It seems to be particularly bad for electronic components. When I search for parts that are rare or hard to get from a local supplier, Google often returns lots of links to legitimate web shops and price comparison sites that claim to have the part in stock or have price info on it, but in fact haven't. Sometimes the first shop that actually has the part in its catalogue won't appear until page 3 of the search results.

I have my doubts about this new algorithm improving things though.

The real question is: was the girl who posted this image able to capitalize on its viral popularity, like the owner of Grumpy Cat?

Now I understand Amazon's idea of putting 3d printers on trucks. The factory of the future will be ship or container based, so it can be moved to whichever country provides the cheapest labour at any one time.

10 Sin
20 Goto hell
According to the Good Book 3.0

Google large ISPs' refusal to upgrade peering or install free Netflix caching hardware. The courts were/are inadequate because it's not illegal.

3D printing is still in its infancy, so I will patent the more old school mobile manufactory. Load up a truck with a bunch of lumber and some carpenters, or a furnace and a glassblower, or an upholsterer. Design and order your furniture and accessories online, and these dedicated craftsmen will make it to spec while they drive to your home for delivery!

They do in Tokyo; I saw a vending machine there dispensing bottles of single malt whisky. The interesting comparison with my own country isn't that they have these and we don't, but that over here such a machine would not make it past the first Friday night before being trashed and robbed.

Start reforming what can be patented. No software patents, and throw out the crap that is obviously not invention but intellectual property land-grabbing.

That is the problem with a lot of these smart watches. The Pebble is awesome in terms of functionality and battery life (well, compared to other smart watches anyway), but it looks like a cheap digital watch from the 70s, and most other smart watches look like crap. There's a couple of ones that look at least halfway decent: the Moto 360 and LG Urbane are round (which I prefer) with a choice of metal bodies and metal or leather straps. I was disappointed by the appearance of the Apple Watch (square, but at least it's their patented rounded square), though the high-end models look like they might be acceptable.

But the real problem is that the expected life of these watches simply isn't that long; technology moves too fast for that. Who would spend a couple of thousand on a premium smart watch in a gold case, if you'll want to replace that watch in a few years' time? It would make sense to commit to a case design for a longer term, and allow owners to swap out the electronics every so often.

FTFM (Fixed that for myself)

Try strapping your watch on your right wrist (if you're left handed), and you'll understand why we carry them on our left wrists.

Your (and my, and any individual citizen's) personal interpretation of the Constitution is not the measure. It is the interpretation and implementation by our three branches of government. I realize that some reading this believe they have all been compromised, or that they think some particular thing is "obviously unconstitutional" (even though the judicial, legislative, and executive branches say otherwise), but the fact is we have the system of government we have. So how about you consider the alternative: one where you don't assume that everyone working at every/any level of government, e.g., NSA, doesn't have the worst motivations and is actually trying to do their best to honorably, legally, and Constitutionally, protect our nation and its people instead of the opposite. How about that?

If you would actually like to have a discussion, I am more than happy to engage. I have articulated these views (not on this specific topic, of course) long before I ever served in uniform, and they have nothing to do with a "paycheck" -- in fact, it's the inverse: the reason I chose to serve is because of my personal desire to do what I can to support things I believe in, and believe are important for our nation and my family and fellow citizens, not the other way around. Yes, our system of government is imperfect...grossly so -- but I choose to support it over any and all alternatives, warts and all. (And that is not to say that there are not things that cannot be improved.)

And again -- and I sincerely mean this -- if you are actually serious about engaging in a dialogue, I am happy to.

Yes, where to even begin...

Do you realize that over 70% of FOREIGN internet traffic enters, traverses, or otherwise touches the US?

Do you understand that an individualized warrant is required to target, collect, store, analyze, or disseminate the communications content of a US Person anywhere on the globe, and that the current law on the issue is stronger and more restrictive with regard to US Persons than it has ever been?

Do you understand that the FOREIGN communications we are going after are now intermixed with the communications of the rest of the world, including that of Americans?

Do you understand that when terrorists use Gmail, Facebook, Yahoo, WhatsApp, Hotmail, Twitter, Skype, etc. etc. etc., or Windows, or Dell computers, or Android phones, or Cisco routers, and so on, that there is no technical distinction between your communications and theirs, yet -- surprise -- we still would like to access those communications, and have legal, policy, and technical frameworks to do so, even if you have not personally inspected them yourself?

If you are a US citizen, and not covered by any warrant, no one cares about your communications. And almost by definition, no foreign intelligence agency (NSA, CIA, DIA) remotely gives a shit about your communications, and would greatly prefer to avoid it altogether, unless you have some kind of connection with foreign intelligence targets -- in which case any collection or monitoring of your communications would require an individualized warrant from FISC or another court of competent jurisdiction. I realize you think this isn't the case, and that all of your communications are being mined and monitored (illegally, no less), and since proving a negative is impossible, I won't be able to help in that regard.

My motivation for commenting on these topics on slashdot may be informed by my position, but has nothing to do with it beyond that.