Comment Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law (Score 1) 678
Morality and the like are used as PR to sell a war to populace; this doesn't negate the reasons korgitser gave.
Comment Re:Don't care. (Score 1) 108
Thanks for the link - I'd forgotten about this. Took the test:
"Your browser fingerprint appears to be unique among the 2,452,354 tested so far."
Short conclusion: I'm screwed.
Comment Re:Book(s)? (Score 1) 5
Amen.
Unless gspec is really asking about books in his field that will provide him inspiration or whatnot, seems to me that along with simple enjoyment and possible edification that the benefit of reading books is to gain perspective.
@gspec - You didn't mention if you're single or supporting a large family, which would somewhat affect my view, but seems to me that clearing roughly twice median wage, earning promotions every few years, living in a reasonably congenial area, ought to be just fine. Bonus if you like what you do, and don't have illusions concerning the difference between want and need.
Submission + - New NASA robot could help paraplegics walk (networkworld.com)
coondoggie writes: "NASA said today it has helped develop a 57-lb robotic exoskeleton that a person could wear over his or her body either to assist or inhibit movement in leg joints. The X1 was derived from NASA and General Motors Robonaut 2 project and the could find applications as an in-space exercise machine to supply resistance against leg movement more importantly as a way to help some individuals walk for the first time."
Microsoft Sues Motorola Over Mapping Patents 57
jfruh writes "The mobile patent wars continue, with two of the world's biggest tech companies about to blunder into direct conflict. Microsoft holds a number of patents that it claims give it rights over mobile map applications that overlay data from multiple databases (map info from one database and store location info from another, for instance). Many Android vendors already pay Redmond licensing fees for their mapping apps; now Redmond is going to court in Germany to sue one of the holdouts: Motorola Mobility, which is of course owned by Google."
Submission + - Ask Slashdot: Dedicating Code?
The_Buse writes: This week I lost my grandmother and after returning to work (as a web developer) I find myself looking for some way to dedicate something to her memory. Unfortunately, I'm no author so I can't dedicate a book to her, and I can't carry a tune so penning a song in her honor is out of the question. What I can do is write one hell of a web app, and after nearly a year of development my (small) team and I are nearing the release date of our next product. My question is, have you ever dedicated a project/app/code in honor of someone? What's the best way to do it: comment blocks in the header, tongue-in-cheek file names, easter eggs? Or is this a horrible idea all together?
Submission + - Office for iPad may be exactly what Microsoft wants (networkworld.com)
colinneagle writes: It's endemic of 21st century journalism how this news story broke: a Microsoft product in the Czech Republic spilled the beans on a native iOS and Android port of Office 2013 for March of 2013, which was picked up by the Czech site IHNED.
Microsoft was quick to issue a denial to the press. "The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate. We do not have anything further to share at this time." Translation? They are doing it. Maybe a few facts are off, but they are doing a port. It's not a flat-out denial; it's a claim of inaccuracy. That's all the wiggle room a company needs to avoid being called a liar.
It's an acknowledgement of two facts: the iPad is the tablet of choice at the moment, and the enterprise really likes its tablets. At the Tablet Strategy conference last April, Chris Hazelton from 451 Research said its own research showed 78.4% of companies surveyed allowed employees to bring in their own devices. That contrasts with just 18% of employers actually providing their employees with tablets. Supporting iOS and Android means no matter what tablet you use, Office will be there. And isn't that what Microsoft wants in the end?
Microsoft was quick to issue a denial to the press. "The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate. We do not have anything further to share at this time." Translation? They are doing it. Maybe a few facts are off, but they are doing a port. It's not a flat-out denial; it's a claim of inaccuracy. That's all the wiggle room a company needs to avoid being called a liar.
It's an acknowledgement of two facts: the iPad is the tablet of choice at the moment, and the enterprise really likes its tablets. At the Tablet Strategy conference last April, Chris Hazelton from 451 Research said its own research showed 78.4% of companies surveyed allowed employees to bring in their own devices. That contrasts with just 18% of employers actually providing their employees with tablets. Supporting iOS and Android means no matter what tablet you use, Office will be there. And isn't that what Microsoft wants in the end?
Submission + - Coming Next: TSA Taser Bracelets? (thenewsmakersoftoday.com)
CaVp writes: From the article: "The TSA’s security policies are getting more and more bizarre, from testing people’s drinks for explosives to ordering all travelers to freeze on command, but could a frightening policy that was seriously explored by the DHS be resurrected – forcing people to wear taser bracelets that would deliver an electric shock if they got out of line?" Fox coverage here.
Imagine a nutjob with a radio transmitter tuned to the bracelet radio frequency... instant bacon!...
Imagine a nutjob with a radio transmitter tuned to the bracelet radio frequency... instant bacon!...
Submission + - Why Isn't Election Day a National Holiday? (vice.com) 4
pigrabbitbear writes: "Voting is a pain in the ass. First of all, there are lines, unpredictable lines that leave some out in the November cold while they’re waiting to do their civic duty. Then, with all of these new voter ID laws popping up, there’s all kinds of red tape. “Do I need to bring my Social Security card?” you might ask yourself. “How about my passport, a copy of my most recent utility bill, an expired library card? What’s it take to prove you’re American these days?” And inevitably, you’re going to miss some work since Election Day is always a Tuesday. For salaried employees, this is probably just annoying — or a relief depending on how much you like your job. But for hourly employees, this means lost wages. So in a way, you have to pay to vote. No wonder voter turnout is so low."
Comment Re:Just wondering... (Score 1) 405
What, getting hit by a disintegrator when her husband comes home early?
Comment Re:First? Perhaps first this year (Score 1) 77
Could find no mention of ejectee exceeding Mach 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_seat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_barrier. There were ejections post-Yeager (note that Yeager's was first _official_ breaking of sound barrier) that took place at supersonic speeds. Baumgartner is trying to surpass Mach 1 in freefall, which as things stand would be notable.
Comment Re:Graduated HS in 1956 (Score 1) 632
Damme, a real geezer! Congrats.
Comment Re:In my day... (Score 1) 632
Graduated in '65. Closest thing to computer in two different high schools was my slide rule and the CRC maths handbook we used for analytical geometry at the second one.. No mention of computers in any classes.
Comment Re:Simplicity (Score 2) 111
Yeah, miniaturization of components helps. That 'static support tower' is the erector, fairly common to field-launched theater, IR- and ICBMs for around fifty years now. With the later Saturns there were a lot of connections; tower made them easier to do, and to service during a hold. For the Shuttle, apart from the slew of connections, tower afforded last-minute crew egress.
Congrats to SpaceX et al on nominal launch and insertion.
Submission + - AOL: Name the Tribble Contest (aol.com)
Pyrotech7 writes:
The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming is holding a "Name the Tribble" contest. The idea is to promote American Archives Month and show people that archives aren't just repositories of musty old documents – they can be home to cool stuff, too.
Instructions to enter your idea are given in TFA
