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Biotech

Submission + - Why you can't get a date

Submitted by
mcgrew
mcgrew writes: "New Scientist is running a story totled A quirky look at our quirky species, about "'quirkology' — the use of scientific methods to study quirky human behaviour, or quirky methods to probe weightier topics."

Of the eight "quirkology" subjects presented, number seven, "Hot and spicy" caught my eye, as it directly affects most of us loveless slashdot nerds. The author did a study to find the best pickup lines, and "the secret of a good chat-up line is to encourage someone to talk about themselves in a quirky, fun way. So the best line from the top-rated man was 'If you were on Stars In Their Eyes, which celebrity would you be?' On a similar theme, the top-rated female asked 'If you were a pizza topping, what would you be?'".

But the interesting (to me) part was at the end. The world's worst pickup line?

"I have a PhD in computing.""
Music

Submission + - Safeguards Set for RIAA Hard Drive Inspection

Submitted by
NewYorkCountryLawyer
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "In SONY v. Arellanes, an RIAA case in Sherman, Texas, the Court entered a protective order (pdf), which spells out the following procedure for the RIAA's examination of the defendant's hard drive: (1) RIAA imaging specialist makes mirror image of hard drive; (2) mutually acceptable computer forensics expert makes make 2 verified bit images, and creates an MD5 or equivalent hash code; (3) one mirror image is held in escrow by the expert, the other given to defendant's lawyer for a 'privilege review'; (4) defendant's lawyer provides plaintiffs' lawyer with a "privilege log" (list of privileged files); (5) after privilege questions are resolved, the escrowed image — with privileged files deleted — will be turned over to RIAA lawyers, to be held for 'lawyers' eyes only'. The order differs from the earlier order (pdf) entered in the case, in that it (a) permits the RIAA's own imaging person to make the initial mirror image and (b) spells out the details of the method for safeguarding privilege and privacy."
Programming

Submission + - Blitz++... C++ as Fast as FORTRAN?

Submitted by j
j writes: For decades, FORTRAN has been the hallmark of academic computing, with object-oriented principles taking a backseat to slick matrix handling and sheer speed. Meanwhile, C++ was stigmatized for its bulkiness and verbose syntax of matrices and vectors. The Blitz++ library for C++ is rapidly encroaching on that. Nearly matching FORTRAN in performance, Blitz++ offers an intuitive matrix handling syntax (with an elegant cout response) essential for efficient mathematical expressions. With Sun's Fortress several years away, will Blitz++ be adequate to introduce robust OOP to numerical computing? And is that even needed?
Caldera

Submission + - SCO vs. IBM Leaks Exposed

Submitted by
Xenographic
Xenographic writes: "Remember all the fuss about SCO subpoenaing PJ of Groklaw, where they allege that she's funded by IBM because she once got a publicly available document from a volunteer at the courthouse a little before it hit the Court's website? That's nothing. Groklaw has a story evidence that other materials have been leaked in this case — but they weren't leaked to Groklaw, and they weren't leaked by IBM. Information about the sealed materials in question made its way to Maureen O'Gara, who wrote a story based on inside information, displaying a positively uncanny insight into what SCO was planning, including far more than just the sealed document a SCO lawyer read out loud in open court. Interestingly, several witnesses report that Maureen O'Gara did not even attend that hearing, leaving us to speculate about her source."
User Journal

Journal Journal: April Fool's Submissions Overboard and Underfunny 2

Journal by evought

I agree with some of the comments and submissions I have seen today that the yearly stupidity on Slashdot is just plain dumb. Unfortunately, these comments are drowned out. One or two good hoaxes would have made my day. ("Google Paper" was actually quite good). A score of idiotic and unbelievable posts just ruins the site and real news is buried. Having looked through the Firehose at several points today, there have been several serious submissions that have been voted up but have never made
Music

Submission + - RIAA Can't Have Defendant's Son's Desktop

Submitted by
NewYorkCountryLawyer
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "The RIAA's attempt to get Ms. Lindor's son's desktop computer in UMG v. Lindor has been rejected by the Magistrate Judge. The judge said that the RIAA

"offered little more than speculation to support their request for an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer, based on ... his family relationship to the defendant, the proximity of his house to the defendant's house, and his determined defense of his mother in this case. That is not enough. On the record before me, plaintiffs have provided scant basis to authorize an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer."
Decision by Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. (pdf)"
Slashdot.org

Submission + - What should I ask Slashdot?

Submitted by
TodMinuit
TodMinuit writes: "Dearest Slashdot: Recently, I've wanted to ask Slashdot something. Unable to come up with a question myself, I thought who better to ask what I should ask Slashdot than Slashdot itself? Surely the very people answering the question are quite capable of coming up with one. So, Slashdot, what should I ask Slashdot?"
Music

Submission + - RIAA going after Colleges

Submitted by
Pojut
Pojut writes: "The Washington Post has an article on the RIAA increasing the number of letters out to colleges and college students around the country demanding that action be taken against the student's that have contributed nearly 1.3 billion downloads a year. In addition, they are asking (once again) that schools block access to services which allow such downloads. In many cases cases, there are threats of litigation.

From the article:

"At schools that don't institute or enforce such policies, some students might be getting mail from the trade group. Last week, the RIAA sent 400 letters to students at 13 colleges warning them that they will either have to pay up for illegally downloading music or face a lawsuit."

URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2007/03/08/AR2007030801895.html"
Enlightenment

Submission + - Cattle Produce More Greenhouse Gases Than Cars

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: EARTHtimes.org has an article covering a letter that PETA sent to Al Gore. The letter points out that rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases that driving cars. PETA sites a U.N. report to support their case. Will Al Gore put his mouth where his mouth is and become vegetarian?
Privacy

Submission + - Justice Department Says FBI Misused Patriot Act

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes: In a report just released by the Justice Department, as predicted by many including those on Slashdot, the FBI has misused and abused the PATRIOT Act to illegally gain access to information about people living in the United States.

From the article:
FBI agents sometimes demanded the data without proper authorization, according to a 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. At other times, the audit found, the FBI improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances.

..."we believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses of national security letter authorities," the audit concludes.
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Favorite Force Poll

Submitted by Miphnik
Miphnik writes: Favorite Force?
  • Strong
  • Weak
  • Electromagnetic
  • Gravity
  • Light Side
  • Dark Side
  • Brute

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