The human brain absolutely IS a deterministic computer. (on some level) Choice is based on available data. That data may be from any combination of possible sensory and memetic inputs, but no decision is made in a vacuum. We may not -- yet -- know the specific algorithms that determine, for example, the choice of a mate. We know many of the factors that can contribute: specific hormone levels, societal norms, etc, and any Advertising exec can program the vast majority to buy unrelated stuff based on those inputs. To use poor old Pavlov as example, the mind can be trainied in very specific ways. If brains were non-deterministic, there would be equal chance that ringing a bell would cause salivation and homicidal rage. The brain is a black box. There is nothing to say we can't build our own black box that does the same thing.

a thousand times this ^ I tried to write C code in eclipse. *shudder*. Went back to gedit and a command prompt.

A good maiming is probably better. Death itself is not a great deterrent. Lots of people say "I want to die" not many say, "I want to be handicapped". So. cut off their hands and remove their vocal cords. This diminishes their ability to create more spam, and also diminishes the possibility of them passing on the meme that made them think that what they were doing was okay.

So what's out there that is equivalent to a GM Tech II? Sure, I can get DTCs, and freeze frames with my little scanner, but what about the Body Control Module, ABS subsystem, Transmission/Transfer case controller, etc?

Rational means that it can be expressed as the ratio of two integers.

I blame the car makers. How dare GM not have the foresight to include aux in or bluetooth in the 1975 corvette!!

When can I get a 3d laser sintering machine instead. I wan METAL stuff.

My Nick will be obsolete soon....

Not so sure. Guns make suicide easier.

I was with you up to l that vi nonsense. Emacs FTW!!!

I don't know, but the furthest right seem to be a bit more rabid than the furthest left. Full disclosure: I'm a registered independent and typically vote for whoever I haven't heard of. (heard of is an odd language construct, it sounds ok in my ear, but looks wrong on paper)

Nothing is lighter than hydrogen. A vacuum contains nothing.Therefore a vacuum will be buoyant in hydrogen.

Is there a cross reference for drug side effects? You could put in "explosive diarrhea" and get back he list of drugs that can cause it.

That is a silly question. If AGW is indeed the absolute truth and global warning would actually cause the death of people, then the answer is obvious: As the climate change is being cause by humans, less humans would mean less climate change. The more die, the less of a problem it becomes.

  FWIW, global thermonuclear war in the 60's would have fixed this little problem. But noooooo, couldn't have that could we? Damn hippies and your "no nukes" jibber-jabber. Now look what you did!

To be honest, I don't mind it as long as it isn't over the top. Everywhere I look IRL, there are branded products. It only gets stupid when it is blatant. E.g. Every can of soda is exactly the same and in the same orientation all the time or every computer that is NOT a DELL has the brand masked.