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User: mhajicek

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  1. Re:Will it really matter? on School District Drops 'D' Grades · · Score: 1

    In machining there's a saying: "You can't inspect quality into a part." That means that if a part was made out of tolerance, no amount of measuring will make it right. The same holds true in education. What's being done here is simply a change in the tolerance, which will have no effect on the quality of the part or student, except to fail more of them. To actually improve the quality of a part, one needs process control, which is an analysis of what variables effect the quality of the part, and process improvement, which applies that knowledge. To improve the quality of the students, one would need to analyze the teaching process, determine what variables effect the outcome, and change methodology to maximize results. Now the public school system in my experience is like a factory, expecting consistent, uniform raw materials. If the input to a uniform process is consistent, the output can be consistent. However, since people aren't uniform, variable input must be accounted for. In a manufacturing environment this would be handles by sorting stock into batches of small / medium / large stock, indicating a part in before running, etc. In education the teaching methods need to be tailored to the student, because the student will not conform to the teaching method. I've heard that schools in Europe do just that; they sort students by aptitude into different kinds of schools aimed at different professions.

  2. Re:How about... on School District Drops 'D' Grades · · Score: 1

    Actually, most people get by just fine being mediocre. There's plenty of middle ground in real life; this isn't the Colosseum where all but the winner are killed. Do they fire all the drivers who don't place in the top three? No, they still pay them and try to get them doing better next time. When hiring, sometimes the most qualified are turned away because they're worth too much; a more mediocre employee is more economical and less likely to leave for a better paying position elsewhere. Mediocre women tend to choose mediocre mates, and guess what: even below average people still manage to reproduce. A fact of life is that "good enough" is really good enough. Not everyone can be exceptional.

  3. Re:no-harm no-foul on Tennessee Town Releases Red Light Camera Stats · · Score: 1

    Most people don't use turn signals at all. I'm surprised police don't ticket for that more often.

  4. Re:Ya forget AT&T, ask the FBI on AT&T Won't Block Black Hat Eavesdropping Demo · · Score: 1

    I've got one, it's incredibly weak.

  5. Re:Conditions Apply on Nuclear Energy Now More Expensive Than Solar · · Score: 1

    Use the power to pump water up a tower during the day, then use hydroelectric from the tower at night or during other non-sunny conditions.

  6. Re:Brakes, please. Please? on The Physics of a Rolling Rubber Band · · Score: 1

    One of my pet peeves: "Less" vs. "Fewer". You can have "fewer people" under normal circumstances, but if you have "less people" it implies that they've been mashed up to the point you can't tell where one ends and the other begins, like oatmeal.

  7. Re:Cool on Buckyballs Detected In Space · · Score: 1

    Some small percentage of carbon soot from poorly burning acetylene is naturally buckyballs and tubes. The hard part is separating them out, or making a larger percentage of the soot become fullerenes.

  8. Re:Asimov's Profession on Brain Scans May Help Guide Career Choice · · Score: 1

    Not everyone will become or even wants to be an astronaut and are perfectly happy as a mechanic or something.

    While I agree with your main point, I would like to mention that there are many adept programmers who would never make it as a mechanic. Mechanics are necessary in our society, as are many other professions requiring mechanical aptitude. It irks me that people seem to have an attitude that people that actually move atoms around in the real world are the bottom feeders of society, who only do it because they're not good enough to push paper or flip bits. When it comes down to it though, it's moving atoms around that makes the real difference. Pushing paper and flipping bits is only really useful when it supports the moving of atoms. Consider also that the best engineers (who designed all those nifty gadgets you love, and the manufacturing processes that bring them into existence) are the ones with real world manufacturing experience, so that they understand manufacturing processes and machine design on a nearly instinctual level. You can't get that level of understanding purely from book learning.

  9. Re:Drink too much... on The World's Strongest, Most Expensive Beer Served Inside a Squirrel · · Score: 1

    Why is that rated zero? It's relevant, and I know at least the lobster part is true.

  10. Re:Certificate revoked on Microsoft Has No Plans To Patch New Flaw · · Score: 1

    This can be worked around, but the steps are quite arcane. It's pretty annoying if you want to things like run unofficial drivers, making it arguably the biggest flaw in 64-bit Windows.

    Which is why I run in "test mode".

  11. Re:Back in the good ol days on India's New Rupee Symbol Won't Show On Computers · · Score: 1

    It's for making ASCII graphics.

  12. Re:White Cardboard. on Infants Ingest 77 Times the Safe Level of Dioxin · · Score: 1

    I get my milk in a plastic jug.

  13. Re:What if... on Electric Cars Won't Strain the Power Grid · · Score: 1

    If we're currently using 28 exajoules at about 30% efficiency, then at 80% efficiency (reasonably obtainable with regenerating electrics) we should only need 10.5 exajoules. Add in the fact that much of that could be generated much closer to the point of use, and you'll significantly reduce the energy used to transport energy (tanker trucks etc.) As for generating that energy, many more people will invest in a home generation system (solar / wind / whatever) if it can power their car as well as their home.

  14. Re:I wonder if they survive... on SETI Institute Is Looking For a Few Good Algorithms · · Score: 1

    Seriously that's not too far out. It may be that most intelligent species extinctify themselves within a few hundred years of their industrial revolution.

  15. Re:Anyone who is stupid enough to work with the RI on RIAA Accounting — How Labels Avoid Paying Musicians · · Score: 2, Informative

    Why do people act like iTunes is the only alternative to brick-and-mortar? Try www.gomusicnow.com or any of a dozen other sites. Better pricing, plenty of selection, and no DRM.

  16. Re:I say let them cheat on Colleges Stepping Up Anti-Cheating Technology · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I had the opportunity to mentor someone who hadn't yet finished a Bachelors degree.

    That's a rather small sample size with which to shift your paradigm.

  17. Re:Surveillance on US Plans Cyber Shield For Private Companies and Utilities · · Score: 1

    Fiber splices can be detected with the proper technology.

  18. Re:IPO: It's Probably Overpriced, but... on Tesla IPO Raises $226 Million · · Score: 1

    The Tesla is not an economy car, it's a performance car. It doesn't have a super high top speed, but unless you're on a track you can't use that anyway. It does have kick-ass acceleration and superb handling, which can be used legally on the street. Compare using a Tesla for commuting to work and back to using a Ferrari, Lambo, or Merc; the Tesla wins in all respects.

  19. Re:step #1, ignore the phone when it rings on Hooked On Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price · · Score: 1

    That's the nice thing about having your friends / spouse text you; you can look at it when you have a spare moment. Also if I'm talking with someone and I get a call, I look to see who's calling and decide which is more important at the moment. I don't answer blocked calls at any time.

  20. Re:War is not pretty on Claimed US Military Wikileaks Source Arrested · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Please keep in mind that all "insurgents" are civilians. There is no official "insurgent army" with uniforms and command structure.

  21. Re:And in the other direction... on California Judge Routes Campaign Robocalls Through Colorado · · Score: 1

    Great idea. Hey, I have an idea how to market it...

  22. Re:Radar is often crap anyways on Guess My Speed and Give Me a Ticket, In Ohio · · Score: 1

    You got lucky.

  23. Re:Don't visit NC on Guess My Speed and Give Me a Ticket, In Ohio · · Score: 1

    Get a transcript and get that judge disbarred.

  24. Re:Old News on Guess My Speed and Give Me a Ticket, In Ohio · · Score: 1

    I have a problem with the premise that your accuser is the only witness. If the officer's testimony is accepted as more valid than the defendants, then the defendant is guilty until proven innocent.

  25. Re:GPS on Guess My Speed and Give Me a Ticket, In Ohio · · Score: 1

    That all depends on the judge. When my wife asked if the prosecution needed to provide proof that she was speeding, asserting that she was innocent until proven guilty, she was told by the judge "This is traffic court, the constitution doesn't apply here!"