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Comment Re:Fantasy Leagues? (Score 1) 142

Actually, Fifa is currently running a World Cup fantasy league, which features rather diverse scoring system for individual players. Players are awarded points for e.g. offensive and defensive action, scoring, and keeping a clean sheet. The scoring is also dependent on player's position on the field. It's not a perfect system, but works okay. IMHO, the system favours offensive wing backs, since they're often active in the offense, but are also egligible for the large bonus for shutting out the opponent. Of course, there are a limited number of players in the world who can successfully contribute both offensively and defensively at the wing. It's not an easy position to play.

Comment Re:Um ... (Score 4, Insightful) 142

Any football fan will tell you that when two teams play AMAZINGLY well the result will be more like 5-5 rather than 0-0.

I strongly disagree. There is much more than offense to consider in a good game of football. If the game results 5-5 it is rather clear that both defenses have failed at their job. Even a game ending 0-0 can be extremely interesting to watch for a football connoisseur. Football is not just about making goals, it's also about not conceding them.

GNU is Not Unix

Can Employer Usurp Copyright On GPL-Derived Work? 504

An anonymous reader writes "I am a recent graduate, and I've been working on my own on a project that uses GPL-licensed libraries. Later a university department hired me, on a part-time basis, to develop this project into a solution that they needed. The project's size increased over time and soliciting help from the open source community seemed like the obvious thing to do. However, when I suggested this, my boss was not interested, and it was made clear to me that the department's position was that copyright of the whole thing belonged to them. Indeed, by default work created for an employer belongs to the employer, so I may have gotten myself in the same trap discussed here years ago. Even though I want to release my code to the public I don't know whether I have the legal right to do so. I did start the project on my own. And, since no written or verbal agreement was ever made to transfer copyright over to my employer, I question whether they can claim that they now own the extended version of the project. Also, the whole project relies on GPL libraries, and without those libraries it would be useless. Can they still claim copyright and prevent me from publishing the source code even though it is derived from GPL software?" Some early commenters on the submission pointed out that it matters whether the libraries were licensed under the LGPL vs. the GPL.

Comment Re:Ultimate accountability (Score 1) 179

There's (at least) one problem in home voting: How do you make sure that the voter won't be pressured or bought when voting? Of course, in traditional systems there may be some pressure on the voter, but she will always be alone when casting the vote - no one can verify whether she cast the vote as agreed. In the Estonian model this is taken care of by allowing the voter to cast multiple votes, the latest of which will stand. She has also an option to cast a paper vote during preliminary voting period, which will negate the votes cast via Internet. It's not a perfect solution, but a solution nevertheless.

Comment Re:850 meters??? (Score 1) 286

Yes, I wasn't referring to the Fox article, but to the OP, stating:

The Hoover Dam no longer holds the title of the world's widest dam.

Technically, this statement is correct too. It was once the widest dam in the world, but is no longer. However, every normal person would understand the post so, that this dam made by beavers has claimed the title from Hoover. And that clearly isn't the case.

Comment Re:850 meters??? (Score 3, Informative) 286

Actually, they discuss length in the news article:

The incredible woodland construction is a staggering 2,790 feet in length -- more than half a mile long.

The OP is the one who has confused length and width. And in every case, claiming that Hoover Dam is the largest dam in the world by any measure is just plain wrong.

Submission + - Nokia Releases Qt 4.6 (nokia.com) 2

Lawand writes: Nokia today released Qt 4.6, the latest version of the cross-platform application and UI framework. Featuring new platform support, powerful new graphical capabilities and support for multi-touch and gestures, and this is the first release to include significant code contributed from the community
This release introduces support for the Symbian platform with integration for the S60 framework, expanding the addressable market for Qt applications by over 130 million Symbian devices.

Earth

Geek Travel To London From the US — Tips? 1095

Audrey23 writes "I am traveling to London from Washington state for two weeks in December for pleasure (use-it-or-lose-it vacation scenario) and was wondering if I should bother bringing my laptop. I know that I would have to change the region code on my wireless amongst other things and the power cord would have to be changed for a UK outlet. Would I be better off not bringing my laptop and just using Internet kiosks (do they exist in London?) or would having my laptop be a better choice to keep in touch, off-load my digital images etc? I plan on hitting the British Museum but was wondering what geeky things to do that are in London that might be worth going to and any tips hints on overseas travel for geeks? I travel quite a bit in the states but this will be my first trip overseas and want to make the best of my stay in merry old England. What words of advice do you travel seasoned geeks have for me?"

Comment Closed source in home automation != good (Score 1) 409

I wouldn't want to deploy an automation system which is dependant on Microsoft - or any other proprietary vendor - into my home.

Buildings (and their automation systems) have lifespan of tens of years, not just until the next major OS upgrade. Of course, automation systems do not (hopefully) need to be upgraded every other week, but open source at least gives you the possibility to keep your system upgraded long after the closed source vendors have decided to drop support for your system.

Submission + - Swiss Experimenter Breeds Swarm Intelligence (hplusmagazine.com)

destinyland writes: Researchers simulated evolution with multiple generations of food-seeking robots in a new study of artificial swarm intelligence. "Under some conditions, sophisticated communication evolved," says one researcher. And in a more recent study, the swarms of bots didn't just evolve cooperative strategies — they also evolved the ability to deceive. ("Forget zombies," joked one commenter. "This is the real threat.") "The study of artificial swarm intelligence provides insight into the nature of intelligence in general, and offers an interesting perspective on the nature of Darwinian selection, competition, and cooperation." And there's also some cool video of the bots in action.
Cellphones

Nokia Sues Apple For Patent Infringement In iPhone 367

AVee writes "Engadget (amongst many others) reports that Nokia is suing Apple because the iPhone infringes on 10 Nokia patents related to GSM, UTMS and WiFi. While the press release doesn't contain much detail, it does state that Apple didn't agree to 'appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property,' which sounds like there have been negotiations about those patents."

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