Comment overtime? (Score 1) 997
"if you can't do it with brainpower, you can't do it with manpower - overtime," is axiomatic with me. - Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson
One Variety of Sea Slugs Cuts Out the Energy Middleman 232
dragonturtle69 writes with this story, short on details but interesting: "These sea slugs, Elysia chlorotica, have evolved the ability to gain energy via photosynthesis. Forget about genetic modifications for sports enhancements. I want to be able to never need to eat again — or do I?"
Game Endings Going Out of Style? 190
An article in the Guardian asks whether the focus of modern games has shifted away from having a clear-cut ending and toward indefinite entertainment instead. With the rise of achievements, frequent content updates and open-ended worlds, it seems like publishers and developers are doing everything they can to help this trend. Quoting:
"Particularly before the advent of 'saving,' the completion of even a simple game could take huge amounts of patience, effort and time. The ending, like those last pages of a book, was a key reason why we started playing in the first place. Sure, multiplayer and arcade style games still had their place, but fond 8, 16 and 32-bit memories consist more of completion and satisfaction than particular levels or tricky moments. Over the past few years, however, the idea of a game as simply something to 'finish' has shifted somewhat. For starters, the availability of downloadable content means no story need ever end, as long as the makers think there's a paying audience. Also, the ubiquity of broadband means multiplayer gaming is now the standard, not the exception it once was. There is no real 'finish' to most MMORPGs."
Comment Re:Same problem with the Lego case.... (Score 1) 17
To paraphrase Foghorn Leghorn, "That's a joke, son."
Comment Same problem with the Lego case.... (Score 1) 17
No place to attach a cable lock to the case!
Comment Re:The one crucial point (Score 1) 430
What the heck have you been smoking? Since when does *ANY* corporation care about anything beyond quarterly profits? Ok, sometimes they care about yearly, but other the marketing hype, they don't care beyond 1 year. Yes, companies plan for 5 to 10 years (although has anyone even heard of anyone planning for 50 or the 100 that westlake is suggesting?), but even that is with an eye to yearly revenue (growth).
Cities View Red Light Cameras As Profit Centers 740
Houston 2600 writes "Chicago could rake in 'at least $200 million' a year — and wipe out the entire projected deficit for 2009 — by using its vast network of redlight and surveillance cameras to hunt down uninsured motorists, aldermen were told today. The system pitched to the City Council's Transportation Committee by Michigan-based InsureNet would work only if insurance companies were somehow compelled to report the names and license plates of insured motorists. That's already happening daily in 13 states, but not here."
Court Rules Autism Not Caused By Childhood Vaccine 1056
wiredog writes "From The Washington Post comes word that three special masters have decided that MMR vaccines do not cause autism. 'Special master George Hastings said the parents ... had "been misled by physicians who are guilty, in my view, of gross medical misjudgment." ... "the evidence advanced by the petitioners has fallen far short of demonstrating ... a link."'
Comment Re:Some favorites on my shelf (Score 1) 65
I second the books John suggests, and would add:
High Speed Digital Design: A handbook of Black magic by Howard Johnson and Martin Graham.
