How was he able to discuss it with the EFF?

@34:

You should know that giving some internet traffic a higher QoS would not give *us* better terms of service. It would give iTunes and Hulu an Microsoft better terms of service, and lock out anyone that dared to compete with them.

Then the people who maintain the backbone, they charge the ISPs? Ah, it's all so complicated, but thanks for your help.

At that level they have peering agreements to manage passing data between large networks. All else being equal, whichever is exporting more data pays. There are other factors though, such as how valuable access to a certain network is to the other party, whether traffic is passed through to the other parties other peers (it usually is) and the relative values of those networks vs. the ones they provide.

Is the driver to be expected to identify the passenger by his ass?

Hasn't Seagate already been sued for using the incorrect definition of (kilo|mega|giga|)byte?

Where do I sign up for a degree in sending someone to the moon?

Critical Mass has been heard. Ad nauseum.

They aren't trying to be heard, or to change people's minds. They're using force to impede those they disagree with. I'd compare it to anti-choice protests outside abortion clinics, but at least those assholes stop short of physically impeding access.

I say this as someone who doesn't own a car. Critical Mass blocks pedestrian and public transit as well. It needs to stop, and if that means banning bicycles, so be it. That's the message they're sending.

No, there's not a constitutional right to drive, nor is there a constitutional right to bicycle, or to be on the road at all for that matter.

This isn't a free speech issue. If Critical Mass wants to hold a protest, fine, but not once a month for a decade.

Free assembly does not grant you the right to intentionally and continually make yourself a hazard to navigation.

While a higher consumer gas price would be a positive thing in the US, it'd be terrible for industry (which isn't abusing fossil fuels).

People living in the suburbs should be financial encouraged to either work there or move, but there's really nothing we can do about transporting goods east/west. Whether by train or by truck, it gets there by dead dinosaurs, and there's not much we can do about that. Further, the food we eat is essentially biologically processed oil.

If we run out of viable oil, we're fucked as a species, far more than we would be under even the most pessimistic global warming predictions. We *need* to develop an efficient biofuel production method that doesn't require foodstock as an input.

@2:

Unfortunately we're still stuck in the 19th century model of democracy, tying representation to geography rather than demography. Cory would have the support of a great number of Canadians, but they're not concentrated in any one riding.

I think it's fair to say that this guy is not in fact a famous painter, in fact there are no living famous painters. I'd further argue that his work is not art, but masturbation. It has no value in and of itself, but exists only to stroke his and his patrons egos.

I'm reasonably certain none of those things are in fact supernatural.

It's a bit disturbing how ephemeral the medium of our age is. How well will this period be remembered in 2094?

@jere7my

That's really not good enough. They've shown where their priorities are, and I'll be voting with my wallet (and bittorrent) accordingly.

@zikzak

Should women then be required to get permission from men to abort? That doesn't seem fair to me, but it's the implication of what you suggest.

As long as you're American. All other nationalities need not apply.

This just reinforces my perception that transgenderism isn't about the private life of the person in question, but rather about putting everyone else into predefined boxes.

Don't tell me what being a man/woman or straight/gay should mean to me.

@9 Sentient yes, sapient no.

@28

What about Tom Selleck?

@13

I might agree, but the professor in question acknowledges that these aren't uncommon. Further, they allowed access to it for several years.

Has Goodman event attempted to make them an offer? It sounds like he's just being greedy.

@1

Also, professor's salaries.

I think the iPhone/iPod non removable batteries have a lot more to do with planned obsolescence than design.

What would happen if he *did* pay off this mortgage, and some other bank later produced the paperwork? Do you really think they'd just go away because he'd payed someone else?

He hasn't done anything wrong. He has every right to insist the bank have its papers in order. They certainly wouldn't let him get away with anything less.

Your right to smoke ends at my lungs, period. You have every right to smoke whatever you like, but the responsibility to keep it to yourself is yours and yours alone. Since most smokers refuse govern themselves, it has to be legislated.

Here in BC, we just passed legislation banning smoking in all public places (which bars are), within 6 meters of any air intake of a building (such as doors), or a bus stop.

Smash the looms, before they take our jeorbs!

I wonder why they overcharge non Americans.

I find this rampant technophobia disturbing. Why are people so afraid of biotech?

Please leave us to our looms in peace.