I used the random number generator from truerandom.org to make all of my choices for a quick game. 20-5-14, I won. I figured that if the computer was trying to analyze my previous moves to predict future performance, I'd give it something to chew on. I think the statistical analysis that the computer does assumes some sort of rational play by the human.

Even if it could detect the 'random play', the human could try to fool the computer by using RNG for a while, and then switch to his own choice, and back (randomly, of course).

And if I don't have hard drives full of ripped movies? I obviously can't rip BluRay disks to the hard drive with a Mac Mini, and even DVDs are becoming a real pain to rip.

The main sources of my video are television and NetFlix. The Mac Mini helps me with neither. The only source of video that I get with the Mini is the iTunes store.

I don't torrent stuff illegally, so that's not even an option.

It seems they made a mistake in the description. Wouldn't the HDMI cable also carry the 7.1 audio (if available)? If you have a true surround sound system with HDMI inputs, you can plug the HDMI cable into that, and have the output from the audio receiver send video to the TV.

Right now, BluRay disks have much better quality than streaming movies does. I watch a lot of NetFlix streamed to my PS3, and I get RluRays in the mail as well. If the Mini could take the place of a PS3, It'd be worth the price.

I also have an older computer hooked up to the TV that records television off of the analog cable channels (I haven't gotten a digital tuner card yet). The Mac can't do that without yet another box (EyeTV).

The Mini would actually be a good deal for me if it could replace either of the boxes already on my entertainment center. As it sits now, it replaces neither. But it does have an HDMI connector to eliminate one audio wire.

Without a BluRay player, even as an option, its a deal breaker. If the only way they expect me to get content onto the device is to go through iTunes, then I'm not buying.

Even something like EyeTV for recording television seems like a half assed solution, when Apple has the opportunity to do it right.

I don't know if manufacturers would put a cut off system in manual cars. It certainly doesn't make a lot of sense. But if the cutoff is there in the 'base' (read: automatic) configuration, is it worth taking out? I would personally say 'yes', but I don't know about the manufacturers' lawyers.

The Audi system sounds like a good one.

You are correct about trail braking in the strictest sense. Some people accomplish trail braking by left-foot braking so that they can keep RPMs up going through the apex.

What I was really talking about was left-foot braking, but most times I've seen it done is when trail braking.

Very true. People race what they have. How this could be implemented is with a timeout. The car also brake/throttle overlap for a set time, and then if it goes over that time, cut the throttle. That system wouldn't impact heel-toeing at all, and not trail braking either (I guess it depends on the specific corner).

But then you would have people saying that the delay in cutting throttle may cost lives. Somebody with an out-of-control car would have (say) 4 seconds less to get back in control.

Are you serious? That's not what this does at all. What would happen is that it would cut out your throttle if you are on the brakes, not shut off the car.

There's a lot of cars that have the 'brake takes precedence' feature. The only real reason to not have such a feature is because of trail-braking or hell-toe shifting. Both are racing/performance driving techniques you won't be doing in your Camry. Plus, it is a pure software feature in that if it detects you braking, it will cut throttle. So there's no big issue there.

Also, cars have their computers updated all the time, and it has never been a big deal in the past. The Nissan GTR was the last example that made the news (to cut down on the RPM the launch control used). But really, cars are reflashed all the time. Its not a big deal.