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User: challen

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  1. Time Zones on Mars Climate Orbiter AWOL · · Score: 1

    Crossing all those millions of miles obviously put the probe a bazillion time zones ahead of us. The resulting navigational error was simply the result of unforeseen Y2K problems of course!

  2. Mirriam-Webster on AOL Sues Over "You've Got Male" · · Score: 1

    Sounds a lot like AOL's legal team saw the same "3rd Rock" rerun that I did. Dick is insanely jealous of an author friend of Jane Curtin's, so he barges into the booksigning. "This man is a fraud! Every word of this book has been published before! Perhaps you've heard of...(thumping a large tome on the desk with a righteous flourish) The Dictionary!"

  3. Re:Alright, now I'm confused... on AOL Sues Over "You've Got Male" · · Score: 1

    This movie was largely underwritten by AOL. It had the effect of turning a dull, tepid movie into a dull, tepid commercial, a trend that hopefully will die a silent death. If not, look for things like "'Just Do It!' the story of a May-December romance between a lonely marathon runner and an aging power walker.' Complete with Nike swooshes in every scene.

  4. Re:NSA...ther're no dummies on Microsoft NSA key Follow-Up · · Score: 1

    As I understand ECHELON, it involves the UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand as major players. Although it is illegal for the NSA to directly spy on US citizens, ECHELON removes this roadblock by allowing the data gathered on US citizens by our allies to be used by the NSA, and vice versa. I have some doubts about this whole NSAKey thing being genuine, but to say that it would be valueless or superfluous to the NSA (if true AND kept secret) is ridiculous. It would be far easier to use one back door in the OS that overwhelmingly dominates the market than it would be to keep trying to exploit security flaws that people keep finding and plugging. As far as cloak and dagger "turning" of a human agent, as has been suggested, well that leaves potential whistleblowers and witnesses. And it's only good for Company A or Organization B. But a master key that lets you peek into anybody's computer at any time? Well, if you were the NSA wouldn't you think that was a pretty handy little tool?

  5. Re:A wake up call ... to who? on HERF Gun: Make it in your basement · · Score: 2

    It's supposed to be a wake up call for better shielding. Of course in the PC market that wouldn't happen unless the government forced the issue, simply because nobody would pay the extra money for such equipment without a demonstrable threat. I know I don't want to plop down an extra $200 when I buy a PC. In the Air Force we have a certification program called TEMPEST. The computers are all shielded in solid steel cases, and that's just to reduce electronic noise to prevent eavesdropping. The shielding required for that is expensive (and heavy!) I don't want to guess how much shielding would be required to protect computers from something like a powerful HERF gun.