I agree with your conclusion, but I'd like to add to your analysis.
First, the return is 2^(1/30), or 2.33%. Second, inflation isn't an investment, so comparing it to other investments (CD's are under 2%) puts it at a decent return if it is low risk. If you assume the cost of the fuel increases at a similar rate as electricity (power in Terre Haute, IN has gone from 4 cents/kWh in 2003 to 6 cents/kWh in 2008, oil has gone from ~$50 to ~$80 per barrel in the last 5 years), that $100,000 will increase at the same rate, which is over 8%, well outpacing inflation. Chances are good energy prices will rise at least as fast as inflation, so this should be a low-risk investment IF the equipment doesn't depreciate or break down very quickly. Also, if the savings does outpace inflation, the return rate will be higher than 2.33%.
A few notes: I happen to have this electricity data on hand, I realize Terre Haute may not be representative of electricity rates nation-wide or world-wide. I know this thing runs on methane and the like, but oil is an easy to look up substitute price. Overall, the apparent gain in return from these price increases is high enough to be substantial even if all the errors work against it. I don't know what a typical business investment is like, so I just used CD rates as an easy comparison. If anyone would like to add better analysis, or if I am way off, please correct me.
Why can't they use IE8 with IE6 compatibility? That way companies have no reason to be using IE6 for applications where a modern browser would work, and nothing should break. I realize this is too obvious to be a new suggestion, and I know IE8 has a compatibility mode (not sure what version it works with), so either Microsoft has dropped the ball or the higher-ups are more immune to logic and reason than I thought.
Easy. Use an optional peripheral that acts as a "virtual hand"- it controls where the "virtual finger" is at all times, so the cursor always has position information. This "virtual hand" could have buttons on it to perform "virtual clicks", and with multiple buttons it could perform both "virtual left clicks" and "virtual right clicks". The simplest implementation would track movement by having a ball on the bottom, so that it must be dragged on a surface to move it. With the right technology, an optical version might be feasible, reducing the number of moving parts.
This is all theoretical of course. I doubt there would actually be any demand for these "virtual hand" devices.
The idea that some people have a hard time with math is nothing new, but understanding what makes it difficult is important. If math anxiety affects people at such a basic level, addressing their anxiety could create a huge improvement. It would be interesting if we learn enough about how people learn that some day average math skills means a strong grasp of algebra and calculus without needing a calculator.
Personally, I don't think they deserve it. Society is likely to think they do. Unless enough people agree with me, it doesn't pressure change, but does continue the injustice. The case you mention is the kind that does (hopefully) get people against the law.
Yeah that works when you start using those insane laws against people who clearly do not deserve it. These people arguably could deserve to be labeled sex offender (I agree with the GP it is better not to), so it wouldn't help with what you want to do.
It doesn't have to tell you where, you can already tell:
Stupid regulation motivated by greed: USA
Stupid regulation motivated by stupidity/gullibility (often caused by the USA): mainland Europe
Stupid regulation inspired by Orwell: UK, possibly Australia
Not stupid regulation: anywhere else
My guess is they figure the chance they can get away with this is worth more than the profits they'll lose during those first few months. Chances are not a lot of people who protest initially will hold out after they relax the DRM, so those lost profits won't be too big.
Also, I bet they can get away with more if they start with horrible DRM, then lighten up a little, as opposed to starting with typical draconian DRM.
I'm assuming Ubisoft, EA and the like are starting to dream about gaming on the cloud- complete control over access to the content, mandatory constant internet connection to the servers, and no pirateable game files being distributed to consumers. In addition, it will become much easier to cite server costs as a reason to shut down a game after a few years.
I don't see why* editors can't check the link. If it is a blog, check for the source news article, and link that instead. If someone feels their blog adds so much more to the story, they can post a comment here and people can decide for themselves.
*In a practical sense; I realize the kdawson type of complaints are likely to apply here.
I don't agree with the people who hate any spending that has to do with space, but there has to be a balance somewhere. I see the benefit of the Apollo missions and they were worth the cost, but space missions are expensive compared to a lot of earth-based science. This mission seems worth the cost, as it will help us plan future missions, but just as people shouldn't reject spending as soon as they see "space", we shouldn't automatically accept it either. Science will never get as much funding as we would like, so we need to be sure we spend what we've got wisely.
I support science funding, but a billion dollars can fund a lot of terrestrial science projects, so any space mission better not be a stand-alone one as long as the budget stays so high. I agree putting a man on Mars isn't practical in the short term, but we should still be working towards making a Mars mission become practical. A data-gathering mission should have to fight directly with telescope projects for funding, otherwise it has to provide more direct benefits. For example, the article says it is planned to get samples back to earth by the 2020's. That mission would combine technical progress (getting something off of Mars for the first time) with scientific research, so it is an ideal project.
As for this mission, knowing more about the composition of the moon can help us if we want to make use of it for future missions (for its gravity or as a base), and the mapping of the Martian surface will help us direct future missions. This is a good mission, and I support its funding. It isn't just about getting pictures of a rock.
I tried to explain on another website how this means life may have come to earth from space, and the only response I got was someone pointing out how I'm an idiot because this meteor is only from 40 years ago. He must be right, given no one would call someone an idiot when he himself is the idiot, so I must inform all of you panspermia is wrong and you should be ashamed of yourselves for believing it.
Generating all the power we need at centralized power plants is typically more efficient than running a bunch of small motors everywhere. Not to mention that most non-polluting energy sources can only be exploited on a large scale. No one is going to have a personal hydroelectric dam, and a windmill to power your home has horrible efficiency- note how turbines have only been getting bigger lately. Solar panels are starting to get cheap enough for home use, but they still depreciate too quickly to be all that green when you consider the materials they are made out of.
I agree that "green" marketing often ignores the impact of the power source, but in general green technology can still come out ahead.
Recently, working on a paper, I came across some papers on the National Bureau of Economic Research website that said they were $5 to access for me, but they are free for anyone in a developing or undeveloped country. I didn't try to find a proxy in Azerbaijan so I don't know how the site looks if you are from a country that gets free access, but I am curious how that works and how it differs from this patent.
It would be interesting if it could watch you draw, then imitate your style as it draws other subjects. It isn't fun to re-draw the same subject over and over just to see how you progress. Instead you could use it to take each of your drawings and show you, say, a lightbulb would look. Plus it would be fun for people like me who like to draw on occasion but quickly get lazy. That way I could just draw half of something and let the robot finish it. Heck, you could use it to do one of those photo-every-day things, but instead of a photo it's a self-portrait based on your current drawing ability.
Of course, if it became complex enough, it could analyze money and learn how to mimic that drawing style...
By making attacks like this, they can grab headlines. Any good news reporter tries to get input from both sides, which means anonymous can potentially get their complaints into mainstream newspapers. Obviously, attacking a few websites will not make politicians back down, as they would look weak. Raise enough public interest in the issue, and politicians will listen. Like with most tech-related issues, I do not realistically expect a large public response, but you cant say anonymous isn't trying.
I looked at Warner Music's website, this is their contact page: WMG Contact Us. I figure it can't hurt to politely express how you think free streaming improves their product and helps their bottom line. At the worst they'll send out a bunch of form emails about how hard it is to make profit these days and give you a good laugh. If you care enough to contact them, you are probably a good customer to keep happy, as you care about their product enough you likely talk about it (i.e. you like to talk about your favorite bands). They're a big company that probably thinks their marketing department can make up for any amount of angry customers- at the least we can confirm if that's true.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree with your conclusion, but I'd like to add to your analysis.
First, the return is 2^(1/30), or 2.33%. Second, inflation isn't an investment, so comparing it to other investments (CD's are under 2%) puts it at a decent return if it is low risk. If you assume the cost of the fuel increases at a similar rate as electricity (power in Terre Haute, IN has gone from 4 cents/kWh in 2003 to 6 cents/kWh in 2008, oil has gone from ~$50 to ~$80 per barrel in the last 5 years), that $100,000 will increase at the same rate, which is over 8%, well outpacing inflation. Chances are good energy prices will rise at least as fast as inflation, so this should be a low-risk investment IF the equipment doesn't depreciate or break down very quickly. Also, if the savings does outpace inflation, the return rate will be higher than 2.33%.
A few notes: I happen to have this electricity data on hand, I realize Terre Haute may not be representative of electricity rates nation-wide or world-wide. I know this thing runs on methane and the like, but oil is an easy to look up substitute price. Overall, the apparent gain in return from these price increases is high enough to be substantial even if all the errors work against it. I don't know what a typical business investment is like, so I just used CD rates as an easy comparison. If anyone would like to add better analysis, or if I am way off, please correct me.
Why can't they use IE8 with IE6 compatibility? That way companies have no reason to be using IE6 for applications where a modern browser would work, and nothing should break. I realize this is too obvious to be a new suggestion, and I know IE8 has a compatibility mode (not sure what version it works with), so either Microsoft has dropped the ball or the higher-ups are more immune to logic and reason than I thought.
an opportunity to make a ton of money instead of a crisis.
I thought that was the definition of crisis.
Easy. Use an optional peripheral that acts as a "virtual hand"- it controls where the "virtual finger" is at all times, so the cursor always has position information. This "virtual hand" could have buttons on it to perform "virtual clicks", and with multiple buttons it could perform both "virtual left clicks" and "virtual right clicks". The simplest implementation would track movement by having a ball on the bottom, so that it must be dragged on a surface to move it. With the right technology, an optical version might be feasible, reducing the number of moving parts.
This is all theoretical of course. I doubt there would actually be any demand for these "virtual hand" devices.
The only post I see mentioning a change in sea levels was posted AFTER the parent... why is this redundant?
The idea that some people have a hard time with math is nothing new, but understanding what makes it difficult is important. If math anxiety affects people at such a basic level, addressing their anxiety could create a huge improvement. It would be interesting if we learn enough about how people learn that some day average math skills means a strong grasp of algebra and calculus without needing a calculator.
Personally, I don't think they deserve it. Society is likely to think they do. Unless enough people agree with me, it doesn't pressure change, but does continue the injustice. The case you mention is the kind that does (hopefully) get people against the law.
Yeah that works when you start using those insane laws against people who clearly do not deserve it. These people arguably could deserve to be labeled sex offender (I agree with the GP it is better not to), so it wouldn't help with what you want to do.
It doesn't have to tell you where, you can already tell:
Stupid regulation motivated by greed: USA
Stupid regulation motivated by stupidity/gullibility (often caused by the USA): mainland Europe
Stupid regulation inspired by Orwell: UK, possibly Australia
Not stupid regulation: anywhere else
My guess is they figure the chance they can get away with this is worth more than the profits they'll lose during those first few months. Chances are not a lot of people who protest initially will hold out after they relax the DRM, so those lost profits won't be too big.
Also, I bet they can get away with more if they start with horrible DRM, then lighten up a little, as opposed to starting with typical draconian DRM.
I'm assuming Ubisoft, EA and the like are starting to dream about gaming on the cloud- complete control over access to the content, mandatory constant internet connection to the servers, and no pirateable game files being distributed to consumers. In addition, it will become much easier to cite server costs as a reason to shut down a game after a few years.
I don't see why* editors can't check the link. If it is a blog, check for the source news article, and link that instead. If someone feels their blog adds so much more to the story, they can post a comment here and people can decide for themselves.
*In a practical sense; I realize the kdawson type of complaints are likely to apply here.
Don't worry, I'm sure they have screens on them to keep meteors from flying in.
I don't agree with the people who hate any spending that has to do with space, but there has to be a balance somewhere. I see the benefit of the Apollo missions and they were worth the cost, but space missions are expensive compared to a lot of earth-based science. This mission seems worth the cost, as it will help us plan future missions, but just as people shouldn't reject spending as soon as they see "space", we shouldn't automatically accept it either. Science will never get as much funding as we would like, so we need to be sure we spend what we've got wisely.
That was from previous flybys, so this one might confirm and explain why.
I support science funding, but a billion dollars can fund a lot of terrestrial science projects, so any space mission better not be a stand-alone one as long as the budget stays so high. I agree putting a man on Mars isn't practical in the short term, but we should still be working towards making a Mars mission become practical. A data-gathering mission should have to fight directly with telescope projects for funding, otherwise it has to provide more direct benefits. For example, the article says it is planned to get samples back to earth by the 2020's. That mission would combine technical progress (getting something off of Mars for the first time) with scientific research, so it is an ideal project.
As for this mission, knowing more about the composition of the moon can help us if we want to make use of it for future missions (for its gravity or as a base), and the mapping of the Martian surface will help us direct future missions. This is a good mission, and I support its funding. It isn't just about getting pictures of a rock.
It looks rather plain- for some reason I thought it would look a little scary or something. Not sure why.
Some idiots are amusing. Bash.org is evidence of that.
I tried to explain on another website how this means life may have come to earth from space, and the only response I got was someone pointing out how I'm an idiot because this meteor is only from 40 years ago. He must be right, given no one would call someone an idiot when he himself is the idiot, so I must inform all of you panspermia is wrong and you should be ashamed of yourselves for believing it.
Generating all the power we need at centralized power plants is typically more efficient than running a bunch of small motors everywhere. Not to mention that most non-polluting energy sources can only be exploited on a large scale. No one is going to have a personal hydroelectric dam, and a windmill to power your home has horrible efficiency- note how turbines have only been getting bigger lately. Solar panels are starting to get cheap enough for home use, but they still depreciate too quickly to be all that green when you consider the materials they are made out of.
I agree that "green" marketing often ignores the impact of the power source, but in general green technology can still come out ahead.
Recently, working on a paper, I came across some papers on the National Bureau of Economic Research website that said they were $5 to access for me, but they are free for anyone in a developing or undeveloped country. I didn't try to find a proxy in Azerbaijan so I don't know how the site looks if you are from a country that gets free access, but I am curious how that works and how it differs from this patent.
This sort of full-frontal, in your face attitude is a good thing.
I don't know about calling it full-frontal. More like topless.
It would be interesting if it could watch you draw, then imitate your style as it draws other subjects. It isn't fun to re-draw the same subject over and over just to see how you progress. Instead you could use it to take each of your drawings and show you, say, a lightbulb would look. Plus it would be fun for people like me who like to draw on occasion but quickly get lazy. That way I could just draw half of something and let the robot finish it. Heck, you could use it to do one of those photo-every-day things, but instead of a photo it's a self-portrait based on your current drawing ability.
Of course, if it became complex enough, it could analyze money and learn how to mimic that drawing style...
By making attacks like this, they can grab headlines. Any good news reporter tries to get input from both sides, which means anonymous can potentially get their complaints into mainstream newspapers. Obviously, attacking a few websites will not make politicians back down, as they would look weak. Raise enough public interest in the issue, and politicians will listen. Like with most tech-related issues, I do not realistically expect a large public response, but you cant say anonymous isn't trying.
I looked at Warner Music's website, this is their contact page: WMG Contact Us. I figure it can't hurt to politely express how you think free streaming improves their product and helps their bottom line. At the worst they'll send out a bunch of form emails about how hard it is to make profit these days and give you a good laugh. If you care enough to contact them, you are probably a good customer to keep happy, as you care about their product enough you likely talk about it (i.e. you like to talk about your favorite bands). They're a big company that probably thinks their marketing department can make up for any amount of angry customers- at the least we can confirm if that's true.