You already did the second bit when you went after the smokers in the first place. There is no "then". ;)

How would Slashdotters go about picking a solid, basic laptop for Web surfing and document editing that won't be obsolete in two years?"

Think about this for a second - you're looking for something that does the most basic, routine tasks out there. A bottom-of-the-barrel laptop these days ($3-400?) has about 1000x the power you need to surf the web and run MS Office. And it won't be obsolete in 2 years. The same software you run today will work just fine in 2 years, and will take care of any web/office task you could possibly conceive of.

These days, spending more than $500 on a laptop is pointless unless you use it for games, or as a fullblown desktop replacement (video editing, etc). But web use? Office docs? Email? A 5 year old laptop would suffice.

You know how every few months someone posts yet another video of guys taking video from high altitude balloons, and we all yawn because we've seen it a dozen times or more?

This is the exact opposite of that.

More like "your whites, on a line".

I've re-watched the original Tron on occasion over the years, and just recently last week in preparation for the new movie (which I haven't seen yet, because every theatre in my city has it in headache-vision only, but that's another rant).

Maybe it's just me, but I find it holding up less and less as time goes on. The first part of the movie is cut very poorly and frequently jumps around for no real reason. Once Flynn is in the Tron world, the movie ever-so-slowly gets rather tiresome and boring. Now, part of this is me just being used to modern movies that have a much quicker pace overall, but it's more than that. There really just isn't all that much story here. And all of it is hurriedly explained in the first 15 minutes or so, so the rest of the movie is just a Lord of the Rings style quest without much actually happening.

Now, visually - I'm one of the few that still think the effects hold up. They just have a unique look to them that really exists in no other movie of its time or any time. It always surprises me upon re-watching to realize just how many computer graphics were used. Knowing how much effort when into them, I always think there must only be a few shots, but it never ceases to amaze me just how often you see them. Plus, the costume effect is just something we'll never see replicated again.

If it's on in the background on mute, Tron is a pretty cool movie still. But actually trying to watch it? I'm just as likely to fall asleep somewhere around the 45 minute mark as not.

Not sure how much this will be considered Flamebait on Slashdot :)

If any heads should roll over the leaks, it should be those of the guy who stole the data and whatever dunce(s) allowed peons access to the data.

I'm surprised Slashdotters haven't picked up on this angle, but the peons have access to this data as a direct result of 9/11 and the panic legislation that ensued. Remember all of the "OMG gov't agencies need access to each other's information so that we can prevent this from happening"? Remember privacy advocates pointing out that perhaps it's not a smart idea to have all of this information shared all over the place, because of possible unintended consequences?

There's a reason some 3 million US soldiers had access to all of this data. The government brought it upon itself.

Slashdot needs a +1, Irony mod.

It's times like this that Slashdot SERIOUSLY needs a +1000, Totally Pwned moderation.

Regardless of whether or not I have any opinion for or against the bill, you win this thread hands down.

So did everyone else. The original point still stands.

Asshat: "All of Slashdot is an entire hivemind, but look at me, *I* think different (even though I consistently ignore moderations that don't prove my point)!" (+4 Insightful)

Great, Twitter on air traffic control frequencies.

Yeah, or as Marvel put it: The Punisher.

There's a character that epitomizes the "Oh, I'd only do GOOD things" principle, and where it inevitably leads. And this is a guy without any "powers" to speak of.

Missing option: Directive

And I'm not even a Trek fan. What's Slashdot coming to?

(complaining about poll options while responding to a comment about poll options on a poll for poll options - I've hit a new level of meta-craptacularness)

Bookends.

RSA's product is indeed SecureID. Several other companies produce similar products. I carry several on my keychain for various purposes, it's a pain in the ass. Thankfully the batteries last 3-5 years on them so at least you're not always replacing the damn things.