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  1. It depends on the driver on Should I Take Toyota's Software Update? · · Score: 1

    That's great if the car is being driven by someone with strong legs.

    Many people can't (or won't) press the brake pedal hard enough to stop their car if the throttle is held wide-open.

    Years (15 or more) ago there was a problem with the cruise control on some Ford cars where if one of the wires got shorted to ground the cruise module would pull the throttle wide-open. Some Ford engineers had looked into the problem and instrumented a car's brake pedal with a scale so they could tell how hard the driver was pushing down on the brake pedal. It took 275 pounds of pressure to bring a car to a stop.

    There are many older people and others who can't do 275 lbs on the leg-press.

  2. The service manual on Should I Take Toyota's Software Update? · · Score: 1

    That's very detailed information. Where are you getting this from?

    Reread the second line of Zurk's post:

    From the toyota camry VSRM

    The Vehicle Service Repair Manual - the manual Toyota has produced that tells people how to diagnose and repair the car and how its systems work.

    If you're at all technical and interested in how things work, reading the factory repair manual for your car can be hours of fun. There's all kinds of trivia in there. Most people don't know that the engine computer in many GM cars won't let the engine exceed 4000 RPM if the car's in reverse, for example.

  3. You missed a key detail on Officers Lose 243 Homeland Security Guns · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, this is very common.

    Yes, but law enforcement vehicles which need to be left running are equipped with a lockout switch which keeps the engine running and the accessories energized without allowing the vehicle to be driven

    You start the car normally, turn on the lockout switch, and then remove the ignition key. The car can be shut off by turning the lockout switch off, but it cannot be restarted or driven without the ignition key.

    There's never a good reason to leave the keys in a running and unattended vehicle. This is what the officer in question did.

  4. Just bite the bullet pull Cat6 on Suggestions For a Coax-To-Ethernet Solution? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you have access to the attic, it may be a full day's work to wire the whole house, but you'll be far better off pulling the correct wiring into place. Buy a 500ft box of cable and the appropriate wall jacks and plates and make a day of it. It's not hard with a fish tape or fish sticks (those bendy fiberglass poles for running wires).

    I have been using an 802.11N bridge to connect my upstairs printer/scanner/thing and I have another computer up there with a wireless bridge and it's a pain compared to the situation downstairs where I ran Cat6 to a patch panel in the basement.

    Buying all the cable, jacks and plates has cost less than the single 802.11N bridge, and I have gigabit Ethernet for my devices. The wiring is simple and once it's in place it's done.

  5. The Queen would box your ears on Interstellar Hydrogen Prevents Light-Speed Travel? · · Score: 1

    Personal Pet Peeve:

    Americans who butcher the queen's english and then cringe when they hear/see it spoken/written correctly.

    Personal Pet Peeve:

    Brits who aren't aware that American English is actually closer to the way British English was spoken 200 years ago than the current form of British English is now. Are you sure you know who the butchers are? You didn't even capitalize "Queen" or "English".

    While the word "gotten" takes a while to get used to (it's actually correct, but I agree with the way the British dropped the "ten" out of laziness), the spelling simplifications make great sense.

    The "u" has no business being in "color" (it has no function and makes the word look a bit French), and the "o" has no reason to be in words like "fetus" other than to confuse children when they are learning to read. The "o" doesn't modify the "e" sound, so it doesn't belong in there.

  6. Re:Seriously? on Comcast Shoots For New Image, Rebranding As Xfinity · · Score: 1

    Your landlord is probably legally prohibited from preventing you getting phone wiring reinstalled. If you order phone service and DSL from your phone company they will probably install the wiring to a single jack.

  7. Re:kind of, but doing it badly on Comcast Shoots For New Image, Rebranding As Xfinity · · Score: 1

    I can't believe I put an apostrophe in the word "want".

  8. kind of, but doing it badly on Comcast Shoots For New Image, Rebranding As Xfinity · · Score: 1

    Except Uverse is a different service than anything AT&T was offering before. It's IPTV with fiber to the neighborhood. I have it, and it works really well.

    Comcast is just changing the name of the same service they're already selling. That sounds like something companies do when their product is known for killing people and they wan't everyone to forget that.

  9. Re:Let's just hope... on Interstellar Hydrogen Prevents Light-Speed Travel? · · Score: 1

    The faulty parts were actually made in America, ...blah blah blah nonsense

    Actually, there were reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota cars built before Toyota started using American made throttle pedal assemblies.

    The problem lies with the Toyota pedal design (designed by Toyota, I might add), or Toyota's engine control system, also designed by Toyota.

  10. Re:Sandisk suck on Quality Concerns For Kingston microSD Cards · · Score: 2, Insightful

    His answer was that, if I didn't like it, I shouldn't have taken it out of its box in the first place and plenty of people like it so why don't I just shut the hell up?

    Charmers.

    Your mistake was calling their UK support line. You're lucky they didn't insult your parentage too.

  11. Not Ford... on Porsche Unveils 911 Hybrid With Flywheel Booster · · Score: 1

    From TFA: "This generator stores energy each time the vehicle breaks..."

    Just think of what this technology could do in the hands of Ford!

    Better yet, Toyota. Their cars already accelerate out of control - with the added energy from the flywheel system just think what they could do.

  12. This is the real world of research on Yale Switching To Gmail, Not Without Opposition · · Score: 1

    What kind of sadist sends 10MB attachments?

    Anybody doing research.

    Seriously, I've had 30MB attachments show up. 10MB is nothing when you're talking about a research paper written in MS Word.

    Before you tell us how they should be using a magical free alternative to Word that produces tiny files yet has all the same capabilities, these papers have to be read by management types at the sponsoring organizations (often the Federal government) so sending them anything other than a Word document is out.

  13. Wow, they're strict! on Appeals Court Rules On Internet Obscenity Standards · · Score: 4, Funny

    We just need to file a lawsuit in Fascistville, Texas to have the whole internet taken down for obscenity. Trust me, I'm a Texan--we've got plenty of towns that would do.

    They're so strict they don't even allow proportionally spaced fonts!

  14. Re:Seatbelt law enforcement varies state to state on Phone and Text Bans On Drivers Shown Ineffective · · Score: 1

    No, I never bought a Chrysler (or for that matter Ford) police car, and nothing that old. Only Chevrolet Caprices.

    For me, it was game over for police cars once the Caprice went out of production. They still don't have anything comparable in terms of reliability, performance, handling (cop cars corner!), comfort, and even the interior materials were better than the competition.

    Plus, I like smaller cars now.

  15. Summary incorrect - they're not rubber bullets on Gun With Wireless Arming Signal Goes On Sale Soon · · Score: 1

    Civilians can already buy "rubber bullets". If you actually read the article and look at the pictures, you'll see that the projectiles in question are not the things usually referred to as rubber bullets.

    The difference is that the rounds in the article feature projectiles that are designed to be so soft that they are unlikely to kill. They are almost completely unlike rubber bullets.

    Normal rubber bullets are exactly that - bullets made of rubber. These are different because they are not bullet-shaped, and the rubber compound is softer. It's more akin to the difference between being hit by a rubber ball or a wadded up ball of paper.

    The plus side, for someone using the koosh-style shotgun rounds is that they're designed to be less-than-lethal, so even if you do kill someone with them, you can point to the fact that you didn't intend to kill them (otherwise you'd have been using lethal rounds) when it comes time for the wrongful death suit from the burglar's family.

  16. Re:Because McDonalds burgers are so much nicer! on US To Lift 21-Year Ban On Haggis · · Score: 2, Informative

    Am I right in thinking you don't eat kidneys or liver either?

    No, you are not. Liver is eaten, but kidneys I think end up in dog food.

    Many organ meats are high in cholesterol, and they tend to be looked down upon as something only country folk might eat because they need to use every part of the animal or something.

  17. Seatbelt law enforcement varies state to state on Phone and Text Bans On Drivers Shown Ineffective · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In Illinois enforcement of the seat belt law is a primary enforcement activity and the cops do pull people over for it.

    I used to buy police cars from the county sheriff's department and I never got over how many people I would see reaching to put on their seatbelt when they saw my car coming down the street.

    If I was a cop, I wouldn't have known they weren't wearing the seatbelt until they reached for it most of the time, so it was very amusing.

  18. Re:It's not laziness, but there is something bette on The DIY $10 Prepaid Cellphone Remote Car Starter · · Score: 1

    For the large diesel engines (everything from the Cummins B-series on up) you can install an ether system which basically automates the spraying of the starting fluid.

  19. It's not laziness, but there is something better on The DIY $10 Prepaid Cellphone Remote Car Starter · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Parts of this country get very, very cold in winter. It can take a long time for a car to warm up to the point that ice on the windows will melt. Weather conditions vary but I've personally given up on scraping very thick ice off of the windows a few times. Warming up the car can be the only way to get the windows clear.

    I have had remote start systems in the past, but this year I installed a parking heater, which is basically a tankless water heater with a circulating pump. It runs on gasoline and warms the car's coolant up before I get in and start it. It can be operated by a remote or by a timer on the dashboard. It seems pretty efficient, as what's coming out of its exhaust pipe is barely lukewarm. Once the coolant is warm it turns on the car's heater blower and will defrost the windows and warm the interior.

    It's a lot better than a remote start - uses less fuel, and there is never a cold start of the engine.

    Downsides - the cost. I bought mine on eBay, brand new for about $275 from a car dealer who was going out of business. Normally these heaters are not sold directly to end users, you have to get it installed (usually at a heavy truck parts supplier), and the cost for one including installation ranges up to $1800. It took me 9.5 hours to install (at no cost other than a full day's time). Supposedly the factory installers take about the same time to do it.

    Electric engine block heaters are a lot cheaper (can be under $50) - you just plug them into an extension cord, but most people can't do that in their work parking lot.

    With the remote I can start my heater from up to 450 feet away (and I have). The heater I have is German made and conforms to their stringent safety standards, plus it sounds like a tiny jet engine. Similar heaters are used on big diesel trucks to provide heat when parked, in areas that do not allow the trucks to idle their engines.

  20. It still incorporates the remote start's safeties on The DIY $10 Prepaid Cellphone Remote Car Starter · · Score: 4, Informative

    What happen's if someone finds out your phone number? Can they steal your car?

    No.

    This is just using a cell phone to trigger the auxiliary trigger input on a remote starter system installed in the car. Basically this input just simulates pressing the Start button on the remote starter's remote.

    Installed correctly, most remote starter systems will stop the engine if the brake pedal is pressed. Additionally, since the ignition key is not in, the steering is locked. Also, if the engine speed goes over a certain limit, the remote starter will stop the engine. Most cars with automatic transmissions require you to press the brake pedal to shift out of Park these days, so there's no chance of stealing the car that way.

    I suppose if the car had a manual transmission, it would be possible to make it move forwards or backwards in whatever direction the steering wheel is pointed, but only at slightly over idle speed. You might be able to drive it up onto a trailer.

    The problem that might come up is that most of these systems come with a pin switch that disables the system if the car's hood is opened (so you don't get your hands torn off when the engine starts unexpectedly, while changing a belt for example). Many people do not bother to install the hood pin switch. You would want to make sure it is in place and working, because a telemarketer's call could be deadly.

    If the phone rings while you're driving or the car is already running, nothing happens other than the remote start will keep the engine running after you remove the key (if you don't touch the brake pedal.

  21. Star Wars is still not finished yet on What SciFi Should Get the Reboot Treatment Next? · · Score: 1

    Is it just me, or didn't George Lucas say he was going to do more? (A very long time ago)

    Ok, the clone wars is ok... but I remember watching George Lucas on TV back when the Ep. V came out he was talking about getting ready to do Ep. VI, and he said the first three movies were actually the middle of the story, and that he wanted to go on to make not only Episodes I-III, but also VII, VIII and IX.

    The story's not over with the death of Vader and the Emperor.

  22. It's finally time for the Honeywell 316! on The Worst Products of CES 2010 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

    ...and here it is!

    I think the terminal can also be used as an island. It looks like it's got room for use as a cutting board or for rolling out pastry too! What more could you ask for?

  23. Firefly was already a reboot on What SciFi Should Get the Reboot Treatment Next? · · Score: 1

    Firefly was already a reboot of Blakes 7 - although perhaps unintentionally, but it was almost as similar to Blakes 7 as RDM's Battlestar was the the original Battlestar.

    Paul Darrow, who played Kerr Avon on Blakes 7 has said that he thought that Firefly was basically an updated version of that show.

    Firefly doesn't need to be rebooted, it just needs to go back into production and be picked up by someone.

  24. If only evolution worked that way on Scientists Postulate Extinct Hominid With 150 IQ · · Score: 2, Informative

    Evolution would have done her in, just as evolution would have insured that these creatures had large enough reproductive organs to survive.

    Except evolution doesn't work that way. It doesn't work to assure survival. It does what's easiest given the array of choices that arise through mutation - including selecting a dead-end.

    It's more likely that a significant jump in infant cranial size would have resulted in a significant jump in failed births unless the mutation for the large brain coincided in the same individuals who have the wider hips and reproductive organs.

    That would be like someone winning two lotteries on the same day - it's extremely unlikely. Not impossible, but way less likely than winning only one lottery.

  25. Re:I like NASA TV how it is. on Critics Call For NASA TV To "Liven Up" · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I have ADD and NASA TV can capture my attention for hours.

    Then by definition, you do not have Attention Deficit Disorder.

    Perhaps you're just a hypochondriac. My father had an aunt who was really upset when the doctor told her that she didn't have Parkinson's disease. She'd convinced herself and gone around telling everyone for months that she had Parkinsons.

    NASA TV does have too much dead or near-dead time. They could be showing us something informative about the mission at least. I think the main problem is that they've basically given air time to great scientists, who have no idea what to do with it. It's the equivalent of watching the webcam that points at my work parking lot. Oh sure, it's exciting when the garbage truck shows up to empty the dumspter, or when the Fedex truck arrives, but there's a lot of wasted bandwidth.