Posts by Captain Save-a-ho

Net downloads cause 'millions of lost jobs'

Like duh?!

Everyone knows that the real source of all these problems is ManBearPig...

Study shows gaming can hinder reading, writing progress

Key word is guided

Couldn't agree more, mate. People love to put their kids on "auto-pilot" instead of actively participating in their kids' development. That's why so many kids have their own TVs, phones, computers, DVD players, game consoles, ad infinitum.

It's moments like this that make me grateful that my parents were lower middle class and couldn't afford all the auto-pilot distractions of other families.

Didn't affect me either

Since there's an App for that.

Now about that coat...

Carly Fiorina downs sinister Democrat hot air balloon

So if the Republicans don't get it...

the Democrats or Liberatarians do? Wake up, dude. Politics sucks ass, regardless of party. The names may change, but this game has been played for the entirety of human history (at least as long as people have tried to organize into groups).

'Twitter gives voice to the voiceless' - eg the US President

Paris Hilton angle

Well, if Twitter gives a voice to the voiceless, do we REALLY have to spell how what Paris gives? That's like asking whether gravity is still relevant...

Mine's the one with the "My Coat" label on the back..

Drought effect on rainforests is negligible

Here's your chance to prove deniers wrong

Obviously, you can post your complaints about the coverage from El Reg. How about your put yourself to work and provide competing research that falls on the IPCC support side of things. Maybe you'll really sway people with some convincing evidence (or you'll shut your pie hole and crawl back under that rock you live under). I don't really care either way, but don't blame the Reg for covering a side that doesn't really appear important to the rest of the media now that there's no disasterous doom impending.

For the record, I'm an IT pro and not a scientist (though I have two Ph.D biologists in my immediate family who are convinced all this global climate change is real, but completely normal and not human influenced). Personally, I think very little in the "debate" has a damn thing to do with science, as most of the discussion is really just political bullshit, positioning one group against another for hands outs of money from the governments of the world (and people stupid enough to donate to such causes).

Any day someone can provide some real science, I'll gladly listen. Unfortunately, I don't expect that to occur any time soon, as climatology is really more of a soft science, like sociology and psychology. Call me a sceptic, but I thought that was a requirement for critical thinking and science in general.

Buying bandwidth in the app store

So, how to enforce such restrictions?

As soon as generic web access is available, all the bandwidth hogs become possible (especially since HTTP can become a conduit for other protocols). The alternative would require the carriers to carefully maintain a list of valid URLs or services for people to reach (which would quickly become tiresome and expensive to maintain).

Personally, the carrier want to make money, but don't want to realize that they set unrealistic expectations 10 years ago that they've never been able to overcome. Clearly, none of them want to be first, but the sooner they get the expectations in line, they'll be more profitable.

Of course, once people have to pay more, will they stay with any service? There's a fine line between raising prices and pissing off the sheeple.

All the more reason to NOT work for a carrier (glad I don't any longer!).

Paris, who knows all about blowing expectatations. :))

PayPal restores Cryptome for real

Paypal wins award

Somewhere in the universe, Paypal is right now running away with the award for Biggest Douche in the Universe (yes, even beating out John Edward).

It is impressive and noteworthy that, even in trying to fix things, they worked hard enough to somehow find a way to fuck that up too.

Cisco 'forever changes internet' with... a router

Yawn

So, in six years, after the failed predictions of Voice and Video explosions, perhaps Cisco will predict that they're prepping the CRS-5 for the "explosion" of peer-to-peer networking that clearly will start another Internet revolution.

Cisco promises to 'forever change the internet'

Probably has a Video aspect

Seems that every sales schlep from Cisco is pushing video in every sale they make, whether switches, routers, storage, etc. I bet this thing "revolutionizes" Video over IP, though I won't be holding my breath...

Intel investigates after retailer sold fake CPUs

Couldn't agree more

Newegg has fantastic customer service. Even people aren't enamored with the idea of supporting a particular vendor, no one can deny the greatness of their customer support. They handle things the right way.

The accused distributor (henceforth, IT which shall not be named) is really the one not handling this well. Newegg's response has been very geniune (i.e. we identified a mistake...we're taking care of our customers...we'll deal with the distributor). The weasels at IT which shall not be named are hiding behind lawyers instead of trying to put a positive spin on this. Good reputation can be gained by doing the right thing (like be honest, for starters).

Weasels don't know how to tell the truth.

'Severe' OpenSSL vuln busts public key crypto

Finally, real science is upon us

After all the pseudoscience discussions about Global Climate Change (or does it have yet another name now) and other "soft" sciences, glad to see some scientists working on really important stuff, like putting frickin laser beams on frickin server power supplies!

/sarcasm

Paris, who of course handles frickin beams of another sort altogether...

Woman called Window joins Apple

List of unapproved kid names

Names guaranteed to get your kid's ass kicked on a daily basis at school:

1. Outlet

2. Coupler

3. Tensionrod

4. HVAC

5. Floorjoist

6. Kitchensink and Kitchencounter (they were twins)

7. Lugnut

8. Shuttle

9. Ethel

10. Kickmehard

FCC talks National Broadband

National Public Safety?

Aren't all US radio and TV stations already required to have this capability today, activcated as the National Emergency Broadcasting System? There's nothing "public" or "safe" about this new proposal, other than a huge waste of tax money and yet another way for the government to create control.

It's astounding to me the levels of utter redundancy that exists in local, state/provincial, and national governments.

Never good when your government makes Apple look benevolent.

Sexy is as sexy does: UK.gov struggles with sexualisation

No problem with the eyes

That's what we like to call a one-bagger, mate...

Damn, where is that coat?!?

Link between sex and violence

As I understand current neuroscience, there is a functional link in the brain between both, as they originate from the same region of the brain (Frontal Lobe). The trick is that the Frontal Lobe is responsible for a lot of our brain functions where decision-making is concerned, which is really the issue. Your assessment is correct, in that any link between sex and violence does not indicate one leads to the other. The link occurs because most people derive pleasure from both, which sounds contradictory but in fact just indicates the base need that humans have for both. The "dopamine" link between sex and violence does not mean that one leads to the other. On the contrary, one can be a substitute for the other because of that need to "feel good".

I found this discussion by an M.D. to be useful in brushing up on the subject...

http://publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=681&xwm=true

T-Orange merger approved

All is good and agreeable in your eyes

Perhaps Jane Austen has come back from the dead?

No, the customer will not see one penny of that savings unless the competition compells T-Orange to do so, which coincidentally was the state of affairs before the merger too.

Has anyone suggested that they call the thing O-Mobile? Think of the girly ads that would follow, aka Bond-style "Oh, Mobile!".

Now, where's me coat?

Microsoft spits out 'browser choice' update to appease EC antitrust probe

Is this just because I've already got Firefox as default browser?

sigh...facepalm

When will we be able to go back to the good ole days of the 3 R's? Does NO ONE read anymore?

Jeez...for the love of all things techie, PLEASE READ the blasted thing next time.

Hero corduroy overpowers US school gunman

Can someone confirm?

Curious whether our intrepid instructor had the presence of mind to ask Mr. Eastwood if he felt lucky? God, I hope so. Epic Win, if he did.

Now about that coat...

HP puts own man in charge of ex-EDS

Exodus started last year

In the US, the mass exodus really began with the salary cuts in August. I made it out in November before the 3Com/H3C idiocracy gained any steam.

I'm looking the coat lined with my 5%, which I was supposed to get back because I left after Nov 1st...still no check. Coincidence? Doubtful.

Silicon Valley hypegasm for miracle shoebox powerplants

10 tons for the biggins

The 100kW unit won't be sold to the average home buyer, though I would expect to see it rolled into apartments, condo, office parks, and the like, where folks might need that kind of draw. I mean, it's not like I've got 480V, 3 phase running to the house for shits and giggles (if you do, seek professional help).

The tech might help with fuel-cell batteries as well, given the size of a single cell is about half the volume of a typical laptop battery (no idea about the weight per cell). The 10 tons figure includes several other components beyond just the cells. Not sure about the heat output of a cell either, as that could be the downfall of the whole idea where most battery-powered devices are concerned.

BTW, for those unfamiliar with such Yank speak, biggins is Southern slang for "big ones".

No platinum used

Based on the inteview I saw, these things use some cheap, common alloy instead of platinum, zirconium, or other standard fuel cell materials. The substrate is also supposed to be nothing more than a baked piece of sand, as the ink used on each side is the "secret sauce" involved.

Also, the efficiency numbers for these things are not exactly as perfect as typical fuel cells (estimated as > 50%, FWIW).

Estimates are pretty good

And the truth will set you free (or at least prevent some type of indigestion):

http://www.bloomenergy.com/products/data-sheet/

The large unit delivers 100kW from 0.661 MMBtu/hr of natural gas. The report from "60 Minutes" showed a small bundle for US homes (double for UK, based on VAC, i assume...might be reversed though). Looked like about 10-12 of the individual fuel cells in a bundle to produce 1kW (so roughly 4.5A per cube?).

To me, the technology is the still somewhat short-term, based on the need for a fuel component. I will say this presents the best idea I've seen so far, as I can't imagine anyone wanting a mini-nuke sitting in their backyard or attic. Still need someone to figure out an upgrade for Solar or XRay panels...that will destroy all the conventional energy discussions for a very long time.

Google execs protest Italian guilty verdicts

Not so easy

Glad to know you'll be funding the employees needed to monitor the top 10 and pull down videos that might be offensive. It's always cheaper for companies to "beg forgiveness than get permision". What a crock of shit! Let's burn Bibles too while we're feeling so liberal and censoring.

People need to get over themselves. Life is too short to worry so much about what offends others. Only way to prevent it from happening is an extinction-level event. I'm sure then, people would still be bitching that Google didn't predict that coming and we should sue them.

Fucktards, all around.

iPhone: The OS with big aspirations

Also, supposed to describe Macs in general

Isn't this the same fanboi drivel we've all had to hear since 1984? It's a computer that just works. I don't have to worry about crashing and stuff.

It's all bollocks, every last bit of it. Do Mac users forget the days of extensions cocking up your Powerbook? Take off the rose-colored glasses for a sec and realize that plenty of non-Mac, non-Linux users NEVER have a problem with Windows crashing, or getting viruses. I'll tempt the Internet gods by stating I've been clean since the Chernobyl virus in 1999. It's possible and should be likely, if people weren't such sheep for using IE. Using Firefox, Opera, or Safari eliminates most of those threats anyway.

Car thieves making clean getaway with GPS jammers

Er...and the jammers are pretty common place

Whether you want CDMA, GSM, GPS, or VHF...jammers galore available for ready purchase, thanks to the miracle of the Internet:

www.jammer-store.com

US must redesign killer hot dogs

So long and thanks for all the sarcasm

Next time, i'll include a sarcasm meter for those unable to decode it properly (maybe a big sign with tits on it to grab attention?).

A word of wisdom from George Carlin

Fuck the children. People have a child fetish and it's just disgusting (why isn't this woman being prosecuted as a pedo?). To paraphrase a bit, the kid who is too stupid to masticate his hot dog before swallowing isn't supposed to make it.

As humans, we have gotten so completely wrapped up in trying to save every last one of our kind that we can hardly even fathom that there's not more we can do. We shouldn't have to worry about the .000000000001% of the world's population that die because they don't properly chew their food. If you're such an awesome fucking parent, TEACH YOUR KIDS TO CHEW, fucktard!

OK, I'm better now. Where's me coat?

ODF's doomed mission to break into Microsoft Office

Ugh...

Let me say, to all you prospective trolls, that I strongly support open source software (i.e. free as in beer) and use it wherever I can.

However, people need to get over themselves with the wording used in the ballot. It virtually the same wording used in Office 2007 if you try to save in the old 2000/2003 formats. There's no "conspiracy" by Microsoft to drive out all ye ODF supporters, though they have complete latitude (as they should) to attempt to offer features in their own format and software that exceed all other competitors.

Since when is it bad for competitors to attempt to compete? Again, get over yourselves.

Global warming worst case = Only slight misery increase

Computer models for climate are shit

It's high time we throw out the entire idea of computer modeling where the climate and weather are concerned. They've proven resoundingly that no predictions can be made with any real level of accuracy, besides telling what we already know if we walk outside.

Maybe all these eggheads should spend their time trying to find a pattern in Old Testament Hebrew for predicting the future. It's just as likely to be accurate as the complete shit they're producing now.

Definitely needs to be labeled a "soft" science, like Sociology and Psychology (both bullshit in general).

IBM packs 'em in vertically

Perfect example for never trusting a vendor

The contention that a rackful of DCS-9900 can provide 1.2PB of storage is EXTREMELY misleading, as that assumes either a RAID 0 or JBOD configuration. Based on the 2TB drives and a RAID 6 configuration for each 10 pack, the actual, usable storage works out to only 960TB. This also assumes a 42-RU rack would be used, fitting 10 of these things in with precious little space available for airflow.

Does 960TB really sound that much less impressive than 1.2PB? It's not like they're trying to sell these things to sheeple the world over, though I suppose that's a bit of optimism on my part to assume no sheeple work in IT.

Frosty fanbois navigate iPhone with sausage

Who would guess?

Did anyone see the Koreans coming up with another use for our weiners?

Paris, who knows all about what to do with a big, plump sausage...

Red Dwarf's Kryten exposes iPhone number

Most intimate digits?

All I see on here is a box and some paper? To say the least, I'm relieved that this isn't NSFW.

And no one wants a PlayMobil recreation either.

And iHate.

Surplus astronaut right-sizing imminent at NASA?

What[s the big deal?

I certainly disagree with the decision to scrap the Constellation program, though here's the offshoot:

"...more funds will be channelled into an existing scheme for private rocket firms...to provide space lift under NASA contract"

So, all those NASA employees (astronauts included) should have opportunities in the private sector, which should outnumber the public sector jobs just based on the number of companies preparing to get in this new market.

It's actually a pretty shocking conclusion, given just how anti-freemarket the current US administration seems to be.

Drink beer not fizzy pop for pity's sake, say boffins

NEWS FLASH!

This just in...some things you eat and drink might kill you after you're no longer young.. Oh the horror!

Glad for the note on beer, though it's also clear that alcohol poisoning isn't any good either.

When will we finally have a studied that concludes that people should just indulge themselves moderately in all these things (and most other things too).

Microsoft tests show no Win 7 battery flaw

May not be battery-specific flaw

There's several sites that have reported that Win7 uses more power than Vista and XP on the same hardware, based on additional features intended to maximize the user experience. If there's not a batter-specific reason, people should be aware of the difference in draw.

Having used 7 for the past 6 months and Vista for the two years before that, it sure seems to that 7 took a step backward in power management. Even the time required to sleep seems exceesive, compared to Vista on the same hardware (laptop and desktop).

Guess this means MS, IBM, HP, Dell, Sony, etc. are all in cahoots to sell more batteries.

Sci-fi and fantasy authors wade into Amazon spat

Conspiracy? You betcha!

I'm disgusted too with the lack of backbone from Amazon, letting the tail wag the dog, but I don't think we can call the "recouperation" line any sort of bullshit as of yet. Notice the words:

"Macmillan reckons...that it needs to charge that much to recoup its investment."

If you substitute "profit" for "investment", this whole thing makes bloody perfect sense, since EVERYONE knows that Macmillen and other publishers are in this to make money and not be charitable. There's still costs to pay the author for the work itself. More costs for editors and other people to work on the content, formating, page layout, etc.

But are there any distribution costs involved? Not in these deals (although, perhaps the Amazon deal includes some guarantee of money to secure distribution of the books...it still can't be near what they pay for printing, etc).

OK, I take it back. It's bullshit.

E-book readers are a satisfied lot

Very satisifed with B&N Nook

I've had my Nook for about a month and absolutely love it. The only downside is the use of AT&T's network for wireless access (SUCKS!).

Obama to scrap Moon, Mars expeditions - report

Obama compared to Kennedy

Here in the states (sry, colonies), people seemed to be quick to compare Obama to JFK. I wonder how well that comparison is holding up now.

Steve Jobs uncloaks the 'iPad'

Apparently the world is flat...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/08/iphone_worm_rickrolls_users/print.html

What was that about no viruses?

Rubber Duck banned from txt

You said a mouthful

"but in most cases it's easier for legislature to pass laws than enforce the existing ones"

They wouldn't have jobs otherwise! It's no wonder people want to group polictians at the bottom of the ocean with lawyers and preachers,.

EMC blows CIFS benchmark away

Re: Don't compare NFS vs CIFS results

Couldn't agree more. These sorts of "leaps" of mathematics always smack of people who have never been involved in any real testing. It's one thing to make a leap within a single product or a vendor's line of products. It's another to assume that because one vendor saw a particular result, others will be the same.

I'm a big fan, El Reg. But this is the worst analysis ever.

Epic Fail.

California school pulls 'oral sex' dictionary

Protecting Children?

As a parent, you want to protect your child from harm, like stopping him/her before they try to ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel or showing their friends your gun collection. Information, however, isn't a bad thing at all. You can and should discuss the child's curiosities, so they understand why people are reacting like described here. The kids won't get the big picture implications, but I think you hurt the child more by scolding them and put a prohibition on the topic. Doesn't mean you should get for them the Bert and Ernie's Red Hot Sesame Street Love video, but don't make them ashamed of perfectly natural curiosities.

I agree with George Carlin on this one. People have put their kids on a pedestal and it's not healthy. Fuck the children.

Oil companies hit by 'state' cyber attacks, says report

Why should we care about this?

I really hope lawmakers ignore this issue, as it's really not a public-sector problem at all. Let the private sector bear this cost themselves. If anything, the only government responsibility should be to investigate the intrusions and determine who to go after.

New laws won't prevent this sort of thing. THERE ARE ALREADY LAWS FOR INTRUSION...JUST FUCKING ENFORCE THEM, ASSHOLES!

<Sigh>OK, I feel better now.

Australia leaves the internet

Theory vs. Reality

Like most government policies and programs across the world (i.e. failed), the proponents of this censorship plan obviously suffer from the common ability to separate theory from reality. In theory, having measure to protect nations from "harmful" Internet in general sounds attractive and, on some level, necessary.

The thing going for all opponents in this disaster-laden plan is the lack of any sense of reality, which will clearly doom this endeavor without much trouble. Why is the bleeding-obvious so hard for some wankers to perceive?

Epic fail awaits...

NSA beats warrantless wiretap rap

Another lawsuit to come...

It's pretty clear from the judge's comments that the expectation for a better case exists if the suit is brought as a class-action suit. There's certainly an open door for it, and I for one won't be surprised when we see this...

Anything involving lawyers is (virtually) an automatic fail.

iPad pictures revealed

Yawn

The 27th can't get here fast enough. Isn't anyone else sick of hearing about this mythical iCrap?

BTW, Apple already has a tablet called the Newton. Sucked then and I'm sure Newton mark 2 will be just as much of a yawn.

Why Bono is wrong about filesharing

Re: Just a little point

" don't encourage piracy, but all these industries need to urgently modernize and pass a decent proportion of the cost savings created by electronic forms of media or they'll have no business at all."

Don't disagree. Logically, digital forms of media should cost less than the standard, analog forms we've been accustomed to for so long. However, there are startup costs associated with the digitizing. distribution. and rights-management of these media...startup costs that will be born by the first wave of customers to the digital form. In eBooks, the price will go down over time, as those startup costs are recovered and only the ongoing costs need recovery. I doubt the same thing will happen in music, because of the other factors (fat cat music companies and the Recording Industry Ass. of America).

All service providers face a dilemna in how to recover startup costs for any multi-tenant or consumer-facing service. Generally, the first in line get screwed, which is why I tend to wait for the "dust to settle", as it were.

Mr Sanders, your article was thoughtful and logical, even if I doubt the long-term prospects of buffet-style digitial media for reasons beyond the discussion of your article.

Windows plagued by 17-year-old privilege escalation bug

Reason to move to 64-bit Windows

None of the 64-bit versions are vulnerable, as they don't have the 16-bit subsystems available...

What Ballmer and Hurd should announce this afternoon

Re: Virtualised tablet?

If you want that, download the Android SDK.

Let's hope to god this isn't another stupid touchscreen device or an iPhone killer. Ugh. They make feel like telling all the kids to run along and play while us grown-ups get some real work done.