I think Andy is complaining about the bad CS degree mills that I've run into. I am definitely in the camp that a CS degree should be *harder* to get. That said, we should probably re-evaluate our interview process as an industry. Instead of grilling a kid on if he has skill X ... we need some way to determine if they are smart, competent, and motivated.

If you can't attract smart, competent, and motivated people ... maybe you need to re-examine your organisation.

Now that you mention it, I *can* hang around for DAYS on wifi. My record so far is two and a half *days* on wifi. But, I usually use the phone as a mobile computer while traveling. In those situations it's a little TV for around 4 to 5 hours and it's a phone for 2 to 4 hours during lay overs and while navigating airports. For several hours before and after, it's a GPS... but it gets to be plugged into a car during those times.

I bought a triple sized battery for my 4G phone. My phone is friggin' enormous now... but I can use it on 4G for 12 to 16 hours. I have yet to completely kill it... even while using it on coast to coast flights.

Maybe we could have "fund a reporter" sites where we the people would give money to the reporter we liked best.

Yes... bitches. Now give me a bonus.

I don't know how effective a marketing ploy it would be for the general population but the Pandora versus Pandora|ONE marketing trick worked on me.

If you don't know, Pandora works like this: you get a certain amount of "radio" for free with advertisements. If you want more than that amount (something like 40 hours a month or so I think) then you can elect to pay $30 a year for unlimited commercial free "radio".

If there was a service that delivered premium news content like that ... say allowing 10 stories a month free but charging $24 a year for unlimited ... I might pay for it if I really liked the service.

I can feel the FUD storm building...

I remember when I was in grad school 10 years ago the experimental 3D systems would give me horrible headaches after a few hours of use. I remember thinking that if we shipped 3D systems like those to average consumers it would be a disaster. Other grad students reported vertigo and one even vomited after an extended session.

The saving grace of these systems might be that they aren't fully immersive so you would avoid the vertigo we felt standing inside the CAVE. The headaches came from the shutter systems we used. I'm glad 3D in theaters today uses some sort of polarized light these are much more pleasant to look at.

I think as long as 3D remains a "treat" instead of a default experience we'll be okay. The fact remains that no matter what the system used to produce 3D illusions on 2D surfaces we are ultimately causing a pair of binocular eyes to see objects that are not there. Seeing things that aren't there just sounds bad for you.

Well, I *never* take anything on slashdot seriously myself.

This same site is reporting the TSA has integrated full body scanners with Facebook.

Now, if Slashdot wishes to be taken as seriously as Wonder-Tonic or The ONION ...

I wouldn't ascribe that level of intelligence (or malice) to a professor from Iowa.

I put forward the same offer (and I'm not anonymous) with the caveat that I get a major share of the corporation built around the idea I select.

Just remember who will have the power in our working relationship. Me. You can't make your idea real. I can.

By way of analogy...
I already have the sword. Your idea might be for a gun. Last I checked, a real sword beats and imaginary gun.

Very insightful. Somehow, I had missed the implicit insult. However, I think the insult was accidental. The author is trying to convince these oh-so-bright "idea guys" that they are oh-so-bright and can make their ideas come true themselves. The desired effect is these oh-so-bright "idea guys" will discover just how outlandish it is to think that three inexperienced graduate students could recreate all the functionality of Windows 7 using Javascript and HTML5.

I'm open to suggestions. Personally, I've been trying to figure out how to create my own company that would attract and retain the best technology talent... I just haven't figured out how we're going to put bread on the table yet.