Comment Re:LWN (Score 1) 361
Ditto; and you've saved me from having to post as such
(Happy subscriber for the last 4+ years)
Comment Re:Thinly veiled stab at MySQL (Score 1) 287
I couldn't help but think the poster/story was just looking to ignite the normal PostgreSQL vs MySQL comments.
Submission + - UK Police retains DNA data despite promise not to (circulartriangle.com)
redalien writes: "In 2008 I invited two policemen into my home and voluntarily gave them a DNA and fingerprint sample to help with a murder investigation, as they'd promised it would only be used for that investigation. I was never under any suspicion and could just as easily have said no. Almost a year after the investigation closed they have now confirmed that they've retained my samples and at my request have begun an investigation to see if there are sufficient "exceptional circumstances" to remove them.
I'm not the only one that was told samples would be removed, so if you've had such a promise from the police I recommend contacting their data protection registrar immediately."
I'm not the only one that was told samples would be removed, so if you've had such a promise from the police I recommend contacting their data protection registrar immediately."
NASA Plans Test of New Plasma Drive 266
Sallust writes "Flightglobal has an interesting article about the testing of a new electrically powered plasma engine called the Vasimir. It's being developed by former astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz and promises to greatly reduce the time and fuel required for interplanetary journeys. According to the article: 'The Vasimir involves the injection of a gas such as hydrogen into an engine that turns it into a plasma. That plasma is then energised further using radio signals as it flows through the engine, a process controlled by electromagnetic waves from superconducting magnets. Accelerated and heated through this process the plasma is focused and directed as exhaust by a magnetic nozzle. Vasimir is many times more efficient than conventional chemical rockets and far less fuel is needed.' The developers are finalising an agreement with NASA to fit a scaled-down version of the engine to the ISS to conduct operational tests. There is also a concept video on YouTube suggesting a journey time for a manned craft to Mars on the order of 60-70 days."
Comment Re:Got to go to a tropical island for three months (Score 1) 122
well, at the very least they have to go to France for the launch anyway :)
The professor involved did spend most of a year sailing around the Carribean a few years ago, so you might not be far from the truth there :).
I've heard it's undergone some considerable testing, so would hope it'll at least get half way (a bit like Beagle the space ship thing)
The professor involved did spend most of a year sailing around the Carribean a few years ago, so you might not be far from the truth there
I've heard it's undergone some considerable testing, so would hope it'll at least get half way (a bit like Beagle the space ship thing)
