] This is a bizarre comparison because x86 is a CPU
] architecture, and Unix is an operating system family:
] they are not the same things! All the Unix flavors run
] perfectly well on x86. Yes: Linux is a Unix flavor. Where
] this relates to Java and Sun is that because such a huge
] fraction of customer applications that run on Sun
] hardware is written in Java, we can treat CPUs (and even
] operating systems) as commodities, in the same way we
] treat disk drives. We can use whatever underlying CPU
] technology (x86/x86-64/Sparc/...) or OS technology
] (Solaris/Linux/...) is most suitable for the situation at
] hand. We aren't constrained by the instruction set or OS
] interface that is baked into our customers' applications.
] This is hugely liberating for hardware design.

Gosling on defending the Microsoft payout, without saying anything
other than "you people have it all wrong, that's not how it is"... and lets slip why Sun no longer has a real business plan. If hardware is a commodity, and their customers software is in Java, does he really believe that Sun will remain powerful because it thinks it "controlls" Java?

NewsForge | Gosling defends Sun's new partnership with Microsoft

]How bizarre. When you first take possession of your Mini you
]have to sign a piece of paper promising not to use the hyperdrive
]in Earth's atmosphere. I bet that Belgian's going to get into
]trouble with the Mini Owner's Association...

Neil Gaiman drives a mini. But not at Mach 3, apparently.

Neil Gaiman

] The Tomahawk is likely to see the light of day, according
] to #2 exec Wolfgang Bernhard, who said we'd know by
] summer 2003. It's a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500
] horsepower engine sitting out in the elements with some
] wheels beneath it. The price would be at least $250,000,
] and there would be only a few hundred made. Frankly, we
] suspect the Tomahawk will be built, due to a huge amount
] of public interest.
]
] The Dodge Tomahawk can reach 60 miles an hour in about
] 2.5 seconds, and has a theoretical top speed of nearly
] 400 mph. Each pair of wheels is separated by a few inches
] and each wheel has an independent suspension. Bernhard
] said four wheels were necessary to handle the power from
] the engine.
]
] The Tomahawk remains on display at auto shows - though
] well out of reach of the general public, elevated on a
] special display.

2003 Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle concept

]Japanese news agency Kyodo was reportedly told by Hitachi that the
]ECB has started talks with the company about the use of its radio
]chip in the banknote.

When anonymous cash becomes less so.

]"RFID (radio frequency identification) tags also have the ability
]of recording information such as details of the transactions the
]paper note has been involved in. It would, therefore, also prevent
]money-laundering, make it possible to track illegal transactions
]and even prevent kidnappers demanding unmarked bills," Chopra said.

Because they won't figure out a different negotiable but less traceable currency...

Radio ID chips may track banknotes | CNET News.com

The link is an actual banner ad. It is not a parody.

Look at it, though. "24/f" from "Beverly Hills" with a username of "Hot Babe" -- is it a 14 or 47yo male?

false identities

digitalreporter wrote:
] ] I have seen the future and it sucks. It also sweeps and
] ] removes dust and pieces of dirt. Its name is Roomba.

Everyone has caught that ROOMBA is an anagram of A BROOM, right?

RE: Special Report from PC Magazine: World, Meet Roomba

jessica wrote:
] What is a LifeGem?
]
] A LifeGem is a certified, high quality diamond created from
] the carbon of your loved one as a memorial to their unique and
] wonderful life.

At least they don't offer "proof" that they used your source carbon. That would have been amusing but upsetting.

RE: Welcome to the LifeGem Home - www.myLifeGem.com

I knew the internet wouldn't let me down. I am one of those heathens, who failed to watch the Superbowl. Used to be, one could go to adcritic in near real-time and watch the ads. Now AOL? Why not. I don't think the premise of a commercial event where people go out of their way to specifically watch the advertisements needs to be addressed.

Super Bowl Ads

Jeremy wrote:
] Gibson fans will not be disappointed.
]
] The book goes on sale February 3, 2003.

I've read a preprint of this book. It is pretty good, and interesting to see a contemporary Gibson novel.

Obvious precursors are some of his 1999 wired articles (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.01/ebay_pr.html, http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.10/gibson_pr.html).

RE: Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson