| WIKI | FAQ | Tech FAQ | |
 http://csua.com/feed/ | |
| ||||||
| 2009/5/4-6 [Politics/Domestic/California, Politics/Domestic/California/Prop] UID:52938 Activity:high |
5/4 Why does The Netherlands have such a sustained lower unemployment
\_ Why is it The Netherlands? Is it like an LA Freeway?
rate and higher growth than the US? Maybe we can replicate their
success here.
\_ Start by not spending all your money on military and prisons.
\_ They don't have as large a population of illegal immigrants -jblack
\_Lots of Euro countries don't have this problem, they still mostly
have double digit unemployment.
\_ Timely Question:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03european-t.html
\_ jeesh, They really should not be paying this guy by the word.
\_ So the government taxes you to death and then gives some of
the money back if you have kids, for vacations, and so on.
This "Big Brother" sort of society in which the government
claims to know what you need more than you do is very
anti-American to me, although staunch Democrats must love it
because they could tell people what to do with their money.
\_ My mother is Dutch and I still have family there. It's a wealthy
nation, but very small. I don't see many opportunities to
parallel their policies here successfully.
\_ Why not? We should have economies of scale that they do not.
\_ Because we are much larger and more diverse. I'm not sure
that economies of scale play a large part in this. For
instance, are there economies of scale for educating 1 million
kids versus 100 kids? I'd argue not. In fact, I'd argue it
would be cheaper (per kid) to educate the smaller number.
\_ It is certainly cheaper to build 100 miles of road, than
10 roads, each 10 miles long. Why do you think that it is
cheaper to educate smaller numbers of children? You can
get some kinds of economy of scale even in education,
with things like standard tests, school books, etc.
\_ Examples of why it might cost more to educate more:
higher administrative overhead
higher probability of kids with special/unique needs
more disparate learning abilities and backgrounds
harder to find/recruit so many well-trained teachers.
\_ Why would there be a higher percentage of kids with
special needs? And why harder to find teachers? It
should be the same percentage of population in both
cases.
\_ Because you don't judge these by percentage.
Imagine there is a special need which occurs
1/10000th of the time. The school with 100
kids probably doesn't have to deal with it at
all (or rarely), whereas the school with 1
million kids probably needs a whole program
created to address it. For an example of this
consider bilingual education. The Japanese kids
at my public school did not have a class
dedicated to them, but the South American kids
did even though both were small percentage-wise.
did. A single Spanish-speaking kid isn't a
burden to instruct, but 1,000 is.
\_ There is a lot of evidence (and probably literature) on the
diseconomies of scale in education. Anecdotally, it explains
why property values are significantly lower in parts of LA that
are part of LAUSD, one of the largest and most inefficient
school districts in the nation. (e.g. San Pedro vs. PV, Culver
City vs. Palms, etc). Another way to look at the diseconomies
of scale problem is to think of all the complaints against big
government (gubment = BAD) or big companies (startups = rewl).
\_ If there are diseconomies of scale, why are small private
schools so much more expensive than public schools? -tom
\_ It's not linear. There can be economies of scale which then
translate into diseconomies. Do you really think that LAUSD
is more efficient than, say, Berkeley USD? Tangentially
related is the whole cherry-picking, charter school and/or
voucher concept. Voucher/Charter folks like to really
against large districts, but they get to cherry pick
students. That said, I think http://greendot.org is pretty awesome
and there is a lot to learn from these guys. They fix a
lot of standard inner city problems just by "caring". I
think it's hard to scale caring.
\_ 1. They often provide a better product.
2. It varies by state and district, but many times
private schools aren't more expensive for a similar
product. California spent $8496 per student in
2005-2006, which was 29th in the nation. The US
average was $9100. This figure excludes capital
outlay, interest on school debt, and other subsidies.
(Source: link:tinyurl.com/cyg468
I believe for example that most private schools (unless
they are religious) pay property tax on their land while
public schools do not. For this price you can find
plenty of private schools for your kids to attend and
this discounts scholarships that are often offered. I
could not find the average cost of a private school in
California, but nationwide in 2003-2004 (latest
year I could find) it was $6400 for elementary schools
and $13300 for high schools.
(Source: http://tinyurl.com/cog8wj
Clearly, this figure is not too different from the
$9100 average for public schools.
\_ You can't compare private schools in Des Moines to
public schools in San Francisco. For example:
Head-Royce school in Oakland is $19k/year for
K-5, $21k/year for 6-8, $27k/year for high school.
-tom
\_ I am comparing the average national public
expenditures to the average national private
expenditures. I am not comparing Des Moines
to SF. However, I assure you that you can
find plenty of private schools even in urban
California for less than $10K/year. The schools
charging $20-30K per year are elite schools
providing much more to their students than
public schools do and that's why they cost more.
My neighbor's son goes to Saint Francis High
School in La Canada. It's a pretty good school.
Tuition is $10324. I bet that's not much
different from what the local public HS spends.
Mater Dei tuition is $10950. Don Bosco Tech
is $8600. Not every school is some elitist
academy that costs more than Stanford.
\_ Parochial schools may be subsidized by the
church--you can't just look at tuition to
know their costs. -tom
\_ They may be, but they may not be and
it's not clear to what extent. I went
to a Christian school and it wasn't.
Public schools receive money from other
sources, too, like the PTA fundraisers
and gifts. (The public middle school my
nephew goes to just received $400K from
a donor for a new tennis court.) Also,
many students at private schools pay
*less than* tuition because they
receive financial assistance. I think
it's reasonable to compare tuitions
because public schools receive a lot of
subsidies and private schools have expenses
public schools do not (like advertising).
I would argue they all wash out, which
is why the average private tuition and
public school expenditures are so similar
to each other.
\_ Even Communist Mainland China has a sustained higher growth rate
than the US.
\_ http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2009/05/upward-mobility-reality-and-illusion.html
\_ This one is great, take that Gold Bugs:
link:tinyurl.com/d4lsch |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Computer/SW/OS/Linux, Computer/SW/OS/FreeBSD] UID:52939 Activity:moderate |
5/4 I would appreciate a reliability ranking between:
1) OpenBSD
2) OpenSolaris
3) FreeBSD
4) Debian-Stable
5) Suse Linux Enterprise Server
\_ No RedHat?
\_ This is going to depends greatly on the applications you are
\_ This is going to depend greatly on the applications you are
running. All of these operating systems are going to be reliable
out of the box, at least as compared to MacOS or Windows.
Relative to each other I'm not sure there's much difference. I
think you are asking the wrong question to make your decision.
Other factors are going to be far more important.
\_ Think you'll also get a lot easier support if you use RedHat or
one of its many incarnations like CentOS since it seems to be the
most common enterprise Linux out there.
\_ it no longer matters for most of applications. I would urge you
look at other factors, such as software avaliability, etc.
\_ Reliability has a lot more to do with the quality of your process
than the OS you run on, at least if you run on a reasonable
non-M$ OS like any of the above. |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Computer/Companies/Google] UID:52940 Activity:nil |
5/4 http://torrentfreak.com/google-custom-search-cuts-utorrent-off-090430 "[Google+uTorrent] seems like a win-win situation for everyone, but for reasons unknown, Google no longer allows uTorrent to use the custom search program." Shyeah right, it's win-win for pirates, and "reasons unknown?" Give me a *(#@$ break. \_ pirates? Somali pirates? |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Consumer/Camera] UID:52941 Activity:nil |
5/3 I'm in the market for a functional Leica IIIc Luftwaffe rangefinder
camera. I'm wondering where I should go to find it? eBay is full of
fake knockoffs from Russia.
\_ Also, which screw mount lenses are better? Summicron? Elmar? Planar?
Summilux? |
| 2009/5/4-6/5 [Computer/SW/OS/Linux, Academia/Berkeley/CSUA] UID:52942 Activity:nil 55%like:49792 |
Linux soda 2.6.26-2-686 #1 SMP Thu Mar 26 01:08:11 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux Welcome to Soda Mark VII, a dual Xeon 2.8GHz, please enjoy your stay. |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Computer/SW/RevisionControl, Academia/Berkeley/CSUA/Motd] UID:52943 Activity:moderate |
5/4 When is kchang coming back? I miss him... he was so annoying but at
least he had some initiative. If he were around, I'd ask him to chart
the MOTD usage patterns over time. My guess is that postings peaked
in '95.
\_ I'm here! You can just go to the main page and see how many posts
there are in a year (top column). Keep in mind I grabbed posts
randomly between 93-99, relied on mehlhaff's RCS logger between
99-03, and logged myself afterwards. -kchang
\_ Welcome back! Unfortunately, you've probably matured in the
past five years. Tell me it ain't so.
\_ Maybe I'm just a ficticious character -kchang
\_ please don't sign under my name -real kchang
\_ This is why motd sucks. |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Consumer/Camera] UID:52944 Activity:high |
5/4 Which Canon dSLR should I buy?
\_ The cheapest one you can get away with, and the most expensive
glass you can afford. Camera body depreciates 1/2 every 18-24
months. Plastic kit lenses depreciate at about 15-20% each
year till they're worthless in about 3-5 years. Good glass
(constant f/2.8 and below) hardly ever depreciate, and some
actually go up in value.
\_ This general rule is good for film SLR, where the film is not
a function of the body. But is it also true for dSLR, where the
image sensor is a function of the body? Cheap bodies might not
have high-enough image resolution, low-enough noise ratio, etc.,
to appreciate your premium lens. -- yuen
\_ I beg differ. This rule is still applys for most
people. Most beginners don't care about noise ratio and
for most people, high resolution is more of burden.
Most of cheapo body has sensor that is identical to the
mid range camera. kngharv
\_ When Nikon D300 ($1800 prosumer) came out, it blew away
all APS-C competition with the Sony sensor. Many Canon 40D
and 50D users weep because they lust for D300's amazing low
light capability (engineering trade-offs -- Canon opted for
resolution while Nikon opted for high ISO and low noise).
Over a year later, the D90 ($999 high end consumer) came out
using the exact same sensor and takes exactly the same image
qualities, though with only 11 point AF (vs. 51 on the 300D),
less FPS, and other pro features). This year, cheap D5000 came
and again, using the exact same sensor. It is a lot cheaper.
So as you can see, there is a trickle-down effect on sensors.
You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the best sensor
quality. Unless you need massive AF and FPS and other pro
features, a cheap body will do just fine. You can just wait
1-2 years before a pro-quality sensor trickles down into
consumer end bodies. P.S. Canon used to win the DSLR sensor
race, but for the past 2 years the Nikon D3, D3x, and D300
have been winning. I'm sure next few years, Canon will have
an upper hand. It's a rat race, and an exciting one it is.
Like I said, camera bodies get obsolete as fast as CPUs.
But innovations in lens is slow... huge optical innovations
ended since the 50s, and optically innovation-wise we're about
the same as the 70s and 80s. All that Nikon N (nanocoating) and
Canon flouride coating is just marketing BS. Optical
the same as the 70s and 80s. All that Nikon N (nanocoating)
and Canon flouride coating is just marketing BS. Optical
innovations are slow hence glass retain their values. The
only new things we have these days is just stuff built on
and around the lens, like silent ultrasonic focus, G-ring
electric aperture rings, VR/IS. P.S. Nikon D400 is coming out.
\_ The one that fits your needs.
\_ LOL it doesn't matter. When you are married, have a house and
a baby, your priority will change and photography will no longer
be part of your life. Most married men sell off their extensive
photographic equipments after they're on the marriage track.
\_ I mostly want this to take pictures of the kids.
\_ Why limit yourself to Canon?
\_ Are there other good choices? What else would you consider?
\_ I agree with the first followup. But would add "what problem
are you trying to solve" and "where are you starting from?".
If you are "getting into photography", which is what I assume
from your question, you should fix your budget for the whole kit.
A colleague of mine bought more body than he needs and has cheapo
lenses and then rents higher end lenses ... a decision I thought
was crazy. This will likely mean you are picking from 2-3 Canon
bodies ... if you are looking at $5k bodies, you are certainly
not going to be looking at $500 bodies. More practically you
not going to be looking at $500 bodoes. More practically you
might be looking a $600 body and wondering if the $1.4k body is
worth the difference. Also, you should mention whether there is
some special considerations ... like "my sister just moved to
mombasa and i am going to visit her and squeeze in a safari" vs.
"i want to take pictures of my new child" or "i want to take
pix of my band" or "i want to take pix of my award winning roses",
"i am an avid birdwatcher and want to start taking pix of what
i see on birding trips." "i want to take a photography class".
BTW, i would stick with canon if:
1. you dont come in with a large investment in fancy glass
2. you are not on a super-low budget.
\_ I want to take pictures of my children. I currently have an SD750
which is okay, but I want something better.
\_ If you want to "take pictures of your children," you're
probably better off getting one of the Digital ELPH cameras
than an SLR. You'll save money and you'll have something
that you'll always carry with you, instead of a big
wad of equipment that sits at home. Pictures of the kids
are more about opportunity than quality.
If you want to do your own portraiture, the XSi with a
decent portrait lens (like the 35mm f/2.0) should be
fine. -tom
\- while it may be usable for protraits, that is not
a portrait lens, at least for headshot type
pix. you need big app and reasonably long focal
length to get parallel rays. probably want to
go at least 80mm ... 180mm is probably overkill for
home portraits. my 105 is a double purpose macro
and portrait. it's a little long on digital.
50 f1.4 will probably be better and is generally
a nice lens. 50 1.8 might be better and is
usually a cheap lens with decent optics [although
sometimes build quality isnt the best, but not
that big a deal on a forgiving lens].
\_ Assuming this isnt a troll: you probably arent going to get a
Canon 1-series [high end pro bodies]. So you are likely looking
at Canon 3digit, 2digit or 5x. So look at the price and
features of the Digital Rebel (<$800), the 50d ($1200) and
5D (+$2500) ... that should reduce this to a question
5D (+$2500) ... that should greatly reduce this to a question
about specific bodies ... at which point you can make trade off
within your budget and pushing your budget envelope outwards
by a little.
\_ I have a huge 70-200mm f/2.8L IS body on a Rebel XS. I know
people laugh at it, and it looks funny, but you know, I take
better pictures than a bunch of dumbasses with a 5Dmk2 with a
kit lens. Now, who is the dumbass here?
\_ I'm shooting with a Rebel XSi; it's a totally capable
camera. There's a pretty small range of shots that
would be easier to capture with a better body. But a
lot depends on your shooting; most of mine is landscapes
taken while riding/hiking, so light weight is a
significant consideration; if I were shooting concerts
a heavier body with better low-light performance would
be better. -tom
\_ If you're just taking daytime landscape while traveling,
a high quality P&S will do just fine. In fact you can't
really tell image difference under those conditions
(slower shutter, 100 ISO, f/8-11, bright light).
Let me dig up an article from a famous pro who carries
both a DSLR and a Canon G10 (Lumix LX3 does a good job
too). Seriously, can you tell the difference? If a pro
can't tell the difference, neither can 99.5% of the
people out there. A Canon XSi on a bike is just too
cumbersome. Go with the best point and shoot.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/lx3.shtml
\_ Well, actually I use a Canon PowerShot S5 if I'm
cycling without specific photography opportunities
in mind. -tom
\_ Oh ok, you're set then. Cool. -pp
\_ I took a G10 and a Nikon SLR on my last vacation
trip. I took maybe 50x as many pictures with the
G10 ... here are the main limitations:
1. for landscapes, I didnt have quite the field of
view i'd have liked ... compared to my 18mm.
2. i dont own a polarizer for the G10 ... i believe
it is a pretty expesnive addon
it is a pretty expensive addon
3. biggest problem: too much depth of field [LX3
is better in this regard, but still not as good
as a fast lens]
4. big, big win of the G10 was the really nice
image stabilization. there were a lot of pix
it took in a museum without a flash which
I took in a museum without a flash which
might be say 6.5/10, which i could have taken
might be say 6/10, which i could have taken
at 8/10 if i could control the lighting, but since
i could not control the lighting, the pix with
my SLR would have been 0-2/10.
5. and of course eventhough the G10 is pushing the
outer limits of "pocket camera", i could and did
carry it almest everywhere, where as i only
took the "big gear" on a could of occasions where
i was doing "serious photography" [Monte Alban]. |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Computer/SW/Languages/Java] UID:52945 Activity:nil |
5/4 The Scalia gets pwned:
http://www.abajournal.com/weekly/fordham_law_class_collects_scalia_info_justice_is_steamed |
| 2009/5/4-6 [Science/GlobalWarming, Science/Physics] UID:52946 Activity:nil |
5/4 Next-generation stealth technology :-)
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/04/art-student-creates.html |