Will the computers be used when the RV is moving? If not, then why not simply buy a portable generator and use it to supply the AC power? Portable generators are very popular among the RV crowd, so I'm sure that you can find lot's of information on their use (such as here).
There are probably solutions for mounting and wiring the generator so that it can be used while the RV is in motion, but that sounds like a much more difficult problem and may be more than what you need.
Most people in their 20's imagine that they will find a suitable life partner within the next few years (if they have not already done so), and start to settle down, have kids, buy homes, etc. That is a very noble plan, but if/when it does not happen then take advantage of the situation. Use the opportunity to achieve other goals (such as travel, save money, or whatever) so that when things do start to fall into place you're ready for the change.
I didn't get married until I was in my late 30's. This was not what I had originally planned, but I used the situation to my advantage and had a lot of fun traveling, etc. Now I'm in my 40's, have two young kids, adequate supply of money, and am very satisfied that I have already seen the world so to speak, so that I can concentrate on what's now important (my family). And I can make decisions driven by that priority (who needs to work like a dog for another promotion).
My point is that no matter what your plan is for life, you probably won't follow it exactly. Be flexible, and when something goes wrong use it as an opportunity.
The mount of light that is output by a light source is measured in lumens, not watts. Other posters have mentioned that all light eventually gets converted into heat, but some light sources are more efficient than others when it comes to how much actual light they produce for a given unit of energy consumed (think watts). You need to identify how much light you need (in lumens), and then find a light source with a low lumens/watts ratio that produces enough light at the right spectrum to satisfy your application.
Is the PAL/NTSC issue applicable to DVD players? If so, did Bruce really run into a region code problem, or did he simply buy some PAL format DVDs that cannot be played in his NTSC-compatible DVD player?
The US Copyright law treats playing recorded music at a establishment such as Starbucks as a public performance. This is entirely different than private listening to music that you have purchased. The previous poster's concerns are entirely justified.
My guess is that the StarBucks system incorporates an expiration time specifically to manage how StarBucks has licensed the music. Hacking that system, in itself, may or may not be illegal. But using the hack to play music from privately owned CDs almost certainly violates the Copyright law.
I don't know of any proponents of alternative fuels who want the cost of cars or driving to go up. That's nonsense, IMHO, and seems to be a rationalization to explain why more people do not advocate your beliefs.
But what I really want to talk about is that there is another reason to push for alternative fuels and propulsion systems:
Reduced dependence on foreign (non-US) sources of oil.
As I see things, at the current rate of consumption there are not enough US-based sources of oil to provide for the long term needs of the country. Adding new sources, be it Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, etc. is simply a short term band-aid. We need to do something more drastic: namely reduce (and eventually eliminate) our dependence on oil based propulsion systems.
To accomplish this, I think that we need to start doing serious work on two things:
1. Alternative energy sources. Perhaps bioDiesel is a good candidate. This won't happen over night, so we had better get started now.
2. More effience use of oil-based propulsion. A gasoline-based fuel cell systems seems like a positive alternative, because it could use the existing infrastructure (gas stations, pipelines, etc). This can start happening as soon as the technology is perfected.
I think that the US should launch an effort, not unlike the Apollo moon program, to develop these new technologies and infrastructures. But as long as the White House is full of former oil company executives (Bush and Cheney) I fear that the odds of this happening are slim.
My parents continued to rent telephones for many years after they were allowed to purchase their own phones. Why? Because if something broke the phone company would fix it for free.
Later on, the phone company quit offering this service to new customers. That's why senior citizens made up the majority of customers who rented phones. They happen to be the majority of folks who have lived in the same place for the longest time.
So for some customers, renting the phone was a conscience decision.
I should point out that a single WLED provides sufficient light to easily read a book or to study with. My wife, who wholeheartedly assisted me in Nepal in 1999, has amassed ample field evidence to support this last statement. It is very significant to the developing world that these wee marvels of technology can effectively light an entire kitchen table area using less than one watt of electrical power and there are none of the attendant dreadful pollution and fire dangers associated with the use of kerosene lamps.
Please read more of the web site before commenting./Don
Actually, there were several attempts to run gas turbine powered cars at Indy. 1969 was the first year, but there were at least two turbine-powered cars in the 1970 starting field. Then USAC placed restrictions on the diameter of the air intake, which made cars that used turbine engines non-competitive.
Later in the 1970's there were a couple more attempts to run turbine race cars at Indy, using Allison engines (originally designed for helicopters), but none of these later attempts ever made the race.
A much better way to mate the hose to the copper tubing is to use a
hose clamp. These can be obtained from any DIY or auto parts store, and cost less than a dollar each.
If AOL really does switch browsers, then some interestings may happen that will show us who really has the power to control the Internet. The key issue is whether or not the owners of the non-conforming web sites will fix their sites. If they do, then that would prove that Microsoft does control the net (yet). On the other hand, if the owners of non-conforming sites do not fix their pages, then that proves Microsoft is already in defacto control.
Now some readers are probably dismissing this as too simplistic:
Can AOL really change the net? You gotta be kidding! It's not that simple!
I'm not kidding. I think that it really does come down to AOL vs. MS. The Internet is driven by content, and if a abrupt change by one company (AOL) can reverse the non-conformance trend that Microsoft has been pushing for several years, then that will illustrate just how influencial AOL (by way of it's web brower) can be.
Of course, if AOL's current test is just a bluff to try to improve their business position with Microsoft, then that will prove that MS is already in control.
And that would mean that the sucess of.NET is almost certain.
The Rhino is a very interesting new product, but it's certainly not unique. Check out this recently introduced
product from Audiovox.
Another thing worth considering is that these radios are only available in the United States. They are GMRS radios (not FRS) and owners need to have a GMRS license from the FCC (cost $70).
How many consumers do you think look for the audio CD trademark before they purchase a CD? I know that I don't (or at least I didn't until now) and I seriously doubt if this is part many many peoples' CD buying process. The average CD buyer probably doesn't know anything about the CD Audio logo, and would give you a funny look if you mentioned the Red Book spec to them.
I basically agree that it's ok for device manufacturers to support WMP format, as long as they continue to support other formats. However, these companies would not have added WMP unless there was an incentive to do so. My guess is that Microsoft has disclosed something to them indicating that consumer demand for WMP support will increase.
The big question is: what information did MS disclose?
The big question is whether a device such as this is safe. In particular, is there any risk of an explosion? Would the world aviation regulatory agencies such as the FAA approve these for use on commercial airplanes?
With all of the current concern about bombs and the like, this seems like it might be a big hurdle.
What, in your opinion, would be the best way to revoke the DMCA? Should we continue working this through the courts, or focus our efforts on the Congress, or something else?
MS's decision to drop support for Win95 is not surprising, but that does not mean that everyone will immediately rush to the store (or to their IT support group) looking to upgrade. For example, according to a recent article by GartnerGroup, there are still a lot of large corporations using Win95 as their standard desktop OS. I've talked to some corporate IT folks about this, and I believe that there are a couple reasons why they hae not already upgraded:
1. Win95 works. Most office workers don't need anything more than Win95 and Office95. Since it meets their needs, why spend the thousands of dollars that it would cost to buy new software?
2. The effort to migrate thousands of desktops is expensive (advocates of the Linux desktop should remember this). Remember that this is a manual process. So again, don't do it unless it's really necessary.
3. These companies figured out a long time ago how to run Win95 in a stable, reliable way, so they don't need support from MS.
A lot of the desktop hardware that is still running Win95 won't support the newer OSes. As that hardware gets replaced, the final death of Win95 in the corporate environment will begin. But it will take a couple years.
Let's face it, any corporation that starts reformating hard drives and installing Linux on their office workers' PCs would be crazy -- the short term productivity hit while everyone learned the new system would be enormous! This is independent of whether or not there's a friendly Groupware or PIM app available for Linux.
A better solution for corporations would be to start small, and begin by migrating individual desktop applications while keeping the Windows platform. Once all of the desktop apps were switched (in a couple years) then they could switch the OS.
So the goal of creating a usable Linux desktop is noble, but if this is done without thinking about how corporations would actually do the migration, then Linux will never take over the corporate desktop.
Considering that Notes/Domino has about 45% of the Groupware market (it's roughly tied with Exchange) then integration with Lotus would be a good idea. The problem, of couse, is that Notes servers and Domino servers are not 100% compatible (and there is still a sizable population old Notes servers still in use), so to do it right they would have to do some extra work to support both platforms./Don
I have worked in a couple organizations where schedule estimates are pretty accurate. The key, for these orgs at least, was to follow a structured development model where the requiremenst were well defined in advance. We used the Capability Maturity Model. This methology probably wouldn't work for very small or very large projects, but it works very well for medium sized project.
It's important to note that this methology is independent of programming language, operating system, etc. What is does require, however, is experience. In other words, the longer that you follow the CMM, the better your schedule estimates will be. Also not that everybody related to the progect (System Engineering, Managament, etc.) has to participate. Management in particular has to understand that it is better to have an accurate schedule that ends later than desired than it is to have a schedule that meets the desired end date but that is impossible to meet.
The amazing thing about the CMM is that the higher the rating of the organization, the less stress that the programmers feel when they are doing their work. For me, that makes it all worthwhile.
New York as well as many other states now publish official Do Not Call lists. Telemarketers will be fined if they call someone on the DNC list. The one exception is charitable organizations, who can still make as many calls as they want. In NY the service is free; in some other states (Florida, for example) you have to pay.
We signed up for the NY list as soon as it was offered, and the number of telemarking calls has decreased dramatically since it took affect. We have noticed an increase in telephone surveys, however, so the telemarketers may be pretending to be pollsters (I'm not sure; we never participate in telephone polls.
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Will the computers be used when the RV is moving? If not, then why not simply buy a portable generator and use it to supply the AC power? Portable generators are very popular among the RV crowd, so I'm sure that you can find lot's of information on their use (such as here).
There are probably solutions for mounting and wiring the generator so that it can be used while the RV is in motion, but that sounds like a much more difficult problem and may be more than what you need.
Most people in their 20's imagine that they will find a suitable life partner within the next few years (if they have not already done so), and start to settle down, have kids, buy homes, etc. That is a very noble plan, but if/when it does not happen then take advantage of the situation. Use the opportunity to achieve other goals (such as travel, save money, or whatever) so that when things do start to fall into place you're ready for the change.
I didn't get married until I was in my late 30's. This was not what I had originally planned, but I used the situation to my advantage and had a lot of fun traveling, etc. Now I'm in my 40's, have two young kids, adequate supply of money, and am very satisfied that I have already seen the world so to speak, so that I can concentrate on what's now important (my family). And I can make decisions driven by that priority (who needs to work like a dog for another promotion).
My point is that no matter what your plan is for life, you probably won't follow it exactly. Be flexible, and when something goes wrong use it as an opportunity.
The mount of light that is output by a light source is measured in lumens, not watts. Other posters have mentioned that all light eventually gets converted into heat, but some light sources are more efficient than others when it comes to how much actual light they produce for a given unit of energy consumed (think watts). You need to identify how much light you need (in lumens), and then find a light source with a low lumens/watts ratio that produces enough light at the right spectrum to satisfy your application.
Is the PAL/NTSC issue applicable to DVD players? If so, did Bruce really run into a region code problem, or did he simply buy some PAL format DVDs that cannot be played in his NTSC-compatible DVD player?
so is it illegal to record a live public performance?
Yes, unless the performer has given specific permission for you to record it.
ASCAP has a FAQ that deals with the whole issue of public performance of copyrighted material. Well worth reading.
The US Copyright law treats playing recorded music at a establishment such as Starbucks as a public performance. This is entirely different than private listening to music that you have purchased. The previous poster's concerns are entirely justified.
My guess is that the StarBucks system incorporates an expiration time specifically to manage how StarBucks has licensed the music. Hacking that system, in itself, may or may not be illegal. But using the hack to play music from privately owned CDs almost certainly violates the Copyright law.
I don't know of any proponents of alternative fuels who want the cost of cars or driving to go up. That's nonsense, IMHO, and seems to be a rationalization to explain why more people do not advocate your beliefs.
But what I really want to talk about is that there is another reason to push for alternative fuels and propulsion systems:
Reduced dependence on foreign (non-US) sources of oil.
As I see things, at the current rate of consumption there are not enough US-based sources of oil to provide for the long term needs of the country. Adding new sources, be it Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, etc. is simply a short term band-aid. We need to do something more drastic: namely reduce (and eventually eliminate) our dependence on oil based propulsion systems.
To accomplish this, I think that we need to start doing serious work on two things:
1. Alternative energy sources. Perhaps bioDiesel is a good candidate. This won't happen over night, so we had better get started now.
2. More effience use of oil-based propulsion. A gasoline-based fuel cell systems seems like a positive alternative, because it could use the existing infrastructure (gas stations, pipelines, etc). This can start happening as soon as the technology is perfected.
I think that the US should launch an effort, not unlike the Apollo moon program, to develop these new technologies and infrastructures. But as long as the White House is full of former oil company executives (Bush and Cheney) I fear that the odds of this happening are slim.
/Don
My parents continued to rent telephones for many years after they were allowed to purchase their own phones. Why? Because if something broke the phone company would fix it for free.
Later on, the phone company quit offering this service to new customers. That's why senior citizens made up the majority of customers who rented phones. They happen to be the majority of folks who have lived in the same place for the longest time.
So for some customers, renting the phone was a conscience decision.
/Don
I thought that the whole thing was pretty hokey.
One of the judges was an alien, but what of it?
near the end, Skinner was called into his boss' office. So what?
As others have mentioned, the trial was a waste of time.
Muldur is left to continue seeking the truth. And they didn't even kiss!
The only place where there was any real closure was with the CSM. I guess that he's really dead this time.
But they left lot's of room for another movie. Hmm....
Here's a quote from the Web Site:
I should point out that a single WLED provides sufficient light to easily read a book or to study with. My wife, who wholeheartedly assisted me in Nepal in 1999, has amassed ample field evidence to support this last statement. It is very significant to the developing world that these wee marvels of technology can effectively light an entire kitchen table area using less than one watt of electrical power and there are none of the attendant dreadful pollution and fire dangers associated with the use of kerosene lamps.
Please read more of the web site before commenting. /Don
Later in the 1970's there were a couple more attempts to run turbine race cars at Indy, using Allison engines (originally designed for helicopters), but none of these later attempts ever made the race.
BTW, my dad worked for Allison.
/Don
Rubber bands? You gotta be kidding!
A much better way to mate the hose to the copper tubing is to use a hose clamp. These can be obtained from any DIY or auto parts store, and cost less than a dollar each.
1. Hackers break into a popular web site.
2. Use this technology change the Home button on future visitor's browsers to point to a web page that installs a virus on the visitor's machine.
Of course, since all popular web sites are secure this could never happen. :-(
If AOL really does switch browsers, then some interestings may happen that will show us who really has the power to control the Internet. The key issue is whether or not the owners of the non-conforming web sites will fix their sites. If they do, then that would prove that Microsoft does control the net (yet). On the other hand, if the owners of non-conforming sites do not fix their pages, then that proves Microsoft is already in defacto control.
Now some readers are probably dismissing this as too simplistic:
Can AOL really change the net? You gotta be kidding! It's not that simple!
I'm not kidding. I think that it really does come down to AOL vs. MS. The Internet is driven by content, and if a abrupt change by one company (AOL) can reverse the non-conformance trend that Microsoft has been pushing for several years, then that will illustrate just how influencial AOL (by way of it's web brower) can be.
Of course, if AOL's current test is just a bluff to try to improve their business position with Microsoft, then that will prove that MS is already in control.
And that would mean that the sucess of .NET is almost certain.
The Rhino is a very interesting new product, but it's certainly not unique. Check out this recently introduced product from Audiovox.
Another thing worth considering is that these radios are only available in the United States. They are GMRS radios (not FRS) and owners need to have a GMRS license from the FCC (cost $70).
/Don
Consumers recognize the packaging, and that's it.
I basically agree that it's ok for device manufacturers to support WMP format, as long as they continue to support other formats. However, these companies would not have added WMP unless there was an incentive to do so. My guess is that Microsoft has disclosed something to them indicating that consumer demand for WMP support will increase.
The big question is: what information did MS disclose?
With all of the current concern about bombs and the like, this seems like it might be a big hurdle.
What, in your opinion, would be the best way to revoke the DMCA? Should we continue working this through the courts, or focus our efforts on the Congress, or something else?
MS's decision to drop support for Win95 is not surprising, but that does not mean that everyone will immediately rush to the store (or to their IT support group) looking to upgrade. For example, according to a recent article by GartnerGroup, there are still a lot of large corporations using Win95 as their standard desktop OS. I've talked to some corporate IT folks about this, and I believe that there are a couple reasons why they hae not already upgraded:
1. Win95 works. Most office workers don't need anything more than Win95 and Office95. Since it meets their needs, why spend the thousands of dollars that it would cost to buy new software?
2. The effort to migrate thousands of desktops is expensive (advocates of the Linux desktop should remember this). Remember that this is a manual process. So again, don't do it unless it's really necessary.
3. These companies figured out a long time ago how to run Win95 in a stable, reliable way, so they don't need support from MS.
A lot of the desktop hardware that is still running Win95 won't support the newer OSes. As that hardware gets replaced, the final death of Win95 in the corporate environment will begin. But it will take a couple years.
Let's face it, any corporation that starts reformating hard drives and installing Linux on their office workers' PCs would be crazy -- the short term productivity hit while everyone learned the new system would be enormous! This is independent of whether or not there's a friendly Groupware or PIM app available for Linux.
A better solution for corporations would be to start small, and begin by migrating individual desktop applications while keeping the Windows platform. Once all of the desktop apps were switched (in a couple years) then they could switch the OS.
So the goal of creating a usable Linux desktop is noble, but if this is done without thinking about how corporations would actually do the migration, then Linux will never take over the corporate desktop.
Considering that Notes/Domino has about 45% of the Groupware market (it's roughly tied with Exchange) then integration with Lotus would be a good idea. The problem, of couse, is that Notes servers and Domino servers are not 100% compatible (and there is still a sizable population old Notes servers still in use), so to do it right they would have to do some extra work to support both platforms. /Don
I have worked in a couple organizations where schedule estimates are pretty accurate. The key, for these orgs at least, was to follow a structured development model where the requiremenst were well defined in advance. We used the Capability Maturity Model. This methology probably wouldn't work for very small or very large projects, but it works very well for medium sized project.
It's important to note that this methology is independent of programming language, operating system, etc. What is does require, however, is experience. In other words, the longer that you follow the CMM, the better your schedule estimates will be. Also not that everybody related to the progect (System Engineering, Managament, etc.) has to participate. Management in particular has to understand that it is better to have an accurate schedule that ends later than desired than it is to have a schedule that meets the desired end date but that is impossible to meet.
The amazing thing about the CMM is that the higher the rating of the organization, the less stress that the programmers feel when they are doing their work. For me, that makes it all worthwhile.
New York as well as many other states now publish official Do Not Call lists. Telemarketers will be fined if they call someone on the DNC list. The one exception is charitable organizations, who can still make as many calls as they want. In NY the service is free; in some other states (Florida, for example) you have to pay.
We signed up for the NY list as soon as it was offered, and the number of telemarking calls has decreased dramatically since it took affect. We have noticed an increase in telephone surveys, however, so the telemarketers may be pretending to be pollsters (I'm not sure; we never participate in telephone polls.