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Comment Re:Experiment probably worse than the real thing (Score 1) 145

On a simulated mission, you're just guinea pigs. Staying motivated must very difficult.

I certainly agree to some extent. If you check out the links this goes beyond simple will-power and excitement. It is more biological. This isn't the first time this has been talked about either and even Sci-fi writers though about this issue for long trips in our era (Earth room in Danny Boyles 'Sunshine' comes to mind).

Mood lighting in over-seas flights help with sleeping on modern aircraft too, regardless of the excitement of passengers arriving in a time-zone much different from the one they left in. This is just a silly example that seems to fit with their findings. Yes, long-haul flights are 7 to 20 hours long but it is the closest most of us come to that kind of scenario.

Comment Re:Anonymity (Score 1) 212

Lots of, um, words about disjointed stuff that I couldn't tie together. Maybe someone else can be so helpful as to sum it up in a way that makes sense?

Unfortunately there isn't much to the article. It started off like it had a real purpose but it is barely an introduction to Jaron Lanier.

However, what's important to his arguments and a lot of us who feel 'anonymity' is important is this: Anonymity isn't about hiding. It's about being safe to be yourself.

Your BBS example is important because reasonable parties involved resolving an act that isn't called for. Services like Facebook can do whatever they please the data you provide them with, especially since they can make a penny with marketing it. It gets worse when corporate or government interest moves in to collect this data. It isn't that -you- have anything to hide, but you don't have control where that data goes, or even knowledge to whether it is being protected with the civil-liberties you're supposed to have.

The only thing I can think to compare it to is speeding on the highway. You might be the type who goes 110 in a 100 zone. You might be the type to follow the guy in front of you who is going 130 and hope he gets the ticket. Either way, it's your choice and you know that you're not breaking a terrible law. You can do your best to spot a cop, and adjust accordingly. You're still you, your car, your plates...Your choice. Lets say now that your car is speeding down the highway and you're late, so you speed up a bit. But nope, 80$ warning ticket for 10km/h over the limit. On top of that, you're on your way to an interview and you drive a Toyota Tercel, unfortunately the job is a sale position for a company that makes steering wheels for Honda. The staff see that you like to speed, drive a Toyota and dont plan ahead as not to be late.

Okay, I really reached on the analogy. I don't like the idea of companies getting involved with my personal life. Neither do I want the government and it's fluxing ideals to collect every opinion I've had and judge me for it. This is a real possibility today.

Comment MOD Parent Down (Score 1) 340

Seriously? The keyword is 'planning' and it is early in construction. He didn't say he was leaving this week and is headed to his local boat shop. His problem is one that fits this community: plenty of radio nerds, seamen and a good amount of engineers floating around the comments. I for one am interested in what kind of equipment comes up.

Comment Re:Should have called it BBQ (Score 1) 90

I'm pretty sure that was part of their initial brainstorming of names, but business people respond better to edgy sounding names like 'X', and 'RR' when it comes to products. Scientific fact.

BBQ would have just made them more of a laughing stock,"Hey did you try Black Berry's new OS BBQ? No? Well I hear it's 'well-done!'"

Can you imagine?

Comment Version confusion? (Score 1) 76

I am a little confused. I have a netbook with version 1.4. Have they decided to just call all versions 1.2 or just the core, especially since the netbook page no longer lists 1.4 updates?

I really liked MeeGo's interface on my netbook but the styling is kind of childish. The other downside is the lack of applications offered and 3rd party audio support.

[J]

Comment Re:Not sure about the point (Score 1) 406

That's great and all but it is still dependant on your device(s). You loose one, and you have to do it all over again. Add a new CD? It can be sync'd between the 3 devices consumers tend to have, phone, tablet and Desktop/Laptop. So instead of copying them one by one, or when you buy music online, having to dump it and back it up, the library is there.

A lot of people will really appreciate this service. I'm one. As a DJ I have a lot of backups of important music files and hard drives, records etc etc. Now I just keep the Analogue copies and one place for my digital copies. Instead of in CDs, phones, iPods, USBs, Extern-HDs. I'm tried of E-Waste too, it's cloud services that will keep my data accessible in a connected world. Google Docs has changed the way I handle a lot of my files, having this extended to music will be excellent.

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