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NPR said they are building it there because Utah has the most linguistically talented population in the country due to Mormon missionary work. eBay is building

NPR said they are building it there because Utah has the most linguistically talented population in the country due to Mormon missionary work. eBay is building a call center there for the same reason.

ImprovedSilence 15y ago
A few years ago I remember reading about this on slashot. If I remember correctly, their electricity bill has something to do with the move as well, as I think the NSA accounts for 1/4 of the electricity supplied to Maryland. [edit] I looks like I was off, they really just maxed out BG&Es power grid. here's the slashdot article from 09: http://developers.slashdot.org/story/09/07/02/0333202/nsa-to-build-20-acre-data-center-in-utah http://developers.slashdot.org/story/09/07/02/0333202/nsa-to...
- sounds 15y ago
  As worrying as the NSA's antics are, I also find it alarming that the US electric grid is a limiting factor for big data. E.g. Silicon Valley's electricity prices rule out most data centers there. (Maybe it's an ironic twist that the NSA must spread out simply due to grid capacity constraints...)
  - maxerickson 15y ago
    One definition of excess capacity is waste (I'm not insisting it is always a correct definition). I imagine the regulatory environment surrounding generation in California and local opposition to big ugly infrastructure are much bigger factors in the prices than the technical capacity to actually upgrade the power grid there.
Osiris 15y ago
As a Mormon who attended BYU in Provo, Utah, I can attest that a very large percentage of the young male population is not only bilingual in common and uncommon languages, but there's a deep sense of patriotism. Universities in Utah are heavily recruited for law enforcement (FBI) and foreign service. I agree that most of the reason for the Utah location is probably cost, but the demographics are also very unique (and yes, fairly homogeneous as well).
- vixen99 15y ago
  As with being pregnant, either unique or not.
  - ehsanu1 15y ago
    That is pedantry. I understand your point, but when people say something is "very" unique, they mean it's not common, or is unusual in some way. "Slightly unique" makes little sense, but "somewhat unique", while somewhat awkward, can mean "unique in some aspects, but not others". And if you want to be really pedantic, then you have to admit that most anything can be considered unique at fine enough levels of detail. But there is no point to calling something "unique" then; it loses meaning if everything is in fact unique. Uniqueness really is more of a spectrum, when applied to the real world.
  - Osiris 15y ago
    I'm trying to decide if I should be insulted or not. Is the comment stating that the stereotype is that Mormon women are frequently pregnant? I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. edit: Thanks for the clarifying comments, I didn't catch that the comment was referring to the grammer.
    - ehsanu1 15y ago
      vixen99 is saying you can't be a little unique, or very unique, but simply unique. Just as nobody is "slightly pregnant". No need to be insulted, though you may disagree with the assertion.
    - mryan 15y ago
      To quote an English comedy show: "One can not have gradations of uniqueness. A thing either is, or is not, unique". I believe he is commenting on your use of the term "very unique".
  - temphn 15y ago
    Nope. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unique 5. not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile.
uxp 15y ago
Here's a link to the NPR article from a few days ago: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148252561/on-utahs-silicon-slopes-tech-jobs-get-a-lift http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148252561/on-utahs-silicon-slo... And the (empty) HN discussion: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3698438 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3698438

ImprovedSilence 15y ago

A few years ago I remember reading about this on slashot. If I remember correctly, their electricity bill has something to do with the move as well, as I think the NSA accounts for 1/4 of the electricity supplied to Maryland. [edit] I looks like I was off, they really just maxed out BG&Es power grid. here's the slashdot article from 09: http://developers.slashdot.org/story/09/07/02/0333202/nsa-to-build-20-acre-data-center-in-utah http://developers.slashdot.org/story/09/07/02/0333202/nsa-to...

sounds 15y ago
As worrying as the NSA's antics are, I also find it alarming that the US electric grid is a limiting factor for big data. E.g. Silicon Valley's electricity prices rule out most data centers there. (Maybe it's an ironic twist that the NSA must spread out simply due to grid capacity constraints...)
- maxerickson 15y ago
  One definition of excess capacity is waste (I'm not insisting it is always a correct definition). I imagine the regulatory environment surrounding generation in California and local opposition to big ugly infrastructure are much bigger factors in the prices than the technical capacity to actually upgrade the power grid there.

Osiris 15y ago

As a Mormon who attended BYU in Provo, Utah, I can attest that a very large percentage of the young male population is not only bilingual in common and uncommon languages, but there's a deep sense of patriotism. Universities in Utah are heavily recruited for law enforcement (FBI) and foreign service. I agree that most of the reason for the Utah location is probably cost, but the demographics are also very unique (and yes, fairly homogeneous as well).

vixen99 15y ago
As with being pregnant, either unique or not.
- ehsanu1 15y ago
  That is pedantry. I understand your point, but when people say something is "very" unique, they mean it's not common, or is unusual in some way. "Slightly unique" makes little sense, but "somewhat unique", while somewhat awkward, can mean "unique in some aspects, but not others". And if you want to be really pedantic, then you have to admit that most anything can be considered unique at fine enough levels of detail. But there is no point to calling something "unique" then; it loses meaning if everything is in fact unique. Uniqueness really is more of a spectrum, when applied to the real world.
- Osiris 15y ago
  I'm trying to decide if I should be insulted or not. Is the comment stating that the stereotype is that Mormon women are frequently pregnant? I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. edit: Thanks for the clarifying comments, I didn't catch that the comment was referring to the grammer.
  - ehsanu1 15y ago
    vixen99 is saying you can't be a little unique, or very unique, but simply unique. Just as nobody is "slightly pregnant". No need to be insulted, though you may disagree with the assertion.
  - mryan 15y ago
    To quote an English comedy show: "One can not have gradations of uniqueness. A thing either is, or is not, unique". I believe he is commenting on your use of the term "very unique".
- temphn 15y ago
  Nope. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unique 5. not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile.

uxp 15y ago

Here's a link to the NPR article from a few days ago: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148252561/on-utahs-silicon-slopes-tech-jobs-get-a-lift http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148252561/on-utahs-silicon-slo... And the (empty) HN discussion: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3698438 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3698438