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Submission + - Proof Comcast Throttles Netflix (mattvukas.com) 8

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Matt Vukas has done some (not so thorough) testing to prove that Comcast is definitely throttling Netflix after the FCC gave the green-light. On comcast network, Netflix is slow. Still using the same network, but with an added VPN layer, which should be slower, Netflix is suddenly back to normal speed.

Submission + - Arduino + Beagleboard + Goldfish = Fish On Wheels

Submitted by cartechboy
cartechboy writes: Remember when you were a kid and goldfish were, for at least a few months, a central part of life? It turns out goldfish aren't just good pets--or a good introduction to mortality--they're capable of driving as well. Yes, you read that correctly, goldfish can drive, and there's video to prove it. Well, we should rephrase that, goldfish can drive with the help of the insane geniuses at Studio Diip. They combined Arduino and Beagleboard circuits with a webcam, a battery, a fish tank, and a robot vehicle, freeing the goldfish from its boring life on a shelf. The system uses the webcam to see where the goldfish is going, then directs the robot car to follow. Turns out the goldfish is a bit more capable than you though, eh?

Submission + - What are the weirdest places you've spotted Linux?

Submitted by colinneagle
colinneagle writes: Bryan Lunduke recently pulled together a collection of the weirdest places he's found Linux, from installations in North Korea and the International Space Station to a super-computer made out of Legos and computer engineer Barbie.

But I figured the Slashdot crowd would have some suggestions to expand the list. See any weird places for Linux not mentioned in this list?

Submission + - If we Buck Feta and leave, where should we go? 17

Submitted by Covalent
Covalent writes: I am a long-time slashdot reader (don't let the UID fool you), and I agree with most of you that the Beta is a disaster. Dice has promised a fix, but what if this garbage is the new reality? Is there a suitable alternative to slashdot that members would find equally (or more) fulfilling? Is someone going to fork slashdot and start it anew (Taco can you hear me?) Or is this just the end of an era?

Submission + - An open letter to the management of Slashdot. 14

Submitted by onyxruby
onyxruby writes: I have been watch for some time now as Slashdot has started beta testing a new version of the website. As you are well aware the new site would constitute a complete change to the look, interface and functionality of Slashdot.org.

Change happens, and for those of us who work with technology for a living it is the only constant. Change is a process and in and of itself is not a bad thing when it offers improvement. Unfortunately the change that has been offered negatively impacts the look, interface and most importantly the functionality of Slashdot.
Many people have had trouble reverting back to the classic interface. The new interface simply does not offer the functionality of the old. Things like statistics, comments and layout are very difficult to find. You have a community that lives and breathes data and want to know their data. How is my comment ranked, how many people responded – it’s really all about the dialogue. Can I get the information that I want in a readily digestible format?

As you’re well aware the new site does not offer the very thing that people come here for. This in and of itself is not why your community has organized a boycott of Beta. The boycott was originated because the new version will be implemented whether the community wants it or not.

I want to explain why this change has gone down people’s throats about as well as Windows 8’s Metro interface. The reason has absolutely nothing to do with the interface and everything to do with the perception that the editors and management of Slashdot appear to have.

The message that has been consistently handed down is that we are “your audience”. We are not your “your audience” we are your product. People do not come to Slashdot for the news stories, there are untold other sites that provide those as well as professional and original writing about them. People come here for the community of insiders from across the industry.

Please respect the community and stop what you’re doing. You have commented that you don’t want to maintain two code bases. Your community works in the industry and understands this, which leads many to suggest you abandon the new code base entirely so that you are only maintaining once code base. Tell us what your trying to accomplish and I would imagine that a wide range of experts would be more than willing to help you meet your goals.

Submission + - A Modest Proposal, re: Beta vs. Classic 19

Submitted by unitron
unitron writes: Dice wants to make money off of what they paid for--the Slashdot name--, or rather they want to make more money off of it than they are making now, and they think the best way to do that is to turn it into SlashingtonPost.

They should take this site and give it a new name. Or get Malda to let them use "Chips & Dips".

Leave everything else intact, archives, user ID database, everything except the name.

Then use the Beta code and start a new site and give it the slashdot.org name, and they can have what they want without the embarrassment of having the current userbase escape from the basement or the attic and offend the sensibilities of the yuppies or hipsters or metrosexuals or whoever it is that they really want for an "audience".

Submission + - FAA shuts down drone beer delivery service (blogaboutbeer.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: "We were all excited, and then the FAA called yesterday," he sighed. "We are on the radar." (Pun intended?) "I guess I was in violation two ways." For one, even though he protests that he was only flying "80 feet high," Supple was within 30 miles of the Minneapolis airport. The other is that his excellent video has been deemed "a commercial use—we’re getting press out of it." Though the FAA has not demanded that Supple take down his video, future test deliveries will not be filmed. "I have about 87 pages of regulations that they sent me. Apparently I’m contrary to 14 Part 91 of the regulations, so ixnay on the ideovay."

Submission + - RSA Conference Boycott in danger of not happening (crowdtilt.com) 1

Submitted by hackajar1
hackajar1 writes: RSA and NSA boycotts come in many forms. In an attempt to slow down and aggravate "business as usual" and boycott at the upcoming RSA Conference in San Francisco, a group of local hackers are attempting to buyout the closest and cheapest food option in the area, a Chevy's Restaurant. Quality and opinions of the establishment aside, anyone who has attended RSA Conference knows that this lunch spot has traditionally been a key meetup spot for vendors to do business, netting the restaurant over $17k in daily sales. Now with 2 days left in the fundraising, it appears they might not make their goal. They have even thrown in a free deck of Hackers Against Humanity cards to help sweeten the pot.

Submission + - NSA Phone Program Likely Unconstitutional, Federal Judge Rules (huffingtonpost.com) 3

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: A federal judge ruled Monday that the National Security Agency's phone surveillance program is likely unconstitutional, Politico reports.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon said that the agency's controversial program, first unveiled by former government contractor Edward Snowden earlier this year, appears to violate the Constitution's Fourth Amendment, which states that the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."

“I cannot imagine a more ‘indiscriminate’ and ‘arbitrary invasion’ than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen for purposes of querying it and analyzing it without judicial approval,” Leon wrote in the ruling.

The federal ruling came down after activist Larry Klayman filed a lawsuit in June over the program. The suit claimed that the NSA's surveillance “violates the U.S. Constitution and also federal laws, including, but not limited to, the outrageous breach of privacy, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the due process rights of American citizens."

Submission + - FDA Not Convinced Antibacterial Soaps Stop the Spread of Germs (washingtonpost.com) 5

Submitted by barlevg
barlevg writes: It's long been a concern that the widespread use of antibacterials soaps is contributing towards the evolution of drug-resistant "superbugs," but as the Washington Post reports, the Food and Drug Administration also does not believe that there is any evidence to support that the antibacterial agents in soaps are any more effective at killing germs than simply washing with soap and water. Under the terms of a proposal under consideration, the FDA will require that manufacturers making such claims will have to show proof. If they fail to do so, they will be required to change their marketing or even stop selling the products altogether.

The Washington Post cites concerns that triclosan interferes with hormone production, but it should be noted that is is based on animal studies, and that at least one human study has shown no effect on hormone levels in adults using toothpaste containing triclosan.

Submission + - I Tested Google's Augmented Reality Game in Vienna (vice.com)

Submitted by Daniel_Stuckey
Daniel_Stuckey writes: Ingress, developed by Google startup Niantic Labs, is a prime example of the gamification effect. It shows how our actions can contradict the moral we defend; we love to emphasise the value of privacy, but renounce it in the blink of an eye as soon as things get fun.

The game was made available in the Google Play store at the end of October. Not wanting to be a complainiac and denounce people's behaviour without having a clue about what they actually do, I decided to download the game onto my smartphone and try it for myself. Just for academic reasons, of course, as a PhD student in the philosophy of technology. A few weeks later, and I'm totally immersed in the game.

Submission + - Power of CSS, developer creates Simpsons entirely in CSS (muktware.com)

Submitted by sfcrazy
sfcrazy writes: Developer Chris Pattle has created Simpsons characters using CSS, demonstrating how powerful and capable CSS has become. The advantage of this kind of usage is that one doesn’t need scalable vector images for the web anymore. The developer says, "I put a side project on "Github the other day, Simpsons in CSS. CSS is becoming more and more powerful and often with a bit of though you can replace basic graphics with CSS. The advantages of this are obviously better performance and graphics that scale. I wanted to see how much I could achieve with just pure CSS and cartoon characters seemed liked something that is very do-able."

Submission + - Time to forgive Ed Snowden and let him come home (computerworld.com) 2

Submitted by rsmiller510
rsmiller510 writes: When Edward Snowden began showing us the extent of the US surveillance state back and in June, he was doing us a huge favor. He peeled back that curtain and let us see exactly what our government was doing, and in the process, while he surely embarrassed US officials, he didn't reveal any US government secrets that put US security at risk. For that reason, Snowden should be allowed to come back home without fear of retribution to testify before Congress, so that we can discuss these issues in the open and find the level of surveillance we are willing to tolerate in a free society in the name of keeping us safe.

Submission + - Feds confiscate investigative reporter's confidential files during raid (dailycaller.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: Using a warrant to search for guns, Homeland security officers and Maryland police confiscated a journalist’s confidential files.

The reporter had written a series of articles critical of the TSA. It appears that the raid was specifically designed to get her files, which contain identifying information about her sources in the TSA.

        “In particular, the files included notes that were used to expose how the Federal Air Marshal Service had lied to Congress about the number of airline flights there were actually protecting against another terrorist attack,” Hudson [the reporter] wrote in a summary about the raid provided to The Daily Caller.

        Recalling the experience during an interview this week, Hudson said: “When they called and told me about it, I just about had a heart attack.” She said she asked Bosch [the investigator heading the raid] why they took the files. He responded that they needed to run them by TSA to make sure it was “legitimate” for her to have them. “‘Legitimate’ for me to have my own notes?” she said incredulously on Wednesday.

        Asked how many sources she thinks may have been exposed, Hudson said: “A lot. More than one. There were a lot of names in those files. This guy basically came in here and took my anonymous sources and turned them over — took my whistleblowers — and turned it over to the agency they were blowing the whistle on,” Hudson said. “And these guys still work there.”

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