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Comment Pick a great project and sponsor work. (Score 2, Informative) 332

by jk379 (#30530118) Attached to: How Can I Contribute To Open Source?
Pick a project like bacula (best backup software made to date). Use it adopt it spread the word. After that you can support the project, they have a bunch of items on the to do list ( http://www.bacula.org/misc/Vote-2009.html ). If one of the items would help your work, sponsoring project would be a way to help open source software. -Jason

Submission + - Electric MINI Cooper has rough start (bloomberg.com) 2

Submitted by TopSpin
TopSpin writes: BMW's limited roll out of the electric version of its MINI has met with complaints from early adopters including less than advertised range, cold weather charging problems, bulky batteries and connection issues. Richard Steinburg, BMW's manager of electric vehicle operations, assures everyone that the manufacturer is "learning quite a bit as we go." Drivers are paying $850/month for the privilege of helping BMW learn how to build EVs, while also helping BMW meet alternative fuel mandates so that other models can continue to be sold in select markets.
Government

Submission + - FCC Preparing Transition to VoIP Telephone Network (fcc.gov)

Submitted by mantis2009
mantis2009 writes: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a request for public comment on an upcoming transition from the decades-old circuit-based Public Switched Telephone Network to a new system run entirely with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. This is perhaps the most serious indication to date that the legacy telephone system will, in the near future, reach the end of its life. This public commenting phase represents a very early stage in what will undoubtedly be a very complex transition that makes this year's bumpy switch from analog to digital television look relatively easy.

Submission + - Canadian Seal Industry - Time For A Change (blogspot.com)

Submitted by adewaleas1
adewaleas1 writes: Pamela Anderson. know for her private battle against inhumane treatment of animals has realized that charity begins at home and is taking on the government of Canada and the highly unpopular sealing industry.

Submission + - 3 Years Prison in CA For Covering Laptop (ca.gov) 7

Submitted by mrcaseyj
mrcaseyj writes: California penal code section 537e makes it a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison to be in possession of an integrated computer panel where the serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been covered. It's also a crime punishable by 6 months or a year to cover or obliterate the serial number or identification mark of just about any other personal property, from tools to CDs and much more. While a district attorney might have a hard time prosecuting you for such a crime, it appears a police officer could still take you to jail without having to worry about getting in trouble, because covering is apparently illegal by the letter of the law.
Linux

Submission + - Low-Power home server for Linux 8

Submitted by mpol
mpol writes: For years I've been using a home-server with Linux, but recently I've been getting doubts about the electric bill. I'm not touched by the recession yet, but I would like to cut costs, and going from a 100Watt system to a 30Watt system would save me 70 bucks a year. The system doesn't need to do much, just apache, imap, ssh and some nfs, but I do prefer to have a full-fledged system, where I can choose what to install on it. I also don't really care if it's a low-power Via or an ARM processor, I do prefer it to be cheap. A full system for max 300 bucks would be nice. That way I would have earned it back after 4 years on powersavings.
I've been reading about the Western Digital Mybook World Edition, which has an ARM processor, but isn't that easy to install Debian on. A Mac Mini draws about 85Watt, so that isn't an option either. I would accept something just a bit more than turn-key, but not a hack-job. I've done hack-jobs enough in the past, now it's time for smooth and easy. Adding a temporary cdrom or dvd-rom, or an usb disk with an iso to install from would have my preference.
Are there Slashdotters who run nice and cheap low-power Linux systems? What can you recommend?

Comment Re:The Law of Unintended Consequences (Score 1) 1364

by jk379 (#29809839) Attached to: Legal War For WA State Sunshine Law

I am sorry but your off base on the tax issue:
'A guy and girl who are just living together shouldn't feel pressured to get "married" just to reduce their taxes. Even when married they should still pay the same tax as when they were two singles.'

Being married you pay more in taxes, than two single people. We need to get rid of the marriage tax and make 1+1=2.
Television

Submission + - Shaw Cable Blocks Firewire on Set-Top Boxes Again 1

Submitted by WestCoastSuccess
WestCoastSuccess writes: A year and a half ago, Canada's Shaw Cable began encrypting channels with the "0×02"; flag. This flag has the effect of making the IEEE1394 (firewire) output useless to customers who use third party PVRs (such as the excellent MythTV, for example). After complaints to the CRTC and Industry Canada about this practice, the encryption flag was dropped on most channels and the firewire connection again functioned. Until last night, that is.
Cellphones

Universal Remote's Days Are Numbered 429

Posted by timothy from the get-it-numbered-numbered-like-the-keys dept.
theodp writes "While the universal remote has served humanity with distinction, its days are numbered, and your smartphone is to blame. Whether you want to control your music, your television or your PowerPoint presentation, there's probably a solution using your phone. Try as it might, the universal remote simply can't navigate the digital world the way the smartphone can — it's a lot easier to put the remote's abilities in the smartphone than vice versa."
Data Storage

AnandTech Gives the Skinny On Recent SSD Offerings 96

Posted by timothy from the they're-small-and-quiet-the-end dept.
omnilynx writes "With capacity on the rise and prices falling, solid state drives are finally starting to compete with traditional hard drives. However, there are still several issues to take into account when moving to an SSD, not to mention choosing between a widening array of offerings. Anand Lal Shimpi of AnandTech does a better job than anyone could expect detailing those issues (especially those related to performance) and reviewing the new offerings in the SSD arena. Intel's X25 series comes out on top for sheer speed, but OCZ makes a surprise turnaround with its Vertex drive giving perhaps the best value."
First Person Shooters (Games)

Early Killzone 2 Reviews Looking Good 140

Posted by Soulskill from the console-exclusivity-wars dept.
Reviews are beginning to appear for Guerrilla Games' upcoming first-person shooter, Killzone 2, a PS3 exclusive that has received a great deal of hype over the past several months. The reviews are mostly complimentary, but not overwhelmingly so; Ars Technica says it has "some of the best graphics yet seen on the PS3," and is a "solid take on the war-gaming genre." They also acknowledge that this is the latest game being held up as a standard for how good PS3 games can be, though the PS3 may not need such validation anymore. Edge Magazine is critical of the story, saying, "you could play the levels in random order to little ill-effect," but found the gameplay redeeming enough to warrant a 7/10. Concerns were raised early about the quality of the controls, but Guerrilla Games has affirmed that no changes will be made. Though the game won't be out for about a week yet, rumors of some fairly typical DLC plans are already cropping up. Giant Bomb recorded some video showcasing Killzone 2's multiplayer a while back.

Comment Re:Move from cars to rail, it's not going to happe (Score 1) 897

by jk379 (#26240231) Attached to: Can the Auto Industry Retool Itself To Build Rails?

It may be worth looking at google, as they don't have the slant.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=acela+breakdown
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=acela+problems&btnG=Search

The trains seem to be of the quality of my old GMC.

When I was on the train we were sharing the track with a non high speed train. To start the delay. We were stalled for hours not going anyplace while they worked on "things". Communication wasn't forthcoming. Work still had to pay for the Acela ticket, as a refund nor a discount were provided.

-Jason

Comment Move from cars to rail, it's not going to happen. (Score 1) 897

by jk379 (#26239451) Attached to: Can the Auto Industry Retool Itself To Build Rails?

Will have to find something better than Amtrack to make that happen. After my 9 hour train ride from NYC to Boston I won't be using the acela "express" ever again. I know it is a sample of one trip, but in the last 7 years when I have been regularly fling or driving from Boston to NY and back I never had such a bad trip.

The day that I can't have my car is the day I find a new place to live.

-Jason

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