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Comment Re:probabilities? (Score 1) 238

The NSAs main purpose used to be codebreaking. I bet a number of years ago a report was sent to the top describing how with modern (at the time) methods encryption would be impossible to crack in any reasonable amount of time and resources. So they switched to the alternative of snooping on the data while it was in plaintext, and trying to introduce weaknesses into future encryption schemes, and using side channels to pick up snippets. Hence their whole existance is based largely on mass surveillance.

Comment Re:Fuck the foreigners Re:What about inbound? (Score 1) 347

That's what we want to change. The biggest problem is that the enemy of the NSA is anyone that would oppose it, or tear it down. It will move to defend itself by using it's considerable power. It needs to be torn down and replaced with an entity with a more targeted mission and more oversight.

Comment Re: No story here, move along (Score 1) 208

Science is created by man. But some theories are consistent with others. You can't have a physical system with inconsistent math. So, actually, you do have a choice. You choose the theories that are most consistent with theory. Your idea of a physical universe with no irrational lengths would imply untenable consequences. But you can choose to subscribe to it if you wish.

Comment Re: No story here, move along (Score 1) 208

No, he's not. There isn't any reason to expect that the ratio of radius to circumference of a physical circle is raional, especially if Planck's constant is irrational. There is also no reason to expect such a ratio to be the same for all such "circles", hence no single constant pi. Personally I prefer the purely analytical definition of pi...

Comment Re:Difference between erratic & erotic (Score 1) 600

I think different people are studying the origins of the universe vs the general population's understanding of science. I for one am interested in both. It bothers me greatly that the people running the country don't generally have much understanding of science. I think it might be handy, esp. for things like the dept of energy, but what do I know?

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