Get the developers estimate of the time it will take, then double it. Unless they are a contractor, then you need to try and cut it in half.

I always wondered why they didn't simply implement a program where compostable materials go in brown plastic bags instead of black ones. Then the firms (public or private) can easily compost it. Also individuals with a compost pile looking for some extra organic material to add to their pile can just go pick up brown bags on trash day from people if they want more material.

From the BBC article: "The idea that nothing can exceed the speed of light in a vacuum forms a cornerstone in physics", I wonder why they highlight in a vacuum here when this test was not in a vacuum it was through rock. Bad writing I guess.

Institutions of higher learning in the United States are about making money, not graduating people. Everyone who has been there knows this.

Congress is effectively closed. Nothing will get done on anything, as you say. That is why it is laughable hearing the contenders for the Republican nomination talking about all these tax plans. Only thing getting passed in the U.S. Congress will be gas, regardless of who is President.

Contrary to Conservative belief other countries do have money.

CentOS on all your test beds, RedHat in production. (Like the rest of the business world who has a flippin clue).

I agree, if they want to land in that way they should send at least four rovers. Possibly have one survive.

A night launch and totally bad ass. I got to say I am not sad the program is over. We can move on to the next generation of things now. I hope they start making the programs more about human curiosity and exploration. Instead of just a defense against the Russians or the Chinese.

Perl makes the easy things easy and the hard things possible. I hated programming until I was exposed to Perl. Now I have been doing it professionally for 13 years.

The creativity should come from Designers now. Developers just implement the design. It is the Designers that need the passion, Developers don't have that role anymore.

Yah, I grew two habanero's in pot's here in the NE. Got more than I could eat in a lifetime. Surprised me. Great to hear it helped ease someones pain.

I'm not as worried about the Engineers as I am the Executives who cut corners to make more $$$. The Engineers aren't in charge of the $$$.

I can't find a way to sugar coat that. Sorry.

A hell of a lot of other people on Slashdot sure have.

Their reaction seems more about their denial of the reality that science can solve all problems than rational argument. For if one of the most technologically advanced countries on Earth who has had years of experience with nuclear energy (and nuclear fallout) can't Engineer themselves to safety then the likelihood of their respective countries doing it is unlikely as well. It's a security thing.

We have a separation of Church and State and the government still recognizes marriages conducted by religious organizations.

A separation of Corporations and State means legislators represent the interests of their constituents over the interests of Corporations. Right now the United States has gone from Representative Democracy to Corporate Representative Republic. With both parties fighting for the love ($$$) of their Corporate masters.

Corporations aren't inherently evil, nor do they need to be destroyed, they simply shouldn't be the boss.