We did have laws against abortion once, it just pushed abortion "underground" where their was no counseling, no safety. We were killing the mothers, and the kid without any chance to tell of other options (like birth+adoption.) I realize you may think it is OK to kill the woman having a abortion as retribution for her acts. But the majority of people do not agree, and thus we have the more humane law (again in the eyes of most people) allowing them.
For me, the ideal device would be about a 17" light weight touch screen tablet PC, that can stand alone as a netbook; but then become more a dumb display/hard disk at my desk. That way you could have a nice useable display you carry around that functions, but have a fast Processor/keyboard/memory you slap on, and plug it in to game with.
Basically a dedicated GB Ethernet port connecting my "desktop Processor" to this device. I don't game, but I go out and gather data from a bunch of machines, quickly look that the data is real, maybe tweak a few things if needed, then go back to my desk and crunch data for 2 hours (because my laptop is somewhat slow) But not worth the hassle of transferring Gigs of data to a PC for this. Also all these apps are expensive licenses, so I must have them available to travel, but want them on a faster CPU to crunch.
Similar, I lug my Laptop home every night to provide emergency tech support, and VPN for off hours meetings, lug it in to meeting rooms to take notes... I need all my data from daily use, but a 1 Ghz atom would provide the functioning I need when away from the desk, but a 2.2Ghz core Duo doesn't cut it at my desk.
FYI, the nook has Trook as a unsupported add-on that does exactly this. It is really the perfect reader for news, it pulls the rss feed, and you browse the headlines like a iPhone finger motions. You click the articles you want and it pulls them from wifi to the Big screen. I have never had a better browsing experience. But it still is complete crap for a site like slashdot where you may want to enter data at some point... (you can, but the small touch keyboard is useable...) It is actually really easy to install, simply stick a micro-sd card into the nook back panel, download the latest firmware from Trook, copy it to the device with USB, turn the nook all the way off, and back on holding the page turn button. done. May void warranty, YMMV... The only downside, is the nook screen is so nice for viewing, it makes reading text from my PC noticeably sucky now.
So if the nature of the data is, "one bad bit means all data is garbage anyway" then compress away. If the nature of the backup, is "I may need a couple files out of a backup someday, who cares about the rest, then don't make a single compressed archive.
My method for filesystem backups was to do a file by file gzip in place on the backup server, this way I could lose a file, but not all files in a single archive. I associated all.gz files with uncompress in place gzip on windows machines, so users would just have to click, wait a second, then click again if we had to jump to the backup file server...
see the throttle cable was only used for a single task, while the sensor, and throttle servo may be a single task item, in between them is a multi-tasking device reading, then actuating those based on other conditions (cruise control transmission shifting, air-conditioner, collision avoidance, wheel slip...) So while you can get optimizations, features, and have backup's with the electronic system. It also requires significantly more iterations of testing. I really wouldn't want the e-throttle on my gas car, since it removes a item I can diagnose visually (linkage) for at least 3 additional potential failures. However on my diesel truck, I like the electronic throttle, since it isn't adding in more steps, it actually simplifies the process. Also since it is a manual, I still have the mechanical override in place (clutch.)
But if he does, they are more likely to be mutants. (99% chance of them being bad mutations, but that.1% chance that he will be the father of the new master race....)
that high-density settlements have a low *per-capita* 'ecological footprint'.
No, I interpreted his article saying it "can have" a lower footprint, for the most part it doesn't, with slums being the exception worth looking into. Also he say that slums are self improving, if that is more true for urban than rural, then their is something to be learned from this (which would seam to contradict your "unsustainable" comment.)
in US a 3 wheeled vehicle is usually considered a motorcycle legally. As far as I can tell a motorcycle has no crash standard (other than it is bad to be the motorcyclist in a crash.) So I would say the opposite, this is a way to avoid crash safety standards in US (sell the trikes only of course.)
At least opensolaris is technically supportable. Sounds like Oracle is laying off the best developers. So you have the source, and you can hire the developer... When closed source does the same thing, you can hire the developer, but he could only start from scratch (legally.) Granted this is pricey support, but you likely can't get better support than that IMHO.
FAA has guidelines on how you must develop, test, and document all safety critical software (and what is safety critical.) I am stunned if you did this type of work for long and these records were never audited. Same is true of DOT (at least with the FRA=railroad), MSHA (mining systems only a proposed standard) and of course aerospace, and a few others I am missing. In my opinion you better have people that understand software, hardware, and their problems, and what issues and how development is done, to have a Idea of what is "safety critical" and to be able to evaluate these regulations and compliance. At this stage it sounds like they need to develop the rules (software/computer engineer) and someone to audit the results. But to investigate a issue, they again need a software/computer engineer type to compare the development results, and evaluate 1) could it really have passed the records presented with this flaw 2) how to close any holes.
so we shouldn't compare something called "windows mobile 7" with "windows 7" that come out at similar times from the same company both called windows running on the same CPU's often running software with the same name and description, "thats stupid", their clearly different products to the lay person? But we should compare linux versions from different vendors for different markets one for consumers another for enterprise, another for netbooks? You do realize their are 7 versions of vista, 3 versions of windows 7, (not even counting 32 vs 64 bit versions of each) and a host of states and versions of XP that one version won't run one set of games, another state will break those to run older games?
Both have similar issues that cause different problems, clearly that is not the only, or even the main thing keeping linux behind. It might be better if their were 1 main standard for app interface used (instead of mostly just 2 if comparing similar distros.) But microsoft certainly thinks the cross branding of windows is more important to marketing, than having a single compatible version of "windows" and their marketing dept isn't stupid.
Not sure it applies, more or less these parts are about distribution in those sections of the GPL. Amazon doesn't distribute the "linux servers" covered by this, so don't need to distribute that code, so that extended patent coverage needs to apply only to people within Amazon. The kindle uses open source software, but is linked to closed software, much like the Tivo; (as long as it is not GPLv3 source it is using), the patents can cover any parts that Amazon writes or otherwise isn't GPL2 software; without issue, again amazon only loses access to the GPLv2 code covered by the patent, not all GPL software, and not all software used in the device has to be GPL. The "fat16" patent isn't about a software method, only hardware formats, so doubtful it's a issue either (GPL software works with proprietary hardware all the time.) Also they can likely get a blanket "liability wavier", without issue; and only if MSFT wins against someone else, do they then lose access, just like everyone else would.
Sounds the same (or worse for windows) to me. Android marketplace has certified devices, if you have one of those devices you are confident a app purchased will work. If a app says it works with Redhat v4/v5.., I am confident it will work in those, as well as in Fedora, etc (but probably not all linux.) If you buy something that says windows compatible, thats meaningless without a version, plus often a caveat like dx11, or.net v???, or adobe required... then decent chance it will work on many versions; but no chance it will work on windows mobile 7, and windows 7, decent chance getting it to work will break something else. Virtually No chance it will work in windows 95, and windows 7, etc. It is almost guaranteed that even if a andoid/linux app doesn't work on your current android/linux version, that you can legally, and technically update without cost to a version that it will work on, be it older or newer (similar to windows, this may break some other apps.) That is not true for windows, you cannot take my computer from 10 years ago and have any confidence to get even a simple app for windows 7 to work, without significant cost. But I can get it to run linux (the drivers are included in linux, but the windows 95 drivers are useless to modern windows...) Not claiming windows doesn't work for more people than linux, just saying it has similar issues.
I guess it depends on the car, what you say about flooring it is only true for turbo cars, or Variable displacement/Variable valve timing vehicles with electronic throttles. All other EFI, the throttle is just a air intake restriction, then it reads the air flow and trys to reach stoich air fuel mixture. Less restriction on the air inlet the more efficient at any engine speed. closer to peek torque, the better the efficiency of the engine. So peek acceleration is a bit wasteful, but at least 3/4 acceleration is most efficient (open throttle early shift.) This is easy to drive with a manual, it has been impossible to judge in every auto I have ever driven. Same with torque converter, with electronic throttle they are just now starting to match revs and do lockup in middle gears during acceleration. But it is too much jerk for the test drive to sell cars, so only aftermarket programmers will give any lockup in most vehicles below freeway speeds. Then again the TC is designed for low loads in passenger cars, so not much gained at low load with lockup, still pumping the extra weight of fluids, etc regardless of lockup. Of course most of your arguments are true, problem with autos is mostly drivers, problems with manuals is mostly drivers (both taught to drive with carburetors, or taught by those taught to drive with them). Autos can correct some of these actions by doing wide open engine throttle at 1/2 pedal, and the rest of the pedal is just shift position. Regardless I am sure we know that a smaller engine at full accell would be more efficient than a over-sized engine at slow accel. So I think we agree it is more efficient to drive a smaller engine with a manual at all out, than a larger engine auto at some transmission waste minimizing small % needed to get the same desired performance.
Pretty clear what they will likely claim. Loss prevention; since this doesn't appear to be that students laptop but a laptop he was allowed to take home. So it is simply a "inventory mistake", the person who activated the "security" will simply come up with some records showing they track down every laptop on a monthly basis (or similar), and this one hadn't been accounted for in his records yet. With the claim of 18 resulting laptop recoveries, would be nice to know how many were of this type. It was BS to use the photos for anything else, but I do understand why they would use this technique before filing a report, I was wishing I had enabled this as a option for a laptop I lost, but knowing reporting to the police is a waste of time... It clearly was wrong to not have a policy (or not following it if their is) where a separate person is assigned as in charge of laptop, and thus having a record as to the reason for every action, and a separate witness to the real reason.
Not buying it, manual wins MPG for fast acceleration. All the automatics with torque converters still lose 1/3 of energy during acceleration, only that no one is taught to shift sooner in a manual, and everyone accelerates so slow with too big of engine anyway as to not keep the engine in a efficient operating range (manual or auto). Accelerate hard in a manual, and use neutral more and it is guaranteed to get better economy than a equal conventional auto. add in that the auto trans weighs 2* as much, takes more maintenance and trains people to not know how to operate their cars (hence why the most crash the Toyota rather than shift to neutral.) And causes worse air quality issues because people burn up the brakes, throwing that debris into the air rather than down shift. While it is a nice convenience it has a higher cost, don't fool yourself.
not sure where you got that premise of the castle doctrine, in most southern states with that law (like texas) you don't have to be in fear for your life, or the intruder even be armed, if at your own residence. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/852831/deadly_force_and_self_defense_to_protect.html?cat=17 Pretty much every state says you don't have to retreat from your property instead of deadly confrontation, (ie any "I was scared for my life" defense, if reasonable, would work at home.) Some states even allow you to protect yourself with deadly force to hold your ground in any setting where you are legally allowed to be.
could have just as easily sent a text message to the people he's friends with instead
but it is different, a text message isn't a broadcast to many medium, it is a send to one. Sounds like his friend did send a text message to 32665 that updated his FB status to all of his registered friends. At least with my phone (remember it wasn't started by the smart phone) I can send a text to one person at a time. It is important, few people thinks of the "oh what if i was stuck in a disaster with all the phone lines overloaded, I should setup a text message to all friends in advance." More of a, already setup the account to notify everyone of the hotties I hooked up with on vacation, but it could work for something else in a pinch. I do hate defending facebook, but it seams to fit this nicely. IE he notifies as many as possible, friend can then respond to everyone whats he's done, so every friend isn't taking the same action...
I did see someone else say things about the nook crashing in this thread. I know the initial software release had some jumpiness, but before today I never heard of any "un-stable" issue. My nook has never hiccuped or crashed in the month I have had it (except the automatic reboot after a update downloaded), the only issue was wifi has been a pain at times, then again if I hadn't hacked it with a web-browser and trook news reader for grabbing news feeds (like slashdot) I wouldn't have a reason to notice. I don't know if that means the software updates have fixed them all, or if I have just been lucky so far. (really nice that it updates it's self over the cellular network for free, but I guess if they start utilizing a kill switch those "updates" could start to suck, but they are disable-able; currently.)
the main reason I think it is less open,
Even before amazon released the kindle, project gutenburg, google books, and majority of others had already chosen the epub format. Their was/is alott of free content available, that format is clearly being snubbed by amazon.
Removing the memory card reader from later releases also hurts open-ness, in that you can't swap non-drm files with any other reader, without a PC. Although the nook memory card is not all that accessible, it is available. I agree the main attack is just with internet access, it is so much easier to get drm'd content than using a PC, means many won't go through the extra step that would be required (to be equal) with the sony readers for all content. And that Amazon already pulled the plug on a book sale using the internet kill switch.
You are correct, appears someone needs to edit the wiki I was looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_e-book_readers. Still appears to be a draw with the more popular e-readers (except the kindle, and illiad) in open formats. Seams obvious the nook is the most hackable since it has been out for the least amount of time, and yet is one of the very few with applications developed for it by a 3rd party.
Why would you call the sony's "most" open? From what I see very few of the sony readers support any format but e-pub, the only readers that don't support that format is the kindle and Illiad. So it seams it is more open than those 2 e-readers. Sure it runs linux, like many others, but with only the 505 having a memory card it seams the least hackable of the many readers running linux.
The nook currently seams more open, it is fairly easy to hack, requiring only a micro-sd card, having wifi access, pdf access, and android having a SDK, easily the easiest developed for (once hacked.) But even un-hacked it is more open than the Sony, simply plug the supplied USB into your PC, the internal memory and u-SD card show up as drives, drop mp3's or epub/pdf,etc into the folder labeled for them, done. I will give you that using B&N store you will likely end-up with a bunch of drm'd files with more restrictive sharing (but not all that difficult to strip.) But it appears to me to you can use it identical to the Sony's, if you choose the same stores as you would with the Sony.
FYI, most US DigitalTV stations are UHF. since rabbit ears are very lousy UHF antennas... So while your old antenna may work fine; rabbit ears, without a UHF loop are not.
Maybe they are close to the boarder, Canada is still not all digital broadcast (until Aug 2011) not sure Mexico has announced any HD plans (I can still get several Mexican Analog stations but not likely from across the boarder, 50 miles away.)
Slashdot Mirror
We did have laws against abortion once, it just pushed abortion "underground" where their was no counseling, no safety. We were killing the mothers, and the kid without any chance to tell of other options (like birth+adoption.) I realize you may think it is OK to kill the woman having a abortion as retribution for her acts. But the majority of people do not agree, and thus we have the more humane law (again in the eyes of most people) allowing them.
For me, the ideal device would be about a 17" light weight touch screen tablet PC, that can stand alone as a netbook; but then become more a dumb display/hard disk at my desk. That way you could have a nice useable display you carry around that functions, but have a fast Processor/keyboard/memory you slap on, and plug it in to game with.
Basically a dedicated GB Ethernet port connecting my "desktop Processor" to this device.
I don't game, but I go out and gather data from a bunch of machines, quickly look that the data is real, maybe tweak a few things if needed, then go back to my desk and crunch data for 2 hours (because my laptop is somewhat slow) But not worth the hassle of transferring Gigs of data to a PC for this. Also all these apps are expensive licenses, so I must have them available to travel, but want them on a faster CPU to crunch.
Similar, I lug my Laptop home every night to provide emergency tech support, and VPN for off hours meetings, lug it in to meeting rooms to take notes... I need all my data from daily use, but a 1 Ghz atom would provide the functioning I need when away from the desk, but a 2.2Ghz core Duo doesn't cut it at my desk.
FYI, the nook has Trook as a unsupported add-on that does exactly this. It is really the perfect reader for news, it pulls the rss feed, and you browse the headlines like a iPhone finger motions. You click the articles you want and it pulls them from wifi to the Big screen.
I have never had a better browsing experience. But it still is complete crap for a site like slashdot where you may want to enter data at some point... (you can, but the small touch keyboard is useable...)
It is actually really easy to install, simply stick a micro-sd card into the nook back panel, download the latest firmware from Trook, copy it to the device with USB, turn the nook all the way off, and back on holding the page turn button. done. May void warranty, YMMV...
The only downside, is the nook screen is so nice for viewing, it makes reading text from my PC noticeably sucky now.
the good about compression, is less storage and better chance of detecting errors. the bad is at a minimum every bad bit becomes at least a bad byte, and if it is in the header, all data in that archive.
for example:
About corrupted compressed archives: gzip'ed files have no redundancy, for maximum compression. The adaptive nature of the compression scheme means that the compression tables are implicitly spread all over the archive. If you lose a few blocks, the dynamic construction of the compression tables becomes unsynchronized, and there is little chance that you could recover later in the archive.
So if the nature of the data is, "one bad bit means all data is garbage anyway" then compress away. If the nature of the backup, is "I may need a couple files out of a backup someday, who cares about the rest, then don't make a single compressed archive.
My method for filesystem backups was to do a file by file gzip in place on the backup server, this way I could lose a file, but not all files in a single archive. .gz files with uncompress in place gzip on windows machines, so users would just have to click, wait a second, then click again if we had to jump to the backup file server...
I associated all
see the throttle cable was only used for a single task, while the sensor, and throttle servo may be a single task item, in between them is a multi-tasking device reading, then actuating those based on other conditions (cruise control transmission shifting, air-conditioner, collision avoidance, wheel slip...) So while you can get optimizations, features, and have backup's with the electronic system. It also requires significantly more iterations of testing.
I really wouldn't want the e-throttle on my gas car, since it removes a item I can diagnose visually (linkage) for at least 3 additional potential failures. However on my diesel truck, I like the electronic throttle, since it isn't adding in more steps, it actually simplifies the process. Also since it is a manual, I still have the mechanical override in place (clutch.)
But if he does, they are more likely to be mutants. (99% chance of them being bad mutations, but that .1% chance that he will be the father of the new master race....)
that high-density settlements have a low *per-capita* 'ecological footprint'.
No, I interpreted his article saying it "can have" a lower footprint, for the most part it doesn't, with slums being the exception worth looking into.
Also he say that slums are self improving, if that is more true for urban than rural, then their is something to be learned from this (which would seam to contradict your "unsustainable" comment.)
in US a 3 wheeled vehicle is usually considered a motorcycle legally. As far as I can tell a motorcycle has no crash standard (other than it is bad to be the motorcyclist in a crash.)
So I would say the opposite, this is a way to avoid crash safety standards in US (sell the trikes only of course.)
At least opensolaris is technically supportable. Sounds like Oracle is laying off the best developers. So you have the source, and you can hire the developer... When closed source does the same thing, you can hire the developer, but he could only start from scratch (legally.)
Granted this is pricey support, but you likely can't get better support than that IMHO.
FAA has guidelines on how you must develop, test, and document all safety critical software (and what is safety critical.) I am stunned if you did this type of work for long and these records were never audited. Same is true of DOT (at least with the FRA=railroad), MSHA (mining systems only a proposed standard) and of course aerospace, and a few others I am missing.
In my opinion you better have people that understand software, hardware, and their problems, and what issues and how development is done, to have a Idea of what is "safety critical" and to be able to evaluate these regulations and compliance.
At this stage it sounds like they need to develop the rules (software/computer engineer) and someone to audit the results. But to investigate a issue, they again need a software/computer engineer type to compare the development results, and evaluate 1) could it really have passed the records presented with this flaw 2) how to close any holes.
so we shouldn't compare something called "windows mobile 7" with "windows 7" that come out at similar times from the same company both called windows running on the same CPU's often running software with the same name and description, "thats stupid", their clearly different products to the lay person? But we should compare linux versions from different vendors for different markets one for consumers another for enterprise, another for netbooks?
You do realize their are 7 versions of vista, 3 versions of windows 7, (not even counting 32 vs 64 bit versions of each) and a host of states and versions of XP that one version won't run one set of games, another state will break those to run older games?
Both have similar issues that cause different problems, clearly that is not the only, or even the main thing keeping linux behind. It might be better if their were 1 main standard for app interface used (instead of mostly just 2 if comparing similar distros.) But microsoft certainly thinks the cross branding of windows is more important to marketing, than having a single compatible version of "windows" and their marketing dept isn't stupid.
Not sure it applies, more or less these parts are about distribution in those sections of the GPL. Amazon doesn't distribute the "linux servers" covered by this, so don't need to distribute that code, so that extended patent coverage needs to apply only to people within Amazon.
The kindle uses open source software, but is linked to closed software, much like the Tivo; (as long as it is not GPLv3 source it is using), the patents can cover any parts that Amazon writes or otherwise isn't GPL2 software; without issue, again amazon only loses access to the GPLv2 code covered by the patent, not all GPL software, and not all software used in the device has to be GPL.
The "fat16" patent isn't about a software method, only hardware formats, so doubtful it's a issue either (GPL software works with proprietary hardware all the time.)
Also they can likely get a blanket "liability wavier", without issue; and only if MSFT wins against someone else, do they then lose access, just like everyone else would.
Sounds the same (or worse for windows) to me. Android marketplace has certified devices, if you have one of those devices you are confident a app purchased will work. If a app says it works with Redhat v4/v5.., I am confident it will work in those, as well as in Fedora, etc (but probably not all linux.) .net v???, or adobe required... then decent chance it will work on many versions; but no chance it will work on windows mobile 7, and windows 7, decent chance getting it to work will break something else. Virtually No chance it will work in windows 95, and windows 7, etc. It is almost guaranteed that even if a andoid/linux app doesn't work on your current android/linux version, that you can legally, and technically update without cost to a version that it will work on, be it older or newer (similar to windows, this may break some other apps.) That is not true for windows, you cannot take my computer from 10 years ago and have any confidence to get even a simple app for windows 7 to work, without significant cost. But I can get it to run linux (the drivers are included in linux, but the windows 95 drivers are useless to modern windows...)
If you buy something that says windows compatible, thats meaningless without a version, plus often a caveat like dx11, or
Not claiming windows doesn't work for more people than linux, just saying it has similar issues.
I guess it depends on the car, what you say about flooring it is only true for turbo cars, or Variable displacement/Variable valve timing vehicles with electronic throttles. All other EFI, the throttle is just a air intake restriction, then it reads the air flow and trys to reach stoich air fuel mixture. Less restriction on the air inlet the more efficient at any engine speed. closer to peek torque, the better the efficiency of the engine. So peek acceleration is a bit wasteful, but at least 3/4 acceleration is most efficient (open throttle early shift.) This is easy to drive with a manual, it has been impossible to judge in every auto I have ever driven.
Same with torque converter, with electronic throttle they are just now starting to match revs and do lockup in middle gears during acceleration. But it is too much jerk for the test drive to sell cars, so only aftermarket programmers will give any lockup in most vehicles below freeway speeds. Then again the TC is designed for low loads in passenger cars, so not much gained at low load with lockup, still pumping the extra weight of fluids, etc regardless of lockup.
Of course most of your arguments are true, problem with autos is mostly drivers, problems with manuals is mostly drivers (both taught to drive with carburetors, or taught by those taught to drive with them). Autos can correct some of these actions by doing wide open engine throttle at 1/2 pedal, and the rest of the pedal is just shift position.
Regardless I am sure we know that a smaller engine at full accell would be more efficient than a over-sized engine at slow accel. So I think we agree it is more efficient to drive a smaller engine with a manual at all out, than a larger engine auto at some transmission waste minimizing small % needed to get the same desired performance.
Pretty clear what they will likely claim. Loss prevention; since this doesn't appear to be that students laptop but a laptop he was allowed to take home. So it is simply a "inventory mistake", the person who activated the "security" will simply come up with some records showing they track down every laptop on a monthly basis (or similar), and this one hadn't been accounted for in his records yet. With the claim of 18 resulting laptop recoveries, would be nice to know how many were of this type. It was BS to use the photos for anything else, but I do understand why they would use this technique before filing a report, I was wishing I had enabled this as a option for a laptop I lost, but knowing reporting to the police is a waste of time... It clearly was wrong to not have a policy (or not following it if their is) where a separate person is assigned as in charge of laptop, and thus having a record as to the reason for every action, and a separate witness to the real reason.
or maybe they used the tools to build a storage cabinet out of something that floats, like wood. Then a flood carried them away, and across the water.
Not buying it, manual wins MPG for fast acceleration. All the automatics with torque converters still lose 1/3 of energy during acceleration, only that no one is taught to shift sooner in a manual, and everyone accelerates so slow with too big of engine anyway as to not keep the engine in a efficient operating range (manual or auto). Accelerate hard in a manual, and use neutral more and it is guaranteed to get better economy than a equal conventional auto. add in that the auto trans weighs 2* as much, takes more maintenance and trains people to not know how to operate their cars (hence why the most crash the Toyota rather than shift to neutral.) And causes worse air quality issues because people burn up the brakes, throwing that debris into the air rather than down shift. While it is a nice convenience it has a higher cost, don't fool yourself.
not sure where you got that premise of the castle doctrine, in most southern states with that law (like texas) you don't have to be in fear for your life, or the intruder even be armed, if at your own residence.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/852831/deadly_force_and_self_defense_to_protect.html?cat=17
Pretty much every state says you don't have to retreat from your property instead of deadly confrontation, (ie any "I was scared for my life" defense, if reasonable, would work at home.) Some states even allow you to protect yourself with deadly force to hold your ground in any setting where you are legally allowed to be.
could have just as easily sent a text message to the people he's friends with instead
but it is different, a text message isn't a broadcast to many medium, it is a send to one. Sounds like his friend did send a text message to 32665 that updated his FB status to all of his registered friends. At least with my phone (remember it wasn't started by the smart phone) I can send a text to one person at a time.
It is important, few people thinks of the "oh what if i was stuck in a disaster with all the phone lines overloaded, I should setup a text message to all friends in advance." More of a, already setup the account to notify everyone of the hotties I hooked up with on vacation, but it could work for something else in a pinch.
I do hate defending facebook, but it seams to fit this nicely. IE he notifies as many as possible, friend can then respond to everyone whats he's done, so every friend isn't taking the same action...
and unlike the nook, it's stable.
I did see someone else say things about the nook crashing in this thread. I know the initial software release had some jumpiness, but before today I never heard of any "un-stable" issue. My nook has never hiccuped or crashed in the month I have had it (except the automatic reboot after a update downloaded), the only issue was wifi has been a pain at times, then again if I hadn't hacked it with a web-browser and trook news reader for grabbing news feeds (like slashdot) I wouldn't have a reason to notice.
I don't know if that means the software updates have fixed them all, or if I have just been lucky so far.
(really nice that it updates it's self over the cellular network for free, but I guess if they start utilizing a kill switch those "updates" could start to suck, but they are disable-able; currently.)
the main reason I think it is less open,
Even before amazon released the kindle, project gutenburg, google books, and majority of others had already chosen the epub format. Their was/is alott of free content available, that format is clearly being snubbed by amazon.
Removing the memory card reader from later releases also hurts open-ness, in that you can't swap non-drm files with any other reader, without a PC. Although the nook memory card is not all that accessible, it is available.
I agree the main attack is just with internet access, it is so much easier to get drm'd content than using a PC, means many won't go through the extra step that would be required (to be equal) with the sony readers for all content. And that Amazon already pulled the plug on a book sale using the internet kill switch.
You are correct, appears someone needs to edit the wiki I was looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_e-book_readers.
Still appears to be a draw with the more popular e-readers (except the kindle, and illiad) in open formats. Seams obvious the nook is the most hackable since it has been out for the least amount of time, and yet is one of the very few with applications developed for it by a 3rd party.
Why would you call the sony's "most" open? From what I see very few of the sony readers support any format but e-pub, the only readers that don't support that format is the kindle and Illiad. So it seams it is more open than those 2 e-readers. Sure it runs linux, like many others, but with only the 505 having a memory card it seams the least hackable of the many readers running linux.
The nook currently seams more open, it is fairly easy to hack, requiring only a micro-sd card, having wifi access, pdf access, and android having a SDK, easily the easiest developed for (once hacked.)
But even un-hacked it is more open than the Sony, simply plug the supplied USB into your PC, the internal memory and u-SD card show up as drives, drop mp3's or epub/pdf,etc into the folder labeled for them, done.
I will give you that using B&N store you will likely end-up with a bunch of drm'd files with more restrictive sharing (but not all that difficult to strip.) But it appears to me to you can use it identical to the Sony's, if you choose the same stores as you would with the Sony.
FYI, most US DigitalTV stations are UHF. since rabbit ears are very lousy UHF antennas... So while your old antenna may work fine; rabbit ears, without a UHF loop are not.
To receive what? Analog TV is dead in the US.
Maybe they are close to the boarder, Canada is still not all digital broadcast (until Aug 2011) not sure Mexico has announced any HD plans (I can still get several Mexican Analog stations but not likely from across the boarder, 50 miles away.)