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Comment Re:all good technology kills jobs (Score 1) 308

There is no such thing as killing all jobs because there is always more work to do. Yet, even if we ran out of work to do, who cares? A job is a means to an end, not an end in itself. I wouldn't mind living in a world where robots do all the work, and I can just have fun.

Comment all good technology kills jobs (Score 3) 308

When people complain about technology killing jobs, I like to point out that they are essentially arguing against EZpass and other electronic highway toll payment technologies. How would you like to go back to waiting in line so that a human can collect money from each car? That would certainly create a lot of jobs.

But that's not the end of the story. When technology kills less productive jobs, like telephone operators, it also creates new, higher-paying technology jobs. It may be painful in the short run for those who lose their job, but eventually those people can get other jobs that are more productive, with the benefit that the creative destruction of technology will continue to make life cheaper and easier. Ex-telephone operators will have cheaper cars built by robots, ex-car manufacturers will have cheaper phone calls, etc.

Yes, they will need to develop new skills, but it's just a fact of life that you have to bring something to the table. Why else would anyone trade with you?
Games

Submission + - First Trailer for Max Payne 3 Released (ausgamers.com)

trawg writes: "The first video footage from Rockstar's upcoming Max Payne 3 has landed, setting the scene for the next iteration in the popular series of games set featuring this gritty action hero. Gamers may remember Max Payne for its impressive visuals and use of slow motion in action scenes, and Max Payne 3 looks like it will be continuing the tradition. It's currently set for release in March 2012 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3."
Government

Submission + - FCC to test opening white spaces up to public (thehill.com)

GovTechGuy writes: The FCC will begin a test on Monday that will give the public access to "white spaces," the unused spectrum between TV and radio stations. The Commission is in the process of opening up the airwaves for public use; the last release of unlicensed airwaves eventually spawned a number of innovations such as WiFi, cordless phones and baby monitors. Officials hope this move will lead to better WiFi technology that can cover up to 50 miles.
The Internet

Submission + - Site Builder Review: Drupal vs Joomla vs WordPress (computerworld.com)

CWmike writes: "Building a website has never been easier. Gone — mostly — are the days of having to hand-code HTML and PHP scripts in order to get a slick, fully functional site, thanks to the capabilities of content management systems (CMSs) that do most or all of the heavy lifting for site creators. There are boatloads of CMSs for serious site creators, but the most common are three open-source tools: Joomla, Drupal and WordPress. Actually, to call them 'tools' is an understatement — these are full-fledged platforms, with tens of thousands of add-on tools created by very active developer communities. So which CMS is right for you? Brian Proffitt's in-depth review can help you answer that."
Australia

Submission + - Apple blocks sale of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia (zdnet.com.au)

lukehopewell1 writes: "Apple has obtained an injunction from an Australian court effectively blocking the sale of the new Android Honeycomb-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v. Apple Australia claims that the unit infringes on 10 of the Cupertino, California-based company's patents including the slide to unlock functionality as well as the edge-bounce feature. Samsung will provide Apple Australia with three units for study in coming weeks to ascertain whether or not the Korean gadget maker did in fact infringe on Apple's patented intellectual property."
Math

Submission + - Ultimate L, the continuum and incompleteness (newscientist.com)

00_NOP writes: "Kurt Goedel's incompleteness theorem, which states that no mathematical system dealing with the natural numbers can be internally consistent, can be rendered void according to new theories of infinity (discussed in the New Scientist) — a result suggested by Goedel himself. And, to add to the mix the theory from Berkeley mathematician Hugh Woodin also demonstrates that Cantor's continuum hypothesis is correct. Further discussion here"
Piracy

Submission + - Indie Film Premieres on BitTorrent Before Cinema (vodo.net)

An anonymous reader writes: The first part of A Lonely Place For Dying is available on VODO while the filmmakers are getting ready for a theatrical run in early 2012. Viewers are asked to donate if they like what they see and if enough cash is raised theywill be able to watch the film again on the big screen. In return for their contributions donors are receiving digital downloads or credits in the upcoming release, you can even become an Executive Producer and get your name listed on imdb. This is a brave move challenging Hollywood and their traditional "release windows", download now and check it out!
Bitcoin

Submission + - $500,000 Worth of Bitcoins Stolen From User (pcworld.com)

olsmeister writes: A Bitcoin user allegedly has had $500,000 worth of Bitcoins stolen from him. A hacker supposedly gained access to the user's home computer and managed to get the user's wallet.dat file, which contained the cryptographic keys that allowed him to drain the user's balance.
Biotech

Chemical Cocktail Can Keep a Heart Viable 10 Days, Outside the Body 97

nj_peeps writes "Harvard professor Hemant Thatte has developed a cocktail of 21 chemical compounds that he calls Somah, derived from the Sanskrit for 'ambrosia of rejuvenation.' Using Somah, Thatte and his team have accomplished some amazing feats with pig hearts. They can keep the organ viable for transplant up to 10 days after harvest — far longer than the four-hour limit seen in hospitals today. Not only that, but using low temperatures and Somah, they were able to take a pig heart that was removed post mortem and get it to beat 24 hours later in the lab."
Security

OpenSSL 1.0.0 Released 105

hardaker writes "After over 11 years of development since the start of the OpenSSL Project (1998-12-23), OpenSSL version 1.0.0 has finally hit the shelves of the free-for-all store."

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