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User: hb253

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  1. Re:It only took a century on ESL — a CRT-Based Replacement For CFL Lights Without the Mercury · · Score: 3, Informative

    Did the law specifically outlaw incandescents? I don't think so. As I understand it, the law mandates higher efficiency. And you know what? I can now buy incandescents that put out more lumens per watt than previous generaiton bulbs. In my house I use each type of bulb as is appropriate. Philips Halogena for the kitchen floodlights, Philips higher efficiency incandescents in the bathroom, CFL's in most table lamps, and one LED bulb to try on one high use table lamp.

    Your semi-rant smells of mindless talking point repetition.

  2. Re:It only took a century on ESL — a CRT-Based Replacement For CFL Lights Without the Mercury · · Score: 1

    I agree that older LED's sucked big time. However, I recently purchased a Philips LED bulb and it is leagues ahead of any CFL. Pretty much indistinguishable from a standard incandescent.

  3. Re:Japan and Europe is where the industry is on Chevy Volt Meets High Resistance, GM Suspends Sales · · Score: 1

    It's the old anec-data syndrome.

    I had a 1998 Audi A6. Well put together, nice materials, etc. But things broke - a lot. Cam tower seals, transmission, ABS, cup holders, door locks, headlight wiring, cooling fan, etc etc. And every time something broke, major bucks to fix.

    We now have a 2005 Dodge Caravan and a 2007 Camry Hybrid. Both have been 100% reliable. Go figure.

    Would I buy an Audi again? Not a chance.

  4. Re:Japan and Europe is where the industry is on Chevy Volt Meets High Resistance, GM Suspends Sales · · Score: 1

    The BMW 8-series was pretty to look at but deeply flawed and unreliable. That plus the high price killed it.

  5. Re:Profit & Lies on YouTube Identifies Birdsong As Copyrighted Music · · Score: 1

    Boku?

  6. Re:We dont deal with it on Ask Slashdot: How Do You Deal With Priorities Inflation In IT Projects? · · Score: 1

    Don't forget Marketing. They suffer from almost, or maybe exactly, the same level of VP syndrome.

  7. not always great in the Northeast on FCC Maps the 3G Wasteland Of the Western US · · Score: 1

    I live in the Northeast (NJ) and coverage at my house is pitiful. I can't imagine what it's like in more remote areas.

    The thing that isn't mentioned much is that even in areas with good signal, the sound quality of current digital cellular systems stinks. Even back in the 90's, analog cellular had WAY better sound quality.

  8. Novell was right on Windows Admins Need To Prepare For GUI-Less Server · · Score: 1

    So Novell was right all along, you really don't need a desktop GUI on a server.

    I miss Netware.

  9. Re:First Anecdote! on Another Stab At Sorting Hybrid Hype From Reality · · Score: 1

    I've been in NYC hybrid taxis. The way the maniac taxi drivers drive, I guarantee they completely negate hybrid efficiency. The car is NEVER in battery mode because the driver ALWAYS has his foot to the floor.

    On the other hand, I have a 2007 Camry Hybrid. it has been averaging about 32 mpg with my lead foot wife driving it. When I drive it, I average a few mpg more.

  10. Re:How about this modicfication? on Ford System Will Warn, Correct Lane-Drifting Drivers · · Score: 1

    My hero!

    Also, the robo-hand/arm would twist your nipples off if it catches you sleeping.

  11. Re:It won't last on Volkswagen Turns Off E-mail After Work-Hours · · Score: 1

    I don't have to believe what anyone says. I've experienced it myself.

  12. Re:It won't last on Volkswagen Turns Off E-mail After Work-Hours · · Score: 1

    Over the years, my encounters with unions have turned me off to the concept.

    While in college, I worked at an on campus office. One day, one of the fluorescent bulbs failed. We called maintenance. The next day, a guy came with a ladder into the office and just stood there. We asked what he was waiting for. He said work rules required that he have a helper hold the ladder. I could have changed the bulb myself just by reaching up. The takeaway: the work rules unions get away with are insane.

    My first job out of college was at a mass transit agency, I was forced to join a union (as a mechanical engineer). There, I encounterd many things that turned me off to unions: 1) everyone at the same grade level got the same raise, regardless of performance. 2) the union protected, seemingly to the death, any poor performing union member. We had a guy who used to fall asleep in the toilet reading a newspaper. They could not get rid of him.

    My mother worked at a non-union garment factory. One day, several union thugs showed up at the door and threatened the owner and my mother. They menaced the workers for several weeks, but eventually gave up.

    I understand that unions did much to help workers in the early part of the 20th century, but as they gained power, the corruption became too much and they rotted from the inside. Corporate corruption is manifested by the race to the bottom to get the least number of cheap foreign workers to replace locals. Unions are weak, but even if they regained strength, they would do everything to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

    It's all very depressing.

  13. Re:also reduces IT costs on Businesses Now Driving "Bring Your Own Device" Trend · · Score: 1

    Agreed. It may or may not be beneficial to the business, but if upper management wants it, there's no point in fighting it. Pesky details such as the need for new policies, new infrastructure, ongoing support costs, etc, are meaningless. Oh, and if you can't implement in 1 month using your already overburdened staff, they'll outsource and eventually get rid of you.

  14. Re:Great idea! on NTSB Recommends Cell Phone Ban For Drivers · · Score: 1

    If you are driving and turn your head to speak with a passenger, you are not a very good driver. If I were your passenger, I would be very, very nervous.

  15. Re:Like lawyers, impose unrealistic limits on Why Everyone Hates the IT Department · · Score: 1

    A few possibilities:

    1. As part of increasing bonuses for upper management, firing as many people as possible, and offshoring as much as possible, your local IT staff has been reduced to less than a bare minimum. They can barely keep up with the flood of support tickets. Just wait until they too are fired and all support is handled out of India,

    2. You actually have sufficient staff, but because companies are paying peanuts for desktop support staff, only the bottom of the barrel are hired. The unemployed but competent desktop support people are out there looking for jobs that pay living wages.

    3. You may have sufficient support staff, but they or their managament are incompetent.

  16. Re:Why Everyone Hates the Info Desk on Why Everyone Hates the IT Department · · Score: 1

    Indeed. There ain't no help coming from today's helpdesks. Give them all sorts of training, but in the end all they will ever do is enter tickets and pass them on. First call resolution? hahahahahahahahaaa

  17. Re:Reflections on Why Everyone Hates the IT Department · · Score: 1

    There may be devs (or any type of user for that matter) who know more about computer systems than I do, but I've met maybe 2 in my 15 year career. Most devs think they know how to maintain computer, but invariably, end up trashing a newly imaged computer within a few weeks of recieving it.

  18. Re:Reflections on Why Everyone Hates the IT Department · · Score: 1

    In answer to point 1, In my experience, most things that are enforced by IT are not IT"s idea. Many requirements come from upper management, security, or internal audit. Why should IT have to explain things that are foisted on users by these other groups? Let those groups or departments do the explaining.

  19. Re:Mod Up on Debt Reduction Super Committee Fails To Agree · · Score: 1

    I have news for you. Everything is corrupt: small government, big government, big business, small business, pplice, your neighbors.....

  20. Re:If admissions are at an all time high... on How To Get Into an Elite Comp-Sci Program · · Score: 1

    More likely, US workers are unwilling to accept the lowball wages being offered. So the companies get 2 or more foreign workers for the price of one US worker. It's all part of the race to the bottom.

  21. Re:This annoys the hell out of me ... on Hybrids Safer In Crashes — Except For Pedestrians · · Score: 1

    Plus, I have yet to encounter a truly quiet car of any type. Unless the car is crawling at snail speed, the tires always make noise against the pavement. Also, even if the engine is off, you still hear noise from the radiator fan. I have a Camry hybrid, that has a noticeable gear/motor whine when running in electric mode.

  22. Re:Sincerity? on $529M DOE Loan Spawns $97K Made-in-Finland Cars · · Score: 1

    You must have driven a very different 86 Thunderbird. Mine was not a behemoth and got around 26 highway. Maybe you're thinking of the late 70's cars.

  23. Re:Amsterdam did that on Paris Launches World's First Electric Car Share Program · · Score: 1

    I can't speak for every jurisdiction in the US, but the ones I know of only require helmets for cyclists ages 14 and under.

  24. Re:in an era of on Boeing To Deliver First 787 Today · · Score: 1

    Alas, I have no mod points.....

  25. Re:CS is part of IT on Ask Slashdot: CS Grads Taking IT Jobs? · · Score: 1

    To add a thought to your post, the mechanical engineer who is also a mechanic is most likely a better engineer. The same is true in reverse.