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User: wikkiewikkie

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  1. Re:Riiight. on Sweden To Be Oil-Free By 2020 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Their goal of reducing traffic deaths has lead to tremendous innovation in the field of automotive safety. Safety glass, the three-point seatbelt, and side-impact airbags were all invented by Swedes. In addition, safety features are routinely standardized across all of their models decades before US automakers even introduce them.

    Given that much of their success in the automotive safety field is driven by the zero traffic-death goal, why wouldn't a similar goal for energy usage spurn innovation in that field?

  2. IS? on Creating an IS Department? · · Score: -1, Troll

    Is is Is? ... Is, is Is Is? Is, is Is Is?!? Is? IS??? IS!!!

  3. Re:Reader on Blue Gene/L Tops Its Own Supercomputer Record · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can also accomplish the same thing by holding down the shift key while Acrobat is launching. It will prevent the plugins from loading.

  4. Re:burn the lawyers on PTO Eliminates "Technological Arts" Requirement · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please, provide me with some more details about your patent idea and I will be glad to assist you.

  5. Maybe if you ignore the first-gen iPod on From TR-1 to iPod mini · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Isn't the mini just an evolution of the first-generation iPod design? The first-gen looks absolutely nothing like the TR-1 to me.

  6. Re:Earth to GM : Get the basics right first!!!!! on GMC to Begin Remotely Scanning Cars for Trouble · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wrong. A large number of modern engines are non-interference. For example, Toyota realized in the 80's that they could greatly reduce their warranty repair cost by utilizing non-interfence engines. As a result, nearly all of their engines currently in production are non-interference.

  7. EA on Drug Reverses Effects of Sleep Deprivation · · Score: 5, Funny

    In related news, productivity at EA is up 44%.

  8. Re:you can't have it both ways on Technology Makes New Cars Too Expensive to Fix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All right! Way to eat up the spin the automobile manufacturers feed you! The truth is average fuel economy for new vehicles has been on the decline since 1980. Most of the mainstream vehicles which do get good fuel economy nowadays are using conventional small displacement engines with fuel injection technology similar to that first used in the early 80's.

  9. Re:Scam on AT&T Wireless Phone "Upgrades" Aren't · · Score: 1

    Perhaps they're sending out different information depending on the model of phone, because the information I recieved in the mail has no mention of a contract requirement, and it even says on the front "ABSOLUTELY no strings attached!" Careful review of the web site mentioned in the information also reveals no information about a contract.

    Check it out yourself:

    http://www.sonyericssonT226upgrade.com

  10. Re:Scam on AT&T Wireless Phone "Upgrades" Aren't · · Score: 1

    Actually, you're mistaken. If you have recieved a mailing notifying you that you will recieve a new phone, there is no contract requirement. On the other hand, if you just walk in to the store and complain and want a new phone, their normal policies regarding discounts on phones in exchange for signing a contract will apply.

    What you're talking about has nothing to do with the program mentioned in the article.

  11. Re:Wow on Leaked Memo Says Microsoft Raised $86 million for SCO · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes, Microsoft does contribute to Democrats as well, but they consistently give significantly more money to the Republicans. Here's some data: 2002 Democrats: $800,343 2002 Republicans: $1,890,401 2000 Democrats: $996,792 2000 Republicans: $1,318,384 1998 Democrats: $145,000 1998 Republicans: $629,816 Source

  12. Re:Lawsuits! on Psion May Look To Linux For The Next Big Thing · · Score: 1

    The popularity of music downloads hasn't seemed to stop the RIAA in its lawsuit activity. If anything, it's increased it. I expect SCO would respond in very much the same way.

  13. No Win32 Zip? on Mozilla Firebird gets .8 Release, and New Name · · Score: 1

    They seem to have gotten rid of their ZIP distribtion of the Win32 build and gone to an isntaller only. Tough luck for those of us who dont have admin rights on our PC's I guess.

  14. Re:Putting 1 million songs into perspective... on Apple Sells A Million Songs in Debut Week · · Score: 1

    Gross margin is near 20%. Net margin (what really matters) is what I stated in my previous post.

  15. Re:Putting 1 million songs into perspective... on Apple Sells A Million Songs in Debut Week · · Score: 1

    Couple of things.. First of all you aren't taking into account the shitload (aprox.) of iPods and Macs they'll sell as a result of this. Secondly, there's a tremendous of growth potential here. Many, many, many very successful business ventures have started off small and are now quite successful. Nevermind the fact that a PC release is planned and that will lead to greatly increased sales. Lastly, quit quoting revenue figures. What really matters is ROI and profit margin. Dell's profit margin is a measley 7-8%, while this venture by Apple is very high-margin. Apple's initial investment is also very low, and subsequently, their ROI for this venture is very high. They don't need massive warehouses, factories and distribution capabilities to sell music online. All they need is bandwidth, software, and music (which they don't even have to pay for in the first place -- they just give the record companies a cut)

  16. The form for my rebate... on Are Rebates Scandalous? · · Score: 3, Funny

    on MSFT Flight Sim was so small I had to take it to that guy in the mall that writes your name on a grain of rice so I could fill it out properly.

  17. Re:Piracy? on Windows Media 9 in Digital Theaters · · Score: 1

    You forgot "PROFIT!"

  18. What's the point? on Intel Patents Anti-Overclocking Technology · · Score: 1

    I don't understand how preventing overclocking helps Intel. Aren't most of their sales to OEM's who wouldn't think about overclocking processors? How does this affect their bottom line? Anyone?

  19. Watch out guys.. on Projecting Sound 'Inside Your Head' · · Score: 4, Funny

    "transmitting" sound to other people? Sounds like a copyright circumvention device to me.

  20. I need one... on Building Your Own Glowing Cyber-Balls? · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I can easily keep track of the ever-changing terrorism threat level.

  21. This actually could be a good thing... on Toyota to Move to All Hybrid Vehicles By 2012 · · Score: 1

    The problem with most of the engines from japanese manufacturers these days is a lack of torque. If you were to combine one of these engines with an electric motor, which put out gobs of torque regardless of RPM's, you could have quite a balanced powerplant.

    I believe the Honda Dualnote concept may have already showcased this idea.

  22. It was the... on Satellite Radio in Fiscal Trouble · · Score: 1

    I'm not suprised. I tried it for a little while, and it was the WORSE.

  23. Re:In the US on Warflying: San Diego · · Score: 1

    It's hardly illegal. If you read the article you'll see that the IP stack on the laptop was disabled, so no communications were actually sent. I could go around looking at jewlery in stores, which someone might steal, but there's a big difference between that and stealing the jewelry. You honestly don't belive that just because something might be used for an illegal purpose that it should be illegal, do you? If so, how long have you been working for the RIAA?

  24. Re:Argh! on Sprint PCS Launches 3G Network · · Score: 1

    You're missing the point entirely. To begin with, you're blaming the companies that provide connectivity for not providing content. There's plenty of perfectly capable MEDIA companies, who's business it is to provide content (Yahoo or AOL/Time Warner come to mind) who are as just as, if not more, responsible for the state of wireless content in the U.S. I don't expect my cable company to produce more shows if I find the current selection lacking, all they do is pipe it into my home. I consider wireless providers pretty much the same way.

    As far as the availablity of content in the US as opposed to Japan, I think it's a result of demand differences more than anything else. If people in the U.S. want content, they get it from the TV when they're home, and their PC when they're at work. The little time when wireless content might be useful is while they are in transit.

    In Japan, most people travel to/from work via public transportation, and I think that one would find that that is when most wireless content usage takes place. In the U.S. most people drive to work, which means they can't make use of wireless content during this period, so they get their content from the radio. This is evidenced most clearly by the success of companies such as ClearChannel here on the east coast, and the availability of national satellite radio programming (XM).

    There simply isn't a very high demand for wireless content here in the states, apart from among us geeks. This is a free market economy after all, and if there's a true demand for something you won't find any shortage of companies willing to provide it.

  25. Whoops... on Atomic Scale Memory · · Score: 1

    Just imagine if you scratched it like a DVD or CD, you could wipe out an entire movie with just a little one.