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Microsoft has made TV for 7 years now, and none of your predictions/joke have come to pass.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prediction

Microsoft has made TV for 7 years now, and none of your predictions/joke have come to pass.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prediction

It's not a typo
(see def. #3)

The real issue is traffic, the article leads me to believe that the back end data is getting crushed by old records which don't usually get instantiated. They try to downplay it, but the real problem is the mass exodus. I bet the many old customers are going back though old statements and printing them in advance of a transfer. I've developed statements systems for another bank, they don't behave well when too many people rip through all of their old statements at once. There usually are even firewalls that might have capacity issues.

I can understand why they are trying to downplay this, as herd of customers preparing to leave is an embarrassment, but my 20/20 hindsight tells me that it should have been anticipated. Maybe it was a little, but I can't imagine that IT was brought in much before they announced what I see to be a bone-headed move to get out of retail banking.

Oh, yea, to stay on topic, sometimes people make mistakes. However, it's spelling issue, but a word choice, I don't think it's wrong. Odd maybe in it's use, but not wrong. Did you even look up Divulge before you before you commented, just to check the meaning. I did.

To disclose or reveal (something private, secret, or previously unknown).

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civil+war
civil war
noun
a war between political factions or regions within the same country.

Not accurate. The States that seceded attepted to setup a federal government, which included a constitution. They may not have tried to rule the ENTIRE US, but that does not mean it was not a civil war.

In Sudan for instance, the South recently gained independance from the north. They ever tried to control the north. But it was still called a civili war.

The only people who dont call the Civil War a civil war are Southerners who wish to revise history to make their forefathers look like heros and not the biggoted traitors that they were.

You wouldn't qualify as a translator anyway — I think they're rather looking for someone that can spell copyrighted properly.

You cannot spell if you don't understand the meaning of words.

You wouldn't qualify as a translator anyway — I think they're rather looking for someone that can spell copyrighted properly.

umm, look up the definition of philosophy.

Okie dokie, lets do that.
philosophy [fi-los-uh-fee]
noun, plural -phies.
1.the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
2.any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.
3.a system of philosophical doctrine: the philosophy of Spinoza.
4.the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them: the philosophy of science.
5.a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.

Now, reading those definitions, you'll notice that science is conspicuously absent, aside from this number 4. The significant part there is the words critical study of. Not science itself, but the meaning and implication of science and scientific discovery.

what do you think the Ph in PhD stands for...

Doctorate in Philosophy.....

Oh, you really got me there....or did you? From ye olde Wikipedia:
The term "philosophy" does not refer solely to the modern field of philosophy, but is used in a broader sense in accordance with its original Greek meaning, which is "love of wisdom". In most of Europe, all fields other than theology, law and medicine were traditionally known as philosophy.
So, the word "Philosophy", as used in PhD, is actually a nod to the term's archaic meaning in ancient Greek, and its use in Europe hundreds of years ago. In other words, it's still called that due to tradition, not because it's correct in the modern usage of the word.

The philosophy of science is that the universe is understandable and testable. That my friend is a philosophy.

Yep, science is the tool, and the philosophy of science is concerned with the use and implications of what is discovered using that tool. Splitting hairs? Let's return to ye olde Wikipedia again:
Philosophy of science has historically been met with mixed response from the scientific community. Though scientists often contribute to the field, many prominent scientists have felt that the practical effect on their work is limited: “Philosophy of science is about as useful to scientists as ornithology is to birds,” according to physicist Richard Feynman.
Implication being that the philosophy of science is indeed a separate and distinct, although "complimentary", field from science itself.

Yes, Nazi's misused science, just like Branch Davidians misused religion, just like jihadists misused religion, just like Westboro baptist misuses religion....

The difference is that, aside from being morally repugnant by most standards, the Nazi use of science was in fact deeply flawed, with scientific "findings" that were just plain wrong or wildly distorted to fit the Nazi's existing philosophy. With religion though, how can you actually say the Branch Davidians, jihadists or Westboro Baptists are misusing it? They have just as much evidence that they are doing "God's" will as any other religious group, which is to say none.

All that being said, unless you're posting from ancient Greece, or perhaps 17th century Italy, I'd say my use of the term is okay, and yours is incorrect in modern (current) usage.

Here endeth the lesson.

You need to look up the definition of hyperbole.

I didn't say you said anything about military spending or tax cuts. What I said is that nickel/diming the most productive public investments is a waste, when those other sources of crisis are begging for attention. Every minute you spend talking about cutting NASA is a minute you're not talking about cutting military/intel or collecting taxes from rich people. If you can link to somewhere you've asked for that real benefit somewhere in the past month or six, I'll calm down. Otherwise I'll stick to the reasonable assumption that you just pick on NASA instead of where the problem really lies.

Here you go.

And yes, Christianity does have general consensus on ethical matters, internally. More importantly, it proposes a basis for an objective methodology to arrive at such, which is absolutely necessary to even hope to have a functional ethical system.

Secular philosophy, does not have agreement on even the broadest general axioms. Compare Utilitarianism, Hedonism, Pragmatism, Stoicism, Consequentialism, Objectivism, Nietzschean "will to power", etc., etc., etc. No agreement whatsoever in methodology or resultant norms, and no reason to think that will ever change. "Not Christian" is not, actually, anything in particular at all, even if Slashdot tends to like this particular Reification Fallacy.

excoriate was the correct choice of words.

You need a new dictionary. Industrial means pertaining to industry, and there is no definition of industry would exclude Apple. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/industry

I recognize you think industry means manufacturing (which it doesn't). Even I it did, you would still be wrong. There is nothing about paying another company to fun the lines that would make Apple any less of a manufacturer.

Try this one: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/colloquial

Redact

verb (used with object) 1. to put into suitable literary form; revise; edit.

If you edit a journal and issue a paper that you later determine should not be published, the editing out of that paper would be a redaction. It would also be a retraction, but redaction is perfectly appropriate.

http://dictionary.reference.com/
There's a link at the bottom to browse by letter.

"why the government should subsidize such a mature and profitable industry whose main contribution is to create amusing and sometimes antisocial entertainment"

Subsidy: a direct pecuniary aid furnished by a government to a private industrial undertaking, a charity organization, or the like.

So the article writer assumes that not taking money is the same as giving money. That is some screwed up logic right there. It makes me wonder why we're subsidizing this writer (by not taxing his income at a higher rate).

Sure, you can complain about the tax system and about all the tax breaks so-and-so qualifies for, but it's dishonest to say that the government is subsidizing EA. I'd even say it's pandering, since by the second paragraph they mention (and have a screenshot of) Dead Space 2. The implication being that "YOUR TAX DOLLARS" are funding "EVIL VIOLENT MURDER GAMES".

At least it's marked as an editorial, right? Wait, no it's not.

While I'll agree the 'envelope' was correct - it was delivered to the correct address; the person who it was delivered to was not the recipient.

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

By definition, if something is addressed to you and you get it, then you are the "recipient". It does not matter what the thing is that you received, or why you received it. And, even the UK law you quote agrees with this definition, and gives only examples of when the mail is "addressed to someone else". This law is the US is similar. For example, the Post Office even made ads about how receiving something by mail that you did not request doesn't make you obligated to pay for it, because scammers were sending unrequested items via the mail and enclosing bills, then suing for non-payment.

That's irrelevant. I can't (literally nor legally) start a fake company with the same address as another, without it being unlawful to open their post.

I.e. it may have been delivered to your letterbox, but that doesn't mean you can legally open a letter from the bank that's addressed to your parents from the comfort of your basement.

While I'll agree the 'envelope' was correct - it was delivered to the correct address; the person who it was delivered to was not the recipient.

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

By definition, if something is addressed to you and you get it, then you are the "recipient". It does not matter what the thing is that you received, or why you received it. And, even the UK law you quote agrees with this definition, and gives only examples of when the mail is "addressed to someone else". This law is the US is similar. For example, the Post Office even made ads about how receiving something by mail that you did not request doesn't make you obligated to pay for it, because scammers were sending unrequested items via the mail and enclosing bills, then suing for non-payment.

Copper plates between chips should take care of (most) of it as well!

Interference? Yes, if you are attempting a multi-GHz design, you better take care of your impedances and groundplanes, granted... You would have to do it in any case though.

Of course Intel and 3M can come up with something slick, but just making heat-transferring glue might (or might not!) be a deal-breaking situation. I just wanted to point this /. crowd to some prior art that I happened to know about, and that is out in the open. I bet someone liked the possibility, sorry if it were not you personally! ;)

As to "titbit" -- yes, English is not my first language, but it is, indeed, tidbit... Sorry about you that you are still so fascinated with "tits" (you know, meaty appendages attached to the chests of someone of opposite sex, with "nipples" at the end!) ;) Just kidding, but I think you were wrong...

Paul B.

You've got to be careful with the word "mandated". It has more than one definition. One means authorized; another means mandatory. In the case of the postoffice, congress is authorized to create one but not required to.

"The Congress shall have power... to establish Post Offices and post Roads;"

Again, congress can establish a post office, but they don't have to.

Does his saying he enjoys it mean he endorses it?

Why yes, yes it does.

Do I think this is a bit overblown to call a ringing endorsement?

Why yes, yes I do.

Does it still make it a tiny bit shady?

Yes indeedy.

But if you don't agree, this rock that I have is excellent at repelling tigers. You should go to the tiger repelling rock store and get one. Sure I might have a reasonable share of it and would make a profit off it, but you don't NEED to know that, do you?

*try to

Sophomoric philosophy is still sophomoric when spouted by a game designer.

Microtransaction systems are morally wrong? Who even suggested such a thing? It's like suggesting a hammer is morally wrong, or the idea of barter is morally wrong.

My goodness, I guess when I wasn't looking, computer games became "srs bznss"?

Perhaps you need to refresh your memory on the defintion of amoral.

I think what you are trying to get at is what the late George Carlin used to do a bit on, how over the years language gets twisted by those with an agenda. The example he used was how shell shock became PTSD, which took the power out of the words and make it sound like you have PMS.

In this case we have the word free, which means in most dictionaries "exempt from external authority, interference, restriction, etc." being twisted to mean "Free as in what RMS believes in" which is not even static, as we have seen in the change from GPL V2 to GPL V3.

So personally I think we need to tell RMS where he can put his language twisting and just call it what it is....copyleft. it is simple, it is to the point, it explains quite easily what the GPL and its derivatives are about, which is a socialist (and I use that word without malice, that is another word being twisted to mean what it doesn't by the Faux news crowd) take upon a traditional copyright license.

So lets just call a spade a spade. GPL is copyleft, BSD is attribution only, and if one wanted to get technical the only true licenses that fall under the definition of free are PD and the "Do what the fuck you want" licenses, as they have no restrictions at all upon the user. But trying to twist free to mean copyleft is as much bullshit as shell shock to PTSD, it is warping the language to fit an agenda. Aren't we old enough and wise enough not to have our chains yanked by those with an agenda? We're geeks, right? shouldn't we be above weasel wording?

Heh.

See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tool

Scroll to "World English Dictionary", definition 5.

Are you saying that when your stomach is upset due to hunger, illness, etc that it does not cause stress? How about when you stub your toe? Does that not increase stress? How about when you get a massage? Does that not decrease stress? What I am trying to say is that positive and negative sensations from the rest of the body induce or relieve stress. There are nerve pathways in both direction between the brain and the digestive tract. Yes, stress causes stomach issue but stomach issues also cause stress. I do not claim all stress starts in the stomach just that some stress does.

Second you might want to look up the definition of control. The relevant definition being "to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command." I do not see any direction, dominance or command that an organism in one's digestive tract exercises. Yes, they influence a mental state; they do not control.

Nowhere have I said that the stomach is in "complete control of the mind". In fact I said the exact opposite that the stomach has no control over the mind. A much more accurate headline would have been "Gut Bacteria Influences Mood".

Now, if half the population starts using "equipt" to mean "equipped", then it will be added to the dictionary.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/equipt
See also:
Burnt,
Learnt,
Earnt,
Slept,
Spelt
Smelt,
Dreamt.

Equipt probably isn't exactly standard these days (I use all those other -t words, but would still use equipped), but it's hardly "newspeak ebonification".

alot allot - these are not words!

Fail

That's sad, as 'data' is quite happy (in so far as nouns have emotions) to be singular depending on context/use case:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/data

And despite what reference.com says about the plural form being predominant in scientific/academic writing, I see it written as singular quite often.

E.g.
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Anature.com+"data+was"
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Asciencemag.org+"data+was"

That's not to say that GP is right in calling wtf on the plural form, of course.

It may not be a failure of the school system to "emphasize federal and state organization." It may just as likely be a function of people coming up with stupid fucking names for positions.

For example, I can tell you that even grad students in Political Science would be at a loss if you asked them what the fuck a "comptroller" is supposed to be. Or an "Ombudsman." Why? Because these titles, much like "Commissioner", are so vague as to be completely fucking meaningless without a hell of a lot of specific context.

You ask someone what a "railroad commissioner" does, they'd probably give you a best guess. But would you ever think a "railroad commissioner" would be involved in gas utilities and pipelines? No? Well that's part of the purview of the "Texas Railroad Commission."

Before you smart off about how people don't know what a "commissioner" does, start at the source. See if there's any fucking rhyme or reason or logical connection to the name and the job duties first.

News: noun 1. a report of a recent event; intelligence; information
2. the presentation of a report on recent or new events in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television.

News is by definition new. If it isn't new, then it's just information.

For a Model T, it's "Museum piece" :-) I was actually given a ride in one "behind the scenes" at an auction. They had to move it, so "why not take it for a spin?" It definitely did NOT feel like I was in a car - more like a hay wagon with a motor tacked on.

So where did the car era start then and when will it finish and start again? You seem pretty happy to move a yardstick but you have no idea where it is.

For all those old chicklet-kbd PC juniors and TRS-80s (trash-80) and Commodores, the word you want is "Electronic Waste".

I think you need to read this because you're not getting it.

Again, what is the definition (see above) of a smartphone? Or a PC for that matter? Or a car?

No, that is but one of the definitions. It can simply be a 'guess' as well.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypothesis

1.
a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2.
a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3.
the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
4.
a mere assumption or guess.

Sigh.

If you look at his methodology, it's fundamentally flawed. RTFA and do your own analysis if you want.

During the "peak times" for his model, the flat arrangement was maxed out on production. Lots of lost energy. His "extended time of collection" is the sole basis for his supposed power-collection increases on the tree-like setup.

If you were to do the same experiment with PV cells that didn't max out, you'd find far superior collection from that arrangement. His "power gain" is an artifact of clipping, nothing more.

Again, FTFA: When a PV array is shaded by another object, like a tree or a house, the solar panels get backed up with electrons like cars in a traffic jam, and the current drops - UNDERSTANDING ELECTRICITY FAIL. Also, this is why people don't put their solar panels in the shade path of trees and houses.

Shade and bad weather like snow don't hurt it because the panels are not flat. - Somebody has never lived anywhere that has a real winter and seen snow-covered trees, be they deciduous or conifer or gynosperm. Deciduous trees don't gather sunlight during the winter, they DROP their leaves and enter a state similar to hibernation. That's why we have this word "deciduous" to describe them.

He sounds like a bright enough kid. But he's a kid. And it's sad that he's been given an award for some really shoddily conducted "research" by an organization that has no idea what the fuck they are talking about when it comes to power production, and were just happy someone photogenic published something cutesy about trees.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/steal
Definition 2
to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.

You have two choices when you come across a phrase you don't understand. You can either look it up and learn something, or claim that it doesn't make sense and advertise your ignorance to everyone.

A pandemic doesn't mean corpses rotting in the streets. You can have a pandemic without a single fatality, if the disease is not fatal. Pandemic just means the disease is spread over a wide area, and does not give any indication of how deadly a disease it. I think the scientifically illiterate public are more to blame for the misunderstanding than scientists or the press. Scientists actually saved thousands of lives by determining that the young were most at risk and quickly developing an effective vaccine which was administered first to those most at risk.

Is it true that you need a link to tell you what Head of Governemnt and Head of State mean?

Since it is so elementary why don't you explain it to me or provide a link.

Wait, I'll provide one for you: From Dictionary.com

Main Entry: state Function: noun often attrib 1 a : a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory; especially : one that is sovereign b : the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government —see also compelling state interest at INTEREST 3a, SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE c : a government or politically organized society having a particular character state> 2 : the operations or concerns of the government of a country : the sphere of administration and supreme political power of a country (as in international relations) state> state> 3 a : one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government; specifically : one of the fifty such units comprising the great part of the U.S. —see also STATE LAW b : the territory of a state

I added the emphasis. So perhaps you are wrong? Maybe you can find an example somewhere on the internet that proves dictionary.com wrong?

And of course by biggest argument you ignore all together again. You are the subject of a king/queen in a monarchy and therefore not a free man. Why don't you feel like you have reconcile that? This will be the third time you ignored it so I have to assume I've hit a nerve.

Person. Computer. It's not that big a leap

A dictionary defines "to compute" as "to calculate". How is it "calculating" to read articles over the Internet? Sure, there is calculation involved in laying out the boxes on a page styled with CSS, but that's hidden from the user.

Funny as in definition 5 here http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/funny

5. curious; strange; peculiar; odd: Her speech has a funny twang.

That word does not mean what you think it means.

The summary uses the phrase, "Perusing through the documents." First off, you don't "peruse through" a document; you simply "peruse" it. Secondly, the use of "through" implies that the author has used "peruse" as a substitute for "skim" -- because you can "skim through" documents -- and this is doubly wrong, because "peruse" has exactly the opposite meaning from "skim;" it means "to read through with thoroughness or care." You'd peruse a legal document. You probably wouldn't peruse a magazine.

It also may sound like I'm being a dirty proscriptivist here, but that's not the point. "Improper" grammar can be ok so long as it communicates unambiguously. The problem with "peruse" is that, if half the population thinks it means one thing, and the other half thinks it means exactly the opposite, then the word is useless. It's so commonly misused that I avoid it altogether; even if I use it correctly, about half my readers will misunderstand me.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decry

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/decry

Perhaps, perhaps not. But when I write what I wrote, it registers as correct in my mind. People "decry" the proverbial predicted bloodbath as the reason that rights to bear arms should be denied.

I could easily have written "claim" but decry has the appropriate negative component where claim is neutral.

It's beyond annoying- it will deter me from posting things I otherwise would, when the content is critical of the subject. Every time I tell my friends about the latest idiotic thing Sarah Palin or Donald Trump say and why only an ignoramus could believe that, it'll link to their pages. I don't want those halfwits to get credited as being relevant just because I share a laugh with my friends, and I certainly don't want to be related to her even if only by hyperlink.

What would be reasonable is If possibly-related-pages were recommended to me, where I could choose to link to a page of my choosing. I'd be glad to have that ability (as well as the option not to use it). This is of course regardless of who is implementing it- I wouldn't want Google forcing unwanted semantics on my content either. Luckily, Google at least recognizes that my content is actually mine, so there's some hope there.

First, go pull out your old freshman macroeconomics textbook. Open the first page. Here's the quote you're looking for:

"The purpose of business is the efficient distribution of goods and services throughout society. Profit is used as a means to that end."

The whole point of allowing a business a bottom line is to encourage them to serve the needs and interests of the community they operate in. Again, the purpose of a mule is to pull a plow, not to eat carrots.

If you want to make an argument for personal freedom as a basis of economic activity, I'll totally agree with you as soon as those businesses pay the going tax rate and bear their own liability as sole proprietorships and the various flavors of partnership. The second you ask society to cut you a deal for favored tax treatment and limited liability as a corporation, your "personal freedom" is no longer an issue.

Second, you lack the courage of your convictions. You want to say businesses should be purely self-interested amoral entities, but not "sociopathic." Unfortunately, the clinical definition of a sociopath is "an amoral, purely self-interested entity."

Third, you must work in marketing. Perception is not reality. (Yeah, I saw "Sneakers" too, bank runs and insolvency, yeah, yeah, yeah.)

As the ghosts of the Challenger, Deepwater Horizon and Massey Industries will be happy to tell you, Perception is not reality. Reality is reality. Ask an engineer, they'll be happy to explain it. :-)

If you want to partcipate in and enjoy the fruits of a Democracy, then there are responsibilities you must live up to.

Tell you what. I'll be happy to revisit the issue of corporate citizenship when one of Google's board members dies defending this country as members of my family have.
 

here in killer Cali it is: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/que

was gonna 'que it up this weekend but i think we're gonna hit up the beach for some bonfires instead. hella shorties out queuein' up the boardwalk, son!

Definition of steal

Definition 2 seems to apply in this case.

Once again, why does that make it Ironic? Apache had good reason to warn everyone, they got shafted by Oracle. In that instance, it seems highly appropriate that Apache warned the community.

Irony, as defined by http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Irony

an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.

Why would it be unexpected of Apache to warn the community after they resigned from the Java Community Process committee? Surely that's the exact opposite, surely it's expected that Apache would warn the community since they resigned for a reason.

Thanks for the feedback, but it is spelled both ways.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extrovert
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extravert

"The spelling extrovert is common in general use (Merriam-Webster has extravert as a variant of extrovert), but extravert is more typical in psychology (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology and Corsini's Encyclopedia of Psychology use the term "extravert")." http://bit.ly/p0wLlK

Don't forget these gems of confusion:

* your vs. you're
* their vs. there vs. they're

Cheers!

Thanks for the feedback, but it is spelled both ways.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extrovert
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extravert

"The spelling extrovert is common in general use (Merriam-Webster has extravert as a variant of extrovert), but extravert is more typical in psychology (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology and Corsini's Encyclopedia of Psychology use the term "extravert")." http://bit.ly/p0wLlK

Don't forget these gems of confusion:

* your vs. you're
* their vs. there vs. they're

Cheers!

Walking down the isle

1. The word is "aisle"

2. The main approach to the altar is, more accurately, "the nave", not "the aisle". Most people would know what you meant well enough though.

HTH HAND

How dare you correct his English, you knave.