With my provider, the 'movie' package which includes HBO and 8 other movie channels, as well as all the on demand stuff, is $16. The problem is that I have to take the 'basic' service which is 30 some odd channels of garbage just to have the option to choose the 'movie' package, and that is $40. If I can finally drop the crap and pick only what I want I'd be thrilled. I don't want 15 French channels, but I have no choice. This is amazing news and I can't wait, if it's true.

I've done that, and yes it does take a lot of alcohol.

3 constants in every new version of MS 1: A new icon 2: A new name 3: A new location. Overall new functionality, near zero.

How long does it take for the cluster to rebuild after a drive fails, and does this involve downtime?

Don't forget the ever popular measure of "football field" in the US.

I do believe that the sentiment you express here is exactly what Google are hoping the patent office, lawmakers, etc, will finally realize. It's what I first thought when I read it. I also believe they already have a list of examples prepared when they get challenged on this new patent. I also think they will also patent all kinds of other silly things real soon. The sillier the better. The system is broken, clearly, and perhaps they think that if they lean on it a little it will come crashing down. Here's to hoping.

Her Majesty's is not a variant, it's the original. ( ... cue pedants)

This is not a surprise. I said something like this would start happening http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1859240&cid=34166882

It's called discretion, and no one knows what it is anymore.

Pretty much. There always an "ist" of some sort to battle against. There were fascists, that went away. Then came communists, that got old. Now it's terrorist. You have to tell people who the bad guys are or else they start looking at what you've been up to.

Because all those "remove me from your mailing list" options have worked so well...

Do not have a cabin door. Flight crew have their meals in with them, have their own toilets, and use a separate hatch to access their work environment. If there's no way to get to them there will be zero hijackings.

Which brings us back to my question.

Soap, Ballot, Jury, Ammo.

Which one are you at?

Football. Take away football. People will flip right-the-fuck-out.

Sad, isn't it?