Recent Posts

751

Living Room / Digg still exists, and they're hiring :P

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 10:01 PM »

Really.

http://digg.com/jobs

For realz.

And "bankruptcy lawyer/accountant" isn't on the job list!

752

Living Room / Re: Silk Road Seized - Dread Pirate Roberts Arrested

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 09:07 PM »

Ulbricht's lawyer was desperate. The judge wouldn't let them have any defence at all. He took what was left after the judge explicitly banned him from using several other defences.

That was no less a show trial than any you'd expect in North Korea.

Being overly kind, this:



The kangaroo also banned any mention of jury nullification.

753

Living Room / Re: Silk Road Seized - Dread Pirate Roberts Arrested

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 07:12 PM »

Verdict: Guilty. 

So, if anyone does anything on your web site that is illegal, you can go to prison for it. Nice.

Insert freedom:

754

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 06:21 PM »

You can teach a man to fish...

755

Living Room / Re: Show us a picture of your.. CAR!!!

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 02:59 AM »

The Elio looks pretty slick. I don't think I'd get one as a primary/commuter car, but that's because of weather concerns - I'm not really sold on a car that small performing well enough during Canadian winters.

756

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by Renegade on February 04, 2015, 02:42 AM »

Perhaps interesting for some:

-mouser (January 28, 2015, 10:10 PM)

I saw that at a bar during a layover in KL. I wasn't sure if it was some kind of retro or old song that I missed or whether it was new. I only listen to news radio in the car, and we don't have a TV. For some reason it reminded me of something from a long time ago. My first thought was "Baby Got Back" for visuals, but not sure.

757

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on February 03, 2015, 08:12 AM »

Not silly, but seriously twisted & sick humour...

Dark

Go to /r/SuicideWatch and start downvoting everyone.

Explanation

I tripped across that subreddit and was reading through it. A lot of people in a lot of pain.

After quite a while, my dark side kicked in, and thought of mass downvoting when I saw someone actually downvoted a post.

758

Living Room / Internet of Things thread (IoT)

« Last post by Renegade on February 03, 2015, 05:19 AM »

I suppose that it's about time to start this thread. We can all see it coming anyways.

http://www.huffingto...adget_b_6567044.html

The Useless Home Gadgets That Tell Us Not to Think For Ourselves

X-ray specs, Sea Monkeys, Crypto-rings, Whoopee Cushions, Black Eye Telescopes. I loved the comic ads that were used to entice children to part with their pocket money back in the day. They were fun, they were gimmicks, and most importantly, they were cheap and throw away. These days we have the equivalent in a much more adult form in the shape of consumer goods that are billed as wearables or the Internet of Things (or 'Everything' as some people like to say to evoke epic visions of the world seamlessly interconnected).

Well, it seems like the Internet of Things is really gaining momentum thanks to the simple things for the home like Nest Thermostats and Smoke Detectors and the suchlike. It's not just going to be a fad, it will be HUGE. Intel estimates over 200 billion connected devices by 2020 and this will usher in some real uses that aid us in healthcare, business, retail security and transportation.

That's all worth waiting for but right now we have many manufacturers creating gimmicky, nonsensical and seemingly useless gadgets, that are connected to our smartphones and tablets, and portrayed as helping our lives.

More at the link.

It's mostly a rant about crappy gadgets, but the author seems to miss what IoT is about, or perhaps he's just romanticising it as some sort of techno-wonder to solve all our problems. I think he'll be surprised when it happens (and not pleasantly so), and realises what it really is.

759

Living Room / Interview with John McAfee

« Last post by Renegade on February 01, 2015, 09:58 PM »

The techno-wildman is interviewed by Jeff Berwick.

John tells some of the story of how he escaped from Belize, and talks about privacy.

(NSFW language)

760

Developer's Corner / Re: Would appreciate some feedback on my new logos

« Last post by Renegade on January 31, 2015, 05:45 PM »

I like #2 best, but #3 is darn close.

761

Living Room / Re: Who gets sued next? VLC media player? Mozilla?

« Last post by Renegade on January 31, 2015, 05:21 AM »

Blog software also has one purpose, but it is not crime related (at least assuming we have freedom of expression).

-eleman (January 31, 2015, 02:18 AM)

My guess is that in a few years that will ironically be some kind of unintentionally twisted prescience.

Really.

The utter insanity is so bad, that there's a reddit called /r/nottheonion. They're all "The Onion" articles, but real.

762

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 09:05 PM »

^Yes. But on a certain meta-level, isn't claiming ownership of property - in any way, shape, or form - a specie of theft?

-40hz (January 28, 2015, 07:53 PM)

Not in the least. Well, unless you're a communist. And we all know just how awesome communism ends.

-Renegade (January 30, 2015, 06:15 PM)

About as awesomely as Libertarianism and "Free Market" economics keeps misfiring AFAICT.

-40hz (January 30, 2015, 07:58 PM)

I'm not sure where you're getting that. We don't have a free market now. Sure, it's in some way similar, but it's still far from free.

Right now we have governments using Keynesian economics policies, which means creating debt, which bears interest, which compounds, and never gets paid off. Debt slavery ring any bells?

So, to right the wrongs, central banks double-down on this failing strategy and being printing more money (QE). Bond interest rates drop to near zero, so investors and savers look for other places to put their money -- housing, real estate, stocks -- and lo and behold, what do we have? Bubbles in the real estate, housing, and stock markets.

The artificial creation of interest rates by central banks creates malinvestment and bubbles. On the other hand, interest rates that float with the market don't create that sort of crisis waiting to happen.

For the last financial crisis, the only economists that predicted it were Austrian economists.

We'll see if their predictions bear out this time though. Given the price of oil, the drop in copper prices, and pressure on commodities, it looks like cash will be king in the next year or so.

763

Living Room / Re: Code Combat!

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 08:01 PM »

Another programming game I stumbled on seems much more focused on hard core or at least more efficiency-minded coders, but is very cool:
http://play.elevatorsaga.com/

-mouser (January 29, 2015, 11:18 PM)

Interesting. And yes - very much "hard core". There's no tutorial to get you up to speed, but there is a wiki, so you can study the API, but you're very much just left on your own.

I've been traveling the last week, and had lots of elevators. Funnily enough, I was thinking a few times about elevator algorithms. Some are really good, and others, not so much.

764

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 06:15 PM »

^Yes. But on a certain meta-level, isn't claiming ownership of property - in any way, shape, or form - a specie of theft?

-40hz (January 28, 2015, 07:53 PM)

Not in the least. Well, unless you're a communist. And we all know just how awesome communism ends.

Labour theory of property (Locke)

More on Locke & property

It's a bit ridiculous to claim that "property is theft".

765

Living Room / Re: Who gets sued next? VLC media player? Mozilla?

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 06:04 PM »

This isn't the first time for that tactic. Some people are suing a gun manufacturer. Exact same logic (or lack thereof) applied there.

766

Living Room / Re: "Secure Email As a Potential Terrorist Indicator" ??!

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 06:46 AM »

^good points. FWIW I'm not a fan of the whole rights approach to the world.

-tomos (January 30, 2015, 03:51 AM)

I found "right" repugnant for a very long time until I learned more about the topic.

What might help clear up some (as it did for me) is the difference between negative and positive rights.

e.g. I have a negative right not to be punched in the face by you, and vice versa.

I do not have a positive right to take your property for my own purposes (e.g. taxation).

I do not have a positive right to force you to not say nasty things, and vice versa.

I do have a negative right to not have you (or anyone else) silence me. (free speech)

etc. etc.

Today, people claim all sorts of insane rights. e.g. Free water. Well (pun intended), who is going to clean the water and deliver it? Is their time worth nothing? Should they just be slaves for "my free rightful water"? Obviously nobody has an innate right to free water. Those that claim otherwise are at best being intellectually dishonest.

The same goes for any time someone claims a right to something that they want for free. Healthcare, birth control, water, paved roads, etc. etc.

People often mistake "rights" for "entitlements". e.g. While you have no right to free water, if you have paid for water services (through any method, including taxation), you are entitled to what you have paid for. Sub in "health care" there or whatever.

That's muddy, but at least in the 'right' direction.

767

Living Room / Re: Peer Review and the Scientific Process

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 06:32 AM »

Regarding "Spin more than one hypothesis," academia is a complete laughingstock. Just look at how doctoral dissertations are done - create a hypothesis, then show it. This is simply idiotic. A thought out and careful hypothesis that proves to be false is also information, i.e. we now know that X is false, or, limiting the scope or field is also a valid assertion. But this doesn't happen when everyone tries to prove that their hypothesis is "true". Certainly, 'true' is sexier, but 'false' can also be useful, especially when we know why it is false.

But, just for kicks, here's a statement for people to mull over for a second, assess, and then click the spoiler.

Statement) There are no studies that show that tobacco causes cancer.

Spoiler

That's actually true.

The studies are statistical and do not control for tobacco vs. tobacco laced with chemicals, which almost all tobacco is. e.g. Cigarettes are laced with ammonia because it freebases the nicotine and makes it 35x more powerful, and more addictive. There are many more chemicals added as well.

The question about what part of the cigarette causes cancer is unanswered. Is it the tobacco? Or something else?

Please - Do not read into that more than I've stated. I have not said "cigarettes are good and rainbow farting unicorns". Is it likely that tobacco by itself causes cancer? Probably. I don't know. I have no evidence to say one way or another, other than the flawed studies on it.

Oh, and just for fun... 1 more...

There are no peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to prove that large caliber bullets shot into the head cause death.

I like to pull that one out for those who are religious about science. They invariably very quickly retreat from their faith just long enough to start calling me names, then they return to their faith just as quickly. I find it probably just as amusing as they find it infuriating.

768

Living Room / What do you want to ask Edward Snowden? Now you can!

« Last post by Renegade on January 30, 2015, 05:42 AM »

VoL is collecting questions from people for an interview with Ed Snowden.

http://www.voicesofl...wden-your-questions/

Ask NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Your Questions

An Epidemic of Truth-Telling with Edward Snowden

Voices of Liberty Proudly Presents:
An Exclusive Session with NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden

In a Voices of Liberty exclusive event, Edward Snowden will reveal his political ideas, positions on issues and provide insight on how to cause an epidemic of truth-telling, as called for by former Congressman Ron Paul.
Be sure to participate in the poll below to show your position on Edward Snowden as a hero or traitor.

Ask Edward Snowden your question!

Today YOU have an opportunity to pose the burning question you’ve always wanted to ask Edward Snowden! We are accepting submissions and will select from among them the questions we will ask Edward Snowden in an upcoming interview. Your question could have a chance to be heard and answered by the famous NSA whistleblower. So what are you waiting for?

I'm curious as to how he'd respond to comments about him (the issues he raises) being a limited hangout.

769

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Renegade on January 28, 2015, 07:28 PM »

^Some years ago, an article in The Harvard Business Review noted the curious phenomena of how many antisocial behaviors and attitudes (that are not normally tolerated in regular society, such as: egotism, unprovoked aggression, intolerance, snap judgement, and a callous disregard for the feelings and opinions of others) are somehow magically elevated to the status of virtues, and considered to be desirable and admirable traits when employed in business and government affairs.

-40hz (January 28, 2015, 01:05 PM)

Yup. Kind of like how theft is bad, unless you're government and call it "tax" or "speeding ticket" or "fine" or "civil forfeiture". Theft is theft, even if you have fancy uniforms and titles.

770

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on January 27, 2015, 07:30 PM »

RB - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/

771

Living Room / Re: Authorities suspect a shark tried to eat Vietnam's Internet

« Last post by Renegade on January 26, 2015, 02:15 AM »

And sharks are lawyers... lawyers are Jews... Coincidence? I think not!

-Renegade (January 10, 2015, 09:37 AM)

I don't know, that shark looked like a Jihadist to me. Is Osama Bin Laden reincarnated after being thrown in the ocean.

-rxantos (January 25, 2015, 10:36 PM)

Entirely possible. I can well imagine the vengeful spirit of OBL possessing an apex predator like a shark!

Now what I want to see is a video of the OBL shark's head spinning around and projectile vomiting! And a priest in a scuba suit!

772

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on January 26, 2015, 02:10 AM »

How do you get 10,000 in?

Spoiler

Blender + food dehydrator.

The truly messed up thing is that in the real world, worse happens.

773

Living Room / Re: The Untold Story of the Invention of the Game Cartridge

« Last post by Renegade on January 25, 2015, 08:13 AM »

Here's an interesting article about the world before interchangeable game cartridges existed, and how the game cartridge came to be.

-Deozaan (January 23, 2015, 12:43 AM)

That was an excellent read! It was like an action-packed thriller for geeks!

I never had one of those, but we had an Atari 2600. My parents still have it in their basement.

774

Living Room / Re: The Rant Thread!

« Last post by Renegade on January 25, 2015, 07:28 AM »

Got to Korea. 27 hours by air. Laptop is hosed. Worked at home. Tablet has errors now. Can't install anything now. Google Play Services errors. Smartphone stopped booting. Had to rent a phone. Disaster. I'm a bit pissed off.
______________________________

-Renegade (January 24, 2015, 08:37 PM)

Just as problem analysis: Why do you say your laptop was "hosed"? What exactly were the symptoms?
What do you suppose the cause was?

-IainB (January 25, 2015, 07:00 AM)

I had a NETAPI32.dll error. I couldn't use Windows Update or make OS configuration changes, which are critical to my ability to do what I need to do while I'm here in Korea.

Specifically, I need to set the underlying OS language to Korean in order to use some software while I'm here. I flew here specifically for this. And one f***ing error and I need to buy a new laptop because I can't risk screwing around -- this MUST get done. Reliably. And I need to do it tomorrow morning.

Most things on the old laptop still work... just not what I need to work.

I simply can't risk "letting it slide" otherwise I may need to fly back. And I hate flying.

In other news... related...

The flights killed me. Uncomfortable seats for hours and hours are just murder. My back was in severe pain, so I asked a friend if he knew of any decent massage places to iron out the kinks. Well... He blathers on and on and never answers. The closest he gets to answering is saying, "So do you want a dirty massage or a regular one." I tell me just a regular one, and he blathers on more with no actual information (he's good at this - he's in sales). So, I just wander into the first place I see.

Half way through the massage she starts to strip down at which point I tell her that all I need is a simple, normal massage with no extras. Um... uncomfortable.

In any event, the massage was good and the pain levels were drastically reduced. Airplane seats are like "unmassages". I'm not looking forward to the flight back, but on the good side, maybe I can get my wife to help me out with a massage, and then the "extras" are all good~!

775

Non-Windows Software / Re: Quick list of 7 FOSS Cloud Storage Products for Self-hosting

« Last post by Renegade on January 25, 2015, 05:48 AM »

Ooooo! This looks pretty good. Looking through, the ownCloud software looks like what I'd want to run. I'll need to check it out when I get home.