"Do you actually want a world like that? In some ways, it's worse than lawlessness, worse than the old Wild West. Why worse? Because in the West in the old days, might made "right". That's clear enough, and you knew where you stood. Practice shooting, or move East where there were laws."
The reality was far different than the popular fiction. Studies have shown that a person was more likely to be killed in a criminal encounter in the large Eastern Cites than it the territories of the 'old west.' I understand that the analogy he was trying to make was based on the 'old west' of fiction and lore. However, the facts do not support the fiction.
Child abuse applies to cases where the children are in the care and custody of the abuser. This manes to be a child, or under guardianship in some form, formal, or informal, of the abuser. It can not be applied to unrelated (again, not necessarily a blood relationship)child. Then it would be battery.
Right, I read that one as "each person gets the same benefit as they pay" which is not the same as the test phrase. However, it was the best of all the choices given so I still went with that one.
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly -- 93.94 %
Average score for this quiz during November: 78.1% Average score: 78.1%
I really do understand why the Civil Rights Act forbade poll tests. But, that time is passed. It really is time to consider reinstating a fairly applied (that means everyone takes it, regardless of race) poll test.
"So blacks, women, and people under the age of 40 just aren't working hard enough? Because those are the people that are most likely to be making less than average wages, more likely to be working without benefits, etc"
In truth, it is people that are about 40 that are having the hardest time of it. Having followed the Baby Boom the jobs were already taken. Further, because the boomers are not retiring, this age group was trapped into those entry level jobs because there was just no where, open, to advance to.
Now the are competing with people significantly younger without a significantly better resume. This is the age group that is going to be a disaster in America in about 30 years. They have no significant savings, because they never earned much money. They have no pensions, because they showed up in the workforce just as the pensions were being closed. And, no one is going to want to hire a 70 year old.
"Also China and India are much bigger than USA and Europe, and those markets are still growing, at a slightly slower rate than before. That ought to more than counteract any decline in western economies."
Yes, but in China a copy of windows can be purchased for 5-10 RMB (about $.80-$1.20). Some of the people I work for went on a quest for a legitimate copy of Windows and Office. Here on a campus of over 50,000 people there was not a single legitimate copy, not one.
The quest continued. What we finally discovered was that we could get a legitimate copy in Beijing. It would have been a three day round trip. They finally gave up on their quest and used locally purchased copies; me, due to problems with these copies, I switched to OpenOffice and just accept the faults of this (rather bugggey) copy of Vista grafted onto the XP loader.
I worked for about ten years fixing, what else, Japanese copy machines (yes I know, a low rung of the geek ladder; but, there I was). In truth I really enjoyed the work.
However, I eventually had to quit, like many others, because of my knees. the constant kneeling and crawling got to me and I was, simply, unable to do it any more.
Many of the people I worked with used electronic pain control devices, literally, wired into their bodies. Others consumed significant quantities of pain reducers. Most eventually leave the industry depriving it of many experienced workers. Me, I am back to working on my MBA so I can join the ranks of the undereducated unemployed.
It is possible that, with devices like this, people will be able to do jobs that require frequent, un-natural, movement and positions longer and in significantly greater comfort. Remember, we are leaving the, short lived, era of retirements and pensions. People will need to be able to work far longer into their lives.
First a serious question. Does anyone at your company test the software as a user would use it? The update "feature" removes firefox. The only way of repairing the machine after using the "feature" is an F9 restart.
As far as the download capability, it would add a lot if there were some useful programs there. I finally gave up on Xandros and installed eeeBuntu.
The Xandros screamed for a touchscreen, it really looked like it had been designed for one that was never included in the final product.
There was no real way to add software.
The system worked fine for people who only wanted to use the included software and had no interest in doing more. However, eventually, people want the computer to do more ( I can't believe I edited crontab just to have the thing serve as an alarm clock, there had to be an easier way).
It is like here in P.R. China. Students do not even consider Linux. I asked some of the computer science students about it and they had some very good points. Windows is very inexpensive. About 80 US cents. More importantly, they felt that Linux isn't very convenient.
They felt that no matter what you want to do that you must work with the Linux first, and then work on the problem. Then, if it does not work it is hard to tel if what is not working is what you are trying to do or a problem with Linux.
There is the problem that you can not, as I was told by the students, play any of the popular games with Linux.
In addition (and what I think is really the final nail in the coffin for Linux, for the students here in P.R. China) you can not surf the internet with a Linux computer. The students think it is a good system for writing programs on, but that you can not do anything else with it.
In all, it was an interesting discussion. It was prompted by a few computer science students noticing that I was writing on my eeePC and I mentioned that I was using eeebuntu, a form of Linux. They have trouble understanding why and asked me why, many Americans (after all, they read Slashdot too)do not like the American software, like Microsoft.
"And I have to wonder if your friend's credentials were copied for more nerfarious purposes in the guise of security."
You mean, like... to get her name because she is totally hot (she is).
It would make sense except that at the Internet Cafes we go to (in Zhengzhou) they keep all the internet user ID cards at the front desk while people are there using the computers. I think the main reason, really, is just to keep people from running out without paying.
As an example, some guys like to play as many girls as they can. I know you may doubt it, but it has been known to happen.
Knowing who they are really talking to makes them feel safer. I know that is something that Slashdoters may think is silly; but, not everyone online is who or what they say they are... really...
My observation is that the further north I go, the more the rules are obeyed. I the area I am in I don't even bother carrying my passport. I only use it if I am checking into a hotel.
I have never had to show my passport to use an internet cafe in P.R. China. It is pretty obvious that I am a foreigner. However, my friend has a special card that she uses to use an internet cafe.
I have posted on this in the past, but always get modded down for it. The Chinese students have positive feelings about the "real ID" used to access the internet. There a tremendous amount of cheating and scamming in Chinese daily life, much more so than in America, and they feel that the "real ID" decreases the possibility that they will be cheated.
This is particularly true in social chat rooms and on QQ (a popular chat program in China).
At about 1,000RMB it would not even get a glance from a Chinese student unless it had a GREAT dictionary. That is what they look at those small devices as and they are judged by the quality of the dictionary.
Wi-Fi is a next to useless feature in China and Wi-Fi is not popular outside of the Hostels that cater to westerners. Even if a student put a wi-fi router in their dorm room it would not be useful as most colleges only allow Windows computers to connect to the network and the internet.
The other advantage to three wheelers is that they are classed as motorcycles. This gets them out of a huge number of laws that relate to automobiles.
This is not to say that they are inherently unsafe. There are laws related to things like headlight position and such that might be very hard to work around when trying to develop an ultra-efficient vehicle.
I would also guess that it may allow the manufacturer to avoid a lot of testing requirements that may resent an unreasonable barrier to entry for a small, or start up, manufacturer.
However, some of these so called issues are not issues at all. Lets look at two of them.
Compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act
In the United States, the FCC has interpreted the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act as requiring digital phone networks to allow wiretapping in the presence of an FBI warrant, in the same way as traditional phone service. Skype is not yet compliant with the act and has, so far, stated that it does not plan to comply.[24]
So Skype does not allow wiretapping... I have to say that I really consider this a feature, not a bug.
Censorship in China
Skype is one of many companies (others include AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Cisco) which has cooperated with the Chinese government in implementing a system of Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China. Niklas Zennström, chief executive to Skype, told reporters that its joint venture partner in China is operating in compliance with domestic law. "TOM Online had implemented a text filter, which is what everyone else in that market is doing," said Zennström. "Those are the regulations," he said. "I may like or not like the laws and regulations to operate businesses in the UK or Germany or the US, but if I do business there I choose to comply with those laws and regulations. I can try to lobby to change them, but I need to comply with them. China in that way is not different."[25]
Since late September, users in China trying to download the Skype software are redirected to the TOM site from which a modified Chinese version can be downloaded. Activists in China are warned about the possibility that TOM's versions have or will have more trojan capability.[26]
However, right next to the TOM download link is a link to download the regular, non-TOM in English. It really is up to the user which one they want.
Many people in China really like the controls on internet access that exist here. I was asking a friend about her internet cafe user access card (a special ID card that is required to use internet cafes. Her feelings about it were very positive. She was very skeptical of the unrestricted access that exists in the west with concerns that it would be easy to be lied to if you have no way if knowing who you are talking to.
These articles still don't answer my question
on
Chrome Vs. IE 8
·
· Score: 1
Is there a good reason to switch from IE or firefox (currently using firefox 3.0.1). to Chrome. I use some google apps; but, for office apps I generally use openoffice. I will say that I haven't looked too close; however, I have seen nothing that makes me feel that I have to switch.
The conductor was not able to move through the car so she could not get to the door to open it. It was similar to the time people were getting out of the car through the windows and the police were helping them do so because there was no way that they would be able to get to the door.
I have also ridden commuter trains in America and have stood on them. it does not compare to the body press of Chinese trains.
Yes, I realize to normally increasing speed increases capacity; but, these high speed tickets will sell at a premium. This means that the majority of the people will still be on overcrowded, low speed trains.
This is out of something I just wrote, it describes part of a typical rail trip in China.
When I got to the train station I got a ticket to Xinyang (47 RMB). I wanted a Soft seat (first class), a D-train ticket, or just a plain old seat; but there were no seats to be had.
This constant overcrowding of the trains is an indicator that the demand is way up. It is a natural result of a people becoming more prosperous, they travel more. However, the hardware is lagging in accommodating them. I did read that GE is preparing to deliver the first three of three hundred locomotives, that have been ordered, to China. I can only hope it will help a little.
I ended up in a washroom, a small stall with a sink that is about one meter square, with three other men, two of them were already siting on the sink so I, and the other man, stood. The washroom on the other side of the isle was equally full of women. The isle and the rest of the car was just as crowded. In fact, there was a sense that they were doing me a great favor by allowing me to stand in the washroom where I was not being pressed on all sides.
The trouble with this was that, when we reached Xinyang, the conductor was unable to get to the door. So, I missed my stop. I realized this when the train pulled into Wu Chan, a division of Wu Han. This was a couple hundred kilometers south of where I needed to be (I was traveling from the north).
Wrong, I am reading this in Xinyang, Henan Provence, P.R. China right now. However, earlier today I tried to got to www.todou.com to watch the latest BattleStar Galactica and got this message, "Earthquake National Mourning, service suspended."
Well, if here was a safe path to do so, because I'd be scared to ride it on the roads around here. And sidewalks are practically non-existent except near retail stores.
This is part of the reason that many bicycle groups oppose bike paths. They promote the mindset that bikes can only be ridden in a small number of isolated places. I encourage you to look at the bikeforums commuting forum http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?s=0813bfed4e682a06c3f4e54881e64d86&f=20 if you are interested in advise on how to make bicycle commuting work for you.
I am living in China and I can assure you that there are NO roads in America that demonstrate the level of continual disorganization that is seen here on a regular basis. Yet, it is still safe to ride a bike. Are there ever moments that give concern? of course there are". Is it necessary to pay attention? yes it is. However, it is safe to ride a bicycle on the streets.
15 miles is ridable if you choose to do it and does not take two hours (well, you might start out slow, but you will build up). I recommend looking into an electric assist bicycle to start, for a while. It will give you a moderate workout and take less than an hour.
As a final comment, do not ride on the sidewalk unless instructed to do so by police or signage. Pedestrians do not mix well with people buzzing by at 15-20mph. It also limits your options in avoiding accidents as well as creating a number of unique hazards that do not exist on the road, where wheeled vehicles belong.
In very short order you will be fitter and less stressed, leaving you better equipped to deal with, and spend time with, your children; there is a lot more to it than just tucking them in. When i got here, P.R. China, I started riding a bike and walking for my transportation needs. It took me a while to feel comfortable in the chaotic traffic; however, I have lost a lot of weight (I am now just on the line of the artificial distinction between overweight and obese) and feel better, even with all the fried food I eat here. Give it a try, you will, ultimately save money (assuming you invest in good stuff, the savings will take about a year to see) and be more fit.
You may have a very good point, Which I think is along the lines of, " the officials who make those decisions are just not aware of slashdot, or have bigger issues than a geek news site."
I would add that, except for those students who listen to BBC, most of the students seem to be unaware of what is happening. I treat it as one of the things that I do not talk about (even though it is not on the list).
are giving way to a new library-as-urban-hangout concept
In my last two years of high school I lived in a town of 5000. My two daughters both, recently, finished high school in this same town and used the library in the same way; as a hangout.
In small towns it becomes one of the few places that youth can hangout without getting into trouble (by that, I mean excessive contact with the police). For over 20 years, it has had a large area with couches (yes the couches have changed), computers (apple II's back then), and audio and video alcoves along with study desks.
I still remember the rules because they haven't changed in 20 years. Yes, they were posted 1. do your homework 2. remember the librarian is here to help you, ask for help when you need it 3. no heavy petting 4. no cursing 5. no excessive disturbances 6. be careful with food and drinks
The librarian, generally, came by and asked us if we were done with our home work and reminded people to ask for help with their homework if they needed it. The library budgeted to pay advanced students to tutor other students.
So, on a typical winter afternoon, after school, the geeks would come in and do homework, the librarian would walk by once and ask if anyone needed any help. If the answer was yes, he would credit an advanced student an hour to tutor the other student (yes, this got abused; but, the results, work getting done, spoke for itself). We would then watch movies, listen to music, play D&D, whatever... until evening when it was time to go home.
Some people might call this babysitting; and so what if it was. Results speak.
It was cheaper than running a youth center (I have sense worked in youth centers, I know what they cost to run). It gave kids something to do that didn't get them into trouble. It advanced our studies and got our homework done. In short, it created a positive social environment.
I mention this because this is something that small towns have been doing for decades if library-as-urban-hangout concept really is new, then those urban areas are decades behind.
I gave them mine. It is not just me; but, it is the reason that students at many universities in China can not even consider using Ubuntu, or any other Linux (the other reason is games).
**** Quoted letter*** In China there is a common program used to restrict network access called "Ruijie Supplicant." The Linux client provided by this company does not work and they are not interested in fixing it.
Without this client software Ubuntu simply can not be used on many campuses in China. The solution offered by campus technical support is to provide a pirated copy of windows. There simply is no way to connect to the network without this client and the client does not exist for Ubuntu.
Slashdot Mirror
"Do you actually want a world like that? In some ways, it's worse than lawlessness, worse than the old Wild West. Why worse? Because in the West in the old days, might made "right". That's clear enough, and you knew where you stood. Practice shooting, or move East where there were laws."
The reality was far different than the popular fiction. Studies have shown that a person was more likely to be killed in a criminal encounter in the large Eastern Cites than it the territories of the 'old west.' I understand that the analogy he was trying to make was based on the 'old west' of fiction and lore. However, the facts do not support the fiction.
Child abuse applies to cases where the children are in the care and custody of the abuser. This manes to be a child, or under guardianship in some form, formal, or informal, of the abuser. It can not be applied to unrelated (again, not necessarily a blood relationship)child. Then it would be battery.
Right, I read that one as "each person gets the same benefit as they pay" which is not the same as the test phrase. However, it was the best of all the choices given so I still went with that one.
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly -- 93.94 %
Average score for this quiz during November: 78.1%
Average score: 78.1%
I really do understand why the Civil Rights Act forbade poll tests. But, that time is passed. It really is time to consider reinstating a fairly applied (that means everyone takes it, regardless of race) poll test.
"So blacks, women, and people under the age of 40 just aren't working hard enough? Because those are the people that are most likely to be making less than average wages, more likely to be working without benefits, etc"
In truth, it is people that are about 40 that are having the hardest time of it. Having followed the Baby Boom the jobs were already taken. Further, because the boomers are not retiring, this age group was trapped into those entry level jobs because there was just no where, open, to advance to.
Now the are competing with people significantly younger without a significantly better resume. This is the age group that is going to be a disaster in America in about 30 years. They have no significant savings, because they never earned much money. They have no pensions, because they showed up in the workforce just as the pensions were being closed. And, no one is going to want to hire a 70 year old.
"Also China and India are much bigger than USA and Europe, and those markets are still growing, at a slightly slower rate than before. That ought to more than counteract any decline in western economies."
Yes, but in China a copy of windows can be purchased for 5-10 RMB (about $.80-$1.20). Some of the people I work for went on a quest for a legitimate copy of Windows and Office. Here on a campus of over 50,000 people there was not a single legitimate copy, not one.
The quest continued. What we finally discovered was that we could get a legitimate copy in Beijing. It would have been a three day round trip. They finally gave up on their quest and used locally purchased copies; me, due to problems with these copies, I switched to OpenOffice and just accept the faults of this (rather bugggey) copy of Vista grafted onto the XP loader.
This can not be good for microsft
I worked for about ten years fixing, what else, Japanese copy machines (yes I know, a low rung of the geek ladder; but, there I was). In truth I really enjoyed the work.
However, I eventually had to quit, like many others, because of my knees. the constant kneeling and crawling got to me and I was, simply, unable to do it any more.
Many of the people I worked with used electronic pain control devices, literally, wired into their bodies. Others consumed significant quantities of pain reducers. Most eventually leave the industry depriving it of many experienced workers. Me, I am back to working on my MBA so I can join the ranks of the undereducated unemployed.
It is possible that, with devices like this, people will be able to do jobs that require frequent, un-natural, movement and positions longer and in significantly greater comfort. Remember, we are leaving the, short lived, era of retirements and pensions. People will need to be able to work far longer into their lives.
First a serious question. Does anyone at your company test the software as a user would use it? The update "feature" removes firefox. The only way of repairing the machine after using the "feature" is an F9 restart. As far as the download capability, it would add a lot if there were some useful programs there. I finally gave up on Xandros and installed eeeBuntu. The Xandros screamed for a touchscreen, it really looked like it had been designed for one that was never included in the final product. There was no real way to add software. The system worked fine for people who only wanted to use the included software and had no interest in doing more. However, eventually, people want the computer to do more ( I can't believe I edited crontab just to have the thing serve as an alarm clock, there had to be an easier way).
It is like here in P.R. China. Students do not even consider Linux. I asked some of the computer science students about it and they had some very good points. Windows is very inexpensive. About 80 US cents. More importantly, they felt that Linux isn't very convenient.
They felt that no matter what you want to do that you must work with the Linux first, and then work on the problem. Then, if it does not work it is hard to tel if what is not working is what you are trying to do or a problem with Linux.
There is the problem that you can not, as I was told by the students, play any of the popular games with Linux.
In addition (and what I think is really the final nail in the coffin for Linux, for the students here in P.R. China) you can not surf the internet with a Linux computer. The students think it is a good system for writing programs on, but that you can not do anything else with it.
In all, it was an interesting discussion. It was prompted by a few computer science students noticing that I was writing on my eeePC and I mentioned that I was using eeebuntu, a form of Linux. They have trouble understanding why and asked me why, many Americans (after all, they read Slashdot too)do not like the American software, like Microsoft.
Who in the hell modded that "informative?"
If that really was informative then some of you really do need to crawl out of the basement!
I wrote it and it was, at best, cynicism.
informative... peh... some of you really are hopeless...
"And I have to wonder if your friend's credentials were copied for more nerfarious purposes in the guise of security."
You mean, like... to get her name because she is totally hot (she is).
It would make sense except that at the Internet Cafes we go to (in Zhengzhou) they keep all the internet user ID cards at the front desk while people are there using the computers. I think the main reason, really, is just to keep people from running out without paying.
As an example, some guys like to play as many girls as they can. I know you may doubt it, but it has been known to happen.
Knowing who they are really talking to makes them feel safer. I know that is something that Slashdoters may think is silly; but, not everyone online is who or what they say they are... really...
My observation is that the further north I go, the more the rules are obeyed. I the area I am in I don't even bother carrying my passport. I only use it if I am checking into a hotel.
I have never had to show my passport to use an internet cafe in P.R. China. It is pretty obvious that I am a foreigner. However, my friend has a special card that she uses to use an internet cafe.
I have posted on this in the past, but always get modded down for it. The Chinese students have positive feelings about the "real ID" used to access the internet. There a tremendous amount of cheating and scamming in Chinese daily life, much more so than in America, and they feel that the "real ID" decreases the possibility that they will be cheated.
This is particularly true in social chat rooms and on QQ (a popular chat program in China).
At about 1,000RMB it would not even get a glance from a Chinese student unless it had a GREAT dictionary. That is what they look at those small devices as and they are judged by the quality of the dictionary.
Wi-Fi is a next to useless feature in China and Wi-Fi is not popular outside of the Hostels that cater to westerners. Even if a student put a wi-fi router in their dorm room it would not be useful as most colleges only allow Windows computers to connect to the network and the internet.
The other advantage to three wheelers is that they are classed as motorcycles. This gets them out of a huge number of laws that relate to automobiles.
This is not to say that they are inherently unsafe. There are laws related to things like headlight position and such that might be very hard to work around when trying to develop an ultra-efficient vehicle.
I would also guess that it may allow the manufacturer to avoid a lot of testing requirements that may resent an unreasonable barrier to entry for a small, or start up, manufacturer.
However, some of these so called issues are not issues at all. Lets look at two of them.
Compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act
In the United States, the FCC has interpreted the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act as requiring digital phone networks to allow wiretapping in the presence of an FBI warrant, in the same way as traditional phone service. Skype is not yet compliant with the act and has, so far, stated that it does not plan to comply.[24]
So Skype does not allow wiretapping... I have to say that I really consider this a feature, not a bug.
Censorship in China
Skype is one of many companies (others include AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Cisco) which has cooperated with the Chinese government in implementing a system of Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China. Niklas Zennström, chief executive to Skype, told reporters that its joint venture partner in China is operating in compliance with domestic law. "TOM Online had implemented a text filter, which is what everyone else in that market is doing," said Zennström. "Those are the regulations," he said. "I may like or not like the laws and regulations to operate businesses in the UK or Germany or the US, but if I do business there I choose to comply with those laws and regulations. I can try to lobby to change them, but I need to comply with them. China in that way is not different."[25]
Since late September, users in China trying to download the Skype software are redirected to the TOM site from which a modified Chinese version can be downloaded. Activists in China are warned about the possibility that TOM's versions have or will have more trojan capability.[26]
However, right next to the TOM download link is a link to download the regular, non-TOM in English. It really is up to the user which one they want.
Many people in China really like the controls on internet access that exist here. I was asking a friend about her internet cafe user access card (a special ID card that is required to use internet cafes. Her feelings about it were very positive. She was very skeptical of the unrestricted access that exists in the west with concerns that it would be easy to be lied to if you have no way if knowing who you are talking to.
Is there a good reason to switch from IE or firefox (currently using firefox 3.0.1). to Chrome. I use some google apps; but, for office apps I generally use openoffice. I will say that I haven't looked too close; however, I have seen nothing that makes me feel that I have to switch.
Are there any real benefits to switching today?
The conductor was not able to move through the car so she could not get to the door to open it. It was similar to the time people were getting out of the car through the windows and the police were helping them do so because there was no way that they would be able to get to the door. I have also ridden commuter trains in America and have stood on them. it does not compare to the body press of Chinese trains.
Yes, I realize to normally increasing speed increases capacity; but, these high speed tickets will sell at a premium. This means that the majority of the people will still be on overcrowded, low speed trains.
This is out of something I just wrote, it describes part of a typical rail trip in China.
When I got to the train station I got a ticket to Xinyang (47 RMB). I wanted a Soft seat (first class), a D-train ticket, or just a plain old seat; but there were no seats to be had.
This constant overcrowding of the trains is an indicator that the demand is way up. It is a natural result of a people becoming more prosperous, they travel more. However, the hardware is lagging in accommodating them. I did read that GE is preparing to deliver the first three of three hundred locomotives, that have been ordered, to China. I can only hope it will help a little.
I ended up in a washroom, a small stall with a sink that is about one meter square, with three other men, two of them were already siting on the sink so I, and the other man, stood. The washroom on the other side of the isle was equally full of women. The isle and the rest of the car was just as crowded. In fact, there was a sense that they were doing me a great favor by allowing me to stand in the washroom where I was not being pressed on all sides.
The trouble with this was that, when we reached Xinyang, the conductor was unable to get to the door. So, I missed my stop. I realized this when the train pulled into Wu Chan, a division of Wu Han. This was a couple hundred kilometers south of where I needed to be (I was traveling from the north).
Wrong, I am reading this in Xinyang, Henan Provence, P.R. China right now. However, earlier today I tried to got to www.todou.com to watch the latest BattleStar Galactica and got this message, "Earthquake National Mourning, service suspended."
Well, if here was a safe path to do so, because I'd be scared to ride it on the roads around here. And sidewalks are practically non-existent except near retail stores. This is part of the reason that many bicycle groups oppose bike paths. They promote the mindset that bikes can only be ridden in a small number of isolated places. I encourage you to look at the bikeforums commuting forum http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?s=0813bfed4e682a06c3f4e54881e64d86&f=20 if you are interested in advise on how to make bicycle commuting work for you. I am living in China and I can assure you that there are NO roads in America that demonstrate the level of continual disorganization that is seen here on a regular basis. Yet, it is still safe to ride a bike. Are there ever moments that give concern? of course there are". Is it necessary to pay attention? yes it is. However, it is safe to ride a bicycle on the streets. 15 miles is ridable if you choose to do it and does not take two hours (well, you might start out slow, but you will build up). I recommend looking into an electric assist bicycle to start, for a while. It will give you a moderate workout and take less than an hour. As a final comment, do not ride on the sidewalk unless instructed to do so by police or signage. Pedestrians do not mix well with people buzzing by at 15-20mph. It also limits your options in avoiding accidents as well as creating a number of unique hazards that do not exist on the road, where wheeled vehicles belong. In very short order you will be fitter and less stressed, leaving you better equipped to deal with, and spend time with, your children; there is a lot more to it than just tucking them in. When i got here, P.R. China, I started riding a bike and walking for my transportation needs. It took me a while to feel comfortable in the chaotic traffic; however, I have lost a lot of weight (I am now just on the line of the artificial distinction between overweight and obese) and feel better, even with all the fried food I eat here. Give it a try, you will, ultimately save money (assuming you invest in good stuff, the savings will take about a year to see) and be more fit.
You may have a very good point, Which I think is along the lines of, " the officials who make those decisions are just not aware of slashdot, or have bigger issues than a geek news site."
I would add that, except for those students who listen to BBC, most of the students seem to be unaware of what is happening. I treat it as one of the things that I do not talk about (even though it is not on the list).
are giving way to a new library-as-urban-hangout concept
In my last two years of high school I lived in a town of 5000. My two daughters both, recently, finished high school in this same town and used the library in the same way; as a hangout.
In small towns it becomes one of the few places that youth can hangout without getting into trouble (by that, I mean excessive contact with the police). For over 20 years, it has had a large area with couches (yes the couches have changed), computers (apple II's back then), and audio and video alcoves along with study desks.
I still remember the rules because they haven't changed in 20 years. Yes, they were posted
1. do your homework
2. remember the librarian is here to help you, ask for help when you need it
3. no heavy petting
4. no cursing
5. no excessive disturbances
6. be careful with food and drinks
The librarian, generally, came by and asked us if we were done with our home work and reminded people to ask for help with their homework if they needed it. The library budgeted to pay advanced students to tutor other students.
So, on a typical winter afternoon, after school, the geeks would come in and do homework, the librarian would walk by once and ask if anyone needed any help. If the answer was yes, he would credit an advanced student an hour to tutor the other student (yes, this got abused; but, the results, work getting done, spoke for itself). We would then watch movies, listen to music, play D&D, whatever... until evening when it was time to go home.
Some people might call this babysitting; and so what if it was. Results speak.
It was cheaper than running a youth center (I have sense worked in youth centers, I know what they cost to run). It gave kids something to do that didn't get them into trouble. It advanced our studies and got our homework done. In short, it created a positive social environment.
I mention this because this is something that small towns have been doing for decades if library-as-urban-hangout concept really is new, then those urban areas are decades behind.
I gave them mine. It is not just me; but, it is the reason that students at many universities in China can not even consider using Ubuntu, or any other Linux (the other reason is games).
**** Quoted letter***
In China there is a common program used to restrict network access called "Ruijie Supplicant." The Linux client provided by this company does not work and they are not interested in fixing it.
Without this client software Ubuntu simply can not be used on many campuses in China. The solution offered by campus technical support is to provide a pirated copy of windows. There simply is no way to connect to the network without this client and the client does not exist for Ubuntu.
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forum Ubuntuforums.org thread #681557