Submission + - Superbots Cooperate for Many Feats
anthemaniac writes: Wei-Min Shen at USC has taken a Lego approach to robots and tossed in some intelligence to create "superbots." While each autonomous module is no more talented than a Roomba or even the iDog, one piece can find another and self-assemble. Combined, they can form a wheel, climb a rope, or walk like a human. The videos show various combinations and feats.
Bookmark Java 2007: The year in preview (ibm.com)
Submission + - Why is Microsoft charging $4000 for DST patches?
An anonymous reader writes: After a phone call to Microsoft, I was informed that even companies with extended patch support still have to pay $4000 for retired product DST patches. (Keep in mind when you sign up for the extended patch support license, you pay extra.)
1. How did MS figure that $4000 a client would cover the cost of the patch? Are they following the pricing schemes of the oil industry? What is the true cost of such things?
2. Why isn't MS getting more slack for charging this ridiculous amount of money? Is this price gouging?
3. Wouldn't it be in Microsoft's best interest to at least offer the Win2k workstation patch as a free download? Would it have been a chance to help improve the company's image?
4. Since Win2k machines still receive Windows Updates, why are they free yet the DST fix is not?
Submission + - 71 New Search Keywords In Google & Still Count
Voelspriet writes: "It's not perfect, but hey, it's new. Google accepts all kind of new
search words, triggered by info boxes on Wikipedia, Amazon, CIA, Answers.com and some
obscure sites. I compiled a list of 71 keywords that result in a direct answer
on #1 in Google. (You don't have to open the source, you get the answer right
away.) The syntax is keywords & trigger (country, artist or company). Let me
know if you find more..
Age structure (country)
Airports (country)
Area (country)
Birth rate (country)
Capital (country)
Climate (country)
Coastline (country)
Constitution (country)
Currency (country)
Dependent areas (country)
Diplomatic representation from the US (country)
Economy (country)
Employees (company)
Environment — current issues (country)
Environment — international agreements (country)
Ethnic groups (country)
Executive branch (company)
Exports (country)
Flag description (country)
Founded (company)
Genre (artist)
Geographic coordinates (country)
Geography — note (country)
Government (country)
Head of state (country)
Headquarters (company)
heliport (country)
HIV/AIDS — deaths (country)
Illicit Drugs (country)
Imports (country)
Independence (country)
Industries (country)
Inflation rate (country)
International organization participation (country)
Internet TLD (country)
Internet users (country)
Judicial branch (country)
Key People (company)
Label (artist)
Labor force (country)
Land use (country)
Language (country)
Legal system(country)
Legislative branch(country)
Literacy (country)
Map Reference (country)
Maritime claims (country)
Military Branches (country)
Music: (artist) — old one.
National hazards (country)
National holiday (country)
Nationality (country)
Natural resources (country)
Population below poverty line (country)
Political parties and leaders (country)
Political pressure groups and leaders (country)
Prime Minister (country)
Products (company)
Public Debt (country)
Radios (country)
Railways (country)
Religion (country)
Revenue (country)
Slogan (company)
Televisions (country)
Time Zone (country)
Terrain (country)
Trading Partners (country)
Unemployment rate (country)"
Age structure (country)
Airports (country)
Area (country)
Birth rate (country)
Capital (country)
Climate (country)
Coastline (country)
Constitution (country)
Currency (country)
Dependent areas (country)
Diplomatic representation from the US (country)
Economy (country)
Employees (company)
Environment — current issues (country)
Environment — international agreements (country)
Ethnic groups (country)
Executive branch (company)
Exports (country)
Flag description (country)
Founded (company)
Genre (artist)
Geographic coordinates (country)
Geography — note (country)
Government (country)
Head of state (country)
Headquarters (company)
heliport (country)
HIV/AIDS — deaths (country)
Illicit Drugs (country)
Imports (country)
Independence (country)
Industries (country)
Inflation rate (country)
International organization participation (country)
Internet TLD (country)
Internet users (country)
Judicial branch (country)
Key People (company)
Label (artist)
Labor force (country)
Land use (country)
Language (country)
Legal system(country)
Legislative branch(country)
Literacy (country)
Map Reference (country)
Maritime claims (country)
Military Branches (country)
Music: (artist) — old one.
National hazards (country)
National holiday (country)
Nationality (country)
Natural resources (country)
Population below poverty line (country)
Political parties and leaders (country)
Political pressure groups and leaders (country)
Prime Minister (country)
Products (company)
Public Debt (country)
Radios (country)
Railways (country)
Religion (country)
Revenue (country)
Slogan (company)
Televisions (country)
Time Zone (country)
Terrain (country)
Trading Partners (country)
Unemployment rate (country)"
Submission + - Verizon DSL
jerseyjim writes: "I'm baffled by Verizon's DSL and wonder if any Slashdotters have any suggestions. Verizon's DSL service has been intermitted for the last six months. Connects fine for a week or so and then it can't connect sometimes for days. I'm guessing Verizon has my computer polling for a dynamic IP address and I'm also guessing that it times out on my side when it doesn't get a response from Verizon. I'm also guessing it must be a wide spread problem because the recording at Verizon tech support tells you to reboot the computer and modem after waiting 15 seconds if you have connection problems. The Verizon tech has me checking wires, line filters, and resetting the default setting on the modem. I really don't think this is the problem since I'm speaking to the tech on the DSL line and early this morning spontaneously it reconnected without resetting anything and besides I've went through those steps countless times with other techs. Two weeks ago Verizon was sending a tech to my house. No one arrived. No phone call either. A follow up call by me said the problem was fixed at their end. Anyone have any insight into this?"
Journal Journal: Brie and KBR 2
I busted a gut this AM when I saw this post with a picture of a wedge of Brie and a label warning all who can read that it contains milk.
Seems the Brie people and the KBR folks are having to put up with the same or similar idiots.
What are the chances that KBR is getting a lot of applications from folks in Marina Del Rey?
Journal Journal: Skoach: Web 2.0 time-management app to combat ADD
This looks like a really neat tool in the works. It's a browser-based time and task management package aimed at people with ADD but useful for anybody with time management issues, i.e. everyone. It has been designed by both ADD professional and software professionals. Now accepting Beta testers. I'm in!!
http://skoach.com/betaTesting.html
Feed Hybrids Get Some Star Power (wired.com)
Feed Google: More Betta Meta (wired.com)
Feed Deal May Hurt Organic Cotton (wired.com)
Politicians Wising up on Game Legislation? 66
Blackjack writes "Ars Technica looks at recent failures to pass laws regulating the sales of violent video games. They ask whether politicians are finally wising up to First Amendment issues and the costs associated with lawsuits resulting from the laws. Recent attempts to pass video game legislation in Mississippi, Utah, and Indiana have either failed or been put on indefinite hold. 'Now, state lawmakers are more cognizant of the constitutionality issues at stake. The judicial landscape is littered with the charred husks of laws passed by Illinois, Washington, Michigan, California, Louisiana, and others. All of them tried in some way or another to regulate the sale of violent video games to children, and all of them were struck down on First Amendment grounds.'"
Comment Re:I, for one, welcome... (Score 1) 542
#Generic_Soviet_Russia_Joke# In Soviet Russia, CD scratch YOU!
