Comment Stargate SG-1 (Score 1) 113
Sounds a like an episode of Stargate SG-1. Can't remember the exact episode though.
Comment Lord of the Rings Characters/Places (Score 1) 722
Here we tend to name servers after various places in Middle Earth, and user boxes after characters.
The group before us had named the servers they set up after arcade games.
Comment Do they need a smuggler? (Score 1) 156
Sounds like they may need some sort of space smuggler with a fast ship. I wonder who could pull off that role in a movie...
Submission + - Kentucky Representative says show bin Laden photos (lex18.com)
dawgs72 writes: Rep. Ben Chandler (R-KY) said today that after viewing the pictures of the deceased Al-Qaeda leader that the images should be released to the public. He describes the gunshot wound as a massive gash running from his left eye diagonally across the forehead and says it looked like somebody took an axe to bin Laden's head. Chandler believes that the those who lost loved ones on 9/11 might receive closure from viewing the images, despite calling them 'gruesome.'
Submission + - US Contemplating taxing "Vehicle Miles Traveled" (thehill.com) 4
dawgs72 writes: This week the Congressional Budget Office released a report that taxing people based on how many miles they drive is a possible option for raising new revenues and that these taxes could be used to offset the costs of highway maintenance. The proposed tax would be enforced through the use of electronic metering devices installed on all vehicles. The mileage tax is being considered instead of an increase in the gas tax in order to tax hybrids, EVs, and conventional automobiles equally.
Submission + - Google Music to soon Challenge iTunes (hostedftp.com)
hostedftp writes: iTunes has better watch out as a new player is coming out to rock a stagnated market of digital music which Apple has dominated. Reported by CNET, the kingdom known as iTunes might have a challenger that can equal its resources and backing as Google is set to launch their own digital streaming system that can be used on Android phones and also with Youtube
Submission + - UN Intervention begins in Lybia (aljazeera.net)
Submission + - Press Official Quits Over Bradley Manning Remarks
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "The Boston Globe reports that State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, a retired colonel who served 26 years in the Air Force, has resigned after his disparaging remarks over the Pentagon’s treatment of Army private Bradley Manning, accused of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. "What is happening to Manning is ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid, and I don’t know why the DoD is doing it," said Crowley in remarks to a small seminar at MIT on the power of blogging, tweeting, and Facebook, that appeared in blog postings by members of the audience. "Nevertheless, Manning is in the right place." Manning is being held in solitary confinement in a military jail for 23 hours a day, and is stripped each night and given a suicide-proof smock to wear to bed. Crowley took responsibility for his comments, which he said were “intended to highlight the broader, even strategic impact’’ of actions taken by the national security agencies on US standing in the world. “The exercise of power in today’s challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values,’’ the statement read. Crowley’s criticisms have been picked up by civil liberties groups around the country, and have fueled a fierce debate inside the Obama administration over how to respond to WikiLeaks."
Submission + - HarperCollins Forcing Libraries To Re-Buy Ebooks A (gizmodo.com) 1
Japong writes: Harper Collins wants libraries to re-purchase ebooks after 26 checkouts, stating that since traditional physical library books usually "wear out" after 26 checkouts and require a re-purchase, their digital counterparts should as well.
Oklahoma's Pioneer Library responds:
Oklahoma's Pioneer Library responds:
The argument against the arbitrary number is twofold. First, replacement of books in libraries is based upon the condition of the book, not the number of times it has been checked out. It is not unusual for popular books to be checked out 100 times or more before the wear and tear of circulation takes its toll and the book has to be replaced or repaired. Second, eBooks, too, eventually wear out. The electronic file formats become obsolete in a matter of years as technology progresses and customer interests change. Remember the switch from VHS to DVD or cassette to CD?
Comment Correct Link (Score 1) 1
The link to the original source just sent me to an incompatible browser (using Chrome).
Comment Forget the G-Whiz... (Score 2) 509
What they really need to start buying is the first car with a moustache; the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust AKA Geoff.
Submission + - Programmable Magnets Enable Smallest Modular Robot (hizook.com)
HizookRobotics writes: Take a moment and envision an electromagnet: a simple coiled wire driven by a hefty electrical current gives a fully-programmable magnetic field strength (on, off, and everything between). Electromagnets are ubiquitous, but it turns out that there is a little-known device with similar functionality yet has zero static power consumption — they are called electropermanent magnets, and they've been around and in use since the 1960's! A 2010 PhD thesis by MIT Media Lab's Ara Knaian examines the physics, scaling, trade-offs, and several new actuator designs (eg. stepper motors) using these little-known wonders. Recently, electropermanent magnets facilitated an innovation in "programmable matter," where they were instrumental in creating the world's smallest self-contained modular robots to date (12mm/side). Learn more about these fascinating devices at Hizook.com. (Note to editors: the thesis is a 16MB 200-page PDF. Working with the author, it has been distilled on Hizook.com)
Submission + - Mutilation Mile, Inspired by true events??? (imdb.com)
Anonymous Coward writes: "(let's try this again.. I tried submitting earlier?) Well, I thought to run this by you guys... This so-called "Inspired by" is a straight-up hardcore underground film based on a un-solved murder in Vegas. And more surprising is it was about a man who owned the home they shot the film in. And he was not stabbed to death (as mentioned in the film), but was shot to death and left for dead in a Nevada Desert. So, the story that's slipping through cracks as some make-up "inspired by" bulls**t, was actually based on a trues story. There is an article in the recent issue of Fangoria Magazine on page 57. Cuz how they (director) are able to talk about this is beyond me. I tried contacting one of the stars of the film, Lawrence Buchér (F**king A** Hole) to get the 411, but to no avail. I tried then his agent and only got hung-up on. Maybe you guys can check on this story. Might be worth looking into..."
Submission + - Poll question suggestion
ansak writes: Julian Assange, also known as:
* Osama bin Data
* 21st century Dreyfus
* John Brown's Data
* neo-Rosa Diplomatic Parks
* Private Ryan Cable
* Cowboy Neal's long lost twin brother
I know. It's a silly poll. You guys can probably make it better.
* Osama bin Data
* 21st century Dreyfus
* John Brown's Data
* neo-Rosa Diplomatic Parks
* Private Ryan Cable
* Cowboy Neal's long lost twin brother
I know. It's a silly poll. You guys can probably make it better.
Submission + - Scare Your Employees: Telepresence Force Feedback (conceivablytech.com)
An anonymous reader writes: I am sure there is a perfectly good reason to build force feedback into a telepresence system. But do we really need electrical stimulation, pressure and temperature change? Microsoft apparently thinks so and has filed for a telepresence force feedback patent and a device that can deliver electrical feedback, pressure changes, temperature changes, friction, vibration, and noise. Imagine how the employee of the future could be motivated across the globe in a virtual meeting.
