Posts by Mark 85

Re: Okay, so you linked to a movie, and didn't even bother with the obligatory Father Ted scene...

And then there's the Blues Brothers with their "penquins" controlling things....

The only problem with that is the concept of "low cost". Guidance systems aren't cheap. Maybe AA guns with flak? Oh wait... the stuff will fall somewhere so maybe we just need to build a wall around all the airports.

This is a joke right?

And then when they get back to work they'll be in trouble for not reading emails and complying. The agency is telling them they have 10 days and will be held accountable.

I suppose that the political types thought that since the government was shutdown, the miscreants of the world would also be shutdown. Nice to know that there are top people in charge... top!

Re: Let's hope

I hope you're right. Here I was expecting some exec/board member from Google to be appointed. Call me surprised.

Re: Droning on

I'm sorry, but I don't think that's credible - there must have been something credible out there, but I suspect that they were more focused on finding the idiot controlling the thing than filming it.

If there was actually a drone, could it have been flown by someone directed to fly it? They want more "security", more "power" and so this would give the excuse they need. High profile, lots of unhappy and pissed off people venting about "drones". If, in reality, there wasn't a drone then it might be more likely that the drone was a ruse for more control/power.

Re: so what borderline things will you be claiming for this year?

No border? So, no big, beautiful wall? Oh wait... you have the Channel.

Re: Many mysteries

My father referred to Americans as being "Heinz 57".... basically a mix of everything in everyone. Yes, I'm one also as was he. He did a genealogy of the so called family tree and it looked more like a massive fur ball instead of the nice straight lines one sees elsewhere. I suspect that most of us are like that with links going all over the world.

I posit that with leadership changes here in the west (possible but not likely) that each country or blcic could demand their own version of Google. I wonder what Google would do then? The quest for profit usually leads to a company willing to do almost anything for it to keep the shareholders happy.

Re: Pussy Galore ?

As I recall, he sold the rights to the title of his books and the rights to character names. The studios couldn't do a movie of the actual book.

Re: Shutdown as negotation

I didn't know whether to upvote this or reach for the mind bleach. I ended up choosing do both. I just hope the mind bleach is past it's "use by" date.

Re: While I agree the speaker of the house shouldn't leave the US

Petty? I think that fits. If I recall correctly from all the media hype and mixed messages, he's taken a trip or two on AF1 for what some would call "campaign" purposes. But for her to try to do such a trip was just plain stupid on her part. No one is taking the high road nor being a statesman. It's all petty politics with the citizens and those laid off as the pawns.

Seems we have a dysfunctional government these days much like some other countries. Wish the children running things (here in the US and elsewhere) would either grow up or go sit in the naughty corner.

Re: A large post-it

I have a list using a notepad that sits on my desk at my house. The last page of said notepad. For "backup", there's a copy in my fireproof lockbox in the closet. Not too paranoid, right? If the house burns down, the lockbox should be safe although I'll probably have bigger problems than not having a password at had.

Why would you include such an experiment when it would be displacing any number of other experiments that were probably put forward by China's universities?

Publicity...

Time to check down in the couch. There might be a few hiding there amongst the lost coins, furry dust, and cookie crumbs.

What odds can I get on:

- American casino owners having to repay all the money they've earned online in the past

Fat chance of that happening.

- Antigua getting any settlement money, ever

See answer above,

- Campaign contributions by gambling interests increasing sharply in the near future?

This is a definite yes....

Given that fearless leader still has some interest in gambling establishments, if Congress puts this in a spending bill, it'll probably be signed off pretty quick. Hmmm.. might this be a ploy to pass a budget and end the shutdown???? The Bible belt may come into play though and try to fight it.

Re: Accusations

I grow weary of this point-me-to-a-target-and-expect-me-to-rage climate that we live in.

Such are the times we live in. It's infiltrated all levels of government and even the population. All we can hope for is sanity to return or a very entertaining one last light show as the countries around the world go into destruct mode.

Well, for a start, I would assume it means that vendor staff are actually employed by the vendor on the vendors contract.

Exactly and thus subject to different rules. So if a contractor complains, they'll probably just have their contract pulled and end up unemployed. Job-shopping/Contract Work has many advantages for someone willing to take such a position, but job security, benefits, and the ability to file complaints about the contracting company aren't part of the benefits. Contracting firms are more likely to just get rid of anyone who complains.

I think the early users of the double working liked the way it rolled off the tongue, but <shrugs> who knows. Local lingo is what it is.

Re: So does this also invalidate all facial recognition installed everywhere?

I'm probably mistaken but I recall something where photos of the phone owner could be used. So, would this be in violation of the court order?

Re: Bandwidth!

Yeah, thanks for big-upping this asshole's ego.

I think that's a side effect of the plod and the prosecutor's self-ego enhancing statement. All prosecutor's seem to do this as if to show that they are smarter than the crims and to justify their time on the case. It also hides the fact that most of them have little clue about all things computer related.

IOW, it's bluster for the masses.

Re: deepfake?

But "deepfake" is so much more.. it's a buzzword.

I wasn't living in Oregon when he got into office, but I have to admit that I keep voting for him. He is a rarity in Washington.

Re: How many Shuttles could have been kept operative..

So what exactly do you want, Bob? A wall? A shuttle? Low taxes?