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Comment Re:Panda Cloud (Score 1) 896

Interesting, but Panda Software is linked to Scientology.

I'm not sure it's a good idea to let them send packets from your computer...

Wow, I didn't know that. I'm curious why this isn't mentioned in the wikipedia article I linked or the one specifically dealing with Panda Security.

I may have to think a bit more on this software... gah, what a way to tarnish an otherwise good idea!

Does anyone know if there is there any evidence out there to support that the software itself may do more than it's advertised AV protection?

Comment Re:Nice try with ACID3, Microsoft (Score 1) 473

Just to put things in perspective:

  • Firefox 3.6: 92/100
  • Internet Explorer 8: 12 (20 after pause)

My test on Firefox actually stuttered a bit but that could be resource load on my computer. Of course, Firefox's 92/100 is still a fail according to Acid3.

When you consider IE8's score I'd say that they're making good progress.

Comment Re:I'm curious if it is x86. (Score 1) 348

I'd be interested in seeing if it could run Windows 7 as well. I could probably make due with OSX if it ran the full Office 2007 suite (including OneNote).

I've been keeping my eye on tablet technology lately to see if it could be a viable solution for a higher ed classroom or mobile lab. From what I've seen of OneNote, it could be huge for students if it were running on a really nice multi-touch device.. preferably one with an optional stilus. I've looked at the Dell tablets, and while they're nice, they're more of a laptop with a touchscreen (granted, the screen can lay down to cover the keyboard and make a full tablet) and are pretty expensive.

Even if the iPad would be horrible for this scenario, I'm hoping it may encourage some more advances in the tablet market.

Comment We certainly don't need to go back to the moon (Score 1) 920

Right, because, you know, there aren't any resources up there or low gravity that could make it an interesting launch site for larger/long term space exploration vehicles.

Of course I've heard people talk about getting the same possibilities out of asteroid mining so maybe we'll head that route instead?

Comment Re:Rules 1 through 7 of using a Cell Phone (Score 1) 585

"Do not use your cell phone while driving"

Or get a good Bluetooth headset and a cell phone with voice control.

My old AT&T tilt worked wonders for this when combined with a good headset (using a Plantronics Voyager 510). Voice dialing could be initiated by taking one hand off the wheel for just a few seconds and I never had to take my eyes off the road.. same thing for hanging up. Answering the phone was even easier.

Unfortunately, my iPhone 3G is a step backwards in some ways, including the lack of voice dialing without needing to pull out the phone.

Of course, this does not help the people who lose focus while talking on a cell phone. I'm not sure how this is any different than talking to someone in the car but I've definitely seen people who have this problem.

Comment Re:where does the 2023 date come from? (Score 2, Insightful) 290

The rich people used their resources and talents to acquire wealth whereas the poor did nothing to deserve the free money.

I'm a bit confused... how are an author's children, grand-children, and great grand-children any more deserving of this "free money"? They didn't write the book or use their talents to acquire this wealth, one of their ancestor's did.

I do agree an author needs to get paid, otherwise what is to encourage them to write more beyond their personal enjoyment of doing so? However, current copyright is extreme and, if big business has their way, will eventually be extended to infinity and the public domain will die. It is VERY possible to lose great works of culture if a company decides they want to spike the price of a certain work by stopping it's production for x amount of years.

I still think a set duration is best. Anywhere from 12 to 20 years sounds reasonable to me and gives the creator plenty of time to not only earn money from their work but also start on their next project. If they die during the copyright of a work then it should pass on to their estate but it should still expire at the end of it's allotted time.

Comment Re:Capitalism (Score 1) 93

This product is a reason why I love capitalism. New and cool stuff all the time. I hope they don't do anything anti-market to this product, like patenting it.

Yes, until they take the crud they absorbed and bury it underground right on top of the water table, because that ends up being the cheapest way to dispose of it for one reason or another.

Now that I think of it, that would also in turn increase demand for their product.. its like having their cake and eating it over and over and over!

Joking aside, it does seem interesting if it actually pans out to be a real product.

Comment Re:Sounds familiar (Score 1) 565

The armed forces protect everyone, jointly. Healthcare would apply to everyone, severally.

Big difference.

I get your point but I'm not really sure on that. Are the armed forces currently really protecting me in the Middle East right now? I know the politicians and the media say they are, and really I can't know if, had they not gone, if another 9/11 would have happened. There is also the humanitarian aspects to consider which don't really effect/protect me directly. Still though, sometimes I can't help but think the armed forces aren't protecting government/corporate interests more than mine. Not on an individual basis, mind you.. many join precisely to protect the freedoms of everyone... but on an organizational level.

Perhaps your ilk should move to a country where your socialist designs are already in effect, instead of trying to change our carefully designed governmental system outside the bounds of its authority.

I can't help but think I live in a different U.S. than you do.

Comment Re:Or parents... (Score 1) 355

There is nothing in this article that states that these things must be implimented everywhere.

They never said "here are five steps for operators of virtual worlds built for and targetting kids to take in order to...". Instead they said:

The Commission recommended five steps for virtual world operators to take in order to limit the exposure of kids to explicit content

The above quote leads me to believe this is their recommendation for all virtual world operators. My belief is further backed up by their researching many virtual world types, many of which, I'm fairly certain, are not targeted towards children.

I am a parent. And $#!@$ you for suggesting that it is lazy of me to expect Build-A-Bear to effectively prevent pedophiles from harassing my daughter on line

I specifically said "a good chunk" and not "all" because I realize not every parent is like this. Indeed, the ones that are may be in the minority, albeit a vocal one that is out there lobbying. There are also often other factors including the need for both parents to work so much these days just to make ends meet (which is a separate issue).

I was not trying to imply that you specifically or anyone else here necessarily fell into this group of parents I'm referring too.

Comment Re:Or parents... (Score 5, Insightful) 355

Mod parent up.. beat me to the punch.

Parents should be the one who ultimately decide whether their kids are ready to join online worlds and, if they're not, prevent them from doing so.

We as a people should not need a government organization dictating what our children should or should not be exposed too. I realize it's politically incorrect to blame voting parents for anything these days but there is no government rules that will replace a good parenting. Furthermore, I'm starting to realize a good chunk of those pushing for things like this are parents who really don't want to put in the work to raise their children and instead would prefer the government or schools do it for them.

Comment Re:Nothing to see here, move on (Score 5, Insightful) 402

Valid point and it's a tricky argument. Obviously it is nice to be able to take care of your family in the event of a tragic situation occurring.

How about the estate gets the copyright for the duration of the original copyright? Lets use the 14 year copyright the GP mentioned.. if the artist dies ant there are still 9 years left on the copyright then the estate could retain the copyright for 9 years. If there is only 5 months left then the estate only gets the remaining 5 months.

This way, the copyright is honored to it's entirety and the estate benefits, assuming the copyright hasn't expired already. True, it would suck if the copyright only had a month left on it and the holder died and didn't leave much for his/her estate but that could be chalked up to bad planning (for emergencies) as the copyright has already payed out as much as it was ever going to.

Much of anything more, I'm afraid, could be easily abused (as it has been already). We could use the argument that there should be an extension so the family can continue being supported... but then what if a corporation gets the copyright.. just think of all the people working at the corporation and their families....

Copyright should not be a retirement plan.. not for the artist and not for their estates or corporations.

Comment Bad Expectation (Score 2, Insightful) 383

I am watching CNN because I expect them to gather the news

That is his first problem right there. They don't gather news, they gather entertainment and they present that entertainment with whatever spin they feel will best cause the effect they're looking for whether that be sympathy, outrage, shock, etc.

Don't get me wrong either, I'm not saying CNN is the only one like this and this isn't a political viewpoint where I'm categorizing news media into good, bad, left, or right. I'm saying all "news" programs are like this and have been this way for a while.

As for the public interaction via Twitter I don't see how that is a bad thing. In fact I think its a great way for them to keep in contact with their audience, live, and get the pulse of the public. I think it's great that someone at CNN is at least making an attempt at keeping up with some current technology trends and have found a way to use it as a possibly useful communication tool.

Comment Standard operationg procedure? (Score 2, Insightful) 423

It seems like I've read previously somewhere a case where the record industry had claimed copyright on something they didn't actually own.

I'm starting to wonder if they don't train their watchdogs to send out DMCA notices for any music they see online thinking it's better to risk a simple apology later if they don't own it than it is to leave potentially copyright infringing music online.

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