Comment Re:Openbox and xfce4-panel (Score 1) 357
I love openbox. Throw some tint2 panel at it (like #! does) and it's ready to go. So fast on any machine I've ever put it on.
Comment Re:Sure, send me an invite! (Score 1) 1223
Any left ?
Comment Re:Build a mouse brain first. (Score 1) 116
Since when is brain mass proportionate to "intelligence" (a.k.a. hardware necessary to mimic it)? Or... maybe that's why the elephants look at me condescendingly every time I'm at the zoo...
Comment Re:Neither (Score 1) 412
Involving the authorities means you get your servers bagged and tagged. It's pretty hard to run a business with your boxes sitting downtown with cops.
Comment Re:Bullshit, but a kernel of truth there (Score 1) 135
Occam's Razor? How about the fact that we know Russians *exist*? I would be the first to hope that there are non-Earth life forms out there, but since you mentioned assumptions, it seems assuming alien life actually exists is pretty far from lex parsimoniae.
Comment Re:Nuclear economics (Score 2) 342
Wind and solar provide variable power. Which is fine so long as you have sources of continuous power running in the background.
I'm sure I'll be annihilated for this question, but isn't the wind always blowing somewhere in the U.S., or at least in the world? It seems that a well-designed mechanism of quickly swapping sources of electricity from strategically located wind farms across the country could provide "continuous" power. If the wind isn't always blowing, then there might always be currents/tidal waves on our ocean coasts. Couple that with solar and hydro, one could fathom a nice electricity backbone. Hot-swapping technology for the electrical grid can replace past "continuous" sources.
It's fun to nay-say and triumph the dirty bad guys (coal/nuclear/fossil fuels) as our only answer, but with proper engineering, the renewables are a possibility.
Submission + - Worst Ubuntu beta ever with Unity Interface
An anonymous reader writes: Last year, Mark Shuttleworth christened Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal", saying the disto would be stylish and create a good, lasting first impression. The Register has posted a new review of the upcoming Ubuntu — "That's not to say there isn't much to love in Ubuntu 11.04 with the new Unity Interface being the primary news, but even for a beta this release is way too rough. The real problem is that Unity can't do half of what GNOME can do."
Submission + - Nokia Releases Symbian Source Code
An anonymous reader writes: Nokia has just posted that it has completed putting the Symbian source code online at collab.symbian.nokia.com. Through these pages you will find source code, platform development tools, documents and other support materials. The Symbian platform source is a snapshot of Nokia’s most recent master code base.
Comment Re:Do you want computer science, or engineering? (Score 1) 583
No, he was saying that at the very least, everyone should have basic levels of education in certain things, and that these things include essentials (e.g. basic math such as calculus, core English literature such as Shakespeare etc).
I would in fact add a few more to the list -- basic chemistry, including physical, organic, and inorganic; basic physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics; engineering drawing; at least conversational skills in one non-native language; introduction to music theory; fundamentals of philosophy and the main schools of thought; introduction to social sciences, including economics, political theory, geography, history, law, sociology, and psychology; and finally, art.
I could point to someone like John Stuart Mill as the product of such an education...
hmm...
Comment Re:Time for a launch loop (Score 1) 246
would you stop all current cancer treatment to pay for it and let all of those people die in the pursuit of this potential payout sometime in the future?
The OP asked "Enough to explore the idea of a sort of launch loop [wikimedia.org]?"
The OR (original replier) said "Nope"
I, in turn, was saying that the exploration, whether or not it's currently happening, is worthwhile. Did I say stop anything that currently works? No.
I understand you need to direct your hate at someone, but try to RTFR and understand what others are saying next time.
Comment Re:Time for a launch loop (Score 1) 246
Rockets are a tried, tested, and true method of getting to space.
Treating cancer is also a tried, tested and true method of saving *some* people. Why not develope a cure and save them all? Why not develop a more efficient gateway to space and save the $424 million next time?
Comment Re:Nope (Score 2, Insightful) 141
"...our company now has a policy of not hiring anyone out of college with less than 5 years work experience"
Wow, good luck with that. So where are CS graduates supposed to get this 5 years of work experience if everyone hires like your company?
Comment Re:The Second, If Not Both (Score 2, Funny) 466
Mow after working as a programmer...
Did you just say "mow"?
Submission + - MMS is Live on the Iphone! (associatedcontent.com)
Calindae writes: "It's finally here! The day we have all waited for (or at least iPhone owners have waited for)! You can now multi-media message with your Apple iPhone. Wow, was that a loooong "late summer"!"
