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User: sporkme

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Comments · 284

  1. Re:Best Buy, not the best at all on Best Buy Offers Bogus "3D Sync" Service · · Score: 1

    When I worked as a tech for an independent computer shop, we constantly got people coming in bitching about how Best Buy Geek Squad had ripped them off, failed to fix their problem or made the problem worse. The most amusing case was when some mouth breather over there snapped off a clip from the heat sink retainer. Instead of ordering a replacement retainer (or buying it used from me for five bucks) he used 20 bucks worth of thermal compound in an attempt to glue the sink to the processor die.

    I am pretty sure this was socket A (image):
    http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/84/picture053z.jpg

    We opted to order a new mobo, CPU and cooler new from the manufacturer, even though we had plenty of spares. Having billed Best Buy several times the value of the system for parts and labor, we built the customer a new system at cost plus 5% or 10%.

    After the computer shop closed, I applied for a position at Geek Squad for interim employment. I was rejected on grounds that I was overqualified. What an operation.

  2. Re:Explained by a Simple Formula on When Libertarians Attack Free Software · · Score: 1

    That is begging the question. You assume that copyright is a restriction of free speech to prove that it is a restriction of free speech (an anti-libertarian position).

    Prove instead that copyright is a restriction of free speech.

  3. Re:Well... on Android / Windows 7 Dual Boot Netbook Disappoints · · Score: 1
    Google Blog announcing Chrome OS
    http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html
    Paragraph 5:

    Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks.

    It is arguable that this was included as a hat tip to the Acer deal.

  4. Fairtax baby! on GAO Reports Bailout and Tech Firms Love Tax Havens · · Score: 1
    If we were to enact the FairTax plan, all of this money going overseas and all of the money roosting overseas will come right back into our economy where it belongs.

    The FairTax repeals the 16th amendment

    The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

    ...and nukes other earnings-based taxation schemes and replaces it with a simple prorated sales tax structure. If you wish to pay NO taxes, you may do so by purchasing new goods up to the poverty level (as determined by the census bureau) and used goods (which would not be taxed). The tax rate is controlled by the voters directly under this plan, in that the policies of the elected are directly visible at the cash registers of the electors.

    Every legal US citizen is regularly refunded the value of retail taxation--weekly, biweekly, monthly, annually, given to charity--whatever, using the existing systems of social security, welfare and unemployment, etc.

    In addition to the elimination of all income taxation, gains taxes are also nuked. This is a major stumble for many, but remember that these wealth holders make major purchases of new goods, which are taxed at the FairTax rate.

    The current ballpark is $13,600,000,000,000, trillion with a T, are hiding from taxation overseas. With the FairTax, these thirteen trillion dollars come back home to work for us.

    You pay no income taxes. You take home 100% of what you earn. You have more control over your federal government. You pay a 23% tax on new goods up to the poverty line, but the MASSIVE supply-side taxation cost is eliminated from those goods, meaning the price after FairTax is the same. The economy booms because every-friggin-corporation opens up shop in the new tax utopia. Jobs are plentiful.

    Don't believe me! Read for yourself!

  5. WTFPOST on YouTube Bans Gun and Knife Videos In the UK · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The link in the article leads to a Slashdot 404. Wtf

    The link is this

    What a noodle-spined move on the part of Google! If only UN language were so effective on the rogue nations of the world!

    "I would like to see other internet service providers follow suit to reinforce our message that violence will not be tolerated either on the internet or in the real world," said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who has also stated that police should restrict photography by citizens. Indeed, why not suppress free speech in in all ways in Britain and in the rest of the world, you dunce? It would certainly decrease violence!

    The hysterical myths about computer game violence have in many cases been debunked, as recently discussed, and why are YouTube videos any different? Movies, games and books which incite dissent are next on the worldwide chopping block, folks! To see Google assume the position on this debate, which includes no specific legislation, is a grim forecast on government intervening in our daily lives with their friendly companies on Politically Correct leashes opening our bedroom doors for them.

    The cheeky bastards.

  6. Re:Introversion Software on What Modern Games Are DRM-Free? · · Score: 1

    Rest easy:

    The return policy right is mainly directed at retailers and is related to right #5. If you buy a shirt and it does not fit, you can return it. If software return policies were applied to shirts, you could not return the shirt based on suspicion that you might have sewn one just like it. The right is aimed at retailers' return policies regarding software. What if you don't like the shirt? Return it in new condition and you've got your money back. What if you don't like the game? Tough shit, mister criminal, we're on to you. It is this inequity the "right" addresses.

    Updates != expansions. Few if any games are perfect on release--there are too many potential issues, conflicts with OS updates, security holes and just plain bugs that may not be revealed until the game is "in the wild." The "right" does not demand expansions, it demands that if there is a problem, an update is released. It also demands that if an update is released, it is to resolve a problem, not just to bloat.

    I really hope this is a successful venture, but I'm not holding my breath. DRM is becoming exponentially more common and the lines between PC and console are becoming less defined. The aim seems to be to turn all PCs into something more like a console, and all consoles into something more like PCs, and then there will only be the middle thing; then there will only be one market.

  7. Re:This is news? on China Blocks More Internet Services · · Score: 1

    There is no one here to be surprised. Please move along.

  8. Re:I, for one, welcome our new checkout overlord. on Amazon Payment Systems Take On PayPal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It is just a competitor to paypal-ebay. If it works, they compete. If it works well, congratulations, they contend. If it flops, it has a lot of company. It is imperative that the government keeps it filthy mitts off.

  9. Re:Illegal? on Amazon Payment Systems Take On PayPal · · Score: 1

    nope! you're naive. Check back in four years, then you're prescient.

  10. spray on Air Force Looks To Laser-Proof Its Weapons · · Score: 0

    get me my shark repellent bat spray...
    get me my laser repellent satellite spray.

  11. Newspeak on "New" Words From the Geek Culture · · Score: 2, Funny

    Efforting - V - newspeak - The act of an incompetent journalistic organization to appear busy - "We are efforting to bring you more details."

    I am hearing this more and more... I say STFU and just say "trying" or "working on" instead of bullshitting us while trying to sound cromulent.

    On that note, while they're at it, they ought to add STFU to their little book o' words. It is a perfectly spatulant word and the English-speaking world would be metalopulant to finally instructulate it offically.

  12. vs. 29 a month on Dial-Up Users "Don't Want Broadband" · · Score: 1

    AT&T offers naked DSL from $19.99/mo.

    They call it DSL Direct

  13. Re:Somewhat misleading... on UK Approves Human-Pig Embryo Stem-Cell Harvest · · Score: 1

    My mother is a pig, you insensitive clod!!! Wait...

  14. Re:block on star on The Future Has a Kill Switch · · Score: 1

    Point well made

  15. Re:block on star on The Future Has a Kill Switch · · Score: 1

    Good thing for them they did not hit the cell phone tower. I honestly thought that that's where you were going--if they took out their own only hope of rescue.

  16. Re:Oh great... on Supreme Court Holds Right to Bear Arms Applies to Individuals · · Score: 1

    Ehh, whatever to all the high n' mighty pro- and anti-gun arguments. I have guns to shoot people who threaten me or mine, and for the occasional sport shooting--be that paper or game. I'm not looking to overthrow anything, but you can have my guns when you pry then from my cold, dead black helicopter^W^W hands.

  17. Re:Then STOP releasing the product! on Bill Gates Chews Out Microsoft · · Score: 1

    Wow, what a twit. Then again, if he gives a crap what we mere plebes think of him, I bet he cries all the way to the bank. Isn't it amazing that one of the richest people in the world has no grasp of grammar? Can it be that one who was once so gifted in programming languages that are strange and mysterious to me could find our own common language strange and mysterious? /Astounded

  18. Re:hopelessly outgunned... on Supreme Court Holds Right to Bear Arms Applies to Individuals · · Score: 1

    Hell, in Switzerland, there are about two million firearms to six million people and gun crime is nil--granny just might be packing! Go ahead, try for the purse... do you feel lucky, punk?

    Males in Switzerland are required to serve in the military in some way, especially from ages 21 through 32. The have no standing army. They either purchase or are issued firearms. All those licensed guns, you'd think there would be a freaking massacre every day, but the violent crime frequency is so low that they generally don't even keep track.

  19. Re:hopelessly outgunned... on Supreme Court Holds Right to Bear Arms Applies to Individuals · · Score: 1

    Of course, your argument is pointless anyways. As the decision states, whether resistance is a practical option in the 21st century has no bearing on whether it is a protected right. You don't say that the freedom of speech is no longer protected just because Rupert Murdoch can easily speak louder than any protester, you don't say that the fourth amendment is no longer valid since the police can easily find out tons of information about you without entering your home. I don't think there's any risk that the government will want to quarter soldiers in private homes to save some money, that doesn't mean the constitutional prohibition against it ceases to be the law of the land.
    This. You have an understanding of the Constitution that is much deeper than that of four Supreme Court Justices. The language is clear. The argument that taking guns away is good for the children and such nonsense is a screen... many people just have a specific dislike of the type of person that would choose to own a gun, and they want to take something away from them.
  20. Re:hopelessly outgunned... on Supreme Court Holds Right to Bear Arms Applies to Individuals · · Score: 1

    Well, sure, there's that angle, but in the reasoning behind overturning the law of D.C. it's more a question of "in case of criminal, pull trigger." It's been said a million times: what part of "shall not be infringed" do people not understand?

  21. Re:Oh great... on Supreme Court Holds Right to Bear Arms Applies to Individuals · · Score: 1

    Thank you. I had never read up on the Bonus Army... Wikipedia shat me out somewhere around Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after an hour.

    I agree that without the second amendment, the rest of the Bill of Rights is toilet paper. I own guns, but not because I aim to overthrow the steenkin' guv'ment with them. I am a gun owner because I want to be able to protect my family and myself from anyone who intends us harm, be it zombies, criminals or my congressman (but I repeat myself). The simple fact of the matter is that when it absolutely, positively needs to be killed, a fistfull of .30 carbine delivered by Mr. Ruger is your best bet.

  22. Oh no... on Charter's Trials of NebuAd Halted · · Score: 1

    Not again!

    Certainly not that Edward Markey!

    Christopher Soghoian loves hearing the name Edward "barking rabid" Markey even more than I do.

  23. Re:Then STOP releasing the product! on Bill Gates Chews Out Microsoft · · Score: 1

    While reading that email, I had difficulty convincing myself that Bill Gates wrote it. The syntax is terrible.

    So I do this yada yada.

    So I do that yada yada.

    So I so I so I... this reads like a transcript of a tech support call. Furthermore, I have downloaded Movie Maker legitimately a few times and it was pretty barking clear what to do... the HNIC of Microsoft should not need a seminar on YAY!COMPUTER INTERWEB!!one!!, let alone something people figure out every day. If this is real, there is a clear reason why Microsoft has not ~performed as expected~ over the last zillion years... the man at the helm was completely blind.

  24. Re:"We stand by our decision" on Man Fired When Laptop Malware Downloaded Porn · · Score: 1
  25. Re:Charges were dropped on Man Fired When Laptop Malware Downloaded Porn · · Score: 1

    Oops, that wasn't meant for you... sorry