Exactly the opposite: "Encryption works" was one of the key points made by Edward Snowden. The NSA found it much easier to just bypass encryption. There are some instances where we suspect the NSA has had a hand weakening or backdooring some algorithms (like recommending odd seed values for elliptic curve cryptography) but nothing definitive.

Diceware is a great recommendation, but you're missing one key consideration: password reuse is a larger danger to users than is having a weak password. The Apple iCloud hack is one of the few in recent memory where a password-related breach wasn't tied to password reuse. What happens most of the time is that a site is vulnerable to SQL injection gets their users table stolen, and "bad guys" use that information to try accounts on related sites. If the compromised website was using a bad (i.e. fast) password hashing algorithm, then having a good password will protect you a little, but you're playing with fire. Password cracking techniques have been advancing exponentially, as has GPU power. But if this site is using reversible encryption or storing passwords in plaintext (which still happens with alarming frequency) then all your other accounts are at risk from the one breach regardless of how great your password is. Of course, if they're using a good password algorithm like PBKDF2 or bcrypt, even a mediocre password will be relatively safe. But what are the chances that every site you've registered with is using a good password algorithm? Probably zero. How can you check the password storing technique of a site you're about to register with? You can't.

Yeah, you could make an algorithm to modify your password across sites so that you can memorize it yet it'll be different, but as "bad guys" combine information from multiple leaks, any algorithm you come up with will be vulnerable to reverse engineering. Especially if your online identity is valuable. The real solution is to use password management software like KeePass, LastPass, or 1Password. Lock your password program with your good password from Diceware, and use unique, truly random passwords for all the websites you've registered on.

If your requirement for caring about emerging technology is that it has already achieved commercial success, you're going to have a very short list.

Diceware is a great recommendation, but you're missing one key consideration: password reuse is a larger danger to users than is having a weak password. The Apple iCloud hack is one of the few in recent memory where a password-related breach wasn't tied to password reuse. What happens most of the time is that a site is vulnerable to SQL injection gets their users table stolen, and "bad guys" use that information to try accounts on related sites. If the compromised website was using a bad (i.e. fast) password hashing algorithm, then having a good password will protect you a little, but you're playing with fire. Password cracking techniques have been advancing exponentially, as has GPU power. But if this site is using reversible encryption or storing passwords in plaintext (which still happens with alarming frequency) then all your other accounts are at risk from the one breach regardless of how great your password is. Of course, if they're using a good password algorithm like PBKDF2 or bcrypt, even a mediocre password will be relatively safe. But what are the chances that every site you've registered with is using a good password algorithm? Probably zero. How can you check the password storing technique of a site you're about to register with? You can't.

Yeah, you could make an algorithm to modify your password across sites so that you can memorize it yet it'll be different, but as "bad guys" combine information from multiple leaks, any algorithm you come up with will be vulnerable to reverse engineering. Especially if your online identity is valuable. The real solution is to use password management software like KeePass, LastPass, or 1Password. Lock your password program with your good password from Diceware, and use unique, truly random passwords for all the websites you've registered on.

A pilot can not be left alone in cockpit with a terrorist because the terrorist will kill the pilot. A flight attendant can not be left alone in cockpit with a pilot because the pilot will fuck the flight attendant. A terrorist can not be left alone in cockpit with a flight attendant because the flight attendant will have the terrorist to return to his seat.

Not if the "substantial edits" can cite a biased journal or "news" site that support the new claims. Wikipedia has a serious problem with controversial topics because "the rule of Wikipedia is that authority trumps accuracy," and people with big megaphones and too much time on their hands can find or make "authoratative" sources that support their worldview regardless of the facts.

Because large corporations have never gotten judges to issue questionable court orders...

Oh well. Worst case scenario, at least there would be due process for those accused before their websites were destroyed, right? Would you care to comment on my other two points?

The problem isn't that the day after the bill gets passed, we'll experience a media blackout. These things happen in steps. Thailand started censoring porn, but once the system and precedent was established they went on to censoring political content. Many, many other countries followed similar paths, starting by censoring some things and then getting worse and worse. (disable javascript to view Wikipedia)

Also, "facilitating the commission" of copyright infringement (which SOPA and PIPA includes in their infringing site definition) is so broad that the many non-tech-savvy judges will be able to be influenced through heavy lobbying by MPAA and the like.

Lastly, H.R. 3261, Title I, 103.d (in SOPA) does allow plaintiffs to issue court orders to service providers from what I understand.

From the benchmarking, you're right. It's a faster HDD than other HDD's, but nowhere near the performance of an SSD. Labeling it as an SSD/HDD hybrid is misleading and wrong.

I get my free porn from torrents, which I would assume are too complicated to explain to your friend. So what did you suggest? Redtube? 4chan? (shudder)

Porn seems to be distinguished from naked pictures based solely on community standards. From the still-lingering influence of America's Puritanical origins, the community standards there are rather strict on anything involving sex, nudity, or children.