I agree with your 4 points -- this is exactly why mobile takeup is now accelerating so much in Europe. Continent-wide GSM solved (1) and (2); intense competition is solving (3); and the extraordinarily popular new pre-paid schemes appear to have solved (4).
I disagree with your headline though.
The ATT/BT combination in the U.S. is inheriting a network which is part TDMA, part GSM. They are *very* keen to see dual standard phones, and have been giving Ericsson a lot of encouragement to develop dual standard phones which are cheaper, lighter and more commercial.
Dual standard phones also give networks an evolutionary upgrade path. It means that whenever a cell needs extra capacity, they can meet it with new masts using the new more spectrally efficient technologies. Old phones still use the old masts, but the new phones can use the new masts, solving the capacity problem in the mostly densely used areas. But in less densely used areas the new phones can still use the old masts, so you can get full coverage without having to install a whole new network all at once.
Dual standard phones will also make it possible for the small, independent networks to be assimilated by any of the majors, not just ones using the same technology, so are likely to add considerably to share values.
It means that whatever the local standard, the phone can connect. Previously the 4 incompatible standards in the US have been a big stumbling block to uptake.
Intercompatibility also makes it easier for networks to upgrade to newer, more efficient standards; and for the mega-networks to take over and integrate small independent local networks using different technology. TDMA/GSM interoperability is a big deal in the ATT/BT cooperation.
These have to be some of the most high-profile web sites in the UK.
How much of a time-drain does it put on you, having to stay ahead of all the latest security advisories ? Does the constant security responsibility make it quite a stressful day job ?
Unlike the US, the EU has strong laws (the data protection directives) which require informed consent before any computerised data is gathered or analysed.
IANAL, but it seems to me that Real have made just themselves wide open to an injunction to forbid any distribution of Jukebox in Europe. Failure to comply with such an injunction would lead to them being sued big time if Real have any corporate presence anywhere in the EU.
UK firms fear cost of tighter rules on options "British companies may be forced to reconsider the way they reward staff as the result of a new threat to make granting share options more onerous. The Accounting Standards Board (ASB), an independent regulatory body with the power to set accounting standards, wants to make companies reflect the cost of issuing share options in their annual profit and loss accounts... While the ASB proposals are a long way from being finalised, the body is confident it will succeed in changing the rules. Andrew Lennard, assistant technical director of the ASB, said: "The arguments are compelling. I think we have the ability to set them out in a way that will command acceptance."
In recent years there has been considerable movement towards convergence in accounting standards. If the ASB can establish a respected and workable standard in the UK, this could make it much easier for the FASB to bring in changes in the US.
You have set the bar low on progress, I see. I consider progress things that benefit mankind, you know, like curing diseases, ending wars, etc., not something that provides a momentary escape from our day to day drudgery.
Oh I don't know, every little helps.
Seriously, it's very rarely that we irretrievably lose options through progress.
The internet in particular pre-empts no resources and creates little pollution.
So I just thought I'd cite one small instance of a new choice as an example. But it seems I should have added a:-) as a sign for the ironically challenged.
Park, and Wallace and Gromit, are about creativity. Spielberg's about marketing. While Aardman and Park especially deserve Good Stuff, I sure am sorry to see them end up where the neat bits - the lighting, the details - will almost assuredly be cut or replaced by ersatz cuteness and tie-in stuffed animals on sale near you for $14.95.
The deal is: they give Park the money, he makes them the films. It's the neat bits -- the lighting, the details, the characterisation -- that have made the films so loved, and the merchandise so successful. Blandness and Disneyfication is not what Spielberg & Co are paying $250m for.
there the post will sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, it would appear on the slashstash.org (pick your fav domain name here) site with a banner add. This would insure that the attractiveness of slashdot (it's timeliness) is not compromised.
I still don't see why you would want to bury the post for 24 hours, often annihilating its newsworthiness.
IMHO one of the greatest attractions of a slashdot discard list would be its up to the minute timeliness.
The big board would still have the additional (overwhelming) attractions of its group comment, its interactivity, and importantly its selectivity. Adding a discarded posts list would not in any way compromise slashdot proper.
What would put a big pizza-eating grin on my face would be a page showing the stories you've rejected and the link/message associated with it.
This is just what I have been thinking. I'm sure everyone has had the experience of posting a story, getting it spiked, then seeing it appear 2 days later. There's so much good stuff that (maybe rightfully) doesn't make the main board, but is still very timely and informative. I'd love to see a list of what was coming in, perhaps broken into last 3 hours, 3-6 hours, 6-12 hours, etc.
Moderation would be a big bonus, so the posts could be ranked by quality in each time slot. Then also, if every story started off with an initial score -1 to +1, you could have anything that made it to +5 in the first six hours be automatically promoted onto the main board. Additional negative moderation tags like "Wrong" or "Old" would help keep the rubbish down.
Of course, you'd still have to filter out some posts -- eg pr0n site spam, or libel you could get sued for. But I think this kind of live semi-automated ticker of stories coming in would make for a very impressive rapid-response news intelligence system.
(1) The owner of a famous mark shall be entitled, subject to the principles of equity and upon such terms as the court deems reasonable, to an injunction against another person's commercial use in commerce of a mark or trade name, if such use begins after the mark has become famous and causes dilution of the distinctive quality of the mark, and to obtain such other relief as is provided in this subsection. In determining whether a mark is distinctive and famous, a court may consider factors such as, but not limited to...etc
(4) The following shall not be actionable under this section:
(A) Fair use of a famous mark by another person in comparative commercial advertising or promotion to identify the competing goods or services of the owner of the famous mark.
(B) Noncommercial use of a mark.
(C) All forms of news reporting and news commentary.
1125(c)4(B)... They haven't got a leg to stand on.
The Register has been enjoying all Intel's recent little difficulties as much as anybody, and they have been doing a fine job exposing how Intel has been trying to compensate with pure hype.
Of course we could start re cycling 25 year old antibiotics. The bacteria have probably evovled out of being resistent to those.
I have heard this hope before. But I think in practice results have been disappointing. It looks as if there just isn't enough selection pressure against the mutations in the wild; a large enough pool of resistant bacteria always survive.
The suggestion is that genes are transferred into the crops as plasmids which have previously been grown in bacteria. These plasmids also contain a gene for antibiotic resistance, because it makes it easy to kill off all but the successfully modified bacteria.
I don't know whether this does make modified crops a significant risk; antibiotics in animal feed are definitely reason for concern.
Slashdot Mirror
Just like Sauron, the NSA senses your presence.
I disagree with your headline though.
The ATT/BT combination in the U.S. is inheriting a network which is part TDMA, part GSM. They are *very* keen to see dual standard phones, and have been giving Ericsson a lot of encouragement to develop dual standard phones which are cheaper, lighter and more commercial.
Dual standard phones also give networks an evolutionary upgrade path. It means that whenever a cell needs extra capacity, they can meet it with new masts using the new more spectrally efficient technologies. Old phones still use the old masts, but the new phones can use the new masts, solving the capacity problem in the mostly densely used areas. But in less densely used areas the new phones can still use the old masts, so you can get full coverage without having to install a whole new network all at once.
Dual standard phones will also make it possible for the small, independent networks to be assimilated by any of the majors, not just ones using the same technology, so are likely to add considerably to share values.
It means that whatever the local standard, the phone can connect. Previously the 4 incompatible standards in the US have been a big stumbling block to uptake.
Intercompatibility also makes it easier for networks to upgrade to newer, more efficient standards; and for the mega-networks to take over and integrate small independent local networks using different technology. TDMA/GSM interoperability is a big deal in the ATT/BT cooperation.
Are your customers becoming increasingly clued-up and demanding, as their experience and expectations develop ?
How much of a time-drain does it put on you, having to stay ahead of all the latest security advisories ? Does the constant security responsibility make it quite a stressful day job ?
IANAL, but it seems to me that Real have made just themselves wide open to an injunction to forbid any distribution of Jukebox in Europe. Failure to comply with such an injunction would lead to them being sued big time if Real have any corporate presence anywhere in the EU.
UK firms fear cost of tighter rules on options
"British companies may be forced to reconsider the way they reward staff as the result of a new threat to make granting share options more onerous. The Accounting Standards Board (ASB), an independent regulatory body with the power to set accounting standards, wants to make companies reflect the cost of issuing share options in their annual profit and loss accounts... While the ASB proposals are a long way from being finalised, the body is confident it will succeed in changing the rules. Andrew Lennard, assistant technical director of the ASB, said: "The arguments are compelling. I think we have the ability to set them out in a way that will command acceptance."
In recent years there has been considerable movement towards convergence in accounting standards. If the ASB can establish a respected and workable standard in the UK, this could make it much easier for the FASB to bring in changes in the US.
Oh I don't know, every little helps.
Seriously, it's very rarely that we irretrievably lose options through progress.
The internet in particular pre-empts no resources and creates little pollution.
So I just thought I'd cite one small instance of a new choice as an example. But it seems I should have added a :-) as a sign for the ironically challenged.
The deal is: they give Park the money, he makes them the films. It's the neat bits -- the lighting, the details, the characterisation -- that have made the films so loved, and the merchandise so successful. Blandness and Disneyfication is not what Spielberg & Co are paying $250m for.
Society will adapt to exploit the `net
Both are true.
The feedback loop is one of the things that makes it all so interesting.
5 years ago there wasn't.
=> Progress.
I still don't see why you would want to bury the post for 24 hours, often annihilating its newsworthiness.
IMHO one of the greatest attractions of a slashdot discard list would be its up to the minute timeliness.
The big board would still have the additional (overwhelming) attractions of its group comment, its interactivity, and importantly its selectivity. Adding a discarded posts list would not in any way compromise slashdot proper.
Could it not be done client-side, in javascript ?
Also, soon you will be able to use XML and style sheets to help -- like Mozilla's demo of different presentations of the same Amazon-like page.
A good link a succint, authoritative, on-topic, evidence-based reference can often be the most informative and useful post of all.
In fact I'd say any 'informative' post gains incredibility if it can link to some evidence to back it up.
The real distinction is with good analysis posts, which have the tag 'insightful'.
This is just what I have been thinking. I'm sure everyone has had the experience of posting a story, getting it spiked, then seeing it appear 2 days later. There's so much good stuff that (maybe rightfully) doesn't make the main board, but is still very timely and informative. I'd love to see a list of what was coming in, perhaps broken into last 3 hours, 3-6 hours, 6-12 hours, etc.
Moderation would be a big bonus, so the posts could be ranked by quality in each time slot. Then also, if every story started off with an initial score -1 to +1, you could have anything that made it to +5 in the first six hours be automatically promoted onto the main board. Additional negative moderation tags like "Wrong" or "Old" would help keep the rubbish down.
Of course, you'd still have to filter out some posts -- eg pr0n site spam, or libel you could get sued for. But I think this kind of live semi-automated ticker of stories coming in would make for a very impressive rapid-response news intelligence system.
And I thought wall-sized Doom from an overhead projector was scary...
From the Reuters' story: "Other scientists are working on materials that could replace the lighted part of the display."
(From "Here's the law in question" thread below)
Section 1125(c)4:
The following shall not be actionable under this section:
...(B) Noncommercial use of a mark.
commercial advertising or promotion to identify the competing
goods or services of the owner of the famous mark.
1125(c)4(B)... They haven't got a leg to stand on.
So they called it "Bacteria R Us".
Ooops... better call the duty lawyer
But it's well worth reading yesterday's opinion piece Athlon no threat to Intel World dominance, and today's follow-up story to get one's feet back on the ground.
Intel's market share is overwhelming. Albeit sadly, that isn't going to change any time soon. (With or without the "Itanic" :g )
I have heard this hope before. But I think in practice results have been disappointing. It looks as if there just isn't enough selection pressure against the mutations in the wild; a large enough pool of resistant bacteria always survive.
The suggestion is that genes are transferred into the crops as plasmids which have previously been grown in bacteria. These plasmids also contain a gene for antibiotic resistance, because it makes it easy to kill off all but the successfully modified bacteria.
I don't know whether this does make modified crops a significant risk; antibiotics in animal feed are definitely reason for concern.
'Nuff said.