bigokro - Slashdot User

Battlestar Galactica Gets Spinoff Prequel Series 297

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday December 03, 2008 @01:08PM from the frak-here-comes-more-fraking dept.

It was recently announced that sci-fi remake series Battlestar Galactica is getting a whole new spinoff prequel series called "Caprica." Signed on for twenty hours worth of finished product, including a two-hour pilot, the new series is to be set 50 years prior to Battlestar Galactica, and will focus on two rival families, the Graystones and the Adamas. "Enmeshed in the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence and robotics that will eventually lead to the creation of the Cylons, the two houses go toe-to-toe blending action with corporate conspiracy and sexual politics. 'Caprica' will deliver all of the passion, intrigue, political backbiting and family conflict in television's first science fiction family saga."

Aussies Hit the Streets Over Gov't Internet Filters 224

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday December 03, 2008 @10:43AM from the thinking-of-the-children dept.

mask.of.sanity writes "Outraged aussies will hold simultaneous protests across Australia in opposition to the government's plans for mandatory ISP internet content filtering. The plan will introduce nation-wide filtered internet using blacklists operated by a government agency, away from public scrutiny. Politicians and ISPs will join protesters in the streets to voice their opposition to the government's plan, which has ploughed ahead, despite intense criticism that the technology will crippled internet speeds and infringe on free speech. Opponents said the most accurate filter chosen by the government will incorrectly block up to 10,000 Web pages out of 1 million."

Visual Hallucinations Are a Normal Grief Reaction 550

Posted by kdawson on Wednesday December 03, 2008 @09:13AM from the who-goes-there dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Vaughn Bell has written an interesting essay at Scientific American about grief hallucinations. This phenomenon is a normal reaction to bereavement that is rarely discussed, although researchers now know that hallucinations are more likely during times of stress. Mourning seems to be a time when hallucinations are particularly common, to the point where feeling the presence of the deceased is the norm rather than the exception. A study by Agneta Grimby at the University of Goteborg found that over 80 percent of elderly people experience hallucinations associated with their dead partner one month after bereavement, as if their perception had yet to catch up with the knowledge of their beloved's passing. It's not unusual for people who have lost a partner to clearly see or hear the person about the house, and sometimes even converse with them at length. 'Despite the fact that hallucinations are one of the most common reactions to loss, they have barely been investigated and we know little more about them. Like sorrow itself, we seem a little uncomfortable with it, unwilling to broach the subject,' writes Bell. 'We often fall back on the cultural catch all of the "ghost" while the reality is, in many ways, more profound.' "

Guitarist Hopes To Play Again With The Help of Bionic Hand 72

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday December 03, 2008 @01:55AM from the we'll-rebuild-him dept.

Dorian Cox, the 27-year-old guitarist of the indie band The Long Blondes, thought his guitar playing days were over after he suffered a stroke. He now has a glimmer of hope thanks to some neurological physiotherapy which includes a cutting-edge piece of medical technology. The SaeboFlex helps patients by supporting their wrists and helping them grasp and release objects. "It's a fantastic service, it's helping tremendously and I think it can work wonders for me and others — it's almost like a gym for my hand. I know things might never be the same again and nobody can give me a definite answer about whether I'll play guitar again but I'm getting back on track with their help," Mr. Cox said. This thing looks really cool, and I'm sure many people will benefit from it, though I can't help but wonder if they make a model that lets you shoot your fist at an enemy.

"FOSS Business Model Broken" — Former OSDL CEO 412

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday December 02, 2008 @09:27PM from the who-needs-support-anyway dept.

liraz writes "Stuart Cohen, former CEO of Open Source Development Labs, has written an op-ed on BusinessWeek claiming that the traditional open source business model, which relies solely on support and service revenue streams, is failing to meet the expectations of investors. He discusses the 'great paradox' of the FOSS business model, saying: 'For anyone who hasn't been paying attention to the software industry lately, I have some bad news. The open source business model is broken. Open source code is generally great code, not requiring much support. So open source companies that rely on support and service alone are not long for this world.' Cohen goes on to outline the beginnings of a business model that can work for FOSS going forward."

Comment Re:Sorry, there is nowhere for you to go... (Score 1) 2349

by bigokro on Wednesday October 25, 2006 @02:47PM (#16582526) Attached to: If Not America, Then Where?

2) Countries which hate America (eg: Middle East, France and most of Europe, Brazil, even Canada....). They dont want you, and will make your life miserable.

You can definitely leave Brazil off that list. The people here are extremely friendly, even to foolish gringos like myself. Yes, that's right! I'm a living, breathing American who has outsourced himself to Brazil! And I must say, it's going very well. I'm working as a Java architect for a small American technology company, and loving it.

Taxes, or at least income taxes, are relatively low (27%), especially if you work as an independent consultant (~11%). On the other hand, sales and VAT-like taxes are so high, that prices for imports (which is anything high-tech, or just tech) are doubled... and the fact that your money is worth only half makes it absurd.

All in all, I'd say that I'm just a little worse off here financially than I was in the states. But I did it all wrong - I moved here first, and then got a job. The real trick is to get a job in the states, then convince them to send you here with an "international compensation package"!

Anyway, no complaints here - Rio is all the compensation I need.

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