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Comment Re:When exactly (Score 2) 241

by irussel (#39563207) Attached to: Neil deGrasse Tyson Outlines a Plan For Saving Earth From Asteroids

Neil noticed early on that when he gave long winded answers to interview questions, it would be highly edited to fit whatever show it was for. So he started practicing giving short and succinct answers to specific topics. Once he started doing that, his complete answer would make it to the final product, with minimal editing needed.

Comment Re:About time common sense prevailed! (Score 1) 292

by irussel (#39402109) Attached to: Time to Review FAA Gadget Policies

>As a pilot, takeoff is not at all a sensitive time of flight

Actually, takeoff is a critical part of the flight. If something goes wrong, you're low, slow, and the runway is *behind* you. However if you're already in the pattern (and at pattern alt) you could have an engine failure anywhere on the downwind leg and still make it back around to the runway.

The real question is whether or not 300 or so devices turned on affect the planes navigation systems. I seem to remember a study done a while back indicating the potential for problems (if any) was due more to the screens used by smart phones/ebook readers/etc, than wireless or anything else.
Government

Submission + - Activists Seek Repeal of Ban on Incandescent Bulbs 2

Submitted by
Hugh Pickens writes
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "Daniel Sayani reports in New American that Senator Mike Enzi has announced that he plans to introduce legislation to reverse the ban on incandescent light bulbs which is scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2014. "CFLs are more expensive, many contain mercury which can be harmful even in the smallest amounts, and most are manufactured overseas in places like China," says Enzi. "If left alone, the best bulb will win its rightful standing in the marketplace. Government doesn’t need to be in the business of telling people what light bulb they have to use." Faced with a phaseout some consumers are taking pre-emptive steps stockpiling incandescent bulbs, although according to a poll by USA Today, most Americans support the U.S. law that begins phasing out traditional light bulbs next year and, despite some consumer grumbling, say they're satisfied with more efficient alternatives. Nearly three of four US adults, or 71%, say they have replaced standard light bulbs in their home over the past few years with compact fluorescent lamps or LEDs and 84% say they are "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with CFL's and LED's,"

Comment Re:Great book (Score 1) 583

by irussel (#35269264) Attached to: LotR Rewritten From a Mordor Perspective

> A good comment is like a BMW or a Volvo. It does the job it is meant to do, does it well, and rarely (if ever) needs to be repaired.

My guess is you've never owned a BMW or Volvo. Maybe if you would've used Toyota or Honda in your analogy...

Comment Re:How sillilly obvious (Score 1) 615

by irussel (#35070934) Attached to: Do Tools Ever 'Die?'

>It's been ages since I've heard audiophile talk. Yup. It's still bullshit.

He's referring to guitar amps, not stereo amps. In the case of guitar amps, tube amps DO sound better than solid state. You don't get the natural harmonic distortion or volume dynamics of a tube amp in a SS. I've played SS amps that try to mimic tube amps, but its still sterile sounding compared to the real thing.

Now in the case of stereo amps, if you want accuracy, then sure, go with SS.

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