Not sure why I should read an article written by someone who doesn't appear to know the difference between rivalrous and non-rivalrous goods.

Excuse me, I need to pick my jaw up off the floor.

You've got the data, slashdot. You figure it out.

In the book in question, Aragorn refers to them as "tiny little dwarves with furry paws." It really is an entertaining book, though I'm only a quarter of the way into it.

DDoS attacks should be opposed regardless of the target. The Internet (for better or worse) operates on the "Play Nice" principle.

It's going to be fun to watch the back and forth between evercookie and the anti-evercookie.

I would not dispute this sentiment. The problem is that there is not, in general, a bright line between "copying other people's stuff" and "creating your own work." That is the essence of pretty much all disputes about copyrights/patents.

He'll always be the face of Microsoft here on Slashdot.

Why are we laboring under the illusion that Comedy Central cares about free speech? They aren't compromising any deeply held principles. They have decided that it is better for their bottom line that they self-censor, nothing more. We don't have to like it (I don't), but it's their company.

There is a reason Star Trek had such an affect on society/industry/science. "To boldly go where no man has gone before.." That appealed directly to our species sense of adventure/curiosity.

Plus, Kirk always got the hot chicks.

I had an IEEE sponsored plan a few years back. I think it was only available to US members (which shouldn't be a problem since most other countries take care of health insurance one way or another). It was expensive and the coverage wasn't great. It was one of the main reasons I said yes when my current contract asked to hire me full time. Most people don't understand how expensive this stuff is because it's hidden in the deductions on their paycheck. It's a big problem.

I also grew up in a Mennonite family and am now a software developer. My father grew up in a much more traditional Mennonite community in Saskatchewan and is very computer savvy. One of the things you have to realize is that a lot of Mennonites are farmers. Farmers are some of the biggest gadgetry geeks there are.

Exactly! The only really effective means to combat this would have to be done on the same level of covert-ness at which the botnets themselves run (i.e. if I tell you about it, I have to kill you). It may already be happening. It would be an interesting research project to go looking for it.

Three computers, four monitors, two operating systems, one keyboard, one mouse. Synergy is awesome.

I have three computers (2 OSes) with 4 monitors all tied together with one keyboard/mouse via Synergy