Patrick Austin

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• Commented on Researchers unlock the "mystery" of the Stradivari violin
  @Day Vexx: What, that they're better than any other instruments? Any serious string instrument player looking for a new toy will try several in front of listeners, back to back. Simply because cost != quality. There are lots of bargains...
• Commented on Obama's Afghanistan escalation speech: now *here's* a response video
  @mgfarrelly: It's no longer about making us safer (if it ever was). I don't get how this decision has anything to do with what has already happened and the original justification for war. I suspect Obama would agree that we...
• Commented on Sugru: polymer clay that fixes and sticks to pretty much everything
  Aside from being non-soft-touch, damn dudes, get some JB Weld or Green Stuff if you've never played with them. JB is holding together half the stuff in my house....
• Commented on Lasik: is it worth $6000?
  I don't see the word "outcomes" in there anywhere. Just mumbo jumbo about machines that go ping. Head/expensive surgeon does not necessarily equal good surgeon, either. I'm not saying surgery isn't science, but it's not GOOD science. Until I can...
• Commented on HOWTO roll your own pumpkin pie spices
  Dried ginger <> fresh. You'll need to use ~8x as much fresh as you would dried, and it still won't taste the same (or as good, IMO)....
• Commented on Video game wedding: a letter and photos from the bride and groom
  @#8 & #9: Or this is a beautiful piece of performance art that you don't get because you're not part of a culture that worships technology quite so much. Yeah, I know, that's a long shot. ;)...
• Commented on SFPD cops from imaginary anti-dance-party squad steal laptops
  @therizz: It's great to take a stand against injustice, but anyone who does this should at least be aware that they'll probably lose more money in court/lawyer costs than the value of their stolen property. So, y'know, do it for...
• Commented on Demonstrating TSA futility by stabbing dead pigs with pens
  I suppose the point is keeping out items that are perceived as threatening, not just dangerous ones. If someone tried to hijack a plane by jabbing at people with a pen, I'm fairly certain most people wouldn't hesitate before trying...
• Commented on Police officer tasers a 10-year-girl who resisted being taken to a youth center
  @brn2build: Well, I think it's fair to use it in a situation short of one where lethal force is justified. If I'm a cop and some asshole is coming at me with his fists, I wouldn't shoot him. But, it...
• Commented on Pfizer abandons property it won in Supreme Court housing battle
  If you think facilitating job creation isn't a public good, you clearly don't live in a place with 15% unemployment. Land use policy is never popular. The greater good almost always screws over the individual. I don't quite know how...
• Commented on Do you understand my first-grade child's homework?
  I got the highest score in my Diff Eq's class and aced my Quantum Mechanics class. I have no idea what the fuck this is....
• Commented on Video about Guantánamo detainees released without charge
  They even send you a membership card: https://secure.aclu.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2125&2125.donation=form1...
• Commented on Inflatable rear seat belts
  Midknyte & Jerril: Belts _are_ designed to deform. They're not reusable after an accident and can stretch quite a bit. However, you don't want much elasticity in seat belts because the whole point is to stop _with_ the car to...
• Commented on Bank of America demands thumbprint from man with no arms
  This sucks, but has anyone here ever worked for a large organization? Rules come down from the top. Almost _all_ seem arbitrary but it's clear that you'll get your ass fired if you break one. No one but the guys...
• Commented on Apple 1984 ad, updated for 2009
  @#41: If Microsoft did that then they'd wind up with 5% market share, like Apple has. Apple sells an integrated hardware/software package. It lets them maintain the brand's image as a premium product and that's how they make money. No...
• Commented on @BBVBOX: recent guest-tweeted web video picks (boingboingvideo.com)
  He sure seems like he can barely get the air in and out. I kept waiting for him to just stop breathing and fall off his chair. He is right, though. Obama is SUCH a Jew....
• Commented on HOWTO remember to retrieve food after a playdate
  I let my 2.5 year old outside on his own while watching from the window. I let him play on my 6' extension ladder as long as it's on the grass, eat food off the ground, and play with any...
• Commented on G20 police uses arrested student as trophy in group photo
  The photo would be more effective if they were sodomizing their captive. Talk about deterrence!...
• Commented on Rocket-shaped air blower for removing dust
  I've got one, and the worst thing I can say is that, because it's for blowing dust off of camera sensors and lenses, it gets stored away from dust in a ziploc bag. Every time I use it I think...
• Commented on Amazing video of girl barely missing an out-of-control car
  MY GOD AT ONE POINT SHE WAS PLAYING OUTSIDE THE POLES. Enough security cameras out there and you're bound to capture some f-ing AMAZING miracles....
• Commented on American health care UI: snapshot
  Not only are these type of systems often incredibly robust, but people who enter data for a living _love_ them. I used to do accounting software, and users would revolt if we added ANYTHING that slowed them down (ie, a...
• Commented on Cold-brew coffee maker
  It seems like there's some confusion: iced coffee != cold brewed coffee. Iced coffee is usually hot brewed and then chilled. Cold brewed is made with cold water. IMO, bitter and acidic are two unfairly maligned flavors. A little bit...
• Commented on Treatment of intersexed African athlete appalling
  This is a HIGHLY emotional topic for people who find themselves living (or loving someone who lives) between hairy ape and fertility goddess. I think it's safe to say that everyone knows a few people who openly or secretly fall...
• Commented on Baby chicks ground up alive: animal rights video goes viral
  #82: "Producing meat is vastly LESS efficient and requires MORE input energy, land, ressources etc than producing the same quantity (cal for cal) of vegetable based food. I thought everyone knew that." That sort of blanket statement is ridiculous. People...
• Commented on Dutch government tries to stop 13-year-old girl from sailing around world solo
  @#9: This isn't about people screwing up their own lives, this is about people screwing up OTHER people's lives. Parents aren't allowed to make decisions for their children that put them in serious danger. If a parent let their 13...
• Commented on Climate Camp to London cops: We won't tell you where the next camp is because you keep beating the crap out of us
  #19: t s M..D. Tht's th pnt. t's th crzy rst bttn tht w nly hv t s vry fw hndrd yrs. Thngs hv bn grt snc th Cvl Wr, bt thr's n grnt tht t wll sty tht wy....
• Commented on Review: Chrome Warsaw [Verdict: GINORMOUS]
  Chrome, I believe, makes their stuff in the USA. The xbox 360? Not so much. $280 for high quality luggage made in the 1st world is pretty reasonable. In my mind, a messenger bag is fine when riding, because you're...
• Commented on Barney Frank pwns crazy lady at "town hall" meeting, effectively invoking Godwin's law.
  @#60: Do I *really* need to go and dig up a hundred stories about crazy delusional people in Europe? For all our problems, our two party system has shut out some of the really despicable folks that get to actually...
• Commented on Chemex coffee brewing guide
  There are probably 20 different ways to make AMAZING coffee. They all produce slightly different flavors so one man's "best way to do it" is not the next's. As long as you've got good beans and water that isn't too...
• Commented on Screw Key
  Those look a little on the hefty side. I'm not quite sure why you'd want something so solid for what's usually going to be fairly lightweight repair duties. Now, in titanium......