There is a myth about computer being magic device that amplifies stupidity and causes normal intelligent people loosing common sense when they sit in front of it. True fact!

Maybe that's because of amount of knowledge and information and everything in this rapidly developing industry? 25 years ago it may not be that hard to absorb most of the knowledge when it came to computers (you know those cliche pictures of men in white coats running around computers the size of cabinet or boys programming first software in garage on Amigas), Turings etc. were basic of all, but now - what would you consider being true computer science? Designing hardware? Microprocessors? Algorithms? Programming? Networking? Which field or technology in networking? Systems administration? Even project management? It's too much diverse today.

OTOH I am glad /. informed about this, at least I know which shortcut URL to avoid and installing noscript in browser was useful. Because this says willing participants - b ut you never know how many will be unwillingly ddosing from some other sites using this technique.

Yes, there is some sort of trend - whatever gets "invented" in US, EU takes it, screws it in it's own way and applies it. Meh.

...and the use of rubber-hose cryptoanalysis will go up.

When you die, biology and chemistry takes care of your body. Desperate, huh? People realized this, therefore created "there has to be something beyond", afterlife, energy beings, heaven, hell, etc. to make it more bearable. Then built whole system around it, based on "what you do during your life ... and here you have religion :-)

Excuse me, I have a question regarding free speech: what's this article posted while ago exactly about? http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/12/03/2326207/Graduate-Students-Being-Warned-Away-From-Leaked-Cables

I don't need wallet for tracking transactions, my mobile serves the same purpose when it receives notification from bank. And yes, it buzzes too :-p

No, you get it from wrong point of view. Seriously, if Sony was smart enough they could use this as marketing, or even sell this kind of solution to potential customers interested in entry-level supercomputing. Just like nVidia does with dozen of graphic cards bond together and sold as Tesla. (Only problem is - I think - Sony is smart enough, but they would get their fingers slapped by IBM or whoever made those chips that they are competing in business with them now.)

Headless scans? I see those pictures are pretty matched to real photography of scanned person.

Aren't engines doing it anyway as long as you're logged on? Part of the customization. Or whats my tagging with stars and irrelevant links in google results?

If all they want to achieve by this is people saying "Screw them, I donate to EFF right now just to make them angry" they may actually succeed.

Seriously, by "Actively go out and find stuff that offends and appalls you" they mean browse p0rn all day?

Isn't this how Germans started thinking they are chosen nation, then educating their youth the right way, then establishing clear race, and you know the rest. For me, as European, I stop seeing difference compared to let's say Middle East countries with their own way of expressing religion into educational system. Hello Texas, Deja Vu? What comes next? Denying voting rights to women?

No, Europeans do pay insurance. It's part of the higher taxes - at least in my country and many neighboring. Everybody who pays taxes pay certain amount for health insurance as well. It goes to insurance company - commercial or state owned. It's not mandatory, but you better have insurance else you pay cash at doctor's. If you cannot pay because of certain reasons (kid, student, unemployed, sick, maternity leave) state pays for you.