edwhitesell

I'm with you here. I never spent more than $600 having a few W2s, some 1099s, the usual interest-bearing accounts, a C corp and a schedule C.

Granted, I could have spent a LOT more if I didn't keep track of everything (i.e. needing a bookkeeping service too). Maybe that's where the additional expense came in.

There are plows today that do their routes via GPS, so it's not too much of a strech for the plows and cars to do the same.

In the case I listed above, these are separate, distinct letters. Certainly from an automated process, but clearly all part of a larger marketing program.

In the ones like Dell (which I've also experienced in the past), I suspect there's some metric involved for getting the most contacts for "coverage". The reality is unless they were tracking my moves to different companies, there could be different people with the same name. In that sense, I'm very glad they can't correlate with employment data.

There's also the idea that sending to multiple people within a company means someone may see something they want and try to go through the procurement process because of the catalog, rather than because "IT" says it's time for a refresh.

Not that I agree with any of those practices, for a number of reasons, but I could understand the case for them.

I'd rather see much larger bulk rates via the USPS for something like "environmental impact".

For example, I'm currently getting no less than 3 letters per week from Spectrum (formerly TWC) promoting their new triple-play plans. I drop all of them in the recycling bin.

I couldn't care less about their bottom line, but I do care about the environmental impact.

At 3x per week, it probably costs them around USD$0.80/week (postage, paper, printing, etc.) to send those 3 letters. Call it USD$1 to make the math easier. I currently pay about $9.03/week. If I upgraded, it would be at least 3x that amount.

I'm not sure how to calculate the profit they would gain after an upgrade, but I can't imagine it would take more than 2-3 months for the new rates to more than cover the mailing fees for an entire year of their letters.

And yet, I'll never upgrade and I hate the waste caused by their practices.

> People are advised not to try this without medical advice.

This is right after they talk about using it as a treatment for diabetes. If you're already diabetic, doing this as a treatment could have some risks.

Recognizing spoken word can be improved when you have historical data related to a specific user (or a smaller group of users sharing the device).

Sure, anonymizing it and aggregating much larger numbers helps too. But modeling specific speech of one person, as well as the type of requests they make (to better understand/predict future recognition), can offer better improvements.

FWIW I think that depends on the client. I use OpenVPN over TCP with Linux and Windows clients for managing a remote customer location with no issues.

However, Android doesn't work at all. I suspect it's a configuration issue, but the lack of meaningful logs makes it damn near impossible to troubleshoot.

If you happen to run an all Mikrotik routing environment, the SSTP tunneling works well. I have a customer with hundreds of Mikrotiks out in the field, each with an SSTP connection back to a cloud-based Mikrotik installation for remote management/monitoring.

SSTP supposedly works with Windows clients too, though I've never tried it.

Have you considered using Mikrotik?

I've heard about them for years, but just started using them in the last 12-18 months. So far, I've been very happy with the performance and features for the cost.

While I'm not one of the people you mention, I certainly hope it does! Difference in opinion, that encourages involvement and conversation, is one good way to find the best path(s) forward in just about anything.

I'm currently in a 9-month long Civic-based leadership class in my city, run by the local Chamber of Commerce. It's been a great experience with exposure to everyone that make the local government (and related organizaions) run, as well as growing community trusteeship.

As technology/business people, I'd encourage everyone to find something similar, that is local, and do it.

Part 15 is only for transmissions. However, it sounds like it isn't handling reception very well.

Spectrum (formerly TWC) in Dallas does not. I still run an he.net tunnel on my router.

Last time I checked (a few months ago), UVerse in Dallas didn't either.

I agree with you... What I'm saying is even with someone reporting information from a "privileged position", the Police _still_ need a search warrant to gain that knowledge in a way they could charge someone with a crime.

If Police want to move forward with charges based on information from a paid CI alone, they are certainly able to do so. However, I doubt it happens very often because they know they need evidence collected via the correct legal process.

I've heard of local PD paying for tips/information on things like petty crimes and misdemeanors (though, maybe not parking). I have no proof of such a thing, but I can't see why they would not do it if circumstances allow.

> If I witness a hit-and-run

IANAL, but I suspect that's the important distinction. You witnessed something, you didn't search for it. Just like these Best Buy technicians witnessed the illegal/contraband items.

CI: Confidential Informant LEO: Law Enforcement Officer

This article isn't about searches; it's about the technicians reporting something they happen to see in the course of their business relationship with the customer. I don't see how this is any different than a CI reporting information to LEOs on crimes "in the street".

In other words, a warrant is still required before LEOs can look for information themselves to persue charges.

If the FBI were really asking Best Buy to search everything they work on for illegal/contraband items, that would be entirely different.

Normally, I would not have thought much about this kind of an article. But, I happen to be wandering around CES today and there was a booth somewhere that was promoting some glasses to protect your eyes from LED lights.

If I happen across that booth again, I'll stop and look.

The state of Michigan had (has?) deposits of $0.10 US on all bottles & cans when I grew up there. I never noticed how much it kept bottles, cans and other items from becoming litter along roads and parking lots until I lived in states with no deposit. It was a nice incentive to go out and pick up trash, because the cans/bottles can really add up.

Sure, I wasn't trying to imply that it did count as a long-haul; just giving my own point of reference/opinion.

I agree on all of your points. However, if there are other factors involed (as I stated, if my child was more difficult), I simply wouldn't travel. Maybe that's not a decision you can make, but I have.

I did a 6 hour flight (which was a 14+ hour day) with my son when he was 8 months. It was pretty easy. Every child is different though. If he was a difficult baby/toddler, there's no way I would have attempted it by myself.

The twins question is easy. You're only allowed one infant per person. So, if you have twins you and the other adult both have a bag for food, changing mat, wipes, diapers, etc.

If you're already thinking it's too much to spend a few extra bucks to improve the experience for everyone, you probably shouldn't be flying anyway.

You also get the space under the seat(s) for the small children too. Give them each a small'ish bag they can carry themselves.

This is some of the best travel news I've heard in a while. The entire boarding process is the second biggest annoyance in US air travel today (TSA being the first).

In my experience, it's far simpler to have a standard contract where IP isn't owned by the customer until the project is paid in full.

NDAs are well and good, they make lawyers feel more comfortable. But, you can't "own" something until you "pay" for it. Two things, not related.

I started having indicators of Carpal Tunnel about 10 years ago. I had heard good things about certain wrist supports while typing, but I'm a Systems/Network guy; so I frequently do other things than just sitting at my desk. Wearing a wrist guard was very inconvienent.

So, I started wearing one at night while I slept. It took a couple of months, but I've never had problems since.

The certificate is dated October 31. Assuming Hillary had something similar waiting and ready, I wonder what it was...

Well, the title of the page is "Basic Flashlight Tutorial", so it matches as-is.

Of course, Electric Torch is UK terminology (may be used elsewhere that I'm unaware of) However, Flashlight is used in the US/Canada.

There's similar legal prospect all over, if you look for it.

For example, in Texas, homeowners within an HOA can file suit against one another using the rules of the bylaws for cause. Even if/after the HOA decides not to [or stops] pursue action for some violation/infraction.

Edit: fixed a typo

If I'm not mistaken, houseboats in the Seattle area also have property tax tied to them as well. Instead of just a slip rental/lease.

It been a few years since I heard that though, it may be incorrect or outdated.

> 3.) Dont let cheap idiots bring on carry on baggage

My ideal carry on baggage rules are:

- Anyone boarding with no carry on baggage has priority seat selection and boarding.

- All passengers are allowed one carry on baggage item.

- Additional carry on baggage has a $50 fee per item.

- All passengers are allowed 2 free checked bags.

- Additional checked bags have fuel offset fees.

Any airline that put this into place would immediately have all of my business the routes they operate, relevant to my travel needs.

(edit: formatting)

Heh, try Texas. Vehicle registration and Drivers Licenses are done in different places. If you register the vehicle(s) first, you have to bring proof that you've registered any/all vehicle(s) when you get your license. This is very difficult when you have multiple vehicles, drive in one car with your wife and all vehicles are in both of your names.

The fun part is the registration is the window sticker and you don't need to keep any other paperwork as proof of registration (so we didn't). Also, they can't look up registrations because of different computer systems. We had to take pictures of all the registration stickers, email them to the person processing our license applications (while we sat at the desk), then waited for an hour while they called the state Police to verify the plates matched our address and our names.

After all of that, we both received our licenses in the mail with typos on them.

The most humorous part of the whole situation: We lived in Texas before (and both of our previous licenses were still within the expiration dates). But, we were told, because we had obtained licenses in another state we had to do new applications. Our new licenses have the same ID numbers as the previous ones.

> I wonder if Samsung would ever put this on their Android Phones.

I suspect that may be part of the long-term plan. They already partnered with VoiceBox [0] for some of the services, this seems like a natural expansion into additional services. Possibly sharing leveraging capabilities across both companies.

[0] http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voicebox-provides-na...

(edit: fixed quoting)