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Comment Options (Score 1) 323

To keep computer cables managed, I'd suggest you simply bundle them together, and where possible, get shorter cords or wrap them up. the monitor, box, and printer cables can generally be consolidated fairly easily, and that's just a start. You can also get away with bundling data-carrying cables with each other (yes, I know, RFI, but you'll get more RFI from power cables).

Three computers and their connecting cables: go with wifi internet where practical (G or N, you're not actually hosting anything, are you?) As far as the utility cables, I'd suggest cable bundling where practical (you wouldn't bundle that wired mouse, for example, but the keyboard? probably.)

Two cellphones? Phone charger plugs were standardized around USB not too long ago, and with those, you can ditch the wall plugin by getting a simple adapter cable. Even the USB-to-proprietary adaptors would clear up a bit of wall adapter mess.

Video and Photo cables should be bundled as well, and as for their proprietary chargers/cables, tuck them away neatly.

Printers are fairly easy to keep neat, especially if you have a print server. It's not hard to do. For that matter, external hard drives tend to be practical with a single fileserver, because it keeps the extraneous clutter managed, and it's consistent to access. For three computers, do you really need two NAS'es where one will do well?

The phone system should be fairly straightforward, but if you're looking for reducing cable clutter for an office workspace, I'd personally go the cell phone route.

Audio systems go two ways: wired, or wireless. I prefer very low lag in my sound, so I prefer wired, but that's my preference. Either way, you're talking about hiding either power cables or the audio wires to your speakers, and those aren't that hard to hide. Do keep them hidden, and not crossing any traffic though, no matter how much better it might sound with it placed a certain way.

Routers and switches are nice and all, but so is the ability to go wireless. Choose something that will get you the least interference and the best signal (I've been happy with my DD-WRT), and choose a good channel (avoid those overcrowded factory settings channels like the plague). Sure, you'd lose an expansion slot, but you'd also lose those cables, as well as the hazards those cables bring with them. Go with the N standard if you have interference issues where you are at, because so few people actually have wifi-N to interfere with you.

If you'd like to watch your power consumption, get one of those load meters. They'll help you figure out whether or not it's those idle bricks that are pulling more power, or that idle photo printer. The wireless router may pull a good draw though, I'm not sure.

In general, my own cable mess is tucked neatly out of the way. The things I use (like my cell charger) is accessible, on the desk, attached to my USB hub. My printer is easily turned off (and stays off for the most part), as is my monitor (max power saving is good).

You can tuck those power strips anywhere, including under furniture (properly insulation is a good idea). Power bricks are harder to hide, but they can be put with them (and hot bricks should -always- stay where they can at least maintain a good temperature). As such, I tend to avoid the cabinetry, since my laptop brick can get scalding hot sometimes, and tend to opt for the behind-the-cabinet approach, where if something does go wrong, I can take care of it. Forgotten surge strips are useless surge strips.

Use your intuition, and be safe!

Comment Re:This is a pretty stupid idea (Score 1) 856

'Making my own lane' isn't a solution in those situations, because 'making my own lane' only works well on wide roads at nighttime. Tell me, what's the right solution?

The visible intent here is to give cyclists some safety space while they have to ride among the cars, especially at night. Cars tend to push that safety space to the limits (how many times have I almost been clipped by a car's mirror?), and any practical edge is worth it.

Who pays for the road is a question of how corporatist might makes right. The real, tangible question here is SAFETY. Is it safe for me to share the road with cars? Generally so, but how about doing the same, going up hills? Or in inclement weather, like wind, or heavy rain? That is why bicycle lanes are important.

I am responsible for my own safety, and moreso, because I don't have the protection that a car would afford me. I have to be able to say that it would be better for me to ride slowly on that sidewalk than it would be for me to ride among the cars in heavy, visibility-reducing rain, or when I'm riding into the sunlight at dawn or dusk (sunglare on windows and/or driver dazzle).

Bike riders may put themselves in danger by not following the rules, but pretending to be something I'm not (a car) has landed me in more potentially dangerous situations than taking comprehensive control of the situation in the first place. To my irritation, that also includes bending rules not meant to be bent. What is truly important here is that we be given a place (a bicycle lane) where they can both follow the rules and be safe 99% of the time.

Comment Re:How about projecting an object on the left? (Score 1) 856

The bike projector would give a similar reaction to a car driver.

Even a wobbly line would tell a driver "oh, i need to give him a little space if possible". Lines and space-giving are very much in a driver's mentality. Scoring points (+1 for that cyclist!) isn't reality.

I agree that most drivers tend not to care, and that's why we need things that work, even if they don't work perfectly. I seriously doubt that this would give a driver a "hunter mentality".

Comment Re:Just get off the damn footpath (Score 1) 856

In many parts of the country, keeping off the pavement means riding through mud, grass, and people's property. Riding on sidewalks is not a safe solution, and is prone to finding that crack in the sidewalk that punctures your tire, but it's often (at least in my experience) a better solution than running along with thoroughfare traffic.

Lumping bicycles together with large vehicle traffic is an imperfect solution (30mph tops, sometimes on 50mph roads), and is a 'solution' that the highway department doesn't want to solve appropriately by actually building more infrastructure. Building appropriate lanes would also encourage proper rule-following.

We can hold bicyclists to the same rules as cars, but this is like expecting an oversize truck to share a road with a car on a narrow 2-lane road. Someone has to give, and it makes sense to avoid an accident in the first place. I'd rather face the ditch than to face (another) car who thinks that it's safe to tailgate me when the road is wet, very dry (sand drifts), or debris-ridden.

There is much more liability to a bicycle rider in an accident. Sure, carrying insurance helps, but it doesn't fix your broken back from when a car rear-ended you. We also know that insurance companies don't have your welfare in mind.

The problem isn't the rules; the problem is the way that we expect to put apples and oranges together and expect apple juice, when clearly it would be better separately.

Comment Re:Move over Blackwater, THIS is security. (Score 1) 226

The parent post ignores the fact that there's a significant amount of red tape involved in any military action.

Just because there's a billeting office that controls this aspect of security doesn't reflect the fact that there's also a security screening involved. Furthermore, when there's not a well-documented good reason (i.e. more paperwork), why should they let you in at all?

Comment Re:Nothing secret here (Score 1) 226

I really think that access to salt isn't a priority.

As the articles state, the locations of existing power conduits was one of the largest deciding factors.

Camp Williams also has a lot more going for it than meets the eye, seeing as how it's on a river's cliffside. It wouldn't be that difficult to put most of the NSA's datacenter into the ground, and just cool it with the help of the local river.

Comment Re:Nothing secret here (Score 1) 226

Take for example Area 51.
It's secrets are kept secret because it's remote; its active security measures are second to that.

Then take for example the Pentagon.
It's secrets are kept secret because of higher quality active security measures.

Even if something is a million square feet, what goes on inside can still be a well-maintained secret. Protecting the infrastructure may seem important, until you start thinking that what goes on inside that infrastructure is more important.

Comment Will this really work? (Score 1, Insightful) 366

A cow that burps less will fart more. Unless the methane coming out of the rear is less than the methane coming out of the front, this won't work.

Personally, I think it would be a lot more effective (and it makes more sense) to genetically engineer the methane-producing bacteria in their digestive tract, solving the problem at the root of the cause. Of course, you'd have to make bacteria that are more efficient than their natural counterparts; but this can be done faster and cheaper than raising generations of genetically engineered cattle would be.

Comment Re:It's Far, Far More Efficient... (Score 0, Redundant) 150

While your post makes sense, I simply don't see Google as being willing to join that group of people.

Google's policies are generally the "nice guy" approach to things. They might be powerful, but they don't like to put themselves in a situation of potentially big liability.

(just imagine, google's servers could be hacked, revealing who is where and what they're doing). Google has enough problems trying to fend off the litigation it feels it doesn't deserve; why add to that plate?

Comment Re:Good (Score 0, Redundant) 150

We are responsible for what happens within our own country. The DHS is responsible for knowing what happens within our own country.

I agree that domestic spying isn't the way to go; after all, we should be able to earn the trust of the people within our nation.

I'm not fond of police state policies. After all, it focuses too much power in one location, and power breeds corruption.

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