I run Rosetta@Home on my own computers -- I can't believe I forgot about that. Great point.

There was a time when 1GHz/1GB was overkill, and while CPU/IO speed improves, usability doesn't seem to be getting all that much better. Considering we've had multiple orders of magnitude improvement in raw hardware performance, shouldn't other factors -- usability, reliability, security -- get more focus?

Sure, those could benefit from more raw hardware capability, but the increased 'power' doesn't seem to be targeted at improving anything other than raw application speed -- and sometimes, not even that.

What's 'national security'? I mean, is there a rigorous definition of it?

I'm not that familiar with how Agile 'stories' are scoped, but those seem a little abstract. While you're right about the specificity of the focus, wouldn't it sound more like:

Story 1: Enters a transaction originating in Chicago, IL

Story 2: Enters a transaction originating in Manhattan (too specific?), New York City, NY

Story 3: Enters a transaction originating in unincorporated Los Angeles county, CA

Those are specific, but wouldn't the 'story' involve actual physical jurisdictions, and eventually devolve the implementation and design to doesn't/have state/county/city-level taxes situations? Also, would the stories change as those indepedently governed locations introduce/change their laws?

Are you sure their evaluation skills stem from a lack of awareness of alternatives? They do drink Pabst Blue Ribbon, after all.

We just need to wait roughly three hundred years at this point. The science fiction relies more on genetics than hormones, but you can make the extrapolation.

Just a couple edits, and ...

"If two of the largest cable companies are able to combine into one entity in the marketplace, their combined resources may have the effect of suppressing meaningful competition. Therefore, the item tentatively concludes that merger arrangements between regional providers should not be allowed."

Here's hoping.

It's ok, Martha, I still think they just like persecuting individuals instead of corporations. Plus I continue to use your decorating tips.

One option here is to run a portable editor -- emacs also works in this mode -- from a shared drive or usb stick. You can try them all and if you don't like any of them, just delete the directory -- no uninstallation, system files, or registry settings to worry about.

"Let's take a short break from this conference call to get some coffee. We'll be back in the room in about 10 minutes."

[company's on-site agent provides consideration to Poo-bah]

[conference call resumes]

"I'm glad we both understand our situation."

I would say that SETI has produced one of the most useful pieces of software available today for the use of the general public.

And that

• the end-users and provider are both located/headquartered local to the area,
• both have a vested interest in its success,
• and in many cases have a large intersection of their sets.

But remove 'respectable' (cough) businesses from the equation towards the goal of providing a reliable service targeted at the good of the end-user? Filthy socialist.

Weren't there huge complaints as a result of this?

Dunno. Coast Guard?

On the contrary, I agree with Comcast's proposition here. Why, in theory, build out municipal fiber when internet service is already offered by two respectable private businesses? Such businesses should be able to consider the needs of their end-users and provide the appropriate services.

All they would need to answer that question is to get rid of SBC and Comcast, and let those two purported businesses move in. Heck, I'd settle for just one.

Sure thing! Here you go.