General – Page 60 – Something Odd!

Your Rights Online: Secret Irish Data Repository Uncovered

After Karlin reported that there’s a secret data retention regime in place for almost a year it sparked a lively debate on /. and on the ILUG. What do I think? Mark Twomey says, “the moment anyone makes a call pays a bill, or whatever you create a digital paper trail which the supplier of the service or owner of the infrastructure you are using, be it a Bank or Telecom provider or such, is entitled to back up and/or analyse at their discretion. It’s their infrastructure, you’re just along for the ride.” Which is fair and reasonable.
Kevin Lyda thinks it could be more sinister, “i’m not completely sold that we as a society get anything from this expensive incursion into our privacy. just telling us it’s being done is *NOT* enough.”
I’m just worried about my next visit to the dentist and will the PRSI finally pay for the visit.

My Opinions on the Spanish Job Market

Russell Beattie replies to someone who asked about working in IT in Spain.

The Spanish, in my humble opinion, stick with what they know and don’t rock the boat. Until they do, they’ll continue getting paid like shit.

Ireland sets FRIACO prices

The Register reports that “its flat-rate Internet access plans are on track, with wholesale prices set to come in at €12.77 per customer, per month.”

UserFriendly – platforms

Silly descriptions of languages and platforms. hehe.

Bird flu not a major human threat yet–scientists

According to Reuters it’s not serious yet, but I remember reading a book a few weeks ago on this very subject, with disasterous consequences. *shudder*

“If a person contracts both human flu and bird flu during this peak flu season, that may result in the two sharing their genetic information and emerging into a new strain with the ability to jump very efficiently from human to human.
“If that happens, it will be an emergence of a pandemic, something we don’t want to see,” Chan told Reuters.

TWiki – A Web Based Collaboration Platform

A new release of TWiki is available.
As this is the first release since December 2001 there are plenty of changes, bug fixes and new features. Go see it now!

C-ONE Reconfigurable Computer

Here’s the C64 version. Looking at the specs it looks like a cross between a C64, Amiga, and PC!

It has c64 expansion slots, as well as a 6502 compatible CPU.
It has a copper chip like on the Amiga, but from the description of it, I think the C64 can do what it did anyway (read “About the Copper” on the Specifications page.) as anyone who did any assembly programming on the C64 will have manipulated the raster beam to display more than 8 sprites for example.
It has ports for a PS/2 keyboard, and fits inside an ATX case.

That’s just a summary. Read the specs page for more. The Slashdot discussion has even more, including info on on what FPGAs are.

IMO, there are lots of _very_ cool FPGA devices about to hit market, and they are going to change how we use computers. Gaming not the least.

What is the best site to have your blog tracked?

There’s a couple of good links listed in this thread, including many I had never heard of. Not sure if I want to enable automatic pings when posting though. I think doing it manually at the end of the day is better, unless of course you want lots of hits or something..