Comment Re:about (Score 4, Funny) 605
Low pay, stimulants, sensory deprivation, monitoring wires, memory loss for an unknown goal; So just how long have you been a video game developer?
US Adults Fail Basic Science Literacy 1038
TaeKwonDood writes "Do you want the bad news first or the good news? The good news is that about 80% of Americans think science knowledge is 'very important' to our future. The bad news is most of those people think it's up to someone else to get knowledgeable. Only 15% actually know how much of the planet is covered in water (47% if you accept a rough approximation of the exact number) and over 40% think dinosaurs and humans cavorted together like in some sort of 'Land Of The Lost' episode. What to do? Pres. Obama thinks merit pay for teachers makes sense. Yes, it will enrage the teachers' union, but it might inspire better people to go into science teaching. It's either that or accept that almost 50% of Americans won't know how long it takes the earth to go around the sun."
Comment iPhone pro? No way. (Score 1) 291
>>The other possibility is "iPhone Pro".
Uh, no, unless it includes a telepathy feature, because NOBODY is going to hold a 10" tablet computer up to their ear to talk. Regardless, the laughter from onlookers would drown out the conversation.
In this age of compact electronics with organic forms, an iPhone Pro based on the platform in discussion would simply be iPhone's take on a 1985 bag phone.
Comment Next step - CCTV (Score 1) 336
Infrared photograph of everyone in the theatre. Mark my words, this is coming. For "security" reasons, to fight terrorism, etc.
Just like the outrageous crap in most EULAs, this will be posted somewhere on a wall, saying "by entering these premises, you are consenting to be photographed"
Even if that doesn't happen -- IMO, the amount of energy being poured into technology such as this seat tracking software would be better spent creating films worth watching. Between the smug know-it-all antics of the Hollywood crowd and the deep-as-a-puddle content of most dialog and storylines, there's just no compelling reason to attend.
LOTR was the most recent film I saw in a theatre. At the rate things are going, it may be the last film I see in any theatre.
Comment My conspiracy theory - it's a setup. (Score 1) 408
Getting framed sucks... but what if it's all part of a setup?
Wasn't there some discussion about Obama wanting a new helicopter but "for the good of the nation" "considering today's economy" (nudge nudge, wink wink*) he decided against buying new helicopters.
But now that the security been breached, well, he just *has* to have a shiny new one, right?
(*What's a few hundred million dollars for a helicopter when we're committing to spending more money than the entire world's GDP, as computed using GAAP standards?)
Comment Re:Clearly, (Score 0) 325
And then they ask for a refund.
Ruthless!
Arctic Ice Extent Understated Because of "Sensor Drift" 823
dtjohnson writes "The National Snow and Ice Data
Center (NSIDC) has been at the forefront of predicting doom in the arctic as ice melts due to global warming. In May, 2008 they went so far as to predict that the North Pole would be ice-free during
the 2008 'melt season,' leading to a lively Slashdot discussion. Today, however, they say that they have been the victims of 'sensor drift' that led
to an underestimation of Arctic ice extent by as much as 500,000 square
kilometers. The problem was discovered after they received
emails from puzzled readers, asking why obviously sea-ice-covered
regions were showing up as ice-free, open ocean. It turns
out that the NSIDC relies on an older, less-reliable method of tracking
sea ice extent called SSM/I that does not agree with a newer method called AMSR-E. So why doesn't NSIDC use the newer AMSR-E data? 'We do not use AMSR-E data in our analysis because it
is not consistent with our historical data.' Turns out that the AMSR-E data only goes back to 2002, which is probably not long enough for the NSIDC to make sweeping conclusions about melting. The AMSR-E data is updated daily and is available to the public. Thus far, sea ice
extent in 2009 is tracking ahead of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, so
the predictions of an ice-free north pole might be premature."
Comment regardless, buy some insurance (Score 4, Insightful) 302
Regardless of what you do as far as utilizing the servers, call your insurance agent straightaway and make sure that equipment is insured! Business property is very unlikely to be covered by your homeowner's policy so theft/fire/whatever could leave you financially exposed (or even liable, should the investors choose to come after you for reparations).
Comment Re:One way to get more registered voters (Score 3, Informative) 1088
The electoral college was put in place so that there would be a check on the power of the uneducated masses...
And we've all seen how well THAT worked out.
To wit: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=194983 (Howard Stern Interviews Obama "Policy" Voters)
Sure, it happens on both sides, but that was the most striking example that comes to mind when I think of uneducated voters.
Comment pedestrians beware (Score 4, Funny) 281
OTOH, if you're running low on fuel/power, just cruise up onto the sidewalk and mow down a few unsuspecting pedestrians. *KaThumpKaThump* *KaThumpKaThump* Presto! Enough juice to make it home (after a quick run through the carwash, of course). Thanks, MIT!!
Comment Great way to get LESS registered voters (Score -1, Troll) 1088
Well, one thing I can assure you is that your vote will NOT count in Iowa, should this bill pass into law. The Iowa tally is disregarded in favor of the wishes of voters elsewhere. How could this possibly be seen as a good idea other than freeing national campaigns to drop all pretenses of concern and thoroughly ignore Iowans next time around and merely focus on the "wants" (welfare/handouts/bailouts/bribes/etc) of the big population centers?
Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul. This bill provides a neat mechanism for getting Peter's support, too.
I am baffled why anyone other than those in the aforementioned population centers would support it.
Obama's Proposed Space Weapon Ban 550
eldavojohn writes "Obama's proposed ban on space weapons is a complete 180 from George W. Bush's stance on them. Space.com looks at the two sides of the issue and quotes Michael Krepon explaining, 'The Bush administration rejected space diplomacy. We refused to negotiate on any subject that could limit US military options. We have a shift from an administration that was very dismissive of multilateral negotiations [as a whole], to an administration that is open to that possibility if it improves US national security.' You may recall discussing the necessity of space based weapons and Michael Krepon from 2005."
Comment bail & switch (Score 5, Funny) 143
Wait a second. What started off as a laptop has devolved into a flash drive with a bluetooth chip & a battery! Another week and it'll be described as a "spiral-bound notebook and a pencil with a string tied to it."
Comment $10 laptop is easy. (Score 1) 374
$1 for a chalkboard and $9 to hire a group of people to follow you around and do whatever you write.
Virus Infection Hits UK's Ministry of Defense, Including Warships 290
Retrovirus writes with a link to a Register story which says that the UK's "Ministry of Defence confirmed today that it has suffered virus infections which have shut down 'a small number' of MoD systems, most notably including admin networks aboard Royal Navy warships."
