This is software being used by the NSA. It is much better in their opinion to detect espionage than prevent it.

If it is being done by a government employee, they can "execute" a "termination" of employment.

It's actually a bit more convoluted:

Company A doesn't want Consumer 1 to use technology developed by Company B (as that could potentially result in fewer profits).

This is more along the lines of a hypothetical case of Microsoft preventing Oracle from being installed on a Windows server if Microsoft controlled the software distribution channel.

Apple should not be allowed to control what software is put on the device after it is sold to the consumer (just as Apple should have no say if someone wants to remove OSX from a Mac and install Ubuntu instead)

And with Windows, an application written for the 64-bit architecture won't run on a 32-bit processor, and an application that requires DirectX 11 won't work on hardware that doesn't support it. If you want to use the newer features, you have to target the newer platform. It's an age-old developer's conundrum... Should I target the new features or the wider audience?

You can argue that you can always upgrade the video card, but what if it's a laptop? What if it's a Dell Optiplex GX240 with a half-height AGP slot (I have one of those)?

You could always get a new phone too...

I guess I live in the last century. My phone needs to do two things: make/receive phone calls and send/receive SMS messages. I own a computer to check email, browse the internet, and check my bank accounts (though I can call into the bank's IVR for that when I'm not at the computer). I have a separate portable device for music and video, which also has WiFi and can surf the internet and has Flash 9 support (which, admittedly, is less supported every day)

Of course, even though my phone has bluetooth, I don't own a "plastic cockroach" so even though I'm not on AT&T, I couldn't talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time anyway with the phone to my ear.

How about the closed-source nVidia driver... which last time I checked would pretty much work on any arbitrary distribution (as long as you have at least the versions of the packages it requires or later). You can't use Windows 7 drivers on Windows 2000 either, so it doesn't count to try throwing it at an ancient version of a distribution. The 32-bit Adobe Flash 10 plugin for Firefox on x86 Linux is closed-source if I'm not mistaken and it doesn't have different versions for different distros either.

Actually, the issue is not one of licensing. The issue is that a minor product of one company is at risk of being abandoned due to the purchase of the company by another whose major product is a competitor. That said, the GPL has it's place. It is good for making the world a better place, but it is bad for business. If one could feed a family on sunshine and rainbows, the GPL would be good in most cases.

To put in plainly, if Microsoft released Windows under the GPL, anyone who legally acquired a copy of Windows could then take the source code, make trivial modifications, and redistribute it, and Microsoft would not see a dime from any of that. Why would anyone in their right mind use a license that undermines their business? (disregarding any argument that Windows would be made better as a result)

Note: This post was made from a computer running Ubuntu

Actually, the corp I belong to in EVE Online had a memorial to a former member who had died in real life (December 2007). He was notorious for screwing around, so in his memory, a group of about 200 people got themselves CONCORDed.

RIP xxthaproducerxx

I only use TigerDirect. I have dealt with their customer service as well, and it was actually very pleasant.

Why would a pay more at NewEgg and still wait longer to get the product? (Even ground shipping is next day from TigerDirect for me)

I've never had a computer that percussive maintenance actually worked on, but I have had a TV that did respond to that (old Zenith console TV complete with wood cabinet).

Eventually, that got really old with the picture and sound going out every few minutes.

It's a Cap Recharger (probably meta 4).

3x Modulated Strip Miner II
1x Gistii B-type Shield Booster, 1x Invulnerability Field II, rest cap rechargers (or leave one out for a rock scanner. You should have plenty of cap.)
2x Mining Laser Upgrade II

(Alternately, if you are Mr. Moneybags, you can opt for a Pithii B-type which is just as good as a Gistii A-type)

This setup can and will tank cruiser rats, though not necessarily while you are actively mining (yes, you may need to shut the lasers off while you take care of the rats). Build up your drone skills. A set of Hammerhead II's will easily chew through rats.

If you have no clear record as to how you acquired the excess funding, then you are not entitled to use it. If money is ACH'd into your checking account due to a transposition of digits, you do not get to spend the money as you see fit. It is your responsibility to contact your financial institution to notify them of the error. If you spend the money in bad faith (knowing that you should not have received it), the police will come knocking when it is discovered.

Considering that there are a few people that posted an original comment to this story that still do not have that achievement, I'm going to guess that it's not the case. I still don't know what the real answer is, though I have that achievement.

(Of course, I'm now trying to get the achievement for posting in an April Fools Day story)

...and every day, the world gets one step closer to being able to do just that... reference

I'd rather have Thin Mints. :)

For the most part, the answers have never really been secret. It's just been a matter of knowing what questions to ask.

Whereas with the FOIA, you have to request the information you want, this is meant to be openly available to all.