Comment Re:Stereotypical Garnishes (Score 1) 109
As a quebecer that puts vinegar on his poutine, I'm inclined to agree.
Comment Re:Bogus (Score 1) 2
Forgot to check the date. I confirm, this isn't valid
Submission + - Swedish rape warrant for Wikileaks' Assange cancelled (bbc.co.uk) 2
denyingbelial writes: The Swedish police have cancelled the arrest warrant against Julian Assange. Chief Prosecutor Eva Finne commented the following: "I don't think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape." The molestation investigation however is ongoing.
Assange's location is currently unclear.
Assange's location is currently unclear.
Comment Re:NDAA = Everyone's A Terrorist. (Score 1) 243
Is that a jab at their design, or an actual request for help? I might have time to throw my hat in.
Comment Re:Kids have little context (Score 1) 276
Hmm...
They did the same thing to our computer skills program in college (emphasis on programming and the business environment, some networking and OS). When I applied, we were 18. Only 2 graduated from that group, and I graduated with the year after that (20 when they started, 4 graduated, me included). The school closed the program, no longer taking new admissions. The ones that were already in the program get to finish, but they're the last wave. and if they flunk any classes they can't take them over. The school claims they're "Redesigning the program" to make it easier so the drop out rate won't be so high. But we all assume the program is just dead. And even if they redesign the program, they had already dumbed it down so much that I don't see how they'll be able to get anyone ready to join the job market in three years.
They did the same thing to our computer skills program in college (emphasis on programming and the business environment, some networking and OS). When I applied, we were 18. Only 2 graduated from that group, and I graduated with the year after that (20 when they started, 4 graduated, me included). The school closed the program, no longer taking new admissions. The ones that were already in the program get to finish, but they're the last wave. and if they flunk any classes they can't take them over. The school claims they're "Redesigning the program" to make it easier so the drop out rate won't be so high. But we all assume the program is just dead. And even if they redesign the program, they had already dumbed it down so much that I don't see how they'll be able to get anyone ready to join the job market in three years.
Submission + - Why Didn't The Internet Take Off In 1983? (itworld.com) 2
jfruh writes: "An amazing pair of videos from the AT&T archives tout a service called Viewtron that brought much of what we expect from the modern Internet to customers' homes in 1983. Online news, banking services, restaurant reviews, shopping, e-mail — all were available on your TV set, controlled by a wireless infrared keyboard. The system had 15,000 customers in cities on the U.S. east coast, but was shut down after $50 million was spent on it. But why did it flop? Was the world just not ready for it?"
Submission + - Speech-jamming gun silences from 30 meters (extremetech.com)
MrSeb writes: "Japanese researchers have created a hand-held gun that can jam the words of speakers who are more than 30 meters (100ft) away. The gun has two purposes, according to the researchers: At its most basic, this gun could be used in libraries and other quiet spaces to stop people from speaking — but its second application is a lot more chilling. The researchers were looking for a way to stop 'louder, stronger' voices from saying more than their fair share in conversation. The paper reads: 'We have to establish and obey rules for proper turn-taking when speaking. However, some people tend to lengthen their turns or deliberately interrupt other people when it is their turn in order to establish their presence rather than achieve more fruitful discussions. Furthermore, some people tend to jeer at speakers to invalidate their speech.' In other words, this speech-jamming gun was built to enforce 'proper' conversations. Can you imagine the effect of such a device if you used it at a political rally, when pointed at Santorum, Romney, Paul, or Obama? Or what if it was used on the audience by a totalitarian state?"
Comment Re:Haw. (Score 3, Insightful) 357
Wow, that's harsh. I don't see why you guys are ragging on him so much. Isn't this the point of linux? We do it our way, whatever that means?
Personally I never went up to gnome 3, I use the shell as much as I can, and I often use AWESOMEWM. But I'm not one to fight with things, if it works I won't bother fixing it.
Submission + - Government surveillance cameras in taxis (dailymail.co.uk)
Beowulf878 writes: In yet another data-collection feast by the government in the UK, a local council has proposed fitting at least one CCTV camera per taxi to record every conversation. Obviously the reason given is our own safety. Thoughts below?
Comment Re:Alcoholism (Score 1) 167
And what if there was a case of causality there? Maybe alcoholism improves eyesight and increases brain capacity over many generations, and it has nothing to do with high altitudes and poor lighting!
Sound like I better get started :D
You know, I think we might have this all wrong. Maybe good eyesight and large brains causes mountains to sprout under our villages. I think we should try assembling a bunch of big-brained people with 20/20 vision and put them in a pit, as an experiment.
Sound like I better get started
You know, I think we might have this all wrong. Maybe good eyesight and large brains causes mountains to sprout under our villages. I think we should try assembling a bunch of big-brained people with 20/20 vision and put them in a pit, as an experiment.
Comment Re:Two words : "Lock In" (Score 1) 249
I really think this wall of text says everything that needs to be said about the issue. Yes, google is building all these things with hope of revenue but they're not forcing anybody's hand. Microsoft is notorious for trying to herd it's users and bundle them together into a small enclosure where they only have access to products, hardware, and services that have been microsoft approved. They treat everything else as if it were somehow inherently evil, and feed a sense of "we're the good guys, we'll keep you safe, the outside world is dangerous" to it's users. Microsoft doesn't give room to breath or allow for the creative spirit to grow; it creates boxes from which to better milk you dry (all the while telling you it's for your good). They're business minded, but they have no mind for community or the human spirit of computing.
Google, however, has often given back to the community with open source releases. They host the "Summer of code" every year, supporting the open source community. Ok, they've made their faux-pas (there was a debate, for instance, about google stealing the idea of crowd-sourcing for google maps from openstreetmap) but in general, they do not vulture around smaller companies, they don't buy out competitiors for the sake of bleeding them dry and leaving an empty husk behind, they don't turn their back on the community.
Google, however, has often given back to the community with open source releases. They host the "Summer of code" every year, supporting the open source community. Ok, they've made their faux-pas (there was a debate, for instance, about google stealing the idea of crowd-sourcing for google maps from openstreetmap) but in general, they do not vulture around smaller companies, they don't buy out competitiors for the sake of bleeding them dry and leaving an empty husk behind, they don't turn their back on the community.
Submission + - Remaining Stealthy in the Cybercrime Underground (securityweek.com)
wiredmikey writes: Several years ago, fraudsters congregated in mega crime boards which boasted thousands of members in order to find partners and trade their goods. ShadowCrew, DarkMarket and CardersMarket were just a few of those boards, and they all ended badly – for the fraudsters. ShadowCrew was taken down in “Operation Firewall”. DarkMarket was turned into a sting site by the FBI and the fate of CardersMarket was sealed after the arrest of its founder, Max “iceman” Butler.
Ever since those days, the underground has changed. Driven by the fraudsters’ interest to maximize profits and catalyzed by the development of e-currency services, which offered the ability to automatically pay merchants a-la Paypal, the underground moved away from the centralized trading hubs. Instead, many vendors set up their own stores outside of the forums, completely automated, open for business twenty-four by seven.
ShadowCrew’s tagline was “For Those Who Like to Play in the Shadows”. Today, fraudsters have even more capabilities to do just that....
Ever since those days, the underground has changed. Driven by the fraudsters’ interest to maximize profits and catalyzed by the development of e-currency services, which offered the ability to automatically pay merchants a-la Paypal, the underground moved away from the centralized trading hubs. Instead, many vendors set up their own stores outside of the forums, completely automated, open for business twenty-four by seven.
ShadowCrew’s tagline was “For Those Who Like to Play in the Shadows”. Today, fraudsters have even more capabilities to do just that....
Submission + - World of Warcraft Goes Free With Starter Edition (thinq.co.uk) 1
Stoobalou writes: Blizzard Entertainment has announced that its enormously popular online role-playing game World of Warcraft will be free to play for characters up to level 20.
WoW has always offered free trials of one of the world's biggest multi-player online games but previous offers have always been limited to a set number of days.
The new policy means that first-time visitors to Azeroth will be able to build an unlimited number of characters and classes up to level 20 at their leisure, although there will be some limitations.
WoW has always offered free trials of one of the world's biggest multi-player online games but previous offers have always been limited to a set number of days.
The new policy means that first-time visitors to Azeroth will be able to build an unlimited number of characters and classes up to level 20 at their leisure, although there will be some limitations.
Submission + - Ask Slashdot: Becoming Savvy In Office Politics 1
An anonymous reader writes: Geeks are for several things both good and bad. We're not known for public speaking or office politics, and each company does have its share of politics. I've watched people shine the spotlight on other people's issues so no one will pay attention to how badly their projects are going. I also know it's important to manage the message when speaking with someone on why something was or wasn't done. My problem is that I'm not very good at dealing with either issue. I get a deer-in-the-headlights look, because I can't always come up with a good answer without being defensive. I'm wondering what Slashdot readers did to learn and improve their skills in these two areas.
Submission + - 7 Hackers Who Got Legit Jobs From Their Misdeeds
adeelarshad82 writes: Just like in Stephen Glass’ fabricated feature where a lonely teenage hacker gets hired by a major software company, the 21 year old PlayStation 3 hacker, George “Geohot” Hotz, was offered a job at Facebook. Ironically Hotz wasn't the first school-aged hacker to be rewarded for his cybercrime rather than a prison sentence. Turns out there are others who have managed (with one exception) to avoid jail time, and instead found themselves gainfully employed by some of Silicon Valley’s most exclusive circles.
