Comment Re:Uncompetitive? (Score 1) 312
That's a translation problem. This law allows companies to sue when competitors violate existing laws and regulations. Something like 'unfair competition' would be a better translation.
Comment Re:dayummm (Score 1) 229
Can't speak for others, obviously, but I mostly only ready Slashdot on Google Reader these days. I just don't have the time for writing comments any more, and, frankly, I guess I am too old for flamewars and trolling by now :)
Congratulations, Slashdot!
Comment DE = Browser Border (Score 1) 818
Should I really care which system is drawing the borders around my Firefox or Chrome windows?
Only when I need special software, like Photoshop or Gimp or a Java IDE or a game, the OS or desktop environment still matters. Unfortunately KDE apps are not in most people's 'special software' lists.
Submission + - Festo SmartBird: Robotic Bird Flies like a Seagul (youtube.com)
tjansen writes: Festo is showing its SmartBird at the Hannover Messe trade fair. It is a 1.1m long robotic bird with a 2m wing span that actually flies like a seagull, by moving its wings, head and tail.
Submission + - Google to Hold Back 'Honeycomb' From Phones
adeelarshad82 writes: Andy Rubin, vice-president for engineering at Google and head of its Android group, informed that Google will hold back its Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" to smaller phone manufacturers for undisclosed period of time. He said that Honeycomb was designed for tablets, not phones, and that it had more work to do before Honeycomb was released in an open-source format. Since OEMs like HTC or Motorola already have the code, it puts smaller phone manufacturers at a disadvantage plus carriers like Cricket Wireless, and its plans to carry forthcoming seven-inch Anydata tablet that will run on Honeycomb, up in the air.
Comment Re:Ban drive thru restaurants while you're at it (Score 1) 509
Actually many newer european cars have a start-stop-automatic (as soon as your car stops, the engine turns off; if you press the gas-pedal it turns on automatically), so there does not have to be any idling.
IIRC this is not popular in the US because its savings would not be included in the official MPG ratings, but some manufacturer (can't remember which) is going to introduce it in the US soon.
Comment Better forbid dogs in the city (Score 1) 509
Wouldn't it be better for the environment to forbid dogs in the city? After all, a large dog has the same carbon footprint as two SUVs. But, oh, I guess we are just trying to make a point, not to actually reduce carbon dioxide emissions...
Comment Re:Given how much oil it takes to make plastic.... (Score 2) 223
Hmm.. but in that case, the bottle would be made of less valuable components. Which would mean that the demand for the components required for a plastic bottle is lower than the demand for the other components, and thus plastic bottle are merely a by-product. So I wonder, would reducing the number of plastic bottle have any impact on the general oil consumption?
After all, even if there wouldn't be any plastic bottles anymore, the oil would still be needed because of the other components.
Comment Re:Given how much oil it takes to make plastic.... (Score 2) 223
Oh, just checked oil prices... $88 per barrel. That means a plastic water bottle's raw material costs over $0.10?
Comment Re:Given how much oil it takes to make plastic.... (Score 2) 223
"So your average plastic water bottle requires about 1/4 a litre of refined oil products to be produced."
I have no idea of plastic production, but it looks wrong to me: if oil costs about $40 per barrel (159l), 1/4 litre is about $0.05. I can't imaging a plastic bottle costing that much - I can buy a bottle of water in a supermarket for not much more than 5 cent. Am I missing something?
Submission + - Panasonic 'Home Batteries' Power Houses for a Week (nexus404.com)
tjansen writes: Panasonic has announced plans to create 'home batteries'. They are lithium-ion batteries large enough to power a house for a week, making energy sources such as solar and wind power more feasible. Also, you can buy energy when it is cheapest, and don't need to worry about power outages anymore.
Submission + - Drummer for The Germs arrested for carrying soap
dwrugh writes: "Ah sweet irony:
http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/don-bolles-keeps -his-nose-clean/27038/
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_102004047.h tml
A field test indicated positive for GHB, the date rape drug. Using the same test kit, available on the web for $20 for a pack of 10, according to Bolles' attorney on NBC this morning, other soaps tested positive for GHB but of course since it is just soap when you test it in a real crime lab it comes back negative. Makes you wonder what other common household products also test positive; and how many others have been arrested based on faulty test kits who didn't have the resources to defend themselves."
http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/don-bolles-keep
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_102004047.
A field test indicated positive for GHB, the date rape drug. Using the same test kit, available on the web for $20 for a pack of 10, according to Bolles' attorney on NBC this morning, other soaps tested positive for GHB but of course since it is just soap when you test it in a real crime lab it comes back negative. Makes you wonder what other common household products also test positive; and how many others have been arrested based on faulty test kits who didn't have the resources to defend themselves."
Submission + - Personal data exposed! Can legislation fix it?
rabblerouzer writes: "Millions have had their personal information stolen because of lax security and may not even know it because of the patchwork of state laws that fail to mandate timely notification of victims. Boston-based law firm Mintz Levin is seeking feedback on what you would like to see included in draft legislation. You have a stake in this; speak up."
Submission + - Top 22 Mac OS X Software Tools
An anonymous reader writes: Mac advocate John C. Welch is at it again, this time weighing in with his list of Top 22 Mac OS X Products. The collection of software tools ranges from the obvious — Boot Camp — to the obscure but perhaps more useful. That'd be little-known apps like Peter Borg's Lingon, for creating launchd configuration files, and BBEdit a professional HTML and text editor. (A collection of screen shots is here.) What's on your personal list of indispensable Mac productivity aids and programming tools? Also, do you think Welch pays too much attention to built-in OS X tools such as Workgroup Manager and Sync Services at the expense of third-party products like NetworkLocation?
Submission + - British Military Deploys Skynet
An anonymous reader writes: The BBC is reporting that the United Kingdom is about to launch Skynet 5, a system that will allow faster communications for UK and allied forces around the world. 'It's going to provide five times the amount of capacity that the previous system provided, and allow the military to do things they just haven't been able to do in the past,' said one developer. The Governor of California is reportedly standing by.
