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Comment Re:Spoiler Alert: FTA (Score 1) 99

The Cleveland toxic algae bloom was due to farm phosphorous runoff. It seems that the restrictions on phosphorous in laundry detergent worked for a while but the farmers found a way around the regulations and dumped too much shit (literally) into the lake.
Clearly a need for more government regulation. I don't think the "free market" can take care of this...

Comment Re:Government in the U.S. is extremely corrupt. (Score 5, Insightful) 306

Corporations have "captured" the government. They have discovered that by "investing" a relatively small amount of money in politicians, they can gain a high return in getting laws and regulations passed with protect their monopolies, enabling them to charge high rent.
This takes place in most (?all) governments but the dollar amount of this return on investment in the US is probably the highest or any country in the world.

Comment Re:Finally!! (Score 4, Informative) 409

I'm installing solar this month.
The ROI calculators show a first year 7% ROI (of course, this will increase as electricity prices increase).
It's hard to find another investment which will give me 7% return on my investment and where the return will increase by 3-5% per year for the next 25 years.
This is a no-brainer.

Comment Re:So.. what? (Score 1) 255

Nuclear is dying because it is just too expensive... not from FUD. Even if there was no opposition from environmentalists or fear in the general population, people wouldn't invest in nuclear power.
New nuclear plants cost about $10,000 / kw and their appears to be a negative learning curve so they get more expensive over time.
Solar and wind plants cost less than half that and are getting much cheaper very quickly... plus free "fuel" for the life of the plant and minimal decommissioning costs.
Add in nuclear fuel costs and decommissioning costs and the occasional $500 billion disaster (covered by federal insurance - ie. taxpayers) and nuclear is just too expensive.

Comment I can predict better than 90% (Score 1, Insightful) 177

The Supreme Court is dominated by a bunch of fanatic right wing corporate toadies.
So, the decision comes down in favor of corporations (on economic issues) or social conservatives (on social issues).
The Constitution has nothing to do with it.
The Supreme Court is the ultimate cheerleader for our fascist state.

Comment Re:Panama Canal took 33 years, 4 countries (Score 1) 322

The early construction of the canal was greatly hampered by malaria. The final success of the canal was really only possible once malaria was controlled. From the CDC website:
"The result of this malaria program was eradication of yellow fever and a dramatic decrease in malaria deaths. The death rate due to malaria in employees dropped from 11.59 per 1,000 in November 1906 to 1.23 per 1,000 in December 1909. It reduced the deaths from malaria in the total population from a maximum of 16.21 per 1,000 in July 1906 to 2.58 per 1,000 in December 1909."
"The Panama Canal was the construction miracle of the beginning of the 20th century. It also was a great demonstration of malaria control based on an integrated mosquito control program enforced by the military. Malaria was not eliminated. However, under these most trying conditions, the disease was controlled to the extent that the construction work could be completed."

Comment Re:Any bets on how long before the plug is pulled? (Score 1) 142

I think the point of a HUD is that you don't have to take your eyes off the road to gather information from the dashboard, GPS, etc.
The fact that these were first developed for military and civilian pilots would seem to indicate that these are very safe displays... much safer than any other option. After all, they wouldn't be approved for aircraft use if they were distracting or unsafe.

Comment Re:Nonsense (Score 4, Insightful) 115

Apple and Microsoft (and most other corporations) pick manufacturing locations based on price and quality. They choose China because it offers the lowest cost and good quality. They aren't going to pick up and move (even if they could find another capable manufacturer) for political reasons.
China is taking this step not to isolate themselves from the world but to isolate themselves from the NSA.

Submission + - Want to have a real impact on climate change? Then become a vegetarian. (theguardian.com)

mspohr writes: A thought provoking article in today's Guardian makes the case that raising meat for human consumption is one of the most climate damaging human activities with studies showing that between 18% and 51% of climate change is due to human meat consumption.
"Raising animals to eat produces more greenhouse gasses (via methane and nitrous oxide) than all of the carbon dioxide excreted by automobiles, boats, planes and trains in the world combined. "
"Yes, quitting meat can reduce your carbon footprint significantly more than quitting driving."

Submission + - Satya Nadella At Six Months: Grading Microsoft's New CEO

snydeq writes: The future emerging for Microsoft under Nadella is a mixed bag of hope and turmoil, writes Woody Leonhard in his review of Nadella's first fix months at the helm of Microsoft. 'When Nadella took over, Microsoft was mired in the aftermath of a lengthy and ultimately unpopular reign by longtime CEO — and Microsoft majority shareholder — Steve Ballmer. Given the constraint of that checkered past, some might argue that Nadella hasn't had enough time to make his imprint on every aspect of Microsoft. Yet there have been many changes already under Nadella's watch, and patterns are certainly emerging as to the kind of company Microsoft will be in the years ahead.' Leadership, product lines, financials — Nadella's scorecard shows strong strategic leadership, particularly around the cloud, but Windows and devices are murky at best, with Microsoft employees 'taking it in the shorts, and not only in Finland.'

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