The Coffee House

[vintagesnaps]

If cars go all automated I'll never get home. Our whole area is a mess on Google maps, GPS, etc. I finally got Google to correct my address but then they redid the site and the whole street is numbered wrong again. Depends what system's being used but it's way off base all the time for deliveries or various types of service/repairs. I can usually figure out what they're trying to find but have thought gee, should've seen what they had and maybe I'd keep it! lol furniture? sure, let's see what ya got!

Did Leo make a reference to Gary being one of these??
Nah, must've read it wrong...

 

[limr30 3]

With the advent of engines/motors/automobiles, horses were removed from streets and farms. Generally speaking, horses are now a luxury item that are used as recreation. This will probably be the same with cars, where if you want to drive "manually", you'll need to take your car to a track to do it safely. It's exciting technology and definitely an exciting future.

The idea that I don't get to drive except for on a track on occasion is not exciting for me.

I understand the appeal of the auto-driving cars...well, to a point, anyway...but I sincerely hope it doesn't come to this in my lifetime.

 

[snowbear115 46]

Keep in mind the increased cost of cars is not due to technology, alone: materials, labor, transportation of the parts, energy used for manufacturing; it's all gone up.

Now, I'm interested in seeing if there's a correlation between people that are in favor of autonomous cars and those that shoot auto and/or JPEGs.

 

[davidharmier60]

It took FedEx a couple of times to find my house. I don't think personally driven vehicles will be outlawed in my lifetime.
I had 5 and a few minutes less than 3/4 hours today. Went up to Livingston to buy a box of pennies. Seems that with very few exceptions I got a box of 2017D.
Our landline rings a lot. I get calls from the same three numbers that my number has.
Robo calls will be the end of civilization.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[waday]

The cost of the technology will get cheaper as it becomes more commonplace. When airbags first came out, how many were only found in the higher-end vehicles? Does anyone remember how expensive desktop computers were 20 years ago? What about cell phones - now they give them away.

Generally, I agree with you. However, cell phones have started to take over for desktop computers. The new iPhone is $1000, and other phones are still extremely expensive on their own. Only specific ones are "given away", and those are tied to a pricey contract and are old-ish technology. Or, you can "rent to own" your phone, which is what many companies do now. Break the phone, and you're still obligated to pay monthly AND the cost of the phone, even though you don't have a phone.

As new phones come out, old ones become obsolete as companies refuse to allow older technology to work with newer operating systems. They even go as far as to say that they will no longer support that equipment.

To be able to say, "fine, just add it to my monthly payment" is a luxury that many people don't have. Similarly, with respect to @smoke665 's comment on "subscription ownership", not many people can say, "fine, I'll pay extra each month for a car". They'd rather just pay outright for any car and use it until it breaks. Having, and being able to pay for, a monthly subscription is a luxury.

Buenas Dias Coffee Hosers. What a fine wonderful morning. The sun is out (@Leo: Why isn't 'sun' capitalized as it is a proper name? Gary has to find a style book. Gary guesses that sun/Sun is both a proper name and a noun. Sorta like John/john ... as in, John is in the john.) But the sun is out can also be the Sun is out. A little help here Leo.)

'Sun' is not a proper noun. A word is simply a code that we all agree refers to a particular object. A name is what we use when we want to distinguish between different individuals of the same object. So, 'human' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters that refer to us hairless apes. Then 'Gary' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters to distinguish you from another hairless ape.

The word 'sun' refers to a giant fireball in the sky. However, it doesn't have an official name - not the way that planets have a name. One reason that it doesn't have a name is because it doesn't really need one. This planet and its inhabitants have only one sun that concerns us - which is why it is always referred to using the definite article "the" - so we don't need to distinguish it from other suns. Same thing with the moon. "The sun" and "the moon" always refer to our sun and moon. We do use names for other stars, though, because there are a ton of stars in the sky and how will we know which one will guide us to the north, or make up Orion's belt?

Apparently the International Astronomical Union recommends using a capital letter for Sun and Moon, basically saying that the regular noun should also become its official name. As for the non-astronomers, AP style (which governs the style of a hell of a lot of writing) still requires lowercase:
Does our sun have a name? | EarthSky.org

In addition, aren't the Sun, Moon, and Earth the only astronomical bodies (in this Solar System) not named after gods/etc: sonne/sunne, luna, terra, respectively?

 

[Gary A.]

I just call the sun "Bartholomew."

Gary isn't on a first name basis with Sun/the sun.

 

[Gary A.]

The cost of the technology will get cheaper as it becomes more commonplace. When airbags first came out, how many were only found in the higher-end vehicles? Does anyone remember how expensive desktop computers were 20 years ago? What about cell phones - now they give them away.

Generally, I agree with you. However, cell phones have started to take over for desktop computers. The new iPhone is $1000, and other phones are still extremely expensive on their own. Only specific ones are "given away", and those are tied to a pricey contract and are old-ish technology. Or, you can "rent to own" your phone, which is what many companies do now. Break the phone, and you're still obligated to pay monthly AND the cost of the phone, even though you don't have a phone.

As new phones come out, old ones become obsolete as companies refuse to allow older technology to work with newer operating systems. They even go as far as to say that they will no longer support that equipment.

To be able to say, "fine, just add it to my monthly payment" is a luxury that many people don't have. Similarly, with respect to @smoke665 's comment on "subscription ownership", not many people can say, "fine, I'll pay extra each month for a car". They'd rather just pay outright for any car and use it until it breaks. Having, and being able to pay for, a monthly subscription is a luxury.

Buenas Dias Coffee Hosers. What a fine wonderful morning. The sun is out (@Leo: Why isn't 'sun' capitalized as it is a proper name? Gary has to find a style book. Gary guesses that sun/Sun is both a proper name and a noun. Sorta like John/john ... as in, John is in the john.) But the sun is out can also be the Sun is out. A little help here Leo.)

'Sun' is not a proper noun. A word is simply a code that we all agree refers to a particular object. A name is what we use when we want to distinguish between different individuals of the same object. So, 'human' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters that refer to us hairless apes. Then 'Gary' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters to distinguish you from another hairless ape.

The word 'sun' refers to a giant fireball in the sky. However, it doesn't have an official name - not the way that planets have a name. One reason that it doesn't have a name is because it doesn't really need one. This planet and its inhabitants have only one sun that concerns us - which is why it is always referred to using the definite article "the" - so we don't need to distinguish it from other suns. Same thing with the moon. "The sun" and "the moon" always refer to our sun and moon. We do use names for other stars, though, because there are a ton of stars in the sky and how will we know which one will guide us to the north, or make up Orion's belt?

Apparently the International Astronomical Union recommends using a capital letter for Sun and Moon, basically saying that the regular noun should also become its official name. As for the non-astronomers, AP style (which governs the style of a hell of a lot of writing) still requires lowercase:
Does our sun have a name? | EarthSky.org

In addition, aren't the Sun, Moon, and Earth the only astronomical bodies (in this Solar System) not named after gods/etc: sonne/sunne, luna, terra, respectively?

Isn't Pluto named after a dog?

 

[vintagesnaps]

There seems to be a good bit of technology that we've had available for decades but didn't really go anywhere. I've noticed it watching reruns on METV, and promos and shorts in between movies on TCM. They had the midcentury 'house of the future' and what do we actually have today? a fridge with an ice cube maker. That vacuum that rolls around banging into the furniture. I want a Robby the Robot to do my house cleaning!

Anytime I've reported a telemarketing/robo call on the Do Not Call website (your number needs to be registered, you just put in the number and date & time), I don't get a call from that number again. Something must happen when you report a violation because it stops. Of course there are others... the ones making me mad lately appear to use a local number and I'm in a small town and there's no freakin' call center here.

 

[JonA_CT]

All interesting stuff to consider here, and too much for my brain to process and to respond to right this moment, haha.

New cars are probably 95% of the way to being completely autonomous as we speak. My wife's Subaru already has a forward-facing sensor unit that allows adaptive cruise-control and emergency braking. It has cameras that can alert and correct when you are not in your travel lane. Those are the primary things a car needs to be able to do, right? Maintain speed and following distance, maintain a lane, know when to stop.

Price is an important consideration of course...but Subarus are relatively modest cars, and we paid less than $30k for her fully-loaded Outback. (I, on the other hand, still drive a stick-shift Mazda hatch.)

 

[waday]

The cost of the technology will get cheaper as it becomes more commonplace. When airbags first came out, how many were only found in the higher-end vehicles? Does anyone remember how expensive desktop computers were 20 years ago? What about cell phones - now they give them away.

Generally, I agree with you. However, cell phones have started to take over for desktop computers. The new iPhone is $1000, and other phones are still extremely expensive on their own. Only specific ones are "given away", and those are tied to a pricey contract and are old-ish technology. Or, you can "rent to own" your phone, which is what many companies do now. Break the phone, and you're still obligated to pay monthly AND the cost of the phone, even though you don't have a phone.

As new phones come out, old ones become obsolete as companies refuse to allow older technology to work with newer operating systems. They even go as far as to say that they will no longer support that equipment.

To be able to say, "fine, just add it to my monthly payment" is a luxury that many people don't have. Similarly, with respect to @smoke665 's comment on "subscription ownership", not many people can say, "fine, I'll pay extra each month for a car". They'd rather just pay outright for any car and use it until it breaks. Having, and being able to pay for, a monthly subscription is a luxury.

Buenas Dias Coffee Hosers. What a fine wonderful morning. The sun is out (@Leo: Why isn't 'sun' capitalized as it is a proper name? Gary has to find a style book. Gary guesses that sun/Sun is both a proper name and a noun. Sorta like John/john ... as in, John is in the john.) But the sun is out can also be the Sun is out. A little help here Leo.)

'Sun' is not a proper noun. A word is simply a code that we all agree refers to a particular object. A name is what we use when we want to distinguish between different individuals of the same object. So, 'human' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters that refer to us hairless apes. Then 'Gary' is the symbolic set of sounds/letters to distinguish you from another hairless ape.

The word 'sun' refers to a giant fireball in the sky. However, it doesn't have an official name - not the way that planets have a name. One reason that it doesn't have a name is because it doesn't really need one. This planet and its inhabitants have only one sun that concerns us - which is why it is always referred to using the definite article "the" - so we don't need to distinguish it from other suns. Same thing with the moon. "The sun" and "the moon" always refer to our sun and moon. We do use names for other stars, though, because there are a ton of stars in the sky and how will we know which one will guide us to the north, or make up Orion's belt?

Apparently the International Astronomical Union recommends using a capital letter for Sun and Moon, basically saying that the regular noun should also become its official name. As for the non-astronomers, AP style (which governs the style of a hell of a lot of writing) still requires lowercase:
Does our sun have a name? | EarthSky.org

In addition, aren't the Sun, Moon, and Earth the only astronomical bodies (in this Solar System) not named after gods/etc: sonne/sunne, luna, terra, respectively?

Isn't Pluto named after a dog?

If he's the dog/god of the underworld?

 

[JonA_CT]

There seems to be a good bit of technology that we've had available for decades but didn't really go anywhere. I've noticed it watching reruns on METV, and promos and shorts in between movies on TCM. They had the midcentury 'house of the future' and what do we actually have today? a fridge with an ice cube maker. That vacuum that rolls around banging into the furniture. I want a Robby the Robot to do my house cleaning!

My freezer won't make ice, and my vacuum robot's name is Bruce It's more amazing to me how little he knocks the furniture...and yes, it was completely worth the $350 investment we made in him to have the carpets and floors ready for our kids to roll around on them every morning.

 

[waday]

With the advent of engines/motors/automobiles, horses were removed from streets and farms. Generally speaking, horses are now a luxury item that are used as recreation. This will probably be the same with cars, where if you want to drive "manually", you'll need to take your car to a track to do it safely. It's exciting technology and definitely an exciting future.

The idea that I don't get to drive except for on a track on occasion is not exciting for me.

I understand the appeal of the auto-driving cars...well, to a point, anyway...but I sincerely hope it doesn't come to this in my lifetime.

Having automated cars in a properly designed system would avoid a lot of traffic, reduce gas consumption, and avoid a lot of accidents, therefore, lives. In addition, it would be a major technological breakthrough. I consider all of this to be exciting.

If you want to drive your car on a track under supervised conditions, go for it! I see too many people treat highways as race tracks, weaving in and out of traffic at dangerous speeds. I also see too many people that aren't paying attention while driving. If the car can do the driving for them, I'm happy to have these people "off" the road.

 

[smoke665]

not many people can say, "fine, I'll pay extra each month for a car". They'd rather just pay outright for any car and use it until it breaks. Having, and being able to pay for, a monthly subscription is a luxury.

Going back to my earlier comment about the airplane, I and the other members in the group didn't have the money to lay out $250k for something that was only used on a limited basis. Not only is the high entrance cost getting to much, look at all the incidentals like insurance, registration, taxes repairs, depreciation (whether you drive it or not). I have a huge investment in vehicles that despite the fact we travel a lot, I'd say conservatively they sit 75% out of the day. Not saying I like the idea just saying that it may well come to it when you can not afford the expense of individual ownership.[/QUOTE]

 

[smoke665]

my vacuum robot's name is Bruce

Ours is Margret LOL

 

[vintagesnaps]

Pluto on Pluto, not on the sun but in The Sun.

(Can't believe I found this, and of course you can always trust a tabloid...
if it says so it must be true! <-- need I say, sarcasm)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/37310is-that-the-face-of-pluto-on-pluto-3?