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Crime

SAP VP Arrested In False Barcode Scheme 534

Posted by timothy
from the always-use-bitcoins-for-lego-arbitrage dept.
redletterdave writes "With barcode scanning being so commonplace, nothing seemed out of the ordinary when Thomas Langenbach, the vice president of SAP, was found scanning boxes upon boxes of Lego toys before purchasing them. Little did anyone know, the 47-year-old Silicon Valley executive was actually engaged in a giant scam. Langenbach would visit several Target stores and cover the store's barcodes with his own, so when he would bring the boxes up to the register, Langenbach would pay a heavily-discounted price. For example, this tag swapping allowed him to buy a Millennium Falcon box of Legos worth $279 for just $49. Once he bought the discounted Lego boxes, the SAP executive would take to eBay (under the name 'tomsbrickyard') and sell the items. Langenbach reportedly sold more than 2,000 items on eBay, raking in about $30,000. He was finally caught by Target security on May 8, and he was arraigned on Tuesday on four counts of burglary."

Comment: We used ViaCord (Score 3, Informative) 321

We used ViaCord for our first, and will be using them for our second. Similar to other services, you pay a collection fee (blood approx $1500, blood+tissue approx $2700) and then a small annual fee for storage.

It remains unclear to me that cord-tissue preservation will be worth the gamble; the option wasn't available several years ago for our first, but is now. We are debating about whether the extra cost is worthwhile, considering no studies have demonstrated effective therapies using cryo-preserved cord tissue.

Your mileage may vary.

Enjoy the adventure with the new one.
Patents

Tablet computer designed 15 years before iPad; prior art, anyone?->

Submitted by Doofus
Doofus writes "The Washington Post has a profile of Roger Fidler, who "invented" the tablet computer in the 1990s, while working as a visionary for newspaper firm Knight-Ridder. He is now embroiled in the Apple/Samsung legal war, as an expert witness. Fidler admits that other prior art influenced him, such as the tablets being used as computing devices in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Prior prior art."
Link to Original Source
Patents

Tablet computer designed 15 years before iPad; prior art, anyone?->

Submitted by Doofus
Doofus writes "Roger Fidler, who worked for Knight-Ridder, had a "skunk-works" lab next door to Apple in the 1990s.

Fidler invented the "tablet" computer in 1994, long before Apple patented the design (2004). Of course, he admits (in the article) that the tablets in 2001: A Space Odyssey may have influenced him. Prior prior art."

Link to Original Source
Windows

The Windows 8 Power Struggle: Metro vs Desktop->

Submitted by
MojoKid
MojoKid writes "Metro, Microsoft's new UI, is bold, a dramatic departure from anything the company has previously done in the desktop/laptop space, and absolutely great. It's tangible proof that Redmond really can design and build its own unique products and experiences. However, the transition to Metro's Start menu, for some desktop users, is jarring and worse yet, Desktop mode and Metro don't mesh well at all. The best strategy Microsoft could take, would be to introduce users to Metro via its included apps and through tablets, while prominently offering the option to maintain the Desktop environment. Power users who choose to use the classic UI for desktops and laptops can still be exposed to Metro via tablets and applications without being forced to wade through it on their way to do something important."
Link to Original Source

Comment: So the PC doesn't seem to be dead yet. (Score 1) 296

by Doofus (#39300249) Attached to: My PC use accounts for __% of my computing time
With all of the news about the "post-PC" world, this survey indicates that for at least one segment of the population, the PC still accounts for the overwhelming majority of computing time.

This, for some reason, is reassuring to me, as I have not yet succumbed to the lure of the thinly-sliced consumption device.
Education

School system choose Windows 7 tablet over iPad->

Submitted by Doofus
Doofus writes "Network World is reporting that the Charlottesville City public school district has selected a Fujitsu tablet running Windows 7 over the Apple iPad. The school's IT team decided that the Fujitsu Windows 7 tablet came out ahead of the iPad on security and durability.

The integrity of iPad's glass was an issue, and Fujitsu's tablet can withstand shock resulting from drops and also can operate in demanding environments, said Dean Jadlowski, director of technology for the Charlottesville City Schools, in a statement. The Q550 can last longer in backpacks and reduce repairs, which could reduce maintenance costs.

"

Link to Original Source

Comment: HIIT works, but you have to do it (Score 3, Interesting) 437

by Doofus (#39056159) Attached to: Scientists Study How Little Exercise You Need
and therein lies the problem.

HIIT has actually been around and been discussed in running groups for a number of years. Lest you think I am pulling this from where the sun doesn't shine, I write this from some personal experience; I am an experienced ultramarathoner (six 50 milers). HIIT is extremely difficult for "normal" people to do as an ongoing exercise program.

The great majority of Americans are simply not capable of pushing themselves as hard as is required for a successful HIIT regimen. If you're not capable of pushing yourself to do this type of strenuous exercise, you're not going to do it. It's as simple as that.

HIIT will work extraordinarily well for people that are already moderately fit or even overweight if they are capable of pushing through their pain (not the physical pain, the mental pain). Again, and again, and again; and each iteration is harder than the last.

Most people - especially the great unwashed overweight masses (pun intended) - aren't willing or capable of doing this, and simply aren't going to do it. They would be better served starting out just walking briskly for 30 minutes four or five times a week.

Comment: Re:Good for them (Score 1) 1271

by Doofus (#39051007) Attached to: Doctors "Fire" Vaccine Refusers

argue with me about whether vaccines are, in fact, the greatest medical development for humanity in the past two centuries

This is demonstrably false, though I am too busy to find citations right now.

I agree that vaccines have been a substantial boon to human health, but it pales beside the most truly important development. The development and maintenance of properly functioning public sanitation systems has clearly been the greatest medical development for humanity in the past two centuries.

Comment: Critical infrastructure protection needs oversight (Score 1) 300

Cybersecurity Disaster Seen in U.S. Survey Citing Spending Gaps

“If you interview power companies and say, ‘Is your control system connected to the Internet,’ they’ll say, ‘Of course not,’” James Lewis, technology program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said in an interview. “It turns out in almost every case a control system is connected to the Internet and it’s vulnerable to being hacked.”

Comment: Go for it, regardless. (Score 1) 201

I encourage you to pursue the online coursework, whether or not you seek a certificate or a degree, if you enjoy the coursework.

I spent five calendar years taking online courses for an MS in a technology field, because I was unwilling to sacrifice time at work for in-person classes. My team at work - colleagues and supervisory staff - respected the discipline required to attend and successfully complete online courses (4.0), and my salary bump after the degree was granted was significant.

As long as the parent institution is accredited by an appropriate higher education accreditation authority, your hard work will pay off.

Good luck -

Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.

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