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Unix for Reliability [WebTech]

The US Army is using WiFi and x86 PCs on the battlefield, according to MSN. Notable quote:
For reliability, Appliqué software runs on the Solaris operating system rather than Windows.
Yes, you read that right. According to MSN, Unix is more reliable than Windows, Solaris x86 to be specific.

posted at 12:18 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Wednesday, April 2

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? [Quickie]

Just to prove that there can be truth in myth (not that I believe the passage I cite from Job 41 is meant literally), it seems researchers finally have their hands on Leviathan the 'collosal squid', Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, which seems capable of tangling with sperm whales.

posted at 7:10 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Tuesday, April 1

The Disappeared [SocioPolitico]

So what would one do if officials turned up and dragged away a citizen to solitary confinement without charge or recourse, for indefinite detention and without explanation? Chances are that one would fear for one's own safety, perhaps consider fleeing as a refugee to a free country like the United States.

Unfortunately, in this case I am referring to the actions in the United States taken by Federal officers apparently acting withing the bounds of a law introduced by the current regime. How can this be possible? What is going on? I have no voice on this matter, being an 'alien', but maybe you do. Read the facts about the case of Intel employee Mike Hawash, an authority and published author on DirectX, who has no idea why he has been arrested and incarcerated as a 'material witness' and has no prospect of release - no crime, a US citizen of good standing, dragged away like a protester in a banana republic. Then, if you are as horrified as I am, take action. Or you could be next. Unlike Mike, Police State v1.0 is ready for release, it seems.

posted at 10:44 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Credible American Source [SocioPolitico]

After a considerable period wondering if there was any US news source that could claim even a fraction of credibility in reporting the war in Iraq, I have finally found the War Watch being run by John Paczkowski and John Murrell, diverted from their day jobs on SiliconValley.Com to scan the web and abstract all the news they can find. They ran a similar web log for the aftermath of 9/11 which was truly the best source of day-to-day news, and once again are finding the key voices in the international media. For example, they report on the Washington Monthly article that suggests the motive behind the heavy hand the Bush administration has chosen is a desire to stir up trouble in the region so it can be dealt with once and for all - well worth reading, and unlikely to surface in the sort of US media which would rather sack their staff than have them repeat their US-directed reports on Iraqi television. Highly recommended daily digest.

posted at 5:51 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Sunday, March 30

Summer Time [MetaBlog]

Just a FYI for all my American friends (and, come to that, foes) that Summer Time in the UK just started so until the US also switches (to Daylight Saving) on April 6 there's an extra hour difference between us...

posted at 2:31 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |