Wow, you are not just talking about two different drugs, but two drugs that are in completely different families. One is a stimulant and one is a depressant. How on earth can you compare them to each other?

Now in regards to your question, the answer is both. Humans differ greatly from one another but, on average, reaction time correlates to blood alcohol content. Tolerance is not part of the equation. We are talking about how a chemical effects signals that propagate through the brain. It's all chemistry - no amount of tolerance can change that. Do a search on scholar.google.com if you don't believe me. I wasn't able to find much with regards to tolerance but those studies which correlate reaction time to blood alcohol content generally result in findings that leave no room for outside factors (like tolerance).

You're so very wrong - at least in regards to alcohol. It is true that people can become accustomed to alcohol but they only appear sober. Their reaction times will be just as bad as someone who rarely drinks. This is why drinking and driving is so dangerous - those who do it really believe it does not impact their driving. And they are right, so long as nothing out of the ordinary happens. The problem is it severely limits what one perceives and how one reacts in an emergency situation.

Try having a few beer and then playing your favourite fps. Think of it as a science experiment - and a good excuse to have a few beer. Now compare your scores with and without alcohol and report your findings...

It's not for nothing. Stupid and greedy? Yes, but not for nothing.

By unlisting a subscriber they are incurring the opportunity cost of selling that subscriber's information. Yes it sounds stupid and only an economist would understand, but bean counters will take this into account. What they don't take into account is the cost of pissing off a large part of your customer base. I suppose with everyone signed up with long term contracts they don't have to worry able a mass exodus of customers.

There were plenty of tablets out before the iPad - I don't think anyone is contesting this fact. Apple is suing Samsung for creating products that are so similar to those made by Apple that a large percentage of customers can not tell them apart.

In regards to the Touch Book, it differs from an iPad in many ways. From looking at the photos, it appears to be designed for use with a landscape orientation. It lacks a home button centred on the bottom border. The screen is inset from the border where the iPad has a flat seamless surface. Then there is the software that is obviously very different in both appearance and function. Do I have to mention the keyboard? There is no way this invalidates the Apple design patents. Despite what people here like to claim, the patent is more specific then a rectangle with rounded corners.

All of these patents are just plain stupid - but they serve a purpose. A company must be able to protect their designs from those who would copy them. Without these protections there would be far less innovation. With regards to Samsung, I don't feel sorry for them. Plenty of great tablet designs have come out that are not copies of an iPad. Microsoft has their new tablet and HP had (unfortunately, past tense) their WebOS tablet. Blackberry makes a non-infringing tablet as do many manufacturers of Android based tablets. It is easy to not copy Apple, I don't see why Samsung went out of their way to be an Apple clone.

As a developer, I find it important to ask the question "Why?". Tasks are performed to solve problems. Those who contract out tasks (the employer) understand the problem but typically lack the expert knowledge required to devise the best possible solution. The employer can devise a solution, break it into tasks, and contract out those tasks; but results are typically less then optimal.

What developers should to is to try to understand the underlying problem so their expert knowledge can assist in designing an optimal solution. So when one is asked "Can you do this?" they should reply with "Probably, but why is it required?". Depending on the answer the correct response will probably be along the lines of "Yes, but there is a better way to solve that problem".

For example, a person might go into a store and ask a clerk for an iPad. A good clerk would politely ask why they want an iPad. If the customer was looking for a highly mobile device for reasons .... then a 7" Android tablet might be better. In this example the customer lacks expert knowledge regarding tablet devices and their proposed solution was less then optimal. By understanding the underlying problem, the clerk is able to recommend the most appropriate device. It is the same for developers - take the time to understand the problem if you want the customer to be happy.

Not really. When every new PC comes with a copy of Windows there is no reason to go with ReactOS. The additional license costs for a corporate Windows Pro upgrade are minimal. If one wanted an alternative OS they would just go with Linux.

So on the plus side you save a little money for each PC but you do so at the risk of software compatibility/support, possible legal action from Microsoft, and increased labour costs as now the IT people have to work with more then 1 OS. Small gain, large risk - that's why it won't happen.

They're worried because their web server can't handle much traffic. This filters the prospective suckers based on mental ability ensuring that only those deemed worthy will apply.

I think you're ignoring a few things. Firstly, it is expensive to have people running around stealing things because it is the only way they can survive. It is beneficial to everyone, even those who are taxed, to have taxes collected to ensure a certain level of security. Welfare is less costly than prisons and orders of magnitude less costly than private security or the lost productivity resulting from no security. People are OK with military spending but not SS? Hard to believe, SS spending makes you much safer.

Second, is America not owned by the people? When natural resources are extracted should the people not receive a part of those resources? The resources are not free as individuals are not allowed to take them - they must be purchased from the government - ie, the people. Should only the rich and employed receive a portion of these profits? People are entitled to certain things because America is owned by the people, not the rich.

I hate welfare and am all for getting people off their lazy asses. But it is a necessary evil as the alternative is far worse.

Correction here, poor definition for "brute force", other described it better. Should be described as a search algorithm that tries all possible valid solutions - heuristics are allowed.

There are ~ 9^39 ways that a sudoku board can be filled in - much less then 9^81. Regarding "brute force" algorithms, I would define them as algorithms that attempt every possible option without the use of heuristics. This does not imply they are stupid and check possibilities that can not exist, which would be 9^81, just that they do not try the most likely solution first.

No, being locked down does not have to limit their usefulness. It does limit their flexibility, but usefulness is something else entirely. If being locked down simplifies the things they want to do then the usefulness has increased by being locked down. Please remember that usefulness is determined by the user and not everyone is like you.

Who cares about educating students about technology. It is just a tool - much like a calculator. They don't need to understand what's going on - they shouldn't even have to think about it. If they do then it's a poor tool.

No, it is not a personal computer - it is a tool. It might share components with a PC but then so do some toasters.

The real question should be is this a useful tool for education. Calculators are another tool used in schools right now. Personally, I don't think this is a good thing. Are tablets a good thing? Time will tell.

Apple includes a compilation of BSD and GNU tools. For example, tar is the BSD version where Linux has the GNU version. The differences are minor but real. The solution, if you are one of the few people that actually care, is to install MacPorts and let it install and update the GNU versions for you.

I'm afraid not. Protests are far more effective for getting changes enacted. Revolts, like we saw in the middle east last year, can produce change but they also result in many undesirable consequences. They are simply too destructive.

If you could mobilize a couple million people to march on Washington every weekend for a couple of months - the TSA would be no more. The problem is that most Americans want the TSA - they make them feel safe. Personally, I think they're stupid but that doesn't change the fact that the TSA are here because the American people want them. Want to get rid of the TSA - educate the population. These videos will go further towards getting rid of the TSA than anything the author could do with a gun.

So if your firearm is stolen, report it to the police. You should do this regardless.

Two things here. First, you're paranoid. Second, you should always pick up your brass.

No different then transferring vehicle ownership - not a big deal.

The reason why Thunderbolt is so fast is that it doesn't have to worry about cable length. What you're talking about has already been done, it's called USB and is well suited for many applications. But the throughput on USB will never reach that of Thunderbolt. Add the availability of optical cables and Thunderbolt becomes even more impressive.