"b) if a valid handicap parking-user shows up and there are no spots available, anyone parked in them gets tagged and fined." If the space is improperly occupied when it's needed, the system has failed and you have a handicapped person who may be unable to attend the business or event they're trying to park at. The fine is only a deterrent to parking there. It does nothing to help a handicapped driver who can't buy groceries because someone was insensitive enough to take their parking space.
I've seen a lot of grousing here that handicapped spaces are usually empty. That how they're supposed to work. The idea is to have enough handicapped parking that the few who need it will always have a space open for them, so they don't have to circle the block 50 times, wait forever, or just come back later. When your mobility is impaired simple errands become arduous chores that don't need any further impediments. Making parking marginally less convenient for able-bodies persons makes it dramatically more accessible for who people who face severe challenges at basic daily tasks.
"Please grant Palestine full membership in WIPO, preferably yesterday."
Why is the parent modded 5, Insightful? The statement is not an insight or observation at all, just a request. Are people just modding this up because they happen to agree with the politics behind the statement?
I know there's a lot of people out there that have been negatively affected by drunk drivers but in most states the punishment really can be life destroying.
Being hit by a drunk driver can also be life destroying, and in some cases life ending.
I'm not against these things being used in serious cases. But your first offense with a DUI... where do we draw the line?
Driving with with a 0.08 BAC is a serious case. This isn't just some inconsequential traffic ticket for a reason. Just because the drunk driver was lucky enough not to hit anyone doesn't make them any less guilty of recklessly endangering people's lives.
Either that or the Sandmen are going to come and get me.
The young'uns don't even know who the Sandmen are. When I've made jokes about being a grup or going to Carosel most of my 20-something friends need to explained to them.
Quake3 is clearly not the game of choice if you're looking for shiny graphics, it's all about the gameplay.
Funny, when Quake 3 was new it was seen largely as a shiny engine that was *mostly* about the graphics. The gameplay was basically a rehash of Quake 1 & deathmatch. People looking for interesting gameplay at the time were holding out for Q3-engine license games like Alice.
Having addressed basic problems of food, manufacturing, housing, health and transportation, people lead relatively comfortable lives. In the last fifty years we've been madly creating new technology that makes already do-able tasks even easier and that delivers entertainment far more conveniently. Our motivation is slowing down because our needs have been met. Granted, things *could* still be much better, and for more people, but most of the people who are in a position to push progress in technology are sitting fat and happy.
That said, my fanciful wish is for digging tunnels all over the place so we don't have to look up at a sky clogged with millions of aircraft. Having a mechanical failure in a tunnel is safer than in the sky, too. Tunnels are quite dangerous and have problems of their own. Collisions in tunnels are far more likely to become multiple vehicle pile-ups as there are fewer options for getting out of the way of a wreck. Ventilation is an issue in all long/large vehicle tunnels, and the problem gets worse if there is burning wreckage in there. Emergency workers can have a hard time getting into a tunnel full of traffic to perform a rescue and clean-up.
As we pass laws in the US against spam, and start enforcing them, all it will ultimately do is drive the spamming operations out of the country. There will always be some small poor nation willing to let these paracites stay as long as they generate some tax revenue and keep a few locals employed. Blocking international email traffic isn't a viable option, so there is little we will be able to do about it.
Given that, I have moral objections to spammers and am pleased each time I hear of one getting what he or she deserves.
I was recently charged with selecting and setting a computer for my family's business, which had previously been handled the old fanshioned way. I have already spent many hours fixing spyware and virus ridden home machines, and had made numerous attempts to explained how to safegaurd against such things. AdAware and friends can only do so much when the user actively seeks out "free" (as in strings attached) games and "helper" programs to download.
So, SUSE 9.1 went on the new office computer. I am the only one with root access. There was a little grumbling about having to learn something new, but acceptence was pretty quick when I explained that they won't be worrying about spyware getting onto the same system that does the accounting. It took my mother about 10sec to figure how to use KDE's menus to perform common tasks.
CA recently passed laws increasing the smog testing for older vehicles. Cars companies were very pleased with the legistlation, since it will entice people to buy new cars to replace their othewise perfectly good old ones.
What you're describing is a kind of Heads Up Display. The Corvette has had a HUD for years now, in addition to its standard gauge cluster. Inset into the dash, just behind the instrument pod, in a small projecter the creates a translucent HUD on the windshield.
When I testdrove one, the salesperson attempted to demo it, but could find the brightness level controls. The sun was low in the sky, and made reading this display at its default setting very difficult. I image it would have been much more cool had we known how to adjust it correctly.
So they're the "Trusted Computing Platform Alliance"? Let's look at this one.
Alliance: A close association of nations or other groups, formed to advance common interests or causes
Seems accurate.
Platform: The basic technology of a computer system's hardware and software that defines how a computer is operated and determines what other kinds of software can be used
Yeah, they're trying to determin what kinds of software can be used.
Computing: To use a computer.
So far, so good.
Trust: Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.
Reliance on integrity? What, integrity of the consumer? To use their own computer without violating your DRM or IP? May this other denfinition is better:
Trust: A combination of firms or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or an industry
Some of the GPS-equipped rental cars already do monitor everything, and tried to hand out speeding fines for it.
Think you're safe in your own car? Data like how high the engine's been revved, speeds its gone, etc, are all being collected and recorded by some newer cars. This information is intended by car companies only for diagnostic perposes, but just think what would happen if your insurance company could use that black box against you.
Calle Ballz makes a good point about accountability: we need to have it. Although 99% of us aren't causing trouble, that 1% can really spoil things, and with no way to track people actions, laws become meaningless. Someone has to be able to track down who-dunnit.
An anonymiser can keep logs, be subject to federal law and govermnet wiretaps. Since no system can offer true anonimity, *someone* can get the information and missuse/abuse it. Would you prefer that anyone with basic network tools like traceroute have this information, so that we're all equal, or should one company or government hold our personal information in its clutches?
Speaking of things Microsoft wants dead, why not use WordPerfect? Native versions exist for Windows and Linux, and its a great word processor (come on guys, pico?).
Why should Metallica be shut down for defending their intellectual property rights? Although their move isn't the best one for PR, it is by no means an unwarrented invation of anyone else's freedom or privacy. Distributing copyrighted material is illegal. Metallica is only asking actions to be taken against those who have broken the law.
If Metallica is be publically condenmed, where do we draw the line? It seems OK by many people to steal from a rich and famous band that has the means to defend itself. Does this mean its OK to steal from muscians struggling to make a living as well?
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"b) if a valid handicap parking-user shows up and there are no spots available, anyone parked in them gets tagged and fined."
If the space is improperly occupied when it's needed, the system has failed and you have a handicapped person who may be unable to attend the business or event they're trying to park at. The fine is only a deterrent to parking there. It does nothing to help a handicapped driver who can't buy groceries because someone was insensitive enough to take their parking space.
I've seen a lot of grousing here that handicapped spaces are usually empty. That how they're supposed to work. The idea is to have enough handicapped parking that the few who need it will always have a space open for them, so they don't have to circle the block 50 times, wait forever, or just come back later. When your mobility is impaired simple errands become arduous chores that don't need any further impediments. Making parking marginally less convenient for able-bodies persons makes it dramatically more accessible for who people who face severe challenges at basic daily tasks.
"Please grant Palestine full membership in WIPO, preferably yesterday."
Why is the parent modded 5, Insightful? The statement is not an insight or observation at all, just a request. Are people just modding this up because they happen to agree with the politics behind the statement?
I know there's a lot of people out there that have been negatively affected by drunk drivers but in most states the punishment really can be life destroying.
Being hit by a drunk driver can also be life destroying, and in some cases life ending.
I'm not against these things being used in serious cases. But your first offense with a DUI ... where do we draw the line?
Driving with with a 0.08 BAC is a serious case. This isn't just some inconsequential traffic ticket for a reason. Just because the drunk driver was lucky enough not to hit anyone doesn't make them any less guilty of recklessly endangering people's lives.
Either that or the Sandmen are going to come and get me.
The young'uns don't even know who the Sandmen are. When I've made jokes about being a grup or going to Carosel most of my 20-something friends need to explained to them.
Quake3 is clearly not the game of choice if you're looking for shiny graphics, it's all about the gameplay.
Funny, when Quake 3 was new it was seen largely as a shiny engine that was *mostly* about the graphics. The gameplay was basically a rehash of Quake 1 & deathmatch. People looking for interesting gameplay at the time were holding out for Q3-engine license games like Alice.
Having addressed basic problems of food, manufacturing, housing, health and transportation, people lead relatively comfortable lives. In the last fifty years we've been madly creating new technology that makes already do-able tasks even easier and that delivers entertainment far more conveniently. Our motivation is slowing down because our needs have been met. Granted, things *could* still be much better, and for more people, but most of the people who are in a position to push progress in technology are sitting fat and happy.
Try $3,000. If they're really rich, more like $30,000. Not kidding at all.
I code software/websites for diamond merchants.
BTW, I love my antique sapphire engagement ring. No diamonds here.
As we pass laws in the US against spam, and start enforcing them, all it will ultimately do is drive the spamming operations out of the country. There will always be some small poor nation willing to let these paracites stay as long as they generate some tax revenue and keep a few locals employed. Blocking international email traffic isn't a viable option, so there is little we will be able to do about it.
Given that, I have moral objections to spammers and am pleased each time I hear of one getting what he or she deserves.
I was recently charged with selecting and setting a computer for my family's business, which had previously been handled the old fanshioned way. I have already spent many hours fixing spyware and virus ridden home machines, and had made numerous attempts to explained how to safegaurd against such things. AdAware and friends can only do so much when the user actively seeks out "free" (as in strings attached) games and "helper" programs to download.
So, SUSE 9.1 went on the new office computer. I am the only one with root access. There was a little grumbling about having to learn something new, but acceptence was pretty quick when I explained that they won't be worrying about spyware getting onto the same system that does the accounting. It took my mother about 10sec to figure how to use KDE's menus to perform common tasks.
CA recently passed laws increasing the smog testing for older vehicles. Cars companies were very pleased with the legistlation, since it will entice people to buy new cars to replace their othewise perfectly good old ones.
What you're describing is a kind of Heads Up Display. The Corvette has had a HUD for years now, in addition to its standard gauge cluster. Inset into the dash, just behind the instrument pod, in a small projecter the creates a translucent HUD on the windshield.
When I testdrove one, the salesperson attempted to demo it, but could find the brightness level controls. The sun was low in the sky, and made reading this display at its default setting very difficult. I image it would have been much more cool had we known how to adjust it correctly.
Anyone know if other GM vehicles use this?
1.1 also crashes on ebay. Happened to me most on item pages at ebaymotors.com.
So they're the "Trusted Computing Platform Alliance"? Let's look at this one.
Alliance: A close association of nations or other groups, formed to advance common interests or causes
Seems accurate.
Platform: The basic technology of a computer system's hardware and software that defines how a computer is operated and determines what other kinds of software can be used
Yeah, they're trying to determin what kinds of software can be used.
Computing: To use a computer.
So far, so good.
Trust: Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.
Reliance on integrity? What, integrity of the consumer? To use their own computer without violating your DRM or IP? May this other denfinition is better:
Trust: A combination of firms or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or an industry
That's a little more like it.
(all definitions from www.dictionary.com)
Some of the GPS-equipped rental cars already do monitor everything, and tried to hand out speeding fines for it.
Think you're safe in your own car? Data like how high the engine's been revved, speeds its gone, etc, are all being collected and recorded by some newer cars. This information is intended by car companies only for diagnostic perposes, but just think what would happen if your insurance company could use that black box against you.
Try finding a Stock Class game. Guns are required to be pump-action and must run off 12-grams, none of those big air tanks and hoppers.
Calle Ballz makes a good point about accountability: we need to have it. Although 99% of us aren't causing trouble, that 1% can really spoil things, and with no way to track people actions, laws become meaningless. Someone has to be able to track down who-dunnit. An anonymiser can keep logs, be subject to federal law and govermnet wiretaps. Since no system can offer true anonimity, *someone* can get the information and missuse/abuse it. Would you prefer that anyone with basic network tools like traceroute have this information, so that we're all equal, or should one company or government hold our personal information in its clutches?
Speaking of things Microsoft wants dead, why not use WordPerfect? Native versions exist for Windows and Linux, and its a great word processor (come on guys, pico?).
Why should Metallica be shut down for defending their intellectual property rights? Although their move isn't the best one for PR, it is by no means an unwarrented invation of anyone else's freedom or privacy. Distributing copyrighted material is illegal. Metallica is only asking actions to be taken against those who have broken the law.
If Metallica is be publically condenmed, where do we draw the line? It seems OK by many people to steal from a rich and famous band that has the means to defend itself. Does this mean its OK to steal from muscians struggling to make a living as well?