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I actually did C++ after PHP and then found it easier to learn C, but it could work vice versa.

Its McAfee Site Advisor. It flags up Hak5 because of the USB Switchblade Utilities.

Load of bollocks. I am guessing the whole i-dosing thing is the Ganzfeld effect? Which is perfectly harmless and is used to treat some mental disorders. Sensory deprivation is what causes that falling feeling and sudden shock when you are falling asleep. Its nothing new and I am sure people have been doing it for the sensation for years now. The effect can work with pretty much any repetitive sounds, like static or even computer fans. So be careful if you like to fall asleep with a towel over your eyes while beside your computer :P Just the media needing a new scare story. "Hmmm... we need a new scare story for the news. Lets do something about teenagers because that will have parents in a frenzy, but what do all teenagers have? IPODS! But we also need something that scares parents... DRUGS! LETS COMBINE THE TWO! DOWNLOADABLE DRUGS FOR IPODS!"

Yes, I particularly hate this. When I tell people I use a Mac, a response I often get is "Why do you hate Microsoft" or "You must hate Windows". I don't hate Microsoft or Windows, infact I still use it daily (whether my dual boot or at college). Its just a different product. I have a Samsung TV, doesn't mean that I hate Phillips TV's :P

If available, you could also have a look at SimpleXML

Yeah, an OS is just a preference just as much as a drink. Linux and Windows do similar things, but I will use Linux. Coke and Pepsi do similar things, but I will drink Coke. But you are not about to shout at people who drink Pepsi. Just once, I would like to see a proper operating system debate, not necessarily to decide which one is best. Just one that doesn't break down into "OMG IF YOU USE WINDOWS YOU WILL GET A MILLION VIRUSES", "OMG LINUX IS ONLY FOR SERVERS" or "MAC'S CAN"T RIGHT CLICK" etc...

Well, my personal preference is pfSense, but both Smoothwall and pfSense can do what you have mentioned. I just feel pfSense has much more to offer than Smoothwall because it has a much fuller feature set. Smoothwall seems rather restricted in terms of features, probably to get you to use their professional versions. For basic Firewall usage, it really just comes down to personal preference of which one you like using. Both offer customisability through their Web Interfaces and both also offer direct Command Line access for when its needed.

Your connection speed can also depend on how many people are using the internet in your area. I am now living in an area which is predominantly elderly, roughly the same distance from the exchange, and the speed at peak times is much much better :D

Did you have other Virtual Machines running/using the network? If there was and you were doing network transfers on the other VM's they could have been hogging the connection.

KonBoot - My sister can never remember her windows password. :(

Finally, someone who has a proper view on the current situation. I am used to people saying "Its the Muslims fault" or "Its the Jews Fault" etc etc etc.

http://www.jamescun.com/ - My Basic Site http://www.twifficiency.com/ - Twitter App I am working on http://www.navilator.com/ - Na'vi Translator, better version almost out.

Very Cool. One thing you could consider is writing a guide on how to set up a shell service (how you did it, what you learned, tips/tricks/caveats etc), having been looking around I could not find any. The reason I say this is that I have been looking for this such information of how to do it properly because I have a UltraSPARC Sun Workstation I would like to do a similar thing with.

It won't work. They never have, and never will. If people want a gaming/high graphics performace machine, they buy a Desktop with a good card or a beefy laptop. The rest don't really care enough about graphics to go spending a lot of money on something like that. Also, who has a PCI Express slot anyway? :P

The Terminalator.

So far the coalition is good in my book... lets see if they can keep it up... :P

I don't think you will find much in the way of Hardware based Firewalls for Home usage beyond the basic ones in routers.

I like the release of the £700 Million to Scotland. This was one of the things my MP mentioned while he was campaigning, that Scotland had built up a reserve of money, but the treasury wouldn't let Scotland use it. Back in terms of the UK - I am actually kinda glad the Tories have some control, because as Theresa May (Home Secretary, CON) said "We are the Nasty Party", and the savings that need to be made are not going to be nice.

I really did not expect this from a largely conservative government, I am unsure whether the conservatives agreed with it fully, or just wanted Clegg to side with them. I end now with a quote from a sketch (which I have since forgotten the name of): "You want us to Help the Poor? Silly Child, we are the Conservative Government! Get Lost!"

Well, they are talking about "Restoration of Civil Liberties" including tighter CCTV regulation and scrapping of ISP Level data logging (like emails etc). That seems good. On the bad side, VAT looks like it might go up from 17.5% to about 20%.

Sorry, can I just point out that Northern Ireland has been able to support itself financially for a while now, Scotland has been able to support itself for the past 5 years and Wales is nearly there. But that does offer hope for the UK. Scotland has had a hung parliament for years, and this have been getting better and better.

This is the first day of the con/dem nation. Lets just hope he keeps his nose out of NIrish/Scottish/Welsh Business. We all rejected the conservatives, so I do not feel they have the mandate to govern us.

Same thing here. I wrote to my MP several times and he did say that he disagreed with many parts of the bill and that he also thought it was being pushed through too quickly. Yet he still voted in favour of the bill. Fuck You Stewart Hosie.