XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: YourName@YourISP.com   
      
   In article , sna    
   wrote:   
      
   > "Your Name"  wrote in message   
   > news:130120141632490428%YourName@YourISP.com...   
   > > In article , David   
   > > Friedman  wrote:   
   > >> In article <130120141307202555%YourName@YourISP.com>,   
   > >>  Your Name  wrote:   
   > >> >   
   > >> > Of course, if sci-fi really predicts the future, then cars of any sort   
   > >> > will be useless because we'll simply use Star Trek transporters to beam   
   > >> > everywhere. Live in New York, but work in Sydney? No problem, get there   
   > >> > in a fraction of a second.   :-)   
   > >>   
   > >> We already have the functional equivalent for many purposes --   
   > >> telecommuting. A good deal easier to do.   
   >   
   > > Telecommuting doesn't really work,   
   >   
   > Like hell it doesn't.   
      
   Oh dear, here we go with the pedantic fools who can't read. I never   
   said nowhere does it.   :-\   
      
      
      
   > Plenty do, most obviously with the major telecoms operations   
   > that can do almost everything config wise remotely and only   
   > need to have someone physically visit the exchange when the   
   > system has worked out that a card has failed and someone   
   > needs to go there and physically change the card if it has failed   
   > etc.   
      
   Ignoring the fact that that isn't really "telecommuting" ... the lines   
   testing from the help desk (for example) is highly unreliable. I've   
   often had the line tested from there and been told there's nothing   
   wrong with it (despite the fact that I can hear the crackling on the   
   line while talking to them!). I've then insisted that a technician is   
   sent out to check it, and they have always found a problem with the   
   line when they do.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)