Whenever I hear someone attempt to pronounce "LOL" it always makes me cringe. It always reminds me of Jeremy from Pure Pwnage (and his "LUL!"), which immediately paints the person as a colossal idiot. Sadly it's usually pretty accurate too.
I used to install ignition interlocks, so i'll try to answer your questions:
'Hacking' an interlock isn't very practical as they usually require unique hardware that would be a pain to duplicate. Bypassing them is not at all difficult. I could easily do it in 20-30 seconds with a pair of scissors or side cutters. However the unit will know that you're driving without having taken a test, which is a huge black mark on your report. Bypassing them and not getting caught on report day is orders of magnitude more difficult, because if your mileage doesn't match the expected test-rate you'll be flagged for inspection. And, at least when/where I installed them, we put tamper seals on pretty much every connection between car and interlock. Cut into anything, and we would know.
As for the test itself, it's not nearly as simple as "blow and drive". You have to take a full breath, seal your lips around the mouthpiece, hum, and exhale an entire breath quite rapidly. Air pumps (balloons, tires, etc) just won't cut it. It's something most people need to practice in order to perform reliably, and I witnessed many, many cases where people just could not get the hang of using the devices even months after install. Suffice to say it is not something a child would be able to perform regularly. A young teenager might be able to pull it off with some practice, if you're lucky enough to own, er, have one.
Also, temperature and humidity are not (as far as I know) measured as a part of the test. The devices I worked with actually had a small heating element inside the head unit in order to maintain a standard test temperature (which sucks in a cold winter). As for humidity, it was usually a bad thing (especially in colder climates) because it would interfere with the very small microphone inside. Air pressure and sound were the two most critical aspects of a successful test. Like Goldilocks, it had to be not too hard and not too soft, and the hum not too quiet and not too loud. Something most people can reproduce fairly often, but very very difficult to simultaneously recreate both elements mechanically.
So the TLDR version is this: The devices were not designed to be infallible, just secure enough to make cheating your way around them a bigger pain in the ass than calling a friend or a taxi. Circumventing them isn't really worth it, especially considering the penalty for getting caught was almost always taking a pair of scissors to your provisional drivers license, a monetary fine, and boot out the door. YMMV.
Every ignition interlock i've ever seen or worked with (I used to install them) has a microphone inside it that listens for a certain tone (specifically, a hum) in order to complete a valid test. This defeats balloons and other tricks because the microphones are not sensitive enough to external noise. You have to hum and blow into them at the same time.
Remounting a tire means you physically take the tire off the rim. At that point, they can be flipped around to be installed on the other side of the car.
I wish I were kidding. Section 7 of the EULA flat out states that you can never "sublicense or transfer" the game to any person or entity. The funny (and sad) part is it even goes on to say that *IF* a court overturns that little nugget, then you agree to call Blizzard customer service so that they can charge you a "processing/handling fee" just so you can sell the game.
Good idea. I was actually kind of disappointed with SC2. They basically took 10 years to do a graphics overhaul and... well that's about it. Oh and they also managed to ruin Bnet, remove LAN play, and make it so you can never ever sell the game. Otherwise it's pretty much the same game from 1998.
My only saving grace is that I traded in 3 old games and got it for 'free'. Meh.
Most traffic laws in Canada are handled by the provincial gov't, but certain 'major' infractions, like dangerous driving (one of the original charges) or impaired driving (DUI), are considered criminal offenses. AFAIK the charges were lessened because of his guilty plea.
They have to be wireless because TPMS sensors are actually INSIDE the tire (mounted to the inside of the rim or the base of the valvestem). Also, cars usually only have one TPMS receiver so each sensor needs to be able to transmit at least a few feet to reach a central point on the vehicle. Keep in mind, the "40 meters" cited in TFA is a maximum and not an average. 10 meters is probably a better average.
This is a common feature on many European made vehicles (BMW, VAG, Merc, etc). It's not perfect though, because if two tires on the same axle go flat at the same time the system might not notice.
Actually this is true. I remember hearing about a study that basically said that some of the neurotransmitters released during a male orgasm also have the effect of inducing drowsiness. Good excuse for trying to bust a nut.:)
I think you're missing the point of my reply. AC stated that diesels excel at low end torque, which they do. S/he then went on to say that "is not what the electric generator of the Volt needs" which is frankly complete horseshit. More torque down low is actually preferable for a generator motor because it means you don't have to spin the thing as fast to generate the same power output. This means superior engine longevity (less friction) and better NVH (lower speeds mean less noise and vibration), which i'm sure everyone would agree are desirable qualities.
Now, not that I ever claimed a diesel was "best", but what actually constitutes the best engine for a case like this ultimately depends on the criteria. An engine that needs to be fuel efficient and durable, cost and weight be damned (like a big truck/boat/sub), will most likely end up a diesel. When total cost and size/weight are important factors (such as in a midsize car, portable generator, etc) then gasoline motors, which are smaller and less expensive to manufacture, are the more likely choice. But ultimately any engine that produces more torque at lower RPMs is going to have certain inherent advantages over faster spinning motors, even if they may not be the most appropriate choice for the application. Why do you think electric motors are so great? 100% torque at 0 rpm is pure amazing compared to internal combustion's offerings.
Anyways, there's the logic you were looking for. Hope it explains things for you.:)
I guess I should mention that my university doesn't grade on the curve, our class sizes are too small (20-40 not 200-400, it's a selling point of the school). Every department assigns letter grades to certain course marks (so 80% will get you a B in one class and a B+ in another), but school policy is that a C- is mandatory to have 'passed' a course. In this class that was a 55% (some courses it's as high as 70%!) I should also mention that we had a few people who didn't show and/or deregister (morons... easiest way to find yourself on probation is to not officially drop a class you have no intention of taking!) so they really drug the average down. But it was still a tough course because hey, learning math on a condensed timeline isn't easy for most people.:)
Oh, educators already fuck around with extra credit. I took an intro Psych class this spring and it was ridiculously easy. Our prof handed out 15% in bonus marks! Six of that was department-mandated study bait ("participate in this psych study and get 2%!" up to 3 times), 8% were stupidly easy "bonus assignments" ("write a 1 page paper on what you've learned in this class so far") which was essentially a reward for showing up to class, and then a bonus question on the final worth an extra 1% of your final grade (not, y'know, one point on the final). Our prof got all excited when someone managed a 99% final grade, like it was something stupendous... but when you realize it was really only a 84% on the tested material, it's not nearly as impressive. But hey, look at that class average! Funny thing was the other course I took in the spring was a math course, where the average was 55% (which was also the "D" cut-off line). Quite a contrast going from one class where literally every second person enrolled went on to fail, to a class where you would have to blank an EEG *to* fail.
IANAB but as far as I understand it photolyase only repairs a certain type of damage found between adjacent cytosine and thymine (or uracil) units. That just happens to be the type of damage most commonly caused by UV radiation, so the enzyme can be understood as a fix for that particular method of damage. Other forms of radiation or chemical carcinogens effect DNA in a variety of other ways, most of which photolyase won't have an affinity for, rendering it ineffective.
As a car analogy... photolyase is like caranuba wax. It'll fix the small scratches and minor dings, but if some jackass comes along and smashes your windows and kicks in your doors you won't have much luck trying to buff it out.:)
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Naw, kids these days would be all "wnt2fuk?"
Your Companion Cube.
You monster!
Whenever I hear someone attempt to pronounce "LOL" it always makes me cringe. It always reminds me of Jeremy from Pure Pwnage (and his "LUL!"), which immediately paints the person as a colossal idiot. Sadly it's usually pretty accurate too.
Yup.
I used to install ignition interlocks, so i'll try to answer your questions:
'Hacking' an interlock isn't very practical as they usually require unique hardware that would be a pain to duplicate.
Bypassing them is not at all difficult. I could easily do it in 20-30 seconds with a pair of scissors or side cutters. However the unit will know that you're driving without having taken a test, which is a huge black mark on your report.
Bypassing them and not getting caught on report day is orders of magnitude more difficult, because if your mileage doesn't match the expected test-rate you'll be flagged for inspection. And, at least when/where I installed them, we put tamper seals on pretty much every connection between car and interlock. Cut into anything, and we would know.
As for the test itself, it's not nearly as simple as "blow and drive". You have to take a full breath, seal your lips around the mouthpiece, hum, and exhale an entire breath quite rapidly. Air pumps (balloons, tires, etc) just won't cut it. It's something most people need to practice in order to perform reliably, and I witnessed many, many cases where people just could not get the hang of using the devices even months after install. Suffice to say it is not something a child would be able to perform regularly. A young teenager might be able to pull it off with some practice, if you're lucky enough to own, er, have one.
Also, temperature and humidity are not (as far as I know) measured as a part of the test. The devices I worked with actually had a small heating element inside the head unit in order to maintain a standard test temperature (which sucks in a cold winter). As for humidity, it was usually a bad thing (especially in colder climates) because it would interfere with the very small microphone inside. Air pressure and sound were the two most critical aspects of a successful test. Like Goldilocks, it had to be not too hard and not too soft, and the hum not too quiet and not too loud. Something most people can reproduce fairly often, but very very difficult to simultaneously recreate both elements mechanically.
So the TLDR version is this: The devices were not designed to be infallible, just secure enough to make cheating your way around them a bigger pain in the ass than calling a friend or a taxi. Circumventing them isn't really worth it, especially considering the penalty for getting caught was almost always taking a pair of scissors to your provisional drivers license, a monetary fine, and boot out the door. YMMV.
Every ignition interlock i've ever seen or worked with (I used to install them) has a microphone inside it that listens for a certain tone (specifically, a hum) in order to complete a valid test. This defeats balloons and other tricks because the microphones are not sensitive enough to external noise. You have to hum and blow into them at the same time.
British Columbia, Canada
Remounting a tire means you physically take the tire off the rim. At that point, they can be flipped around to be installed on the other side of the car.
I wish I were kidding. Section 7 of the EULA flat out states that you can never "sublicense or transfer" the game to any person or entity. The funny (and sad) part is it even goes on to say that *IF* a court overturns that little nugget, then you agree to call Blizzard customer service so that they can charge you a "processing/handling fee" just so you can sell the game.
It's one hell of a nasty EULA. :\
Good idea. I was actually kind of disappointed with SC2. They basically took 10 years to do a graphics overhaul and... well that's about it. Oh and they also managed to ruin Bnet, remove LAN play, and make it so you can never ever sell the game. Otherwise it's pretty much the same game from 1998.
My only saving grace is that I traded in 3 old games and got it for 'free'. Meh.
Most traffic laws in Canada are handled by the provincial gov't, but certain 'major' infractions, like dangerous driving (one of the original charges) or impaired driving (DUI), are considered criminal offenses. AFAIK the charges were lessened because of his guilty plea.
They have to be wireless because TPMS sensors are actually INSIDE the tire (mounted to the inside of the rim or the base of the valvestem). Also, cars usually only have one TPMS receiver so each sensor needs to be able to transmit at least a few feet to reach a central point on the vehicle. Keep in mind, the "40 meters" cited in TFA is a maximum and not an average. 10 meters is probably a better average.
This is a common feature on many European made vehicles (BMW, VAG, Merc, etc).
It's not perfect though, because if two tires on the same axle go flat at the same time the system might not notice.
Any vehicle sold in the US after September 1, 2007 is supposed to have a TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) as mandated by the TREAD act.
Why? Because no one knows how to check the air pressure in their tires anymore.
That and the whole Firestone fiasco.
Had? You probably still have them. Most adults do anyways.
Actually this is true. I remember hearing about a study that basically said that some of the neurotransmitters released during a male orgasm also have the effect of inducing drowsiness. Good excuse for trying to bust a nut. :)
Gift it.
Preferably in exchange for sex. Beer is good too. Cheetos will work in a pinch.
Actually that's 99.936%, sir.
Oh god, I think I just overexnerded myself. :(
I think you're missing the point of my reply. AC stated that diesels excel at low end torque, which they do. S/he then went on to say that "is not what the electric generator of the Volt needs" which is frankly complete horseshit. More torque down low is actually preferable for a generator motor because it means you don't have to spin the thing as fast to generate the same power output. This means superior engine longevity (less friction) and better NVH (lower speeds mean less noise and vibration), which i'm sure everyone would agree are desirable qualities.
Now, not that I ever claimed a diesel was "best", but what actually constitutes the best engine for a case like this ultimately depends on the criteria. An engine that needs to be fuel efficient and durable, cost and weight be damned (like a big truck/boat/sub), will most likely end up a diesel. When total cost and size/weight are important factors (such as in a midsize car, portable generator, etc) then gasoline motors, which are smaller and less expensive to manufacture, are the more likely choice. But ultimately any engine that produces more torque at lower RPMs is going to have certain inherent advantages over faster spinning motors, even if they may not be the most appropriate choice for the application. Why do you think electric motors are so great? 100% torque at 0 rpm is pure amazing compared to internal combustion's offerings.
Anyways, there's the logic you were looking for. Hope it explains things for you. :)
I'm sure the manufacturers of diesel-electric locomotives, boats, submarines, and heavy trucks would all disagree with you.
I guess I should mention that my university doesn't grade on the curve, our class sizes are too small (20-40 not 200-400, it's a selling point of the school). Every department assigns letter grades to certain course marks (so 80% will get you a B in one class and a B+ in another), but school policy is that a C- is mandatory to have 'passed' a course. In this class that was a 55% (some courses it's as high as 70%!) I should also mention that we had a few people who didn't show and/or deregister (morons... easiest way to find yourself on probation is to not officially drop a class you have no intention of taking!) so they really drug the average down. But it was still a tough course because hey, learning math on a condensed timeline isn't easy for most people. :)
Oh, educators already fuck around with extra credit. I took an intro Psych class this spring and it was ridiculously easy. Our prof handed out 15% in bonus marks! Six of that was department-mandated study bait ("participate in this psych study and get 2%!" up to 3 times), 8% were stupidly easy "bonus assignments" ("write a 1 page paper on what you've learned in this class so far") which was essentially a reward for showing up to class, and then a bonus question on the final worth an extra 1% of your final grade (not, y'know, one point on the final).
Our prof got all excited when someone managed a 99% final grade, like it was something stupendous... but when you realize it was really only a 84% on the tested material, it's not nearly as impressive. But hey, look at that class average!
Funny thing was the other course I took in the spring was a math course, where the average was 55% (which was also the "D" cut-off line). Quite a contrast going from one class where literally every second person enrolled went on to fail, to a class where you would have to blank an EEG *to* fail.
So does that mean they're bringing them home and will be using them domestically? /tinfoilhat
Er, I meant affect.
Damnit. Now I have to go sit in the corner. :(
IANAB but as far as I understand it photolyase only repairs a certain type of damage found between adjacent cytosine and thymine (or uracil) units. That just happens to be the type of damage most commonly caused by UV radiation, so the enzyme can be understood as a fix for that particular method of damage. Other forms of radiation or chemical carcinogens effect DNA in a variety of other ways, most of which photolyase won't have an affinity for, rendering it ineffective.
As a car analogy... photolyase is like caranuba wax. It'll fix the small scratches and minor dings, but if some jackass comes along and smashes your windows and kicks in your doors you won't have much luck trying to buff it out. :)