I live in Tokyo these days, and one of the more striking differences between the cityscape here and the one in my home city in Australia is the sheer number of advertising signs, shills, lights, boards, posters, flags and projections
That's pretty common for most big cities, you learn to tune it all out (of course, the marketing PhD's will try to convince you that you are actually being subtly persuaded by all this in order to justify their salaries).
For example while older people are used to just calling for all situations, children have learned to maximize the text message function. Instead of calling 5 people for a get together, they just send out a message to all 5. They even develop a text message language for faster communication, which would mystify those not familar with it.
On the other hand, there are now so many more ways to access information that it is not surprising to hear that some people are feeling overloaded.
I agree that it is now very much important to teach how to learn, rather than just rote learning. By that I don't mean how to learn the latest software packages.
Even the wife acknowledges my memory is worse now than it was 10 years ago
I'm going to assume by that that you mean *your* wife. If this is the case, don't bother to go looking for other reasons for your loss of short-term memory. Dishonestly responding, "no" to the question, "Do I look fat in this?" 20,000 times not only undermines one's credibility (due to forced living in a fantasy world), it also leads to early senility (due to your brain overloading the truth/error correction circuit).
Actually, I agree with his basic concept also, the question is how to make it happen. As far as, "not that many American jobs would be elimnated by such a switch", you haven't really looked at this in depth.
There are likely hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of jobs that would be either "downgraded" or eliminated.
it's not the government's job to prevent people's jobs from being obsoleted
I agree with that sentiment.
My argument is that technology implementation will outpace retirements/death and result in a lot of unrest.
I always thought that Lynn's voice lent a certain amount of credibility to it all, since she was also apparently actually involved in the details and research.
The first time I checked the promised "how computers are made" description on Videotron's text explanation, I knew it would be bad.
All the amazingly high-speed machines that are featured seem to have rotation as the key motion.
Well, you've proven me wrong then. I just assumed that Canadian-produced Discovery shows were not widely available in the USA. I think they tried to capitalize on a "big name" by hiring a Canadian celebrity to do narration, Mark Tewksbury.
The program is about technology, not media personalities, and Herzeg does a great job.
Up until recently, war was something that you go and do, not something that happens to you. When we went to war, we would ship out. War never happened here.
Yes, people ARE that honest in other parts of the world
It's really odd that some merchants assume that everyone else is out to rip them off. I guess in a cutthroat environment like major US cities people have to be careful.
I don't see any problem with FF's ctrl+ for increasing text size. Yes, the result looks shitty (visuals) but at least the text is readable. Did I miss your point?
Spend a lot of time with Spanish-speakers, preferably around someone that also speaks good English (to translate for the first few days).
In my experience with French, you need to start thinking in the language that you want to learn. Native English-speakers trying to learn other languages seem to be always welcomed. Culturally what that means, you figure it out.
If you have a tortfeasor that harms a lot of people, but where the harm to any one person is slight, you still want to have them cure the harm they caused and to punish them so that they don't do this again in the future. This is not practical if everyone has to sue independently, since many people will not bother (and thus go uncured) and the tortfeasor will not be significantly deterred from doing it again
This is why spammers can never be eradicated. On a side note, I've noticed TV commercials lately touting some websites that feature good-looking actors (pretending to be real, successful clients) talking about how they make up to $5000/month with their computers.
This must be a fairly blatant ad for wannabe spammers or one of those "send $5 in an envelope for info on how to make money in mail order!"-type scams.
Slashdot Mirror
I live in Tokyo these days, and one of the more striking differences between the cityscape here and the one in my home city in Australia is the sheer number of advertising signs, shills, lights, boards, posters, flags and projections
That's pretty common for most big cities, you learn to tune it all out (of course, the marketing PhD's will try to convince you that you are actually being subtly persuaded by all this in order to justify their salaries).
new search technologies make it 1000 times faster to find what you want (approximately, of course)
Screw that, this is the digital age! I want *exact* approximations!
For example while older people are used to just calling for all situations, children have learned to maximize the text message function. Instead of calling 5 people for a get together, they just send out a message to all 5. They even develop a text message language for faster communication, which would mystify those not familar with it.
This is a joke, right?
On the other hand, there are now so many more ways to access information that it is not surprising to hear that some people are feeling overloaded.
I agree that it is now very much important to teach how to learn, rather than just rote learning. By that I don't mean how to learn the latest software packages.
Even the wife acknowledges my memory is worse now than it was 10 years ago
I'm going to assume by that that you mean *your* wife. If this is the case, don't bother to go looking for other reasons for your loss of short-term memory. Dishonestly responding, "no" to the question, "Do I look fat in this?" 20,000 times not only undermines one's credibility (due to forced living in a fantasy world), it also leads to early senility (due to your brain overloading the truth/error correction circuit).
Ditch the canteen, water is heavy to carry. Just eat the yellow snow - adds nutrients.
-Sgt Joe Canuck
Canada Snow Commando
Ski Slope Manager
Actually, I agree with his basic concept also, the question is how to make it happen. As far as, "not that many American jobs would be elimnated by such a switch", you haven't really looked at this in depth.
There are likely hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of jobs that would be either "downgraded" or eliminated.
it's not the government's job to prevent people's jobs from being obsoleted
I agree with that sentiment.
My argument is that technology implementation will outpace retirements/death and result in a lot of unrest.
Allow movies to be legally downloaded for $1 and the block buster might net $200M in a weekend without the middleman and retail costs.
Political/economic question: what happens to all the entertainment industry-related jobs that were just eliminated overnight in your scenario?
In the future (say, over 30 years) we're going to see a lot more of this "technology replacing jobs" becoming a very big issue.
Simplistic, market theory-based thinkers will shrug off the impact claiming that the "invisible hand" will take care of everything. In the long run.
True. But I can't think of another combination of "stuff" that could be more important for us humans.
I always thought that Lynn's voice lent a certain amount of credibility to it all, since she was also apparently actually involved in the details and research.
The first time I checked the promised "how computers are made" description on Videotron's text explanation, I knew it would be bad.
All the amazingly high-speed machines that are featured seem to have rotation as the key motion.
Thank God for whoever invented the wheel!
Man + woman = baby.
Well, you've proven me wrong then. I just assumed that Canadian-produced Discovery shows were not widely available in the USA. I think they tried to capitalize on a "big name" by hiring a Canadian celebrity to do narration, Mark Tewksbury.
The program is about technology, not media personalities, and Herzeg does a great job.
Also look up Nexen or Opti. Their process eliminates expensive NG and uses waste product as fuel for the process.
Disclosure: I worked on a part of the project, but I do not have detailed information or any financial interest in the project(s).
Up until recently, war was something that you go and do, not something that happens to you. When we went to war, we would ship out. War never happened here.
Very well-said.
robots are better than the general populace of America
I agree!
Yes, people ARE that honest in other parts of the world
It's really odd that some merchants assume that everyone else is out to rip them off. I guess in a cutthroat environment like major US cities people have to be careful.
I think the parent post was an attempt at a plus 1 funny mod (or maybe is confusing TLC with Discovery?).
It's probably only available in Canada, but it's a pretty interesting show.
It looks like most of the manufacturers featured are from Quebec and Lynn Herzeg performs multiple roles in the production.
Here's the crappy, Flash-only page.
I don't see any problem with FF's ctrl+ for increasing text size. Yes, the result looks shitty (visuals) but at least the text is readable. Did I miss your point?
2560x1024. Please make pages wider.
that Slashdot's one millionth username will be I don't get it.
Now you're confusing me. Isn't that what America is all about?
But by all means please stay away from the Hungarian Phrasebook. I've found that to be somewhat less than effective.
I agree.
Spend a lot of time with Spanish-speakers, preferably around someone that also speaks good English (to translate for the first few days).
In my experience with French, you need to start thinking in the language that you want to learn. Native English-speakers trying to learn other languages seem to be always welcomed. Culturally what that means, you figure it out.
If you have a tortfeasor that harms a lot of people, but where the harm to any one person is slight, you still want to have them cure the harm they caused and to punish them so that they don't do this again in the future. This is not practical if everyone has to sue independently, since many people will not bother (and thus go uncured) and the tortfeasor will not be significantly deterred from doing it again
This is why spammers can never be eradicated. On a side note, I've noticed TV commercials lately touting some websites that feature good-looking actors (pretending to be real, successful clients) talking about how they make up to $5000/month with their computers.
This must be a fairly blatant ad for wannabe spammers or one of those "send $5 in an envelope for info on how to make money in mail order!"-type scams.