Nonsense. I switched to software development from chemical engineering when I was 50. Right now I'm almost 63 and work as a senior Java/C++ developer for a defense contractor. I could retire but I enjoy what I'm doing.
If you have real skills you can get a job. That's the real obstacle this person faces - building up a skill base that will interest an employer.
While there are a lot of employers and managers who have the idea that programming is only for people right out of school, there is no question that there are employers who are happy with having some older people as employees. More stability in life often means being a better worker. My current employer doesn't have anyone under 35 doing development.
Floppy drives are still available, mostly in the 3.25 size. But 5.25 blanks and refurb/NOS drives are still around too. There must be an inventory of many many years worth of old 5.25 drives around.
CDs, DVDs etc are still being sold in large quantity today. I do think though the absolute peak has passed. But optical drives will be available for a long time to come barring an extinction event. I think at least 30 years probably longer given the durability of the media. I have some CDs from when I bought my first Sony CD player in 1982. No evidence of deterioration.
Yeah, the privately run internet providers are doing such a wonderful job that we should not question this model at all.
I have lived in several towns that have had municipal run utilities. I have also lived in one town that had a privately run water system.
The private water system was horrific.
Some utilities work just fine run by a municipality. And it would eliminate the issue of provision to the less economically advantaged parts of the town. Something that is a big issue with services like FIOS.
I don't want the Federal Government running some general public access internet. Very Bad Idea.
I do want the FCC to open up existing infrastructure to alternative carriers. The current plan which allows carriers to exclude competitors is very bad.
I do want the FCC to make available bandwidth to more carriers, and to open up more bandwidth to WiFi.
I do want Congress to pass a law banning cable franchises by local and state governments.
I do want laws specifically enabling municipal internet utilities, especially on this new bandwidth.
I don't need Windows for anything except as a platform to run certain applications on. Games, Office, Photoshop, Lightroom and TaxCut are the key actors.
As soon as something without the monkeybusiness that Windows exposes me to (i.e. needless churn) like this Windows 8 malarkey is available I'm no longer a Windows user.
I don't particularly see it happening any time soon, but who knows, we might get lucky.
3.1.3 Does 17 USC Â10560 apply to works of State and Local Governments?
No, it applies only to federal government works. State and local governments may and often do claim copyright in their publications. It is their prerogative to set policies that may allow, require, restrict or prohibit claim of copyright on some or all works produced by their government units.
"Last year, we wrote about a crazy patent troll, named Innovatio, who had sued a ton of restaurants and hotels, claiming that anyone who used WiFi was violating its patents. It was even claiming that individuals who use WiFi at home infringed too -- but that it wouldn't go after them "at this time." Instead, it preferred to focus on shaking down tons of small businesses, offering to settle for $2,500 to $3,000 -- which is cheaper than hiring a lawyer to fight it, no matter how bogus. We noted at the time that Motorola and Cisco had gone to court to try to get a declaratory judgment to protect its customers. "
I notice you don't provide any numbers to back up your (inaccurate) claims.
Here's one for you to consider. If the US were to impose the same tax rates that are in effect in Canada, the government would be running a balanced budget.
The deficit the US is currently running is somewhere between 6-7 percent of GDP. It could easily be corrected if Congress were willing to actually do it.
China, for example only owns about 8% of US debt, slightly more than a trillion or so.
Also, the US holds almost as much foreign debt as foreign countries hold US debt, at a ratio of 9/10. In addition US investors tend to buy higher yielding securities off shore than foreign investors buy in the US, so US investors generally earn more income, meaning the net balance of payments is positive to the US.
So the idea that the US is propped up by foreign debt is pretty dumb.
So why would anyone pick AT&T if they wanted a non-data service on a smartphone that they owned outright?
These horrific contract terms are well publicized and there is plenty of discussion on the internet about it.
Plus AT&T has high rates and no discounts for people who have their own phones.
There are many services that offer far better deals than AT&T. I am in a similar position in that I own my own phone; I happen to use T-Mobile which offers a variety of plans. None of which lock you into a long term contract and there is no requirement that you buy a data plan if you don't want one.
There is no particular reason to buy into these ridiculous plans - there is plenty of diversity available, with plans that would likely suit you much better.
It really is your own fault that you got skewered this way.
The problem I think is that increasing the yellow length plus adding a period where all the lights at the intersection are red also reduces side impact crashes.
This clearly interferes with revenue from the red light cameras.
From a safety point of view we would want both the best light sequence protocol and the red light cameras. But at least here in NJ any attempt to do that falls on deaf ears. Mostly we get bare minimal yellow light periods at intersections with red light cameras.
Not only that, but research shows that the best solution to elimination of the safety hazards of a 4 way intersection is to replace it with a roundabout. While many intersections can't get that treatment, that again interferes with the revenue stream.
It isn't an issue of what the current standards bodies recommend. It's resistance to advancing the current standards to incorporate best practices because this idea puts in place a large revenue stream.
NJ has done a study of the effects of installation of some its red light cameras. While they got the tradeoff of side impact vs rear end collisions, they also found that the overall cost of the collisions increased. It's hard to say on that basis that the benefits of red light cameras are real.
Slashdot Mirror
Nonsense. I switched to software development from chemical engineering when I was 50. Right now I'm almost 63 and work as a senior Java/C++ developer for a defense contractor. I could retire but I enjoy what I'm doing.
If you have real skills you can get a job. That's the real obstacle this person faces - building up a skill base that will interest an employer.
While there are a lot of employers and managers who have the idea that programming is only for people right out of school, there is no question that there are employers who are happy with having some older people as employees. More stability in life often means being a better worker. My current employer doesn't have anyone under 35 doing development.
Floppy drives are still available, mostly in the 3.25 size. But 5.25 blanks and refurb/NOS drives are still around too. There must be an inventory of many many years worth of old 5.25 drives around.
CDs, DVDs etc are still being sold in large quantity today. I do think though the absolute peak has passed. But optical drives will be available for a long time to come barring an extinction event. I think at least 30 years probably longer given the durability of the media. I have some CDs from when I bought my first Sony CD player in 1982. No evidence of deterioration.
I don't need Windows. I need the applications I listed.
Why exactly is that an issue? We already have all sorts of cases where the service and the media are provided separately.
Yeah, the privately run internet providers are doing such a wonderful job that we should not question this model at all.
I have lived in several towns that have had municipal run utilities. I have also lived in one town that had a privately run water system.
The private water system was horrific.
Some utilities work just fine run by a municipality. And it would eliminate the issue of provision to the less economically advantaged parts of the town. Something that is a big issue with services like FIOS.
I've had occasion to work on projects that included some very experienced and talented Javascript programmers.
I'm not impressed by the language at all.
I don't want the Federal Government running some general public access internet. Very Bad Idea.
I do want the FCC to open up existing infrastructure to alternative carriers. The current plan which allows carriers to exclude competitors is very bad.
I do want the FCC to make available bandwidth to more carriers, and to open up more bandwidth to WiFi.
I do want Congress to pass a law banning cable franchises by local and state governments.
I do want laws specifically enabling municipal internet utilities, especially on this new bandwidth.
I don't need Windows for anything except as a platform to run certain applications on. Games, Office, Photoshop, Lightroom and TaxCut are the key actors.
As soon as something without the monkeybusiness that Windows exposes me to (i.e. needless churn) like this Windows 8 malarkey is available I'm no longer a Windows user.
I don't particularly see it happening any time soon, but who knows, we might get lucky.
Not very much. Maryland is a very blue state.
I agree with you. You can't just impose such a thing without some sort of quid pro quo.
From the articles it's looking like they are starting to realize this as well.
3.1.3 Does 17 USC Â10560 apply to works of State and Local Governments?
No, it applies only to federal government works. State and local governments may and often do claim copyright in their publications. It is their prerogative to set policies that may allow, require, restrict or prohibit claim of copyright on some or all works produced by their government units.
Many businesses are receiving letters like this. It's a fraud.
You might want to read this article:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cisco-Motorola-Netgear-Aim-Cannons-At-WiFi-Patent-Troll-121594
And this:
http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20121009/01444620656/cisco-motorola-netgear-team-up-to-expose-wifi-patent-bully.shtml
"Last year, we wrote about a crazy patent troll, named Innovatio, who had sued a ton of restaurants and hotels, claiming that anyone who used WiFi was violating its patents. It was even claiming that individuals who use WiFi at home infringed too -- but that it wouldn't go after them "at this time." Instead, it preferred to focus on shaking down tons of small businesses, offering to settle for $2,500 to $3,000 -- which is cheaper than hiring a lawyer to fight it, no matter how bogus. We noted at the time that Motorola and Cisco had gone to court to try to get a declaratory judgment to protect its customers. "
I notice you don't provide any numbers to back up your (inaccurate) claims.
Here's one for you to consider. If the US were to impose the same tax rates that are in effect in Canada, the government would be running a balanced budget.
The deficit the US is currently running is somewhere between 6-7 percent of GDP. It could easily be corrected if Congress were willing to actually do it.
I think Congress has become too dependent on corporations for financing the acquisition of their office.
Time to amend the Constitution to place limits on corporate speech. That's all that is really needed.
Not really.
China, for example only owns about 8% of US debt, slightly more than a trillion or so.
Also, the US holds almost as much foreign debt as foreign countries hold US debt, at a ratio of 9/10. In addition US investors tend to buy higher yielding securities off shore than foreign investors buy in the US, so US investors generally earn more income, meaning the net balance of payments is positive to the US.
So the idea that the US is propped up by foreign debt is pretty dumb.
It's in the contract.
This is just consumer laziness. There are other carriers that don't have terms like this.
You called the three carriers who have this policy. Next time call some more, say including T-Mobile that don't have this policy.
IMEI. Gets broadcast every time you make a call.
It doesn't even happen in America if you bother to find the a carrier that offers the type of plan that fits your particular usage.
This is really self inflicted.
The contract terms are disclosed and there are lots of other carriers that don't have this type of terms in their contracts.
These situations are also self-inflicted. Plenty of US carriers don't have this brain-dead restriction.
A little effort and the author could have easily found a more appropriate plan.
It's right in the contract terms. They tell you when you sign the freaking contract.
Shear laziness that's all. There are several carriers in the US that offer much better terms.
You couldn't actually pick a worse carrier for this type of use.
So why would anyone pick AT&T if they wanted a non-data service on a smartphone that they owned outright?
These horrific contract terms are well publicized and there is plenty of discussion on the internet about it.
Plus AT&T has high rates and no discounts for people who have their own phones.
There are many services that offer far better deals than AT&T. I am in a similar position in that I own my own phone; I happen to use T-Mobile which offers a variety of plans. None of which lock you into a long term contract and there is no requirement that you buy a data plan if you don't want one.
There is no particular reason to buy into these ridiculous plans - there is plenty of diversity available, with plans that would likely suit you much better.
It really is your own fault that you got skewered this way.
The problem I think is that increasing the yellow length plus adding a period where all the lights at the intersection are red also reduces side impact crashes.
This clearly interferes with revenue from the red light cameras.
From a safety point of view we would want both the best light sequence protocol and the red light cameras. But at least here in NJ any attempt to do that falls on deaf ears. Mostly we get bare minimal yellow light periods at intersections with red light cameras.
Not only that, but research shows that the best solution to elimination of the safety hazards of a 4 way intersection is to replace it with a roundabout. While many intersections can't get that treatment, that again interferes with the revenue stream.
It isn't an issue of what the current standards bodies recommend. It's resistance to advancing the current standards to incorporate best practices because this idea puts in place a large revenue stream.
NJ has done a study of the effects of installation of some its red light cameras. While they got the tradeoff of side impact vs rear end collisions, they also found that the overall cost of the collisions increased. It's hard to say on that basis that the benefits of red light cameras are real.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/red-light_cameras_lead_to_more.html
I lost all service from my cable provider for 10 days in November last year.
That was a serious inconvenience. However since it was due to a natural disaster I could hardly blame them.
You are a liar. Over 20 times more people die in gun related homicides than by blunt force trauma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States#Homicides