It seems like they're like those cities/countries where they raise the taxes, and people leave. So to cover expenses, they raise the taxes again (and more people leave). It's a death spiral.
I use my microwave oven all the time, and it's computerized, but the user interface sucks.
How about: - a touchscreen interface - never-ending reminder beeps that something finished and is still in the oven. - allow the sounds to be changed - require confirmation if you punch in > 10 minutes (did that once 30 minutes instead of 3, almost started a fire, smoke smell permeated in the house for weeks) - smoke detector, arcing detector, boil-over detector - temperature detector built-in (maybe alert you when the temperature dropped to non-scalding) - make multi-stage stuff easier. Like if it needs to stand for 2 minutes, allow that to be easily added to the end before the alarm. - notifications on my phone? - custom recipes/presets - scan the barcode for commercial frozen food to get cooking instructions, recalling your last settings for that food.
all this crap should NOT require an internet connection. (I can just see them trying to tie it into the manufacturer website)
I've wondered about that too. I've even considered buying one.
It would be AWESOME for mixing powdered drinks -- think hot chocolate or protein drinks or tang or whatever.
It could be that they're afraid somebody is going to swallow/choke on the stirrer, although I think they have cross ones that might be too big to swallow.
I've read about gas pumps that can are smart enough to short change you on gas, unless you put in exactly 1 gallon or 5 gallons, the common measuring container volumes.
To check for pumps like this, listen for the pump speeding up as it nears these volumes and slowing down afterwards.
They don't want to give up their $30 radio for $1000 scam, but it's to their own detriment. The Original IBM PC really sold because it was expandable, so people could do lots of interesting things with it. It has survived all these years precisely because of that. The first manufacturer to do this may force all the other manufacturers to do the same thing.
The closest thing to a car "platform" is police cars. They are pre-wired for power from under the dash and in the trunk for radio equipment. They all have front bucket seats with standard 9" spacing between them.
In this space, you can fit equipment consoles from all sorts of manufacturers:
This lets you keep up with the times. Police cars have gone all the way from simple radio setups to sophisticated setups with computers, internet access and cameras.
If they did something like this more consumer oriented, it would be wonderful.
My favorite pen of all time is Pentel Energen 0.7mm pen. Smoothest pen I have ever used. The dark black ink has a super-high-contrast and comes out in a perfectly uniform way.
I believe they make a 0.5mm version, but I have personally always returned to the 0.7mm.
Startups = work on the new, reinventing a wheel or ten. Established companies = work on the established, sometimes no creation, buying products instead of creating them.
Reminds me of people dying in hospitals due to intern sleep deprivation. And the current doctors didn't want to get rid of the system mostly because THEY went through it.
I wonder if that joke is starting to backfire, now that we have things like automated surveys and remote telescope access for terrestrial and orbiting telescopes?
You are probably not the target market for train travel. It's like asking why the Louvre takes so long to get through. "It takes too long to wait in line to get to the good exhibits in the Louvre, so I'm not going!"
So, train travel costs a little more, and takes a little longer. So what?
I have done it a few times, and it was great experience. The observation cars have tables that seat four people and huge windows. The snack bar is open most of the time. There was a wine and cheese car on one train I took. You have dinner at tables for 4 with linen tablecloths. If you don't have four people at your table, they assign people there, so you end up talking to other travelers. At first this was strange, but later came to be a highlight of the trip.
Even the "normal" things are cool. The seats are very big. You can easily walk around while the train is moving. They have bathrooms with tables and chairs. You can walk to the last car and look out the back window at the tracks receding. You can get off at each station they stop at and stretch your legs. The scenery can be spectacular. It's wonderful even in urban areas because the tracks go through much different areas than the crowded interstates.
And luggage... wow. I think three of us traveled and we were "limited" to 750 lbs of luggage in 15 bags. We could have paid $90 to get up to 24 bags and 1200lbs total. (That just cracks me up)
If you spring for a sleeping car, you can sleep and shower on the train. That would be cool.
I say... Slow down, relax... Spend the extra time and money.
Slashdot Mirror
I use these earplugs:
http://www.earplugstore.com/eclsupvcfopl.html
and have been very successful blocking out noises.
I was going to say the same thing.
On the other hand, they could just start school an hour later, couldn't they?
Early school is bad anyway
I predict EA will die.
Maybe they won't, but I've quit buying from them.
It seems like they're like those cities/countries where they raise the taxes, and people leave. So to
cover expenses, they raise the taxes again (and more people leave). It's a death spiral.
in an office, just snag some reams of copier paper.
I think gambling laws should be expanded to include this kind of thing.
I see gambling as pay-as-you-go entertainment. Yes you could win, but people just gamble the winnings to extend their play time.
http://xkcd.com/1109/
I use my microwave oven all the time, and it's computerized, but the user interface sucks.
How about:
- a touchscreen interface
- never-ending reminder beeps that something finished and is still in the oven.
- allow the sounds to be changed
- require confirmation if you punch in > 10 minutes (did that once 30 minutes instead of 3, almost started a fire, smoke smell permeated in the house for weeks)
- smoke detector, arcing detector, boil-over detector
- temperature detector built-in (maybe alert you when the temperature dropped to non-scalding)
- make multi-stage stuff easier. Like if it needs to stand for 2 minutes, allow that to be easily added to the end before the alarm.
- notifications on my phone?
- custom recipes/presets
- scan the barcode for commercial frozen food to get cooking instructions, recalling your last settings for that food.
all this crap should NOT require an internet connection. (I can just see them trying to tie it into the manufacturer website)
I wonder if an induction cooktop could modulate ... something... to move a stirrer ... magnetic or metallic or something.
I've wondered about that too. I've even considered buying one.
It would be AWESOME for mixing powdered drinks -- think hot chocolate or protein drinks or tang or whatever.
It could be that they're afraid somebody is going to swallow/choke on the stirrer, although I think they have cross ones that might be too big to swallow.
I think disney already biometrically tracks you.
If you have a multi-day pass, I believe they can find out if you have transferred the pass to someone else by your biometric signature. (hand size?)
We just need to add a voice now!
Good Decision!
DIe Die Die!
http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/Shotgun_1340
It might be interesting to read The Rise of "Worse is Better"
I've read about gas pumps that can are smart enough to short change you on gas, unless you put in exactly 1 gallon or 5 gallons, the common measuring container volumes.
To check for pumps like this, listen for the pump speeding up as it nears these volumes and slowing down afterwards.
http://voices.yahoo.com/are-getting-scammed-gas-pump-369506.html
This may be true. The ultimate passive-aggressive behavior.
I go mobile instead (tree)
I've been thinking this for YEARS.
They don't want to give up their $30 radio for $1000 scam, but it's to their own detriment.
The Original IBM PC really sold because it was expandable, so people could do lots of
interesting things with it. It has survived all these years precisely because of that.
The first manufacturer to do this may force all the other manufacturers to do the same
thing.
The closest thing to a car "platform" is police cars. They are pre-wired for power from
under the dash and in the trunk for radio equipment. They all have front bucket seats
with standard 9" spacing between them.
In this space, you can fit equipment consoles from all sorts of manufacturers:
http://www.fleetsafety.com/consoles/police-car-consoles/
http://jottopublicsafety.gojotto.com/equipment-consoles.html
http://www.procopper.com/consoles.htm
This lets you keep up with the times. Police cars have gone all the way from simple
radio setups to sophisticated setups with computers, internet access and cameras.
If they did something like this more consumer oriented, it would be wonderful.
Favorite type of parrot?
Lighting a Barbecue Grill with Liquid Oxygen
But really, Syfy should do Science Fiction (or even fantasy) instead.
To me, I could find all this kind of stuff on youtube.
Sorry, imho.
My favorite pen of all time is Pentel Energen 0.7mm pen. Smoothest pen I have ever used.
The dark black ink has a super-high-contrast and comes out in a perfectly uniform way.
I believe they make a 0.5mm version, but I have personally always returned to the 0.7mm.
This is the exact pen I use: http://amzn.com/B001P3Y72I
Startups = work on the new, reinventing a wheel or ten. Established companies = work on the established, sometimes no creation, buying products instead of creating them.
Reminds me of people dying in hospitals due to intern sleep deprivation. And the current doctors didn't want to get rid of the system mostly because THEY went through it.
I wonder if that joke is starting to backfire, now that we have things like automated surveys and remote telescope access for terrestrial and orbiting telescopes?
You are probably not the target market for train travel. It's like asking why the Louvre takes so long to get through. "It takes too long to wait in line to get to the good exhibits in the Louvre, so I'm not going!"
So, train travel costs a little more, and takes a little longer. So what?
I have done it a few times, and it was great experience. The observation cars have tables that seat four people and huge windows. The snack bar is open most of the time. There was a wine and cheese car on one train I took. You have dinner at tables for 4 with linen tablecloths. If you don't have four people at your table, they assign people there, so you end up talking to other travelers. At first this was strange, but later came to be a highlight of the trip.
Even the "normal" things are cool. The seats are very big. You can easily walk around while the train is moving. They have bathrooms with tables and chairs. You can walk to the last car and look out the back window at the tracks receding. You can get off at each station they stop at and stretch your legs. The scenery can be spectacular. It's wonderful even in urban areas because the tracks go through much different areas than the crowded interstates.
And luggage... wow. I think three of us traveled and we were "limited" to 750 lbs of luggage in 15 bags. We could have paid $90 to get up to 24 bags and 1200lbs total. (That just cracks me up)
If you spring for a sleeping car, you can sleep and shower on the train. That would be cool.
I say... Slow down, relax... Spend the extra time and money.
If you wrote the book into someone's DNA, you could be the book.