Comment: Re:As a voter who normally leans Democrat... (Score 1) 1128
Just now noticing the infantile lefty bias in /. mod's? If only the mod threshold was <= not >=, the moderation filter would be more useful on topics like this.
Comment: Re:As a voter who normally leans Democrat... (Score 0) 1128
Just now noticing the infantile lefty bias in /. mod's?
If only the mod threshold was =, the moderation filter would be more useful on topics like this.
Comment: Re:Hmmmm. (Score 1) 427
How about this: Windows 7 isn't bad, asterisk*
*as long as you don't compare it to XP or Win2k
*as long as you don't compare it to XP or Win2k
Price Shocks May Be Coming For Helium Supply 362
Posted
by
kdawson
from the squeaky-voice-price-inflation dept.
from the squeaky-voice-price-inflation dept.
Ars has an update on the potential helium shortage we discussed a couple of years back. A Nobel laureate, Robert Richardson, argues for ending market distortions that are resulting in an artificially low price for helium, which is accelerating the projected exhaustion of the supply. "Richardson's solution is to rework the management of the Bush Dome [so named for reasons that have nothing to do with the politician] stockpile once again, this time with the aim of ensuring that helium's price rises to reflect its scarcity. In practical terms, he said that it would be better to deal with a 20-fold increase in price now than to deal with it increasing by a factor of thousands in a few decades when supply issues start to become critical. But he also made an emotional appeal, stating, 'One generation doesn't have the right to determine the availability forever.'"
The Tuesday Birthday Problem 981
Posted
by
kdawson
from the if-it's-tuesday-it-must-be-a-girl dept.
from the if-it's-tuesday-it-must-be-a-girl dept.
An anonymous reader sends in a mathematical puzzle introduced at the recent Gathering 4 Gardner, a convention of mathematicians, magicians, and puzzle enthusiasts held biannually in Atlanta. The Tuesday Birthday Problem is simply stated, but tends to mislead both intuitive and mathematically informed guesses. "I have two children, one of whom is a boy born on a Tuesday. What's the probability that my other child is a boy?" The submitter adds, "Believe it or not, the Tuesday thing is relevant. Well, sort of. It's ambiguous."
Tornado Scientists Butt Heads With Storm Chasers 402
Posted
by
Soulskill
from the any-way-the-wind-blows-doesn't-really-matter-to-me dept.
from the any-way-the-wind-blows-doesn't-really-matter-to-me dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Tornado researchers say amateurs — inspired by movies like Twister and shows like Storm Chasers — are getting in their way, hampering science and creating hazards. 'Hundreds of camera-toting amateurs in cars ended up chasing the same storms as a fleet of scientific vehicles during the high-profile research project, called Vortex2, which wrapped up data collection this week. At times the line of traffic caused the Midwestern roads to look like the freeways of Los Angeles, said Roger Wakimoto, director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, during a briefing for reporters this week. "I worry about this as a safety hazard," Mr. Wakimoto said. "These people were blocking our escape routes because of the sheer number of cars."' Storm chasers say they have as much right to watch storms as Ph.D.s."
Obama Will Nominate Elena Kagan To the Supreme Court 413
Posted
by
CmdrTaco
from the let-the-battle-begin dept.
from the let-the-battle-begin dept.
Mr Pink Eyes writes "President Obama has made his choice to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court that was left by the retirement of Justice Stevens. According to this article that choice will be Elena Kagan."
Comment: Re:OXYMORON ALERT (Score 0) 999
Have not met a democrat with an altar to any human being at all.
You forgot the
The nightly news turned into a BHO worship service for many during the campaign. Chris Matthews Obsession culminated into an Orgasm on a live news show while speaking of Him. Thank God he kept his clothes on and his willy in his pants while his leg was tingling.
Praise be to Obama.
Best Resource For Identifying Legit Applications? 255
Posted
by
kdawson
from the x-ray-goggles dept.
from the x-ray-goggles dept.
bjb writes "While helping a somewhat computer illiterate person figure out a problem recently, they mentioned that PDF files had recently stopped working. Upon investigation I found something installed called 'PDF Suite.' Never having heard of it, I Googled it with 'malware' and other key words, but nothing turned up, though my suspicion remained (and was somewhat confirmed by WOT.) So my question is, where can you go to find out if something is legitimate? Because the person I'm helping is on a dial-up connection, downloading malware detection applications (and updates) is too heavy consider. And I don't maintain a USB stick with such apps, since I don't do this kind of thing very often. Where can you quickly find information?"
After Learning Java Syntax, What Next? 293
Posted
by
timothy
from the nice-hot-bath dept.
from the nice-hot-bath dept.
Niris writes "I'm currently taking a course called Advanced Java Programming, which is using the text book Absolute Java, 4th edition, by Walter Savitch. As I work at night as a security guard in the middle of nowhere, I've had enough time to read through the entire course part of the book, finish all eleven chapter quizzes, and do all of the assignments within a month, so all that's left is a group assignment that won't be ready until late April. I'm trying to figure out what else to read that's Java related aside from the usual 'This is how to create a tree. This is recursion. This is how to implement an interface and make an anonymous object,' and wanted to see what Slashdotters have to suggest. So far I'm looking at reading Beginning Algorithms, by Simon Harris and James Ross."
Studies Find Harm From Cellular and Wi-Fi Signals 474
Posted
by
kdawson
from the perennial-question dept.
from the perennial-question dept.
Over the years we've discussed the possible health risks of cellphone and other microwave radiation: studies from Israel and Sweden indicating a link between cellphone use and cancer, one from England exonerating cell towers as a cause of "microwave radiation sensitivity," and a recent 30-year Swedish study that found no link to cancer. The question won't go away though. Reader Artifice_Eternity writes "I've always tended to dismiss claims of toxicity from cell phone and Wi-Fi signals as reflecting ignorance about microwave radiation. However, this GQ article cites American and European studies going back decades that have found some level of biological harm caused by these signals. Why haven't they gained more attention? Quoting: 'Industry-funded studies seem to reflect the result of corporate strong-arming. Lai reviewed 350 studies and found that about half showed bioeffects from EM radiation emitted by cell phones. But when he took into consideration the funding sources for those 350 studies, the results changed dramatically. Only 25 percent of the studies paid for by the industry showed effects, compared with 75 percent of those studies that were independently funded.'"
Comment: Re:I don't believe it (Score 1) 749
I have experienced 0-60 in half a sec in a Prius when I was rear ended by a Hummer when i pulled out in front of him. The airbag deployed and knocked off my beret, and my latte scalded my lips and soul patch, as I was about to take a sip. I am dead now but that is better for the planet because now my carbon foot print will be nil. Sadly though it destroyed my Obama/Biden '08 bumper sticker.
Fuck my Karma, its funny b/c its true. Stereotypes save time. You know you have seen someone like this at a stoplight downtown, blaring NPR on their way to a Yoga class
Comment: Re:I don't believe it (Score -1, Flamebait) 749
I have experienced 0-60 in half a sec in a Prius when I was rear ended by a Hummer when i pulled out in front of him. The airbag deployed and knocked off my beret, and my latte scalded my lips and soul patch, as I was about to take a sip.
I am dead now but that is better for the planet because now my carbon foot print will be nil. Sadly though it destroyed my Obama/Biden '08 bumper sticker.
Students Failing Because of Poor Grammar 1343
Posted
by
timothy
from the end-thats-inn-kanada dept.
from the end-thats-inn-kanada dept.
innocent_white_lamb writes "30% of freshman university students fail a 'simple English test' at Waterloo University (up from 25% a few years ago. Academic papers are riddled with 'cuz' (in place of 'because') and even include little emoticon faces. One professor says that students 'think commas are sort of like parmesan cheese that you sprinkle on your words.' At Simon Fraser University, 10% of students are not qualified to take the mandatory writing courses."
Gun With Wireless Arming Signal Goes On Sale Soon 457
Posted
by
timothy
from the but-it's-common-sense-don'tcha-see dept.
from the but-it's-common-sense-don'tcha-see dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Armatix has built a pistol that will disarm itself when it is taken away from a watch that sends it a wireless arming signal. The .22 caliber guns will go on sale in the US within months, and the initial price is 7,000 euro. Higher caliber models will follow. To activate the gun, users must enter a pin code on the wristwatch, and then keep it within roughly 20cm of the gun. If the person is disarmed, the gun can't be used against them. Also coming soon this year, civilians will also be able to buy three-shot Tasers, rubber bullets, as well as Heckler and Koch black rifles." This might not be good news for the citizens of New Jersey.