Slashdot Mirror


User: BenSchuarmer

BenSchuarmer's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
489
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 489

  1. Sounds like a bad idea... on The Search For Starivores, Intelligent Life That Could Eat the Sun · · Score: 1

    Seems to me it would cause serious heart burn

  2. Re:Bad turbine example on Cause and Effect: How a Revolutionary New Statistical Test Can Tease Them Apart · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's just what big turbine wants you to believe.

  3. Re:Curious on How Birds Lost Their Teeth · · Score: 1

    I think that's what TFA is about. I'd guess that they weren't worth the cost (weight and calcium requirements) from an evolutionary standpoint.

  4. I can't go into too much detail.. on How Birds Lost Their Teeth · · Score: 1

    But let's just say that the Tooth Fairy used to have a different business model.

  5. Operative word: "Taking" on Microsoft To US Gov't: the World's Servers Are Not Yours For the Taking · · Score: 1

    The government isn't really "taking" them if the owners are still able to use them.

  6. Why do they hate our freedom?

  7. Re:Very much so! on How Relevant is C in 2014? · · Score: 1

    That's backwards. If you know the syntax, "C++" means increment C, but use the original C.

    If you're using C++ for anything other than writing procedural programs, you're violating the basic principles of C syntax.

  8. Re:And... on Scientists Have Finally Sampled the Most Abundant Material On Earth · · Score: 1

    Isn't that the stuff that Aussies make sandwiches out of?

  9. My mom will be please to know on About 40% of World Population Online, 90% of Offliners In Developing Countries · · Score: 1

    that she's in "the 10%"

  10. Which kind is the Milky Way? on Complex Life May Be Possible In Only 10% of All Galaxies · · Score: 1

    We may want to see about relocating...

  11. Re:Can I have it a bit warmer please? on Harvard Scientists Say It's Time To Start Thinking About Engineering the Climate · · Score: 1

    How about if you just move south? That way you could get the warmer climate you want, and the rest of us don't have to deal with coastal flooding, desertification, etc.

  12. How about searches for on Google Maps Crunches Data, Tells You When To Drive On Thanksgiving · · Score: 1

    "How to dispose of the corpse of an annoying relative who I just murdered"

  13. Re:Democrats still control the Senate. on Republicans Block Latest Attempt At Curbing NSA Power · · Score: 1

    Nobody is in control of the Senate. It takes 60 votes to "end debate", so most of the time if 41 out of 45 Republicans want to block something, it'll be blocked.

    That happened in this case; 41 Republicans and 1 Democrat voted against it, and that's how come the Republicans are being blamed.

  14. Re:Republicans? on Republicans Block Latest Attempt At Curbing NSA Power · · Score: 1

    Since it was a Senate cloture vote, 60 votes were needed instead of a simple majority.

    Republicans were 41 out of the 42; Democrats were 54 of the 58. Four Republicans and One Democrat crossed party lines.

    http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00282

  15. Re:Actually, Democrats blocked it on Republicans Block Latest Attempt At Curbing NSA Power · · Score: 1

    Here's the link: http://www.senate.gov/legislat...

    From a quick scan of the yeas and nays, I only found one Democrat who voted against it and four Republicans voted for it.

  16. Re:Actually, Democrats blocked it on Republicans Block Latest Attempt At Curbing NSA Power · · Score: 1

    That's not how the Senate works. For most things, you need 60 votes to "end debate" before a real vote happens. I can't find the official votes, but most Democrats voted for it, and most Republicans voted against it.

  17. How many kids took those classes? on Education Chief Should Know About PLATO and the History of Online CS Education · · Score: 1

    I grew up in the 70s. I was a nerd and my friends were nerds. I don't recall any of my friends having an option to take classes like this

    We did use terminals at the main city library to play games like Oregon Trail, but learning to code wasn't an option until I got past high school Algebra

    My guess is that you needed a special invitation to get into these classes, and you could only get an invitation if your parents or teachers knew the right people.

  18. Does your boss know their limits on Your Incompetent Boss Is Making You Unhappy · · Score: 2

    In my experience, it's OK if my boss isn't technical if:

    • 1) they know it
    • 2) their boss knows it
    • 3) the team is technically competent
    • 4) the team's opinions are respected
    • 4) the boss doesn't make any promises (without consulting the team first)
  19. It's obviously a conspiracy on US Weather System and Satellite Network Hacked · · Score: 2

    to fake data for global warming or keep us from finding out about chem trails or keep us from finding out about space aliens or something like that.

  20. I'm more worried about the Ruskies on The Disgruntled Guys Who Babysit Our Aging Nuclear Missiles · · Score: 1

    Our troops are making standard military pay for doing a fairly stress free job (compared to other military jobs).

    Given that Russia is essentially a kleptocracy, I have to wonder how safe their nukes are.

  21. Challenger Deep on Interviews: Ask Robert Ballard About Ocean Exploration · · Score: 1

    I heard that we're not sure whether the Challenger Deep is really the deepest spot in the ocean. Is that true? If it is, I'm surprised that we don't have sonar and satellite data to know fore sure. What's keeping us from getting the data?

    I was also surprised that Challenger Deep is flat (not what I'd expect a trench to be like). Can you give us an idea of the scale of the place and what the topography is like?

  22. Tea, Earl Grey, hot on What People Want From Smart Homes · · Score: 1

    That's what I want

  23. Re:Correlation/Causation on Shift Work Dulls Brain Performance · · Score: 1

    I never said that nobody who does shift work is smart, just that people who aren't smart may be more likely do end up doing shift work than people who are.

  24. Work Dulls Brain Performance on Shift Work Dulls Brain Performance · · Score: 1

    no adjective required

  25. Correlation/Causation on Shift Work Dulls Brain Performance · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe people who weren't as mentally sharp had fewer employment options and ended up in jobs with shift work.