Keeping the world up to date with me.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
The Everlasting Staircase
The treadmill, also (rarely) called Colonel Chesterton's everlasting staircase after its inventor, was introduced by England's Prison Discipline Society. Developed in the early 1820s, it was designed to exhaust and demoralise difficult inmates, and to encourage repentance and the 'abandonment of vicious pursuits'. Its presence in prisons was also to inspire dread of punishment by prospective criminals. Use of the treadmill was abandoned around 1900 after it was concluded to cause grevious injuries and to inflict psychological trauma on the victim. Ironically, most modern gyms now contain treadmills (running machines or Stairmasters), the use of which is paid for by large subscriptions.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
WiGLE - Wireless Geographic Logging Engine - Plotting WiFi on Maps
WiGLE - Wireless Geographic Logging Engine - Plotting WiFi on Maps - shows just how poor wireless security actually is....
Monday, June 21, 2004
The funniest movie ever to come out of Germany
A German health and saftey video for fork lift truck drivers. Genius.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Examples of real 999 calls
The stupid calls that the police have to deal with in this country. Give them a break - only use 999 for serious things....
Cloak of Invisibility
Optical Camouflage form the University of Tokyo. This is really really cool. Take a look at the videos to see what I mean.
Friday, June 11, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Monday, June 07, 2004
Building a safer NHS for patients: Improving Medication Safety
Report on Medication Safety. 5% of medications are in error. Yikes!
Saturday, June 05, 2004
The Fishman Affidavit
The curious affair of The Fishman Affidavit. How the barmy Scientologists were outed by the courts.
The Draft IP Enforcement Directive
An article on the threat to liberty from new Intellectual Property law.
How to control information
I've been quite naive about information up until now. These guys makes the following points about information:
Point 1: Information is costly to produce but inexpensive to reproduce.
The competition between Britannica Encyclopedia and Microsoft's Funk & Wagnalls brings reader into this topic. The cost change of information products is coming up with the shifting of pricing models and corresponding versions of a product to create both the maximum revenue opportunities and establish the largest number of members of the product's network of users.
Strategy: Personalize your product and your prices
There are three ways to pricing information: personalized pricing, group pricing and versioning. Let's analogize those strategies to the modern fashion industry, a fashion designer can tailor dresses specifically for the need of one customer (personalized pricing) or a group of customer (group pricing). At the same time, he/she also designs different styles (different versions of your products) which are hanged in the window of shopping center. This allows customers to select the styles (versions) that best meets their needs and enables you to pick up as wide a base of customers as possible. There are variety of dimensions along which you can version your products: delay, user interface, convenience, image resolution, speed of operation, flexibility of use, capability, features and functions, comprehensiveness, annoyance, support.
Point 2: Switching costs and lock-in
The total cost of switching = cost the customer bears + costs the new supplier bears. In companies' stance, products that can achieve "lock-in" will benefit from the "switching costs" that preclude customers from switching-over to competing solutions. The more successful you are at getting customers more locked-in to your products, the more successful you will be in keeping customers at peak prices.
Strategy:
1.Invest to build an installed base. 2.Cultivate influential buyers and buyers with high switching costs. 3.Get your customers to invest in your technology, thereby raising their own switching costs. 4.Sell complementary products and access to your installed base
Point 3: Positive feedback
The value of your product to new users depends on the total number of other users there are (externalities). As the base of users grows, more and more users add in. In information economy, the companies that have been propelled forward by positive feedback will become the biggest winners. So, it is the ultimate metric of success that each company pursues.
Strategy:
There are four generic strategies in network markets for igniting positive feedback, Controlled Migration (Windows 98), Performance Play (Iomega Zip), Open Migration (fax machines), Discontinuity (records to CDs).
Point 4: Standardization
The key assets in winning standards battle are: 1. Control of an installed base, 2. Intellectual property rights, 3. Ability to innovate, 4. First mover advantages, 5. Manufacturing abilities, 6. Presence in complimentary products, and 7. Brand name and reputation. Preemption and expectations management are two basic marketplace tactics that companies will need to employ.
Point 5: Intellectual property
Given the low cost of reproduction and quick, cheap and invisible distribution, protecting and managing intellectual property are more difficult. Although authors believe that the technological advance offer new opportunities which are far outweigh this rights problem, the solutions recommended here are relatively weak and difficult to carry out.
Strategy:
Take advantage of the lower distribution costs by promoting your products more effectively. Such as giving away free samples to sell the content, selling complementary products, choosing the terms and conditions that maximize the value of your property.
Point 1: Information is costly to produce but inexpensive to reproduce.
The competition between Britannica Encyclopedia and Microsoft's Funk & Wagnalls brings reader into this topic. The cost change of information products is coming up with the shifting of pricing models and corresponding versions of a product to create both the maximum revenue opportunities and establish the largest number of members of the product's network of users.
Strategy: Personalize your product and your prices
There are three ways to pricing information: personalized pricing, group pricing and versioning. Let's analogize those strategies to the modern fashion industry, a fashion designer can tailor dresses specifically for the need of one customer (personalized pricing) or a group of customer (group pricing). At the same time, he/she also designs different styles (different versions of your products) which are hanged in the window of shopping center. This allows customers to select the styles (versions) that best meets their needs and enables you to pick up as wide a base of customers as possible. There are variety of dimensions along which you can version your products: delay, user interface, convenience, image resolution, speed of operation, flexibility of use, capability, features and functions, comprehensiveness, annoyance, support.
Point 2: Switching costs and lock-in
The total cost of switching = cost the customer bears + costs the new supplier bears. In companies' stance, products that can achieve "lock-in" will benefit from the "switching costs" that preclude customers from switching-over to competing solutions. The more successful you are at getting customers more locked-in to your products, the more successful you will be in keeping customers at peak prices.
Strategy:
1.Invest to build an installed base. 2.Cultivate influential buyers and buyers with high switching costs. 3.Get your customers to invest in your technology, thereby raising their own switching costs. 4.Sell complementary products and access to your installed base
Point 3: Positive feedback
The value of your product to new users depends on the total number of other users there are (externalities). As the base of users grows, more and more users add in. In information economy, the companies that have been propelled forward by positive feedback will become the biggest winners. So, it is the ultimate metric of success that each company pursues.
Strategy:
There are four generic strategies in network markets for igniting positive feedback, Controlled Migration (Windows 98), Performance Play (Iomega Zip), Open Migration (fax machines), Discontinuity (records to CDs).
Point 4: Standardization
The key assets in winning standards battle are: 1. Control of an installed base, 2. Intellectual property rights, 3. Ability to innovate, 4. First mover advantages, 5. Manufacturing abilities, 6. Presence in complimentary products, and 7. Brand name and reputation. Preemption and expectations management are two basic marketplace tactics that companies will need to employ.
Point 5: Intellectual property
Given the low cost of reproduction and quick, cheap and invisible distribution, protecting and managing intellectual property are more difficult. Although authors believe that the technological advance offer new opportunities which are far outweigh this rights problem, the solutions recommended here are relatively weak and difficult to carry out.
Strategy:
Take advantage of the lower distribution costs by promoting your products more effectively. Such as giving away free samples to sell the content, selling complementary products, choosing the terms and conditions that maximize the value of your property.
Ch'ing China: The Opium Wars
An article about the Opium Wars. We wer chatting about this at lunch the other day. Interestingly another article relates this to Bill Gates' recent attempts to pursue the Trusted Computing initiative largely to make people pay for software. Open Source is the answer to this effective monopoly on our technology.
Teen sues over 'lesbian Barbie' shirt ban
Natalie Young sued her school when she was told to go home for wearing a T-shirt that said 'Barbie is a Lesbian'. The school said it was inappropriate. Natalie said it infringed her 'civil rights', as she was an openly gay girl and this repressed her in some way. She was 15 at the time. Go figure. More American rubbish.
European Peaks
Iceland, Hvanndalshnukar - 2119m
Denmark, Yding Skovhoj - 173m
Norway, Galdhoppigen - 2469m
Sweden, Kebnekaise - 2111m
Finland, Haltlatunturi - 1328m
Estonia, Sur Munamagi - 318m
Latvia, Gaizina Kaln - 311m
Lithunia, Juozapine - 294m
Belarus, Dzyarzhynskaya - 346m
Hungary, Kekes - 1015m
Ukraine, Hoverla - 2061m
Moldova, Mt. Balaneshty - 430m
Romania, Moldoveanu - 2544m
Armenia, Mt. Aragats - 4090m
Russia, Mt. Elberus - 5642m
Cyprus, Mt. Olympus - 1915m
Greece, Mt. Olympus - 2917m
Macedonia, Rudoka - 2747m
Bulgaria, Musala - 2925m
Albania, Mt. Korab - 2751m
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Maglic - 2387m
Croatia, Dinara - 1831m
Slovakia, Gerlachkovka, 2655m
Poland, Mt. Rysy - 2499m
Czech Republic, Snezka - 1602m
Austria, Grossglockner - 3797m
Slovenia, Triglav - 2864m
San Marino, Monte Titano - 739m
Malta, Ta'Gidem - 249m
Vatican, Castelgandolfo - 426m
Germany, Zugspitze - 2962m
Liechtenstein, Grauspitze - 2599m
Switzerland, Dufourspitze - 4634m
Italy, Gran Paradiso - 4061m
France, Mt. Blanc - 4807m
Monaco, Chemin de Revoires - 162m
Andorra, Coma Pedrosa - 2949m
Spain (Canaries), Pico Tiede - 3718m
Portugal (Azores), Pico - 2315m
Luxembourg, Huldange/Buurgplaatz - 559m
Netherlands, Vaaiserberg - 321m
Belgium, Botrage - 694m
Ireland, Carrauntuohill - 1041m
United Kingdom, Ben Nevis - 1343m
Kosovo, Daravica - 2656m
Georgia, Shkara - 5068m
Turkey, Ararat - 5137m
Denmark, Yding Skovhoj - 173m
Norway, Galdhoppigen - 2469m
Sweden, Kebnekaise - 2111m
Finland, Haltlatunturi - 1328m
Estonia, Sur Munamagi - 318m
Latvia, Gaizina Kaln - 311m
Lithunia, Juozapine - 294m
Belarus, Dzyarzhynskaya - 346m
Hungary, Kekes - 1015m
Ukraine, Hoverla - 2061m
Moldova, Mt. Balaneshty - 430m
Romania, Moldoveanu - 2544m
Armenia, Mt. Aragats - 4090m
Russia, Mt. Elberus - 5642m
Cyprus, Mt. Olympus - 1915m
Greece, Mt. Olympus - 2917m
Macedonia, Rudoka - 2747m
Bulgaria, Musala - 2925m
Albania, Mt. Korab - 2751m
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Maglic - 2387m
Croatia, Dinara - 1831m
Slovakia, Gerlachkovka, 2655m
Poland, Mt. Rysy - 2499m
Czech Republic, Snezka - 1602m
Austria, Grossglockner - 3797m
Slovenia, Triglav - 2864m
San Marino, Monte Titano - 739m
Malta, Ta'Gidem - 249m
Vatican, Castelgandolfo - 426m
Germany, Zugspitze - 2962m
Liechtenstein, Grauspitze - 2599m
Switzerland, Dufourspitze - 4634m
Italy, Gran Paradiso - 4061m
France, Mt. Blanc - 4807m
Monaco, Chemin de Revoires - 162m
Andorra, Coma Pedrosa - 2949m
Spain (Canaries), Pico Tiede - 3718m
Portugal (Azores), Pico - 2315m
Luxembourg, Huldange/Buurgplaatz - 559m
Netherlands, Vaaiserberg - 321m
Belgium, Botrage - 694m
Ireland, Carrauntuohill - 1041m
United Kingdom, Ben Nevis - 1343m
Kosovo, Daravica - 2656m
Georgia, Shkara - 5068m
Turkey, Ararat - 5137m
Friday, June 04, 2004
Facts - maybe true or false!
If you yelled for eight years, seven months and six days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
A 10-gallon hat only holds 3/4 of a gallon.
35 percent of people using dating services are already married.
10% of Russia's income comes from selling vodka.
All of the clocks in 'Pulp Fiction' are stuck on 4:20.
American Airlines save $40,000 in 1987 by removing one olive from each salad served to first class passengers.
North America is 38% wilderness. Only 28% of Africa is wilderness.
If she were life-size, Barbie would be 39-23-33.
36% of Americans think that God has spoken individually to them.
If you're brainy, you have more zinc and copper in your hair.
The youngest pope was 11.
Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets combined.
Each king in a pack of cards represents a great ruler from history: Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
Also see this page.
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
A 10-gallon hat only holds 3/4 of a gallon.
35 percent of people using dating services are already married.
10% of Russia's income comes from selling vodka.
All of the clocks in 'Pulp Fiction' are stuck on 4:20.
American Airlines save $40,000 in 1987 by removing one olive from each salad served to first class passengers.
North America is 38% wilderness. Only 28% of Africa is wilderness.
If she were life-size, Barbie would be 39-23-33.
36% of Americans think that God has spoken individually to them.
If you're brainy, you have more zinc and copper in your hair.
The youngest pope was 11.
Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets combined.
Each king in a pack of cards represents a great ruler from history: Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
Also see this page.
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
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2004
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June
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- The Everlasting Staircase
- Bastille Linux
- Mozilla and Firebird Extensions
- The Fires of Canneto di Caronia
- Lost mail campaign gets lost in post
- Destination: Iraq
- WiGLE - Wireless Geographic Logging Engine - Plott...
- The variety of the human spirit
- The funniest movie ever to come out of Germany
- Sex films help panda get pregnant
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Examples of real ...
- Proboscis | SoMa | projects | urban tapestries
- Cloak of Invisibility
- Urban Golf
- Facts which aren't facts
- Random Facts
- BBC NEWS : How to be a football faker
- Feynman Lecture on Nanotechnology
- BBC - Homes - Property
- Ping-o-Matic!
- Building a safer NHS for patients: Improving Medic...
- William Tyndale - a father of free speech
- The Fishman Affidavit
- The Draft IP Enforcement Directive
- How to control information
- Total Recorder - captures any audio from the Inter...
- Ch'ing China: The Opium Wars
- Teen sues over 'lesbian Barbie' shirt ban
- European Peaks
- Facts - maybe true or false!
- Objectis Free Plone hosting
- Northern Morris Cinemas
- PowerPlone.com - Welcome to PowerPlone
- BBC NEWS | Technology | A life pictured online
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