I believe the argument still stands, as Canada is SOCIALIST! Just because you don't pay for it every month on the bill, doesn't mean you don't pay for it somehow (taxes).
"...the cards are encoded at check-in with a very large, randomly generated code that is associated on the main database with the guest record and the room(s) to which they are assigned. No information about the customer is placed on the card."
"From a design standpoint, there is no reason to encode personal data on a card like this. Such data is useless to the purpose of the card-- the card is simply a key that expires once the guest has checked out. All of the systems with which we have associated keep personal guest information in the database. This gives the hotel chain the benefit of not worrying about the card when it's not under their control."
Why implement an old way to watch TV on new technology?
Why not instead offer a video on demand service? Where you can pause whatever you are watching, and pick it up whenever you want? I'm envisioning something like TiVo for your cell phone, but the content would be stored on the server side.
Or how about offering a service to compete with satelite radio. Seems to me if they can deliver video, they should be able to deliver audio at the same quality level of satelite or higher. Plus they will have the advantage of two way communication. I think once the cell phone industry figures this out, the satelite radio companies will be in BIG trouble.
I tried contacting them. However their stupidity shined through yet again when I get this message send to me shortly after emailing them:
Your message
To: Feedback
Subject: No live internet coverage?
Sent: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 16:57:41 -0400
did not reach the following recipient(s):
Feedback on Sun, 15 Aug 2004 16:58:36 -0400
The message could not be delivered because you do not have create permissions on this folder or it is only available to folder owners at this time
The MTS-ID of the original message is: c=us;a=mark400;p=ge;l=NYP184MSXNBCGE040815205 7QXVL 92YJ
MSEXCH:MSExchangeMTA:NBC:ECLPR375MSX
The networks don't seem to learn very fast. It wasn't very long ago this new idea called a PVR came out that virtually eliminates commercials. How long is it going to take them to figure out unless they give their customers what they want, the customers will go elsewhere. Seems to me that NBC should be a little more innovative with their broadcast methods.
After playing around for a while I have figured a way to get the "UK only" streams from within the USA. While its still not perfect, its better than nothing.
I'm listening to it on a brand new Honda Accord stock stereo. Its sounds good for everything but XM.
To me XM sounds like an mp3 encoded at 96-128 kb/s. It has really good highs and lows, but seems to be missing sound in between (and no its not my equalizer, I have played with that to try and get better sound).
The UK is much smaller and much easier to cover with digital signal than the USA, hence the 85% coverage area.
As for the idea of it being free, didnt your mother ever teach you, nothing in life is free. You are paying for it in taxes, whether or not you use it.
I'm not knocking UK digital radio. I admire them for it, and wish it would come to the US.
I have a free trial of XM right now, and let me tell you, the sound quality leaves something to be desired. To me it sounds like a 96kbs encoded mp3.
I just wish when it comes to the US they "think different" and implement much cooler features such as radio time shifting, etc.
This sounds like a really dumb idea to me (It might be time to shit can their principal scientist) Not only will it be easy to get around after someone figures out how it works, but it sounds like something that should be done more centrally, maybe at the ISP level instead of each individual cable modem.
Actually if this "scientist" did his research he would have found it has already been done by ISP's. Cox.net blocks outgoing port 25 so you are forced to use their email servers. I'm sure they have something in place to prevent an outflow of spam.
ISP's can block whatever they want because all traffic must flow through them. Therefore this is an old idea, that may just need to be implemented in more places.
"Civic Hybrid owner Blackshaw" should do himself a favor if he removed his head from his a*$ and did a little research before buying a car. Everybody knows the civic hybrids aren't very good. Thats why Honda made their "Insight" hybrid, which in my opinion isn't very good either.
Prius milleage (http://randyrathbun.org/prius/prius_mileage/), is no different than the claims of regular cars. Scion claims 30mpg in town, but is actually getting 24 (that is only 70% of their claim). The same thing is true of a Toyota Camry. If a Prius were to only get 70% of their claimed 60mpg, it would only get 42mpg. However in moderate climates people should realistically expect 84% of the claim, or 45-55mpg. That actually makes Prius milleage better than the claims of normal cars.
Something that is conveniently forgotten by people disputing hyrbid milleage is how weather affects it (http://randyrathbun.org/prius/archives/2004_02.ht ml#000876 or http://www.winternet.com/~mr_n64/prius/pages/2004_ prius_mileage.htm) You can clearly see during the warmer months milleage increases.
In the article Consumer reports said: "In Consumer Reports' real-world driving test, the Civic Hybrid averaged 26 mpg in the city, while the Toyota Prius averaged 35 mpg, much less than their respective EPA estimates of 47 and 60 mpg."
However the writer forgot to mention CR is located in: Yonkers, NY 10703
Given most of California's moderate climate, and San Diegos specifically (http://www.cityrating.com/citytemperature.asp?Cit y=San+Diego), I dont think local people here will have any of the milleage problems that others are running into. People in colder climates should consider these drawbacks before buying a hybrid.
I dont see why they need to take our money and punish us with it. How about rewarding us.
This could be accomplished with much better results for everyone by simply networking or timing a series of lights. Have the lights work so if you drive the speed limit, you are rewarded by not having to stop at any red lights.
This would mean a much smoother comute for drivers, less wear and tear on vehicles, and greatly increase fuel efficiency.
Obviously the technology is out there, they just don't know how to use it properly. We've gotta love government employees.
Slashdot Mirror
I believe the argument still stands, as Canada is SOCIALIST! Just because you don't pay for it every month on the bill, doesn't mean you don't pay for it somehow (taxes).
I have service through COX cable in San Diego (http://www.cox.com/sandiego/highspeedinternet/pri cing.asp), and only pay $40/month for 4 Mbps/512 Kbps.
Not too shabby!
I agree!
This is a good visual to your point:
http://www.internettrafficreport.com/
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interes ting-people/200310/msg00221.html
"...the cards are encoded at check-in with a very large, randomly generated code that is associated on the main database with the guest record and the room(s) to which they are assigned. No information about the customer is placed on the card."
"From a design standpoint, there is no reason to encode personal data on a card like this. Such data is useless to the purpose of the card-- the card is simply a key that expires once the guest has checked out. All of the systems with which we have associated keep personal guest information in the database. This gives the hotel chain the benefit of not worrying about the
card when it's not under their control."
Why implement an old way to watch TV on new technology?
Why not instead offer a video on demand service? Where you can pause whatever you are watching, and pick it up whenever you want? I'm envisioning something like TiVo for your cell phone, but the content would be stored on the server side.
Or how about offering a service to compete with satelite radio. Seems to me if they can deliver video, they should be able to deliver audio at the same quality level of satelite or higher. Plus they will have the advantage of two way communication. I think once the cell phone industry figures this out, the satelite radio companies will be in BIG trouble.
I tried contacting them. However their stupidity shined through yet again when I get this message send to me shortly after emailing them:
5 7QXVL 92YJ
Your message
To: Feedback
Subject: No live internet coverage?
Sent: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 16:57:41 -0400
did not reach the following recipient(s):
Feedback on Sun, 15 Aug 2004 16:58:36 -0400
The message could not be delivered because you do not have create
permissions on this folder or it is only available to folder owners at this
time
The MTS-ID of the original message is:
c=us;a=mark400;p=ge;l=NYP184MSXNBCGE04081520
MSEXCH:MSExchangeMTA:NBC:ECLPR375MSX
You gotta love NBC, really on top of their game.
The networks don't seem to learn very fast. It wasn't very long ago this new idea called a PVR came out that virtually eliminates commercials. How long is it going to take them to figure out unless they give their customers what they want, the customers will go elsewhere. Seems to me that NBC should be a little more innovative with their broadcast methods.
After playing around for a while I have figured a way to get the "UK only" streams from within the USA. While its still not perfect, its better than nothing.
I'm listening to it on a brand new Honda Accord stock stereo. Its sounds good for everything but XM.
To me XM sounds like an mp3 encoded at 96-128 kb/s. It has really good highs and lows, but seems to be missing sound in between (and no its not my equalizer, I have played with that to try and get better sound).
The UK is much smaller and much easier to cover with digital signal than the USA, hence the 85% coverage area.
As for the idea of it being free, didnt your mother ever teach you, nothing in life is free. You are paying for it in taxes, whether or not you use it.
I'm not knocking UK digital radio. I admire them for it, and wish it would come to the US.
I have a free trial of XM right now, and let me tell you, the sound quality leaves something to be desired. To me it sounds like a 96kbs encoded mp3.
I just wish when it comes to the US they "think different" and implement much cooler features such as radio time shifting, etc.
This sounds like a really dumb idea to me (It might be time to shit can their principal scientist) Not only will it be easy to get around after someone figures out how it works, but it sounds like something that should be done more centrally, maybe at the ISP level instead of each individual cable modem.
Actually if this "scientist" did his research he would have found it has already been done by ISP's. Cox.net blocks outgoing port 25 so you are forced to use their email servers. I'm sure they have something in place to prevent an outflow of spam.
ISP's can block whatever they want because all traffic must flow through them. Therefore this is an old idea, that may just need to be implemented in more places.
"Civic Hybrid owner Blackshaw" should do himself a favor if he removed his head from his a*$ and did a little research before buying a car. Everybody knows the civic hybrids aren't very good. Thats why Honda made their "Insight" hybrid, which in my opinion isn't very good either.
t ml#000876 or http://www.winternet.com/~mr_n64/prius/pages/2004_ prius_mileage.htm) You can clearly see during the warmer months milleage increases.
t y=San+Diego), I dont think local people here will have any of the milleage problems that others are running into. People in colder climates should consider these drawbacks before buying a hybrid.
Prius milleage (http://randyrathbun.org/prius/prius_mileage/), is no different than the claims of regular cars. Scion claims 30mpg in town, but is actually getting 24 (that is only 70% of their claim). The same thing is true of a Toyota Camry. If a Prius were to only get 70% of their claimed 60mpg, it would only get 42mpg. However in moderate climates people should realistically expect 84% of the claim, or 45-55mpg. That actually makes Prius milleage better than the claims of normal cars.
Something that is conveniently forgotten by people disputing hyrbid milleage is how weather affects it (http://randyrathbun.org/prius/archives/2004_02.h
In the article Consumer reports said:
"In Consumer Reports' real-world driving test, the Civic Hybrid averaged 26 mpg in the city, while the Toyota Prius averaged 35 mpg, much less than their respective EPA estimates of 47 and 60 mpg."
However the writer forgot to mention CR is located in:
Yonkers, NY 10703
Given most of California's moderate climate, and San Diegos specifically (http://www.cityrating.com/citytemperature.asp?Ci
I dont see why they need to take our money and punish us with it. How about rewarding us.
This could be accomplished with much better results for everyone by simply networking or timing a series of lights. Have the lights work so if you drive the speed limit, you are rewarded by not having to stop at any red lights.
This would mean a much smoother comute for drivers, less wear and tear on vehicles, and greatly increase fuel efficiency.
Obviously the technology is out there, they just don't know how to use it properly. We've gotta love government employees.
Ha, I do tech support for small companies, and the idiots I deal with still amaze me.
Today I got a call from a company saying they had a virus on a computer in the office. They forwarded me the "email that said she had a virus".
Turned out to be a hoax from a while ago, however the user had already followed the "removal directions" in the email and deleted a file from her OS.
I guess I shouldn't complain though, it keeps me employed.
Hmmmm, maybe I should start sending those emails to clients...