The store where I worked (1994-5) was in a rural community (we sold a LOT of high gain TV antennas and CB radios, etc), so we didn't push the ID thing too hard. Usually, we asked IF we could have it and if refused, would bypass the entry.
But, we had a ton of repeat customers, so we knew them and didn't even have to ask their names. Most liked that we knew them in that small town sort of way.
The flipside to being in the boonies is that you had some real cretins from the deep hills. I seem to remember a couple of them ended up being banished because they were so difficult to deal with.
Funny Radio Shack story - stopped into the local store a few years ago to pick up some random connectors, etc. Before offering to help me find what I needed, was offered a cell phone and then informed that they have to special order everything on my list. I asked them what they DO offer and was basically told cell phones and a few cables.
My response: "So you're essentially a more expensive and less useful version of Best Buy?".
The guy gave me a foul look and I turned on my heel and left.
For the record, I worked at Radio Shack for a year or so way back when. You were required to take and pass training courses (on basic electrical theory and how to identify and match components such as resistors, capactors, etc) and failure to do so meant termination.
I realize this contradicts what the repubs in congress think, but those jackoffs are either morons or on the payroll of big oil and big coal. I choose to believe the latter
Troll? Really? The world for mod points. Are there a lot of late life conception slashdotters out there?
Not only are late life conception children statistically more likely to have mental "issues" of some nature, I suspect there's a correlation between late life conception and other issues such as bi-polarism and schizophrenia. Evolution favors early and successful reproduction and hasn't had time to deal with reproduction capabilities of long-lifespan organisms.
Mod me down if you want, but controversial does not equal -1 Troll.
A lot of "employable" people can't find jobs, no matter how long/hard they try.
Everyone is employable (contrary to popular belief, there is a surplus of jobs in the US, not a shortage), but not everyone is compatible with the jobs that are available.
Before the mantra of "a living wage" is shouted from the pit, there are lots of jobs available that pay enough to live on. But, the reason they go unfilled is that they, a) require some sort of manual or unpleasant labor, b) require relocation to some social hell hole.
For instance, I've worked in: retail sales, residential construction, farming, a slaughterhouse/meat locker, grocery store, insurance sales, and, of course, I.T.
If you're REALLY worried about feeding your family or paying your bills, you WILL find a way. I found that the insurance business paid much better than the I.T. business, so I made the leap ten years ago. Now, I'm incubating a boat-repair shop on the side to be my eventual escape from the rat-race...
The issue is the mindset that all similar products are direct competitors. A Mac does not necessarily compete with a machine running Linux or Windows. They serve different purposes.
The same with the iPod - it doesn't compete with the $19 cheapie you can buy at Walmart.
If you need a car analogy, BMW and Mercedes Benz do not compete with Ford or Chevrolet. They exist in the same ecosystem, but do not appeal to the same consumers. I can afford a BMW, but drive Fords, because they're better suited to my needs and I am content with their relative quality and value.
Additionally, I personally use a Macbook Pro, have an Ubuntu box in my home office and use XP at work. Each has a niche and fills it well. I prefer the MBP for my day to day machine and am willing to pay for it. I'd love to have a Mac Pro in my home office, but in that environment, it's not necessary.
Apple, Mercedes & BMW don't care that there are lower-budget markets out there. It's not relevant to their business plan. The same for Dell, Ford or Chevrolet, they know that Apple or BMW fans aren't going to buy their products.
Mod up the parent. Tons of ram is the most critical component and a 64-bit host should be mandatory.
Second, a multi-core processor (don't care which, pick your poison) makes things feel snappier.
Lastly, multiple monitors are really nice. Find a card with multiple digital outputs and a couple of decent LCDs make for crisp, fast, and pleasant display. Spend a little jack here - I picked up a set of Viewsonic 19" widescreens recently for about $320 (for two). Go for high-res, it's worth it.
For reference, I'm running a dual core intel (e2140, I think) with 4gb of ram. Ubuntu 8.10 runs virtualbox loaded with win2k8 server and WinXP Pro very nicely. I'm debating on whether to add another 4gb or to build a SATA array for my data and VM images.
Assuming you wanted to power your fridge, furnace circuits & blower, a small TV and a microwave (and never all at the same time), how do you calculate how big of a generator you need?
An inverter genset will allow you to slow the engine down when energy demand is low. These will use the starting battery for surge power as the engine spools up for higher demands.
Now probably isn't the time to think about them, should have bought it 5 years ago...;-)
The strength in Stirling's design is that it's effective at scavenging heat energy. So rather than powering it directly, why not use a traditional ICE or turbine for charging the batteries and then use the Stirling to scavenge energy like subject of this/. article:
Maybe even take it step further and put the Stirling downstream of the steam engine?? With modern alloys and using freon or gaseous ammonia instead of water, you can greatly improve your efficiency.
Do the rest of us who can drive and think for ourselves a favor and move elsewhere.
Speed laws have little more motivation than to generate revenue. These laws were conceived in a period of time when automobiles were little more than powered horse carts and the people operating them had no clue as to time and space.
The automobiles have improved, but the sheltered majority have not. To boot, Darwin's principles have largely been defeated.
Perhaps they could begin their vengeful wrath by hiring a few (more?) winos... You mean like hire back the people who used to maintain the genset and UPS?
Slashdot Mirror
Ya gotta pin it to win it!
The store where I worked (1994-5) was in a rural community (we sold a LOT of high gain TV antennas and CB radios, etc), so we didn't push the ID thing too hard. Usually, we asked IF we could have it and if refused, would bypass the entry.
But, we had a ton of repeat customers, so we knew them and didn't even have to ask their names. Most liked that we knew them in that small town sort of way.
The flipside to being in the boonies is that you had some real cretins from the deep hills. I seem to remember a couple of them ended up being banished because they were so difficult to deal with.
Funny Radio Shack story - stopped into the local store a few years ago to pick up some random connectors, etc. Before offering to help me find what I needed, was offered a cell phone and then informed that they have to special order everything on my list. I asked them what they DO offer and was basically told cell phones and a few cables.
My response: "So you're essentially a more expensive and less useful version of Best Buy?".
The guy gave me a foul look and I turned on my heel and left.
For the record, I worked at Radio Shack for a year or so way back when. You were required to take and pass training courses (on basic electrical theory and how to identify and match components such as resistors, capactors, etc) and failure to do so meant termination.
I refuse to even enter their stores anymore.
It was lifted from a top gear episode.
http://www.jeremyclarkson.co.uk/jc-top-gear-quotes/
OP probably has never a) experienced warm honey doing anything or b) seen a female body, warm or otherwise.
Come on, either make up your own quips or at least attribute the most obscure ones...
I realize this contradicts what the repubs in congress think, but those jackoffs are either morons or on the payroll of big oil and big coal. I choose to believe the latter
I'm inclined to contend that BOTH are true.
Troll? Really? The world for mod points. Are there a lot of late life conception slashdotters out there?
Not only are late life conception children statistically more likely to have mental "issues" of some nature, I suspect there's a correlation between late life conception and other issues such as bi-polarism and schizophrenia. Evolution favors early and successful reproduction and hasn't had time to deal with reproduction capabilities of long-lifespan organisms.
Mod me down if you want, but controversial does not equal -1 Troll.
Sounds like their spokesman switched to something a little slower...
Ah, yes. ./ moderation system finds a boo-boo post and it hits +4 Insightful.
And I thought you *could* train monkeys.
A lot of "employable" people can't find jobs, no matter how long/hard they try.
Everyone is employable (contrary to popular belief, there is a surplus of jobs in the US, not a shortage), but not everyone is compatible with the jobs that are available.
Before the mantra of "a living wage" is shouted from the pit, there are lots of jobs available that pay enough to live on. But, the reason they go unfilled is that they, a) require some sort of manual or unpleasant labor, b) require relocation to some social hell hole.
For instance, I've worked in: retail sales, residential construction, farming, a slaughterhouse/meat locker, grocery store, insurance sales, and, of course, I.T.
If you're REALLY worried about feeding your family or paying your bills, you WILL find a way. I found that the insurance business paid much better than the I.T. business, so I made the leap ten years ago. Now, I'm incubating a boat-repair shop on the side to be my eventual escape from the rat-race...
Spend some time researching the history and methods of the religions for which you hold such regard...
I think that you'll find the similarities to be quite striking.
You give the general populace entirely too much credit.
The issue is the mindset that all similar products are direct competitors. A Mac does not necessarily compete with a machine running Linux or Windows. They serve different purposes.
The same with the iPod - it doesn't compete with the $19 cheapie you can buy at Walmart.
If you need a car analogy, BMW and Mercedes Benz do not compete with Ford or Chevrolet. They exist in the same ecosystem, but do not appeal to the same consumers. I can afford a BMW, but drive Fords, because they're better suited to my needs and I am content with their relative quality and value.
Additionally, I personally use a Macbook Pro, have an Ubuntu box in my home office and use XP at work. Each has a niche and fills it well. I prefer the MBP for my day to day machine and am willing to pay for it. I'd love to have a Mac Pro in my home office, but in that environment, it's not necessary.
Apple, Mercedes & BMW don't care that there are lower-budget markets out there. It's not relevant to their business plan. The same for Dell, Ford or Chevrolet, they know that Apple or BMW fans aren't going to buy their products.
You've never been to Chicago, have you?
Mod up the parent. Tons of ram is the most critical component and a 64-bit host should be mandatory.
Second, a multi-core processor (don't care which, pick your poison) makes things feel snappier.
Lastly, multiple monitors are really nice. Find a card with multiple digital outputs and a couple of decent LCDs make for crisp, fast, and pleasant display. Spend a little jack here - I picked up a set of Viewsonic 19" widescreens recently for about $320 (for two). Go for high-res, it's worth it.
For reference, I'm running a dual core intel (e2140, I think) with 4gb of ram. Ubuntu 8.10 runs virtualbox loaded with win2k8 server and WinXP Pro very nicely. I'm debating on whether to add another 4gb or to build a SATA array for my data and VM images.
Funny, I didn't think he'd been doing anything important for that past 20 years or so...
More likely it's to feed the parasitic legal industry and associated government revenue base that has sprung up around it.
I used to wonder why we need so many cops patrolling the highways...
Assuming you wanted to power your fridge, furnace circuits & blower, a small TV and a microwave (and never all at the same time), how do you calculate how big of a generator you need?
This is a good place to start:
https://www.ch.cutler-hammer.com/generatorCalc/wattshow.jsp
Chris
As a tip, get a generator that uses an inverter. They run quieter and are less likely to damage electronics if you run out of fuel with them.
Uh, huh - they're not cheap, but worth the brass (plus you get beautiful, perfect sines from them).
I personally have the 3.2K:
http://www.robinamerica.com/series.aspx?sid=14
An inverter genset will allow you to slow the engine down when energy demand is low. These will use the starting battery for surge power as the engine spools up for higher demands.
Now probably isn't the time to think about them, should have bought it 5 years ago... ;-)
Chris
It's a shame you posted AC. I would have modded you up.
Sick, but true.
The strength in Stirling's design is that it's effective at scavenging heat energy. So rather than powering it directly, why not use a traditional ICE or turbine for charging the batteries and then use the Stirling to scavenge energy like subject of this /. article:
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/12/15/0037238
Maybe even take it step further and put the Stirling downstream of the steam engine?? With modern alloys and using freon or gaseous ammonia instead of water, you can greatly improve your efficiency.
Idiot. And who's watching?
Do the rest of us who can drive and think for ourselves a favor and move elsewhere.
Speed laws have little more motivation than to generate revenue. These laws were conceived in a period of time when automobiles were little more than powered horse carts and the people operating them had no clue as to time and space.
The automobiles have improved, but the sheltered majority have not. To boot, Darwin's principles have largely been defeated.
To shame.
You're posting on Slashdot, so I doubt the validity of your statement... :-P
"They call me the wookie man, I guess that's what I am"
The Rush reference in your sig redeems all else...
It doesn't matter what Google's motivation is. As long as there is SOME competition in this area, it's positive.