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  1. I

    Would an extra 2 GB of RAM be worth it?

    I've got a pretty old computer (C2D E6750, Radeon HD 6770 graphics card) with 4 GB of RAM. I finally got around to installing 64-bit Windows 7 and debating whether an extra couple GB of RAM would be worth it. Judging from Newegg prices it would cost me about sixty bucks. Am I likely to see a...
  2. I

    Cat pee in carpet

    Im sure you can guess from the title what my problem is. So far regular carpet shampoo from a spray can has proved worthless so it's on to some more serious steps. I'm going to get a blacklight bulb from Home Depot to locate the source of the smell and a big bottle of Nature's Miracle cleaner...
  3. I

    Why oh why would someone go to India as a tourist?

    I don't get it. Is it the grinding poverty that makes them want to go? The filth and disease coupled with the hellish climate? Oooh, I know, maybe it's the opportunity to be gang-raped. http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/16/world/asia/india-tourist-gangrape/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 Seriously people...
  4. I

    An embarassingly stupid column about the new pope

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-best-choice-for-pope-a-nun/2013/02/15/83c8be2e-76c6-11e2-95e4-6148e45d7adb_story.html It's very rare that I find myself on the same side as conservative Catholics but this column but E.J. Dionne made me cringe. One of the few iron clad requirements...
  5. I

    Job offer etiquette question

    After being out of a job since the end of December I received a pretty good but not great offer from company A. I'd probably already have accepted it but this morning I also received a request for a second interview with company B. This has the potential to turn into a better offer if they...
  6. I

    What it actually takes to buy a gun in Switzerland

    Certain uninformed people like to hold Switzerland up as some kind of gun-lover's paradise. Here's a reddit post that more accurately shows that the process for getting a gun is like. So much for all of the NRA fantasies of what Switzerland is like...
  7. I

    Aaargh, I hate waiting

    Last Friday evening I got an e-mail from a potential employer saying they'd seen my resume and were interested in me. They asked several questions including salary requirements and when I'd be available for an interview. I respond on Sunday evening so the HR person would have my response when...
  8. I

    The taxpayers made a $22 billion profit on the AIG bailout

    http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mo-aig-bailout-treasury-department-20121211,0,3388388.story In the end a lot of the bailouts were NOT handouts to the rich as the Occupy idiots made them out to be. I know that the Treasury also made a substantial profit on Citigroup. It would be...
  9. I

    Wireless honeypot & legal implications

    So out of curiosity/boredom I've considered setting up an unencrypted wireless access point and monitoring the traffic in and out of it to see what people who use it do. I can't help but wonder though, is that technically illegal? I'm not up to anything malicious here and would really just be...
  10. I

    "Catholic" teen barred from confirmation

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-confirmation-fight-20121204,0,6040864.story Maybe people will finally start to realize that to be a "good" Catholic you have to hold some pretty crazy fringe beliefs. Granted plenty of Americans are still against gay marriage, but no birth...
  11. I

    Homeowner executes two burglars

    http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Little-Falls-mourns-teen-cousin-shooting-victims-4065913.php If I were on the jury when this went to trial I'd vote to acquit him. Sure what he did seems a bit excessive but in the heat of the moment when someone is breaking into your home I can...
  12. I

    India hangs terrorist

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/21/mohammad-ajmal-kasab-mumbai-attacker-executed_n_2169461.html Four years ago he was the only attacker to survive the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Good for India, they hadn't carried out an execution in eight years. It's always great to see a country...
  13. I

    Isn't it great how false accusations can ruin your life

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2012/11/20/kevin-clash-quits-elmo-gig/1716901/ I just law the latest news about the Elmo sex abuse pseudo scandal. Kevin Clash hasn't been convicted of anything, his original accuser retracted his allegations and yet he still lost his job and his life has...
  14. I

    The Republican butthurt, it's so delicious

    The funny thing is that I'm not a huge Obama fan but the far-right wing hatred for him is so hilariously idiotic that I can't help but savor it. I saw this gem recently on another forum: http://208.84.116.223/forums/index.php?showtopic=36825&st=0 I love it!
  15. I

    Has the Tea Party jumped the shark?

    So two of the most prominent Teahadist congressmen out there (Allen West and Joe Walsh) lost their seats last night, and extremist stupidity probably cost the GOP Senate seats in Indiana and Missouri. I wonder if this means the extreme right will take a hit, or if the Republicans will keep...
  16. I

    Ann Coulter pwned by guy with Down's Syndrome

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/special-olympian-writes-powerful-letter-to-ann-cou I normally don't even acknowledge what Ann Coulter says since she's a professional troll who probably doesn't believe 75% of what she says in real life. Still, I'm curious to see how she responds to this one.
  17. I

    Virginia speeding ticket

    So I got the first speeding ticket of my life this weekend, got caught doing 73 in a 60 zone. It's a simple speeding ticket, no reckless driving or anything like that and the fine itself is pretty modest (under $80, although of course VA tacks on an extra $60 in "fees" :rolleyes: ). What I'm...
  18. I

    LOL @ Argentina

    Since Argentina continues to act completely ridiculous about the Falklands I take great glee in anything that humiliates them or makes them look stupid. Pay your bills, deadbeats! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19957762
  19. I

    Broke my ankle. No wait, I didn't.

    I went running a couple of nights ago and at one point accidentally slipped half off the sidewalk and rolled my right ankle badly. It hurt like hell but I thought I could hobble home. It gets worse and worse so I end up asking my girlfriend to drive me back to my place. Once I see it under...
  20. I

    Not Wanting Kids Is Entirely Normal

    http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/not-wanting-kids-is-entirely-normal/262367/?google_editors_picks=true Yay, I now have science to back up my claim that I'm not abnormal for not wanting kids (admittedly this was about women, but the basic point still seems valid.) Makes me...
  21. I

    Where do you buy contacts

    So my current stock of contact lenses is running out but my prescription is still good so I don't need another eye exam. I'm going to check with Costco about getting a refill, but I was curious where others on here buy their contact lenses.
  22. I

    LOL @ Chicago, striking teachers

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-public-schools-chicago-teachers-union-contract-talks-strike,0,2062807.story Public school teachers on strike. I kind of hope that Rahm Emmanuel pulls a Ronald Reagan and fires them all (assuming he's even allowed to do that?)
  23. I

    It's hard to find a good veterinarian

    Semi-random thought, but has anyone else noticed how difficult it can be to figure out if a vet is any good or not? I had to find a new one on short notice this weekend (cat had a semi-urgent issue, regular vet was out of town until Tuesday) and online reviews seem to have a consistent pattern...
  24. I

    This judge is my hero

    http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/08/federal-judge-trashes-the-legal-profession-for-antipathy-toward-the-military/261409/ The Atlantic's article was very hostile toward the judge in question, but I think it's awesome that someone finally had the guts to say this. I wish that...
  25. I

    WTF, how much meat do Americans eat?

    http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/opinion/grossman-cohen-meatless-monday/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7 The USDA suggested going one day a week without meat and it becomes controversial? What is wrong with people's eating habits in this country? Just to be clear I'm not a vegetarian and I enjoy eating...
  26. I

    Prepare to watch obstetrics implode in Maryland

    In a little bit over a month two massive malpractice awards have been awarded by idiot juries in this state. http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-ci-malpractice-award-20120626,0,742808.story...
  27. I

    Permit issues rant/request for advice

    I bought my house two & a half years ago from a guy who'd just finished rehabbing the place. The rehab didn't involve any major structural or electrical work, but before I bought the house I insisted that the breaker panel be replaced (the old one was a model that was notorious for being...
  28. I

    How justice used to work and how it works now.

    On September 6, 1901 Leon Czolgosz shot president William McKinley. McKinley died of his injuries eight days later. Czolgosz's trial started on September 23, he was convicted the next day, and on September 26 he was sentenced to death. Czolgosz was electrocuted on October 29, 1901. On...
  29. I

    An example of our excessively criminal-friendly legal system

    IMO juveniles who are convicted of serious crimes are treated far too lightly by our legal system. This is a perfect example of such a case. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/savannah-dietrich-twitter-sexual-assault-louisville-174732753.html
  30. I

    Educate me about smokers

    After recently tasting some of the best ribs I've ever had I've decided I want to go ahead and get myself a smoker. I've tried doing ribs on my Weber grill using indirect heat, and while it works reasonably well I just can't look them as low and slow as I'd like. This means a proper smoker is in...
  31. I

    Maryland becomes a "shall issue" state

    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bal-access-widens-to-maryland-gun-carry-permits-20120724,0,7660075.story I'm surprised that this story has flown under the radar, but as of two weeks from now the Maryland State Police won't be able to deny CCW permits to people who fail to...
  32. I

    Yet another heat thread: roof coating

    Has anyone here applied a reflective coating to their roof to keep a house from getting crazy hot during the summer? I live in a rowhouse where the attic was converted into a third story bedroom, and as you can imagine it gets hot as hell when the sun is beating down. I have heard that there are...
  33. I

    WTF, NRO offers NASA two surplus spy satellites?

    http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2116436,00.html?iid=tsmodule http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-gets-military-spy-telescopes-for-astronomy/2012/06/04/gJQAsT6UDV_story.html Part of me thinks this is extremely cool, although whatever genius decided to...
  34. I

    Wannabe parking vigilantes

    /minor rant thread So I'm coming home from work today, park my car (parallel parking in a street spot, I live in a city) and when I get out of my car this guy nearby starts yelling how I hit the car behind me. I didn't feel anything while parking but I'm a little concerned so I get out &...
  35. I

    Another frivolous lawsuit

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139549/Kenlie-Tiggeman-sues-Southwest-Airlines-told-fat-fly.html She claims her constitutional rights were violated, but I see nothing in the constitution about airlines not being allowed to charge extra if a passenger takes up two seats. This...
  36. I

    Playing Fallout 1 again

    Hearing about Wasteland 2 inspired me to start playing the original Fallout again. It's pretty fun so far, and it's been so long since I played it that I've forgotten most of the storyline and quests. I'd also forgotten how difficult combat is when you're first starting off. I'm not a huge fan...
  37. I

    A rare, reasonable take on global warming

    Pretty much speaks for itself. It's nice to hear from somebody who isn't pushing a political agenda from one side or the other. His comment about the debate having become religified is absolutely true. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/on-astronauts-nasa-and-climate-concerns/
  38. I

    SSD for an older computer?

    Is it worth getting a solid state hard drive for a computer thats's four or five years old? I built my current computer (Intel E6750 based) in late 2007, and aside from some extra RAM and a new video card I haven't made any significant upgrades. Nothing is coming out in the near future that...
  39. I

    Blasphemous bar incurs the wrath of an internet fundie

    http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2012/03/ale-mary-dive-bar-uses-monstrances-and.html This was such a funny example of an lunatic with internet access going off of his rocker that I had to share it. I thought it was a parody until I started reading the comments section and realized this...
  40. I

    French shooter cornered

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/world/europe/toulouse-shootings-suspects-house-raided-by-french-police.html I noticed that when this guy was still on the run people seemed to be almost giddy about the fact that he'd be a white neo-Nazi, white supremacist type. Nothing like another...