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Comment Re:What this really is (Score 2) 161

No, it isn't really related to that at all. Public-facing web servers, unlike houses, are not by default considered private. The public is expected to and routinely does enter. They are private property, but private property regularly offered to public use. If you require a physical space analogy, sort of like a plaza owned by a corporation, in front of its HQ, which has no fences around it and is regularly accessed by the public.

Comment Re:Non-toxic? (Score 5, Interesting) 128

The nontoxic part doesn't really make sense even taking adaptation into account. There are plenty of natural toxins that are toxic to us and other organisms. Nature sometimes "invents" them specifically for their toxicity, as in the case of reptile venom or mycotoxins.

And as for natural vs. unnatural chemistry: chemical-weapons programs use "unnatural" chemistry, while biological-weapons programs use "natural" chemistry. But does that distinction mean anthrax is the earth-friendly "green" alternative to mustard gas?

Comment Re:Survivor Story (Score 1) 506

it's full of talking heads speculating on every possible thing

My favorite bit of talking-head speculation, which managed to veer from the merely inane to the entirely idiotic, was when the CNN anchors were dramatically playing up that they could not yet confirm whether there were passengers aboard the plane. Because Asiana just randomly flies empty plans ICN-SFO for fun.

Comment a few VTOVL predecessors (Score 4, Informative) 71

If you're interested in this kind of thing, there are a few videos of tests of similar vehicles from the 1990s, in both the U.S. and Japan. But they never got funding to produce production versions.

Links:

McDonnell Douglas DC-X

Japan Space Agency RVT

The DC-X still holds the record for the highest flight by a VTOVL rocket, though Space-X plans to challenge that record in a future test.

Comment Re:Guess the military can save millions then. (Score 4, Insightful) 113

Does the military actually use videogames for desensitization? I can't find anything about that. From what I can tell their desensitization approach is much more about meatspace practice to make certain actions feel rote and normal.

The only mention I can find of the military seriously using videogames is more along the lines of educational games, e.g. simulation games to train Arabic learners how to interact in social situations.

Comment Re:Why not promote a Dvorak keyboard instead? (Score 5, Insightful) 258

It's probably easy to learn, but if you want to maximize input speed, this guy sort of has the right idea, that consolidating common inputs into single units is the way to go to speed up entry. However stenographers have already come up with much more complete stenotype systems, used mainly by court reporters. The downside is that it's a bit esoteric to learn, moreso than Dvorak.

Comment Re:Wait, what? (Score 1) 133

Fwiw, limited taxi medallions were initially demanded by non-taxi-drivers and resisted by the taxi drivers, not initiated as a protectionist measure by the taxi drivers. The first medallion system was instituted in London in the 17th century, because residents and other drivers complained there were too many goddamn taxis driving around in poorly maintained vehicles causing accidents and congestion. So they set a limit on how many taxis could be driving around London, and instituted an inspection & licensing regime to ensure they had maintained vehicles and knew how to drive.

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