they've lived and worked? It takes a lot more than weapons.

  22. race and iq on Ask Slashdot: What Are the Most Dangerous Lines of Scientific Inquiry? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe not. First thing to pop into my head.

  23. Re:I have Spatial Sequence Synesthesia on Study Suggests the Number-Line Concept Is Not Intuitive · · Score: 2

    Decades, months, and days of the week all have specific shapes, locations, and colors. They have always been the same as far as I can remember. Numbers you would use in calculating things have color, albeit past 10 they group in 10s. That is all the 20s are a yellow orange color, 30s purple blue, and so on. The personality of numbers is entirely about if they are prime or have prime factors or are odd. It's a simple good and bad type thing. 3 and 7 are sinister, 9 more so, 21 also. All are odd and are prime or have prime factors.

  24. Re:I have Spatial Sequence Synesthesia on Study Suggests the Number-Line Concept Is Not Intuitive · · Score: 2

    Well, I stand corrected then. I didn't realize AC was the final arbiter on what is or is not synesthesia. I'm sure the medical community was pleased to have been rid one more burden.

  25. I have Spatial Sequence Synesthesia on Study Suggests the Number-Line Concept Is Not Intuitive · · Score: 2

    as well as number form and personification. Numbers - depending on if they are simply numbers or dates - have a specific "geography", color, and personality.