But somebody has to pay the Visa/MC/Amex/Discover cartels their percentage. How else do you think they give you x% back? Right out of the merchants' pockets.
No, there will still be fees. Now, if google can figure out how to reduce/eliminate the fixed fee portion and/or enable micropayments, paypal is going to have to make some moves to keep thier userbase. Of course, if google could wheedle their way out of the "perks" in your CC, (you know - 3% back at company stores, 1% everywhere else except gpay, no benes for gpay payments), in exchange for a.5% rate reduction that would give them a competitive advantage. Depends on how big a stick (or, perhaps, carrot) they can summon up when dealing with the CC companies.
In the case of microsoft, there was no viable competing desktop OS. By having a de facto monopoly on the desktop, they were unfairly leveraging that space for their gain. The key here is that you couldn't just go use another OS. In Google's case, there are lots of other search engines out there, and Google isn't (effectively) required to get your computer to run. I'd agree if you said that Google was levveraging their mindshare to launch "me too" products. However, in the case of the marketplaces they've entered, they appear to be providing competition in areas with medium/large barriers to entry. As a consumer, I think that's a good thing.
I'd argue that it does, but the time of optimization is very long and the parameters are constantly changing. As a result, you will rarely see an optimal result in nature because the parameters change faster than the optimization process can adapt. Also, you must realize that the optimization in not occuring on one or two axis, but on hundreds (or thousands). The object of an organism is to survive [long enough to reproduce], not to create the perfect optical lens, or sonic detection system, or deadliest venom. Also realize that the optimization of one party interacts with the optimization of others, so the parameters of optimization are not simply varied due to unaffectable environmental inputs (humans notwithstanding), but the organisms own optimization may force a change (optimisation) of a competing organism.
Yeah, but the researchers don't get attached to them like they do with cute furry animals. The same has been shown to be true when using lawyers in experimental work.
You should remember your own advice the next time you need to get a widget, and make sure you drive to a B&M store to pay for your item with cash you've taken out of the storage bin underneath your mattress. You see, every online transaction requires access to a credit card. What makes you any more certain that the snipe services (which don't requre you to have your net connection up or even your computer on, for those who like to point out that you could roll-your-own sniper) are going to be any more or less secure than the average vendor that pops up on pricewatch?
Sounds a little too much like socialism with the whole "cost sharing" thing.
I'm for compulsory licensing of patents where the patent holder is not actively producing the patented product in commercial quantities. The fees should be small (pennies).
That's where the new compulsory licensing comes into play (you know, the one that hasn't been discussed yet). If you can't produce a working prototype, and still want the patent, it will be granted and a compulsory license fee paid at rate of either $10 for patents expecting to have less than 1000 units built, $0.10 for a prospective life of up to 1,000,000 units, and $0.01 for a prospective use of over 1,000,000 units. The number of units is based on the larger of (a) your prospectus or (b) estimation by the patent office.
There, see? You get your patent. You just can't sit on it.
We must not be programmers; I though the same thing. The only advantage is that you could go in and tweak the C++. But if you can read a machine compiled code well enough to make "corrections", wouldn't you just code it that way to begin with?
On second thought, it could be to allow compilation on different platforms. Write once and precompile from Python, then compile for each system you prefer, using the system-specific compiler to optimize for the processor architecture. Of course, I'm just guessing. Hell, the closed I've gotten to Python is a/. recommended intro in a three ring binder on my nightstand. I use it when I have trouble sleeping - it's cheaper than prescription meds.
I want one that allows sound transmission using bone conduction in a way that allows the earpiece to be the size of a modern hearing aid. I keep waiting for bluetooth headphones to shrink in size so that it doesn't look like you have a huge, blue roach crawling up the side of your face, though that is apparently the "in" look for real estate agents these days.
Heck, I'm okay with having the "real" phone in my pocket, and a low power link to the earpiece, I just want the earpiece to be unnoticable.
They had just such devices a few years ago. Simple interface - 12 buttons: 10 numbers, call and hang-up. An easy interface - dial, send, talk.
Oh sure, they could do other things (most had some form of redial, and rudumentary calendars and contact lists), but that's sort of like using your iPod as an organizer or PIM - it can be done, but it's really not made for it.
No, I'm afraid the days of a clean, simple interface are gone.
Oh, I don't know. People seem so have quickly adapted to a 10 digit keypad which addresses 36 (well, more with punctuation - but who uses that anymore) characters. Why not a three to five button interface, like a joypad.
Maybe an interesting mod for this guy. I'd say informative, but after RTFA I still can't be certain he's got it right. It's a convincing summary though (he'd win my vote in a game of dictionary).
Perhaps there's a lot more to this than I can reasonbly imagine, but wouldn't the keys need to be almost as large as the original image, unless the original is closely optically related? Why not just diff the images, encrypt it, and give the person who enters the PIN properly the diff and the key? There's no mention of how large the keys are, so one can only assume that this is news because the keys they're talking about are significanly smaller than a compressed diff of the image. Or not.
Oh, you are tempting the mods today. You may as well say that Apple iPods suck.
You are, however correct. Other will point out that those dime-a-dozen MCSEs can't manage a system worth a damn, and if you got a competent IT admin for Windows they'd be just as expensive as a competent *nix admin. Which is also true. But sometimes all you need in a small IT department is someone who can follow the install prompts, check to make sure the components are plugged in, and wipe the users asses when they make a mess. A truly competent admin would get bored and look for a challenging oppotunity, but a shit-dumb MCSE who can press enter to continue will be happy working 4 hours a day and surfing the other four, even if the wages aren't the best.
I once worked for a guy who interviewed a programmer candidate, and the candidate was very smug in his suggestion that he coded in every language available at the time (this was circa 1988). When the candidate asked which language we used for our system, the interviewer replied, "we use machine code". It turns out that, at the time, we were _extremely_ sensitive to how the code ran. We had a number of early 1970s era machines which were used in the timing of 200ps laser pulses reflected off satellites in 5000-9000km orbits, and were detecting motions in the earth's crust using those laser time-of-flight measurements. In out case, we couldn't trust a commercial compiler. Now, in the era of $99 laser measuring devices which are accurate to 1/4" in 100', the project seems relatively simple. When I was there, we had this "new" system coming on line that used this new device called a CCD to detect the return photons (and, yes, at times we were counting individual photon returns in a 30" telescope).
Different levels for different people. You are exersizing, you just don't feel like it. You might also be throwing in a bit of meditation to your regimen. Think about it - mild physical stimulation (walking) and "quiet country lanes. No people. Nice and quiet. Time to think." Meditation, baby. You'd just not sitting the lotus position and reciting a mantra to allow yourself to relax.
And I'm not suprised that exercise started to add pounds. The most dangerous thing for me is starting to exercise - my body starts asking for more energy - more than I can burn when I'm ramping up. It's doubly bad if I get into a time crunch and let my exercising go by the wayside. For a couple weeks to a month, my body still expects me to hop back on the bike or into the pool any day, and demands calories to compensate. But instead I drive a desk for 10-12 hours - not much caloric demand there. Also, I can understand the boring side, too. I really enjoy swimming, but there is just nothing to keep the mind active. My second choice is cycling, on a old road bike on a set of rollers. It takes a bit to get used to (it's like riding on ice), but it does a good job, and even a new bike and a set of rollers is less than a stupid spinning machine. Plus you can always take the bike outside if the weather is nice, and you've trained your muscles to the motion. Oh, and boredom on the rollers - yeah, crushing. Except if you get a good audio player and listen to books. Not only does it pass the time, but you can relax with good reading material.
It's late, I'm rambling, and I really ought to consider getting back into the morning workout routine.
Good catch. It sometimes takes a nut to show the crazy side before you realize that most of it is insane. I agree with eating what your bedy tells you you need. Not want, need. I find that when I get too busy, I opt for crap to keep my blood sugar up (too much caffiene makes me climb the walls - I'm not a "user"). That's when I find I'm gaining weight, but am always hungry. Wrong food, poor concentration on what my body is missing. Having raised animals, I've seen them pick and choose what they eat at certain times, including licking the ground. By being attentive to their preferences, it's easier to spot problems. For example, the ground-licking is a sign of mineral deficiency, and can easily be compensated by adding trace minerals to the feed.
It's odd to think you can learn something about proper living from "domesticated" livestock, but many are more in tune with their nuntristional instincts than humans are. It also takes time to train yourself to recognize what you're "missing". Once you do, you'll eat less, and be hungry less, because your body is getting what it really needs, not just what will give you a glucose fix for the next 30 minutes.
"I think it has given me an edge over the average person. However, that is a side effect of the drug. I don't think I should be discriminated against for that. I am not abusing it, and it is working as the doctor hoped at keeping my ADHD in line."
So, as long as my doctor prescribes and monitors my steiod usage to help concentrate more muscle in my upper body (which is disproportionaly less heavily muscled in comparison to my lower), it's okay to compete against those who do not require the drugs to be balanced even if it does give me an edge in competition, right?
You must be building somewhere very near an expensive megalopolis if you're putting up a shell for over $100/SF. Even with services, large industrial buildings can easily be built for under $80 including the land and utilities, and I suspect you could bring a facility in under $50 a square foot in the right places (and that includes the "right places" with big internet pipes). Makes me want to go build a datacenter in Christiansburg, Virginia. Lots of land, Virginia Tech right next door (tech-savvy bodies and fat pipes), cheap electricity (AEP is under 8c/kWh, I think). You can get a shell on a 20,000SF building erected for about $25-30/SF, the land acquisition should be in the neighborhood of $1000-2000 per acre (lots of expansion possibilities), and the local government will probably fall all over themselves to get eh services you need to your site.
You know...just ignore this post. It would never work over there - way to expensive, regulatory hurdles, lousy access. Not worth even looking into, really. Sorry for wasting your time.
Now, where did I put that business plan boilerplate...
What they mean is a full day's productivity, which, for your slashdot addict is somewhere around 1.5 hours. No, they really don't count the 6.5 hours we spend on the web as "productive". Go figure.
Okay, so I finally clicked through to the article referenced by TFA, and yes, most of the good features (not necessarily ennumerated) are only in Vista. Sux.
Slashdot Mirror
But somebody has to pay the Visa/MC/Amex/Discover cartels their percentage. How else do you think they give you x% back? Right out of the merchants' pockets.
.5% rate reduction that would give them a competitive advantage. Depends on how big a stick (or, perhaps, carrot) they can summon up when dealing with the CC companies.
No, there will still be fees. Now, if google can figure out how to reduce/eliminate the fixed fee portion and/or enable micropayments, paypal is going to have to make some moves to keep thier userbase. Of course, if google could wheedle their way out of the "perks" in your CC, (you know - 3% back at company stores, 1% everywhere else except gpay, no benes for gpay payments), in exchange for a
In the case of microsoft, there was no viable competing desktop OS. By having a de facto monopoly on the desktop, they were unfairly leveraging that space for their gain. The key here is that you couldn't just go use another OS. In Google's case, there are lots of other search engines out there, and Google isn't (effectively) required to get your computer to run. I'd agree if you said that Google was levveraging their mindshare to launch "me too" products. However, in the case of the marketplaces they've entered, they appear to be providing competition in areas with medium/large barriers to entry. As a consumer, I think that's a good thing.
I'd argue that it does, but the time of optimization is very long and the parameters are constantly changing. As a result, you will rarely see an optimal result in nature because the parameters change faster than the optimization process can adapt. Also, you must realize that the optimization in not occuring on one or two axis, but on hundreds (or thousands). The object of an organism is to survive [long enough to reproduce], not to create the perfect optical lens, or sonic detection system, or deadliest venom. Also realize that the optimization of one party interacts with the optimization of others, so the parameters of optimization are not simply varied due to unaffectable environmental inputs (humans notwithstanding), but the organisms own optimization may force a change (optimisation) of a competing organism.
Yeah, but the researchers don't get attached to them like they do with cute furry animals. The same has been shown to be true when using lawyers in experimental work.
You should remember your own advice the next time you need to get a widget, and make sure you drive to a B&M store to pay for your item with cash you've taken out of the storage bin underneath your mattress. You see, every online transaction requires access to a credit card. What makes you any more certain that the snipe services (which don't requre you to have your net connection up or even your computer on, for those who like to point out that you could roll-your-own sniper) are going to be any more or less secure than the average vendor that pops up on pricewatch?
Sounds a little too much like socialism with the whole "cost sharing" thing.
I'm for compulsory licensing of patents where the patent holder is not actively producing the patented product in commercial quantities. The fees should be small (pennies).
Insightful?
Congress = governement = no loss of Blackberries. They're exempt from anything inconvenient, didn't you know.
Now, if you'd claimed that their friends with crackberries might have had to go cold turkey...well, now you might have a point.
That's where the new compulsory licensing comes into play (you know, the one that hasn't been discussed yet). If you can't produce a working prototype, and still want the patent, it will be granted and a compulsory license fee paid at rate of either $10 for patents expecting to have less than 1000 units built, $0.10 for a prospective life of up to 1,000,000 units, and $0.01 for a prospective use of over 1,000,000 units. The number of units is based on the larger of (a) your prospectus or (b) estimation by the patent office.
There, see? You get your patent. You just can't sit on it.
I'm sorry it took so long to find your post. Two points for the Lehrer reference (even if the real mods missed it).
We must not be programmers; I though the same thing. The only advantage is that you could go in and tweak the C++. But if you can read a machine compiled code well enough to make "corrections", wouldn't you just code it that way to begin with?
/. recommended intro in a three ring binder on my nightstand. I use it when I have trouble sleeping - it's cheaper than prescription meds.
On second thought, it could be to allow compilation on different platforms. Write once and precompile from Python, then compile for each system you prefer, using the system-specific compiler to optimize for the processor architecture. Of course, I'm just guessing. Hell, the closed I've gotten to Python is a
otherwise we'd all be drinking Seminole fluid.
I want one that allows sound transmission using bone conduction in a way that allows the earpiece to be the size of a modern hearing aid. I keep waiting for bluetooth headphones to shrink in size so that it doesn't look like you have a huge, blue roach crawling up the side of your face, though that is apparently the "in" look for real estate agents these days.
Heck, I'm okay with having the "real" phone in my pocket, and a low power link to the earpiece, I just want the earpiece to be unnoticable.
They had just such devices a few years ago. Simple interface - 12 buttons: 10 numbers, call and hang-up. An easy interface - dial, send, talk.
Oh sure, they could do other things (most had some form of redial, and rudumentary calendars and contact lists), but that's sort of like using your iPod as an organizer or PIM - it can be done, but it's really not made for it.
No, I'm afraid the days of a clean, simple interface are gone.
Oh, I don't know. People seem so have quickly adapted to a 10 digit keypad which addresses 36 (well, more with punctuation - but who uses that anymore) characters. Why not a three to five button interface, like a joypad.
Maybe an interesting mod for this guy. I'd say informative, but after RTFA I still can't be certain he's got it right. It's a convincing summary though (he'd win my vote in a game of dictionary).
Perhaps there's a lot more to this than I can reasonbly imagine, but wouldn't the keys need to be almost as large as the original image, unless the original is closely optically related? Why not just diff the images, encrypt it, and give the person who enters the PIN properly the diff and the key? There's no mention of how large the keys are, so one can only assume that this is news because the keys they're talking about are significanly smaller than a compressed diff of the image. Or not.
Oh, you are tempting the mods today. You may as well say that Apple iPods suck.
You are, however correct. Other will point out that those dime-a-dozen MCSEs can't manage a system worth a damn, and if you got a competent IT admin for Windows they'd be just as expensive as a competent *nix admin. Which is also true. But sometimes all you need in a small IT department is someone who can follow the install prompts, check to make sure the components are plugged in, and wipe the users asses when they make a mess. A truly competent admin would get bored and look for a challenging oppotunity, but a shit-dumb MCSE who can press enter to continue will be happy working 4 hours a day and surfing the other four, even if the wages aren't the best.
I once worked for a guy who interviewed a programmer candidate, and the candidate was very smug in his suggestion that he coded in every language available at the time (this was circa 1988). When the candidate asked which language we used for our system, the interviewer replied, "we use machine code". It turns out that, at the time, we were _extremely_ sensitive to how the code ran. We had a number of early 1970s era machines which were used in the timing of 200ps laser pulses reflected off satellites in 5000-9000km orbits, and were detecting motions in the earth's crust using those laser time-of-flight measurements. In out case, we couldn't trust a commercial compiler. Now, in the era of $99 laser measuring devices which are accurate to 1/4" in 100', the project seems relatively simple. When I was there, we had this "new" system coming on line that used this new device called a CCD to detect the return photons (and, yes, at times we were counting individual photon returns in a 30" telescope).
Sorry, just took a break from a busy day, and didn't see the obvious useless reply post.
Different levels for different people. You are exersizing, you just don't feel like it. You might also be throwing in a bit of meditation to your regimen. Think about it - mild physical stimulation (walking) and "quiet country lanes. No people. Nice and quiet. Time to think." Meditation, baby. You'd just not sitting the lotus position and reciting a mantra to allow yourself to relax.
And I'm not suprised that exercise started to add pounds. The most dangerous thing for me is starting to exercise - my body starts asking for more energy - more than I can burn when I'm ramping up. It's doubly bad if I get into a time crunch and let my exercising go by the wayside. For a couple weeks to a month, my body still expects me to hop back on the bike or into the pool any day, and demands calories to compensate. But instead I drive a desk for 10-12 hours - not much caloric demand there. Also, I can understand the boring side, too. I really enjoy swimming, but there is just nothing to keep the mind active. My second choice is cycling, on a old road bike on a set of rollers. It takes a bit to get used to (it's like riding on ice), but it does a good job, and even a new bike and a set of rollers is less than a stupid spinning machine. Plus you can always take the bike outside if the weather is nice, and you've trained your muscles to the motion. Oh, and boredom on the rollers - yeah, crushing. Except if you get a good audio player and listen to books. Not only does it pass the time, but you can relax with good reading material.
It's late, I'm rambling, and I really ought to consider getting back into the morning workout routine.
Good catch. It sometimes takes a nut to show the crazy side before you realize that most of it is insane. I agree with eating what your bedy tells you you need. Not want, need. I find that when I get too busy, I opt for crap to keep my blood sugar up (too much caffiene makes me climb the walls - I'm not a "user"). That's when I find I'm gaining weight, but am always hungry. Wrong food, poor concentration on what my body is missing. Having raised animals, I've seen them pick and choose what they eat at certain times, including licking the ground. By being attentive to their preferences, it's easier to spot problems. For example, the ground-licking is a sign of mineral deficiency, and can easily be compensated by adding trace minerals to the feed.
It's odd to think you can learn something about proper living from "domesticated" livestock, but many are more in tune with their nuntristional instincts than humans are. It also takes time to train yourself to recognize what you're "missing". Once you do, you'll eat less, and be hungry less, because your body is getting what it really needs, not just what will give you a glucose fix for the next 30 minutes.
"I think it has given me an edge over the average person. However, that is a side effect of the drug. I don't think I should be discriminated against for that. I am not abusing it, and it is working as the doctor hoped at keeping my ADHD in line."
So, as long as my doctor prescribes and monitors my steiod usage to help concentrate more muscle in my upper body (which is disproportionaly less heavily muscled in comparison to my lower), it's okay to compete against those who do not require the drugs to be balanced even if it does give me an edge in competition, right?
I thought is was to reduce the desireability for theft.
You must be building somewhere very near an expensive megalopolis if you're putting up a shell for over $100/SF. Even with services, large industrial buildings can easily be built for under $80 including the land and utilities, and I suspect you could bring a facility in under $50 a square foot in the right places (and that includes the "right places" with big internet pipes). Makes me want to go build a datacenter in Christiansburg, Virginia. Lots of land, Virginia Tech right next door (tech-savvy bodies and fat pipes), cheap electricity (AEP is under 8c/kWh, I think). You can get a shell on a 20,000SF building erected for about $25-30/SF, the land acquisition should be in the neighborhood of $1000-2000 per acre (lots of expansion possibilities), and the local government will probably fall all over themselves to get eh services you need to your site.
You know...just ignore this post. It would never work over there - way to expensive, regulatory hurdles, lousy access. Not worth even looking into, really. Sorry for wasting your time.
Now, where did I put that business plan boilerplate...
What they mean is a full day's productivity, which, for your slashdot addict is somewhere around 1.5 hours. No, they really don't count the 6.5 hours we spend on the web as "productive". Go figure.
Okay, so I finally clicked through to the article referenced by TFA, and yes, most of the good features (not necessarily ennumerated) are only in Vista. Sux.