Heh, yeah I remember throwing a second I/O card into my 286, soldering up a couple of resistor ladders to the back of D-25 connectors and enjoying 8-bit stereo sound on the resultant 2 DACs plugged into LPT ports with different addresses. Oh yes.

You mean other than the fact they're a complete joke?

From the summary:
Recent research suggests that many believe we will stop using notes and coins altogether in the not-too-distant future

I am certain that research is correct. Just as it was correct 40 years ago.

Can I use it to line the inner surface of my telescope?

I vote Mos Eisley.

After all, where else would one find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy, outside of Washington that is...

apt-get/yum install celestia

The problem is that there are no license requirements for bikes, so many riders are totally unaware of the actual laws, and often highly inexperienced..
Drivers at least have to pass a test, and while there are plenty of bad drivers they should at least have some experience and understanding of the rules.

Well the solution to this is fairly clear...

So... why is it still open?

Smart TVs are almost certainly involved and if they aren't already, soon will be.

Gullible people seem quite happy to install TVs with inbuit cameras and microphones in their living rooms and connect them to the Internet. What could possibly go wrong?

While I don't celebrate 4th of July (not American) I've always thought that mid-summer was an awkward time to hold fireworks displays.

By the time it's dark enough to effectively set off fireworks it's well past kids bedtimes and noise becomes a large consideration.

In my southern-hemisphere country we celebrate Guy Fawkes (or the failure thereof) on 5th November but that's of course close to our summertime so we have the same problem.

The UK seems to have gotten that right - Guy Fawkes in late autumn when it's dark in the evenings but not freezing cold.

o_O

I'm... not... sure you're replying to the right post there, sonny. I was the one backing up your fair use of the legitimate term M$. I know nothing of your use of MSN, with a $ or otherwise.

My experience with LEDs is the opposite - the diodes outlast the ballast components, in particular the mains voltage capacitor.

No.

M$ is the acceptable shorthand for Microsoft Corporation, commonly used by those who dislike them.

And, if you have been paying any attention to the activities of that company, this will include you.

'twas a CFL, or more specifically a box of six at about $5 each. it took a while before I settled on a brand that lasted longer than six months.

I have bought a few LED ones too - they have good emitters, but the cheap mains capacitors in the ballasts let them down, blowing after a relatively short period.

I would still really like to see CFL and LED bulbs come out with separate ballasts. Then you can just replace the part that's failed.