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User: jamesl

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  1. Meanwhile, the Linux community ... on Microsoft's Attempt To Convert Users From Windows XP Backfires · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... has done a terrific job converting these decrepit XP machines to open source. After all, its free, secure and runs on anything that XP will. The migration tools are free, secure, work really well and available just about everywhere.

    And once she's running Linux, grandma will stop calling with all those support questions.

  2. Authoritative Source on Bugatti 100P Rebuilt: The Plane That Could've Turned the Battle of Britain · · Score: 2

    History, facts and performance from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) which has the original on display.
    http://www.airventuremuseum.or...

  3. Take ... on India Plans Mission To Probe Sun By 2020 · · Score: 1

    ... ice

  4. QED on "Microsoft Killed My Pappy" · · Score: 1

    I realize that you, Dear Reader, are a thoughtful and respectful lot, the Internet tends to be a bit of a motley crew. I fully expect the comments to be on fire later.

    In flames they are.

  5. Why? on The Neuroscience of Computer Programming · · Score: 1

    First, somebody needs to explain why some schools have a foreign-language requirement. The job of high school is to prepare students for jobs upon graduation (not so much any more) and/or prepare students for college. How does one or two years of mandatory foreign language study do either?

  6. Balderdash on The Neuroscience of Computer Programming · · Score: 1

    Of all the fully employed programmers you know, how many of them have degrees in English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Literature, Journalism or creative writing? How many in mathematics or physics?

  7. There are two "Arctics" on Darker Arctic Boosting Global Warming · · Score: 0, Troll

    The Arctic and the Antarctic.

    It's a good thing that the amount of ice in the Antarctic is growing.

    Antarctic sea ice extent continues to track very high in January, reaching the second-highest monthly extent in the 36-year satellite monitoring record. New monthly extent records were set for each month between August and November, and December was tied for the record (within the limits of the precision).
    http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicen...

  8. And next week ... on Online Database Allows Scientists To Recreate Early Telescopes · · Score: 1

    ... we'll have news that they have been 3D printed by a kindergarten class in St. Louis.

  9. From under the rock ... on The Ultimate Hopes For the New Cosmos Series · · Score: 0

    Who is Neil de Grasse Tyson?

  10. A few facts ... on This Isn't the First Time Microsoft's Been Accused of Bing Censorship · · Score: 3, Informative

    There has been discussion over the past day or so that Bing results for Chinese language queries done outside of China are somehow intentionally edited or incomplete for political censoring purposes. We can emphatically confirm that they are not. The only time Bing adjusts search results is to comply with local law or for quality or safety reasons such as child abuse or malware. Bing search results outside of China are not subject to and are not modified in any way based on Chinese law.

    The error we referenced yesterday was one where we incorrectly showed a Chinese âremoval notificationâ(TM) message outside of China to users who have selected to view Bingâ(TM)s People Republic of China version. This message was displayed outside of China with this PRC version of Bing where results were suppressed for any reason (child abuse content, spam, etc.). Again, the search results outside of China were unaltered, and were not censored.

    We understand that with casual inspection, users may be concerned about censorship when seeing the âremoval notificationâ(TM) message intended for users in China and some difference in results between Chinese language and English language searches, but again we can confirm this is not the case. The wrong notification message is simply being displayed in limited circumstances, and we are in the process of fixing that issue.

    It has been noted that some popular sites such as Facebook are at times not shown in China. The fact that results from such sites are shown in Bing outside of China when using the Chinese language is an easy way for anyone to quickly reassure themselves that the results are not being censored.
    The reason results are different for Chinese and English queries however, is because searches in different languages are fundamentally different queries. A result may show lower in one language versus another for a variety of reasons, such as fewer users choosing that link in English results compared to users who searched in another language. As always, however, we are constantly evaluating how to deliver the best results to our customers around the world.

    - Stefan Weitz, Senior Director, Bing

    http://www.bing.com/blogs/site...

    And no, I don't work for Microsoft.

  11. Re:Skydrive on Ask Slashdot: Distributed Online Storage For Families? · · Score: 1

    What are the "numerous limitations" you mention in your post?

  12. Skydrive on Ask Slashdot: Distributed Online Storage For Families? · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Primary requirements are Cheap, Secure, Reliable.

    Cheap? Free.
    Secure? That's up to you but normally, yes.
    Reliable? In my experience, yes.

  13. Not just trucks on Why Robot Trucks Could Be Headed To Afghanistan (And Everywhere Else) · · Score: 1

    (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine Corps has extended indefinitely its use of two unmanned K-MAX heavy lift helicopters in Afghanistan, a Navy spokeswoman said, noting the aircraft kept re-supply trucks off the road and reduced the threat of roadside bombs.
    The Marine Corps sent the new autonomous helicopters, which were developed by Lockheed Martin Corp and privately-held Kaman Aerospace, to Afghanistan in November 2011 for an initial, limited deployment, but has extended their use several times.
    Now, Naval Air Systems Command has decided to continue using the aircraft indefinitely, said Jamie Cosgrove, a spokeswoman for the Navy command, which also oversees Marine Corps aircraft.

    http://www.reuters.com/article...

  14. Failure on Rome Police Use Twitter To Battle Illegal Parking · · Score: 1

    2.7 million residents, 1.9 million private vehicles and they got about 30 complaints per day? In the world of social media, that's a pretty big failure.

  15. Ferrari F1 on Nissan Unveils 88 Pound 400-HP Race Car Engine · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ferrari claims that their 1.6 liter, V6 2014 F1 engine produces 600-650 HP with another 160 HP from the Energy Recovery System. Each driver gets just five engines for the 19 race season.
    http://formula1.ferrari.com/ne...

    Technology marches on.

  16. On the other hand on Midwestern Fault Zones Are Still Alive · · Score: 1

    From the article ... "But some scientists don't find the team's results convincing."

  17. Two words ... on AMC Theaters Allegedly Calls FBI to Interrogate a Google Glass Wearer · · Score: 1

    1. Lawyer
    2. Warrant

    Or maybe three words: Just Shut Up.

    Police will continue to bully people and overstep their authority as long as we let them.
    http://www.popehat.com/tag/shu...

  18. A stopped clock ... on Doomsday Clock Remains at Five Minutes to Midnight · · Score: 1

    A stopped clock is right twice a day. The doomsday clock, it turns out, has never been right.

    But maybe this time is different.

  19. Patients Lie on The Other Exam Room: When Doctors 'Google' Their Patients · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And it could kill them.

  20. Linux record growth on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Pass 10% Market Share, Windows XP Falls Below 30% · · Score: 3, Funny

    And meanwhile, desktop Linux made record growth from 1.56% to 1.73%.

  21. Two standard deviations more on Australian Icebreaker Tries To Get Through To Stranded Antarctic Research Ship · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Antarctic Sea Ice Extent is currently more than two standard deviations greater than the 1981 to 2010 average according to the NSIDC.
    http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/S_stddev_timeseries.png

    Not what one would expect in a warming climate. Or maybe it is ... ex post.
    Antarctica Sea Ice Reaches Record High: Doesn't Refute Global Warming
    http://guardianlv.com/2013/09/antarctic-sea-ice-at-record-high-doesnt-refute-global-warming/

  22. Why, indeed on Surge In Online Orders Overwhelms UPS Christmas Deliveries · · Score: 1

    'Well then why, all the way up until the 23rd, were they offering next-day delivery?

    Well they why, if it was so important, did you wait all the way up until the 23rd to place your order or ship your package?

    In any case, UPS was not guaranteeing on-time delivery well before the 23rd. I sent a package through the local UPS store where they made it clear that they couldn't and wouldn't guarantee delivery by Christmas even though it was shipped in time.

  23. Possible link? on Census Bureau: Majority of Affluent Counties In Northeast US · · Score: 1

    Of course, the cost of living is higher in those counties as well.

    If there weren't so many highly paid people living and working there, chasing housing, food and services with their dollars, perhaps the cost of living wouldn't be as high.

    Or you could say ...

    Of course, the cost of living is lower in the poor counties as well.

  24. Re:Just Stop! on NSA Head Asks How To Spy Without Collecting Metadata · · Score: 1

    Presidential Task Force Recommends Overhaul of NSA Surveillance Tactics

    WASHINGTON -- A presidential task force has drafted recommendations that constitute a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Agency, according to people familiar with the recommendations.

    The panel's draft proposals would change the spy agency's leadership from military to civilian and limit how it gathers and holds the electronic information of Americans.
    http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304202204579254652728273502

  25. Just Stop! on NSA Head Asks How To Spy Without Collecting Metadata · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Stop Spying.