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Comment Re:Instant hang-up (Score 1) 205

The only way it works is if they can fake it long enough to get some information, and don't let anyone know about it.

    Essentially, the only value to Google is if they trick people into using it.

I don't know. It might work both ways. I just need to convince the robot callers I'm human.

"Hello. This is Lenny."

Comment Redistribution of wealth.... I mean jobs. (Score 1) 344

Back in the day, the increase in the number of telephone operators was so much that soon everyone would have to be a telephone operator. Technology fixed that.

Today, I'm reminded of I a Monty Python skit. "This redistribution of wealth thing is trickier than I thought!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Comment Re:Do not call it an Oxford comma (Score 1) 169

I hope your English teacher doesn't see this:

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.
http://global.oup.com/about/?c...

But seriously, if Oxford didn't invent it, they are pretty much responsible for it:
http://www.businessinsider.com...

Comment Re:Application (Score 4, Interesting) 117

For all we know, this one could theoretically be the last.

OK people, we're done here! We found the last prime! Time to shut it down! You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!

OK, that was a joke but we can still be clear. He was talking about the last perfect number. There is an infinite number of primes. That proof is pretty simple.

1. Assume there is a limited number of primes. Given the list of all the prime numbers
2. Multiply them all together and add 1.

The new number you get is can not divisible by any of the prime numbers in your list (e.g. if you divide the number by 2, you have a reminder of 1, if you divide the number by 3, you have a remainder of 1, if you divide the number by 5, you have a remainder of 1...)

So there must be at least one number not on your list which invalidates the given statement.

Comment Re:Predicted (Score 1) 294

1. From one casino on the strip to other nearby nearly identical casinos.

It is not even this good. The monorail is all the way in the back of the casinos so it is still easier to walk. I'm in Las Vegas several times a year and the only times I found it useful was to go to the convention center for CES or SEMA. For CES 2017 that didn't even make sense with Uber/Lyft having such optimized systems and pick up places.

Comment Re:For frequent travelers, this is bad news (Score 1) 139

It's more important that companies treat their employees properly, and play on a level playing field. .

Totally agree. The problem is the playing field is tilted on both sides of the argument. Pick a country or city and look up its taxi regulations. They are often tilted in favor of special interests (like large taxi cab companies).

You are right that I should be more altruistic. I'll work on that.

Comment For frequent travelers, this is bad news (Score 2, Informative) 139

As a frequent traveler, this is bad news.

In the past, I've always used taxis. They can be hard to get, often late, don't keep up with the technology, often require cash (despite some laws that require them to take credit cards). Obviously, some places are better than others due to any number of factors but I don't always get to choose where I go.

Using an app to get a ride (I use Lyft when I can) is so much easier. You know the cost up front, when the driver will be there, and can even see where they are on the map. The desire to get high marks from passengers results in nice clean cars, cellphone chargers, and politeness (OK, not all the time, but I have a really easy way to report back to the company if they are bad).

And then the price is better. Sure, the difference is not going to make or break a customer or company but these things add up in a budget.

While I see the point of taxis being regulated in the same way as other drivers, the reality will be that a bunch of slowly changing regulations that will cripple being able to have a quick, inexpensive, and pleasant ride just to support an old horse drawn buggy system.

Comment Re: But what about left handed politicians? (Score 2) 131

Out of how many presidents? Seems to be in line with the population percentage mentioned in the article.

That is 5 of the last 8. There are more but it gets weird if you go too far back. Being left-handed was considered bad or evil so people were often forced to switch. My wife owned and taught in a preschool and even today has had an occasional parent ask her not let their child write with their left hand (she nicely tells them 'no').

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