I teach robotics with Lego products. Kids from three through High School love them! They even have First Lego League, where kids (and adults)compete by building robots to solve problems. Where are the next generation of engineers going to come from if American companies "greed out" all the opportunities to attract young people?
I heard that in 2004, American colleges graduated but 40,000 engineers while Pacific Rim ones graduated 450,000. Not only that, when you consider that 1/3 to 1/2 of American students are actually forigners, the picture looks even bleaker!
This is sad and pathetic! America needs a reality check lest we become an Engineering third world country!
We'd be paying $1500.00 for a coast to coast airline ticket.
There'd be no interstate trucking industry. All freight would go by rail and canal.
All television would be black and white. There'd be no VCR's (let alone PVR's!).
All radio would be AM.
Telephones would all be dial. Long distance calls would be $2.50/minute.
We'd all still be using slide rules.
There would be no foreign cars in the U.S.
There would be no sources of alternative energy (wiond, solar, etc.) whatsoever.
And on and on. The RIAA wants to maintain the status quo at any cost. They have had ten years to adapt and have resisted at every turn. They all likely believe in Landrew (save us, save us, Landrew!).
Literally all VOIP providers have statdardized on SIP for their protocol. This means that a Sipura VOIP box can work with any of them - EXCEPT Skype!
Skype uses their own protocol that's incompatble. This is why you CAN't use them with a VOIP box such as the Sipura or Linksys. Skype only works with a computer.
This relegates it to 'toy' or hobbyist status. Until they come out with an inexpensive (around 50 dollar) VOIP box that's easy to configure and works with a standard telephone, the masses will NOT use Skype except as a novelty.
If Apple had half a brain, they'd realize that the $$ is made in SOFTWARE!
Want proof? Look at Microsoft! Apple should stop making computers all together and concentrate in getting their SUPERIOR operating system on as many PC's as possible. What's WRONG with Dell putting OS-X on millions of PC's? Even if Apple made 20 bucks per computer, 10 million computers sold means 200 million bucks in Apple's pocket for doing essentially NOTHING!
Instead of wasting time and resources on making computers, Apple should continue manufacturing the "cash cow" cutting edge devices that they are now known for (IPODS, etc.).
Buy a Windows equipped machine with the smallest hard drive available. Then rip the drive out and put in a big one with Linux on it.
Dell recently had a Celeron-D 2.8 gig Dimension 3000 computer that came with a 15 inch LCD and 256 megs of RAM for 399.00. Shipping was $19.95. I bought one put in a 200 gig drive & another 512 megs of RAM and Fedora runs just fine on it.
Even with the upgrades, it's still cheaper then their 'bare' computer and has an LCD to boot.
The difference is that the RIAA gets a royalty from EVERY TAPE PURCHASED!
Buy a cassette - the RIAA gets a few cents. Buy a blank audio CD? Ditto!
Even though you might be buying that cassette to record your physics lecture in college, the RIAA still gets their $$!
That's the difference.....
One senator asked the RIAA Chairman....
on
RIAA Sues a Child
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· Score: 1
A few months ago, the RIAA chairman was testifying before a Senate committee. One Senator asked him (I'm paraphrasing):
"So, when you leave here, are you going to stop at the middle school down the street to round up the usual suspects?"
He should have used DC blocking capacitors to couple audio in and out of the phone. He's lucky he didn't blow out something in either the phone or his computer.
Wimax technology can be used with both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. While it's true that the licensed radios won't interfere with b and g wireless, the unlicensed will CERTAINLY interfere!
Most companies doing this use unlicensed simply because dealing with the FCC is a nightmare that can take years (I know this to be true, I work in broadcasting).
The problem is they share the same frequencies as b and g wireless do, and because of their height, have much better signals. These projects can cause interference over a wide area, making the wireless router in your living room USELESS for anything but in room use. I already have this problem here at home with other peoples' routers on just about every channel here (I can pick up a dozen or more on my laptop). No matter where I located a single access point in my (small) house, I had big time dead spots. Finally, I threw in the towel and installed a second access point in my bedroom.
I used to be able to walk dwn the block and use my laptop fine (with a single AP); now I need two AP's just to cover my 650 square foot house. All because of interference. Now Speakeasy is going to put an AP up 600-700 feet? It's gonna wipe out half the wireless in downtown Seattle!
It also works the other way too - a local AP can make Speakeasy's service slower (or non-existant) as well. This is the FCC's fault - putting MILLIONS of radios on just three (or 4) non overlapping channels is NUTS. Even CB had 23 channels starting out (later expanded to 40 channels).
I mean, two years ago they lost something like 60% of their market share over that 'activation' fiasco...Now THIS???!!!
Does this company have a death wish??
Hmmm...Doesn't Apple and Napster and Musicmatch and Rhapsody and 1001 others have LEGIT places to BUY downloaded music? Aren't tghere LEGIT places to BUY movies as well?
Seems to me that these places require bandwith too...which makes the RIAA's argurement meritless.
Just because you CAN kill someone with a gun doesn't make guns illegal. Just because you CAN copy movies with a VCR doesn't make them illegal. Same thing with a copier or tape recorder. Yet, none of these things are illegal.
Neither should the computer be..yet Congress seems perfectly willing to make ALL potential copying and downloading of music illegal - even the legal stuff...
The leader in VOIP right now is Vonage, who prices their time proven product at $24.99 a month. AOL's VOIP is an unknown product with no history that's priced five dollars a month more.
Vonage also offers a rich feature set including simultaneous ring (where any incoming calls ring on both my home and cell phone; the first one answered gets the call).
The next lower tier of VOIP is flooded with providers like Packet 8, Voicepulse, Broadvoice, etc. which offer similar service to AOL but are priced TEN DOLLARS a month less.
As always, AOL has set their prices way too high....
AOL is also 10 dollars more then the next ter
If the Postal Service really didn't deliver as many mails as the rebate companies told me they never received from me, then HALF the mail thet goes into a mailbox would never be delivered!
Rebate processing centers count on lying to and screwing people by simply not sending out their checks. Frys is well known for this.
People who buy their Colunbia walkie talkies will NEVER receive their rebates. NEVER!
Yet Frys and others still sell their walkie talkies and advertise the rebates, knowing this is true.
I find the same thing in Radio Engineering. Instead of being a valued mamber of the team, I'm now treated like a necessary expense, a necessary *evil* if you will. They don't have a clue as to what we do; all they know is that we cost them too much money doing it.
Just yesterday I was told by a General Manager in Boston that he had changed his mind about hiring a full time Chief Engineer. He claimed he doesn't NEED one, even though both stations he manages are about to move their transmitter sites, his new studios sit half built, and his AM station (stereo) has been broadcasting with right channel only for the past six months!
Pretty WILD, huh? *wink*
I think it's because tech. industries have been taken over by beancounters and sales types.
who see selling tech. products the same as selling timeshares and real estate. The tend to ignore what they don't understand. I call it the ostrich theory.
The last time I checked, I PAID my ISP EVERY MONTH for service!!
THAT payment guarantees a certain level of service. If the cable company or other ISP deliberately degrades this service with malice, then I can SUE.
I forsee BIG TIME class action suits over this...
Unless of course, the FCC steps in (as they already did once for Vonage).
If the customer doesn't KNOW that the telco or cable company is doing this. they will NOT change. Who will tell them? The ISP? I think not!
By the way, Speakeasy also sells VOIP and they already ADVERTISE that their packets get priority over their network...
This is from the Speakeasy web site VOIP page:
Voice quality & unmatched security -- Unlike other providers, our voice service is carried exclusively over our private broadband network and the networks of our partners, which enables voice call prioritization that ensures crystal-clear call quality
Slashdot Mirror
I heard that in 2004, American colleges graduated but 40,000 engineers while Pacific Rim ones graduated 450,000. Not only that, when you consider that 1/3 to 1/2 of American students are actually forigners, the picture looks even bleaker!
This is sad and pathetic! America needs a reality check lest we become an Engineering third world country!We'd be paying $1500.00 for a coast to coast airline ticket.
There'd be no interstate trucking industry. All freight would go by rail and canal.All television would be black and white. There'd be no VCR's (let alone PVR's!).
All radio would be AM.Telephones would all be dial. Long distance calls would be $2.50/minute.
We'd all still be using slide rules.There would be no foreign cars in the U.S.
There would be no sources of alternative energy (wiond, solar, etc.) whatsoever.And on and on. The RIAA wants to maintain the status quo at any cost. They have had ten years to adapt and have resisted at every turn. They all likely believe in Landrew (save us, save us, Landrew!).
They are pathetic.Literally all VOIP providers have statdardized on SIP for their protocol. This means that a Sipura VOIP box can work with any of them - EXCEPT Skype! Skype uses their own protocol that's incompatble. This is why you CAN't use them with a VOIP box such as the Sipura or Linksys. Skype only works with a computer. This relegates it to 'toy' or hobbyist status. Until they come out with an inexpensive (around 50 dollar) VOIP box that's easy to configure and works with a standard telephone, the masses will NOT use Skype except as a novelty.
If Apple had half a brain, they'd realize that the $$ is made in SOFTWARE! Want proof? Look at Microsoft! Apple should stop making computers all together and concentrate in getting their SUPERIOR operating system on as many PC's as possible. What's WRONG with Dell putting OS-X on millions of PC's? Even if Apple made 20 bucks per computer, 10 million computers sold means 200 million bucks in Apple's pocket for doing essentially NOTHING! Instead of wasting time and resources on making computers, Apple should continue manufacturing the "cash cow" cutting edge devices that they are now known for (IPODS, etc.).
You have been assimilated by the Gates Borg. Resistance is (always) futile......
Buy a Windows equipped machine with the smallest hard drive available. Then rip the drive out and put in a big one with Linux on it. Dell recently had a Celeron-D 2.8 gig Dimension 3000 computer that came with a 15 inch LCD and 256 megs of RAM for 399.00. Shipping was $19.95. I bought one put in a 200 gig drive & another 512 megs of RAM and Fedora runs just fine on it. Even with the upgrades, it's still cheaper then their 'bare' computer and has an LCD to boot.
The difference is that the RIAA gets a royalty from EVERY TAPE PURCHASED! Buy a cassette - the RIAA gets a few cents. Buy a blank audio CD? Ditto! Even though you might be buying that cassette to record your physics lecture in college, the RIAA still gets their $$! That's the difference.....
A few months ago, the RIAA chairman was testifying before a Senate committee. One Senator asked him (I'm paraphrasing):
"So, when you leave here, are you going to stop at the middle school down the street to round up the usual suspects?"I guess the RIAA's answer is: YES!
He should have used DC blocking capacitors to couple audio in and out of the phone. He's lucky he didn't blow out something in either the phone or his computer.
Wimax technology can be used with both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. While it's true that the licensed radios won't interfere with b and g wireless, the unlicensed will CERTAINLY interfere! Most companies doing this use unlicensed simply because dealing with the FCC is a nightmare that can take years (I know this to be true, I work in broadcasting).
The problem is they share the same frequencies as b and g wireless do, and because of their height, have much better signals. These projects can cause interference over a wide area, making the wireless router in your living room USELESS for anything but in room use. I already have this problem here at home with other peoples' routers on just about every channel here (I can pick up a dozen or more on my laptop). No matter where I located a single access point in my (small) house, I had big time dead spots. Finally, I threw in the towel and installed a second access point in my bedroom. I used to be able to walk dwn the block and use my laptop fine (with a single AP); now I need two AP's just to cover my 650 square foot house. All because of interference. Now Speakeasy is going to put an AP up 600-700 feet? It's gonna wipe out half the wireless in downtown Seattle! It also works the other way too - a local AP can make Speakeasy's service slower (or non-existant) as well. This is the FCC's fault - putting MILLIONS of radios on just three (or 4) non overlapping channels is NUTS. Even CB had 23 channels starting out (later expanded to 40 channels).
and it's always for sale now that the Republicans are in power....
I mean, two years ago they lost something like 60% of their market share over that 'activation' fiasco...Now THIS???!!! Does this company have a death wish??
Hmmm...Doesn't Apple and Napster and Musicmatch and Rhapsody and 1001 others have LEGIT places to BUY downloaded music? Aren't tghere LEGIT places to BUY movies as well? Seems to me that these places require bandwith too...which makes the RIAA's argurement meritless. Just because you CAN kill someone with a gun doesn't make guns illegal. Just because you CAN copy movies with a VCR doesn't make them illegal. Same thing with a copier or tape recorder. Yet, none of these things are illegal. Neither should the computer be..yet Congress seems perfectly willing to make ALL potential copying and downloading of music illegal - even the legal stuff...
F*CK YO*!!! (PS: I have retained copyright of the letter u)
The leader in VOIP right now is Vonage, who prices their time proven product at $24.99 a month. AOL's VOIP is an unknown product with no history that's priced five dollars a month more. Vonage also offers a rich feature set including simultaneous ring (where any incoming calls ring on both my home and cell phone; the first one answered gets the call). The next lower tier of VOIP is flooded with providers like Packet 8, Voicepulse, Broadvoice, etc. which offer similar service to AOL but are priced TEN DOLLARS a month less. As always, AOL has set their prices way too high.... AOL is also 10 dollars more then the next ter
Rebate processing centers count on lying to and screwing people by simply not sending out their checks. Frys is well known for this. People who buy their Colunbia walkie talkies will NEVER receive their rebates. NEVER!
Yet Frys and others still sell their walkie talkies and advertise the rebates, knowing this is true.It seems to me that now that Tiger is LOSING all them time, him and Macintosh are the perfect partners! Two former greats, now also rans....Together.
Just yesterday I was told by a General Manager in Boston that he had changed his mind about hiring a full time Chief Engineer. He claimed he doesn't NEED one, even though both stations he manages are about to move their transmitter sites, his new studios sit half built, and his AM station (stereo) has been broadcasting with right channel only for the past six months!
Pretty WILD, huh? *wink*I think it's because tech. industries have been taken over by beancounters and sales types. who see selling tech. products the same as selling timeshares and real estate. The tend to ignore what they don't understand. I call it the ostrich theory.
It's done....
Surprisingly, I still use Ask Jeeves (www.ask.com) for things - and find it finds things that Google has completely missed!
I guess you have to use a combination of several to really find everything you want - though Google by far is the best one.How is this any different then what Rambus tried to pull?
I mean TRIED too, because they were summarily taken to the woodshed by the courts.
Hopefully, the same thing will happen to Mr. Gates and his ilk..
There's one problem though...ol Billy boy might LIKE being spanked!
From the law firm Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, LLP I wonder if they're affiliated with Dewey Cheatum and Howe?
The last time I checked, I PAID my ISP EVERY MONTH for service!! THAT payment guarantees a certain level of service. If the cable company or other ISP deliberately degrades this service with malice, then I can SUE. I forsee BIG TIME class action suits over this... Unless of course, the FCC steps in (as they already did once for Vonage).
By the way, Speakeasy also sells VOIP and they already ADVERTISE that their packets get priority over their network...
This is from the Speakeasy web site VOIP page: Voice quality & unmatched security -- Unlike other providers, our voice service is carried exclusively over our private broadband network and the networks of our partners, which enables voice call prioritization that ensures crystal-clear call quality