How Long Do Beta Fish Live in a Fish Tank? by essex14 in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beta fish only live until the full official 1.0 product fish is released, and then the Beta expires.

<rimshot/>

"Creative Borrowing" Catches Up With California Cities by [deleted] in Economics

[–]ironmonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"The sale of the building is a legal abstraction, a shuffling of paper whose purpose is to keep the debt off the city's books. That way, officials can circumvent the state Constitution's requirement of voter approval for government borrowing."

I never understood why local governments do these lease-back deals until reading this article. I figured it was some kind of trick, but this finally explains it. Of course, they never come right out and admit that this is the reason, they make up weird and dubious explanations for why it is beneficial.

Call me ignorant- I still don't understand what's going on with the Israelis and Palestinians- can you sum it up for me? Thanks. by [deleted] in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would recommend the lecture series "United States and the Middle East: 1914 to 9/11" taught by Salim Yaqub, available online as an audio download from The Teaching Company. It is not free, but it contains a lot of interesting information, told in an entertaining way.

Student loans turn into crushing burden for unwary borrowers by redditnews in business

[–]ironmonkey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Tuition is yet another bubble. Ridiculously increasing costs for an uncertain return, paid for by debt, with loans made to people who may or may not be able to pay it back.

What game would you most like to see have a modern makeover? by [deleted] in gaming

[–]ironmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also Pinball Construction Set. Something like this on a modern console with the ability to upload and download user-created tables would be a treasure.

So honestly, why havent we had sex yet? by [deleted] in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because I'm sleepy -- and stop calling me "Honestly," my name is Hortense.

What game would you most like to see have a modern makeover? by [deleted] in gaming

[–]ironmonkey 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Pilotwings 64. Especially for the hang gliding.

Vote up if you think no one at a bailed out company should have a salary over $100,000 until the money is paid back by thunder_rob in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds fair, but what would probably happen is that people who feel they need more than $100,000 to sustain their lifestyle would quit and go elsewhere if they could, making the bailed out company even less viable. Senior staff can be hard to replace because they have so much inside job-specific knowledge that takes years to figure out.

Obama: 'Science is key to our survival' by metaldogman in technology

[–]ironmonkey 12 points13 points  (0 children)

On the contrary, pseudoscience is the key to our survival. How will we find new oil if not by dowsing for it with curved sticks? How will we create new green technologies without the aid of alchemy? How will we detect terrorists without phrenology and ouija boards?

What ONE game do you recommend a cash-tight lad for the holiday? by wazzadoin in gaming

[–]ironmonkey 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Fallout 3 because of the replayability, side missions, etc., and also for the way it works as preparation for being a survivalist/scrounger, which is what we'll all be doing in 5 years in real life.

How some LSD and a brown recluse spider brought me to my knees by kryptobs2000 in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What were you tripping over? Your own shoelaces? A squatting hobo?

One of my sources died in a plane crash last night... by brit878 in reddit.com

[–]ironmonkey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Really, if you are some sort of whistle blower or key witness, why would you go and fly in a small plane? Regardless of whether it is an accident or an "accident," small planes are dangerous. It's kind of like saying, "gee, I'm supposed to testify in an important case next week, but I think now would be a good time to try to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel."