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Comment Random Thoughts (Score 4, Informative) 328

Currently live about a half mile from the epicenter of some earthquakes where there have never been earthquakes before. Grew up here. Never experienced them before. Have had several 2-3 magnitude tremors now shake my building where I live. Yesterday the Texas Legislature banned bans on fracking. And of course, the city legislatures around here have been legalizing fracking and allowing it for the past several years. I expect to hear bullshit about the frequency of earthquakes justifying them as normal soon. In a few years, I expect to hear bullshit as to why unusual organic compounds are in our ground water. Then more bullshit about why it is in the drinking water.

Comment Wondering (Score 1) 153

Wondering what the biggest problem is with IE? The quirks between different versions of the same browser, the speed? Was it that Microsoft fought the development of open web standards? Or is it just that using IE is slow and sucks? What are the ideological problems with IE, what are the technical problems, in a nutshell? People seem annoyed with the direction of Firefox's development, untrusting of Google's Chrome. What does that leave you? Opera?

Submission + - China overwhelming sites hosting Censored Content (nytimes.com)

puddingebola writes: The New York times reports that China is using a "new weapon" called the "Great Cannon" to overwhelm sites such as GitHub and GreatFire.org that host censored websites. The story is based on a report from UC Berkley and the University of Toronto, found here https://citizenlab.org/2015/04... From the story, "China’s new Internet weapon, the report says, is similar to one developed and used by the National Security Agency and its British counterpart, GCHQ, a system outlined in classified documents leaked by Edward J. Snowden, the former United States intelligence contractor. "

Comment New Macbook (Score 1) 85

I have noticed some wide disparities of performance in reviews of the new Macbook. One review I read put battery life at 7 hours, another at 11 hours of continuous video playback. Since there were no specifics, I don't know what to attribute these differences to. Who knew that the growth of mobile devices would direct manufacturers to focus on the design of the device? Intel's concern is now heat as much as power efficiency or performance. This point aside, if I were going to put down money for a new laptop, and using Mac laptops as an example, why would I plunk down $1300 on a Macbook when I can put down $800-$900 on a Macbook Air, and buy better performance and battery life? Sure, the Macbook is thin and light, but isn't the Air already pretty damn thin and light? This question applies to other PC makers. Are other PC makers watching Apple to see if there is that strong a market demand for laptops that have better screen resolution, weigh less, and have slicker design but poorer specs overall? Do these questions make any sense?

Submission + - No more Kinect for Windows (pcgamer.com)

puddingebola writes: Microsoft has announced it will no longer manufacture Kinect for Windows. Only the Xbox One version will be available for purchase. Microsoft said it could not meet demand for the device, a strange claim for a company to make.

Comment What is this? (Score 1) 46

What is this? A city ordinance? Are we talking about a $500 fine? Could you actually face jail time for flying your drone? The stories I've looked at say yes. But also interesting, Chaotic Moons Studios have loudly protested the ban since the ban has grounded their drone- Drone Tyrone. http://venturebeat.com/2015/03... Apparently it can shoot silly string, spray paint and a 3 foot flame. Also, Bryce Bencivengo, Austin’s senior public information officer, has said some exceptions will be made for some drones, those that have made previous arrangements with SXSW. Wonder who you have to bribe?

Comment Re:a "COUNTRY that absolutely loves to censor stuf (Score 1) 91

Looking outside the official explanation, governments are concerned about the use of social gaming as a communications conduit. I believe there have been stories on Slashdot about this. If email is known to be under high surveillance, then the terrorists will seek to communicate in code via Xbox live or Steam.

Submission + - Rust Never Sleeps (nytimes.com)

puddingebola writes: Interesting book review in the New York Times yesterday for Jonathan Waldman's Rust: The longest War. How much have you really considered the engineers, chemists, physicists and bureaucrats engaged in a war to stop the natural forces of oxidation. Rust, the book says, costs the United States $437 billion annually, more "than all other natural disasters combined." Technologies used to combat rust include the one micron thick polymer in your can of Coke, to the invention of stainless steel. Would Slashdot readers find a nontechnical book on the subject of entropy... entertaining?

Comment Edible Phones (Score 4, Funny) 340

This story points to the clear need for edible phones. Imagine that as you are landing in some country with a lack of respect for civil liberties, you receive a text message warning you that your phone is about to be confiscated. What if you could simply eat your phone? Wouldn't that be ideal. Edible phones could be the next growth market for the tech industry. Message me for details on how to invest.

Submission + - Resistant Bacterial Infection outbreak at California Hospital (go.com)

puddingebola writes: From the article, " A potentially deadly "superbug" resistant to antibiotics has infected seven patients, including two who died, and more than 160 others were exposed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center through contaminated medical instruments, the hospital revealed. The drug-resistant superbug known as CRE was likely transmitted to the Los Angeles patients by contaminated medical scopes during endoscopic procedures that took place between October 2014 and January 2015, a university statement said. " UCLA says the infections occurred via contaminated endoscopes that were sterilized according to the manufacturer's specifications.

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