The postal system is an archaic but necessary system - however, I think it should be scaled back. Personal to-your-door delivery service when most people drive everywhere? Why? Instead, limit home delivery routes to those who show a need - elderly, disabled, etc who cannot physically make it to a central depot. Then, create neighborhood depots This would reduce the number of employees needed, lower fleet costs (number of vehicles and fuel cost), and allow regular service days to be maintained. For example, in many small towns in the USA, the post office would be in walking distance - and in large urban areas like New York City you could expand the network so that it remains in walking distance for the majority of customers. (As an aside, maybe add a law that says any unsolicited mail can be returned to the sender at that companies cost... that would take care of the tons of junk mail shipped every day.)
I like what you're saying. The last part is the one that makes me smile inside and out the most:)
I'll add that the best benefit of email is the fast sort-and-delete method. If I get junk (even if it passes through the filter), I just hit a button and delete it. It doesn't stay in a stack of other mail while I walk somewhere else to throw away part, sort out another part.
How about benefits from CHOOSING TO RECEIVE in a live fashion? If I want junk, I can have it printed right there. If I don't, they save delivery cost and I save sanity. If I want it, the compan(y/ies) that want me to have it pay for the printing costs and I get the advertisements I'm interested in receiving. If I don't want 'em, I *ahem* "Lose Out(sm) on(c) Special Deals(tm)." *cough*:)
I know that's laziness, but hey... I don't like having to even have stupid advertising junk crap barf worthless *insert many swear words here* anywhere near my hands. I feel violated when touching that ridiculous filth.
But that's just my opinion; I'm sure there aren't others who think about advertising the same way I do and automatically disregard all advertisers as junk that just lost all points they could have had in my mind when the decision comes to pass.;)/snark/dirtyjunkmailbitterness
This Slashdot discussion is not touching on the one issue that matters to the USPS's fiscal health: the payments it owes retirees. There's an entire generation of Americans retiring and collecting their retirement pensions, and it's killing the financial system - not just the USPS. This is *not* about good or bad service, or email, or flat rates, or whatever. Those issues will sort themselves out naturally. But the USPS - like the USG on the whole, and many many private companies - have promised healthy retirement packages to lots of people who worked there for a lifetime, and now they've got to figure out how to actually pay them.
That's is so NOT why they're concerned; it's simple profit. Like companies who promised good health benefits as well as retirement and didn't pony up on it (my grandfather and mother are both "victims" of this), the USPS is a company. It's not a government agency anymore (I know you know that, I'm just typing it for those who aren't thinking about it at the moment...)
The gub'mint is going to have to handle the people who lose their retirement the same as every other person from every other company.
They're just a company. If they can't compete, then they lose. People suffer from the loss. Simple economics. The employees don't deserve more fairness and support than any other person who has worked for many years and is looking forward to their supported retirement.
All/. posters should commit to mail their comments for one week to make up the difference.
SWEET!
I'll work on the T-Shirts to advertise this new movement! We'll ship those via USPS, as well. Oh, and the TV ads! Problem solved in less than a week.:>
This is not a troll or flamebait comment. It is a request for explanation by physicists, electricians, metallurgists, and other parties that have knowledge on the subject, about its benefit. When I ask that I ask, "Benefit other than a good show of faith?"
You have to use megawatts of power for acceleration, right?
That's from a stop to determined speed.
Now you want to stop the vehicle. You start generating new power by utilizing the movement of the vehicle transferred through the wheels, to the axles, into a generator unit (multiple), right?
Now let's look at the law of conservation of energy... Energy was lost in the process of acceleration via electromagnetic fields, heat, and friction. In the process of stopping the vehicle, energy is transformed, that's right, with a loss via heat, friction, and electromagnetism.
You lost on the upswing, and lost on the downswing. It's effectively throwing back just a hair of power that can power, what, a dozen homes for a minute, if that?
Just to make a note from the perspective of people from another angle, aren't we concerned with the health risk via electromagnetic fields that are many thousands of times more powerful than mobile phones, Wi-Fi, or other 500mW - 1W transceivers? This isn't a concern of mine, I'm just painting a picture of the road ahead... the backlash from other parties, if you will:)
Shame on anyone who thinks this is flame bait or trolling material. I am encouraging a scientific discussion from smart minds on/.
Ah, no, this is not just normal WiFi, this is two-way WiFi. With old one-way WiFi, you had to send a packet, then eject the card, turn it around, and insert it the other way around to receive the reply. With this new two-way wireless magic your card can both send and receive! It's exciting and new!
LOL!
The next one in the making (and I didn't tell you this; SHHHHH!) introduces Valid Strict Capability and a subset of Comprehensive Logistical Programming that will maximize security, and efficiently assure upgradeable firmware functionality! It will increase market share by over 35%.
No, I didn't use BuzzWord Generator (http://www.outofservice.com/buzzword/); I swear!/humor
Wish I could mod ya up on this one. You have a VERY good point.
I posted a comment related to tracking abilities but what you posted actually brings up a separate issue (through logical jump) - authorization. People like to use apps (duh), but these devices, operating systems, apps, providers, everything, have legal disclaimers and notifications. Only a small percentage of people read it.
Why is there so much complaint when the providers do something the person has authorized already, on the large cover-all scale or the individual component scale?
I don't want to go off-topic, but I stand my ground and think this is a big kicker. Do the specific functions and the usage of data for everything need to be granular and dumbed-down for a clear picture of what they do, why they do it, how they do it, and where the things go? I'm just randomly thinking now so... Hmm..
... Of course you have to trust that the company is only keeping the most recent location but that's the case with all providers.
Hear, hear. You're dead-on. I listen to the police radio traffic where I live and actually got to hear a dispatch the other night where they were actively using it over the radio (the dispatcher was communicating with the mobile provider over the phone).
Anyone wanna know how they do it? First, there's GPS that makes it more specific and easy to find your location, but if you disable that they use triangulation (Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking)
So really it's a dead-middle point (the hatred of it). They can use your mobile position to save your life, one way or another, but they can also use it for a lot of other purposes.
Aside from the manufacturers and application sellers, I wonder if the mobile carriers are selling position data under the table - targeted most-recent positions or log history of position changes (tower-handoff). I'm just a'wondering here.
Everything that gets released with public 'net access are found to have some piece(s) of software/hardware that 'violate privacy'.
In the end, some say, "it sure is and I can prove it" and others say, "it actually isn't and there are ways to see clearly that it isn't true." Actually, I'm glad that this is being posted so hardcore geeks have a chance to test it and see what the end results are (basically acquire more data).
Eh, it will repeat itself in a different way a little after the dust settles. *tee hee*:)
Wow. It appears people tend to read things that aren't there. Where did I say ADHD wasn't real? I just said that not everyone who fits the profile has the disorder. I explained it already to the other poster, so feel free to read my comment above.
I hear ya. Different but similar note: it's also sort of funny (no pun intended) that readers of some comments have no idea when there's supposed to be satire or humor in it.
People (in general) seem to read what they want to read. It's a lot more effective to read, tear apart, play devil's advocate, reassemble, and see if there's something different than negative that can come from it. It only takes a few more seconds to fractions of a second to do it.:/
Slashdot Mirror
The postal system is an archaic but necessary system - however, I think it should be scaled back. Personal to-your-door delivery service when most people drive everywhere? Why? Instead, limit home delivery routes to those who show a need - elderly, disabled, etc who cannot physically make it to a central depot. Then, create neighborhood depots This would reduce the number of employees needed, lower fleet costs (number of vehicles and fuel cost), and allow regular service days to be maintained. For example, in many small towns in the USA, the post office would be in walking distance - and in large urban areas like New York City you could expand the network so that it remains in walking distance for the majority of customers. (As an aside, maybe add a law that says any unsolicited mail can be returned to the sender at that companies cost... that would take care of the tons of junk mail shipped every day.)
I like what you're saying. The last part is the one that makes me smile inside and out the most :)
I'll add that the best benefit of email is the fast sort-and-delete method. If I get junk (even if it passes through the filter), I just hit a button and delete it. It doesn't stay in a stack of other mail while I walk somewhere else to throw away part, sort out another part.
How about benefits from CHOOSING TO RECEIVE in a live fashion? If I want junk, I can have it printed right there. If I don't, they save delivery cost and I save sanity. If I want it, the compan(y/ies) that want me to have it pay for the printing costs and I get the advertisements I'm interested in receiving. If I don't want 'em, I *ahem* "Lose Out(sm) on(c) Special Deals(tm)." *cough* :)
I know that's laziness, but hey... I don't like having to even have stupid advertising junk crap barf worthless *insert many swear words here* anywhere near my hands. I feel violated when touching that ridiculous filth.
But that's just my opinion; I'm sure there aren't others who think about advertising the same way I do and automatically disregard all advertisers as junk that just lost all points they could have had in my mind when the decision comes to pass. ;) /snark /dirtyjunkmailbitterness
This Slashdot discussion is not touching on the one issue that matters to the USPS's fiscal health: the payments it owes retirees. There's an entire generation of Americans retiring and collecting their retirement pensions, and it's killing the financial system - not just the USPS. This is *not* about good or bad service, or email, or flat rates, or whatever. Those issues will sort themselves out naturally. But the USPS - like the USG on the whole, and many many private companies - have promised healthy retirement packages to lots of people who worked there for a lifetime, and now they've got to figure out how to actually pay them.
That's is so NOT why they're concerned; it's simple profit. Like companies who promised good health benefits as well as retirement and didn't pony up on it (my grandfather and mother are both "victims" of this), the USPS is a company. It's not a government agency anymore (I know you know that, I'm just typing it for those who aren't thinking about it at the moment...)
The gub'mint is going to have to handle the people who lose their retirement the same as every other person from every other company.
They're just a company. If they can't compete, then they lose. People suffer from the loss. Simple economics. The employees don't deserve more fairness and support than any other person who has worked for many years and is looking forward to their supported retirement.
Oh... IMHO.
How will I get weed from Silk Road delivered to my doorstep??
From "HIGHer" "FeeMail".
Ha.. I made another funny.
...Let them default. Let them go under. Get rid of the lazy bastards and subcontract the work to UPS or Fedex.
Like the gub'mint isn't gonna bail this one out.
Wait, I've just now made a 100% guaranteed prediction of the start of the next true Great Depression! :->
What's the best way to kill a small town?
Shut down the post office.
But it's "not the fastest"....
Booya! :->
Everything I do on a daily basis bankrupts the US and hikes the taxes. It's MY fault!
How do I know this, you ask? Cuz the gub'mint said so.... :->
And they said I shouldn't innovate and/or change processes because that costs them money, too.
Humor. He beat me to it.
I was gonna say "...but but but I'm a male and I can't safely do that without being impounded!"
Ha. I made a funny.
All /. posters should commit to mail their comments for one week to make up the difference.
SWEET!
I'll work on the T-Shirts to advertise this new movement! We'll ship those via USPS, as well. Oh, and the TV ads! Problem solved in less than a week. :>
LOL..
Humor, folks.
This sort of sensationalism never would have been allowed back when Taco was running things.
It wasn't a "too soon". Very nice. :)
This is not a troll or flamebait comment. It is a request for explanation by physicists, electricians, metallurgists, and other parties that have knowledge on the subject, about its benefit. When I ask that I ask, "Benefit other than a good show of faith?"
You have to use megawatts of power for acceleration, right?
That's from a stop to determined speed.
Now you want to stop the vehicle. You start generating new power by utilizing the movement of the vehicle transferred through the wheels, to the axles, into a generator unit (multiple), right?
Now let's look at the law of conservation of energy... Energy was lost in the process of acceleration via electromagnetic fields, heat, and friction. In the process of stopping the vehicle, energy is transformed, that's right, with a loss via heat, friction, and electromagnetism.
You lost on the upswing, and lost on the downswing. It's effectively throwing back just a hair of power that can power, what, a dozen homes for a minute, if that?
Just to make a note from the perspective of people from another angle, aren't we concerned with the health risk via electromagnetic fields that are many thousands of times more powerful than mobile phones, Wi-Fi, or other 500mW - 1W transceivers? This isn't a concern of mine, I'm just painting a picture of the road ahead... the backlash from other parties, if you will :)
Shame on anyone who thinks this is flame bait or trolling material. I am encouraging a scientific discussion from smart minds on /.
I can't kill anymore? Damn.
[root@dumbox ~] # chastise -9 10023
[root@dumbox ~] # discipline -9 10023
[root@dumbox ~] # discourage -9 10023
[root@dumbox ~] # asktoendpolitely -9 10023
[root@dumbox ~] # DAMNIT!
bash: DAMNIT: command not found.
[root@dumbox ~] # kill -9 10023
bash: I'm telling on you!!!
[NAUGHTY@dumbox ~] $
Here is what it's referring to. CS graduates are expected to recognize instances of it instinctively.
Ah, so the statement was conceptual, not based on a hidden component within these boxes. Gotcha.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Are Kindles selling (and they are, extremely well) because:
I'll throw in - "Because their advertising/marketing point is viewed more often than......."
hipster Amazon disciples
Wait... what?
I hope this is an Apple joke. :)
"Mmmmmmm. Crunchy."
...and didn't realize the value of the servers that they had gotten their hands on...
....I don't see any mention of what the phrase refers to. Is this dramatization or intentionally excluded information?
Curious.
Ah, no, this is not just normal WiFi, this is two-way WiFi. With old one-way WiFi, you had to send a packet, then eject the card, turn it around, and insert it the other way around to receive the reply. With this new two-way wireless magic your card can both send and receive! It's exciting and new!
LOL!
The next one in the making (and I didn't tell you this; SHHHHH!) introduces Valid Strict Capability and a subset of Comprehensive Logistical Programming that will maximize security, and efficiently assure upgradeable firmware functionality! It will increase market share by over 35%.
No, I didn't use BuzzWord Generator (http://www.outofservice.com/buzzword/); I swear! /humor
What's new is that Toshiba sent out a press release, so all media outlets must comply with the requisite awe and wonder.
That's how this works.
Heh.. Yeah.. You're right, IMHO. Old news is often the best profit-driving news.
Someone go out there and find that this isn't the case. C'mon. I challenge you! :)
Apparently they only do this if you sign up for their tracking service:
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht2526
The OS does this by default. Explain?
Wish I could mod ya up on this one. You have a VERY good point.
I posted a comment related to tracking abilities but what you posted actually brings up a separate issue (through logical jump) - authorization. People like to use apps (duh), but these devices, operating systems, apps, providers, everything, have legal disclaimers and notifications. Only a small percentage of people read it.
Why is there so much complaint when the providers do something the person has authorized already, on the large cover-all scale or the individual component scale?
I don't want to go off-topic, but I stand my ground and think this is a big kicker. Do the specific functions and the usage of data for everything need to be granular and dumbed-down for a clear picture of what they do, why they do it, how they do it, and where the things go? I'm just randomly thinking now so... Hmm..
...
Of course you have to trust that the company is only keeping the most recent location but that's the case with all providers.
Hear, hear. You're dead-on. I listen to the police radio traffic where I live and actually got to hear a dispatch the other night where they were actively using it over the radio (the dispatcher was communicating with the mobile provider over the phone).
Anyone wanna know how they do it? First, there's GPS that makes it more specific and easy to find your location, but if you disable that they use triangulation (Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking)
So really it's a dead-middle point (the hatred of it). They can use your mobile position to save your life, one way or another, but they can also use it for a lot of other purposes.
Aside from the manufacturers and application sellers, I wonder if the mobile carriers are selling position data under the table - targeted most-recent positions or log history of position changes (tower-handoff). I'm just a'wondering here.
Acutally, uh... Yeah. :)
There be money in them there heavily-used personal devices with difficult-to-monitor mobile 'net access! /accent
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Everything that gets released with public 'net access are found to have some piece(s) of software/hardware that 'violate privacy'.
In the end, some say, "it sure is and I can prove it" and others say, "it actually isn't and there are ways to see clearly that it isn't true."
Actually, I'm glad that this is being posted so hardcore geeks have a chance to test it and see what the end results are (basically acquire more data).
Eh, it will repeat itself in a different way a little after the dust settles. *tee hee* :)
Please read "How to lie with statistics".
I believe you just gave us a translated version of "learn your A-B-Cs". :>
"I have 500 men admiring me on my profile and trying to get my number or a date. I have no time for your tears."
I'm sorry to correct you, but I believe you meant "ur tears" or "ur tearz". :>
...I wish to provide your esteemed publication with further data points on the "Once you go black" hypothesis....
Thanks a lot for making me laugh out loud at work. I had to come up with something to explain my laughter within 1 second. Barely made it.
Barely... hmm... Legal..
I'm NOT going to start. LOL
Wow. It appears people tend to read things that aren't there. Where did I say ADHD wasn't real?
I just said that not everyone who fits the profile has the disorder.
I explained it already to the other poster, so feel free to read my comment above.
I hear ya. Different but similar note: it's also sort of funny (no pun intended) that readers of some comments have no idea when there's supposed to be satire or humor in it.
People (in general) seem to read what they want to read. It's a lot more effective to read, tear apart, play devil's advocate, reassemble, and see if there's something different than negative that can come from it. It only takes a few more seconds to fractions of a second to do it. :/