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Comment Re:Don't you have anything better to do? (Score 1) 393

I don't see it as an issue - I used to ten key, back in the old pre-scanner cash register days, and my muscle memory for that was just fine; 60+ items per minute. I also dial a phone by touch. No muscle memory issues for either. It comes from association, I never associated a phone number with a register, calculator or number pad on a keyboard; and never associated calculator (etc) issues with the phone. If you want to practice typing in phone numbers, just punch them into the cell phone, and NOT hit send. You get a visual feedback, as the numbers show on the screen. That, or invest a few dollars in a cordless phone with the same feature. You'd be surprised at the human body's ability to adapt to two separate layouts, and yes, spacial memory DOES work that way. At least for most people.

Comment Surprised they haven't just shut off "guest" acces (Score 1) 377

Not a First Amendment violation, there is nothing that states the government must give ANY WiFi access whatsoever. They ought to just shut off or secure the access and not offer free WiFi to the protesters. Right or wrong, with that many people camping on the capitol lawn I am surprised their APs can handle the traffic, and they would be perfectly justified in temporarily suspending the guest access to ensure their own internet access. I know as a wireless administrator I sure would.

For those of you who think this is a First Amendment violation, think about your own network. Do YOU allow everybody free access to it?

Comment Re:first! (Score 1) 1425

Back in '08, Palin said she had little to no interest in running for President in 2012, a statement she backed up by quiting her job as a politician and going on a media rampage (numerous interviews and appearances, as well as her own TV show.) Now she's dropping hints that she would in fact run in 2012.

And in 2006, Hilary Clinton stated uncategorically that she would not run for president. So what, people can't change their minds?

Comment Re:Ground-breaking robot? (Score 1) 82

The only part that doesn't describe ASIMO is the "built in the United States", and ASIMO can do stairs, run, walk backwards, etc. Oh, and talk. So no, NOT groundbreaking, but yes, interesting. Just because they aren't breaking new ground does not mean it isn't significant. I am sure Honda is not sharing the technology they developed for ASIMO with the rest of the world. Thought the one they have at Disneyland is still an interesting demo.

Comment Re:Best Buy, not the best at all (Score 2, Informative) 248

Future Shop is Best Buy Canada. Best Buy purchased Future Shop in 2001. But Future Shop has NOTHING to do with not providing you with the Windows disc - it is not like they build the computers. They are packaged by the likes of eMachines, Hewlett-Packard and so on - it is not the retailer that is not providing it, it is the manufacturer. Go to London Drugs or Staples and you will have the EXACT same experience. Legally, the OEM discs are only available with a hardware purchase - if Newegg or others sell you one without selling hardware at the same time, they are breaking licensing agreements, and could get their MS software pulled completely from their stock by MS. You want the discs? Build your own damn computer. I just got a Dell for my wife - guess what? No disc. There is a utility to create a backup disc, but no DVD. Back to the topic at hand - $150 to deliver and set up a TV, blu-ray and 3D glasses? Not bad, really. What is delivery and an hour of labor worth? $150 just seems fair to me. I wouldn't pay it, but then I am the family tech that gets the call to set up everyone's computer or TV for them.

Comment I check the scored on Virus Bulliten and... (Score 1) 896

I check the scored on Virus Bulletin http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archive/results?display=summary and AV Comparitives http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/stories/test/summary/summary2009.pdf to get the best available. I have used Avast! for years with great success, and recently started using Microsoft Security Essentials, both of which are VB100 rated. I like the small footprint of the new MS offering, and the fact that it has such a high detection and low false-positive rating. So far so good, even on my in-laws' laptop.
Hardware

Startup's Submerged Servers Could Cut Cooling Costs 147

1sockchuck writes "Are data center operators ready to abandon hot and cold aisles and submerge their servers? An Austin startup says its liquid cooling enclosure can cool high-density server installations for a fraction of the cost of air cooling in traditional data centers. Submersion cooling using mineral oil isn't new, dating back to the use of Fluorinert in the Cray 2. The new startup, Green Revolution Cooling, says its first installation will be at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (also home to the Ranger supercomputer). The company launched at SC09 along with a competing liquid cooling play, the Iceotope cooling bags."
Government

Obama Administration Withholds FoIA Requests More Often Than Bush's 601

bonch writes "Agencies under the Obama administration cite security provisions to withhold information more often than they did under the Bush administration. For example, the 'deliberative process' exemption of the Freedom of Information Act was used 70,779 times in 2009, up from the 47,395 of 2008. Amusingly, the Associated Press has been waiting three months for the government to deliver records on its own Open Government Directive."
Privacy

Palm Pre Reports Your Location and Usage To Palm 314

AceJohnny writes "Joey Hess found that his Palm Pre was ratting on him. It turns out the Pre periodically uploads detailed information about the user to Palm, including the names of installed apps, application usage (and crashes), as well as GPS coordinates. This, of course, is without user consent or control. The only way he found to disable the uploads was to modify system files."

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