I actually like the idea behind iMessage: If you have internet access, sending a message via internet is potentially much cheaper than via SMS (unless you have an unlimited SMS plan). Even Apple's implementation of iMessage isn't too bad.

The problem is that it's lock-in to Apple devices, of course. If Apple could get their head out of the sand and create a unified protocol with Google and whoever is left in the smartphone OS field (BlackBerry?, Mozilla?), it would be fantastic. Especially if the protocol was expanded a bit. Imagine being able to share files like via dropbox, but seemlessly through an SMS app?

How can we ever be sure Tor has not morphed into an eviscerated TrueCrypt and that at some point, after achieving their means of compromise, the NSA won't force a version they can easily backdoor on the public?

They like to compromise software and then put it back, so it becomes an intelligence asset. In my understanding only a legal technicality allowed TrueCrypt to issue a cryptic public announcement which effectively let the public know TrueCrypt was potentially compromised. I wonder whether the NSA will even allow Tor to recommend a transparently ineffective alternative.

How can strategies be drawn so if Tor is easily, possibly undetectably breached, the public will have some inkling of it?

The top 3 super pac disbursements this cycle were from the left: NextGen Climate, Senate Majority, House Majority. They spent over $160 Million combined The next 3 were from the right: American Crossroads, Freedom Partners, Ending Spending Action. They spent less than half of what the left spent at $76 million combined Rounding out the top 10 we have: NEA Advocacy (left leaning) $18 Milllion Congressional Leadership Fund (right leaning) $16 Million Americans for Responsible Solutions (left leaning) $16 Million Independence USA (left leaning) $15 Million Which totals another $49 Million on the left, and $16 Million on the right The grand total for the top 10 equals $209 Million for the left and $92 Million for the right.

http://realtime.influenceexplo...

This can be a warning for other groups.

The Debian constitution looks like nothing more than normal club bureaucracy. Without it, I would expect Debian wouldn't have survived as long as it has.

https://www.debian.org/devel/constitution

Without specific concerns about such a constitution, I'm inclined to not make much of this. People change, projects change, people leave, people join. It doesn't matter how vital the participant, things change.

This is the only hint of what's wrong, I don't see how it has anything to do with the existence of a constitution: https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2014/11/msg00196.html

No offense to anyone involved... I'm more interested in learning what's wrong with the constitution so that I can avoid similar problems in my own clubs.

"...visible universe in 10^-32 seconds"

I'm not sure "size" or "seconds" have more than a very abstract mathematical meaning in this context.

Is there a good source for info on the upcoming movies? I'm not really interested in spoilers per se, but rather just to see how things are shaping up (without CGI, obviously)

As another Tesla owner (6 months for me), my previous car was a BMW 328 xDrive.

I drive my cars reasonably hard (~20k miles/year). Fuel savings alone is ~$2-3K/year. So you're not going to make the money back. Period.

But the drive is totally different from a BMW. Not necessarily better or worse. Definitely different. The Tesla acceleration is unreal but the cornering is so-so. The overall handling in rain is about the same or slightly better in the Tesla.

All together, I will never go back to the BMW. It's nice not having to worry about filling up my gas tank, and acceleration is more 'fun', and the information/entertainment system is out of this world.

"The responses here prove what she was writing about. People here (who very likely resemble her coworkers at Google and other places) have no empathy and no clue about anything outside their little circle, they're social morons."

People here have been called a lot of names. Mysoginists, knuckle-draggers, priviliged, racist, sexist, social morons etc.

They're here to talk about technology and read articles about technology. Many, or most, have had no issue working with people of any colour or gender. They're still called all these names. When they try to defend themselves, they're told they're ignorant.

I'm happy to do whatever is needed to bring women into tech. I've done so for years. They're not coming and it's not clear why.

People listen for a while, and quietly swallow all the insults. But eventually people get sick of being accused of excluding people they've never met for reasons which are pure speculation.

Then *some* of them get ticked off, mouth off, and somebody will jump in to say "OMG, it's all true! Look at the nasty geeks!"

The responses here prove nothing.

She doesn't need proof, her story doesn't speculate much. She's living her life, written her story and is helping the people she feels need help.

I reluctantly gave the article a read. It's written from the first person and describes her own experiences.

I don't see a huge amount of speculation on the problem in the article. She's just saying what happened and how she felt. She even said that she felt comfortable at one company, but left becuase of pay.

I think her reaction to this is overwhelmingly positive.

"I’m volunteering with organizations that will help the younger generation get involved in tech, so we can change the ratio (Black Girls Code, Hack The Hood) and those who come after me won’t have to feel how I’ve felt. I’ve stopped trying to assimilate at work. I’m no longer trying to make people comfortable with my existence. I am trying to connect with other black women in technical roles. I’m standing up for what I believe in and standing up for myself, instead of sitting quietly by, so as not to not make waves."

What I don't know... is if she's aware of how other people in tech feel. Some of us like boozy events, but some of us like non-boozy events too. I'm not a gamer, not into sports, I don't like dirty jokes at the office. I like tech stuff, I talk tech stuff and I find it really cool and interesting. I like doing creative stuff with tech. I come off a bit weird, so it usually takes me 6 months to "fit in" to a group.

I think most people in tech feel like outsiders. She's part of that crowd whether she likes it or not.

Because it's not possible to run for the offices of power without money.

If you have money left enough to go into health care, I would definitely do that. Find a job working at a local hospital and save up to go to nursing school or PA school. If you go the nursing route you'll always find a job and work extra shifts pretty much as often as you want. PA route will get you better hours and potentially better pay but can limit you depending on which type of PA you want to be.

Work your way up and save more than you spend. Pay off debt going from highest interest payments to lowest until you are totally debt free. THEN put whatever savings you have into a low-cost index fund that either follows the total stock market or the S&P 500.

My Epson ran out of scanner ink, couldn't scan anything until I bought more cartridges.

This looks like it might actually be a good product. I clicked "buy" and it actually has a caution about the sizing... and recommends I go to a "Microsoft Store", whatever that is. I guess I should look for one.

Could Ballmer have been so bad for MS that we forgot they could produce good products?

I'm going to check it out, but I simply can't believe it will be acceptable until version 3.