anything on a single X becomes FAR more important to the men then it is to the women. It is only things that are on BOTH X chromosomes that are important to women.
Correct and that's the reason why we only speak of "Duchenne Boys" and not girls when referring to the devastating form of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy caused by a mutation on the X-chromoson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchenne_muscular_dystrophy
Dear Andrew, as a daily reader of Slashdot and also father of four young kids, two of them having Duchenne, I'm surprised that this terrible desease is discussed among this community.
Unfortunately, the discussion doesn't go very deep with few interesting threads. I cross my fingers for your family. My wife also is a carrier but my two sister-in-laws. In fact, we found out that my wife got the defect (3 Exons are deleted on one X-chromosom) from her mother but she's been the only one among five kids to inherit the defect X-chromosom. I've also read in several places that the odds of being a carrier are 66% if one of your kids has the genetic defect
Last, I'd like to point you to some great reports about latest research incl. exon skipping techniques. They are all written in easy language understandable by parents and other people without a PhD in biochemistry. http://www.duchenne-information.eu/home-en.htm
I'm wondering why the '85 memo by Gates hasn't been mentionned on this thread. NB: I agree mostly with those folks who can't see much benefit to Apple's business through licensing OSX for Intel platforms, but I'd understand if Apple kept on working secretely on this project as an option for the future (sort of risk management). But this comment is not about my personal opinion, but simply to quote the 1985 memo by Gates.
In 1985, Bill Gates sent a secret memo to John Sculley proposing to act as a broker to license the Mac OS to Microsoft's hardware clients. I will copy and paste the memo text from a Wired (Nov. 97), that is itself excerpted from the book Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Plunders, by Jim Carlton, published at the same time.
The memo
Bill Gates sent the following 3-page memo to Sculley dated June 25, 1985, entitled "Apple licensing of Mac technology":
Background Apple's stated position in personal computers is innovative technology leader. This position implies that Apple must create on new, advanced technology. They must establish a revolutionary architecture,which necessarily implies new development incompatible with existing architectures. Apple must make Macintosh a standard. But no personal computer company, not even IBM can create a standard withouth independent support. Even though Apple realized this, they have not been able to gain the independent support required to be perceived as a standard. The significant investment (especially independent support) in a "standard personal computer" results in an incredible momentum for its architecture. Specifically, the IBM PC architecture continues to receive huge investment and gains additional momentum... The investment in the IBM architecture includes development of differentiated compatibles, software and peripherals; user and sales channel education; and most importantly, attitudes and perceptions that are not easily changed. Any deficiencies in the IBM architecture are quickly eliminated by independent support... The closed architecture prevents similar independent investment in the Macintosh. The IBM architecture when compared to the Macintosh, probably has more than 100 times the engineering resources applied to it when investment of compatible manufacturers is included. The ratio becomes even greater when the manufacturers of expansion cards are included.
Conclusion
As the independent investment in a standard architecture grows, so does the momentum for that architecture. The industry has reached the point where it is now impossible for Apple to create a standard out of their innovative technology without support from, and the resulting credibility of, other personal computer manufacturers. Thus, Apple must open the Macintosh architecture to have the independent support required to gain momentum and establish a standard. The Mac has not become a standard! The Macintosh has failed to attain the critical mass necessary for the technology to be considered a long term contender:
Since there is no "competition" to Apple from Mac-compatible manufacturers, corporations consider it risky to be locked into the Mac, for reasons of price AND choice.
Apple has reinforced the risky perception of the machine by being slow to come out with hardware and software improvements (e.g. hard disk, file server, bigger screen, better keyboard, larger memory...)
Recent negative publicity about Apple hinders the credibility of the Macintosh as a long-term contender in the personal computer market.
Independent sofware and hardware manufacturers reinforced the risky perception of the machine by being slow to come out with key software and peripheral products.
Apple's small corporate account sales force has prevented it from having the presence, training, support, etc. that large companies would recognize and require.
Nationalistic pressure in European countries often force foreign consumers to choose local manufacturers. Europeans have local suppliers of the IBM architecture, but not Apple. Apple will lose ground in Europe as was recently exhibited in France.
Recommendation:
Apple should license Macintosh technology to 3-5 significant manufacturers for the development of "Mac Compatibles:" United States manufacturers and contacts: ideal companies - in addition to credibility, they have large account sales forces that can establish the Mac architecture in large companies:
AT&T, James Edwards
... (list goes on
Apple should license the Macintosh technology to US and European companies in a way that allows them to go to other companies for manufacturing. Sony, Kyocera... are good candidates for OEM manufacruing of Mac compatibles. Microsoft is very willing to help Apple implement this strategy. We are familiar with the key manufacturers, their strategies and strenghths. We also have a great deal of experience in OEMing system software.
Rationale:
The companies that license Mac technology would add credibilty to the Macintosh architecure.
These companies would broaden the available product offerings through their "Mac-compatible" product lines:
they would each innovate and add features to the basic system: various memory configurations, video display, and keyboard alternatives, etc.
Apple would lever the key partners' abilities to produce a wide variety fo peripherals, much faster than Apple could develop the peripherals themselves.
customers would see competition and would have real price/performance choices.
Apple will benefit from the distribution channels of these companies.
The perception of a significantly increased potential installed base will bring the independent hardware, software, and marketing support that the Macintosh needs.
Apple will gain significant, additional marketing support. Every time a Mac compatible manufacturer adverises, it is an advertisement for the Apple architecture.
Licensing Mac compatibles will enhance Apple's image as a technological innovator. Ironically, IBM is viewed as being a technological innovator. This is because compatible manufacturers are afraid to innovate too much and stray from the standard.
Personal comment: reading the rather sound line of argumentation, isn't it somehow funny to see Bill Gates 17 years later opposing the same arguments in his attack on Open Source development?
Actually, NZZ the Swiss newspaper equivalent of TWJ in the U.S. covered the story five days ago. Unfortunately by nature, the story is in German, but is very worthwile reading since it gives some information about why a small (120 people), rather unknown Swiss company wants to enter the Mini-PC market.
The company is small, but has been around for 10 years selling embedded PC's (compact PC modules) used to build ATM, electronic ticketing machines. (Actually, I live about 10 miles away, but have never heard of them.)
Primary markets are Germany and Switzerland.
Swisscom, the dominant Swiss telecom, as an example, uses such embedded PC for their electronic phonebooks in public phone cells, etc.
They don't want to compete with low-end Mini-PC, but see their Microspace-PC as a high-end products, designed and built from scratch in Switzerland. Yes, Made in Switzerland still holds as a unique selling proposition (USP in MBA slang).
They only want to sell 5000 units in the first year, so they don't want to be a big player.
The option to have an embedded smartcard reader is actually something which might distinguish the product from other Mini-PC. Note that especially in Switzerland, almost all people carry an EC-card with them. An EC-card is not a smartcard, but has a little chip that functions like a purse. You can load it via an ATM, and use it to pay withouth cash. The second, and traditional use of the EC-card is to allow cashless payment. The difference to a credit card, is that your bank account is charged on the same day, and no credit card company takes 5% commission.
My guess is, that Digital-Logic will base their marketing efforts on this option to attach a smartcard reader, and sell it to small and medium sizes business. The NZZ article mentions the example of a hotel that offers Internet access whereby the customers can instantly pay via the cash-card.
Re:Amundsen vs. Scott vs. Shackleton
on
The Coldest March
·
· Score: 1
For those interested in the different leadership styles, here are some more quotes from the book. I belief the first quote by British explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard, is the most famous one:
(page 6) "For a joint scientific and geographical piece of organization, give me Scott; for a winter journey, give me Wilson, for a dash to the Pole and nothing else, Amundsen; and if I am in the devil of a hole and want to get out, give me Shackleton every time".
(page 35) In Scott, Shackleton had a portrait of exactly the kind of leader he didn't want to be. Scott, trained in the British Royal Navy, was rigid and formal. For him, the prize was always paramount, and his military training would have dictated that some loss of live was inevitable. He preferred to hire men of like discipline for his expeditions, sometimes with unfortunate results.... Scott was dour, bullying, and controlling; Shackleton was warm, humorous, and egalitarian, Scott was known to torment his underlings; Shackleton would tease but never humiliate. Scott tried to orchestrate every movement of his men; Shackleton gave his men responsility and some measure of independence. Scott was secretive and untrusting; Shackleton talked openly and frankly with the men about all aspects of the work. Scott put his team at rish to achieve his goals; Shackleton valued his men's lives above all else.
(page 42) In fact, his biggest rival was his countryman Scott, but Shackleton kept his fealings about his old nemesis to himself... "Heartiest congratulations. Magnificient achievement" was the cable Shackleton sent to Amundsen. He refused to play down the achievement as the British establishment was doing, writing in the press that he believed the Norwegians would have paid tribute to Scott had he been the first.
Some readers started comparing the three most famous Antartic explorers: Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton.
While reading another comment that highly recommended a book about Shackletons famous Endurance journey, I remembered a comparison of the three explorers which I found in the book: Shackleton's Way - Leadership Lessons.
The first page of chapter eight contains the following quote from Frank Wild, crew member on three of Shackleton's expeditions.
"I have served with Scott, Shackleton and Mawson, and have met Nansen, Amundsen, Peary, Cook, and other explorers, an in may considered opinion, for all the best points in leadership, coolness in the face of danger, resource under difficulties, quickness in decision, never failing-optimism, and the faculty of instilling the same into others, remarkable genius for organization, consideration for those under him, and obliteration of self, the palm must be given to Shackleton, a here and gentlemen in very truth."
Actually, if the subtitle might turn you off, don't worry. The book is really worthwile reading. It's not literature just for simpleminded MBA's. NB: I just earned such a degree too, but I'm more proud about an earlier M.Sc. in physics).
Just finished a fascinating book about the great English polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. His main philosophy was to Explore and Serve which might be translated in this case to Explore and Surf
I fully agree with the statements about the longer average lifespan and higher usability of Apple software. I'd like to share with you my personal experience.
Yesterday evening, after I read about the new iMac and in particular iPhoto, I showed the new stuff to my wife, carefully guiding here to agree that we might buy one of these slim new machines. We already own a PBG4, an older PPC 96000 apart from Wintel machines running W98 or Suse Linux. So far, my wife hesitated to touch the Macs since she feels technologically challenged (like many people) and is happy working with M$ Word and Internet Explorer on the PC.
I tried to argue how easily she could herself create digital albums of our 5-month old son, or create video clips using iMovie together with a digital videocamera (to be bought too). So far, I've been afraid to ask her to handle the publishing process starting with importing the JPEGS from our memory card, using Photoshop to edit the image (e.g., eliminate red eye effect), crop or resize the images, and finally print or publish the images.
Without boring you, the bottom line of my message is: attracted by the excellent hardware and software design of the new iMac, my wife got really enthusiastic about learning how to manage digital content with iPhoto and perhaps iMovie. I am very glad about that fact because this frees me from publishing and printing every single photo on my own, a spend more time on building up the homepage of Jannik and learing Zope or OpenACS.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, only 60% got drilled, the rest was rock blasting as some engineer pointed out today on Swiss tv.
Regards
--Sam
anything on a single X becomes FAR more important to the men then it is to the women.
It is only things that are on BOTH X chromosomes that are important to women.
Correct and that's the reason why we only speak of "Duchenne Boys" and not girls when referring to the devastating form of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy caused by a mutation on the X-chromoson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchenne_muscular_dystrophy
--Sam
Q : What computational answer does Wolfram Alpha return about Bing as input?
A : Language spoken by 1200 people in Papua New Guinea.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=bing&t=igg01
Dear Andrew,
as a daily reader of Slashdot and also father of four young kids, two of them having Duchenne, I'm surprised that this terrible desease is discussed among this community.
Unfortunately, the discussion doesn't go very deep with few interesting threads. I cross my fingers for your family. My wife also is a carrier but my two sister-in-laws. In fact, we found out that my wife got the defect (3 Exons are deleted on one X-chromosom) from her mother but she's been the only one among five kids to inherit the defect X-chromosom. I've also read in several places that the odds of being a carrier are 66% if one of your kids has the genetic defect
Last, I'd like to point you to some great reports about latest research incl. exon skipping techniques. They are all written in easy language understandable by parents and other people without a PhD in biochemistry.
http://www.duchenne-information.eu/home-en.htm
Take care
--Sam
In 1985, Bill Gates sent a secret memo to John Sculley proposing to act as a broker to license the Mac OS to Microsoft's hardware clients. I will copy and paste the memo text from a Wired (Nov. 97), that is itself excerpted from the book Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Plunders, by Jim Carlton, published at the same time.
The memo
Bill Gates sent the following 3-page memo to Sculley dated June 25, 1985, entitled "Apple licensing of Mac technology":
Personal comment: reading the rather sound line of argumentation, isn't it somehow funny to see Bill Gates 17 years later opposing the same arguments in his attack on Open Source development?
While reading another comment that highly recommended a book about Shackletons famous Endurance journey, I remembered a comparison of the three explorers which I found in the book: Shackleton's Way - Leadership Lessons.
The first page of chapter eight contains the following quote from Frank Wild, crew member on three of Shackleton's expeditions.
Actually, if the subtitle might turn you off, don't worry. The book is really worthwile reading. It's not literature just for simpleminded MBA's. NB: I just earned such a degree too, but I'm more proud about an earlier M.Sc. in physics).
Just finished a fascinating book about the great English polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. His main philosophy was to Explore and Serve which might be translated in this case to Explore and Surf
Book: Shackletons Way
Yesterday evening, after I read about the new iMac and in particular iPhoto, I showed the new stuff to my wife, carefully guiding here to agree that we might buy one of these slim new machines. We already own a PBG4, an older PPC 96000 apart from Wintel machines running W98 or Suse Linux. So far, my wife hesitated to touch the Macs since she feels technologically challenged (like many people) and is happy working with M$ Word and Internet Explorer on the PC.
I tried to argue how easily she could herself create digital albums of our 5-month old son, or create video clips using iMovie together with a digital videocamera (to be bought too). So far, I've been afraid to ask her to handle the publishing process starting with importing the JPEGS from our memory card, using Photoshop to edit the image (e.g., eliminate red eye effect), crop or resize the images, and finally print or publish the images.
Without boring you, the bottom line of my message is: attracted by the excellent hardware and software design of the new iMac, my wife got really enthusiastic about learning how to manage digital content with iPhoto and perhaps iMovie. I am very glad about that fact because this frees me from publishing and printing every single photo on my own, a spend more time on building up the homepage of Jannik and learing Zope or OpenACS.