RootWind - Slashdot User

Submission + - Blitz++... C++ as Fast as FORTRAN?

Submitted by j on Sunday April 08, 2007 @01:12AM

j writes: For decades, FORTRAN has been the hallmark of academic computing, with object-oriented principles taking a backseat to slick matrix handling and sheer speed. Meanwhile, C++ was stigmatized for its bulkiness and verbose syntax of matrices and vectors. The Blitz++ library for C++ is rapidly encroaching on that. Nearly matching FORTRAN in performance, Blitz++ offers an intuitive matrix handling syntax (with an elegant cout response) essential for efficient mathematical expressions. With Sun's Fortress several years away, will Blitz++ be adequate to introduce robust OOP to numerical computing? And is that even needed?

Submission + - SCO vs. IBM Leaks Exposed

Submitted by

Xenographic

on Sunday April 08, 2007 @12:18AM

Xenographic writes: "Remember all the fuss about SCO subpoenaing PJ of Groklaw, where they allege that she's funded by IBM because she once got a publicly available document from a volunteer at the courthouse a little before it hit the Court's website? That's nothing. Groklaw has a story evidence that other materials have been leaked in this case — but they weren't leaked to Groklaw, and they weren't leaked by IBM. Information about the sealed materials in question made its way to Maureen O'Gara, who wrote a story based on inside information, displaying a positively uncanny insight into what SCO was planning, including far more than just the sealed document a SCO lawyer read out loud in open court. Interestingly, several witnesses report that Maureen O'Gara did not even attend that hearing, leaving us to speculate about her source."

Journal Journal: April Fool's Submissions Overboard and Underfunny 2

Journal by evought on Sunday April 01, 2007 @08:08PM

I agree with some of the comments and submissions I have seen today that the yearly stupidity on Slashdot is just plain dumb. Unfortunately, these comments are drowned out. One or two good hoaxes would have made my day. ("Google Paper" was actually quite good). A score of idiotic and unbelievable posts just ruins the site and real news is buried. Having looked through the Firehose at several points today, there have been several serious submissions that have been voted up but have never made

Submission + - RIAA Can't Have Defendant's Son's Desktop

Submitted by

NewYorkCountryLawyer

on Sunday April 01, 2007 @05:48PM

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes: "The RIAA's attempt to get Ms. Lindor's son's desktop computer in UMG v. Lindor has been rejected by the Magistrate Judge. The judge said that the RIAA

"offered little more than speculation to support their request for an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer, based on ... his family relationship to the defendant, the proximity of his house to the defendant's house, and his determined defense of his mother in this case. That is not enough. On the record before me, plaintiffs have provided scant basis to authorize an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer."
Decision by Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. (pdf)"

Submission + - What should I ask Slashdot?

Submitted by

TodMinuit

on Sunday April 01, 2007 @08:46AM

TodMinuit writes: "Dearest Slashdot: Recently, I've wanted to ask Slashdot something. Unable to come up with a question myself, I thought who better to ask what I should ask Slashdot than Slashdot itself? Surely the very people answering the question are quite capable of coming up with one. So, Slashdot, what should I ask Slashdot?"

Submission + - RIAA going after Colleges

Submitted by

Pojut

on Friday March 09, 2007 @01:25PM

Pojut writes: "The Washington Post has an article on the RIAA increasing the number of letters out to colleges and college students around the country demanding that action be taken against the student's that have contributed nearly 1.3 billion downloads a year. In addition, they are asking (once again) that schools block access to services which allow such downloads. In many cases cases, there are threats of litigation.

From the article:

"At schools that don't institute or enforce such policies, some students might be getting mail from the trade group. Last week, the RIAA sent 400 letters to students at 13 colleges warning them that they will either have to pay up for illegally downloading music or face a lawsuit."

URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2007/03/08/AR2007030801895.html"

Submission + - Cattle Produce More Greenhouse Gases Than Cars

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 09, 2007 @01:10PM

An anonymous reader writes: EARTHtimes.org has an article covering a letter that PETA sent to Al Gore. The letter points out that rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases that driving cars. PETA sites a U.N. report to support their case. Will Al Gore put his mouth where his mouth is and become vegetarian?

Submission + - Exxon Launches Science, Math Program

Submitted by BBali on Friday March 09, 2007 @12:51PM

BBali writes: Exxon Mobil Corp. is launching a national program aimed at improving the way math and science are taught in U.S. schools and getting more students to take challenging coursework.

Submission + - Justice Department Says FBI Misused Patriot Act

Submitted by on Friday March 09, 2007 @12:13PM

An anonymous reader writes: In a report just released by the Justice Department, as predicted by many including those on Slashdot, the FBI has misused and abused the PATRIOT Act to illegally gain access to information about people living in the United States.

From the article:
FBI agents sometimes demanded the data without proper authorization, according to a 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. At other times, the audit found, the FBI improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances.

..."we believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses of national security letter authorities," the audit concludes.

Submission + - RIAA "Expert Witness" Deposed by Slashdott

Submitted by Stanistani on Tuesday March 06, 2007 @02:17PM

Stanistani writes: Slashdotter Ray Beckermann NewYorkCountryLawyer yesterday grilled the RIAA's so-called expert witness in the UMG v. Lindor case. Defense Attorney Beckermann invites the Slashdot and Groklaw communities to "see the fruits of their labor."

Submission + - Favorite Force Poll

Submitted by Miphnik on Tuesday March 06, 2007 @01:41PM

Miphnik writes: Favorite Force?

Strong

Weak

Electromagnetic

Gravity

Light Side

Dark Side

Brute

Submission + - when Macs break

Submitted by

cyber-dragon.net

on Monday March 05, 2007 @09:38PM

cyber-dragon.net writes: "I have long been a staunch supporter of Apple and Macs, bordering on but not quite a fan boy. My recent experience with trying to bring them into my department at work has been dissapointing. We had a Mac Pro (the big quad processor monster) die after four days. Ok, it happens, everything else has worked flawlessly. I even delt with the inevitable teasing about the siny new Mac being a lemon.
Well after almost four hours dealing with Apple Care, three hours dropping off and picking up my computer at different stores as per thier instructions trying to get this done quickly... I am beginning to wonder if Apple really wants business customers to rely on these machines. Much as I may dislike Dell like the rest of you... when my Linux box died it was fixed in four hours and I spent maybe 20 mintes of my time setting up the repair. I have spent seven hours of my time so far on this Mac and it still will not power up. Is this just me or have other people lost critical business machines to the depths of Apple Care inefficiency and lack of business level support?"

Submission + - Top 20 Comic Weapons

Submitted by

Ant

on Sunday March 04, 2007 @04:34PM

Ant writes: "Cardboard Monocle has its top 20 list of comic book weapons. It is based on some characteristics: "When compiling the top 20 comic book weapons of all time, one must consider the weapon and not the wielder. We chose weapons that define the characters they belong to. Without their weapons, the characters on this list would lose their identities... We have purposely left out any 'weapons of limitless power.'..." Seen on Neatorama."

Submission + - Slashdot FireHose Beta Sneak Preview

Submitted by

Davak

on Sunday March 04, 2007 @02:42PM

Davak writes: "The old fogey slashdot has announced a new (dare I say, Web 2.0) youthful, digg-like voting system-Firehose. This new code is described as a "collaborative system designed to allow users to assist editors in the story selection process." This review of the Firehose describes the new features and implications of this new system. For example, much of Firehose's AJAX eye candy is built around yahoo's ajax toolkit."

Campaign Sites Full of Vulnerabilities 36

Posted by Hemos on Monday February 26, 2007 @09:50AM from the not-surprising dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Bloggers have been buzzing about the new wave of "Web 2.0" campaign sites, but it seems that a lot of presidential candidates haven't bothered to protect themselves from cross-site scripting attacks. A blogger has found a collection of XSS vulnerabilities including the websites of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Edwards, Mitt Romney, John Cox, Newt Gingrich, Tom Tancredo, the Democratic National Committee, and even a surprise from Whitehouse.gov. Some of the holes are low-risk, but others would allow a user's accounts on the affected website to be compromised. A victim would simply have to click on a maliciously crafted link that appears to lead to the candidate's site."

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