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Comment Re:Apple doesn't take gaming on computers seriousl (Score 1) 281

I am a bit of an apple fan, all the way back to using Apple IIs' in High School, and I have to say it, Macs are no good for gaming. Yes, I know there are a few games; but, nothing near the PC quantity.

I do not see that as a big problem, I probably should be reading a book rather than playing a game anyways; and, there are enough games, just not as many. It is just that, contrary to the popular misconception, the apple is much more of a business computer than the PC. No, I am not one of the "rich elite" I am embarrassed to say what I earn, other than I know I would make more if I went back to truck driving. I am also not an overly artsy type; I hold an MBA, not an MFA.

I have to agree with others, the Mac is a well built business machine, if you want to play games, get a pc or a console.

Comment This used to be done in H.S Shops in the evenings (Score 2) 90

In the past High Schools made shop space available in the evenings for evening adult "classes." Classes meant you got access to the shop and whatever advice the shop teachers could give for your project.

In the 70s' my father turned a Fiat 500 into an electric car at Arroyo HS at the after school shop sessions. It involved ganging several motors and buildings a mount, and at the time a relay-relay logic controller. I knew people who spent the evenings at the HS wood shop making furniture.

The idea of a public tinkering space is not new. Further, it creates an innovative atmosphere as groups of tinkering minded people gather together.

Comment Re:Rain (Score 4, Insightful) 317

I actually thought about that. However, there are very few cost effective methods of waterproofing paper that work. Think of the waterproof corrugated paper packaging you have seen. It is fine for short exposure; but, it does not hold up to prolonged immersion and exposure.

A bike helmet will sit in puddles; it will spend hours in downpours. If you waterproof for the exposure conditions that bicycle helmets see, at some point it ceases to be paper.

Comment Re:Well lucky you (Score 2) 586

Nonsense, you are an empowered individual. You are able to stand up for yourself and demand a fair compensation for your labor. If it isn't fair then you just need to enter the free market for labor and sell your efforts to a higher bidder. You have the power here, not the weak and besieged corporations. . .

Isn't this what the republican party and its agents have told you when they were convincing you to fear labour unions?

Comment Re:They're already paying (Score 0) 365

Do you really think Netflix is paying for the proportion of the internet that it uses?

"The report from Sandvine, a company that sells Internet traffic-management systems, finds that Netflix use accounts for 33 percent of all downstream traffic in North America during the peak hours between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. By contrast, Amazon and Hulu only account for 1.8 percent and 1.4 percent of downstream traffic, respectively." http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57546405-93/netflix-gobbles-a-third-of-peak-internet-traffic-in-north-america/

Very simply, netflix's business strategy is to shift the cost of business to other users. They are creating a negative externality. Not surprisingly, what results is exactly what economic theory says will happen; more of the good is produced than would be produced if the producer were paying the full costs of production. This effectively limits the potential for competitors to develop and it discourages netflix from pursuing more efficient means of production (more efficient transmission algorithms).

One might make th e"public good" argument about the internet; however, the marginal cost of adding another 'netflix' (a full competitor) would not be 'effectively zero.' thus, large consumers, like netflix can not treat the internet as a public good. Even though a smaller user, whose marginal cost IS effectively zero, can.

Comment Re:They reversed the age numerals (Score 1) 331

As another older Slashdot reader (47), it depends want I am reading. If I am reading a piece of fiction; or, something that is read in a linear fashion, e-books are ok (but not as good). However, for something that I want to flip back to a section or explanation several times they are just not as good. Further, the "notes" in eBooks are simply not easy to use.

However, the real deal-breaker for me is the price to DRM. I give a lot of my old books away; I give them to friends, family, and co-workers. DRM makes it impossible for me to do that. Further, I do not value an ebook as much as a physical book; therefore, I am not willing to pay as much (or more) for one. As such, I get most of my ebooks form bit-torrent. Yes, there are exceptions; when the price/drm/value is appropriate I will purchase. Otherwise I will just download them.

Comment Re:Ammo (Score 3) 189

I suspect the poster you responded to was kidding. Yes, like thousands of others, I am a NRA Life Member and I saw it as kidding.

We all know that any kind of criminal usage, particularly he type mentioned are the rare, and extremely rare, firearms usages. Further, mass shooters have not done their mis-deeds with 38 specials (yes, there is probably an exception out there). Gasoline still hold the title for the tool of most killers in America.

Comment Re:author isn't qualified, nice (Score 5, Informative) 249

Correct observation, this product has already been discussed on bicycle forums and has been dismissed as not very useful. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/917472-new-procuct-take-a-look?highlight=hammerhead

When out on a multiday ride in an unfamiliar area I want more than a blinking light. Frequently the GPS picks, plain stupid, route detours. A look at the map or the map screen shows these obvious errors quickly. Even when routing my way back home form an unfamiliar location at night I need more than the hammerhead provides. About the only use for the hammerhead is when riding a, tested and proven, preloaded track. A GPS enabled bicycle speedometer will do the same and more.

Because this thing still requires the smartphone to be present, just mount the smartphone and be done with it. At best it is an interesting gift for the cyclist who has everything. . . just don't let your feelings get hurt when that cyclist 're-gifts' it.

Comment Re:Take it from an MBA expert (Score 1) 343

My MBA was also not obsessed with cost-cutting at the expense of future options. However, these people telling you what is included in an MBA program have, for the large part, never completed one. In simple terms, they don't know what they are talking about.

An MBA is not a unique skill, it is the result of a program that involves a refinement of skill-sets.

Comment Re:Take it from an MBA expert (Score 1) 343

First off, Manager v. MBA is a false dichotomy. There is no reason a person cannot be both. I am the Directer at a Small High School; I am also an MBA. My duties include management, planning, and teaching.

The MBA is not a piece of magic; it is also not a discrete piece of knowledge. It is both a refinement of the application of knowledge and an opportunity to develop a more structured approach to thinking while retaining the necessary flexibility to consider, and choose from, several good, or bad, alternatives. The development of structured thinking also carries over into scheduling and planning activities.

While the MBA programs discuss strategic thinking and, they do not leave out the process of seeing the tasks through.

As Clausewitz reminds us, "Amateurs talk about strategy, professionals talk about logistics."

Comment Re:Education con game (Score 1) 95

You forget that over 75% of age eligible people are not eligible due to other factors http://www.missionreadiness.org/2009/ready_willing/

The biggest factor is physical, there are also major issues with education (not meeting standards), and criminality. The physical factor isn't even just the weight. As the report states, even if the overweight candidates were to loose the weight, there are still underlying physical factors that would leave them ineligible for enlistment.

The report I linked to is worth the read. Even if you are not interested in enlistment, it provides a view of America as seen by the bottom 50%.

I am one of the many people in America who planned to do just what you suggest, I planned to join the military to pay for college; however, it turned out that I have one leg 1.5cm shorter than to other. This left me ineligible for enlistment.

I still worked hard and eventually finished my MBA; however, I finished it in my 40s’. As such, I didn’t have it in my youth and I didn’t make the contacts that are needed along the way. As a result, it really is, essentially, worthless.

On a national basis, not only has the nation lost my productive ability (chosen to operate inside of the production possibilities curve); but, working as a security guard and dishwasher, I am paying on the deferred payment program. This means that the nation is not even getting paid back. This story is repeated by people all over America.

If not for a very minor medical issue my life, and my level of productiveness to society, would have been much different. But, no, enlistment is not the ‘simple’ solution to college woes for Americas poor; not until the enlistment standards are matched to the actual MOS.

Comment Re:I stopped using Chrome (Score 1) 260

Same here. This is also the reason I stopped using Safari. Recently I changed the computer in my office and I put all three on the dock: Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. I then waited a few weeks and then considered which I was using. I was using Firefox.

The plugins I use are just not available for the ther two (I play a game called Pardus ony Firefox has any usefull plugins for it).

Comment Re:We're stuck on IE 6 or 8 here in business land (Score 1) 199

Also stuck with IE 8 here (and XP). The silly thing is that I frequently need a machine that will run a modern browser for normal business activities.

The company answer is to "just use your personal machine." I see it as a way of unloading another business expense on to the employee.

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