talktime

That's good news - the headphone jack is essential to me, but the reason that my next phone won't be a Samsung is because Samsung disables Android's native multiple user profile feature.

Not all of us, but the majority of us do.

The majority of the English like strong, essentially unopposed governance. They like be to be able to choose the g'vner occasionally, but they don't want multiple powerful factions.

Well the LibDems are going to say that but they are not going to win. The other two parties aren't - Labour is going split in half. The Tories might see defections, but will stay together and press ahead with Brexit in the hope of a massive majority.

It's mostly done for economic reasons, but there is a social aspect to sharing too. More so on couchsurfing than airbnb, and i generally prefer to chat to a part time uber driver than to a full time taxi driver.

Yup, some folks can have the occasional drink or drink socially. Some folks need to swear off the stuff entirely. For carboholics, probably swearing off refined carbs would be enough.

You can get high on carbs or alcohol sure enough. Try getting high on protein or fat though.

Telling carboholics they need to eat less food is like telling alcoholics they need to drink less liquid. It doesn't work - you've got to be more specific.

I'm enthusiastic about the potential for this technology but I don't like either of these options. I feel like both the customer and the product. I'd like an open source, neutral voice assistant that is working for me, not trying to exploit me.

Have you heard of Ceres - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceres_(dwarf_planet) I learned of it recently and it was like learning of a new planet.

Probably something to do with the market supplying what the customer wants, and the customer being uneducated. Like me . . . If I had seen a 26 inch high desk when I was purchasing the thing, I probably would have passed on it . . would have thought it too low at the time.

I'm sitting here with my keyboard in my lap. I've recently noticed it is a lot more comfortable too. I'm alternating with keyboard on lap to mouse on lap depending on what I'm doing.

This hands at lap level seems crucial, I don't know how I've missed it for so long. However a laptop doesn't strike me as ideal unless coupled with a monitor at eye level as I'd be looking down constantly.

Thanks, I may switch partially to a standing desk, but I do wonder how much of the gain could be achieved with a correctly adjusted sitting desk.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

If, at 5'10, I am experiencing problems related to desk height, I can only imagine problems are worse for those shorter. I wonder if there is a correlation between height and these kind of problems. Standard desk height seems to be designed for someone who is 6'2.

I was considering adding a keyboard tray, but I'm thinking that I mostly use my desk for a keyboard and mouse, I might as well optimize the desk for that use rather than having an add-on for that purpose.

Shame about David Davis -

From this: David Davis: British 'intellectually lazy' about defending liberty

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/08/david-davis...

To this:

David Davis: Most public opponent of Theresa May’s snooping laws stops opposing them as soon as he enters cabinet

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-davis-mo...

Thanks, that's very interesting to me but not quite what I had in mind. I'm thinking modern era, where the sims have links to an outside world - so some sims would commute out of the village for work each day, some would go to the nearby city for nightlife at weekends.

I was thinking a contemporary village where villagers have cell phones, cars, social network accounts, hobbies, errands, illnesses, social functions etc. Human simulation at the level of The Sims, but community size of up to 1000.

Reputational Review Network - A review network where users can rate local restaurants, services, goods and other reviewers' credibility. Ratings are personalized based on your own reviews and who you find credible - this gives a user an incentive to keep their reviews honest.

SimVillage - A building simulation game of of a village of up to say 1,000 villagers. Like Simcity/Skylines, but with the emphasis on detailed human simulation rather than on large scale.

sure, but 'feline alarm system' is kind of vague - what type or model worked for you?

Thanks. I'd like to give that a try. Do you have a link to the type of model that has worked for you?

I'd like something that keeps pigeons off my balcony. Surprisingly little works. I have a motion detecting sonic alarm that doesn't work - maybe it's in the wrong frequency for pigeons. I wonder if a motion detecting laser frightener would work better. Kickstarter anyone?

This might be an effect of too much protein in a diet. If you are controlling for carbs, then the solution is to replace protein with more fat.

I find it convincing too. Check out the 'Big History' lecture series. Particularly the lecture on the transition to agriculture. I was inclined to think that humans transitioned to agriculture as soon as it was 'invented'. But the lecture suggests that humans knew perfectly well how to farm long before, but didn't because it seemed like too much hard work. We didn't transition until forced to by climatic conditions.

And try changing the default browser on your iPad - not possible. I don't know why Apple gets away with anti-competitive behavior that MS was hauled over the coals for two decades ago.

On a wider point, I often see Facebook cited as an example of the 'Open Web'. However a lot of it's content is in Facebook groups, which requires a FB registration and membership to access. It's not open or publicly searchable. I can't think of a better example of the deep or hidden web. Previously a lot of that information might have ended up on more widely accessible forums.

The greatest trick the devil ever played was income tax. It disincentives productive endeavor. 0% corporate and income taxes would usher in a huge productive renaissance. In the US, It could be entirely funded with a 2% wealth tax on the top 2% (personal wealth above ~$10 million). All those IRS workers would be freed up to engage in productive activity too.

Yes, Miranda said he was told that he would be jailed if he didn't co-operate, and that he was worried he would be kidnapped (gitmoed). So obviously a lot of intimidation going on there.

If you're worried about this, perhaps you should also be worried about entering the US -- including in transit -- in case you are declared to be an unperson and sent to Gitmo with no trial or legal recourse.

Quite.

It's a bit worse than a maximum of nine hours of pointless tedium and handing over your Gmail/Facebook passwords which -- let's face it -- the spooks will have if they want them anyway.

I think you missed my point. Asserting your right to silence is a crime in this situation. You can be further detained, charged, prosecuted, jailed and/or fined for asserting a basic right.

Expat Brit here. Quite frankly I'm frightened to pass through UK ports now to visit family after reading about Schedule 7 powers.

My reading of it is that passing through a UK port means I enter a legal limbo. If stopped by an inquisitor, I'm likely to assert my right to silence. This may mean I'm detained and intimidated for 9 hours. At the end of this I can be arrested and charged with 'non-cooperation', this may involve further detention and/or fines all for simply remaining silent.

Leaving the UK is worse, as I'll likely miss my flight, and have the expense of re-booking.

This is just if the border agents are acting within 'the law'.

Virtually every UK citizen passes through a port at sometime during the year - the inquistors can simply wait there for anyone they are interested in. It effectively means the right to silence is dead.

Foreign visitors should be aware they can be legally forced to give up their Gmail/Facebook passwords. Hope Big Ben is worth it.

I wonder what the plans are for Julian Assange when he eventually leaves the UK - almost certain to be detained under Schedule 7.