I'm likewise still using lab notebooks for taking notes at work.

As a bonus, said notebooks are resistant to all known forms of remote NSA eves dropping. For extra security, encrypt it with the 'cursive' algorithm. The kids these days will be completely baffled. :)

Necron69

There is no environment to protect on the moon. It is dead, irradiated rocks and dirt, already pockmarked by billions of years of meteorite craters. Strip mine the hell out of it for whatever useful things we can find. Who the hell care what it _looks_ like?

It is lunacy like this that makes me realize that most "environmentalists" are really just anti-human.

Necron69

Why the HELL would you want to AVOID a scramble for Lunar resources? This is something to actively encourage, to get some permanent human settlements off this rock.

Every man/country for themselves, and may the best and fastest effort win.

Necron69

All of those same legal provisions are in place here in Colorado. The shooter used a shotgun, not a handgun or an assault rifle. Being a legal adult, he legally bought the gun after passing his mandatory background check.

Background checks can't stop a first time offender with no criminal record, or mental health history.

Necron69

Although I enjoyed for what it was, it is an abomination to try to read anything of Heinlein's book in it. Only the vaguest of plot details and characters carry through and the message of Heinlein is completely, and totally lost in Verhoeven's film.

In the book, the 'bugs' were a highly technologically advanced race, who most certainly were a threat and most certainly had spaceflight. They had cities, for crying out loud.

Completely gone from the movie is the time the main character spends in officer training school. All lessons of values, honor, duty and morals are just gone from the movie.

BTW, the _Mobile_ Infantry is supposed to be mechanized with high tech, powered battle armor that puts them more on caliber with a tank division. They are not foot soldiers.

All that being said, the movie most clearly was a farce, but it was a terrible one and has very little in common with Heinlein's book of the same name.

Necron69

Ok, dumb American here. Are 'currency validators' that common in Europe? The only thing that comes to mind here in the US is the 'dollar bill accepters' on vending or change machines. Other than those, I don't think I've ever seen a currency validator on a cash register anywhere. Occasionally, you get a sales clerk who will hold a $20 or $100 up to the light to look for the security strip (in American bills), but that's pretty much it over here.

- Necron69

You do realize that access to reliable and cheap electricity is one of the major divides between rich and poor in the world?

Necron69

I was thinking about robotic trucking the other day, and I think you might be right, but for some other reasons too.

What happens when _everyone_ learns that the robot trucks (and other vehicles) will NOT hit them? I'd bet the incidence of human drivers cutting off robotic vehicles increases dramatically. It may get so bad that it is difficult for trucks to drive through heavy traffic at all, as they will always yield to other vehicles to avoid an accident. Your average truck driver not only won't do that, he can't afford to.

Necron69

It's like 1991 all over again. Do I have to install Trumpet WinSOCK to connect to my ISP?

Seriously, it feels like Microsoft has forgotten why they called the damn OS 'Windows' in the first place.

At work, we just finally upgraded to Windows 7 a few months ago. Microsoft still has plenty of time to fix more things before IT even considers Win8.

- Necron69

Solar power on the moon is only practical at the poles, as day and night last two weeks long each. Nuclear power or some good fuel cells are really the only ways to go at this point.

Necron69

Why don't you know who your cousins are?

We don't have a particularly close extended family, and my cousins are scattered around the US (and even some overseas). I still know who they all are.

I can see the occasional family feud causing issues, but is not knowing your cousins a really common thing in Iceland? Are we talking second and third cousins or something?

- Necron69

I hereby nominate this post for Slashdot's Most Obfuscated Post Title of the year.

Seriously, the title gives absolutely no clue what the article is about. Not everyone lives in your town, goes to your museum, or listens to your death metal.

Necron69

I can't even see the 'regular' visual spectrum, you insensitive clod!!

Red-green colorblind, eh?

Nercon69

Heh. 'Old' was the Sparcstation IPX I had until a couple of years ago. http://www.obsolyte.com/sun_ipx/

Really old would be the 486 I first ran Linux on back in the early 90s.

These young whippersnappers don't know old. :)

Necron69