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User: DaMattster

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  1. Funny on LAX To London Flight Delayed Over "Al-Quida" Wi-Fi Name · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I read about this on CNN and just about had an asthma attack from laughing. You know this was a distinctly American joke because it was misspelled - it should've been spelled as 'Al Qaida Free Terrorist WiFi Network.' That's what made me even laugh harder. People are living life with their assholes puckered. I'm sorry to have to put it that way but it's true that Americans are living in a constant state of fear. If it isn't terrorism, it's Ebola, if it isn't Ebola, it's the weather. Good gravy people, the sooner you get that life constantly changes and is impermanent, the better you'll be able to deal with it.

  2. Here's to hoping on What Will It Take To Make Automated Vehicles Legal In the US? · · Score: 1

    That it never happens! And I admit, the reasons are entirely selfish. I drive a truck for a living so I'd rather not lose that livelihood. I can, however, see a place for adding automation in the safety area like automatic braking if following distance is too close and even maybe a limited autopilot feature that would still require a human being to be sitting in the driver's seat. I guess I need to face the reality that just about anything can become automated and I'm sure my employer has one keen eye cocked towards the progress in automation. I left IT for the love of the open road. Part of me understands why some companies might really want the automation because truckers are a notoriously difficult lot to deal with - basically macho juvenile adults. I'm sure drivers are the bane of the transportation company's existence. Many drivers have an undeserved sense of entitlement, make demands, and are often rude towards the office staff. Little do those guys know they are basically going to "demand" themselves out of a job because don't think for a New York minute that the big boys like Werner and Swift aren't making keen investments in automation.

  3. It's Amazing on Creationism Conference at Michigan State University Stirs Unease · · Score: 1

    How people hold on to old fashioned, outmoded, and completely disproved ideas. I thought the last of the major Creationism crap happened in the 1920s. Apparently, the bible thumpers don't quit easily. The definition of stupidity is repeating the same thing over and over despite being wrong.

  4. My 0.02 on Here's Why Apple Rejected Your iOS App · · Score: 1

    This is precisely why Cydia and jailbreaking exist: so that you can put the software you want on your phone or tablet instead of being subject to Apple's dictatorship. I have the iPhone and iPad quite simply because it is the best quality hardware/software combination out there. I understand that part of the reason it's so stable is because it's such a closed ecosystem. I wish Apple would have an advanced user mode that would let you use Cydia but a use at your own risk with no technical support clause other than hardware warranty.

  5. Observation on Jedi-ism Becomes a Serious Religion · · Score: 1

    Zen masters observe that too many people squander much of their lives in pursuit of the meaning of life when life has no meaning, it just is and it just exists and one should simply accept that. Furthermore, Zen masters observe that life is impermanent and the more we embrace and understand it's impermanence, the freer we are from anxiety. Thus, Zen is more philosophy than religion. Religions tend to play up on the very human need for constants in life and provide reasons for the inexplicable.

  6. Balance in Life on The Problem With Positive Thinking · · Score: 1

    This all boils down to leading a balanced life. You want a healthy amount of optimism and hope grounded in reality. Leading a life looking too far into the future or the past is not necessarily healthy either. Zen Buddhism teaches that life must be balanced and will seek balance. Furthermore the philosophy teaches us to accept and embrace impermanence versus fear it. The sooner we learn to embrace impermanence, the less anxiety we experience. This then translates to a healthier mind, body, and spirit.

  7. Thorny Issue on Automation Coming To Restaurants, But Not Because of Minimum Wage Hikes · · Score: 1

    On one hand, I can see the absolute value of paying someone a liveable wage such that they are able to live without state assistance. On the other hand, money has to be earned, not given. My experience at McDonald's has never really been pleasant. I'm usually greeted with someone with a frown on their face and they mumble so badly I can barely articulate what they are saying. Finally the order will get screwed up at least once. I think it would be great to have a computer system to place orders. A convenience store chain, Wawa, has this system down to a 'T.' If you go to the deli, you use their touch screen ordering system and the accuracy of the order preparation is great!

  8. Call me a troll but .... on Employers Worried About Critical Thinking Skills · · Score: 1

    Corporations neither want nor value critical thinkers. Maybe they say they do to look politically correct for HR but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, they want their employees to be "yes" men and women. I have yet to see any corporation value the input of it's sub-managerial staff, even if the employee comes up with a fantastic idea as a result of critical thinking it's usually passed off with a, "Um yeah. I'll take that under advisement." Critical thinking implies much more than being able to distill information but it also means finding flaws in the information or seeking ways to improve processes.

  9. Very Cool! on Computer Scientist Parachutes From 135,908 Feet, Breaking Record · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately, it wasn't covered by the Discovery Channel. Sigh! I'm glad to see a Computer Scientist break the record :-)

  10. Re:Would the courts accept the "evidence"? on Facebook To DEA: Stop Using Phony Profiles To Nab Criminals · · Score: 3, Informative

    Technically, entrapment is only valid if the person being snared is knowingly, willingly, and recklessly participating in a criminal act. If it is the case of a mistake, i.e. wrong place wrong time, technically charges cannot be brought against the person. It has been ruled legal for police to use a bait car to catch auto thieves. The bait car simply makes it easy for someone looking to steal a car to go ahead and steal it. If the case had been someone running or fearing for their life and can reasonably prove that their intent was not criminal in nature but to get to safety, an argument for entrapment could be made.

  11. Pffft on Developers, IT Still Racking Up (Mostly) High Salaries · · Score: 1

    I earn 72,000 as a regional truck truck driver and I have SO much less stress and NO on-call. I'm home on weekends and if my girlfriend's son has a school event, I can literally ask for one of my routes to take me by the school so I just park the truck and attend. If we want to do a family dinner during the week, I can also get routed to stop by the house. I think my girlfriend and her son like me more now that they see me less ;-) Leaving IT was one of the best life's decisions I've ever made. IT turned me into a monster. My girlfriend says I'm like a totally new and better person.

  12. Nice idea on Ask Slashdot: LTE Hotspot As Sole Cellular Connection? · · Score: 1

    But this could end up costing you more money as you will consume data like a person buying supplies for an impending disaster. Since data is capped and overages are horribly expensive, the OP would do well to rethink his strategy.

  13. I'm surprised on No More Lee-Enfield: Canada's Rangers To Get a Tech Upgrade · · Score: 1

    The Lee-Enfield is probably one of the best rifles to have ever been made.

  14. Re:Bose is overpriced crap and always has been on Despite Patent Settlement, Apple Pulls Bose Merchandise From Its Stores · · Score: 1

    And so is Apple.

    I respectfully disagree. My MacBook Pro which I got around July of 2012 has been 100% reliable. It has never needed any warranty work whatsoever so unlike the Windows laptops I've had in the past. I've had Dell, Gateway, Sony, Toshiba and each and every one of those machines have needed at least two significant repairs under warranty. I will give you that Bose is overrated. I've found some cheap WalMart noise cancelling headphones that work just as well but then again my hearing isn't 100% sharp anyhow.

  15. And meanwhile on India Successfully Launches Region-Specific Navigation Satellite · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    India's people are quite impoverished and many of the home don't even have indoor plumbing. I don't understand a government that wants to go to the moon, mars, or have its own fancy satellite GPS system while it can 'barely' take care of its own people.

  16. Well on The Guardian Reveals That Whisper App Tracks "Anonymous" Users · · Score: 4, Informative

    Looks like I WILL NOT be trying this app at all. I was a bit curious.

  17. Danger Will Robinson on Commerce Secretary: US Wants Multi-Stakeholder Process To Preserve Internet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is a bad idea because the stakeholders have the monetary wealth to exert influence over the internet and thus causing even more problems. It must remain regulated by a neutral, objective third party that cannot be co-opted by money, power, or influence - or, at least, not any more than it already has.

  18. Intriguing on Pentagon Reportedly Hushed Up Chemical Weapons Finds In Iraq · · Score: 1

    So why would the Pentagon hush-up signs of chemical weapons? That just doesn't make any sense because that was used as one of the primary justifications for going to war with Iraq. The only thing that I can surmise is that it was a political move to try and make George W. Bush look bad but even that is tenuous at best because the Pentagon overwhelmingly supports the president. One would think this would not get buried but ran up the flagpole very quickly.

  19. Concern on Amazon Web Services To Build Two New Aussie Data Centers · · Score: 2

    With Amazon hemorrhaging money to the tune of 2bn, how can they possibly afford new data centers without some serious financial backing? A recent article questions the safety of keeping data stored in the cloud because how could you retrieve your data if your cloud provider should go tits up. Furthermore, even with the fastest transmission speeds and lowest latency times available, it could take days to recover large amounts of data. Then you have to have the storage to accommodate what you've ostensibly outsourced.

  20. My thoughts on If Your Cloud Vendor Goes Out of Business, Are You Ready? · · Score: 1

    Here is to hoping the cloud is a fad that dies off even though it probably won't. I can see the private cloud being beneficial but a private cloud is just marketing speak for a virtualization environment. One positive to come out of the cloud has been software as a service which again is marketing speak for renting software. I like the ability to use Office 365 and essentially rent my copy of Mac Office 2011. I haven't checked out Apache Open Office or Libre Office recently so I don't know if they have improved, but (unfortunately) Microsoft Office is still the gold standard.

  21. Yup on Oracle Database Certifications Are No Longer Permanent · · Score: 1

    That's exactly what it is about: profit. Oracle sucks!

  22. A good idea on Flight Attendants Want Stricter Gadget Rules Reinstated · · Score: 1

    I have to side with the flight attendants on this one. Takeoffs and landings are some of the riskier parts of the flight and passengers should be paying attention to the flight attendants, not have their nose buried in a smartphone or tablet. This is a safety issue which is of utmost importance, especially as more and more people are being crammed on a plane. If an emergency hits, the flight crew need the undivided attention of the passengers. I was not a fan of the FAA easing restrictions on these devices for specifically that reason. I hope the flight attendants prevail.

  23. That whole list on Federal Government Removes 7 Americans From No-Fly List · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just needs to go the fuck away! The Patriot Act is mostly a failure and we're no safer and have significantly less liberties. Another tragic knee-jerk reaction by government results in an abysmal travesty of justice.

  24. Not another cold fusion claim ... smh!

  25. Well on Four Dutch Uberpop Taxi Drivers Arrested, Fined · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't trust the company to have my back. I may be a bit gullible and trusting, but I know enough to know that Corporate America will fry you in the name of money or image perception.