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User: Herschel+Cohen

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Comments · 394

  1. Re:Unnecessary if.... Easier said than done ... on IBM's Patent-Pending Traffic Lights Stop Car Engines · · Score: 1

    On one route through my town, we have computerized stop lights. However, I have noticed that with heavy traffic on the main route and build up on the cross streets, once stopped the traffic flow at the next light is effectively halted. Thus, without excessive speed most traffic signals thereafter will be red and effectively kill traffic flow on the main route through town.

    I have to drive the route early when traffic is building, but not yet at a maximum density. In order to beat the waiting reds, I drive below (or nearly so) the posted speed limit. Moreover, my final approach to signals I use even lower speeds to have some momentum when the signal changes. Does not always work, but lessens the need to start from first gear at every light. However, sometimes I have no trouble at all flying through most lights unhindered, usually the mornings, but not all days.

  2. When you steal* someone's academic record ... on China's Research Ambitions Hurt By Faked Results · · Score: 1

    the talent necessary to have created such a record does not become the thief's Intellectual Property. Thus, where corruption reigns and their are little or no alternative routes to justice, the results are no surprise.

    * Not necessarily applicable to the authors cited in the article, however, when political connections and loyalty trump competence the same corrosive results were too obvious in states outside of China.

  3. FCC Speed test: misleading results ... on A Broadband Survey That Asks the Right Questions · · Score: 1

    Just seeing 20,000 plus kilobits down and over 4,000 kilobits up were obviously burst speeds that are available for very short periods and amounts. Yes those are the real, however, they are maximum values seen rarely. I wonder too how many providers are detecting the test to skew the results upward to imaginary values. Unfortunately, I suspect more than just a few.

  4. Re:Actually it's a good sign - Sometimes Not. on ABC Pulls Channels From Cablevision · · Score: 1

    For a time I was receiving those advertisements along with my land line phone bill. However, too many other mails flowed in touting their regular ADSL, an offering based upon price alone, since their speed comparisons were only against dialup modem speeds. More recently those FIOS teasers have disappeared from my billings, hence, it appears FIOS will land in much fewer places than the initial advertisements seemed to imply.

  5. Re:Good Guys - at least get the name right ... on Delicious Details of Open Source Court Victory · · Score: 1

    I fondly referrer to him as da'Bomber. And picture the outcome as collateral damage inflicted upon nearby innocents.

  6. Re:A Public Service Announcement to AllToyota Driv on Woz Cites "Scary" Prius Acceleration Software Problem · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What if there is not key or readily accessible ignition switch? The article I read in the NYT cited a CA state trooper with a Toyota rental that only had a push button starter. Thus, your suggestion is not a fully valid solution to a problem with an unpredictable onset with perhaps too limited a time to attempt solutions. By the way all in the car were killed when they had a collision at a intersection.

  7. Take a moment to consider the sources: on IE 0-Day Flaw Used In Chinese Attack · · Score: 1

    Both have deep economic interests, even taking the more benign view, to induce self deception. Sorry, the assertions may all be true, however, I would be more comfortable believing the blame if it came from a more independent group.

    Adobe, see it's not me and McAfee take that MS for stealing our business. Perhaps those are not the primary motives this time, nonetheless I find it hard to believe they are not present. MS screwing up and denying it also would be no shock, but I partially withhold judgment. I suggest others consider doing the same.

  8. It's Relative ... on Does a Lame E-Mail Address Really Matter? · · Score: 1

    Know some one really smart person that you respect that used an AOL email address? Just that one experience negates my dislike for AOL, hence, I lose my propensity to jump to a simplistic conclusion. Moreover, some of the same people have found it effective for their needs. Finally, who am I to judge.

    A supposedly lame email address may not seem as dumb at some time in the future, if perhaps the company that has a theme of doing no evil decides it was mistaken. Say we discover a <i>cloud</i> over our heads, it knows many of our damaging secrets and we are blackmailed into doing its bidding. Our formally generous hosts have other goals and are no longer the cool location for our correspondence. It need not be the company alluded to that follows this path, any cloud would do. However, in contrast just a Lame E-Mail Address would be much deferrable if only we had one to protect ourselves from our superficiality and self deluding knowledge.

    It is so much easier to judge others on simple external signs and ignore the harder task of judging the value of the person.

  9. Perhaps we really hate the prediction: on Has Sci-Fi Run Out of Steam? · · Score: 1

    Mass societal regression where only a self chosen elite lives well. Looking at the U.S. political scene, such a scenario is just a bit too plausible. From my slight bit of reading of Stephenson's latest, that might well be our future, however, his book focuses upon the distant reawakening of human intellect.

  10. Re:This is just baffling! on Murdoch To Explore Blocking Google Searches · · Score: 1
    > Google is doing the best thing they can do, which is to ignore News Corp.'s words in public ...

    I disagree, the wider public should be informed that the News Corporation could easily stop nearly all indexing by simply barring Google and most others by name. Since, they persist in making loud noises about their property , their inaction should be cited exposing their disingenuous posturing. Perhaps Google wishes to avoid a public fight with a bully, however, opinion could tilt against them. If, for example, the News Corporation were to highlight a perceived misstep by Google along with some ready cash to buy the legislation and legal precedent of their choice. Thus, being too timid now, could be very costly in the future.

    Regarding the BBC article, they could have checked in-house easily to be told that Murdoch's bluff and bluster had no factual basis. While I tend to give greater credibility to the BBC, I have found their obvious failing really baffling. So I sometimes suspect they ignore the obvious purposely.

  11. Re:The times are changing - Yes, but ... on Los Angeles Goes Google Apps With Microsoft Cash · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You neglect the effect of the close call that MS experienced that tempered, somewhat its proclivity for using the Mafia business model. Remember even under the W, supposedly MS was under judicial restraint. Those factors had to play a role in allowing competition to reappear*.

    * However, if you look at the netbook experience where Linux suddenly vanished (supposedly completely) from its initial dominance one can see hints that MS is probably back to its old game, but the environment has altered in the interim.

  12. Re:time to update headline, ok subscription ... on Hulu May Begin Charging For Content Next Year · · Score: 1

    pricing is reduced by the number and duration of the confirmed number of advertisements you watch per month*.

    What could be more fair?

    Rupert Murdoch/hc
    News Corp**

    * provided you have a sufficiently attractive consumer profile

    ** aka News Corporation for You

  13. Re:And what level should doctors intervene? on New Nanotech Helps Detect Early-Stage Cancer · · Score: 1

    Add the Japanese experience with higher rates of lung cancer surgery due to more prevalent screening, but no change in the statistical outcome. Thus, one must assume many cancers detected would have been eliminated without intervention.

  14. Re:Dear Mr Murdoch on Rupert Murdoch Says Google Is Stealing His Content · · Score: 1

    Sorry people, but Murdoch has a point. Professional reporting takes time and money, and if no one pays for it, it's not going to happen.

    Since most of the News Corporation's output is propaganda, why should the reader be forced to pay to read the self interested drivel from either those that Murdoch serves or those that propagate his own views. It's cheaper for him to get his own site and let him blog / spew his content and even charge for the privilege that his few best friends will surely oblige. At that time he can decide too whether or not to allow Google the right to scan and index his out content.

    It's a Win-Win for everybody, no pretense at research, no talking heads or key pounders. Just screams of out rage might make a watchable comic routine.

  15. This may not help, but ... on Choosing a Personal Printer For the Long Haul · · Score: 1

    if your interest is limited to a B&W printer for desktop use, from our experience* I would recommend Samsung laser printers as a good choice. Indeed despite my printer having been unused for a period, my daughter is now using it for her printing off a Mac without problems. Works well using Linux, Windows and the Mac, but some configuration tools may not be fully available under Linux and perhaps the Mac.

    Now this portion is a bit more problematical when I researched buying a color printer. I ended up with a networked, laser printer that seemed to be an excellent choice though beyond the then current needs**. However, I have had to shut it down due to misuse of one user that has been thoughtless and wasteful (Not my daughter). While I think the research is necessary, you have to set priorities on the individual importance of desired features. Here was some of my experience when I was pushed to make a quick purchase: http://bst-softwaredevs.com/howto/articles/Hardware-buy-laser-print.html

    Best of luck with your search.

    * models 1210 (mine) and a 1710 or later (his)

    ** the desktop model would have sufficed at a lower cost

  16. Re:selling junk yard class equipment ... on Microsoft Reportedly Poaching Apple Retail Staff · · Score: 1

    Apples vs MS quality in hardware is not that easily characterized. The Zune (though I would never buy one) is not per se inferior. We may argue about style, however, please recognize that the latter perception is tightly coupled to the current cultural milieu NOT a verity of nature. Apple sells a limited number of products that may themselves be of deficient quality, but at a premium.

    MS's problem is greed and the visceral need to own all significant fractions of a market completely.

    Apple's forte is greed coupled with the careful selection of high return market niches (some of which may balloon) entirely that they can command (aka "own") without significant competition.

  17. Re:is there anything that Apple didn't "invent"? on Microsoft Reportedly Poaching Apple Retail Staff · · Score: 1

    Yes: the sole rights to "innovate".

    While snide, there is truth in both my riposte and your assertion of seeming slant in favor of Apple. Yes raises and covering moving expenses used to be standard when one accepted a new position, those are standard recruiting tools plus the vision of professional advancement whether it is ever realized or not.

  18. High Probability Prediction: on Scientists Find Master Gene To Switch On Immune Cells · · Score: 1

    There will be many missteps, before or even if the promise is realized.

    Turning on a gene to start antibody production could have the unintended consequence of starting an autoimmune attack of the patient's own body. Moreover, as others have observed Cancer is neither a single disease nor do the same or similar uncontained growths in differing individuals arise from the same cause.

    Be optimistic, but expect failures and less than the full promise to appear. And quickly is even more unlikely, when we have too little experience and too little factual basis to fully predicate those hopes.

  19. The comet was not even a coup de gras ... on Is Jupiter Earth's Cosmic Protector? · · Score: 1

    for the dinosaurs, they were dying out before it hit and others survived well beyond the collision. Moreover, one cannot state with certainty that a similar event might mean to humans. It would depend where it hit and the response. In some sense it might stop us from our dangerous current course where significant opinion welcomes easily seen disaster. Some blinded by myopic short term interests and others believing, at least some humans, are special and will be protected by their deity of choice. A cosmic event might cause some to rethink was is really important not just for themselves, but for the species. But perhaps not, the survivors may just believe some strayed enough that wholesale punishment has been inflicted upon nearly all. Therefore, their deity (and their's alone) must be placated.

    If the latter becomes the predominant voice, at least we can be consoled the planet might not go the way of Venus.

  20. As Lincoln said ... on Windows 7 Hits Build 7600 (Possible RTM) · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can fool some of the people All the Time ...

    "And that's our target market", said the marketing droid.

  21. Re:Mark Cuban... on If You Live By Free, You Will Die By Free · · Score: 1

    Impressive an AC calling a billionaire an idiot. Now say that with a straight face if he beats the inside trading charge (if it even can be made). At very least you will have to agree he is smart enough to hire top notch legal talent should a court case seem possible. Or you will, at minimum, assert he knows whose palms to grease to avoid some potentially damaging PR and to avoid possible financial loss from a levied fine. Even the "W" was not an idiot, intellectually disinterested, yes - idiot no.

  22. Re:Insider trader ... but, but - he says he NOT! on If You Live By Free, You Will Die By Free · · Score: 1

    You see he got a tip, but he is not one of the founding members of the company, so he cashed out his 6 to 8 % and made a few hundred thousand. That's peanuts to a Billionaire, so don't mix him up with the petty cash Martha supposedly gained. See the difference? If so do I have a business deal for you.

    Keep investing in the stock market, your well heeled friends need funds when it tanks. Remember they have a life style to protect. They are not peons, like you or even Martha.

  23. Murdoch must be fairly financially compensated ... on News Corp Will Charge For Newspaper Websites · · Score: 1

    Murdoch must be fairly financially compensated in step with the effort he has expended. It takes talent and exertion to write about the world that has a barely discernible connection to reality. Were these screeds written into book form one could not argue the authors should not be justly compensated for their efforts. Look at Ann Coutler's offerings where many were listed as best sellers upon their release. Therefore, the outpourings of Murdoch ventures should be compensated in the same manner.

    Consider to the expense needed to create such a parallel world that has the ring of reality when the minds of the viewers are rightly heated. One prime example is the need for protection for Fox's top performance artists, where were there not sufficient funds a star or two might be bankrupted defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits. For example, alleging ridiculous charges of sexual harassment, of invasion of privacy and of the lack of uniform enforcement of the drugs laws. Think how these tender souls might be tormented and too distracted to attain their top form. So these creative people's efforts would be brought down by simple diversion of the attacks of the rabidness mob. This would be an irretrievable loss we cannot afford. Thus, Murdoch must charge whatever the market will bear, so that he can continue to take the burden of supporting his publishing and entertainment empire.

    There is one discordant note, the WSJ must be dispensed with if it continues to strive for journalistic excellence. While we can safely ignore its demented editorial, columnists and arts critic sections, the other journalists still working for this paper must be brought to heel. In my view, the Journal covered some topics in greater depth and quality than the other paper with the greater reputation, based upon past performance and an ethic long gone, the NYT. That cannot be allowed to continue. Murdoch does face one minor barrier, in the contract he promised to uphold the WSJ reputation of excellence. Nonetheless, he has signed similar contracts for other publications and none survived his deft hand as he gutted the beast. Given Murdoch's usual modus operandi this will be a trifling worry, unworthy of the time spent to discuss it. Therefore, I fully expect the WSJ to join the Patheon of Murdoch properties having exactly the same quality assignable it as to all other members and for that he must be rewarded.

    Remember, Murdock knows things you do not. He anoints those that govern and he knows that whatever holds the office: Tory, Liberal, Labor or staunch Communist they are already bought off or are simply buyable. Therefore, rest assured he will be rewarded handsomely, if not justly. That is, unless the mob stops being so pliable and compliant. Should that happen - all bets are off.

  24. A thought, although potentially off topic on Quake Live Dev Says Mac and Linux Are "Top Priority" · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wish I could get to see the numbers (or percentages) they (ID Software) estimate to be the potential size of Linux and Mac OS X users. I suspect, though I am biased, that their numbers would surpass in quality and quantity the recent estimate based on web site traffic that set Linux use at one percent. I suspect too those figures would be less prone to tweaking or to external third party pressures.

  25. Re:Crazy -Making the Same Error Repeatedly ... on The NYT Compares Broadband Upgrade Costs in US, Japan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the States (aka U.S. of A), tax payer money has been thrown at industries with neither oversight nor review of the lessons learned. For example, American [U.S.] industry, the eighty mile per gallon car resulted in the worst outcome. We got over sized SUVs and the Bummer!, albeit with the long term promise of pristine hydrogen powered electrics vehicles that we will probably never see. However, it scared the Japanese into action where without direct subsidies they were and are better positioned to produce vehicles with superior economy. Then we financed several build outs for the Internet, that resulted in the Telcos demanding more return for their efforts. Now we are savng the Banks and the Brokerage houses that caused our economic disaster. It is long past the time that the guilty should pay, with a reduced life style, which they were never entitled despite their fondest self regard and over estimated self worth.

    [question: why aren't the extrans working?]