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Comment: A non-issue (Score 1) 665

by haggus71 (#42770647) Attached to: As Music Streaming Grows, Royalties Slow To a Trickle

You guys are posting this as if it were some mainstream performer, who is down on their luck because of internet music streaming. Hey, I'm sorry you aren't making Yo-Yo Ma money; but no other cellist is, either. Most cellists work to perform in an orchestra for money, or play for the art. If you wanted to make money in music, you are playing the WRONG instrument.

Seriously, why is it even an issue? She's lucky to be getting that many people even listening to her, or getting paid that much. Yo Yo Ma makes his money in performances. The music industry is, in a way, going backwards. You have a few studio chimps and "lucky ones" who will sell a bunch of albums. Most others, if they want to make money, will do it old school...on the road. Led Zeppelin got their own plane from their tour earnings, not from album sales; though those were big, as well. Most bands in the alt-indie circuit earned through regional venue appearances. In Asheville we have plenty of groups who make their fill touring regionally. Yes, they aren't making coke and limousine money; but it's ridiculous to think you can.

Music performers seem to forget: they are artists and entertainers. Their job isn't a 9-5'er, where they are owed a steady paycheck. Sorry, honey, but the onus of earning money is on YOU. You have a web site. You have a contract with Pandora and Spotify better than any you would get with radio(good luck getting a station to play an "avant-gard cellist", lol). Quit the crying and work on that server job at TGIFriday's, or get out there performing; but don't go crying about how hard it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzK5dmZHqr0

Comment: Maybe not for him... (Score 1) 1010

by haggus71 (#40811289) Attached to: Political Science Prof Asks: Is Algebra Necessary?
It might not be needed for a Poly-Sci major(love the contradiction of calling that a science). For those who want to exercise their mind, and to have a head up on most others around them, however, yes, understanding Algebra(and I might argue Geometry and Trigonometry) is necessary. This is just another argument to dumb down classes so parents who raise their children like veal can be happy with even more devalued A's in class. The only good thing is, Those whose kids actually work hard and do it the right way will be the bosses, while those awesome LA and PS degree kids will do what they've been doing...taking my order and getting my drink at the restaurant.

Comment: Evolution at work (Score 1) 245

by haggus71 (#40704957) Attached to: An Olympic Games For Enhanced Athletes?

If someone wants to juice up or use other substances to make themselves bigger, stronger or faster, go for it. Hell, open up the Olympics to them. Steroids and HGH have severe hormonal effects and can kill the thyroid. The fast increase in muscle mass does irreversible long-term damage to the ligaments and tendons; it also damages the heart. The kidneys get shot from all the supplements which are filtered through them, as is the liver. Finally, if you jack up the metabolism too high, it's like running a car at high speed too long. It's gonna wear out faster.

Which is fine by me! True evolution is not the strongest surviving, but those who stay under the radar, have genetic diversity, and pass that diversity on. Hard to do that with testicles fried into non-existence or ovaries shot from "enhancement."

Comment: Go prepay (Score 1) 314

by haggus71 (#40696013) Attached to: Fair price for an unlimited wireless data plan?
Buy your own, unlocked phone. 50 bucks a month will get you unlimited data, talk and text on Verizon and other networks. The phone you get may not be the shiniest thing on the market, but they are plenty capable; and 4G LTE phones are coming out for prepay. Plus, unless you want someone to know, your number is anonymous. That, alone, is worth the price.

Comment: Most are soldiers (Score 1) 285

by haggus71 (#40655753) Attached to: What Is an Astronaut's Life Worth?

Treat it as you do a military mission. They are soldiers. Every soldier goes into a situation knowing there is a chance he may die. You make it safe as possible(situation awareness, body armor, weaponry), but you know that part of your mission is, if necessary, to die. I would argue manned space flight, especially for the USSR and US in the 60's, was the same. Your life is at risk, yes; but the thrill of going into space, and the achievement for mankind, outweighs the risks.

It was never the astronauts who worried about the risk, anyway. It was the pussified, weak public, who, raised on the wimpy, never-risked-anything-in-their-lives 60's generation(other than vets and true activists), can't understand the risk-reward concept is necessary not just for achievements, but for the advancement of our species as a whole. They don't get that, if we don't do it, another group will. You can land all the robots you want; but if there are no people there to claim it, they mean nothing. It will be the Chinese astronaut standing next to the flag on Mars that matters, not the American Tonka toys collecting dust.

Comment: They ARE PC's (Score 1) 636

by haggus71 (#40581927) Attached to: Preparing For Life After the PC

Calling for the end of the PC forgets the definition of a personal computer. I'd say that, far from being the end, Smart phones and tablets are more the "personal" part of the PC than a Desktop. Besides, until you can have the graphics and cooling that a PC has, handhelds will never meet the gaming or graphics design requirements of PC's. The traditional desktop is becoming a niche type of PC, not disappearing.

I would argue, however, that the laptop IS threatened. Wedged between the portability of a smartphone and the expandability and durability of a desktop, the laptop, even in ultra form, is fast becoming obsolete. If others go the way of Apple, and do away with the ability to even fix them or expand them, in five years laptops may go the way of netbooks.

Comment: Re:Have they actually found it? (Score 5, Interesting) 652

by haggus71 (#40547191) Attached to: Texas Scientists Regret Loss of Higgs Boson Quest
I'll listen to the hundreds of Ph.D's that have been dealing with this day in and day out, and knew beforehand to make sure they had a high confidence level before releasing the info. They had this stuff over 6 months ago, maybe longer; and vetted it, making sure it was sigma 5 before letting it loose. They did that because there are ass hats like yourself even in their own community. The fact that Stephen Hawking(a much greater mind than you) was confident enough in the results to say he lost a hundred dollars on betting they wouldn't find it, says a lot. So really, I'll take their word for it, since your "confidence level" means fuck-all.

Comment: The point is moot (Score 0) 440

by haggus71 (#39951941) Attached to: UK Home Secretary Bans US Martial Arts Expert

In cases of our own citizens being limited in travel, such as the ex-Marine who couldn't leave Indiana by plane, I would argue against these; as they are US citizens, with certain rights and liberties which cannot be limited without due process of law. In the case of Kung Fu Jones, here...well, it's a free country here, and you can say what you want. Just don't think those same freedoms will make you desirable as a visitor in a foreign country. He trying to go to a foreign country to make the Bobbies' jobs more dangerous. In ANY country, that is called Sedition, which, in any nation, confers a penalty of life in prison or death. Forget the "legalities", it's called common fucking sense! You want to go somewhere, don't say you're gonna teach its citizens how to beat up the police!

For a SEAL, he ain't too bright. Now, if he were a Marine...j/k

Comment: BWAHAHAHAHA! (Score 1) 190

by haggus71 (#39102203) Attached to: Chinese Court Orders Ban On Apple's iPad

I love all those arguing the "fairness" side of the issue. Apple is screwing the pooch on this one. They thought they could bring their holier-than-thou attitude to the PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA! General Motors, GE, et al, could have warned them, from years of business, that they need to kiss some ass and pay some respect to the Government there. Blizzard did the same thing a few years ago. When the PRC shut down their servers and told them to either do business with who they wanted them to, or take a hike, they calculated the fact that about half their subs are in the PRC into the equation and started the ass-kissing.

Grow up, children. Yes, what they are doing blurs the lines of legality. This is the nation in which one of their leaders was responsible for the deaths of 70 million of his OWN PEOPLE! How much do you think they care about Apple's punk ass. There is nowhere in the world that has the training, size, or infrastructure, at the low cost they offer, that China does. So put your dicks back in your pants, because The ChiComm's is much MUCH bigger!

Would it help if I got out and pushed? -- Princess Leia Organa

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