This is nothing new - they're already doing this on iOS and on the web. You'll still need to subscribe to cable in order to utilize the programming on the XBOX, much like you must pay Netflix to watch their movies on the Xbox. All they're doing is replacing the Set Top Box / DVR with the Xbox, and for that I'd applaud them - one less energy sucking device on the table is always good, but they won't be cutting out the cable companies in this, just shifting the medium.

I'm pretty sure there's a Civ4 analogy in here somewhere.

That would be because it's not gps. It's triangulation of signals based on nearby cell towers and relative signal strength. No towers? Outta luck! Only one tower? Sucks! You're 10 miles off. Like the GP said, just drop the $80 on a Garmin or TomTom or what have you.

Ironically enough, we have a stack of USB to RS-232 connectors here at the office. You still need them to access the console on most SMB+ firewalls and managed switches from Cisco, 3COM and a variety of other vendors. They still do it because the technology's cheap and when you're doing console, you don't need a lot of bandwidth.

What's it matter?

The current trend appears to be 64-bit only computing - most of HP's stock either comes 64 bit or has options for 64 bit clearly marked on the restore CD's. Give it to Windows 8 and I'm sure we'll see them drop 32-bit support in favor of some solid 64-bit integration.

Exactly my point.

My elderly neighbor, some fifteen years ago, twice argued that her car's brake, when pressed, suddenly caused her car to accelerate rapidly through her own garage door.

My money's not so much on the brake being a problem in this case as it is a confused old lady trying to drive.

If older people are significantly over-represented, and they fit the category I'm describing, it's possibly they're lying and blaming their screw-up on the car's 'known' mechanical problem. You can't expect everyone you survey to be completely truthful.

Or maybe it's that older people are over-represented in Toyota crash stats because older people are involved in more accidents?

(This statement in no way implies that I believe older people are more dangerous drivers.)

(( Though I do. ))

There's a difference between snow covering your license plate and a layer of schmutz making it difficult to read at a distance of more than a few meters. I've seen people pulled over because they had some mud on it from driving in all the slush. When I look at their license plate, I can tell what the numbers and letters are. Just harassment at that point.