Hence, whiteboards, paper towels, cardboard boxes and the lab gloves I am wearing see common use as writing substrates for taking notes. My favourite method is writing on the benchtop (probably melamine resin) with a soft pencil. When in the office I am a big fan of wide-ruled yellow writing pads. Since I am the only one who uses them around here I find them easy to spot when things get cluttered. For lecture notes, a 5 x 7 spiral bound (with a BIG spiral on the long edge dammit) notebook with a firm cover. Blue pens. My handwriting has deteriorated so now it resembles my EEG, so I endorse other postings recommending fountain pens for legibility to others. I am very pleased how much better biro-like pens have become over the last three decades (currently I am a VelocityGel addict).

"Imagine, for a moment, if we bought electricity the way we buy data in this country. Every month, you would pay a fixed amount of money (say, $120), and then you would use as much electricity as you wanted..." OR Imagine, for a moment, if we bought telephone connection time the way we buy data in this country. Every month, you would pay a fixed amount of money (say, $120), and then you would use your telephone as much as you wanted... Oh, wait a minute...

I don't trust the reasoning behind this group of people. Note that they are largely from the east and west coast of the USA, or from e.g. Australia. It sounds as if they have a vested interest in keeping sea levels low.

Another thing that's missing is mention of Jimmy's other project, Bomis, the porn-related search site. He keeps trying to sweep that one under the rug. ...or maybe it's just that he doesn't consider it a failure.

Slow day on Slashdot? I don't know where the conspiracy nuts get their information - were they actually watching the programme? The NBC commentator stated quite clearly that the 29 displays across Beijing that signified the 29 olympiads were simulated. They didn't got into detail about it but they certainly didn't hide it.