Those perks tend to keep coders at their work rather than going out for long lunches. Also, your reference to cut perks being an indicator of rocky road ahead, I agree.

Hmm... it may be possible to create an electromagnet run off a mobile power supply that would put North to North or South to South so that the magnet would levitate off a surface and ride smoothly. Depends on configuration of the magnet though.

What really gets me is...

People keep using Excel spreadsheets for databases. They send discreet versions of this "database" to everyone in the company instead of utilizing a secure reliable DBMS to store the data centrally.

When I read this: If you hear me saying "Stop fu*king helping me!" then you know for sure.

All I could see was that dang paperclip tapping.

That money saved went to CEO bonuses and salaries most likely. It sure didn't filter it's way down to the lowly stockholders.

It's probably Carbon Monoxide and Soot withdrawal that is causing these wind farm health episodes.

I'd be more afraid of intelligent extraterrestrial life extrapolating our location using the trajectory of our spacecraft.

I take it you're not going to elaborate but only curse at people.

bws111 said, "Secure boot is an optional feature of UEFI"

Not for long.

AC said, "UEFI will not boot if NVRAM storage is damaged."

Obvious design flaw.

Whatever happened to "benign failure mode"?

Something like SecureBoot has been implemented for at least six years on motherboards I figure.

Many OEM hardware vendors would have a special key stored in the firmware somewhere. Without that key, the user can't reinstall the OEM version of Windows that shipped with the machine. I know this because when a motherboard would fail, we'd take one with the same form factor, size and compatible with the original CPU off-the-shelf and install it. Then we'd try to use the OEM Windows CD and no go - wont install. Called manufacturer and was informed that the replacement motherboard had not been "signed". Poor customer was forced to buy another copy of Windows or pay exorbitant cost for replacement OEM mobo.

It's a Lock-In scheme. Plain and simple.

Microsoft invades the firmware. What better to exclude competitors?

Really? From what I've gathered, Secure Boot first enters a Setup Mode where it will not load Drivers or Boot Loaders that are not signed with an appropriate digital signature. After the appropriate digital signature is entered and STORED in the firmware, UEFI enters User Mode where it will load Drivers and Boot Loaders that agree with the STORED digital signature.

Hello Bricksville!

It helps if she "wants" to participate. Also, a MMORPG with strong female characters and a good user community.