Comment My Birthday (Score 1) 219
Because it's a new year for me.
Comment Software! (Score 1) 146
I also work for a (relatively) small academic library, but our campus has free licenses for SAS and JMP. I had to go through hoops to get it (bureaucracy being what it is) but I use SAS all the time for inventory and usage data. It helps that I was a SAS programmer once upon a time, but I love it for its abilities to clean data as much as its statistical chops. Check around campus if you haven't done so already. You may find access to one or both of these to be easier than you think.
Submission + - NASA in search of small Moon robots (networkworld.com)
coondoggie writes: NASA today began looking for small robotic landers it can send and operate on the Moon. NASA said the idea behind its Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) program is to "obtain data and gather knowledge that reduces risks for future human and robotic lander designs by employing these missions as unique demonstration testbeds." The ILDD announcement will result in multiple small contracts with a total value up to $30.1 million through 2012, NASA stated.
Submission + - Estimating digital downloads' true weight (kingofgng.com)
KingofGnG writes: How much are digital downloads worth within the PC video games market? According to a recent report by NPD Group, in 2009 digital delivery of commercial products would have taken 48% of the overall marketplace in North America. But digital downloads’ real strength is a matter of discussion within the industry for some time now, while the numbers published by NPD have been put in a more realistic perspective by Stardock’s boss Brad Wardell and a new report from Entertainment Merchants Association.
Submission + - Debian 6.0 “Squeeze” frozen (debian-news.net)
edesio writes: From debian-news.net:
"In this very moment, during the ongoing annual Debian Developer
Conference “Debconf10 in New York, Debian’s release managers have
announced a major step in the development cycle of the upcoming stable release Debian 6.0 “Squeeze”: Debian “Squeeze” has now been frozen.
In consequence this means that no more new features will be added and
all work will now be concentrated on polishing Debian “Squeeze” to
achieve the quality Debian stable releases are known for.
The upcoming release will use Linux 2.6.32 as its default kernel
in the installer and on all Linux architectures."
"In this very moment, during the ongoing annual Debian Developer
Conference “Debconf10 in New York, Debian’s release managers have
announced a major step in the development cycle of the upcoming stable release Debian 6.0 “Squeeze”: Debian “Squeeze” has now been frozen.
In consequence this means that no more new features will be added and
all work will now be concentrated on polishing Debian “Squeeze” to
achieve the quality Debian stable releases are known for.
The upcoming release will use Linux 2.6.32 as its default kernel
in the installer and on all Linux architectures."
Submission + - Researchers Pinpoint Cause of Gluten Allergies (yahoo.com)
An anonymous reader writes: When patients with celiac disease consume foods containing gluten — a protein present in wheat, barley and rye — their immune systems send out an alarm, triggering a response that can damage their intestines and prevent them from absorbing certain nutrients.
Now, scientists have pinpointed the culprits most responsible for this harmful reaction: three small fragments within the gluten protein that spark chaos in the gut.
Now, scientists have pinpointed the culprits most responsible for this harmful reaction: three small fragments within the gluten protein that spark chaos in the gut.
Submission + - Doctor "visit" just a mouse click away (skunkpost.com)
crimeandpunishment writes: Forget a computer virus...people in Britain who have a real virus, or countless other medical issues, can "see" a doctor with just a click of a mouse. A growing number of websites in Britain are offering the type of consultation and medication most countries only allow in person....or in remote visits using webcams or telephones. The only limits: they don't handle emergencies or serious medical problems, and don't dispense narcotics or other potentially addictive drugs. Speaking of drugs....is it a surprise that those most in demand are for erectile dysfunction, STD's, and hair loss?
Submission + - HP CEO Resigns Over Sexual Harassment Accusations
An anonymous reader writes: HP CEO Mark Hurd just resigned over sexual harrassment accusations.
In a statement, Hurd said, "As the investigation progressed, I realized there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career.
http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-ceo-mark-hurd-resigns-over-sexual-harrassment-accusations-2010-8#ixzz0vrLgudxQ
In a statement, Hurd said, "As the investigation progressed, I realized there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career.
http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-ceo-mark-hurd-resigns-over-sexual-harrassment-accusations-2010-8#ixzz0vrLgudxQ
Submission + - Like Google, Mozilla To Silently Update Firefox 4 (computerworld.com)
CWmike writes: Taking a page from rival Google's playbook, Mozilla plans to introduce silent, behind-the-scenes security updating to Firefox 4. The feature, which has gotten little attention from Mozilla, is currently 'on track' for Firefox 4, slated to ship before the end of the year. Firefox 4's silent update will only be offered on Windows, Mozilla has said. Most updates will be downloaded and installed automatically without asking the user or requiring a confirmation. 'We'll only be using the major update dialog box for changes like [version] 4 to 4.5 or 5," said Alex Faaborg, a principal designer on Firefox, in the 'mozilla.dev.apps.firefox' forum. 'Unfortunately users will still see the updating progress bar on load, but this is an implementation issue as opposed to a [user interface] one; ideally the update could be applied in the background.' Unlike Google, Mozilla will let users change the default silent service to the more traditional mode, where the browser asks permission before downloading and installing any update.
Comment Re:WHOOSH! (Score 1) 196
I'd mod you up to God status if I only could. You got it exactly right.
Comment Re:Here's your answer.. (Score 1) 285
Agreed. The sun is so much older than humans there's no way we can have statistically accurate information for the last x billion years.
The Sun's Odd Behavior 285
gyrogeerloose writes "Most of us know about the sun's eleven-year activity cycle. However, relatively few other than scientists (and amateur radio operators) are aware that the current solar minimum has lasted much longer than expected. The last solar cycle, Cycle 24, bottomed out in 2008, and Cycle 25 should be well on its way towards maximum by now, but the sun has remained unusually quiescent with very few sunspots. While solar physicists agree that this is odd, the explanation remains elusive."
Comment 15 Years... (Score 2, Informative) 849
since I left South Carolina, and I've never looked back. Charleston, while a beautiful city in many ways, was hellish: the overt racism and classism I experienced still disgust me.
Comment "Every" file may not be accurate (Score 1) 186
For testing, I archived a bunch of old documents into one docs.7z file, 84mb in size, and tried to upload it. After 20 minutes of watching the status bar creep, I got a message saying that Google does not yet support 7z files.
Comment Re:Stealing (Score 1) 234
Have you ever worked in a cafe/coffee shop? Customers steal coffee all the time if you consider topping off or surreptitious refills stealing.
