blk96gt - Slashdot User

Outer Space has a Smell 274

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 13, 2008 @11:16AM from the anosmia-sucks-in-space-too dept.

repapetilto writes "ISS Science Officer Don Pettit reports in his journal that outer space gives off a smell best described as "a rather pleasant sweet metallic sensation." Kind of odd considering smell is supposed to be due to volatilized chemical compounds."

US Attorney General Questions Habeas Corpus 1151

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday January 23, 2007 @09:33PM from the exact-words dept.

spiedrazer writes "In yet another attempt to create legitimacy for the Bush Administration's many questionable legal practices, US attorney General Alberto Gonzales actually had the audacity to argue before a Congressional committee that the US Constitution doesn't explicitly bestow habeas corpus rights on US citizens. In his view it merely says when the so-called Great Writ can be suspended, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the rights are granted. The Attorney General was being questioned by Sen. Arlen Specter at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Jan. 18. THe MSM are not covering this story but Colbert is (click on the fourth video down, 'Exact Words')." From the Baltimore Chronicle and Sentinel commentary: "While Gonzales's statement has a measure of quibbling precision to it, his logic is troubling because it would suggest that many other fundamental rights that Americans hold dear (such as free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to assemble peacefully) also don't exist because the Constitution often spells out those rights in the negative. It boggles the mind the lengths this administration will go to to systematically erode the rights and privileges we have all counted on and held up as the granite pillars of our society since our nation was founded."

Comment Re:COBOL is so old... (Score 2, Interesting) 347

by blk96gt on Friday January 05, 2007 @01:10PM (#17475510) Attached to: Modernizing the Common Language - COBOL

I had two COBOL classes, a 200 level and a 300 level, and this was in the past four years. The 200 level was mandatory, but the year after I took it was changed to VB. The 300 level was also changed to VB, and then changed back to COBOL, because some of the companies that come to our school suggested they keep a COBOL class. Surprisingly, I actually rather enjoyed COBOL, I guess because it was so easy to write.

Slashdot Top Deals