This kind of study really annoys me. From the article:

>The researchers think the learning problems result from the drop in after-school actives with educational value.

In other words, it isn't actually video games that are the problem, but the kids doing less "after-school actives with educational value" - i.e. this is an issue for the parents.

I let my six year old son play his Playstation for some hours at the weekend, on the condition that every night he reads to me. Learning to read is hard work, using the Playstation to motivate him actually works really well. My son is learning to read much quicker than many of his classmates, thanks to the Playstation...

"I am going to give a bar of chocolate to your brother if you don't come out, and to you if you do"...

It was a joke.

What the researchers didn't know was that this was an experiment in itself. The question the experiment aimed to answer was "Do researchers have too much free time, and do they waste time which is paid for using taxpayers money?"

The full paper will be published in Scientific America once it has completed peer review.

It probably is some windows worm or something written by a script-kiddie. But to admit that would be to embarrassing, so they make it out to be a big deal.

Like that poor Brit who was looking for info. about UFOs.

Actually it was britneynude.exe

Thanks for that. Good ideas. I think I might get some of that for myself...

Is it just me or are office apps becoming increasingly unimportant.

Ten years ago I spent most of my computing time in some kind of office app. Now I rarely use them. And I receive fewer office documents via email.

Perhaps the office app is just dying? Are they just transition applications between a paper based office and a paperless one anyway?

But do you really think that the leaders of the other first world and developing countries are not the same kind of power-hungry, lying, cheating politicians, and that they will not work with others of the same ilk to get more power at your expense?

Actually, no I don't. And it is depressing that this kind of attitude is so prevalent in the USA today.

Mr Anonymous,

ok, are you are seriously sourcing your below-the-belt comments from Slashdot? Have you checked 4chan? You might find some there too.

With regards to your second comment, that is a different kind of respect, and you know it. I am specifically referring to respect as a figure of authority.

at least by my count, below-the-belt attacks were at an all time high.

Can you elaborate? What do you consider to be "below-the-belt"? People mocking her when she said stupid things? People pointing out her lack of experience and knowledge? People laughing at her un-presidential mannerisms and speech?

Some people command respect. Palin isn't one of them.

While I haven't tried Nautilus yet, I don't feel like gratifying this flamer with a response to his FUD, but I'll indulge him briefly: why does he want Gnome to work like Windows? Registry key? This article is of a piece with the recent campaign ads, on both sides. Unfortunately, people are getting their "facts" about the candidates from their opponents' (heavily spun) ads. I hope people in corporate America will look past Petreley's bogus line and give Gnome a try so they can judge it on its own merits.