I hope that's in jest, if you knew me at all you'd know it should be :)

I'm all for the bleeding edge but only if it's actually useful. I already have a few hundred megabits to my laptop, another gigabit or two really wouldn't change anything.

...must be overjoyed at helping fund this.

Oh ya, I meant to mention that since some pharmaceuticals are used recreationally they should probably be included in the discussion. Antidepressants are the main drugs in this category. I don't have much experience with these but:

- I could see Opioids such as Oxycodone helping with coding in the sense that they could help you feel happy enough to actually want to do it. Depression or lack of motivation can be as bad for coding and productivity as a foggy brain.
- Adderall is commonly used recreationally as it's related to amphetamine. It's used for attention deficit disorders so surely that could help with coding too.

In general anything that helps you get to a state of mind where you want to code and can do it well could be considered helpful.

Its effects can be that of depressants, stimulants and/or hallucinogens, but it's classified as a depressant due to its effects on the nervous system.

It's a fun topic to debate but the question is pretty fuzzy. "Recreational drugs" vary so widely in their effects that you can't really say anything about all of them at once. "Help" is also a subjective term that would need to be further defined to have any meaningful discussion.

I'll also put out there that anyone who hasn't done much of them is unqualified to answer.

Personally, and speaking very generally, ie. the way this question would typically be taken, I would say that they do not help. More specifically:

- Depressants such as pot and alcohol can help you think more creatively but tend to erode motivation and coding accuracy/efficiency.
- Hallucinogens (LSD, DMT, MDA, 2CB, shrooms etc) in normal doses also help creativity but will usually make interacting with the computer difficult or impossible. At very low doses (see LSD microdosing) there can be potential for augmenting sharpness of mind and attention.
- Most energetic stimulants (cocaine, meth, crystal, crack) make you too wired to sit still and focus on a task like programming. Way too little attention span.
- Speed is an exception to the above. With lower doses it can help keep you focused and awake almost indefinitely without being foggy. This the one drug I would say has the ability to help, even if it doesn't allow you to do anything you couldn't already with willpower and enough Jolt.
- MDMA (ecstasy) I consider a class on its own. Coming up with and talking about programming ideas could work very well but sitting in front of a computer doing a task that needs a clear head would definitely be problematic due to the mashy fogginess. Besides, why code when you could be hugging someone or dancing?
- I couldn't tell you about heroin but from what I've seen in movies it doesn't look like something you can code on at all!

FWIW I've been coding for about 30 years. Hope this helps :)

That's how they win. Keep hating those ads!

I notice ads have cropped up in Metro Skype too. They didn't used to if you had credit in your account.

Thanks Microsoft!

There are more iPhones in the world than any other smartphone. I'd say that makes it the best selling one.

Higher pixel densities let a lot less light through so the backlight ends up requiring more power to compensate. That's why the iPad 3's battery was 70% bigger than the 2's for the same battery life.

...if you want, but I found Apple's notice frikkin' hilarious! You know the old saying about asking a stupid question, well this was a stupid order. Apple sarcastically followed the letter of the order to show their contempt, something I'm sure a lot of us have done in one way or another at some point. It's refreshing to see a company with a sense of humour!

I'm surprised the court has much of a leg to stand on in claiming parts of it were untrue. Most of it was direct quotes from the judges and the bit about the German ruling was true AFAIK.

Anyway none of this will have any impact, it's not like Apple will lose any sales over this, and both of the companies are getting brand exposure. Win-win.

You're comparing freedom and liberty to soda? I think one might be a bit more important.

I know you're talking about diabetes, the question is why. That isn't the topic here. I don't know too many diabetics that manage it with Big Gulps. Conversely, soda contributes plenty of calories, which can lead to weight gain, and being overweight greatly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Obese people don't need soda to survive.

I'm curious as to how many of those opposed to this law are obese (weight in kg divided by square of height in meters > 30). Stats on average BMI of Big Gulp purchasers would also be interesting.

While I don't like the nanny state aspect of this law, if it mostly only applies to the obese and it sends a message that obesity is not good, I don't see the harm.

Those other things shouldn't be censored either. How does one "deal with it" exactly?