The very economical cars like the VW Diesel ARE light! You are comparing the tanks of that era, not the econoboxes like the Rabbit.
"Furthermore, newer cars aren't "safer"."
Crash tests (and casualty rates) beg to differ. That are different from "fender benders" where heavily built vehicles win at low velocity impacts.
I have a 1986 crew cab C-30 wrecker with a push bumper made of I-beam. The cross brace is one-piece of railroad rail which is a counterweight for towing. It isn't soft, but the OTHER systems that truck doesn't have, such as a robust cab, air bags, etc matter greatly in crashes.
I've cut up and parted out at least a couple hundred vehicles including MANY wrecks over the years. One sees far fewer bloody vehicles, or interiors showing impacts from flail injuries, nowadays. (I like my 1970s/80s trucks, but wouldn't like to flail against that metal interior in a crash.)
"They handle better and are more controllable due to innovations in suspension and steering, and have a safer compartment resulting in better safety, but the vehicles themselves are less likely to survive even a 'mild' fender bender without thousands of dollars in a rebuild."
That compartment works well, as does the design which sacrifices the "crush zones" to protect the passengers by absorbing energy. The "crew" lives, the vehicle is expendable. A total loss (which often is merely an insurance writeoff, I've repaired enough of them) of vehicle is preferable to increased injuries to passengers. (A similar philosophy is used in mine-resistant vehicles, where the suspension is designed to be blown off so it doesn't tamp blast.)
"Crushed" crush zones mean the vehicle did its job. Scattered plastic such as bumper covers reflect that the metal went into the unibody or body and frame.
"I don't expect them to have been very popular for vinyl ripping."
I must have been hallucinating the many reel-to-reels we used at the time (early 1980s). Standard procedure was buy an album, play it once, then rip what you like. Store vinyl, play reel-to-reel for long listening sessions, and rip to (expendable) cassette for car or Walkman use. Typical processing included Burwen Research boxes for reducing noise on imperfect LPs.
The home PC replaced a LOT of once-expensive equipment.
They certainly WERE intended to be used, but not casually. The aircraft carrying gravity nukes which sat Zulu Alert in Europe and South Korea were instantly ready to turn a Communist ground attack into burnt wreckage, and given Communist indifference to casualties (can you say "human wave attacks"?) they were an appropriate card to have on the table.
Nuclear deterrence rests on genuine willingness to use those weapons, at any level required, without a flicker of hesitation. Study a bit more about the Cold War, and about the effort to determine the consequences of various levels (yes, they exist) of nuclear war from tactical through strategic.
Never forget that atmospheric testing PROVED tactical nuclear weapons (can be) just another tool in the toolbox, and that detonation of a modest number of strategic nukes won't be a world-ender. For example, India and Pakistan could unload on each other and India could survive with enough people to finish off Pakistan.
The pressure cabin (which is a long way from being the whole hull) is (mostly) air tight, but don't forget that it is PRESSURIZED by the environmental control system, which is typically driven by engine bleed air.
A static, unpowered hull isn't airtight nor pressurized.
Aircraft aren't designed to be parked for years without pressure washing, inspections, corrosion repair, and repaint. Park 'em near salt water and things get much worse.
There is good reason the AMARC "Boneyard" is at Davis-Monthan.
"Alternately, can you get a good price on a B52 in mothball?"
Most of them have been chopped as part of START treaty compliance and the rest are retained for parts. (Neat to watch in person. The blade crashed through the fuselage like a meat cleaver through a stick of butter.) You could likely contact dismantlers near AMARC about old military transport hulls.
An objective test is required. I suggest a sample of ten babies of the same weight.
Drop a 200KG slug of Black Silicon from a height of two meters on five of them, then drop a 200KG slug of White Silicon on the other five. High-speed video could monitor plastic deformation and splatter.
Slashdot Mirror
"Mozilla should make a kitchen recipe sorter instead."
An Open Source wife? What a novel idea.
... faster flash-crashing (no, not Flash) stockmarket overlords!
"As it is now, I tend to use XFCE the most."
It IS fast. Given the convenience, everyone ought to try a few window managers.
"So I'll be skipping this upgrade and sticking with my White Anal Dildo OS."
Screenshots?
Oh, erm. Perhaps not.
That post is worthless without pics!
"which is not the purpose of Slashdot."
Well, WASN'T the purpose of Slashdot, which is morphing into AppleIdleDot.
"Those older vehicles were not light."
The very economical cars like the VW Diesel ARE light! You are comparing the tanks of that era, not the econoboxes like the Rabbit.
"Furthermore, newer cars aren't "safer"."
Crash tests (and casualty rates) beg to differ. That are different from "fender benders" where heavily built vehicles win at low velocity impacts.
I have a 1986 crew cab C-30 wrecker with a push bumper made of I-beam. The cross brace is one-piece of railroad rail which is a counterweight for towing. It isn't soft, but the OTHER systems that truck doesn't have, such as a robust cab, air bags, etc matter greatly in crashes.
I've cut up and parted out at least a couple hundred vehicles including MANY wrecks over the years. One sees far fewer bloody vehicles, or interiors showing impacts from flail injuries, nowadays. (I like my 1970s/80s trucks, but wouldn't like to flail against that metal interior in a crash.)
"They handle better and are more controllable due to innovations in suspension and steering, and have a safer compartment resulting in better safety, but the vehicles themselves are less likely to survive even a 'mild' fender bender without thousands of dollars in a rebuild."
That compartment works well, as does the design which sacrifices the "crush zones" to protect the passengers by absorbing energy. The "crew" lives, the vehicle is expendable. A total loss (which often is merely an insurance writeoff, I've repaired enough of them) of vehicle is preferable to increased injuries to passengers. (A similar philosophy is used in mine-resistant vehicles, where the suspension is designed to be blown off so it doesn't tamp blast.)
"Crushed" crush zones mean the vehicle did its job. Scattered plastic such as bumper covers reflect that the metal went into the unibody or body and frame.
"American-business-talking-point-regurgitator or autonomous thought, choose one."
Owner of various A1 and A2-bodied VWs, and experienced mechanic. :)
Older cars were so economical because they were so light. Newer cars are far more robust in an accident.
Safety or economy, choose one.
"I don't expect them to have been very popular for vinyl ripping."
I must have been hallucinating the many reel-to-reels we used at the time (early 1980s). Standard procedure was buy an album, play it once, then rip what you like. Store vinyl, play reel-to-reel for long listening sessions, and rip to (expendable) cassette for car or Walkman use. Typical processing included Burwen Research boxes for reducing noise on imperfect LPs.
The home PC replaced a LOT of once-expensive equipment.
Twin-deck home units were very common for that purpose.
It was also the first convenient format for file sharing.
Reel-to-reel tape decks were "servers" to which vinyl records were ripped. Sneakernet took care of the logistics.
Now help me find my lawn...
"Problem is, it was supposed to be a liberation, not a war."
Good thing we didn't have more public interest in the "liberation process" (as opposed to the conventional force-on-force battles) of Europe.
The idea that these things can be anything other that awkward, horrible bloodbaths has always been absurd.
"Never put anything on Facebook that you would not tell your parents and your boss."
Never put anything on the internet you wouldn't post on 4chan.
"So why the hate?"
I can see the King Ranch place-name monicker as being a standard like Buick "Park Avenue"
As for the Harley Edition, it's as asstastic as wearing a Harley t-shirt when you aren't a biker.
"and really break immersion with their gargling and staring (and shitting!)."
_Never_ play Nursing Home or Hospice IRL! Years of GSS, then death.
"they are not intended to actually be used,"
They certainly WERE intended to be used, but not casually. The aircraft carrying gravity nukes which sat Zulu Alert in Europe and South Korea were instantly ready to turn a Communist ground attack into burnt wreckage, and given Communist indifference to casualties (can you say "human wave attacks"?) they were an appropriate card to have on the table.
Nuclear deterrence rests on genuine willingness to use those weapons, at any level required, without a flicker of hesitation. Study a bit more about the Cold War, and about the effort to determine the consequences of various levels (yes, they exist) of nuclear war from tactical through strategic.
Never forget that atmospheric testing PROVED tactical nuclear weapons (can be) just another tool in the toolbox, and that detonation of a modest number of strategic nukes won't be a world-ender. For example, India and Pakistan could unload on each other and India could survive with enough people to finish off Pakistan.
"Silicon Valley may be a hub for design but other parts of the country have far more expertise in nuts-and-bolts manufacturing."
Lower wages, low energy costs, low cost of living, and no unions make South Carolina competitive. BMW didn't locate here by mistake, nor did Boeing.
Price yourself out of the market and the market will adapt.
The pressure cabin (which is a long way from being the whole hull) is (mostly) air tight, but don't forget that it is PRESSURIZED by the environmental control system, which is typically driven by engine bleed air.
A static, unpowered hull isn't airtight nor pressurized.
Aircraft aren't designed to be parked for years without pressure washing, inspections, corrosion repair, and repaint. Park 'em near salt water and things get much worse.
There is good reason the AMARC "Boneyard" is at Davis-Monthan.
"You should see what happened to my pony, mister."
Poor Mr. Hands. He was such a nice pony.
"Alternately, can you get a good price on a B52 in mothball?"
Most of them have been chopped as part of START treaty compliance and the rest are retained for parts. (Neat to watch in person. The blade crashed through the fuselage like a meat cleaver through a stick of butter.) You could likely contact dismantlers near AMARC about old military transport hulls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bsWUO4o8I4
It should. The PS3 isn't a necessity, it's a TOY. Games are toys. Attractive toys, but don't forget that.
Toys are fun, but there are many different toys so not having a particular toy shouldn't matter much.
"Black Silicon Kills Babies!"
An objective test is required. I suggest a sample of ten babies of the same weight.
Drop a 200KG slug of Black Silicon from a height of two meters on five of them, then drop a 200KG slug of White Silicon on the other five. High-speed video could monitor plastic deformation and splatter.
"And scientists, like pretty much everyone, SHOULD stay and fight for what they believe rather than fleeing."
Religious societies that attack science don't deserve scientific assistance. Punishing them by abandonment is justice.