Comment Re:Towlie says. (Score 1) 72
The secret to flying high is falling and not hitting the ground.
Comment Re:The consequences will never be the same (Score 1) 45
I tried to write something that more succinctly captured the Jessi Slaughter meme than what you wrote, but failed. I guess I dun goofed.
Comment Re:Go UNIVAC! (Score 1) 763
I think you mean UNIBLAB.
His catch phrase was, "Work work work, work work work; coffee break, coffee break, work work work..."
Comment No UNICOS? (Score 1) 763
I mean, the hardware is bulky, but the internal accounting utilities are awesome.
The Sensible Body Scan Alternative 354
An anonymous reader sends in a CNN article that looks at airport security from more reasonable point of view, suggesting that looking for every last micro-gram of potentially explosive material is a waste of time, since very small quantities of explosives are unlikely to significantly damage a plane. The author also recommends incorporating parts of the Israeli method of securing airplanes — look for the bomber, not the tools. Quoting:
"Clearly everything should be done to prevent explosives getting on board an aircraft in quantities sufficient to cause structural failure and bring the plane down. But is it worth chasing lesser quantities that would result in zero or minimal damage? The enhanced pat-down that some find so offensive is designed to search for these small amounts. It often ends with a swab being taken to test for explosive residues. Technology does have a role to play, but imaging is not the solution. Operator fatigue sets in after short periods of time staring at computer images. That's why there are reports that contraband items have been smuggled through X-ray units used to scan carry-on bags. The aim should be to detect high explosive in quantities that are sufficient to cause significant damage. We don't need a machine that takes pictures of the human body. It makes more sense to develop a detector that clearly discriminates between high explosives and human tissue or water."
Comment Jesse "The Body" Ventura? (Score 1) 109
In "Predator," Jesse Ventura assured me that chewing tobacco would make me "a god damned sexual Tyrannosaurus, just like [him]." I presume this is how Kosmoceratops got this way.
Comment But, but, but... (Score 3, Insightful) 830
...he must be right! He used math, and everything!
I'm a little shocked that Kurzweil equates blueprints with the functioning organ. I am not shocked, however, that the tech media latched onto this--at first blush it sounds so *reasonable.*
Why You Never Ask the Designers For a Favor
238
Usually there is nothing funny about a missing pet, but the tale of Missy the lost cat is hilarious. It serves as an example of just how clueless your fellow employees can be, and why you should never ask the designers to drop what they're doing, and help with a personal matter.
Wine 1.2 Released 427
David Gerard writes "Stuck with that one Windows app you can't get rid of? Rejoice — Wine 1.2 is officially released! Apart from running pretty much any Windows application on Unix better than 1.0 (from 2008), major new features include 64-bit support, bi-directional text, and translation into thirty languages. And, of course, DirectX 9 is well-supported and DirectX 10 is getting better. Packages should hit the distros over the weekend, or you can get the source now."
Comment Re:Fast forward a year after your purchase... (Score 1) 411
Although I do agree with the 'be kind-rewind' point for the rental market, I think quick access to the special features is less important than improved picture quality.
Further, it seems like DVD, as a high-density optical medium, does not react very well to fingerprints and scratches. My guess is that magnetic tape, enclosed in a plastic shell, is far less likely to receive this kind abusive handling.
Although it's hard to say what all that fast-forwarding and rewinding will do over the years; properly handled DVDs could theoretically last as long as the plastics they're made of.
Ever waffling,
shmeck
Further, it seems like DVD, as a high-density optical medium, does not react very well to fingerprints and scratches. My guess is that magnetic tape, enclosed in a plastic shell, is far less likely to receive this kind abusive handling.
Although it's hard to say what all that fast-forwarding and rewinding will do over the years; properly handled DVDs could theoretically last as long as the plastics they're made of.
Ever waffling,
shmeck
