Nicholas Weaver

Recent Actions

• Commented on DHS perfects the abusive EULA
  This is NOT an abusive EULA. Rather, it is a notification that the DHS, as operator of the network and remote computer in question, will actually be enforcing its rights to monitor and protect its own systems from criminial activity...
• Commented on Lettuce in the sky, with diamonds
  How can it run off the grid? (Well, unless you put a nuclear reactor in the basement, that is) How can it collect light which isn't there? Stacking plants, even as a "greenhouse" is stupid. Leaves are opaque solar collectors,...
• Commented on Lettuce in the sky, with diamonds
  A vertical farm would be a criminal waste of electricity. A farm is effectively a solar collector which converts sunlight to plant material. Stacking up a "vertical farm", you might as well put your grow rooms anywhere and stick to...
• Commented on Experiment: 96% of passers-by ignore famous artist's street painting
  To me, this says "important != good" It just looks like a random mural someone put up, because, well, it IS a random mural. I wouldn't look twice, simply because well, yawn. And whats so suprising about people getting from...
• Commented on Chopping down trees to make books is good for the environment, provided you then line your walls with bookcases
  Also, I call shenanigans because books aren't good insulation anyway compared to other options. Since its really only about R-1 or R-2 per inch, even if you COMPLETELY covered your walls, 100% with books, thats really only about R-4 worth...
• Commented on Comcast says they'll stop blocking filesharing.
  CPT Tim: Do you usually have just a single Torrent being transferred or many torrents? If its the latter, the "fuck with the speed" will probably persist, as what you are doing is very unfair to other TCP flows, and...
• Commented on Comcast says they'll stop blocking filesharing.
  Notice the fine print: They aren't saying they are ending interference with P2P, they are saying they will stop treating BitTorrent differently then other heavy transfers. Which is a Good Thing, IMO, and I'm happy to have been proven wrong...
• Commented on TED 2008: designer Yves Behar
  The XO opening could be made from ANNOYNG to "Piece of cake" by embossing a couple of ikea-style icons in the lid....
• Commented on LED lamp uses grandfather clock mechanism for power
  Actually, what really make it look bad is Virginia Tech crowing about it!...
• Commented on LED lamp uses grandfather clock mechanism for power
  "Young lady, around this house we obey the laws of Thermodynamics" The claims are outright fraud, and would only work if 2 + 2 = 400... Here's the whole math: 0lbs == 22.6 kg 4 ft == 1.21 m Potential...
• Commented on Photo of "The Monster" pizza
  Thats not a moon, thats a space station...
• Commented on End of skeptic James Randi's million dollar challenge
  THis is what I emailed to the contact link: One thought. The stated reason is to free up the prize money for better uses around the institution. This is eminently sensible. However, rather than discontinuing the Million Dollar challenge, have...
• Commented on Judge rules defendant can't be forced to divulge PGP passphrase
  Actually, reading more, I stand corrected. With a warrant, the police CAN make you unlock a door, because that is physical posession of an object (physical evidence). However, opening a safe also conveys the testimony that you knew the combination,...
• Commented on Judge rules defendant can't be forced to divulge PGP passphrase
  Not only will this not go unappealed, even as a civil libertarian I don't think it should stand. With a lawful warrant, the police can make you unlock a door or open your safe. Why should your digital data be...
• Commented on Park visitors required to sit up straight on benches in Orlando
  Daemon etc... Not to get involved in an off-topic flame war, but SF has one of the BIGGEST homeless problems, and at the same time tries to help the most....
• Commented on Park visitors required to sit up straight on benches in Orlando
  You've never walked through the bad parts of Golden Gate Park, have you? Such ordinances are necessary and need to be enforced if you don't want your parks to become homeless camps. Here in the bay area, a lot of...
• Commented on Video: The Paradox of Choice, or Why Apple Only Sells Four Computers
  Honda is the same way in the car business... Small (Fit) Medium (Civic) Large (Accord) Small SUV (CR-v) Small work truck (Element) Large SUV (pilot) Minivan (Odyssey) Pickup (Ridgeline, HA) Sportscar (S2000) and that is IT. Even within a car,...
• Commented on Steve Jobs pitching "premium," iPod-loadable DVDs
  The problem is, Steve Jobs has no choice... It IS cyncial and manipulative, but it is also necessary for him. The iPod has great video capability, but nothing to WATCH on it. People have these piles of DVDs, and keep...
• Commented on Amazon Kindle eBook Review (Verdict: Confusing, Expensive...but Promising)
  I find the lack of WiFi disturbing. EVDO is a horribly overpriced way to move bits, when adding a WiFi connection (and not charging transport charges for WiFi data) would make it vastly more appealing. $2 per RSS feed? That...
• Commented on Inside Out Barware by AMT
  Actually, air like that is pretty good insulation even. The only thing better would be if they made it a full vaccume bottle, then it would be amazingly insulating....
• Commented on Playstation 3 Models by Venn Diagram
  Its a sad statement when I go "Damn, why didn't someone do this diagram earlier, and is there an X-box version?"...
• Commented on Public radio station in NYC won't air "Howl" for fear of the FCC
  One comment, based on Carlin's "7 dirty words" decision, Howl really is a clear-cut case, there is a nice F-bomb in it: who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and screamed with joy, and Dreams! adorations!...
• Commented on Secret robot crickets hidden in trash
  How is this better than the Annoy-A-Tron? http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8c52/...
• Commented on Artist gets probation for building secret mall apartment
  How is this "art" and not "squatting"?...
• Commented on Phone Rental in Japan?
  Just get a prepaid SIM for an unlocked GSM phone at the airport. I managed to get an unlocked RAZR for $130 which I use as my travel phone (as a bonus, the RAZR can be charged off a computer's...
• Commented on Improvising electronic devices is not a crime
  true, I use "Down on the ground" as an example. You would have to look up which is the proper procedure (down on the ground or hands in the air). But if a suspect is wearing one of these... http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/14/15nbomber_narrowweb__300x343,0.jpg...
• Commented on Improvising electronic devices is not a crime
  The problem I have is so many of her supports, and so many of the commenters here, view the entire SITUATION as an overreaction, rather than just the prosecution. Look at your OWN original posting. Once update 3 came up,...
• Commented on Improvising electronic devices is not a crime
  Please, people, I'm sick of the blind "the 'security X' is an overreaction" movement. The PROSECUTION is an overreaction. She did nothing that warrants prosecution, and there is no way to call what she wore a "hoax device". But the...
• Commented on Aptera Three-Wheeled Electric Car May Reach Production
  Unless it leans, or it has a LOT of battery mass up near the nose and down low, it might be a bit roll-happy. The wide stance helps, but with such a wide front, why not just have 4 wheels?...
• Commented on MIT student arrested for entering Boston airport with "fake bomb"
  Lets see what a real suicide vest looks like... http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/14/15nbomber_narrowweb__300x343,0.jpg You know, that shirt is "close enough" that to wear it to an airport you have to be, well, not thinking well, and "DOWN ON THE GROUND OR WE SHOOT...