>>Giggling teenage girls post as ACs on /.?

I was expecting her to break out into Katy Perry lyrics...

>> 95% of the PC I fix / clean have AVG installed. I think it's the program I un-install the most frequently.

I was just going to make the same comment, but replace AVG with Norton and/or McAfee.

I've become less happy with AVG over the past two versions, because it seems to be heading down the road of doing too much and getting too bulky. But it hadn't proved itself worse than anything else I've come across... at least in the respect that it lets viruses through in some cases, just like every other AV software. All things considered, I'm typically going to go with what allows the computer to perform best and of course is free... so I'd still been sticking with AVG.

I am definitely intrigued by MSE and the postive press it's been getting lately. I think I'll toss it on a couple machines this weekend and see how it goes.

If there handn't been a direct link to the news story (and I then read it), I would have completely written this off as another completely made up, forwarded email story.

The state of our voting infrastructure in this country is ridiculous. I wish I had a great idea how to fix everything, but until then, I'll just be a disgusted whiner like the majority of the masses.

>> "The age of mass comsumption of music is coming to an end"

I'd have to disagree with this. With sites like Last.FM and Pandora getting more and more popular, not to mention how most radio stations are streaming their broadcasts on the web, I think the mass consumption has just changed. People are starting to tolerate ads (and even paying for premium subscriptions) more because the medium is convenient, even more convenient than popping in a CD.

**The solution is to allow texting, but increase severity of penalties when the driver is texting while **committing another offense.

EXACTLY THIS!

There will always be those that cannot handle the responsibility of multitasking, and they should be punished when they are proven incompetent. If they can't handle the car, they get it taken away: at first the license, if again, then the vehicle, if again, then jail.

This is why drunk driving laws are ineffective... first is a fine, then maybe another, then maybe a license suspension, then maybe another fine, then maybe a few days in jail.

Get SERIOUS with these offenders, and people will start to consider the consequences more seriously.

My fear is that if texting is outlawed, next comes cell phone usage (already in some locations) then eating while driving, then talking passengers, etc. Driving the long, open, boring roads of the Midwest, I depend on talking with others and snacking just to stay awake. But I'm smart enough to know that driving comes first... I set things aside when I'm in town, or if road conditions are tough... but by virtue of REALLY needing to concentrate on the road, I don't need those other things to keep me alert. And if I can't get my priorities straight when I'm driving and cause an accident because of it... I expect to get in REAL trouble.

I totally agree, you are absolutely right that the network is not trusted. Just like your house... all the security measures you take to protect it just aren't going to stand up against a car bomb.

And that is my point... there are many levels of security, and with each level added maintenance complexity is introduced. There are times when a complex security schema is absolutely justified, and there are times when a minimal security approach is justified.

I take issue with those that say the security setup MUST be one way or another. The setup should be evaluated against who exactly is being protected, what performance is needed from the network, and who is available to maintain said security. This issue does not have a one size fits all answer.

I like that analogy!

Do you live in a neighborhood where someone jiggles your front door handle every few seconds?
Yes. Lots of network traffic.

Do you live in an apartment with roommates?
Yes. Everyone on the network.

Are the roommates close friends of yours, or only real-estate associates?
Close friends (i.e. members of the domain)

Do your roommates bring over people you don't know?
Nope, that's what the network level firewall is for.

Do your roommates or roommates' friends jiggle your bedroom door handle occasionally to see if they can steal something?
Again, no... just the front door handle.

I think locking your bedroom door and the front door when you go to bed is a good idea for the reasons you explain. However, that's not quite analagous to the network scenario.

The main reason is that when you go to bed, you're shutting down for the night. It would be the same security-wise as shutting off your computer for the night.

Keeping workstation firewalls on behind network level firewalls is like locking the door of each room of your house as you pass through it. Unlock, open, go through, shut, and lock. Suddenly, the security measures outweigh their usefulness.

Likewise, leaving all the workstation firewalls on behind the network firewall, involves a bit of hassle each time you want to access new file shares, install new printers, etc. This isn't necessarily hassle you can't live with... but it IS additional work that scales into a BIG hassle as you add more and more workstations, and more importantly, more users that need you to hand hold them through this activity.

Since when does casting your vote equally between all parties make you a moderate?

What makes me a moderate is voting for a canditate that is the least left OR right skewed. There are radicals in all parties, and not voting for THEM is what a moderate does.

...and frankly, that's what this rally is all about. It's a statement on how our system is broken, and the two dominant party system is a big part of that. The "silent majority" doesn't vote because of the polarization of the political process. We're fed up with it, and all the idiots that play into its mantra: "If you're not with us, you're against us." THIS stupidity is exactly what the rally is highlighting, and in bringing masses together who disagree with that assertion, a message can be sent to those polarizers on BOTH sides that they are the ones alienating the voters.

This is EXACTLY what I've wanted to do for a long time! I can't justify the cost of nice LCDs right now while I've got a pile of CRTs to use. But someday... someday!!!

I always assumed it was for performance reasons. Though 12 seems a bit ridiculous (and awesome), I've always wanted to put four together with a little more convenience.

Play him off, keyboard cat...

my spinal cord is now impervious to injury. also, my arteries are impervious to blood flow and my waist is impervious to pants.

I'd Bang it.