The Rochester Institute of Technology offers a degree program specifically in IT, which covers Database Administration, Web Programming/Design, and maybe Game Design. (assuming they haven't moved the programs around since I was there) They also have a spun off program, called Networking Security, and System Administration, which actually covers real world IT skills, though I still learned a ton more through hands on experience through internships than I did in the majority of my classes. Though there were a few gems in there, and I credit having taken an early VoIP class to getting into my current position. I know most "IT" degrees are really just CompSci that has nothing to do with day to day IT, but there are a few schools out there that do focus in better offerings.

So... anyone actually know more about the "routing" part of this. All I saw was that they turned it into a "really big router" whatever that means, and then talk about the array. I'm assuming they're using the super computer to actually make the decisions of who is getting what data in real time, and sending it to the correct place, but they don't really talk about that at all. Anyone have a better link?

I love the smell of underpayment in the morning!

I still can't get over that he said "We let them teach evolution to our children..." as though this is some sort of compromise with liberals or something...

Actually no, I don't see how that's possible.

Yes but last I checked there was no data center there... The article says the most remote data center on Earth, not the most remote spot. Plus I might put the bottom of certain parts of the ocean at even more remote than the Himalayas, as there are spots down there no one's ever reached.

This is Cub Scouts, not Boy Scouts, the distinction may be small, but Cub Scouts works with kids in 1st through 5th grade or so. A big big part of Cub Scouts is working with kids on being grounded and responsible. With video games becoming such a large part of our society, having something that helps kids approach them responsibly, which if you read the requirements it has more to do with understanding game ratings (also good for parents) and making sure that you don't play too much than anything else. I say good job to Scouting for keeping up with the times. Also, this isn't the first time badge to deal with this, Boy Scouts already have merit badges dealing with computer's and other more technical activities as well.

I hope they'll take this a step further and offer up this sort of connection to corporate customers. I work from a company with a 20 Mbit connection and probably pay a lot more than what this connection is going to be offered for. Granted I'd still be fine paying more than a home user to guarantee uptime etc, but really, hopefully this will be a shot in the arm to other providers to wake up and not nickel and dime people for services that can't meet demand. It seems like Google is doing what they can to keep the US from falling behind the rest of the world.

Thankfully I work for a company, that while it wants to cut costs all the time, they aren't ignorant of what needs to happen to make things run. Both my immediate supervisor and the manager one level up feel that there might be some staffing issues, and are taking the time to get a full data center assessment to both identify areas we are lacking, help with a road map, and most importantly put it all in a language the higher ups can understand and appreciate.

While I'm against snooping without cause, something of this in a collaborative model isn't necessarily a bad thing, though it does open up for potential abuse. There are lots of times when I call up buddies ask them what sort of IT issues they're having with security, spam, etc, and this just seems to formalize it a bit, and get the circle of trust a little bigger. Companies too often seek to distrust the authorities for crimes because it will make their companies look weak. As such criminal will get away with things solely because no one reports them. This doesn't look like a secret "Stone Cutter" type group, just a way to get to know some local colleagues and keep more ears to more ground looking for potential threats.

Whether or not the issue will be forced, the problem is that for most of the developing world they already are either running out or pretty damn close. Because of this, if the US doesn't jump on the band wagon we will continue to be outpaced by countries like China that are already neck deep in rolling out IPv6. This isn't a matter of when, just if, and really ought to be done gradually, but quickly, rather than wait till a moment to be forced. I encourage anyone that can to move as quick as they can towards this rather than sit and wait and watch the world pass them by.

You might have missed where it said it could take years to bring the other world sources back online, and the fact that they won't be able to produce enough to meet demand. Yes this very well could be about China helping to grow its own economy, but it is more likely about them thinking long term, great for them, bad for everyone else that needs these resources. The analogy is pretty spot on that this is going to put a crunch on things the same way the gas crisis of the 70's did, especially if fuel efficient cars double in price effectively making them worthless from a cost perspective. Even if the US mine is able to meet our demand, because it will take so long to get up and running there will be a huge crunch in the interim that could set the US and the rest of the world behind in developing new more efficient technologies. Just some food for thought...

Seriously, no sarcasm there. As long as there is some sort of underpinning to the whole thing ensuring that kids are in fact learning what they need to, this sort of structure can be really good. I know I had tons more fun, and probably learned more building houses with lego, putting together erector sets, going out camping, not to mention trips to the library and the local museum than I did most days in school. In fact, even as far as college is concerned I learned more in my internships than I ever did in a lab environment. So long as kids are doing, and there again is some guidance I think this is a great idea.

I'm sure that this is being done with good intentions. Ignoring abuse, consider the possibility of a DDOS attack launched from private compromised computers. My guess is that the intentions here are to be able to go in and shut those systems down mitigating an organized attack. With the growth of both organized crime as well as other nations in the field of computer based warfare, it seems like at least a sensible precaution to be able to defend ones self. The problem herein lies in potential abuse of these powers and if there is any accountability either before or after the fact. Imagine a different situation where post election violence erupted and the government began shutting down all avenues of communication including systems that run programs like twitter that donâ(TM)t need to be accessed directly from a computer. Not say it's fool proof but it could disrupt any sort of wide spread organization.

You mean to tell me the Internet really is a series of tubes?!