61446641
submission
walterbyrd writes:
Most US airlines follow the same procedure for allowing non-first-class passengers to board a plane. They let people who are sitting in the back board first, then people in the next few rows, gradually working their way toward the front.
This procedure makes absolutely no sense.
The fastest ways to board a plane are Southwest's boarding method — where people choose their own seats — or a theoretical boarding method known as the "Steffen method" that's not currently in use
61244485
submission
walterbyrd writes:
It is now clear that Tom Wheeler is not a representative of the people, but corporations. Previously to taking his current position Wheeler was the former head of 2 different lobbying organizations, which represented companies like Verizon, Comcast, and At&t. His actions helped turn them into the monopolies that they are today.
61235487
submission
walterbyrd writes:
A list of hundreds of patents that Microsoft believes entitle it to royalties over Android phones, and perhaps smartphones in general, has been published on a Chinese language website.
The patents Microsoft plans to wield against Android describe a range of technologies. They include lots of technologies developed at Microsoft, as well as patents that Microsoft acquired by participating in the Rockstar Consortium, which spent $4.5 billion on patents that were auctioned off after the Nortel bankruptcy.
61102115
submission
walterbyrd writes:
Last week, it transpired that the big cable companies were bankrolling fake consumer groups like Broadband for America and The American Consumer Institute. These "independent consumer advocacy groups" are, in truth, nothing of the sort, and instead represent the interests of its benefactors, in the fight against net neutrality. If that wasn't bad enough, VICE is now reporting that several of the real community groups (oh, and an Ohio bed-and-breakfast) that were signed up as supporters of Broadband for America were either duped into joining, or were signed up to the cause without their consent or knowledge.
60575733
submission
walterbyrd writes:
Charts (I counted six) include:
- 2013 was a record year for patent lawsuits
- Almost half of all patent lawsuits were filed in East Texas or Delaware
- The 10 firms that filed the most patent lawsuits were all trolls
- Apple faced the most new patent lawsuits in 2013
- The courts are invalidating more patents based on subject matter
- How big of a problem is patent litigation?
60136685
submission
walterbyrd writes:
1. Freedom of the Press
2. Free and Fair Elections
3. Freedom of Association
4. Freedom to Start a Business
5. Freedom of Choice
59920165
submission
walterbyrd writes:
For those that don't know about this, what happens is: bees, sometimes by the millions, fly off from their hives, and never come back. Such behavior has been unheard of until fairly recently. This starting happening soon after the widespread use of neonicotinoids.
This might be consistent with the way neonicotinoids work. Neonicotinoids do not directly kill the insects. Rather, neonicotinoids affect the nervous system of the insects, and the insect dies because it cannot take care of itself. It has been long theorized that bees with damaged nervous systems cannot navigate back to their hives.
Monsanto has been denying that their products have anything to do this.
59448255
submission
walterbyrd writes:
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday brought an end to Novell Inc's antitrust claims against Microsoft Corp that date back 20 years to the development of Windows 95 software.
By declining to hear Novell's appeal, the court left intact a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from September 2013 in favor of Microsoft.
58290679
submission
walterbyrd writes:
Beryl Lieff Benderly of Science Careers asked, "If there is such a desperate need for talent why not [retrain] some of the tens of thousands of people over 35 who have been laid off?"
In a rare display of honesty from lobbyists, Scott Corely of CompeteAmerica answered, "If it could be done as easily, there would be less value in the worker."
58268251
submission
walterbyrd writes:
The case, Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International, poses huge risks for both sides. If the court upholds the patent or rules only narrowly against it without affecting most others, the problem of too many patents — and patent lawsuits — will continue. In that case, Justice Stephen Breyer said, future competition could move from price and quality to "who has the best patent lawyer."
57913101
submission
walterbyrd writes:
The truth is that there is little credible evidence of the claimed widespread shortages in the U.S. science and engineering workforce. How can the conventional wisdom be so different from the empirical evidence?
57549059
submission
walterbyrd writes:
This by the company that brought you "scroogled."
The Washington Post reports that Microsoft officials were handing out promotional materials for this purpose this Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual conference for conservative activists and elected official in the United States.
57055439
submission
walterbyrd writes:
Slashdot is promoting Microsoft spin/agenda, insinuating that people who dislike Microsoft are irrational and that it’s the equivalent of discrimination. . . Slashdot rapidly became a Microsoft mouthpiece, choosing agenda instead of news. No wonder readers are moving elsewhere, abandoning Slashdot and sometimes even boycotting it.
56475879
submission
walterbyrd writes:
This week, HP announced that effective February 19, 2014, we will provide firmware updates through the HP Support Center only to customers with a valid warranty, Care Pack Service or support agreement.
56336073
submission
walterbyrd writes:
"The Asus Chromebox offers the simplicity, security, and speed of Chrome OS in the most compact and powerful Chrome device to date," said Felix Lin, director of product management at Google. "Perfect for home, the classroom or the office, Chromebox is designed for the way we use computers today."
