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User: commodoresloat

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  1. Re:Cost on Using RFID and Wi-Fi to Track Students · · Score: 4, Informative

    That being said, how big are these things? What would be the consequence of not carrying one around? The RFID chips themselves are small they can be implanted under your skin or woven into clothing, or into the student ID that you have to carry around everywhere. The battery power is probably the size of a battery; it's unclear from the FA what kind of battery is necessary, but I imagine it would be pretty small. "Lugging it around" would not be an issue, and I'm sure student fees could easily absorb the cost without much notice. The real question is what real value does this have other than providing a tool for stalkers or control freak administrators? Do we really want to encourage the equivalent of temporary restraining orders or dorm arrests as a disciplinary mechanism in colleges, for example?
  2. emergencies, right... on Using RFID and Wi-Fi to Track Students · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Angelo Lamme, from Motorola, said tracking students on a campus could help during a fire or an emergency.

    Sure; during a fire or emergency sounds like a great time to be snooping around to see where particular students are. Fire alarms seem to be much more helpful than tracking techniques for real emergencies; surveillance technology is much more likely to be used during times of "business as usual," and generally not during times when most people are running around screaming for their lives.
    BR>Meanwhile, I can see this sort of technology having great applications during "business as usual" times for creepy security guards who want to see what that hot blonde chick does after her chemistry class... Especially for the peeping tom or stalker types who want to make sure they're walking by the right dorm room window when she gets out of the shower.

  3. Seriously, this is perfect! on Slingbox Comes to the Mac · · Score: 1

    If I can sling it back and forth between the boxes like this, that means I won't have to watch it! Freeing me up to go outside and play or something. This could be a big selling point...

  4. Re:First they came for the ... on Microsoft, Sue Me First · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's an offensively stupid comparison you've got there. Try a car analogy. I'll give it a shot.

    First, they came for the Volvos, but I didn't say anything, because I didn't drive a Volvo. Then they came for the Volkswagons...
  5. Re:I learned a long time ago... on Documents Reveal US Incompetence with Word, Iraq · · Score: 1

    It looks like you are trying to erase evidence of your bumbling and murderous incompetence.

    Would you like help with that?

    [ ] Get Help
    [ ] Turn on paper shredder
    [ ] Fire high profile staff members in effigy
    [ ] Print resignation letter
    [ ] Self-destruct
    [ ] No, Thank you.

  6. sure there is! on Is Dedicated Hosting for Critical DTDs Necessary? · · Score: 2, Funny

    What's wrong with this website?

  7. Re:I know! on Is Dedicated Hosting for Critical DTDs Necessary? · · Score: 4, Funny

    ICANN!

    Mhahahahaha. Yeah. I know, I crack myself up.

    No you cann't!
  8. you got it wrong on Fruit Flies Show Spark of Free Will · · Score: 1

    #1 should be "Free Willy."

  9. then let's get to the real issue on Fruit Flies Show Spark of Free Will · · Score: 3, Funny

    First, Levy's distribution is a, you know, distribution, not an algorithm
    Great. I think I speak for everyone here, then, when I say that what we really want to know is whether this distribution uses KDE or gnome?
  10. I know this one... on A "Bill of Lights" to Restrict LEDs on Gadgets? · · Score: 1

    CowboyNeal!

  11. Re:I figure... on No Winner In NASA's Moon-Dirt Digging Competition · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just don't ask them to write their essays about it.

  12. ...and... on Should Vendors Close All Security Holes? · · Score: 1

    That other one: Someone exploits the bug to a degree you and your team never considered and your user community is devastated.
    And they initiate legal proceedings based on the policy of not fixing known security bugs.
  13. Re:blatant censorship on US Military Launches YouTube Channel · · Score: 1

    3.any flash content
    I'm not in favor of censorship, but sometimes it's a good thing...
  14. The answer is obvious on iPods and Pacemakers Don't Mix · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's because the iPod has DRM.

    (not only that; you should see how long it takes to copy a 17 megabyte file from an ipod to a pacemaker!)

  15. Re:do you hear that? on Sounds Bring Google Earth to Life · · Score: 0, Troll

    the idea sounds nice on paper
    Actually, on paper it doesn't make any sound at all; you really need to upgrade to at least a web browser interface to see how it sounds.

    Actually I take that back - it does make a sound on paper; once you think through the implications of the idea it will make the crinkling sound of paper being wadded up and tossed in the trash.
  16. Oh come on on In Defense Of Patents and Copyright · · Score: 1

    It's not like anybody clicks on the article here anyway.

  17. Mods? on Germans Pursuing Kiddie Porn In Second Life · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know we have a "+1, Informative," but is there a "-1, Too Much Information"?

  18. Re:Uh, no. on California to Start Review of Voting Machines · · Score: 1

    They can be updated with a correct ballot much easier than actually printing ballots.
    Exactly. The ballot you submit can be updated with the "correct" candidate choices right there at the polling place!
  19. one more thing on California to Start Review of Voting Machines · · Score: 1

    sorry to respond to my own comment, but I remembered something else. FOIA contains exemptions for trade secrets, which generally applies to confidential financial or commercial information, but there is no doubt that it could apply to source code as well. State FOI laws also most likely contain a similar exemption. You actually want this exemption, of course, so that records related to government contracts or agency oversight are not available to the public (you want business confidence, for example, that their trade secrets won't be compromised if they work with government organizations), but, as far as source code goes, I would support separate legislation requiring open source software in certain critical areas like voting machines.

  20. FOIA doesn't apply on California to Start Review of Voting Machines · · Score: 2, Insightful

    FOIA requires access to public records. It's possible that source code could be defined as a public "record," though it might be stretching the definition. "Records" are defined as tangible documents, which could certainly include computer files, but it seems to me that the govt would argue that voting documents and results are "records," but source code is part of the process by which the records were created rather than the records themselves. Besides, wouldn't this open up all source code used by federal agencies, including MS Word, assuming they use that to generate documents that are "records"?

    Another problem is that the law only applies to federal agencies, though states may have their own laws that require similar public access. Since voting machines and procedures are the responsibility of state governments, the federal legislation wouldn't apply.

    Frankly, I think we need new federal legislation here.

  21. hmph... hello FTC? on Two US States Restrict Used CD Sales · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The article says "The Federal Trade Commission has scrutinized the music industry for putting unfair pressures on retailers who sell used CDs"... This seems to me to be similar unfair pressure, but this time it's coming from state governments. Is this sort of law even enforceable?

  22. Re:it's not like they use their own domains now... on A Foolproof Way To End Bank Account Phishing? · · Score: 1

    Greetings; this is an automated email generated by the security computers at Fidelity Bank. There appears to have been an attempt to illegally access your wife's Visa account. If you'll provide username and password that you use to log in to that account, we will check and try to clear up the problem....

  23. you misunderstand on Library of Congress Threatens Washington Watch Wiki · · Score: 2, Funny

    as long as your right to criticize the King of Thailand is unfettered, you live in a free country.

  24. Great idea on Thailand Sues YouTube · · Score: 2, Funny

    Way to go, King. Threaten to sue YouTube for silly pictures making fun of you. I - and 500,000 other nerds who know how to use photoshop - would have never known that the King of Thailand was insulted by a foot or cared about youtube before reading this story. I'm glad you informed us by this action -- that will surely put a stop to the ridicule!

  25. another proud American on Thailand Sues YouTube · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And this, my friends, is why we we have the 1st Amendment to the Constitution in the U.S.
    Damn straight! In this country, the right to make fun of the King of Thailand is Constitutionally protected!