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Comment defined benefit scheme is the problem (Score 1) 386

With investment proceeds inherently uncertain, in a defined benefit scheme (ie where the pension is agreed up front and not directly related to the amount contributed nor the returns) someone always gets screwed. Its usually the taxpayer as the schemes are usually too generous, but sometimes its the employee.

Comment Re:seems to be the norm (Score 1) 482

I've not followed this story in detail, but one thing which could explain why the brakes do not counteract the engine is if they were initially applied gently - over a period of time the brakes balance the engine acceleration until the brakes overheat and become ineffective. At that point, stomping on the brakes does not help and you crash. If you have a stuck throttle and can't get the engine off/in neutral/disengage clutch/etc then apply the brakes hard and you will stop promptly.

Comment Re:What does this mean for other OSes, like MeeGo? (Score 1) 257

Spot on about Android being best OS with any real future. Sadly, it is clear that Nokia is not going to give Meego more than token support and will continue its doomed attempts to turn Symbian into a usable modern smartphone OS. Android does have Google 'lock-in', but it is much more 'gentle' and avoidable than with any other platform. For example, Android is oriented to using Google services, but with minimal effort you can get around this and you know Google won't sue or harass you if you do.
Cellphones

John Carmack Not Enthused About Android Marketplace 163

An anonymous reader writes "During an in-depth and informative interview, Doom creator and id Software co-founder John Carmack opines on iOS game development, the economics of mobile development vs. console development, why mobile games lend themselves to more risk-taking and greater creativity, and finally, why he's not too keen on the Android Marketplace as a money-making machine. '...I'm honestly still a little scared of the support burden and the effort that it's going to take for our products, which are very graphics-intensive.'"

Comment Re:great app, lousy implementation (Score 1) 79

Fair points. Wave may indeed be successfully used in collaboration products like Pulse, and that would be good. But for me that would still be a very disappointing outcome and is what I had in mind when I wrote 'languishing in obscurity'. The great promise and potential, which sadly won't be fulfilled, was for collaboration and communication across broader communities beyond one company or group of friends.

Comment Re:great app, lousy implementation (Score 3, Insightful) 79

I agree the implementation was lousy. Unfortunately, now that Google isn't backing wave, fixing the implementation will not prevent wave from languishing in obscurity. By its nature wave is only useful if many of the people you know or work with are signed up. Open source can fix the implementation, but its lousy at marketing.
Medicine

High Fructose Corn Syrup To Get a Makeover 646

An anonymous reader writes "With its sweetener linked to obesity, some cancers and diabetes, the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) doesn't want you to think 'fructose' when you see high fructose corn syrup in your soda, ketchup or pickles. Instead, the AP reports, the CRA submitted an application to the FDA, hoping to change the name of their top-selling product to 'corn sugar.'"

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