Working infosec for a dozen years or so, I tend to harden things by default. I view any app on my system as a potential vulnerability, so if I don't need it or aren't using it, off it goes.

My point is that buying a new car with DRM is a choice. Don't want DRM? Don't buy new; there are plenty of viable alternatives out there. Or, buy new from a manufacturer that hasn't gone the DRM route. If enough people make those choices, it starts to hit the manufacturers where it counts the most, in the profit/loss statements. Doesn't always work, but it works often enough.

I own a 1980 Triumph TR-8. No ABS, anti-lock, traction control, air bags, EFI (it's carbureted), bluetooth, or GPS; therefore, no computers. The most modern thing in it is the stereo, a Clarion from 1993. It's even got manual door locks and windows. Analog clock. Mechanical speedo, tach and odometer.

I'd like to see them try to apply DRM to it.

Sometimes, being a partial Luddite can be a good thing.

Oh, yeah, it's a real kick to drive....

For states that set up their own exchanges, there are generally offices available as well as phone lines people can call. Many of the states that opted out are also trying their damnedest to block any perceived successes for the ACA, and have taken steps to hinder their establishment. How much help someone can expect in signing up depends entirely on what state you're talking about.

I have no doubt it will happen at some point, but only after those of us with 30+ years of driving under our belts are either gone or no longer able to drive. I've seen too many malfunctions of new technology over the years; couple that with a lifetime spent in IT and information security and seeing first-hand just how fragile even the most robust systems are, and it comes to too much cynicism to trust my life to a computer like that.

Doubtless someone will point out autopilots on airplanes. There's a lot larger margin of error in the air; planes generally don't fly 4-6 feet apart in high density. If an plane's autopilot is off by 1% or more, that's something that can be detected and corrected for before it becomes a life-threatening issue. If my car drifts 1% on a crowded freeway going 70 MPH, that can become an issue in seconds.

Plus, I doubt Julie Hagerty is available to help motorists if their autopilot "deflates."

Some deep watering and maybe a little Miracle Gro, I bet we can get those suckers down to the Permian.

Can't wait for The Stig to take it round the track. Some say his home computer is a Commodore Amiga, and he still believes 640K is more than enough RAM for anyone.

"Wireless Fortress"

Heh. That's cute.

Use WPA2 with AES (not TKIP). You'll be about as secure as you're going to get. Hidden SSIDs, MAC whitelists and static IPs are barely speed bumps to a determined attacker. You gain nothing by using them, apart from administrative headaches and a false sense of security.

There's no sure way to protect the data, but this comes close:

1. Unplug the server/storage array/whatever
2. Put it in a safe. Lock the safe, lose the combo.
3. Dig a large hole.
4. Insert safe into hole.
5. Fill hole with concrete.

Of course, even this plan has its flaws: What if the safe is discovered? Your only hope is that it's discovered by a Redditor; it will never be opened then.

I would use this as the music under the title: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrYhWVMqf-4

I'd much rather pay royalties to Stravinsky's estate than to the publishing company.

I changed my name to "GOTO" so I could be vilified.

TIL the entire movie will be shot from 3 feet above and 6 feet behind the main character.

Alliterative aspects augment awesome article attributes.

I already have something like this. I input basic food components (including powders and oil, as needed) in a ordered fashion (sometimes layer by layer), and after a short time, I extract a customized, nutritionally-appropriate meal.

It's called an "oven".