Yep, read it and weep (for me, that is). Could be worse. Could have happened before my defense.

btw, are any of you having trouble with the site updating?

So, uh, am I to read it that you lost all your WSU docs by making a coaster?

I hate DVD+RW.

I’ll agree it’s a appealing concept: burn 4.2 GB on a single disc. With ease.

Don’t even ask me about making backups of DVD movies. That’s a whole ‘nother story. I just wanted to back up data. Innocent data. 0′s and 1′s. Data that happened to be the sum of everything I had ever done here at WSU. Data that I didn’t have backed up anywhere else. See where this is going?

Maybe it’s just the DVD+RW media I used, made by maxell, and packaged in a pretty pink box missing all but the frickin’ bow. Or maybe it was the actual DVD drive (thanks DELL). Of course being a scientist I won’t rule out human error, but c’mon. I think I’ve come a long way from coasters.

Answer me this then:

1) If said DVD+RW media were truly RW, should it not then be, um, rewritable (RW)? (If Yes, proceed to 2, if no, reboot your head)
2) If a disc were to burn incorrectly (missing files, ect) due to errors in a) media, b) DVD Drive, or c) human negligence and overall incompetence, what is the probability that the disc may be rewritten? (If 100%, proceed to 2, if unsure, sign up for human testing at your local cosmetics research facility)
3) Finally, if an incomplete burning session were to occur, how likely is it that the source files would mysteriously disappear from your computer? (hint: assume no “delete source files after burning” option was selected)

If you answered “bloody damn unlikely”, then I have an unbelievable story for you.

Pardon me while I gut this computer.

Eric, I ended up slipping a copy of the article under the door of our designated IT specialist. Just to be careful, I wore rubber gloves and a face mask as well. Like a professional…heh heh…ahhhh sheeeeeeeeeeeiiiit. I might have forgot to remove the page header (Eakins – Page 01). I make poopie.

Finally, a judge has found in favor of file sharing! Bring on the fun! Dan, you may want to drop a copy of this article by the WSU powers that be. Hey, after all, it’s legal!