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Comment Re:Don't make it impossible, just make it hard (Score 1) 385

"Why would the cabin crew have the code? The code is for the pilots."

Here is airbus's own explanation: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R...

TL;DW: if the pilots are incapacitated, the cabin crew can punch a code to save the day; the door will unlock after 30 seconds unless the pilot pushes the button to deny access. (the pilots are alerted by a beeping signal.) Actually, a pretty sensible way to do it.

Comment Re:Congress is a bunch of fucking retards (Score 1) 133

How far back would you like to go? If Iraq hadn't invaded Kuwait...

Which the US set in motion by putting Saddam in power AND all but gave approval of the invasion by essentially turning a blind eye to it. If the international community didn't raise such a stink over it, it's quite likely the our boy Saddam would still be at the reins.

And we put Saddam in power because the Iranian people decided that they didn't like being oppressed under the rule of a bloody dictator (the Shah) who was, no surprise, also put into power with the help of the US.

Al Quaeda? We bankrolled their entire operation until we found out that they really didn't like us anymore than the Soviets.

We've been screwing over the Middle East region in one form or another for the past 60 years or so. Is it really any surprise that things are they the way they are given the social, economic, and political unrest that our actions (and others) have caused there?

Comment Re:Cookie authenticated or open WiFi is insecure? (Score 1) 40

What you use is noscript, and then you allow only the scripts necessary to get the portal working, and you don't run any flash or java from the portal, etc etc. And you keep your browser updated. It's not rocket surgery. It's not foolproof, but it's best to act as little like a fool as possible.

Comment Re:Issue (Score 1) 59

I'd be more concerned about a catastrophic software failure. Modern drone autopilots have fairly astounding limp home ability, you ought to be able to crash them in predefined locations fairly reliably. Unless, of course, something goes batshit with the electronics and/or software...

Comment Re:Easy Solution (Score 4, Insightful) 222

He specifically said no fines, that they have to provide the service as the fine.

And if they don't?

Fine them enough to bring in that line from the telco, installation and service. If that means they're paying for a fiber pull so you can get a fractional T3, so be it. It makes it a simple cost decision. I'm tired of blatantly fraudulent coverage maps, too.

Comment Re:Easy Solution (Score 1) 222

I guess it depends on what the fine is for not complying. For your above scenario to make sense, the fine itself would have to be more than the cost of installing the line.

Sounds good. Let's set the fine to be twice the cost of installing the line.

Also, there's no law saying how much they are allowed to charge you, and they often don't charge the same fees for everybody.

So the law says they can't charge you more because you're on a line which was installed under this program.

Comment Re:It the UK, you insensitive clod! (Score 1) 407

As a Scotsman, it is my duty to say "England" is not interchangeable with "UK". Even in the published piece from Educational Testing Services the term *actually* used is "England / Northern Ireland". While Nothern Ireland is a part of the UK, calling it out alongside England only adds to the slight. The possibly non-existent / mythical Scotland and Wales are many times larger than Northern Ireland but clearly down't merit a mention.

You chose to be part of the UK, you can live with being referred to as a citizen thereof. If you don't like it, you can try another referendum.

Comment Re:Aww poor baby (Score 1) 662

Good point about screwing with the delivery, though I would assume that the BBC is big enough and has a solid enough reputation that this would be a 'blip' rather than a noticable loss of confidence.

You're forgetting that Top Gear is the most popular television program... in the world. It's rather on the same scale as mismanagement of the Superb Owl.

Comment Re:Well past its Best Before date (Score 1) 662

Like just about everybody, my picks for a new co-host include Sabine Schmitz

Her English is very good, but not good enough.

But they have to look very carefully at the show and decide if its worth continuing first. I'm not convinced it is.

You cannot sub out the cast and have the show work. So they shouldn't, but not because it's not worth it, but because they can't do it.

Comment Re:Boorish (Score 1) 662

Oh please, American cars technologically are no different than any other cars these days.

On average, that's false.

The main problem with American cars these days is styling.

No, the main problem with American cars these days is build quality, just like always. UAW simply doesn't do as good a job as the non-union workers at the Japanese plants. Whether that's because higher per-hour labor costs make it impossible to pay them enough to torque fasteners correctly, which is a thing they seem to have trouble with, or just because they're shiftless layabouts without work ethic, the truth is that American cars tend to be assembled like shit.

If I want a car assembled correctly, I buy one which was put together in Germany or Japan, or second choice, by a Japanese company operating its own plant in the USA.

Only the top-end American cars are built from the same basic design strategies as euro cars... well, maybe and the Fiesta and Focus.

Comment Re:what will be more interesting (Score 1) 662

Realistically though, How could the BBC have resolved this any other way?

The way most stars are handled when they act out, you put them into counseling, make them make a public apology, that sort of thing. And that's why the BBC is stupid for being all PC over things Clarkson has said in the past. They gave him final warnings over things which didn't deserve any warning, now this happened and they had no choice but to go straight to firing him.

Comment Re:what will be more interesting (Score 1) 662

Is your entertainment more important than someone being assaulted?

You mean battered. Just threatening someone is assault.

I think a lot of people would benefit from a pop in the nose. And I say that as someone who was bullied in school. Namely, some of those bullies could have used a good socking-up, for some perspective.

We don't know what was said. It's easy to say that violence is never an acceptable answer to something that someone says... But if that's true, then it's equally never acceptable to say something hurtful to someone, because words can hurt more and longer than fists depending on how they are applied.

I'll worry about Clarkson being violent when I find out what was said, and not until.

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