I read recently (i think it was on the naked scientist) that these large masses of ice have a small gravitational field. They pull water close to them. When the ice bergs break up, they lose mass and gravity. The article was suggesting that water levels will rise because the water that was pulled by the icebergs will now be in the ocean.

"By 2050 nearly 80% of the worldâ(TM)s population will reside in urban centers, and 109 hectares of arable land will be needed to feed them."

Assuming this quote is accurate, then that means we'll have plenty of land to grow crops on (because not as many people live in rural areas).

I'm tired of the "easy enough even old people/my parents can use it" statement -- in any context.

My dad's 66 now and he introduced me, a young person, to computers when I was growing up. He was the one that fixed the computers in my house. My grandfather, back in the early 80s, bought a computer and was very competent with it.

Neither my dad or grandfather were engineers or programmers - they were just smart and curious. Using a computer doesn't have anything to do with age -- its not the domain of the young.

"Funny, I switched to Mac to get away from Vista."

Good for you. I am glad you paid more for a machine with the same parts found in a windows pc. Oh yeah, and windows can run more programs too. So you paid more for something less usable.

"Most of your Linux info is fud and spin"

It is not spin or fud. It is the truth. It is hard to setup word and itunes in linux -- programs I need as well as many others. Maybe you're really smart and its easy for you.

"'Forcing customers to go someplace they don't want to go by raising prices is a Christmas present for Apple and those that are positioning Linux on the desktop.'""

I've heard this argument before but it just doesn't make sense. Here's why:

I am a computer user that uses windows. I can buy a machine with windows, a good one, for $500 or less. But its got, vista, I don't like vista. So what do most slashdotters think will happen next?

1) abandon windows and buy a mac that costs twice as much as a windows pc
2) abandon windows and buy a cheaper pc running linux
3) user buys vista machine for $500

I would say a normal rational shopper would go with number 3.

Here's why 1 wouldn't be an option.
It is irrational to pay twice as much for a computer that does basically the same thing and has a much different interface.

Here's why 2 wouldn't be an option.
The shopper is less likely to find a computer running linux for sale in a store or online, if they weren't specifically shopping for a linux pc. In addition, if they knew anything about linux they would realize it can't run word, internet explorer, itunes or most of the other programs they want without a high level of expertise.

Here's why 3 would be the choice:
Its available. Vista is easier to transition to if you are already familiar with windows xp. The price is cheaper than mac. You can run most of your programs you want on it.

"confiscating the student's property for no valid reason"

Didn't your teacher ever take up your toys? In my school district, kids are not suppose to bring toys (or linux/windows/software cds) to school. She didn't have to take it up but she's with in her rights. Remember kids are not adults. They do NOT have the same rights as Adults.