* Posts by pureabsolute

8 publicly visible posts • joined 10 Oct 2014

IBM, Microsoft, US Govt all to blame for globalisation backlash: Jack Ma

pureabsolute

Towing the party line

Sorry Jack -- Yes we did this to ourselves, but not because we decided on a weird business strategy -- we have some pretty smart guys over here (new and old) that would have course corrected long ago.

We did this to ourselves by enforcing centrally a set of standards that China simply does not have to meet. We force companies to not pollute, and sue them into oblivion if they don't meet social standards such as osha or handicap availability or affirmative action type laws. I'm not saying its all bad, but these are costs that our companies must absorb.

Meanwhile on your side of the equation you have smog holidays, your currency manipulation bankrupts the lower and middle classes, companies that match the party direction are subsidized and may not face any kind of competition, and foreign goods are allowed in only to the extent that they further the chinese strategic interests. The last part would be fine, except that that level of competition hasn't been met by an equal force from our side.

Until now. While giving carrots to companies is something the US government avoids (minus political subsidization such as solyndra, tesla, etc), We see Trump willing to use the stick. Not my first choice (translation -- I oppose this policy..), but certainly better than the one sided handicapping the US has imposed on itself in the modern era.

AT&T suddenly finds demand for 1Gbps fiber in Kansas City – just after Google arrived

pureabsolute

Re: We need Judge Green again!

Verizon *is* doing market research. I just got 50m/50m for 45 / month from them (no bundles). Not sure if I'd go for 1g/1g at almost twice the price (i am not a gamer). Mix that in with people who just can't afford it, and perhaps they are right. However, if Google does come in and blows everyone away without taking a loss (this one is key..), then Verizon's market research might be proven wrong.

Also, about 5 years ago $45/month would have gotten me 10mbs down, 256k up. Not quite sure where you think competition is failing...

Have

pureabsolute

Re: Mind-boggling

Why is making profit a sham? Barring a bailout from the Government (GM, Ford, Chrysler anyone), when AT&T chooses poorly, they lose. If they aren't losing, they win. And by definition they are then correct (there is the issue of opportunity costs.., but that's extra). Any other questions on how capitalism works?

As for Taxation -- stop voting for the people that value one type of 'income' vs 'another'. Although I fully support taxing government income, which is what the current tax system does well.

pureabsolute

Re: Mind-boggling

There is a reason that AT&T is failing -- they only know how to react. In this case, they are attempting to kill off Google's test phase, and perhaps hoping they'll just go away. I assume. AT&T doesn't see that Google is a long term player that sets its goals pro-actively (one of the few business terms that I approve of). Add this to their deep pockets, and AT&T doesn't stand a chance.

BTW, T-Mobile is eating their lunch on the cell phone side of the equation. AT&T is caught between the Verizon juggernaut and the T-Mobile outside the box thinkers.

My point -- another company would attack faster and with more aggression on markets that Google has yet to enter into, even if they started off more slowly. Unfortunately, I'm moving into an area with exactly one third tier provider -- Cox.

Lastly, I also wonder how much of this 'competition' is due to the city encouraging it via low fees or easy access -- I know Boston (MA, USA) didn't allow verizon to move in without forcing them to wire up all the poor areas -- which of course meant that verizon didn't move in...

pureabsolute

Re: I wonder if Google would allow you to opt out for $29?

You say business like its a 4 letter word. There is a reason that Verizon and now Google are eating the cable company's lunch, with the consumer benefiting. There is also a reason that these companies can justify the capital expense of the install.

And there is obviously a market for these business models. Just like there is a market for Broadcast TV, which is free as long as they can serve up 20% of the content as commercials.

Your last point -- they do pay you to not use extra resources -- you can have a lower price, which means there is more money in your pocket. That 'logically' makes sense -- it is the reciprocal to paying more for more service...

Antarctic ice at all time high: We have more to learn, says boffin

pureabsolute

Re: Antactica is melting too

The earth circles the sun -- a change in tilt would cause both the north and the south to have cooler winters and hotter summers.

Of course, we don't have a circlular orbit -- there is a chance during our ellipse that when we are furthest from the sun we are tilted with antarctica closest towards the sun and when we are nearest to the sun, the arctic is closest.

But if that were true, someone would have said so, right?

pureabsolute

Re: Antactica is melting too

Change in currents, both in the air and in the ocean, can do that.

pureabsolute

Re: Antactica is melting too

Umm.. Outside of the ocean, which is at 2 - 4 degrees (note the lack of negative sign), the temperatures are below 0, average, even in the summer (even if on some days it can get as warm as 15 degrees).

The correct answer is, ice flows. *Warm* is *not* the same as *warmer*. But glaciers move, snows.. snow.. and piles of snow.. flow. Not necessarily because of the snow becoming warm.

To follow through, in addition to top layer flow, the cold surface of the ocean, high winds and snow can increase or maintain the extent. And the salt water and warmer ocean water can erode the extent from underneath.

Technically, just from these facts you can't really say anything about warming or cooling -- there are too many variables -- much in the same way that you cannot tell global warming or cooling is happening based on a measurement in a specific location.

OTOH, people who use the lack of arctic ice as evidence are falling into the same logical error.