While I agree with your sentiment (parents should stop freaking out about their kids' safety) - you could say the same thing about things like child car seats. I mean, I made it just fine riding around (in Africa nevertheless) on my parent's laps without any safety restraints. So why should I subject my child to the constraints of a car seat?

Sure, getting in a traffic accident is a much more likely scenario than having your child lost by the school district, but since when was Slashdot against using technology to make our lives better / safer? Step back from the natural - ZOMG! Big Brother! - reaction, and it seems like making sure your 6-year-old is at school when she's supposed to be is a good thing.

Congratulations! You win the inaccurate generalization of the day award!

I happen to think that guns are both Neat and Dangerous. I don't give a shit about controlling you - if you want to go shoot at pumpkins with your AK, I'm not bothered at all.

I have a brother-in-law who's licensed to carry, and frequently does. And I'm completely comfortable with that, because he's a responsible and careful human being. And while I'm all for responsible homeowners to be able to meet intruders at the door with a shotgun, I'm also all for policies that make it difficult for gangs and criminals to get firearms. We're lacking in effective policies that let responsible and careful gun nuts (like my brother in law) own all the guns they want, while preventing gang bangers from being able to pick up a glock at the corner store.

What gets my personal goat is when gun-nuts get up in arms (see what I did there) about policies that attempt to require more extensive licensing or certification for firearm ownership. It's not really infringing on my rights if part of my gun buying process is a detailed background check, or even some sort of training / licensing system, ala getting a driver's license.

Shit. I'm trading in the Yukon for a Smart Car.

They must be hosting this on a [Insert Your Least Favorite Underpowered Device Here].

Seems to be on the Youtubes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWEIQIv8zvY&feature=player_embedded

I donno, not a horrible video, but I have trouble seeing how that's going to convince anyone to switch to the Linuxes. I think it's a bit to idealogical and lacking in the pragmatic. It could use some, "the advantages of Linux over PC's or Mac's are thus:"

I had no idea Joan Rivers sold pirated software, in high definition no less!

Has someone alerted the BSA?

Plus, we all know it's not truly havoc until someone lets loose the dogs of war.

I think the concept of Fon is excellent. But not all that useful in practice.

I live in a fairly populated area, and there are ~7 Fon routers within a five mile radius of where I live (Go to http://maps.fon.com/ to check around where you live). But every single one of those hotspots is in a residential area. Which is (I think) why I've never actually seen a Fon hotspot when I've been looking for WiFi. And, in the 6 months or so that I've ran a Fon hotspot out of my home, I've had zero outside connections.

I think the key to success for Fon would be to target businesses where people are typically looking for WiFi. Coffee Shops, Hotels and the like. The way it is now, I'd have to camp out on someone's Cul-de-sac to find a Fon hotspot.

Perhaps. I suspect it'll just make a new sub-species of fat, lazy whales.

$#@&*!$ lazy-ass whales.

Precisely. But even in a mockup, there's no excuse for that script. I mean - honest to god - who types out "style-conscious individualist" and doesn't hang themselves by the cord of their own keyboard?

I'm ashamed to belong to the same profession as the poor copywriter who wrote this shit.

You, get up from your desk, you belong in Ad Sales.

"even many experienced Linux experts stay away from it" is ridiculous, but the principle of not requiring apt-get - or anything else that requires opening a terminal - from "teh newbz" is totally valid.

I think - like me - most new Linux users will initially revile and fear the terminal, then eventually discover that it's the easiest and quickest way to accomplish certain tasks, like Apt-Get.

You're right on the money - but I'd add that another big factor is, well, the money. Buying the cheapest PS3 console will still set you back $400, while you can generally get a 360 arcade for $150. Sure, you're paying for better hardware, but if the titles aren't that much prettier as a result of that hardware, what's the point?

It all comes down to the experience of the games you're playing, and if the games on the PS3 aren't 2.7x better, it's difficult to justify the price of a console that costs 2.7x more.

Sounds like an awesome little appliance, but what can you do with it? You know, besides a beowulf cluster.

I'm sure my fellow Slashdotters will have some suggestions. Let's hear 'em.