OTOH, why would the opposition bother opposing this?

Not related TFA, but most insightful comment I've read about the net filtering all day.

LOL. I'll bet a dollar that this is more or less how the two go about creating a new standard in hype engines.

Xix.

That was my first thought. In most places, mobile data pricing has dropped to the point where most people will pay for it and get reasonable coverage rather than hope for free WiFi. Free is still important and useful, but I don't think there's going to be any huge push for comprehensive coverage when the city is already full of mobile phone towers. It's quite possible that the window of oppportunity for that great idea has been and is now gone.

Xix.

Or: Your privacy is only as good as the the aggregate social stupidity of your friends.

I created a bogus ID and my image has already been tagged numerous times by other people who know my fake name (so it pretty quickly becomes a rather thin alias). Unfortunately a social site that only has me on it is not very useful (unless I want to have the social life of John Kaczynski).

This reminds me of a recent Onion article:
        "Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village"
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/08/17/video-of-the-day-from-the-onion-on-google-and-privacy/

Xix.

Old newss. Google already shift load globally to reduce electricty consumption for cooling and is probably more important than saving a few percent on electrity cost:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/16/google_chillerless_data_center/

While Belgium is likely to be pretty expensive to live, I bet it's still cheaper than Iceland (though the whole country going titsup during the GFC may change that).

Agreed. No real surprise here. You can almost imagine the alarm if a substantial chunk of US VoIP traffic was being routed via Russian servers. The possible security risk makes it easy to lobby for a domestic solution.

Yes, there's oodles of room for real improvements.

I love Sun Type5 keybards because the cut/paste & front/back keys is on the left hand side of the keyboard. Ditto super handy when your right hand is on the mouse.

Xix.

So let me get this straight.

The best way to improve keying accuracy is to create even more derivative keyboard layouts?

I'd guess the del key might even afford to be *smaller* as it is used more often and hence more easily remembered.

I would have had a bit more sympathy if the article had said they'd placed it in a more accessible location ala space bar (rather than off to one side of the main keymap).

Maybe they could create a "Lenovo" key to sit between the "Windows" key and a new "Dave was here!" key. Then I can loan them my 16 button hexdecimal mouse[1].

Xix.
[1] Otherwise known as a digitizing puck

The 1980's called, they want their software security model back.

This was already implemented with the BSG 9 virus on the Amiga.
http://agn-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/catalog/amiga/html/bgs9terr.htm

Xix.

TCO used to be a mantra. So if Linux is free, it's infinitely better right? (div/0)

I am a Linux geek, but my daily driver is a Mac because it never breaks. But according to this I should trade my uber reliable Toyota for a Yugo because it's cheaper. Why don't Toyota make cheap, nasty, unreliable, dangerous cars???

Move along, nothing to see here...

Xix.

Are there really any surprises here? Social networks behave a lot like the Internet, with many routes pointing to your front door.

For example, use whatever falese names you want. Your email address makes a dandy primary key squirreled away in all your friends mailboxes, just waiting for Facebook to Hoover it up and join the dots.

Your privacy and anonymity is defined by the aggregate social stupidity of your friends.

Xix.

Agreed. Plus, GPS devices should be outlawed -- terrorists could use them to navigate in lieu of maps. Actually, history books, almanacs, encyclopedias, these all tell terrorists what we care about. Those should be outlawed too. Plus the internet, which allows them to communicate, and possibly phones, the mail system, UPS, FedEx and other courier services. Then maybe we can finally feel safe!

Maybe the senator should move to Afghanistan and team up with the Taliban. Their ends goals of a meedieval society are remarkably consistent. Maybe that was the Taliban's plan all along!

Interestingly, be careful taking GPS to China. You need special approval from the government or you get arrested for espionage. Maybe here's a model for California?

Xix.

Hey, don't worry. Unlike these fly by night open source people, proprietary software has a road map...

a blank page showing Bumf*kt Arizona and a tag, "You Are Here".