This has come up twice so far. Both times have been to require all full time employees (49% or less are exempt, as well as intermittent are exempt) to create a Facebook and Twitter account using their real names (if they do not already have one), provide real company contact information, and follow/join corporate groups. We have been very lucky that it has been shot down each time it has been brought up. I fear that it is only a matter of time before a VP decides to push the issue himself and then will be pushed through. Half the group didn't blink an eye about it, the other half are deeply entrenched against it. I fall on the side of completely against forcing an employee to join a public social network with their real identity.

"Easy enough to avoid government dots; just don't buy printers from Canon, Brother, Casio, HP, Konica, Minolta, Mita, Ricoh, Sharp, or Xerox." Hehehehe, you are being facetious by that right? Looks like I will have to stick with clay tablets. :(

I have had to deal with digital data collection of deceased loved ones, but I have not thought about having to divide digital files up between people. The collection was very difficult in its own right, and I imagine the dividing/duplicating could get quite tricky also because you are having to have multiple inputs from people into the problem. Damn. Good luck to you.

In reading the article I could not see whether numbers were pulled from doctors that were in public or private practices. Private practice I can see them getting away with it, however not in public practice. This may be hard for those in metropolitan areas to understand, but many small towns and communities may only one doctor office (and a pure pediatric clinic can be around even less!). If the only pediatrician office is a public office and they turn kids away, I would think the ambulance chasing lawyers would be smacking their lips to get a piece of that action. I do believe most vaccinations are a worthwhile endeavor, but I just do not like the idea of doctors turning away a kid because of the decisions the parent makes.

They took a shot at a populist win and ran with it. I can't fault them for that.

I voted "strongly for", but would prefer to see it be a non-corporate multinational effort and not just US. I think it would be expensive and the US should not have to foot the whole bill, plus if the US has a base, then China, Russia, India, etc... will all want one of their own and lots of problems could start. A lunar Casablanca sounds great, but it is getting harder and harder for the space-capable countries to agree on much.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Microsoft use a "points" system to purchase games, DLC, and features instead of charging an exact dollar price? Example: I want to download a copy of a new Batman skin and it will cost me 575 "points" instead of say "$1.25". I don't like artificial currencies. I would like to see them go with free online access, bluray drive (since believe it or not, everyone does not have access to broadband for digital distribution), don't force updates on people who just want to play single player games (online ones sure, but if I want to play single player and deal with any bugs then let me do it since it will be my own fault if I choose to not update), and clean up the hardware design a bit.

It is just freaking amazing that things electronics can still work after being exposed to such an environment for so long. Good job Voyager and good job old school NASA. Just don't come back home in a few hundred years with a chip on your shoulder!

Oh no, make no doubt about it. I have plenty of contempt for how the studios are handling their side of this. Netflix may be the immediate whipping boy puppet, but I think most people do know who is pulling the strings. My point is though, because of how Netflix completely and arrogantly bumbled this situation, they will not get my money for it. Hollywood may be forcing them into some things, but it was largely up to Netflix how they implemented it. If Blockbuster pulls the same crap, I will do the same to them. Entertainment entities such as Netflix, Blockbuster, and all of Hollywood just don't seem to be able to get the idea that no one needs their product. We may want their product, but it is not like electricity, housing, or a car to get to work to feed your family. Their entire ecosystem is based around wants not needs. Until they get that through their skulls (which will likely never happen), I will always express my opinion to them with my wallet which in this case gets Netflix punished by not having my money. Yes, it may still trickle through to the Hollywood bean counters, but at least I have a choice in who get it first, and after their messup, it will not be Netflix.

We may have to get off the DVD plan, but that doesn't mean we will have to get on the streaming plan. My two biggest problems with his streaming push are: 1. A large number of people still do not have access to eat-all-you-want broadband. He acted as if everyone under the sun has broadband galore. Not only do people not have access, but more and more of those that do are facing data caps. 2. Streaming was nothing but sprinkles on the cake. If "Thor" comes out on DVD, I would hope to see it very soon on streaming, but that is not the case. Sure streaming is great for TV series, indie films, and such, but for big name DVD releases, it was useless. Hastings never fully addressed these issues for me and so I dropped Netflix and am currently trying out Blockbuster. Blockbuster's site sucks compared to Netflix, and their disc mailing schedule is slower, but for me to put some pain in Netflix's wallet it has been worth it to me.

Oh TY for pointing this out. I have had virtually that same damn conversation so many times in the past few years. Just because a 2TB costs $99 at Walmart does not mean that same type drive is what you want to rely on for your enterprise data. It gets very frustrating trying to explain this over and over.

Pen and paper is the best when I have to take notes quickly, but if I have more time, I like an iPad 2, long stylus, and Pentultimate. I say an iPad 2 because I have tried it on an iPad 1 and their is noticeable lag when I write. It does come in handy when you need to share those notes with others though.

Unless you are an already big name player like Blizzard, you need to look at having your MMO on at least one console to be able to keep up. If they would have had Lego Universe for a PS3 I would have been all over that.