BDown

My previous laptop ran very, VERY hot (resting temp was about 70C, under load it hit 100C). Although it did have vents underneath, the main exhaust area was on the left side. I mostly had problems with it overheating when it was on my bed or something (rather predictably), but regardless it was still hot. I bought a cooler for it to rest on very shortly after getting it, and never really had problems after that. Until it finally burned out a few months ago. Now I have an Asus (old one was HP), also with the vent on the side and I have no problems with it. Under load it only gets to 50-60C, currently (not doing much, with my cooler on my desk) it's at 39C. I think the main reason they don't put it on the back if the top part (where the screen is) is flush with the lower part (where the keyboard is) once the monitor is opened, it blocks the back edge. I'm sure this would be an easy problem to solve and I agree that it would be a nice design. It would also allow more room on the sides for more ports.

by Aphex Twin from the album Richard D. James (1996)

That's probably more accurate than the link I posted... (It was "Fade to Black" by Metallica)

I try not to think about it, because whatever it's like will be impossible to conceive of. Heaven/Hell? Who knows what it will be like, could be anything. Nothingness? Good luck trying to imagine what that's like. I think it's better to not focus on it because you'll never really get anywhere. I just hope its as awesome as

I'll just leave this here...

Nice one! I really enjoyed V, however I think it had been hyped up too much and didn't find it lived up to my expectations. Not that it isn't a great movie, it just really sucks when something like that happens.

It works for me (or at least it did when I used it last). You're talking about password saving right? What browser do you use? I use Firefox v8.0 This is the part of the log in that I'm talking about picture tab doesn't take me from username to password. So I often end up trying to login with the password box left empty by accident. Have you tried hitting tab twice? I'm using Opera and when I have the Username field selected and hit tab it takes me to the "Log me on automatically each visit" check box, and I have to hit tab again to get to the Password box.

Awesome song, but I must confess I only found it through Guitar Hero 2. by Arty (2011)

What's this? This Also why America is fat:

by Little People from the album Mickey Mouse Operation (2006)

He who laughs last has the slowest internet connection.

Dear god, that is hilarious. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. On topic: by Metallica from the album Ride the Lightning (1984)

THEN WHO WAS PHONE?!?

Every time I read the topic I see: Re: Christmas pictures, drawings and screenshots (heavy image) So here it is...

What about true randomness?

Very interesting to consider. One (bad) solution would be for people to just start declaring bankruptcy I guess. I mean, if the state governments are doing it, not not the citizens? Ignoring that train of thought altogether, I read an interesting article in the NYT about a possible way to solve the economic hardships (not necessarily) debt by increasing inflation. I couldn't find the article (I'll keep looking) so I'll try to explain it as best I can remember. Basically, because so many people are unemployed, nobody wants to spend any of their money. People are making any, so they aren't spending any. Causing inflation, albeit very controlled inflation, the American people would then have a reason to spend their money. It's basically like using a defibrillator on the economy, it's very dangerous if used improperly, but in the right circumstances it can save a life. EDIT: Found the article: "Could Every Day Be Black Friday?" It's basically saying that we need people to shop like its black friday every day (ok not THAT crazily, but still) in order to stimulate the economy.

Recently, Trevor Eckhart uncovered an app for smartphones which he demonstrated in this video is running in the background from the time for first set up your phone. He also shows that Carrier IQ (hereafter, CIQ) has permissions to access just about anything; "calling phone numbers, sending text messages, reading text messages, getting location, recording audio, changing network connectivity" (about 7:00 in the video). The odd part is when he tries to stop the application by "Force Stopping" it, but the button does nothing (7:40 in the video). To see Eckhart demonstrating CIQ monitoring user actions, skip to part 4 (around 8:30). So, why should we care? Well, if the video didn't get your attention, consider that although CIQ is demonstrated on an HTC phone, it has been found on a wide range of phones "BlackBerries, Nokias, and more" (1:00 in the video). Also, on CIQs website they proudly display on their homepage that the app is running on over 141,000,000 handsets. Google estimates that the population of the United States is about 307,007,000, so that would mean that if all of these handsets are in the US, 46% of the population is being monitored. Yesterday, CIQ (the company) issued an updated press statement which you can read here (a short pdf). In the statement they say "We measure and summarize performance of the device to assist Operators in delivering better service. While a few individuals have identified that there is a great deal of information available to the Carrier IQ software inside the handset, our software does not record, store or transmit the contents of SMS messages, email, photographs, audio or video. For example, we understand whether an SMS was sent accurately, but do not record or transmit the content of the SMS." They also state that the amount of data collected is up to the service provider: "Each implementation is different and the diagnostic information actually gathered is determined by our customers – the mobile operators." Which ever side you take is up to you, but I believe it's a little bit suspicious that after Eckhart's video was released Carrier IQ tried to "silence" him with a cease-and-desist notice, and did not back down and apologize until the Electronic Frontier Foundation stepped in. What are your thoughts on this issue? Personally, I find it disturbing how widespread and high up the ladder this is. Nowadays, mobile phones are basically computers, except we carry them with us 24/7. Image if your ISP just decided to start monitoring all of your computer activity. It seems like it's only a matter of time until the government gets involved, why would they need to put tracking bugs on you if you're carrying one around with you all the time, especially if it can gather much more information than where you are. On top of that, what are your service providers doing with all of this information? Sure they may be using it for legitimate reasons, improving your battery life, improving their network for less dropped calls and such, but do they store it? Does it ever get erased after a certain time period? Are they selling it to market research companies? Even if they do keep the information private and erase it after x days, with all of the network security breaches these days, who's to say Anonymous won't hack in and publicize all of the personal data? Anyway, I thought all of you should be aware of this. /rant

Megatsunamis: ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lituya_Bay_megatsunami ...I withdraw my statement. See also: Before you pack your bags to run off to Alaska, consider the fact that it's the home to the worlds 2nd highest Richter scale recording (9.2 in 1964), as well as an 8.7 in 1965, and an 8.6 in 1957. Not to mention the risks of the oil industry; the Exxon Valdez spill occurred off Alaskan coasts. There's also the 1958 Lituya Bay Megatsunami. Come to think of it, they must have gotten all of their bad luck in the 1950s and 60s, should be pretty safe by now.

Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden (4:52) from the album The Number of the Beast (1982)

This was me a few weeks ago...

long range new or used?

I was playing through HL2 recently, messing about and trying to get out of the level wherever I could (this was on XBox 360 so (almost) no physics glitching). After the part where Gregori gives you the shotgun and you kill 3 or 4 fast zombies I managed to skip straight to the graveyard. The only problem was getting past the final gate. Gregori's not there to lift it up for you and you can't climb over it. I had to use the physics glitch to escape that part. I did some googling and haven't found anything exactly the same, . I'll try to post a video of it this weekend.

I had cereal followed by a body raping workout. I hate required exercise classes.

Indeed, the freezing temp for water is 32°F, although that can be lowered by adding salt. So the real question is, how much salt was added to this 30°F water?

Before you pack your bags to run off to Alaska, consider the fact that it's the home to the worlds 2nd highest Richter scale recording (9.2 in 1964), as well as an 8.7 in 1965, and an 8.6 in 1957. Not to mention the risks of the oil industry; the Exxon Valdez spill occurred off Alaskan coasts. There's also the 1958 Lituya Bay Megatsunami. Come to think of it, they must have gotten all of their bad luck in the 1950s and 60s, should be pretty safe by now . On another note, my area doesn't usually get hit with any disasters except flooding occasionally. I have some pics from the flooding this year, it was the worst flooding in over 100 years. Those were taken before the worst of it, I believe it rose another 5-7 feet after that. I was fortunate, but many here weren't as lucky. Much of the damage still hasn't been repaired.