"So for you academics out there, be careful. Groklaw notes this is interesting considering some of its results quote 2001: A Space Odyssey or Douglas Adams. Claiming copyright on that material may be a bold move." You can copyright something if it quotes someone else - people do it all the time (*especially* academics). The question is whether it is (a) a "work" in the copyright law sense and (b) fair use of the material. I would posit that the W|A engine is putting together a document in response to a query. Short quotes are probably fair use. I'm not sure who the "creator" or the work is though :-) Interesting ...

"Scala looks and feels like Java with a tiny bit of Python thrown in for good measure." Then you haven't used it properly. Scala is fundamentally a functional programming language with OO. You can also work in procedural manner , in which case, yes, it is much the same as Java .. but then you are missing out on some really nice features.

"Where's that jolly content you downloaded so illicitly?" Sheer genius!

The big letters mean it MUST be TRUE.

The Flat Earth Society uses that same tactic to try to dismiss mainstream science as "religion".

"Having been on the corporate side of this argument, and having to deal with the consequences of an open work environment, I have to say I completely disagree with you."

I'm a company director and in my opinion a good manager is focussed on good project outcomes, not trying to screw every last second out of the lives of its hapless employees. Happy employees with a good work-life balance is the key to productive outcomes, not to mention a better world. If that means using the phone and email for personal messages, in moderation, then I'm fine with that - in fact, I encourage it.

The "equipment" with which you deficate is entirely your own, and thus you are obviously entitled to your own level of pivacy. [sic]

As are your communications with your family, friends, union reps, and doctors (even company ones).

Nevertheless, your comparison is just plain rediculus and does not warrant a place in this discussion. [sic]

Welcome to free speech. Suck on it.