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User: LowlyWorm

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Comments · 151

  1. Re: Start here on White House: Use Metric If You Want, We Don't Care · · Score: 1

    Perhaps 1.5 though (my air conditioner thermostat is digital). But as an aesthetic consideration wouldn't you like to know to within a degree with the greatest precession. :)

  2. Re: Start here on White House: Use Metric If You Want, We Don't Care · · Score: 1

    Believe it or not I can feel within a 2 degree Fahrenheit (perhaps 1.5) temperature difference given a constant humidity according to my air conditioner thermostat.

  3. Re: Start here on White House: Use Metric If You Want, We Don't Care · · Score: 1

    I much prefer Fahrenheit to metric for temperature measurement. It might be less convenient for chemistry, since that is the nomenclature but for everyday use fahrenheit is more precise. There are one hundred units from zero degrees Celsius to 100 (freezing to boiling water). From 32 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit there are 180 units.

  4. Re: Real Reason on Why Do Pathogen Researchers Face Less Scrutiny Than Nuclear Scientists? · · Score: 1

    I agree. I understand the Russian biological weapons program was far larger than we originally suspected though. I think the reason it was not more widly publicized and feared is that th UN has always been more concerned with nuclear threats.

  5. Re: History (correction) on Why Do Pathogen Researchers Face Less Scrutiny Than Nuclear Scientists? · · Score: 1

    Chemical weapons were used extensively in WWI.

  6. The reason there is less scrutiny is simply history. Nuclear weapons were used in the last world war. Biological warfare was not used extensively since WWI. It was used in mid evil times and in the American wars against native Americans but biological weapons are more difficult to contain than other weapons of mass destruction and are less widely used for that reason. Also, there are justifiable reasons for biological research in the medical research field that might be severally limited if over-regulation were applied. This is not to say that misuse of biological pathogens is any less deadly.

  7. Basic needs on Ask Slashdot: What Features Belong In a 'Smartwatch'? · · Score: 1

    It must be water proof. Beyond that it must display date and time. Knowing Apple, it will play music. GPS and photos would be nice.

  8. Re:Just because you CAN do something on Reinventing the Clapper With a Knock-Based Home Automation Controller · · Score: 2

    Indeterminate is right. I bought a clapper not long ago and connected it to several lamps. The stereo, TV, bumps, dropping things, etc. made the place like a strobe light. The concept is not such a bad idea but the activation should much better controlled to be practical.

  9. Apple's Future on Steve Jobs Wanted an iPhone-Only Wireless Network · · Score: 0, Troll

    I hate to speak ill of the man so soon after death but I always felt Apple was always too restrained by him. Every thing they do is so closed and exclusive. They never extended a hand to the open source community. Yes, the same could have been said of Microsoft but Apple seemed off the deep end. This did offer some of the benefits of Job's vision but I think Apple may be poised in a better position now. Time will tell.

  10. Re:Oh Please No on Ask Slashdot: Physical Input Devices For Developers? · · Score: 1

    It is for his personal use but I agree it is a bad idea for most people. Consider something as simple as text editing. The interphase for MS Word with all toolbars enabled uses most of the screen. Any updates to the software would be a fiscal nightmare for the hardware update.

  11. Occupy Everywhere on Could Crowd-Sourced Direct Democracy Work? · · Score: 1

    The difficulty with the Occupy movement as I see it is that it lacks cohesion and direction. I don't think anyone including the protesters know what it is about. It is both national and international which seems to indicate it represents the general discontent of the protesters rather than opposition to specific policy. At least I have not seen specific meaning other than opposition to corporate greed (whatever that is perceived to be). The word "occupy" is suggestive of anti-war sentiment but the gist appears to be ecconimic discontent. I see the movement as just a bunch of people enjoying the mayhem of it all rather than a serious opposition movement.

  12. Re:So why aren't we doing it? on Ask Slashdot: Could We Deal With the End of Time Zones? · · Score: 1

    I agree. Many concerns were raised with Y2K. I can't even imagine the bedlem.

  13. All that is lacking... on UK Police Get Guide to Arresting a Witch · · Score: 1

    is the guide for silly walks.

  14. Re:Inflationary theory on Inflaton, Mother of the Universe · · Score: 1

    I tend to agree. It seems to be an ugly amendment to currently accepted theories. But current models cannot explain the uniform temperature of the universe without it. Einstein's model superseded Newton's because as a model it explained gravity, space, and time and makes better predictions on larger scales. We still rely on Newton for most practical purposes. It might likewise be that something more fundamental may be gleaned from the overthrow of inflation. At some level though I think we may have to accept the fact we may never know. We simply cannot reproduce the heat and pressure needed to make direct observations.

  15. Re:It's all about on US Military 'Banned' From Viewing Wikileaks · · Score: 1

    I was being a little facetious. My point is similar to yours. Generally, when I am unarmed I think it wise to agree with those who are though. Based, on your signature, I take it you are very adamant about gun control and safety issues. I was not suggesting that common sense and PR would not be at issue.

  16. Re:It's all about on US Military 'Banned' From Viewing Wikileaks · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I disagree. Civilians can read what they choose. The military could stop it. They have the weapons to do so if they choose. They have not. In a very structured and disciplined environment such sacrifices are to be expected. The military has its own courts and no draft is in effect. I am normally very adamant about free speech issues and I have contributed to organizations that promote these views but the military should be granted some latitude.

  17. Re:blah on Churchill Accused of Sealing UFO Files, Fearing Public Panic · · Score: 1

    I agree that the phrase "survival of the fittest" is too often misinterpreted. If we accept the observations of Darwin and others, "fitness" must mean the successfulness in the perpetuation of a species (and those traits that result in successful perpetuation). In that sense fruit flies, ants and bacteria are far more fit than man.

  18. It Depends On Your Commitment on Tattoos For the Math and Science Geek? · · Score: 1

    A full body periodic table might work.

  19. Re:And how does the kitty-kat feal about all this? on Bionic Cat Gets World's First Implant Paws · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had a three legged cat. It lost one of its front legs. Whenever it used the litter box it couldn't really bury its business but it did waive its nub around in the air.

  20. Re:IE or Firefox on Best Browser For Using Complex Web Applications? · · Score: 1

    Agreed. IE probably has the most consistent (and most available) documentation. Since I often use client side JS I usually start with FF. Everything should be tested in FF and IE. You may also want to be aware of cellphone users. If presentation is that critical write separate scripts server side for each browser. If not, you may get away with much less scripting.

  21. Re:What a schmuck. on Anti-Speed Camera Activist Buys Police Department's Web Domain · · Score: 1

    In some small towns it is doubtful whether such capitalistic niceties exist to the context that political pressure from politicians and or aversion by local newspapers to on-line competition may exist. This presure may not only be specific to domain names. If such political pressure or threats of of such presure is exerted i.e. disturbing the peace or other trumped up information from the internet haves to those familiar to the process of on-line publishing is utilized. This becomes significant where there is a large relative population internet have-nots. I think and hope this may change as the internet becomes more homogenous. If politicians, newspapers, banks, judges etc. in a small town or rural area assume and actually believe they are the internet little can be done (at least within that rural area). It will be interesting to see how long the guy in the story actually does keep the domain name.

  22. Re:No different than the food supplements in Ameri on North Korea Develops Anti-Aging "Super Drink" · · Score: 1

    There are many claims being made about the new drink but does it give you wings?

  23. Re:Here's a silly question on Why Some Supermassive Black Holes Have Big Jets · · Score: 1

    That theory (whatever it may have been called if it ever formally was) has been largly discounted by many. Dark matter is surmised to exist because spiral galaxies seem to spin faster along their outer edge than would be expected were extra mass not there. On the other hand were there black holes along the outer edge of those galaxies one would expect to observe visible orbiting bodies around them.

  24. Re:Class action lawsuit possible? on Amazon Seeks 1-Nod Ordering Patent · · Score: 1

    Not only that... If everything online that causes me to raise an eyebrow is a purchase I am already broke.

  25. Re:Laws against science-fiction are stupid. on OH Senate Passes Bill Banning Human-Animal Hybrids · · Score: 1

    The ear mouse is not good example of genetic manipulation as it may appear. The mouse was used as a support structure and a source of blood supply to grow the ear from human cartilage.