Interesting Links for 31-05-2013

[andrewducker]

• Why DIY fecal transplants are a thing (and the FDA is only part of the reason)
  (tags: faeces healthcare )
• Q &A: Benefits for European immigrants explained
  (tags: uk europe welfare )
• The Only Thing Amazon Has to Fear Is Amazon Itself
  (tags: business amazon )
• Tyrion and the Hound - Super cute edition
  (tags: dogs viaDCM cute PeterDinklage

Comments

[gwendysmile]

Re 12 obsolete technologies - It bugs the heck out of me when someone tries to fax something to our office. Just scan it, people. I've gotten very good at saying apologetically that our fax machine is broken.

I don't think payphones are obsolete at all, though. As the article says, they get a lot of use. They were a life saver when I had just moved to the country and had no services set up to my flat and no card in my name.

I've gotten very good at saying apologetically that our fax machine is broken.

[cartesiandaemon]

What's wrong with it?
We left it somewhere in the last millennium and we can't find it :)

[ashfae]

Fervently agreed on the payphones, particularly in airports, train stations, etc. More than once, I've been traveling and unable to use my mobile for one reason or another (international conflicts, usually), and *had* to find a payphone. And similarly, when I moved to the UK and had no internet or landline available and was in a dorm out in the boonies instead of on campus, the lone local payphone was the only way I could set up...well, anything. If they ever are made completely obsolete I devoutly hope that an alternative is provided.

Miami-Dade Police Choke Black Teenager Because He Was Giving Them "Dehumanizing Stares"

[cartesiandaemon]

Holy frack, sometimes I hate my species :( That headline really needs "feeding a puppy milk from a baby bottle" in there :(

Re: Miami-Dade Police Choke Black Teenager Because He Was Giving Them "Dehumanizing Stares"

[del_c]

"Looking at me in a funny way"

After all these years, the Not The Nine O'Clock News Constable Savage sketch is still topical.

[simont]

People who engage in kinky sexual practices involving such things as bondage and sadomasochism may actually be more mentally healthy than those who don't, according to a new study. So what are you waiting for? It's time to break out those whips and handcuffs.

Arrgh! Not one word about other possible causal relationships.

[danieldwilliam]

I’m not sure vinyl is obsolete. I know some people who think it gives them a different experience to downloaded music and are prepared to pay for the difference.

Formally, vinyl is not dominated along all of the product attribute axis - it still scores better for many people on things like listening to music is an event, tactile experience and cover art.

[cartesiandaemon]

Formally, vinyl is not dominated along all of the product attribute axis

Yeah, that's a good description. I imagine people preserving floppy discs are mostly only doing it for completion, but there's something really nice about physical records.

I think maybe "obsolete" isn't quite the right word, but there's still a sea change when 90% of the previous use becomes obsolete, whether or not the last 10% still remains used.

[danieldwilliam]

Totally agree. There’s a sea-change in the economics and the cultural impact which makes vinyl (in this case) a totally different product. A bit like vintage cars - they used to be state of art and are now valued for other factors.

Not sure what the right word is.

[andrewducker]

Nostalgia.

[theferrett]

Wasn't sure if you'd seen that.

[andrewducker]

Oooh, cool! Thanks!

[ipslore]

The title of that makes me think of "Learn the one simple SECRET that C++ compilers HATE!", for some reason.