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Comment Re:Implement some things yourself (Score 1) 623

Actually, you can solve all of the problems that you mentioned with a CSV format. If there a commas in the field, then you add quotes around the field. If there are quotes in the field, then you transform each quote into a double quote. If there are newlines then you have a couple options. You can escape them -- transform a newline into backslash-n. Or, if your parser handles it, you can just add quotes around the field and keep the newline, assuming the parser is smart enough to handle fields that are on multiple lines.

To handle optional fields just make the first line in the CSV file, a list of the column names. So the first line defines what follows in the CSV file.

The problem with CSV files is if you need to have metadata in the file itself, or if the data does not easily fit into a single table format.

Comment Re:Biblical? (Score 1) 347

I say visible light is a definition based on the frequency of the light. Intensity of the light doesn't factor in. Taking words literally, using the simplest definition, obscures the meaning.
Security

E-Voting Reform Bill Gaining Adherants 161

JeremyDuffy sends us to Ars Technica for a look at an e-voting bill making its way through Congress that is gaining the support of the likes of Ed Felten and the EFF. Quoting: "HR 811 features several requirements that will warm the hearts of geek activists. It bans the use of computerized voting machines that lack a voter-verified paper trail. It mandates that the paper records be the authoritative source in any recounts, and requires prominent notices reminding voters to double-check the paper record before leaving the polling place. It mandates automatic audits of at least three percent of all votes cast to detect discrepancies between the paper and electronic records. It bans voting machines that contain wireless networking hardware and prohibits connecting voting machines to the Internet. Finally, it requires that the source code for e-voting machines be made publicly available."

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