Comment Re:Sure it is (Score 1) 969
$10? The Amercan public will start panicing if gas reaches $6.00/gallon. At $7.00 they will say "well, were no longer in Iraq, just send them over to Iran...."
Journal Journal: in which i am a noob all over again 17
I haven't posted a journal here in almost three years, because I couldn't find the button to start a new entry.
So... hi, Slashdot. I used to be really active here, but now I mostly lurk and read. I've missed you.
Comment Many Many Thanks! (Score 1) 1521
I feel so late to the game on this! I must be losing my geek edge...
Best of luck in all your new endeavors. Many thanks to Rob and Jeff for everything they've done to make Slashdot what it is and what I hope it will continue to be.
Quantum Physics For Everybody 145
fiziko writes in with a self-described "blatant self-promotion" of a worthwhile service for those wishing to go beyond Khan Academy physics: namely Bureau 42's Summer School. "As those who subscribe to the 'Sci-Fi News' slashbox may know, Bureau 42 has launched its first Summer School. This year we're doing a nine-part series (every Monday in July and August) taking readers from high school physics to graduate level physics, with no particular mathematical background required. Follow the link for part 1."
MagicJack Femtocell Gates Cell Traffic to VoIP 243
olsmeister writes "MagicJack is demonstrating a femtocell device at CES that will allow any GSM phone (locked or unlocked) to place free phone calls over the internet using VOIP. The device costs $40 and includes free service for 1 year. It supposedly will cover a 3,000 sq ft house."
Comment Re:Does it really matter? (Score 1) 316
So that raises the question that someone else here already asked. How can they legally sue without all contributing authors being involved, or at least consenting?
At what point did the ownership of the software solely lie in the hands of this one person?
Comment Re:Does it really matter? (Score 1) 316
But person A disagrees, which I guess is the point to all this.
I personally don't think anything is going to change as far as the legal action represented here, but if it did, things like this could be the beginning of the end for the GPL. I'm actually surprised that they never accounted for anything like this.
Comment Some ideas I have for my kids (Score 1) 368
I grabbed this for my 9 year old last year last-minute and he loves it: Radio Shack snap kit. (Although I thought the kit I bought him was much bigger than this one). He even went beyond the included instructions and started experimenting with some interesting (and scary) things.
This year, he's getting this book: We dare you
Also saw one of these on woot the other day, but missed out. Still thinking about getting him one though: Excalibur Space Navigator
Journal Journal: a return which is long overdue (plus achievements!) 17
I've lurked at
Comment Re:Wash your hands! (Score 1) 374
This is good advice, and gives me an opportunity to speak to the community at large: some of us who go to cons and are in a position to shake tons of hands politely decline. It's not because we're being dicks, it's because we know it's a good way to substantially decrease our chances of catching and spreading any germs.
Comment Oh, cruel irony (Score 2, Interesting) 374
I played the PAX Pandemic game, where the Enforcers handed out stickers to attendees that read [Carrier] [Infected] or [Immune] (There was also a [Patient Zero].
I got the [Immune] sticker, and by the time I got home on Monday, it was clear that I had the flu. I've had a fever between 100 and 104 all week that finally broke last night, but I'm going to the doctor today because I think whatever I had settled into my lungs. I'll tell him about the H1N1 outbreak and get tested if he wants to run the test, but at this point I think it's safe to assume that I was [Immune] to the Pig Plague, but definitely [Infected] with the damn PAX pox.
Even though it's been a week of misery, it was entirely worth it, and I don't regret going to PAX for a single second.
Feds At DefCon Alarmed After RFIDs Scanned 509
FourthAge writes "Federal agents at the Defcon 17 conference were shocked to discover that they had been caught in the sights of an RFID reader connected to a web camera. The reader sniffed data from RFID-enabled ID cards and other documents carried by attendees in pockets and backpacks. The 'security enhancing' RFID chips are now found in passports, official documents and ID cards. 'For $30 to $50, the common, average person can put [a portable RFID-reading kit] together,' said security expert Brian Marcus, one of the people behind the RFID webcam project. 'This is why we're so adamant about making people aware this is very dangerous.'"
Contest For a Better Open-WRT Wireless Router GUI 217
Reader RoundSparrow sends word of a contest, with big cash prizes, being mounted by a commercial vender of open source Open-WRT routers. You have 10 months to come up with "the most impressive User Interface/Firmware for Ubiquiti's newly released open-source embedded wireless platform, the RouterStation." Entries are required to have open source licensing and will all be released. First prize is $160,000, with four runners-up receiving $10,000. RoundSparrow adds: "Could be built on top of existing X-WRT or LuCI OpenWRT web interfaces. OpenWRT Kamikaze 8.09 was just released. Now is perfect timing for OpenWRT to get some kick-ass interface and usability ideas. I'm not affiliated with the contest vendor."
Comment don't be a dick, in other words (Score 2, Insightful) 158
This is why my motto (and fundamental rule for life) is Don't be a dick: it's simple to understand, and reasonable people can agree on what it means.
Comment Re:ZOMG! (Score 1) 128
Funny!
