User: Richy_T

Re:A few (~10) years ago

On: New Heinlein Novel

The book I had read previously to the carpet people was "The Hobbit" and I found it distracting how much Pratchett's work seemed to draw from it, even down to Bilbo's "roads joining everything together" consideration at the beginning. I won't claim plagiarism but there was a little more than just inspiration going on there.

And as for my naff comment, well, it's a matter of taste but I will admit that it wasn't *that* bad of a book. Certainly not a patch on the really good Pratchett stuff though.

Rich

A few years ago

On: New Heinlein Novel

after achieving fame and recognition, Terry Pratchett released one of his early stories. It was somewhat naff and an obvious ripoff of "The Hobbit". Hopefully this will fare a little better.

Rich

Cool.

On: VideoNOW PVD Reverse Engineering

I noticed these in Walmart and kept meaning to see if the format was described anywhere but was too lazy. Now a link to a reverse engineering site is posted to Slashdot. All things come to those who wait.

Rich

Re:Hashes and Compression

On: RIAA Tracking Songs by MD5 Hashes

If it were easy to create a file that matched a pre-defined MD5 hash, it would mean MD5 hashing kind-of pointless don't you think?

Rich

Re:All Caps? (Capitalists, that is)

On: Software Patent Demonstrations Taking Off

Think about it - would Mr. Gates really object if his company were taken over by the government if he were guaranteed continued profits and control? Would he really object if the government legislatively eliminated competition? Hardly. But either of these is far closer to socialism/communism/fascism than to any real free market model.

Actually, if you watch carefully, it seems that Gates is all about playing the game and winning. In truth, he would probably be happy to be erceiving minimum wage as long as he could continue to crush others underfoot.

Rich

Re:Eric should be more careful

On: Eric Raymond's Homebrew SCO Poison

And when you consider that the author is a big gun advocate it may lead some to believe he means he's cooking up some kind of home invasion.

And if he were a car enthusiast, it might lead you to believe he was going to drive a classic Ford Mustang through the guy's living room window?

Your hoplophobia is showing

Rich

Re:It's called "suspension of disbelief"

On: Sci-Fi Movies and 'Bad Science'

Dude, it's not called a universal serial bus for nothing...

Rich

Re:Doesn't take much time...

On: Light Bulb Replacements

It is possible to get screw-type bulb sockets (such as are used in the U.S.) in the U.K. This may not help you much and you may find that the bulbs are a lot more expensive but there you go.

Rich

Re:She'd lose my vote...

On: Georgy Tells Why She Should Be California Gov

The problem many have with the approval voting system is that they feel uncomfortable that it breaks "one man, one vote". In truth it doesn't of course (you get one vote per candidate). Having studied the alternatives, the conclusion is that approval voting is the pre-eminent voting method available.

Rich

Re:Intelectual property

On: House Bill to Make File-Sharing an Automatic Felony

Mod the above post +1 informative. Why do I never have mod points when I need them?

Rich

Re:Yes

On: .Net:... 3 Years Later

Actually, the £ is a stylised "L" so that should be APP£E.

Rich

The next day...

On: US Army Signs $471,000,000 Deal for Microsoft Software

"Oh, general, you meant spend half-a-billion dollars on a minesweeper? D'oh"

Rich

Litotes

On: Pioneer To Release TiVo/DVD Burner Combo

You know, that is not a bad word.

Rich

Re:AntiTrust is the worst movie since the Matrix.

On: What is Open Source?

Bill Gates also gives scholarships [...] this man should be knighted.

Certainly someone should be waving a sword in the vicinity of his neck.

Rich

Java Status Quo

On: Industry Leaders Discuss Java Status Quo

import music.blues.12bars;

public void static main(){
and.I.Like(It).I.Like(It).I.Like(It).I.Like(It);
I.la.la.la.Like(it).la.la.la.Like();
Here(We).go(o);
Rocking.all.over.the.(World);
}

Re:DOes it work ?

On: Honda Crash Detection System

Yes, I was referring to the build (and design) quality rather than anything to do with the engine.

Rich

Re:DOes it work ?

On: Honda Crash Detection System

I liked my Mk II. Of course, it did have a terrible flaw whereby the insulation on the firewall trapped water and caused the whole thing to rust away. Other than that though, I was very pleased with the car while I had it.

Rich

Re:DOes it work ?

On: Honda Crash Detection System

I was driving a Mark II Cavalier in the U.K. four or five years ago. It was an old, old (B-reg) car but it was twice the car the U.S. one is.

Come to think of it, I was thinking of upgrading to a newer Cavalier so your assertion smells funny. A quick search shows it was discontinued in 1995. Hardly a decade or more.

Regardless, the U.S. version is not a patch on the U.K. version.

Rich (liked his electrically heated wing mirrors)

Insurance companies...

On: Honda Crash Detection System

Are quite corrupt. They'll deny claims for anything they can base on having the system operative and for anyhting they can blame on nothaving the system operative.

Rich

Re:DOes it work ?

On: Honda Crash Detection System

You jump to conclusions. I can't answer for the parent post but if I am overtaking at a slow differential and it looks like I will start blocking traffic, I will accelerate a little so I can get out of the way. If the road behind me is clear however, and the differential is not so small that it would take a real long time to get past. I just let the cruise control handle it.

Nothing in the parent's post indicated that he made a habit of blocking traffic (though I will also agree that slow overtakers are annoying). Also add to my hate list overtaking lane campers (particularly those going *below* the speed limit on 4-lane highways), those who do not indicate and the speed-up/slow-down/still-overtaking-the-same-vehic le-after-10-miles truck drivers.

Rich

Re:DOes it work ?

On: Honda Crash Detection System

It varies. My Windstar keeps the needle bang on at all times. The crappy rental Cavalier I have at the moment varies by 2mph and I've even caught it falling to 4mph under the set speed on occasion.

What is it with Cavaliers here anyway? Over in the U.K. (and Oz), they're nice cars, here in the U.S., just cheap and crappy.

Rich

Re:Umm, not impressed.

On: Palm OS Wristwatch

Actually, since most people wear their watch on their left wrist and the left arm of UK drivers will be on the left near the power adapter, it might not be such an issue :)

Rich

Re:'Privacy' and 'Stupidity'

On: Black Box in Speeder's Car Helped Conviction

I really really hop you are being facetious.

Rich

Re:Not even remotely comparable

On: Black Box in Speeder's Car Helped Conviction

And let's ban smoking, rock climbing, skiing and all the other dangerous things that people do every day.

The true way to encourage seatbelt wearing is 1)Education and 2)Higher insurance rates for those who refuse to wear seatbelts.

Rich

Re:Not even remotely comparable

On: Black Box in Speeder's Car Helped Conviction

Easy, trivial solution. When you purchase your insurance, they ask whether you wear a seatbelt. Say yes, get a lower premium. Say yes and don't wear your seatbelt, you're not insured.

Rich