In the post-Snowden world, I think we can replace most instances of the word "paranoid" with "reasonable".

As far as cabbies are concerned, the optimum algorithm will be whatever maximises their revenue. Any algorithm that doesn't will probably be vulnerable to cheating, i.e. a rogue cabbie that can make more money exploiting some aspect of the algorithm will do so.

My rule of thumb is, "if the first implementation of this didn't work, and I had to change it, then it needs comments" on the principle that if the "obvious" solution turns out not to work, then the problem is not as obvious as I'd thought.

Burqas are also handy for hiding one's stash of apo'strophe's.

How do you feel about the current popularity of beards, and what can I do to make sure my own beard style is not incorporated into a proprietary system?

Stop pulling examples out of your ass.

I think you meant that both sync devices need to be on at the same time IF you want the sync to be immediate. Otherwise, BTSync will happily sync at the point where the missing device come online.

Would you rather be successful and miserable, or a happy failure?

I'm told that Hawaii, for example, has an odd vibe where a lot of people lead frugal lives with clapped out cars and McJobs, but they're there because it's a wonderful place to live. Do they deserve contempt for their lack of ambition? Praise for their ability to value the things that really matter? Respect despite having chosen a path we might not choose for ourselves?

Each of you who clicks this link is only increasing their electricity bills!

They need to make sure they do this somewhere where if it all goes wrong, nothing of value is lost, like maybe Croydon.

> Those on low wages get generous benefits

Tune in to "Benefits Street" on Channel 4 to see what it's like on benefits.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jan/07/tvratings-channel4

If that's the kind of life generous benefits get you, I'll stick to working.

I guess when he rated the desktops it was a tie.

It'll be free to get people like me who're still on older versions of the OS to upgrade, so they have fewer versions to support. I expect soon they'll announce no more support for Snow Leopard et al.

"[...] a scribbled note with the password" was what the intelligence agencies reported. Greenwald denied it (on Newsnight the other day).

The double standard implied is that the Guardian deemed one way of obtaining data unacceptable (hacking into people's voicemail) but not another (downloading your employer's data onto USB sticks and then giving it away).

I would argue the public interest defence. If someone came to me and said, "on that voicemail is X's confession to the abduction and murder, even though he denies it in public", hacking it could be in the public interest, whereas fishing voicemail for gossip is not.

Similarly if Edward Snowden came to me and said, "on this USB stick is proof of illegal and pervasive surveillance by governments, which I've nicked", I'd at least look at it to establish whether there was a public interest case.