How come everybody always posts these broken links that require registration? Why can't they link to, say, the Google partner URL or some such? Is this some kind of unwritten rule? Or do the Slashdot editors make sure to find the registration-required URLs? I always see replies with "no reg link", etc. Why don't the original authors use these?

Finished this a few weeks ago after reading the sample of it Salon had posted. A very solid book, and the technical stuff was pretty solid as far as compiler interaction and such. It doesn't paint a rosey picture of life as a programmer though, and made me glad I got out of CSCI when I did...

They're not "broken links", you're just too lazy to give the NYT some fake info one time - that, or you prefer to whine about it each time a NYT link comes up here.

If Slashdot starts using the Google partner tag, then NYT and Google will evntually shut it off - checking referers, etc.

Except BN.com has inventory problems and incompetant customer service. And besides, if you're going to boycott anybody who holds software patents, you'll never be able to buy software again -- every major firm hold them or relies on them. If you want to make a difference, write your congressperson, be politically active, join a movement, all the Citizen of a Democracy stuff. It's time consuming and hard work, but a lot more effective than this kneejerk boycott crap.

geekier != brighter

cryptonomicon wasn't any more 'intelligent' than other books, it just had its basis in a geekfriendly subject

the majority of novelists do a substanial amount of research about the state of their subject in real life. Writer's spend a decent amount of time in libraries.

I dont find Farscape to be all that more entertaining than American Idol. Its called personal preference, taste.

The Slashdot crowd really reminds me of the punkish segment of population. Rebel and Yell. The system sucks, damn the system, damn the man, damn the sheep. Lets all dye our hair green. In the end, you aren't much different. You only seem different if you focus soley on those areas where you do differ so much.

Maybe the technocratic elitist themes in Cryptonomicon are true....

if you're going to boycott anybody who holds software patents, you'll never be able to buy software again

I don't.

If you want to make a difference, write your congressperson

I do. Hillary Clinton doesn't write back to any of her constituents who I've spoken to.

be politically active

I am.

join a movement

I have.

a lot more effective than this kneejerk boycott crap

It's hardly kneejerk and every little bit helps.