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Comment: Nukes good theoretically; practically, not so much (Score 1) 171

by kevin lyda (#45634829) Attached to: Climatologist James Hansen Defends Nuclear Energy

Nukes are theoretically safe and efficient. As I understand it, there's not enough known uranium sources on Earth to power the world, but in conjunction with solar, wind, hydro and bio-fuels (preferably from waste) there's enough.

Unfortunately, theories don't build nuke plants. Corporations do. And we can't manage to regulate large retail stores to make them behave in a socially responsible way, why do we think we can regulate a giant power company? Japan generally comes across as a competent, long-term thinking country. And yet even their political culture couldn't prevent fraud and corruption in the building of their nuke plants.

Until our political systems can effectively regulate large corporations, I'm opposed to nuclear power. The theory's great, but so far I don't see designs that can survive large-scale corruption.

Handhelds

Ask Slashdot: Easy Wi-Fi-Enabled Tablet For My Dad? 320

Posted by Soulskill
from the if-only-the-weather-channel-made-a-tablet dept.
An anonymous reader writes "I'm looking to pick up a tablet for my father. He is in his 70s and the internet is a bit of a mystery to him, but he asked me about a way to send/receive email and watch online videos. He is not interested in getting a smartphone or changing his cheap phone plan that doesn't include data. But he is interested in getting a tablet and using the free Wi-Fi that is available in his building. Here is my question: can you recommend a tablet equivalent to those phones with the big numbers that they sell to older people? Does there exist a tablet with an interface that would be simple and easy to use for someone who has very little experience with computer GUIs?"

Comment: DIET OF THE POOR (Score 4, Insightful) 545

by Jeremiah Cornelius (#45627521) Attached to: Diet Drugs Work: Why Won't Doctors Prescribe Them?

It is the cause. It IS a social one.

It is because of corporate food production, factory farming and industrial "recipes" that make cheap and plentiful Soylent Soy or Corpulent Corn - with added glutimate to overstimulate appetite generation.

These are the product of an agribusiness that has made this production a part of public policy, through the US Farm Bill and other legislative manipulation.

If you are deliberately misinformed, marketed to death, and underpaid, the last thing you need to solve for the attendant health effects is more pills. It's like plugging your nostrils, because you have a cold.

But I bet the pharmaceutical and health-insurance rackets love the idea...

Comment: Re: Human error (Score 1) 151

by John Jorsett (#45627251) Attached to: About 25% of HealthCare.gov Applications Have Errors

Except with Obamacare, it's the law that you have to use the 1.0 buggy release.

It seems like you are conflating the website with the law. You do have to get insurance, but you do not have to use the website.

If you are entitled to a subsidy, the website is the only way to get it. Direct applications to insurers won't receive one.

+ - Japan: state secrets are whatever we say they are and you don't need to know.-> 1

Submitted by kermidge
kermidge writes ""Japanese scientists and academics are warning that legislation threatening prison terms for those who divulge and publish what the government deems a state secret threatens academic freedom and the public’s right to know."

Seems that what constitutes a state secret is not clearly defined, but punishments for divulging one are: 10 years in prison for government employees; 5 for journalists.

This new law, which sailed through the lower house of the Diet on 26 November and is expected to pass the upper house on 8 December, was fast-tracked, apparently in a bid to avoid much in the way of discussion, especially as about the only ones in favor of it are the ruling party.

This law is similar to provisions to be subscribed by all of the 12 initial members of the upcoming TPP, which is also to be fast-tracked by Congress. Slashdotters from the U.S. and abroad will likely recognize similar laws, or proposed laws, in their own countries."
Link to Original Source

+ - First Commercial Moon Lander Unveiled->

Submitted by Jeremiah Cornelius
Jeremiah Cornelius writes "Ready to launch in 2015, California-based Moon Express unveiled its MX-1 lunar lander on Thursday in Las Vegas, at the Autodesk University conference. The MX-1's main rocket engine will burn hydrogen peroxide, though it also relies on kerosene as an afterburner to accelerate out of Earth orbit. To reduce mass, engineers used composite materials and eliminated the structure that supports most spacecraft. Instead, the MX-1's fuel tanks serve as the structure. The lander is designed for delivering 132 pounds (60 kilograms) of payload to the lunar surface."
Link to Original Source

"I have five dollars for each of you." -- Bernhard Goetz

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