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...

That would be perfect dark I believe. So many hours wasted when I should have been studying :)

Homocide is a terrible hate-crime! Stop homocide now!

Skynet is doing this! They don't want us trained in robot-killin' and such. I, for one, welcome our shiny metal overlords...

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

I'm no photographer and have never heard of a LensBaby before looking at this guy's photos, and even I could tell you the AC above me is dead on!

I am a photographer and I own a LensBaby. Those things are so over used today that it disgusts me. Yes, there is often a time and place for them to be used in really neat and artistic ways, and then there's this guy and his stuff that makes me want to junk the whole thing. Ick!

A LensBaby is like a fancy filter in photoshop - it can do some neat stuff, and when used creatively you'd never guess how the effect was created, but over used, or in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it, and you get junk after junk with obvious "tricks" done to them.

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.