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User: Zephyr14z

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  1. The Grand Canal on China Begins Using New Global Positioning Satellites · · Score: 2

    That would be extremely uncharacteristic of China. We're talking about a civilization that built an 1100 mile long canal over a period of 1000 years or so. China has been doing long term planning, especially infrastructure planning, for an incredibly long time. That canal project started in the 5th century BC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canal_(China)

  2. Re:Logical fallacy on Google Should Be Logging In To Facebook · · Score: 1

    While you do need an account, there are no restrictions on who can have one, making it still essentially public information. There's only about a 2 minute inconvenience of account creation to gain access to the site.

  3. Re:Is Stallman THAT obtuse? Is it possible? on Stallman: eBooks Are Attacking Our Freedoms · · Score: 1

    The production of art is good for society, whether you personally appreciate it or not. Artists need stuff like food and shelter to produce their art. Given that many many great artists are completely unappreciated until after their death, the free market system doesn't really seem like a good way to incentivize the production of art.

  4. Re:Why does God need a starship? on Man Tries to Patent His "Godly Powers" · · Score: 1

    I dunno, but see: every theocracy in history for clues.

  5. Re:This only addresses one aspect of altruism... on Robots 'Evolve' Altruism · · Score: 1

    Even people that aren't considered relatives in the colloquial sense of that word still share a vast majority of genes with you. If we are driven to preserve our genes, preserving the same gene in someone else is still accomplishing that goal.

  6. Re:Ohhh the irony... on Anonymous Goes After GodHatesFags.com · · Score: 1

    Free speech still means being responsible for the words that fall from your lips. If you spew enough hatred for long enough, someone will come take you out for it. It just can't be the gov't according to our constitution, although even the first amendment has an exception for "fighting words." I would consider the sort of venomous hate speech these people are known for to constitute fighting words.

  7. Re:At first I wondered... on Facebook Billionaire Gives Money To Legalize Marijuana · · Score: 1

    The point for security is that right now, the major cash crop for gangs and cartels is marijuana. Just like Alcohol and Al Capone during prohibition, they had so much money it was hard to fight a war against them. Instead we legalized alcohol and shut them down for tax evasion.

    If we legalize marijuana, the black market profit margin goes away, so theres no incentive for them to do it. They lose a huge amount of their income, and as a result have many less resources to fight against law enforcement. Cause -> Effect. You give stoners the option to go to a legal store and buy from a trusted brand instead of deal with some shady dealer, and they will. The black market only exists because the government imposes restrictions on things the public uses, you undo the restriction, you destroy the black market.

  8. Re:In soviet russia ... on Oxford Expands Library With 153 Miles of Shelves · · Score: 1

    I know you're being funny, but do you mean modern or contemporary? An important distinction.

  9. Is this really a professional writer? on Apple vs. Google TVs · · Score: 1

    This thing reads like a middle school compare-contrast paper. Isn't this guy allegedly a professional journalist or something?

  10. Re:Really? on Facebook Surpasses Google For Users' Online Time · · Score: 1

    I can understand not reading the article, but at least give the summary a good once over. "all of Google's sites combined"

  11. Re:NOT!! on First 3-D IMAX Porn Movie Made In Hong Kong · · Score: 1

    It's only claiming first IMAX 3D porn.

  12. Re:jack on Some Google Searches Now Blocked In China · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I suppose these things haven't occurred in a country yet then? There's certainly still poverty and hunger in the western world too. Turns out, even with democracy and free speech, you still need money and food to fix poverty and hunger.

  13. R2K not alone in this. on Daily Kos Pollster Made Up Numbers · · Score: 5, Informative

    I used to work a different major polling company, and I can assure you R2K is not alone in just making up numbers. Easily 80% of surveys that went through my region were completely falsified, and the remaining 20% rarely matched the demographic they were supposed to be answering for. Survey administrators have quotas, and then get paid extra for additional surveys past that, but there is basically nothing done to verify any of the surveys turned in, and everybody in the company knows it. Don't always trust what you read, especially not statistics.

  14. Re:Yum, numbers are tasty on Google PAC-MAN Cost 4.8M Person-Hours · · Score: 1
  15. Re:Can someone explain to me .. on House Proposes Legalizing, Taxing Online Gambling · · Score: 1

    So I shouldn't be allowed to gamble because someone else can't handle it? Remember, anything is addicting to the right person. Where would you draw the line? Chocolate? Maybe running should be illegal, because people could get hooked on the high?

  16. Re:WTF? Just ask the patient. on Could Colorblindness Cure Be Morally Wrong? · · Score: 1

    Yes.

  17. Re:Economic warfare on Dell To Leave China For India · · Score: 1

    While true, it is not necessarily true. We could (and do) produce a lot of electronic components domestically.

  18. Re:Idle can please die. on Drunk History Presents Nikola Tesla *NSFW* · · Score: 1

    I would agree with that statement. That's their first amendment right to do so. (Apologies to those reading from countries without free speech)

  19. Re:Economic warfare on Dell To Leave China For India · · Score: 1

    Almost every single item i own and use was produced within 50 miles of where I live. We don't need china. Many people simply prefer to save a few dollars, even when the real cost(environmental impact, human rights abuses, etc.) may be higher.

  20. Re:Idle can please die. on Drunk History Presents Nikola Tesla *NSFW* · · Score: 1

    You of course realize that actually clicking the story and viewing it is entirely optional?

  21. Re:So... WTF is "Free Public WiFi" really doing? on Auto-Scanning the Names People Choose For Their Wireless APs · · Score: 1

    I always just figured it was probably a phishing scam, or some other nefarious scheme. Maybe i'm just paranoid though...

  22. Re:+1 Honest on Understanding Addiction-Based Game Design · · Score: 1

    There's a pretty big difference in addictiveness between WoW and Heroin. For one, WoW doesn't cause physical dependency at all, let alone the kind where withdrawals can kill you.

  23. Re:It's a ROM hack on Square Enix Shuts Down Fan-Made Chrono Trigger Sequel · · Score: 1

    IANAL, but why doesn't this count as a protected derivative work? Changing up notes in a song makes it a new copyrighted work, so why isn't switching up characters in a game basically the same thing?

  24. Re:Cash on Blu-ray Update Sent To User Via Credit Card Records · · Score: 1

    You are one paranoid dude, though in this case you've certainly been vindicated.

  25. Re:Economically rational, isn't. on Phishing Is a Minimum-Wage Job · · Score: 1

    I don't know if you've ever known a drug dealer, but they're doing a hell of a lot better than minimum wage. Tax free too.