So much of the news that has mattered to me over the last 13 years has come first from slashdot. Stuff relevant to my career, to my health, to my views on public policy. I am very grateful for the virtual space you and your friends carved out that has made this discussion forum possible. All the best wishes on whatever is next for you!

You must be new here.

[BZZZZzzzzzzzt!] GAaaaaaaaaaAAaAaaAAh!

Inexplicably, no witty comment comes to mind.

Could they be any less specific?

It's tempting to frame this as a student freedom issue only, but I certainly find myself inadvertently distracted when others around me surf during meetings. I've gone so far as to move, as discreetly as possible (like during a break), when faced with this situation. It's not like a whole class of students could do that. Perhaps they could establish a row of seats at the back for laptop users?

Zuckerberg made it clear that this service is the result of product research. He said that young people consistently told him email was "too slow." When he dug into their answer they didn't mean slow as in "it takes too long to get to you", they meant they didn't want to have to log into yet another application to read their emails. Among that demographic, a sizable number don't even use a separate email account. They just use SMS on phones and Facebook (either chat or messaging) to communicate. So the main benefits he and "Bozz", his Director of Engineering touted was the reduced friction involved in being able to quickly message through the app you're probably already logged into with the knowledge that your message will get through to the recipient whether or not they use Facebook.

Formerly "Mars", I dub thee "New Australia"!

Please don't do that. Those are the best condoms I've ever tried!

...boy are those cobalt atoms gonna be pissed off once they realize they've been tricked. I wouldn't want to be someone's data around them when that happens.

Boo Hoo Hoo, We made some great software and nobody will help us!

Why does an open source developer write software? Riches? Fame? To get laid?

The best open source software out there is created by people who need to solve problems they themselves have. There is no "should". Nobody "should" do anything. Put your code out there for the love of it or go home.

...the censors in totalitarian regimes don't keep up with these kinds of developments.

Oh, wait...

"daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County Down by the Green River where Paradise lay Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away"

You seem to not be in on the secret that we're all in this thing (life) together. We have all played the fool, every last one of us, and each of us has his moments of triumph and insight.

Power is never finally "given" to anyone. Occasionally, however, it is taken back by its rightful owners.