Reg Hardware

* Posts by Feargal Reilly

43 posts • joined Wednesday 25th July 2007 08:50 GMT

Feargal Reilly

Ah  

In Michael Dell snaps up Magnum photo archive

Coat

Right, makes more sense now that I've read the article. I didn't think there were that many Tom Selleck photos out there.

Mines the one with the moustache.

Feargal Reilly

Bing is a both a noun and a verb  

In Microsoft assaults our senses with 'viral' Bing video

FAIL

In my wife's family, and now mine, bing has always been a noun meaning a fart or, when used as a verb, to fart.

I bing regularly.

Feargal Reilly

@Paul Donnelly  

In Please don't eat your horse, EU asks owners

Surely they'll just be reincarnated once they have been butchered by some ravenous Frenchman?

Feargal Reilly

Perific  

In 12 of the best... mice

Happy

Since you covered most concepts of how to use a mouse, thought I'd plug the Perific Mouse, best mouse I ever used: although for the price, it'd want to be. You can use it normally, or it can sit on your hand as you type - I don't have to do the keyboard->mouse jump everytime damn time.

http://www.perific.com/Live_5_0/pages_english/mouse.asp

Feargal Reilly

Poor sod whoever was responsible  

In Cisco.com suffers lower case t breakdown

Coat

Probably was a find-and-replace gone wrong.

Guy who was responsible is probably feeling like a supid cun righ now.

Feargal Reilly

welve paches?  

In Cisco's dirty dozen fight IOS flaws

Joke

Shame hey forgo to fix heir own websie - here's no lowercase leer on heir fron page.

Feargal Reilly

Stop this nonsense  

In Chrome-fed Googasm bares tech pundit futility

Linux

Look people, critical thinking is dead. Hype is the new social currency, fed by the scent of verbal ejaculate surrounding the brave new idiots of the blogimedia.

So yeah, Chrome is what it is; another browser with it's own take on things. Whilst I applaud the Ted Dziubas of this world, I take a momentary break to observe that there is strength in diversity, and should measure our response accordingly.

So well done Google, you can do what many others do, and do it in your own way.

And well done Ted, for telling it how the fuck it is, which appears to be something many others can't do.

Tux, because Paris has nothing to do with this.

Feargal Reilly

Renewables  

In US utilities plot remote switch off

Linux

It's funny that nobody has mentioned one positive aspect to this: it's friendliness towards renewable energy.

It's said that the main challenge facing renewable energy generation is that renewable sources are not generally very responsive, hence the need to keep the coal-burners on the grid to handle the spikes.

This mechanism reduces the severity of the problem for renewables.

That said, ZM hit the mark with the observation that the more a company can do, the more ways they'll find to take money away from you.

Tux, because the "Paris, because" meme is too pervasive.

Feargal Reilly

@fajensen AKA Silly-boy-repeating-propaganda-because-he-lacks-critical-faculties.  

In American man too fat for execution

Stop

The Lisbon treaty does *not* bringing the death penalty back. that's just some rather successful anti-Lisbon FUD.

All 27 members states of the EU have ratified Protocol 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights which forbids the use of the death penalty, with some exceptions such as use in times of war, etc.

However, only 22 member states have gone on to ratify Protocol 13, which forbids the death penalty in all cases.

France, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Spain have not outlawed the death penalty in all cases. They are still subject to Protocol 6 and so have an exemption in times of war, etc.

All other members states have completed outlawed the death penalty.

The Lisbon Treaty maintains the status quo by allowing a member state to have exemptions in times of war, etc. It more or less restates protocol 6, because not all members have yet ratified protocol 13.

Countries such as the UK, Germany, and Ireland, that have ratified Protocol 13 still have completely abolished the death penalty in all cases. Under the Lisbon Treaty, this remains the same. All the Lisbon treaty says is that a country is allowed to have an exemption in times of war, etc. It does not force this exemption on them, and in order for somewhere like the UK to introduce this, it would first have to de-ratify Protocol 13 of the ECHR.

Instead of wasting your time repeating lies on the Internet, why not spend a few minutes to lobby your nearest French/Italian/Latvian/Polish/Spanish politician/friend/cat on the issue?

Feargal Reilly

Where are the pics?  

In WiiMote game launched for visually impared

Coat

Are there any actual screenshots yet?

Feargal Reilly

Why hasn't Web 2.0 validated me?  

In Life a mess? The Moderatrix can help

Unhappy

Why is it that no matter how many online forums I post on, I never get any responses flattering enough to validate my existence? I've tried all sorts of witticisms and pop-culture references, and yet still, at the end of the day, nobody seems to care. I've even pointed out people's grammatical and spelling mistakes, but nobody ever thanks me for it. Is my brilliance is too nuanced and subtle? Do I have to wait for Web the Third, or should I give Twitter a twirl?

Twanks.

Feargal Reilly

@Spleen  

In Oz driver sticks seatbelt on slab of beer

Thanks for saving me the time doing the maths.

If I were the kid, I'd also much rather that the object ejected through the windscreen be the the crate of tinnies that I'm probably not even going to get to drink.

Feargal Reilly

for broad definitions of "hack"  

In Irish data protection chief in leaked report 'hack'

IT Angle

From what I've been hearing, the "hacker" just tried difference values of DocID in the url http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=721 on the assumption that it would be uploaded some time prior to it's "release".

It's about as exciting as a journo leaking an embargoed press release.

Feargal Reilly

What's this doing on this site?  

In Natasha Henstridge braces for Impact

Dead Vulture

I'm disappointed to see no reference in the comments section to "Paris, because..."

You shouldn't be allowing comments on stories if everybody is just going to post non-Paris related rubbish.

Mine the one without a bookmark in.

Feargal Reilly

@Kevin Gurney  

In Prank callers crash Dublin Zoo phone system

Black Helicopters

Well whoever started this batch probably had a bundle of free texts and sent it to all his mates.

From there, well... apparently they were averaging 8 calls a minute, and that doesn't include the calls that couldn't get through.

But yeah, I'm sure the phone companies love things like this. Hmm... I wonder...

Feargal Reilly

Official Secrets Act  

In British youths think Churchill went to moon

Black Helicopters

How in the hell did this get out? It seems to only be kids who found out about it, maybe SIS don't monitor kids-TV or something, a leak to Newsround perhap? Since it's four-ten years old who know about this, it's probably been doing the rounds in the playgrounds for some time, I'm guessing something slipped when the 2005 FoI act was brought in.

Either way, heads will roll for this one, MI6 won't take kindly to this being public.

Feargal Reilly

Jeez, you guys suck!  

In Vote now for your fave sci-fi movie quote

I can't believe you don't have *any* of R2-D2's lines quoted.

Feargal Reilly

@ A J Stiles  

In Virgin biofuel jumbo trials won't use algae

The issue isn't really what is being used per se, it's more a question of whether what is being used is sustainable, both in terms of availability and waste impact.

The aim is to have as little permanent impact on the natural environment as possible. The idea of bio-fuels was very appealing on first inspection, but the reality of our excesses is biting again.

Feargal Reilly

@Helium running out  

In Google to build 80,000 foot radio tower?

More precisely, the US reserves of helium are running out. While it can be extracted while processing natural gas, it usually isn't as it isn't economically worthwhile. There is likely to be an increase in the cost of helium and changes to how/where it is processed over the next few decades, but it's not likely to run out anytime soon. As G R Goslin has said, best not waste it though.

Feargal Reilly

M&S Food to introduce new product range  

In M&S flogs lingerie model with 'durable hardwood feet'

Black Helicopters

In related news Marks and Spencer today announced it's new Soylent Green food range. Spokesman Louis Hill said that the Soylent Green brand guarantees a more sustainable approach to food production, meeting the needs of the modern consumer.

"Just as our latest home furnishing ranges have shown we are at the cutting edge of modern furniture design, we feel Soylent Green shows we are also at the cutting edge of the Green movement", he said.

Recent controversies over the sourcing of chickens have led to lower sales, with consumer groups calling for a greener approach to food production. "Our logo has been green coloured for years", Mr. Hill added.

Feargal Reilly

Skip over this comment  

In Submarine cable cut torpedoes Middle East access

Joke

What does a network engineer do when he gets stranded in the desert?

Buries a length of cable in the sand and then hitches a ride with the backhoe driver.

Feargal Reilly

@David Evans  

In Lightsaber voted top movie weapon

Well if we *are* going outside of movies, there's one clear winner: The Nuclear Hand-Grenade from the Paranoia RPG.

Feargal Reilly

So long as you tell people about it...  

In Lightsaber voted top movie weapon

Pirate

The Doomsday Machine from "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb".

Feargal Reilly

I'm well rankled  

In Lightsaber voted top movie weapon

Joke

What about one of those amazing rotary machine guns, like the one Blaine had in Predator?

Feargal Reilly

@Jamal  

In Nude Italian models in kit-on protest

Thank you, I wonder can I create a Google News Alert based on that, will keep me from wading through all the rubbishisy tech stories.

Feargal Reilly

Spammer friendly too  

In Network Solutions games net domain biz

Flame

A very basic check pretty much all mailservers preform is to check DNS to ensure that the sender domain exists. This now gives spammers an easy tool to create their own functioning domain to stick in their outgoing address, at no cost to them.

Good ol' Network Solutions.

Scumbags.

Feargal Reilly

Well  

In Sir Edmund Hillary dies at 88

Coat

Of course he is somebody that you would look up to, wouldn't he.

RIP

Feargal Reilly

Chinese immigrant?  

In Car crash driver blames pterodactyl

Coat

He may have been stunned by the impact and was in fact trying to say "tell a doctor" but it came out wrong. (or wong, even).

No need to call me a cab, I never got out of it.

Feargal Reilly

Nice little earner?  

In US downplays Gitmo manual leak

Stop

The "rent" that the US lodges is $4085 per year - for 45 square miles. I guess it's paid for a painting or two in some bank lobby.

Feargal Reilly

@Simon Holt  

In Surge in encrypted torrents blindsides record biz

Coat

I thought he said "That's one small step for the media, one giant leap for Torrent Users".

Split the fare?

Feargal Reilly

Oil be  

In Google petrol pumps debut next month

Thumb Down

Having done my time scrubbing pumps in the past, I say good luck to whoever it is who have to keep the grease and grime levels low enough to render details visible. Those things get filthy from all the fumes.

Feargal Reilly

They are going to do what?  

In Carnegie Mellon wins the robotic Urban Challenge

Black Helicopters

"We are going to build a whole new student force for the next thirty years to come."

So now that they've kickstarted robotic cars, DARPA are going to start on robotic students? What will he emperor think?

Feargal Reilly

Does this mean?  

In Macs seized by porn Trojan

Coat

I guess this means that OSX has Windows users now.

Where's the flamebait icon?

Feargal Reilly

And in RST?  

In NASA lights blue touchpaper on Discovery

Dead Vulture

What is it in Register Standard Time?

Feargal Reilly

Average speed of traffic in London...  

In No-humping 20mph limit for London

Boffin

There must be some weird physics going on at the media-level - 7mph on the radio, and 18mph in print?

In future I suggest we all go by the average *reported* speed of traffic in London, which, based on measurements taken yesterday is 143691.429 lgph. That's 12.5 mph for you old fogies who are still not with "it".

Feargal Reilly

Just want to say brilliant!  

In El Reg deploys (extra) comment icons

Go

Since they've been introduced, my productivity has increased.

I no longer waste any time reading the actual words, I just read the icons instead, it's saved me minutes every day.

In particular I've found the jokes have really improved.

Feargal Reilly

@Matt Bryant and Simon Ball  

In Israel suspected of 'hacking' Syrian air defences

The story that the RAF losses were because of the attack vectors used deploying the JP233 is nothing more than that - a story.

From http://www.raf.mod.uk/gulf/operations.html

"A total of 6 Tornado GR1s were lost in action 5 of which were involved in loft-medium level attacks with 1,000lb bombs, and one tasked on a low level JP233 mission, which was lost some time after the attack."

The JP233 had nothing to do with those losses.

Feargal Reilly

The fourteenth rule of Reg Club  

In MasterCard customers hit by system failure

There'll be no bloody mention of Christmas or Christmas shopping until Hallowe'en is bloody well over, and the fires gone out.

Feargal Reilly

Rule No. One  

In So, what's the first rule of Reg Club?

Reading of the rules will result in immediate expulsion.

Feargal Reilly

Holistic Ex-Ching Edition  

In What's 77.1 x 850? Don't ask Excel 2007

I seem to have the same version as that other poster - "A Suffusion of Yellow" is all I get as well.

Feargal Reilly

@John Mark 2  

In Irish firm launches 'global' mobile phone

At least they allow you to use the bluetooth modem at all. I went in to three, and they laughed me when I asked if it's possible - they disable modem access entirely, it's the dongle or nothing. Not much bloody use when my PDA doesn't support USB.

Feargal Reilly

I am willingness to be sued.  

In YouTube, Viacom bow to light-sabre wielding defender of online justice

"you have to certify you're willingness to be sued."

Cut and paste quote, or typo?

And where's the Bulgarian Airbags angle?

Feargal Reilly

Re: Pronouce  

In Jordan names sprog 'Princess Tiaamii'

Seems to me it should pronounced be "foster child"...