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Comment Re:"Dumbing Up" (Score 1) 539

Personally, I think that in the future "computer science" won't really be a separate field of endeavor - like walking or throwing a ball or writing a report, it'll just be something people do without spending too much time thinking about it.

Of course it will still be a separate field of endeavor. It's just misnamed. Remember what Dijkstra said: "Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes."

Comment Re:"Dumbing Up" (Score 1) 539

My personal philosophy is that the instant you hear the term "dumbing down" you can ignore the speaker. They don't have any valid points to make.

You, sir or madam, are destined for Internet fame. Behold the new Godwin.

Comment Re:Suing prospective clients? (Score 5, Insightful) 187

Google doesn't give a shit about some measly $56 million, 5-year contact with DOI. That's chickenfeed to them, and they know that contract will eventually go to Microsoft anyway. They're sending a message to other potential government customers that if they play fast and loose with the bidding rules, the big dog will crap on their house.

Comment Re:Freedom of speech... (Score 1) 340

When it's private, it's not tyranny. In theory, your arrangement with your employer is voluntary on both sides. Either party can decide at any time to cancel the arrangement and you go your separate ways. The arrangement between you and your government, however, is much less voluntary. If your government puts you in jail, you can't just decide you don't like the food and leave. This is why the founders wrote the BofR to apply to the federal government and not to private entities. (The BofR didn't even apply to state governments until much later.) Of course in practice it might be very difficult to change your employer, but it's still easier than changing your government.

Comment Re:Why is the government even subsidizing this? (Score 1) 591

The side that the steering wheel is one doesn't really matter

Actually it does. For at least two reasons:

  • It's easier to judge whether your car will "miss" a car going the opposite direction when the other car passes on the driver's side.
  • On a two-lane road, it's easier to pass a slower-moving vehicle if the side you pass on is the driver's side. Otherwise, it's harder to tell if you're likely to be creamed in a head-on collision when you try to pass.

That's why in most cases when cars travel on the X side of the road, the driver's side of the car is !X. Obviously it's not impossible to drive with the driver's side on X, but it's probably statistically safer on !X.

The Courts

Jack Thompson Disbarred 522

Sockatume writes "The Florida Supreme Court has approved Judge Dava Tunis' recommendations for the permanent disbarment of John B. "Jack" Thompson, with no leave to reapply and $43,675.35 in disciplinary costs. The ruling is a step up from the enhanced disbarment that had been suggested by the prosecution, which would have forbidden him from reapplying for ten years. Thompson has 30 days to appeal the ruling before the disbarment is permanent. Thompson responds to the ruling."
Security

US Responsible For the Majority of Cyber Attacks 205

Amber G5 writes "SecureWorks published the locations of the computers from which the greatest number of cyber attacks were attempted against its clients in 2008. The United States topped the list with 20.6 million attempted attacks originating from computers within the country, and China ran second with 7.7 million attempted attacks emanating from computers within its borders. This was followed by Brazil with over 166,987 attempted attacks, South Korea with 162,289, Poland with 153,205, Japan with 142,346, Russia with 130,572, Taiwan with 124,997, Germany with 110,493, and Canada with 107,483."
Microsoft

Submission + - The worst consumer tech in history (cnet.co.uk)

An anonymous reader writes: CNet has named what they claim are the worst technology products in history. Probably the most controversial is the inclusion of Windows Vista which sits alongside the Sinclair C5, the Gizmondo and the Tamagotchi. "[Vista's] incompatibility with hardware, its obsessive requirement of human interaction to clear security dialogue box warnings and its abusive use of hated DRM, not to mention its general pointlessness as an upgrade, are just some examples of why this expensive operating system earns the final place in our terrible tech list."
Transportation

Submission + - Football field-sized kite powers latest freighter (networkworld.com) 2

coondoggie writes: "A kite the size of a football field will provide most of the power for a German heavy freight ship set to launch in December. The Beluga shipping company that owns the 460-foot Beluga said it expects the kites to decrease fuel consumption by up to 50% in optimal cases as well as a cutback of the emission of greenhouse gases on sea by 10 to 20%. Interestingly, the ship will be hauling windmills from Esbjerg, Denmark to Houston, Texas. The company that makes the kite for the German transport, SkySails, has made kites for large yachts but is targeting commercial ships with new, larger kites. And it has the ambitious goal of equipping 1,500 ships with kites by 2015. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/22225"
Space

Submission + - First Evidence of Another Universe? 2

blamanj writes: Three months ago, astronomers announced the discovery of a large hole at the edge of our universe. Now, Dr. Laura Mersini-Houghton thinks she knows what that means. (Subscription req'd at New Scientist site, there's also an overview here.) According to string theory, there are many universes besides our own. Her team says that smaller universes are positioned at the edge of our universe, and because of gravitational interactions, they can be observed, and they're willing to make a prediction. The recently discovered void is in the northern hemisphere. They contend another one will be found in the southern hemisphere.

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