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Comment While they're at it... (Score 4, Informative) 448

They should also disable the Adobe Download Manager (Adobe DLM). For any of you that have downloaded Adobe Reader 9 (with Firefox) recently, you would have noticed that they make you install a Firefox add-on instead of just linking you to the binary.

It's proprietary and full of ads! Just what I wanted, an extension that checks for updates of my Adobe Reader software. Uninstalled. The Firefox team should send a message. Firefox add-ons are not yours to take over like the Windows startup.

Comment Re:What's the point in wating for markets to turn (Score 1) 215

I've heard the bang-for-your-buck argument in favor of Phenom II, but I don't think it holds up when you consider that an i7 (920) setup is only $300-$400 more, will last much longer than a Phenom II, and presently blows it out of the water in CPU-intensive tasks (especially when OC'd). When you spread that money over two or three years, in the long run its a better deal to just upgrade to the X58 chipset.

Comment Re:Learning is fundamental (Score 1) 564

I don't really see the point of using the term 'analytic' to describe a historical tradition if it's not going to mark a distinction of some kind. Virtually every contemporary philosopher claims to be 'analytic', even if their methods vary wildly. When people start calling Plantinga an analytic philosopher, you know the term has lost most of its meaning. What I'm talking about is the tradition that focuses on analysis, which would include Frege, the Vienna philosophers, Quine, and others. However, my claims may be a bit biased since my department is a top school in history of philosophy and philosophy of religion and only has 3 or 4 professors (out of 25) that are trained to teach 'analytic' topics.

Comment Re:Unhappy? (Score 1) 193

Why resort to a method of getting your cardio up that beats the crap out of your joints when you can get the same exact effect another way?

To be exact, you're not getting the same effect. High-impact exercises build bone density. Astronauts who exercise in space lose bone density no matter how much they exercise, and the same is true of people on earth as they get older.

Comment Re:Learning is fundamental (Score 1) 564

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but academia is still tied up with traditional philosophical issues. There are only a few departments in the US that I know of that are mostly analytic. This includes UMich, Pittsburgh, MIT, and Rutgers. I'm sure there are others. The problem is that most people get into philosophy because the "old questions" interest them. Most of the interesting issues in philosophy of science, logic, and language are just not that interesting to people. Most people want to focus on metaphysics, ethics, and other questionable areas.
The Courts

The Shady Business Practices of Classmates.com 275

eldavojohn writes ""Some of your classmates are trying to contact you!" reads one e-mail. Attempts to remove yourself from the mailing list may only result in more mailings from the site of ill repute. Well, Ars Techica brings us news of a suit against Classmates.com. You don't need to look far for anti-classmates.com sentiment spreading like wild fire across the tubes." Good next target: ads that say "you've already won" some expensive toy.

Comment Re:Everyone should study some philosophy (Score 2, Insightful) 204

that is only unified by its tools and methods.

Even that might be a stretch. In my experience methodological differences divide philosophers as much as they unite them via syllogistic reasoning. The philosopher that rejects metaphysics will reason much differently than those that don't. He will focus on linguistic analysis rather than the study of objects and properties. This is a pretty divisive methodological difference IMHO.

Operating Systems

What Normal Users Can Expect From Ubuntu 8.10 511

notthatwillsmith writes "With Ubuntu 8.10 due to be released in just a few days, Maximum PC pored through all the enhancements, updates, and new features that are bundled into the release of Intrepid Ibex and separated out the new features that are most exciting for Linux desktop users. Things to be excited about? With new versions of GNOME and X.Org, there's quite a bit, ranging from the context-sensitive Deskbar search to an audio and video compatible SIP client to the new Network Manager (manage wired, Wi-Fi, VPN, and cellular broadband connections in one place)."

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