My recollection is that it was only the video feed returned from the drone that was unencrypted. The control signals sent to the aircraft were still encrypted. Even signal jamming is apparently a difficult way to disable the drone because it has a degree of autonomy.

If Iran's claims are true (that it gained control of the plane) then that is either quite an achievement on their part, or quite a failure on the part of the US engineers.

easy language first your get-over is

FORTH started I at-all me affected not and

would you accept at face value, ..., the account of a guy who is known for being particularly vocal about the evils of Homeland Security?

Probably more so than I would accept Homeland Security's account of events. After all, they're known for being particularly vocal about the evils of everyone, including the people they purport to be protecting.

Atmel makes some great microcontrollers, but their recent record of delivery is very poor and it has hurt their reputation. In particular, Atmel announced the XMEGA range of AVR micros years ago, but they repeatedly failed to become available: see AvrFreaks for just one of many discussions on the topic. A limit subset of the range is just becoming readily purchaseable now.

There are various theories about why Atmel has had such delays in producing the XMEGAs: upper management turmoil, the distraction of a takeover attempt by Microchip, the change to being fab-less, and serious bugs in the early XMEGA production efforts.

I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be too surprised if these new chips aren't physically available for a long time.

Aren't these the people who told us that the law suits were over? Call me paranoid, but I can't trust them.

I suspect the only reason the RIAA are presenting a softer image on things like the lawsuit threats and DRM is because they believe (or know) that they're going to get their way with the ACTA treaty and we'll all end up being subject to outrageous three-strikes laws.

Hmm... just thought of another way of putting that:

I'm waiting for the spam
Pack of face masks in my hand
Down to Mexico, via I5
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I'm waiting for the spam

Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown?
Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind
I'm just lookin' for a deal, a cure for flu of swine
I'm waiting for the spam

Given how much mileage the media is getting out of this, I'm expecting others to jump on the bandwagon. In particular, spammers. Look forward to years of spam trying to take advantage of people's interest in the disease or trying to sell flu remedies and face masks.

So performers will collect for 20 more years from the date of performance

Really? Or do the record companies collect more money? There was an attempt to ensure that extra profits went only to artists, but it was defeated. From the Open Rights Group article:

A key amendment to ensure benefits accrued only to performers was also rejected.

My first Linux encounter was with Slackware. A friend had it on 5 1/4 inch floppies, and showed me an installation. I was interested, but didn't see it as practical for me compared to DOS and Windows. I didn't switch my own computer over until quite a few years later when I got Redhat on CD from a computer swap meet - I have no idea what version it was, but it was a few years before Fedora Core. Over the years I've gradually changed from being interested in every technical detail and willing to configure endlessly to just wanting something that works - now I'm annoyed if a distro doesn't just automatically detect and work with all my hardware. I use Ubuntu at home and at work, and I'm still impressed by how smooth it all is.

My first experience with a Unix like OS running on a PC was a then new OS called Minix. The lecturer for our Operating Systems subject at uni showed it to the class and encouraged us to try it out. I looked at it and it thought it was cool, but that was about all.

At some point in the foreseeable future, I can imagine that very long life is only available to the wealthy. When first world countries decide they can no longer support the aged at all (no health care, no pension, etc.) only the very lucky or very rich will have the extended lifespans that seem common now.

For me personally I can already see that a very long life is unlikely, so 60-80 is probably the best I'll be able to manage assuming I don't go earlier due to misadventure. I'm forty now, but financially I started again from zero a few years back - no house, no superannuation, and savings wiped out. I work in software so unless the IT industry grows out of its current ageism or I learn a valuable new skill I won't have massive amounts of money saved by the time I'm no longer considered employable. By that time I certainly won't be able to rely on the state to keep me going, and I don't have anyone else I can expect to support me.

I really don't fancy dying from cold and starvation (due to lack of money) in my sixties after having slaved my life away so at present the best options seem to be:

1. Just hope that I'll be lucky somehow - maybe one of my skills or talents will keep me afloat;
2. Live very large and unhealthily now, and feel satisfied enough with life that i won't mind an early death due to heart attack, stroke, or if I can manage it death by snu-snu;
3. Retire to a third world country where my meager savings will last me a lot longer and afford me a more comfortable lifespan. That might require illegal immigration and would risk a shortened life due to less developed medical care, but it does seem like an attractive option.