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User: Veetox

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Comments · 118

  1. The intended recipient... on Company Accidentally Fires Entire Staff Via Email · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This should have happened to the United States Congress.

  2. Re:Multiple testing problem? on Algorithm Finds Thousands of Unknown Drug Interaction Side Effects · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Their methodology seems to be very vulnerable to false positives..."

    I would agree, and go on to suggest that this is intentional. Even after applying "corrective" measures, one has to pick a preference: false negative or false positive, and then show your work (just like in math class). When it comes to drugs, the control methods are never *really* enough. If you're doing an in silico screen, depending on the algorithms used, you may want false positives, because you're just going to throw everything into a high-throughput screen and let the robots do the rest of the work.

    But further on down the pipeline, you want to bias towards false negatives, because you're looking for chemicals that have a strong interaction with their target and a week interaction with other targets. The statistics become a tool for making a decision, but never provide 100% assurance.

    This study apparently seeks to show the possibilities of side effects, and then let patients/doctors decide if they apply. It's better than not saying anything at all. ...and serotonin reuptake inhibitors? You really want to know even the false positives for those!

    Finally, it's likely that the methods of Tatonetti et al. require further refinement, but the rush to publish is an ugly spectre we all have to deal with in science.

  3. Re:Lobbying vs Bribery on White House Petition To Investigate Dodd For Bribery · · Score: 1

    Politicians can be called a lot of things, but "lazy" is not one of them (Usually... Sometimes, they have too little competition to worry about being voted out).

    Instead, I might spring for the term, "promiscuous". I'm sure they exert copious amounts of effort on behalf of their own survival. But politicians know that the masses could turn on them any day, so they make friends in high places. They exchange their votes for favor and support. (Now, with SuperPACs, they can get a lot more...)

    Chris Dodd shouldn't be investigated for bribery -- he should be investigated for prostitution.

  4. Re:The article is much too kind ... on Dell's Misleading Graphics Card Buying Advice · · Score: 1

    "Yes, the salt in water (And everything else) is normally enough for people."

    So, you've retroactively qualified your dumb-ass statement - it now only applies to people sweating too much. (And I would suggest that this really applies mostly to athletes, those with medical conditions, and people that clock a lot of gym time.)

    "No one said people had to run around drinking Gatorade..."

    You did. Twice...

    In fact, you posted twice consecutively on the matter, as if driven by a frenzy...

  5. Re:The article is much too kind ... on Dell's Misleading Graphics Card Buying Advice · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck is this? ...Gatorade? You're being completely sarcastic, right? Otherwise, quit shilling and fuck off.

    We've (organisms) made it 3-something billion years without a marketed sports drink (with too much sugar), and look at us... just fine. As you noted, organisms have a complex method of homeostasis. And... miraculously (!), we get our salts from a plethora of sources; not just from liquids. And where the hell is anyone getting water without electrolytes? Unless you're in a laboratory, you will not likely find pure H2O around - I think that was your logical fallacy right there: the assumption that available water is often devoid of electrolytes/ salts. I assure you, most natural water sources are sufficiently salty, and some commercial suppliers actually add sodium.

  6. Re:Another failure of the kind of capitalism... on IBM Chief: All CEOs Reluctant To Invest In R&D · · Score: 2
    I think it's important to point out why research is getting the cold shoulder:

    Shareholder expectations for higher returns don't diminish when the economy stutters.

    There it is. Investors of greater means have come to believe that they are entitled to greater than 6% interest. They don't expect to take risks anymore, so they turn their money towards market hacking, and essentially producing shit products that are just shiny enough for the masses to buy.

  7. Re:Hey I'm in Egypt on Earth's Population To Hit 7 Billion This Year · · Score: 1

    And land will not give you any sufficient food, as we are already deep in overshoot [sic] regarding a sustainable food production

    You're freaking out about the abuse of phosphate resources, and farm runoff. However, this is something that can be fixed. And we can (as a population) easily find methods to reclaim phosphates from waste and overflow. Phosphorus doesn't disappear - it doesn't sublime and float into space after a farmer dumps fertilizer on a corn field. Somewhere down the road, a biological population uses it. ...Couldn't we take advantage of that?

    The global population is not a real problem. The real problem is changing industry and global economy to be more efficient, produce less waste, reclaim valuable resources that are lost, and to take more risks regarding emerging economies. If we are still capable of producing fifty-inch plasma screen televisions, then I'm sure we have the resources (including Phosphorus) available to tackle future population growth.

  8. Re:It's ALWAYS about child pornography on Law Enforcement Still Wants Mandatory ISP Log Retention · · Score: 2

    All federal and state employees should be video monitored during work hours, with executive employees (e.g. governors and representatives) video monitored 24-7. Records should be kept for 5 years, and accessible to the public on demand.

    This is necessary to prevent government employees from raping children. Please, let's think of the children.

  9. Designers are Important on Current Social Games Aren't Fun, Says MUD Co-Creator · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In the hands of designers, this has a great deal of potential, but unfortunately it's not in the hands of designers, it's in the hands of marketers.

    Bartle is probably a little biased, but he is definitely right... about more than just gaming. The marketing department tends to be in control of to much. Marketing has a simple goal: make products more desirable to the target consumer. This is supposed to involve pre-design data, and post-design constructive criticism.

    However, many companies let the marketing department control the entire design process. The accountants tend to have their way with the product as well. In the end, the consumers only get choices between poor-quality products with a shiny vernier. I have no data for the following statement, but personal observation is that this process has made a few people dumber as well...

    Designers are important, not only because they aim to produce a creative and unique product, but because they find ways to challenge customers in one way or another. Believe it or not, surmounting challenges are what keep us coming back for more.

  10. Re:Flood plain on The Intentional Flooding of America's Heartland · · Score: 1

    ...People need to accept that they don't have absolute control over other people. Seriously, stop bitching about people who are seeking compensation for a loss. If your house burns down, are you going to stand outside and say, "Well, guess I had that one coming... now time to buy a new house..." NO. You answer the evolutionary call, and seek any and every avenue by which you can recoup the value of your loss. Dishonesty might be a morally appropriate red line, but there is nothing wrong with seeking help that you might be entitled to.

  11. Re:Better job than humans on Just Months After Jeopardy!, Watson Wows Doctors · · Score: 1

    It will absolutely do a better job than a bad human.

    Sadly, this may be true, though not empirical. There will likely be situations for this kind of platform in which a symptom is left out, or not observed; or situations in which a symptom is registered though it is not really a symptom. Furthermore, if a group of doctors or a hospital come to rely on such a platform, there may be group-think catastrophes just waiting to happen.

    Don't get me wrong - this technology will help a lot of people in the long run... But then, let's consider the paradigms of your "bad human": Your statement assumes "doctor", but insert "programmer". Now add "...receiving unreported benefits from large pharmaceutical company."

    You see where this is going.

  12. Re:Save yourself the trouble.... on Can Computers Be Used To Optimize the US Tax Code? · · Score: 1

    I see how the charts indicate a strong trend of the devaluation of employed persons in America. It only proves my point: The wealthy have persisted in devaluing the average worker, and overvaluing themselves.

    "...because you don't want to [pay taxes]"

    Nobody wants to pay taxes; you're right. But that doesn't make my point mute. Maybe you're bitter because you couldn't buy both a boat and a benz last month. Most people in America become bitter after having to choose between a new mattress or an air conditioner. And that scenario likely exists around the sixtieth percentile of earners. There are plenty of people around here that have to compromise a few weeks of healthy, filling meals for a decent pair of shoes. You might say that they're lazy and they can't keep a job. But I've seen how they do fine work, but don't get paid fairly for it.

    You've got a choice: either start valuing people fairly yourself, or get ready for the government to do it for you. Everyone understands that the government sucks at it, but at least they're actually trying to help people out.

  13. Re:Save yourself the trouble.... on Can Computers Be Used To Optimize the US Tax Code? · · Score: 1

    Thanks for your amazing math skills, Rush. Let's apply this logic to a scenario: One person in the U.S. earns a few trillion dollars a year. Everyone else earns a few thousand. The government taxes anyone earning over a million at %60. Who's paying most of the taxes? That one guy. Oh... but who SHOULD be paying most of the taxes? That one guy. Yes, the wealthy are paying for the bulk of government operations, but they should, because nobody else can.

    Now, why can't the rest of us carry the fiscal burden of this government? Well, we really don't earn enough to do so. And why's that? Because the people who own and run businesses distribute profits at the top instead of all around.

    Greed has its cost, eventually.

  14. Re:Occam's razor... on Free Radicals May Not Be Cause of Aging · · Score: 1

    The National Geographic ran an article a few years back about the comparatively long average life span of islanders (e.g. Okinawa, Sicily, etc.). We can at least produce strong hypotheses about the components that contribute to longevity. A diet composed of significant amounts of fish and vegetables is likely. A high incident rate of walking between destinations is also likely.

    Coding for 18 hours in an adjustable office chair... not likely.

  15. Ph.D. Apple products still blow despite Bluetooth on How Apple Had a Spectacular Year · · Score: 1

    TF is that you can use any bluetooth keyboard with it.

    Wow, I'm sure everyone gets excited with bluetooth when the pad crashes. And it does. And bluetooth doesn't work so great when the equipment won't boot. Just like my Macbook and Mac Pro.

    Apple sells glamorous products, but their operability is no better than anyone else's. They go catatonic from time to time after updating - so you have to either reinstall or take it to the store. The iPod crashes frequently too, or won't be recognized by OSX. (But Ubuntu figured it out, and even allowed me to repair the damn thing while OSX couldn't even mount it.) And don't get me started on their hardware, because as of late half of what's under the hood is shit.

    Now, I wouldn't even bother with Windows, but then again, I'm not inclined to pay Apple's steep prices for their bull crap. And what's the deal with their steep prices anyway? It used to be, you paid more money for something that had a quality build. Now, you just pay more money for the looks, I guess. It's marketing, pure and simple.

    I know a lot of people don't want to believe it, but Apple has been ignoring quality for a while.

  16. Re:An odd approach... on The Future of the Most Important Human Brain · · Score: 1
    In this case, "slice and stain" is appropriate, because the subject is dead tissue. I've no doubt they'll get plenty of information from it, but it's likely they won't find what they want.

    There are other useful methods for mapping the brain. MRI and PET scans can be used. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/health/research/10spinal.html) www.nytimes.com

    Also, genechip analysis and the tried-and-true protein blot offer up a lot information. Check out the Allen Brain Atlas... (http://www.brain-map.org/)

    The mouse brain is very useful as a sort of analogy for the human brain, given the homology of genes and proteins. Of course, mice lack some of the functionality that we do, but a mouse brain can be "stopped" in vivo (using difficult techniques) or a fetal mouse brain can be dissected and its tissue actually grown live in vitro. These techniques offer even more opportunities for figuring out the nuances of different parts of the brain.

    And - no surprise - we still have a lot to learn about it.

  17. Re:How 'Green'? on West Virginia Is Geothermically Active · · Score: 1

    I think there are easy ways to get around these issues, even for the greediest of coal moguls. Investments will have to be moved away from coal soon anyway, because demand for this raw material will decrease due to the search for alternatives, increased value and safety of nuclear energy (that could be backed by a natural gas system - a plenteous resource in the US), and government policy. Owners of oil production in the Middle East have already moved to investment in other natural resources - they saw this coming.

    Coal companies could use already mined land for construction of geothermal facilities. That's an investment, a recovery, AND probably a tax break. Or they could rest on their laurels and wait for the rest of the US to completely abandon coal, thus leaving them with defunct facilities, raped land, and a hefty clean-up bill from the EPA. They've got time to make a decision, sure. But I wouldn't give them any more than 10 years to figure it out.

  18. Re:WTF on GOP Senators Move To Block FCC On Net Neutrality · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's all it is. The whole thing, right there. Content has absolutely nothing to do with it. And the ONLY role the FCC has in this is enforcement of this simple rule.

    Unfortunately (and I think you'll agree), that's not the way the government makes decisions. Try telling Congress that content has nothing to do with it - they may even all nod their heads

    But here's how it will really go down: The core idea of net neutrality will be introduced, and the original sponsor will add in some qualifications and requirements - some having only the slightest connection to Net Neutrality. Then the House will argue about it. In the process, they'll tack on legal requirements such as net ID's for everyone, taxation on internet connection, regulation of pornography and graphic content, specific business subsidies, tax incentives for free services, and $3 million for a statue of a Vietnam War soldier somewhere in Wisconsin.

    I'm serious. Read the bills that come out of Congress, and you'll see why everything we hope for ALWAYS gets marred by a bunch of elephants and donkeys in a stampede.

    Should we give two shits about DeMint? No. Is the democratic party going to do any better? No. Is the FCC all that reliable in administering law correctly? ...NO. How many of you even watch the four major public broadcasting networks anymore? There you go. To sum it all up, yes, we want Net Neutrality, but the federal government will never make it happen without bending us over a barbed wire fence in Alaska.

  19. Re:From Wikipedia on Bono Hopes Content Tracking Will Help Media Moguls · · Score: 1, Troll

    So he's worried about the new guys who haven't made it yet, not himself.

    ...And he's full of shit.

    He's been around a while, and he knows the business:

    1. Recruit new band.

    2. Ride their asses with marketing demands.

    3. Produce music that everyone's okay with but doesn't involve any innovation or creativity.

    4. Profit!

    But here's my message to all the Bonos out there: I want your ship to sink. Yes. Your music blows, because that's the way the current business model works. When we're done pirating all your crap and giving it away for free ('Cause it's not worth money.)... When you disappear for lack of a salary, a real musician will take your place.

    A good musician that makes his/her own records. That's the guy I'm going to pay. ...And Bono's concerned about the film industry now, but as far as I'm concerned, they could use some reform as well.

  20. Small Print on Call To "Open Source" AIG Investigation · · Score: 1

    Shouldn't this have been required when the federal government first loaned them the money? Who F'd that one up?

  21. Re:Good for apple on Apple Voiding Smokers' Warranties? · · Score: 1

    But while the comp is still under warranty? Let's assume that's three years, max... I don't think that's enough tar to justify their equivocation. Apple is still being ridiculous. A warranty is a warranty, and if Apple had put a clear statement in the warranty documentation at purchase, that would be fair.

  22. Re:How is that sustainable? on Chinese To Supply 600 MW Wind Farm In Texas · · Score: 1

    No, what it actually needs is two $20,000 loans, both repaid before you even break ground.

  23. Re:right on Time Warner Cable Modems Expose Users · · Score: 1

    because being unable to do your online banking or telecommute or get health information isn't hurting the end user at all

    Bricking all of Time-Warner's faulty modems for them just might be classified as "virtuous". If the end-user weighs such situations as the ones you listed against having their identity stolen, I think they'll choose the former. I'll illustrate with an allegory:

    You are about to step into a cross-walk and someone bumps into you before you can walk into the road. Just then, a car goes by at 40 mph. If you happen to be visiting another city or country, it's likely that you'll check for your wallet after the interloper leaves. But after careful thought, you'll find that you're happy to have that moment of uncertainty instead of being the victim of vehicular homicide.

    As an aside, it behooves me to point out that I'm biased: I think (reasonably) that Time-Warner is a fucking cesspool of a company...

  24. Re:This is Sony we're talking about on PSP Go Debuts, Disappoints · · Score: 1

    Christ the slashdot crowd can hold a fucking grudge.

    Go cry about it, Shill Queen. Even while Sony pulled their greasy tentacle back from the root kit debacle, they still find ways to make war on the public for sharing their media. The PSP Go is a clear example: Proprietary retailer? Go ahead and tell me the execs didn't get a chubby over this pile of shit. And, sure, proprietary cables are everywhere, but there's no excuse for perpetuating that annoying trend.

    Microsoft gets their share of abuse on Slashdot too - a lot of people here probably have a penultimate goal in life to take M$ down. So quit whining and go play with your damn Betamax.

  25. Re:If the Apollo Program would have continued . . on What If the Apollo Program Had Continued? · · Score: 1

    Stanislaw Lem, "Peace on Earth"