For example, the keyboards are milled from one single piece of wood, so that the age-lines go through the entire keyboard and the keys.
That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It would be interesting to see one of the keyboards or mice after a couple of years of continuous use. I'm sure there would be all sorts of interesting wear and colouration.
Is it possible to be a wood geek? Mmmm, hardwoods.
I'm sure there is some cognitive science to explain this, but when I am trying hard to understand something I need to see it on paper. Even on a large monitor, man pages become a blur to me about 2 pages down. The only way I can get things through my thick skull somtimes is to walk away from the computer and sit down with a book. (Be it *nix or hydraulic design) Another advantage of the paper version is you can scribble notes in the margin.
I remember buying this book when I went back to school in 91. Contrary to the review, I did teach myself Unix from this book. (Although I probably had some *nix background from my VAX account when I first went to university back in the 80s.) None of the kids (that I met) coming out of high school had a clue what they could do with a shell account. Gopher, LYNX, PINE, the good old days. I lent that book to everyone from Comp. Eng. friends to cute girls in Psych. Sadly, I lost track of it. The company library has a copy, but I am thinking I may get a copy for nostalgias sake.
The best example of this I've seen is a professor I spoke with back in university, Dr. David Parnas. He was a member of a high profile panel on computing in battle management. He resigned and wrote a number of memos critical of SDI from the perspective that the complex computer systems that would be required to control antimissile systems couldn't be proved to be correct. Since they were essentially single use systems, they wouldn't benefit from day-to-day use to debug them. And of course the consequences of failure were enormous.
To this day, that story remains with me as the most admirable instance of an engineer upholding his or her responsibility to society.
faulty instruction controlling a safety valve. ???
In my experience, safety valves are mechanical devices. Period. The thought of a DCS controlled safety valve sends chills down my spine. I've heard of using automatic (read computer controlled) systems being used to reduce safety valve loads, but even then the redundancy necessary is very high.
Yes, mechanical safety valves can fail. But they are designed to "fail-safe". As someone who designs a fair number of relief systems, I would only rely on a software solution in this service if it could be proved correct mathematically.
Nope. I am a Chem Eng and wear mine every day. All of the accredited engineering disciplines are eligible (Mech, Elec, Civ, etc.)
The issue of "accredited" engineering disciplines is currently in the spotlight in Canada. You cannot call yourself an engineer in Canada unless you are a registered professional engineer with one of the provincial associations. This is by law and they do prosecute if you are practicing without a license. The main requirements of a P. Eng. is an accredited degree and anywhere from 2-4 years practical experience, depending on the province.
At least one Canadian university is offering a "Software Engineering" program through it's accredited school of engineering. The provincial association is refusing to recognize software engineering as a professional engineering discipline and is threatening to take away the accreditation of the entire department to re-inforce it's point.
I have to say I am mostly in favour of such a move. I take my professional responsibility to society very seriously. Of all the the registered professionals (doctors, lawyers), engineers are the only ones not responsible to an individual but to society as a whole. Our mistakes can affect the lives or standard of living of large groups of people. That's why we carry liability insurance, either corporate or individual. Software engineering, even if it could be somehow licensed, just doesn't have this element of liability and accountability for failure. I reject the argument that software is too complex to assign accountability to an individual. I work in the oil refining industry and everywhere I turn, I see a potential failure point.
The "smoking crack" comments got so bad where I work that we had to negotiate a "crack moratorium" as too many old timers would overhear the comments and start giving us funny looks.
The DVD release that is nudging me towards taking the plungs is definitely Clerks. Hopefully this summer. But GB would be a nice addition to the collection.
Of course the other thing holding me back from DVD is that I would need a new TV to really appreciate it. But hey, it's only money.
But the first thing that crossed my mind was to copy the text, change the dates to this year or next, and send it off to some of my less science literate friends.
It was in the internet, it has to be true. (You should see the fun I have with doctored press releases, put Reuters or AP at the beginning of any bit of text and people will believe nearly anything.);-)
This article raises a good point about Network Solutions trying to increase their profile before they lose their monopoly. I especially like this tidbit from their explanation of why you should register.net and.org while you are registering a.com: (Being a dumb Canadian, I guess I read to much into the difference btw. the 3 TLD's.)
So, come to Network Solutions to Register the Web Address you need... we're the dot com people and we've put more.com,.net and.org Web Addresses into service than every other Internet company combined.
Funny how that works when you have a "lucrative, exclusive government agreement"!!! And luckily it's with the government of internet inventor, Al Gore.
Slashdot Mirror
For example, the keyboards are milled from one single piece of wood, so that the age-lines go through the entire keyboard and the keys.
That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It would be interesting to see one of the keyboards or mice after a couple of years of continuous use. I'm sure there would be all sorts of interesting wear and colouration.
Is it possible to be a wood geek? Mmmm, hardwoods.
Am I the only one who wants to see "Listen to the Flower People" used in an M$ commercial as "Listen to the Bunnypeople"? ;-)
Having a fun day!
I'm sure there is some cognitive science to explain this, but when I am trying hard to understand something I need to see it on paper. Even on a large monitor, man pages become a blur to me about 2 pages down. The only way I can get things through my thick skull somtimes is
to walk away from the computer and sit down with a book. (Be it *nix or hydraulic design)
Another advantage of the paper version is you can scribble notes in the margin.
I remember buying this book when I went back to school in 91. Contrary to the review, I did teach myself Unix from this book. (Although I probably had some *nix background from my VAX account when I first went to university back in the 80s.) None of the kids (that I met) coming out of high school had a clue what they could do with a shell account. Gopher, LYNX, PINE, the good old days. I lent that book to everyone from Comp. Eng. friends to cute girls in Psych. Sadly, I lost track of it. The company library has a copy, but I am thinking I may get a copy for nostalgias sake.
Say the Python (Monty, not the language) foot stomping a Palm Pilot?
While you were there you could pick up Bill & friends and become a hardware/software juggernaut. ;-)
BUY BILL!
The best example of this I've seen is a professor I spoke with back in university, Dr. David Parnas. He was a member of a high profile panel on computing in battle management. He resigned and wrote a number of memos critical of SDI from the perspective that the complex computer systems that would be required to control antimissile systems couldn't be proved to be correct. Since they were essentially single use systems, they wouldn't benefit from day-to-day use to debug them. And of course the consequences of failure were enormous.
To this day, that story remains with me as the most admirable instance of an engineer upholding his or her responsibility to society.
faulty instruction controlling a safety valve. ???
In my experience, safety valves are mechanical devices. Period. The thought of a DCS controlled safety valve sends chills down my spine. I've heard of using automatic (read computer controlled) systems being used to reduce safety valve loads, but even then the redundancy necessary is very high.
Yes, mechanical safety valves can fail. But they are designed to "fail-safe". As someone who designs a fair number of relief systems, I would only rely on a software solution in this service if it could be proved correct mathematically.
Nope. I am a Chem Eng and wear mine every day. All of the accredited engineering disciplines are eligible (Mech, Elec, Civ, etc.)
The issue of "accredited" engineering disciplines is currently in the spotlight in Canada. You cannot call yourself an engineer in Canada unless you are a registered professional engineer with one of the provincial associations. This is by law and they do prosecute if you are practicing without a license. The main requirements of a P. Eng. is an accredited degree and anywhere from 2-4 years practical experience, depending on the province.
At least one Canadian university is offering a "Software Engineering" program through it's accredited school of engineering. The provincial association is refusing to recognize software engineering as a professional engineering discipline and is threatening to take away the accreditation of the entire department to re-inforce it's point.
I have to say I am mostly in favour of such a move. I take my professional responsibility to society very seriously. Of all the the registered professionals (doctors, lawyers), engineers are the only ones not responsible to an individual but to society as a whole. Our mistakes can affect the lives or standard of living of large groups of people. That's why we carry liability insurance, either corporate or individual. Software engineering, even if it could be somehow licensed, just doesn't have this element of liability and accountability for failure. I reject the argument that software is too complex to assign accountability to an individual. I work in the oil refining industry and everywhere I turn, I see a potential failure point.
The "smoking crack" comments got so bad where I work that we had to negotiate a "crack moratorium" as too many old timers would overhear the comments and start giving us funny looks.
But Kevin Smith: God
The DVD release that is nudging me towards taking the plungs is definitely Clerks. Hopefully this summer. But GB would be a nice addition to the collection.
Of course the other thing holding me back from DVD is that I would need a new TV to really appreciate it. But hey, it's only money.
But the first thing that crossed my mind was to copy the text, change the dates to this year or next, and send it off to some of my less science literate friends.
;-)
It was in the internet, it has to be true. (You should see the fun I have with doctored press releases, put Reuters or AP at the beginning of any bit of text and people will believe nearly anything.)
Alberta is in the Mountain Time Zone.
Silly American.
UF is actually in Vancouver, which is in the Pacific Time Zone.
Whenever I'm camping (now that spring is here, every weekend!) I would need a satellite phone to be found. Damn unlikely I'll ever spring for that.
:-)
Now a 2-way radio, that is a great gadget to take camping. Gotta watch out fo them logging trucks.
This article raises a good point about Network Solutions trying to increase their profile before they lose their monopoly. I especially like this tidbit from their explanation of why you should register .net and .org while you are registering a .com: (Being a dumb Canadian, I guess I read to much into the difference btw. the 3 TLD's.)
.com, .net and .org Web Addresses into service than every other Internet company combined.
So, come to Network Solutions to Register the Web Address you need... we're the dot com people and we've put more
Funny how that works when you have a "lucrative, exclusive government agreement"!!! And luckily it's with the government of internet inventor, Al Gore.
As an engineer, I'd say the glass has a conservative design factor which would allow for future expansion. ;-)
A computer that's a Mac one minute and a PC the next? I own one. (Anyone remember the PowerMac 6100 DOS compatibles?)
I have to be a smart ass because although my computer has 2 motherboards, neither is terribly useful.
Seen in the laser doppler interferrometry lab when I was in school, on a small label under the aperture of one of the lasers:
"Do not look into laser with remaining eye."