Question: Better Economies Through Preprocessing?
on
Control-Alt-Recycle
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· Score: 5, Interesting
I'm the system administrator for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. Quick summary: largest homeless shelter in Virginia, large live-in addiction recovery program, free medical clinic, other cool stuff.
Recycling old computer equipment here at the mission is a huge problem. We have a growing pile of old monitors and other computer equipment. This stuff comes to us through donations to our thrift store.
Unfortunately, most of the computer equipment that comes to us is useless. We don't sell it through our thrift store: we've found that no matter what we say, people expect technical support after buying a computer. For the most part we don't use the computers ourselves. We could start declining donations of computer equipment, but even that can be difficult to enforce... stuff has a way of slipping in anyway.
So for the time being, the equipment, especially the monitors, just keeps piling up. I've worked hard to convince my coworkers that it's wrong to just dump the monitors in the trash. Happily, this is a place where ethical concerns do count.
One idea I've had is to strip out the electronics from all the equipment and ship just the electronics to a recycler. We would trash the plastic cases. The idea is that we would drastically reduce the volume and weight of the material, thereby reducing shipping costs to something that might be profitable. Labor would be free: the addiction recovery program includes working full time at an assignment in the mission, and most of the guys are plenty handy with screwdrivers and other tools.
Has anybody has any experience with something like this? I think I could sell the idea if we even just broke even. Is there any hope for Preprocessing for Fun and Profit (especially profit)?
On the flip side some Bonobos understand spoken English: 2000 words are enough to watch our movies, for example. By watch I don't just mean "be entertained by flashing colors"
Can't remember the details, but a family once raised a baby orangutan along with their human baby. Up to a certain age (like 2 years), the orangutan demonstrated much faster development in communications skills than the human. Than the orang's development simply stopped and the human quickly accelerated past it.
'course, I don't know what metrics they used. Look through old copies of National Geographic at your local thrift shop for details.
I once worked for a golf software site. Bringing computers into the world of golf is challenging because the golf industry is the biggest collection of Luddites to ever wear plaid. (No insult intedned: most golf course managers will agree with that statement.)
Anyway, my employer lost a big contract because the starters were against any type of information system improvement.
<side_note>
The starter is the person who sits next to the first tees for the first hole on the course and tell groups of people when it's their turn to start. The starter is a very powerful person at the course.
</side_note>
It seems that the starters objected to our info systems because it would have made it more apparent how many people they let play for bribes. Like the doormen at popular dance clubs, starters routinely except off-the-books bribes to slip people into the startng lineup.
I joked that perhaps if we can't beat 'em, we should join 'em, and should create The Graft Module to help channel elicit funds into the starter's pockets. That way if we could get them on our side and get the contracts.
Tht was a couple years ago. I'd be interested to know how that situation continues to evolve in the golf world.
Job hunting has a fundamental depressing property built into it: you're always unsuccesful as long as you're still doing it. When you succeed, you're not job hunting anymore.
I have an unfortunate habit of previewing -- but not posting -- comments on/. and
UserFriendly. Then I realize I never actually posted the comment that I previewed, and it's gone, because my browser doesn't keep a history of web pages that are the result of an HTTP POST.
It would be cool if I could retrieve the results of the POST so that I wouldn't have to either rewrite my sage words or decide to not bother (which is probably the better choice).
I noticed that too. Looking at the guys in the construction site across the street, I'm having a hard time picturing them sitting down at a pretty little table with tea and crumpets, holding out there pinkies as they sip their tea and discuss the latest naughty scandals.
Of course, that does sound more pleasant than the brutally hard work they do.
Collins (best known as CMP for Apollo 11) said the same thing in a book he wrote in the 1980's. When I first read it, I thought it was a pretty radical idea to bypass the moon, but it seems the radical has become accepted by many members of the space community.
This woulda been great for my dog Gus
on
See Spot Surf
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· Score: 2, Funny
Gus (God rest his beloved soul) was a wonderful little terrier mutt thing. We adopted him when he found him starving in the streets. Although he improved under our care, he was old and sick and never gained full health in the few months we had him before he passed away.
But, ahhh, the girlie dogs loved him! Because Gus had a special passion for using his little dog tongue to please the ladies. It was his favorite passtime. One petstore owner actually had to ask me to stop letting him please the bitches. Too bad, because the bitches had no complaints.
Boy, that woulda made a great social networking page. Rest in peace, Gus, we miss you, and your girlie friends miss you too.
Back when I had high hopes that
The Idocs Guide to HTML would be my path to riches, I thought of WebMonkey as my chief competitor. There was no way I could produce the quantity of documentation they could, but I hoped that my narrow focus on client-side web pages features and high quality would win me followers. In fact, it did win me followers, but not enough to become profitable.
Well, when I finally gave up that dream, I released the Guide as Open Content.
Anybodywhowantsto can publish the content as they see fit. AFAIK, nobody's made a fortune off of my work (which, I admit, would bug the crap out of me), but some people have been helped, which is pretty cool.
I wonder if WebMonkey will consider doing the same thing.
I love my cell phone number. It makes it easy for friends, family, and users to call me. I've stuck with my carrier for years to keep that number. Now I'm bailing on them because they suck, and I'm laughing all the way.:-)
I like to propose this idea whenever mention of family member tech support comes up. I have this little theory: you can't teach computers to your mother. I've heard many a techie support this theory. I guess someone just can't take your opinions seriously if they created you from egg, sperm, mashed potatoes and pickles to begin with.
So I propose the Tech Support Mother Exchange. You answer my mom's tech questions, I'll answer yours. We'll both get fewer 3 am panic phone calls because our moms will have *gasp* listened the first time.
Something about the general look of
symbol on the car
reminded me of white supremecist symbols.
A little Googling shows some
similardesigns. The red background, white circle, and black internal figure are very similar to me.
I gues I'd better state for the record right now that no way, now how am I suggesting that the artist actually holds any such nasty views. It's just that I'm a marketer, and my career teaches me to look out for such similarites, intended or not. I do think some people inthe general public might make the incorrect and unfortunate connection.
OK, so those in the know will recognize a Star Wars symbol, but to the rest of the world I suspect
the white, black, and red symbol looks like some kind of White Supremicist sign. I wonder if this guy gets a lot of dirty looks and thinks they're just from Star Trek fans.
Can I give it orders by talking into my watch?
on
Your Own Mecha
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· Score: 1
Can I ride in its hands while it flies? Does it fight monsters in Tokyo?
Ahhh, memories of Johnny Socko. I always thought that minor key theme they used was depressing, but still a great show.
Slashdot Mirror
This page certainly makes me wonder.
Recycling old computer equipment here at the mission is a huge problem. We have a growing pile of old monitors and other computer equipment. This stuff comes to us through donations to our thrift store.
Unfortunately, most of the computer equipment that comes to us is useless. We don't sell it through our thrift store: we've found that no matter what we say, people expect technical support after buying a computer. For the most part we don't use the computers ourselves. We could start declining donations of computer equipment, but even that can be difficult to enforce... stuff has a way of slipping in anyway.
So for the time being, the equipment, especially the monitors, just keeps piling up. I've worked hard to convince my coworkers that it's wrong to just dump the monitors in the trash. Happily, this is a place where ethical concerns do count.
One idea I've had is to strip out the electronics from all the equipment and ship just the electronics to a recycler. We would trash the plastic cases. The idea is that we would drastically reduce the volume and weight of the material, thereby reducing shipping costs to something that might be profitable. Labor would be free: the addiction recovery program includes working full time at an assignment in the mission, and most of the guys are plenty handy with screwdrivers and other tools.
Has anybody has any experience with something like this? I think I could sell the idea if we even just broke even. Is there any hope for Preprocessing for Fun and Profit (especially profit)?
What, there's more to them than that?
'course, I don't know what metrics they used. Look through old copies of National Geographic at your local thrift shop for details.
parasite grooming (a.k.a. the search for salty snacks)... check
flying off the handle for no readily apparent reason and causing others around you to follow same panicky behavior... check
The look on your coworker's face... priceless
It's weird that they have one picture, the one where the chick's face looks all freaky.
If you can't handle getting something from a vending machine then you can't handle the software. Works for me.
For beginners, streaking has totally gotta come back in style.
Draw map of major media coverage? Not hard at all
Anyway, my employer lost a big contract because the starters were against any type of information system improvement.
<side_note>
The starter is the person who sits next to the first tees for the first hole on the course and tell groups of people when it's their turn to start. The starter is a very powerful person at the course.
</side_note>
It seems that the starters objected to our info systems because it would have made it more apparent how many people they let play for bribes. Like the doormen at popular dance clubs, starters routinely except off-the-books bribes to slip people into the startng lineup.
I joked that perhaps if we can't beat 'em, we should join 'em, and should create The Graft Module to help channel elicit funds into the starter's pockets. That way if we could get them on our side and get the contracts.
Tht was a couple years ago. I'd be interested to know how that situation continues to evolve in the golf world.
Job hunting has a fundamental depressing property built into it: you're always unsuccesful as long as you're still doing it. When you succeed, you're not job hunting anymore.
It would be cool if I could retrieve the results of the POST so that I wouldn't have to either rewrite my sage words or decide to not bother (which is probably the better choice).
I heard Robin Williams' routine in my head when I read the headline. :-)
Of course, that does sound more pleasant than the brutally hard work they do.
Collins (best known as CMP for Apollo 11) said the same thing in a book he wrote in the 1980's. When I first read it, I thought it was a pretty radical idea to bypass the moon, but it seems the radical has become accepted by many members of the space community.
But, ahhh, the girlie dogs loved him! Because Gus had a special passion for using his little dog tongue to please the ladies. It was his favorite passtime. One petstore owner actually had to ask me to stop letting him please the bitches. Too bad, because the bitches had no complaints.
Boy, that woulda made a great social networking page. Rest in peace, Gus, we miss you, and your girlie friends miss you too.
Well, when I finally gave up that dream, I released the Guide as Open Content. Anybody who wants to can publish the content as they see fit. AFAIK, nobody's made a fortune off of my work (which, I admit, would bug the crap out of me), but some people have been helped, which is pretty cool. I wonder if WebMonkey will consider doing the same thing.
-Miko
So I propose the Tech Support Mother Exchange. You answer my mom's tech questions, I'll answer yours. We'll both get fewer 3 am panic phone calls because our moms will have *gasp* listened the first time.
... will want the title of "Chief Hockenberry", but I think his wife Joan will have something to say about that.
I gues I'd better state for the record right now that no way, now how am I suggesting that the artist actually holds any such nasty views. It's just that I'm a marketer, and my career teaches me to look out for such similarites, intended or not. I do think some people inthe general public might make the incorrect and unfortunate connection.
Hmm, good point. Hadn't thoughta that. Still, believe it or not, a huge percentage of the American population have no idea who R2D2 is.
OK, so those in the know will recognize a Star Wars symbol, but to the rest of the world I suspect the white, black, and red symbol looks like some kind of White Supremicist sign. I wonder if this guy gets a lot of dirty looks and thinks they're just from Star Trek fans.
Ahhh, memories of Johnny Socko. I always thought that minor key theme they used was depressing, but still a great show.
... they can't stick the surface to the pan.