Most workplaces don't have showers, agreed, but there are other possibilities:
Fitness clubs: If there's one nearby, go check with them and see how much it costs to become a member. If you explain your situation (you just want the shower) they may cut you some slack. Wear your bike clothes--it helps get the point across.
Locker rooms: Some buildings have showers for maintenance people who get dirty on the job. Check with the local buildings. Also check the area for YMCAs, homeless shelters, golf courses, and middle/high schools. Again, wear your bike clothes when you ask.
Buy a hose: The place I used to work didn't have a shower but had a connection outside for a hose. So I bought a hose and came to work with a change of clothes and a towel. I got in, parked my bike, went outside and hosed myself down (wearing my bike clothes--didn't want to frighten the horses, after all) and toweled off. Then I came back inside, went into the restroom, and changed into presentable clothes. I hung my wet bike clothes in a spare room and they were mostly dry by the time I was ready to go home.
Sponges: Use the restroom and give yourself a sponge bath. Before I came up with the hose idea, I did this a few times and it worked okay--at least well enough to get through the day without driving my co-workers out of the room.
Actually, AutoCAD was the classic example of companies that "just don't get it" when it comes to the Mac.
AutoCAD for the Mac was released back in 1988, I believe. But what they did was port their DOS-based product to the Mac. It didn't work or look like a Mac product (no menubar, windows, or anything like that), it worked and looked just like the DOS product. The company said that they planned to release this version first and then make a "more Mac-like" one later on based upon how well this one sold.
Of course, nobody bought it. If you were already doing CAD work on the Mac using one of AutoCAD's competitors, you certainly weren't going to give it up. If you didn't have any Macs, why would you buy the Mac version when it didn't give you anything you couldn't do with the DOS version? Even better, AutoCAD announced their plan to create a "more Mac-like" version. So most Mac users said, "Cool. We'll wait for that one, thank you."
A few years later, AutoCAD for Mac was dropped because there "just wasn't a big enough market for CAD on the Mac." The reality, though, was that there wasn't a big enough market for DOS ports to the Mac. Mac users expected a Mac interface.
Nicotine is a depressant, Caffeine is a stimulant.
Actually, nicotine can do both. Generally, nicotine is a stimulant in larger doses and a depressant in smaller dosages.
For example, lots of people like to smoke when they drink because cigarettes counter-act the depressive effects of alcohol. But "going out for a quick smoke" can calm you down.
"Why can't I use the GPS on my Blackberry Pearl in Google Maps?"
Is it possible that it's Google's choice? I know that the free version of Google Maps on my desktop computer does not support a USB-based GPS, but the "Pro" version of Google Maps does. Do they have a paid version?
True. On the other hand, if I stuck you on the surface of Titan, you'd be dead, too. So it's pretty pointless to envision the surface of Titan or send probes there or anything like that.
Personally, I don't like black as a color for cars. Just a personal opinion.
But here in California, for some reason, black is a popular color and dealers stock lots of black and silver. I have a red car, myself, and was considering a new car purchase. When I went to the dealer where I have my present car serviced, I asked whether he had any red or yellow cars. Nope. All they had was black and silver. I asked, "Is the boss an Oakland Raiders fan or something?!"
The salesman I talked to said, basically, that those are the two most popular colors. They don't want to get some other color and have it sit on the lot until they either find someone who wants red or yellow or discount it enough that someone will buy it. I have to admit, also, when I bought my current red car, I had a hard time finding a red color.
So they get rid of the black and all we've got left is silver. Ugh.
Bah. How do you know astronauts put the mirror up there? I'm sure that back in 1969, NASA could land something on the Moon which would reflect back a laser.
Well, yes it is, but our economy doesn't necessarily pay big money for just "working hard."
Take your coal miner example. I'm not a coal miner and have little experience in mining much of anything. That said, I'd argue that anybody with a strong back and a smattering of intelligence could be a coal miner. And the economy is full of people with strong backs and a smattering of intelligence, so you can't necessarily expect to be well paid for physical labor, no matter how hard the work is.
Also, rooms are "much bigger" because it's more of a pain in the ass to film on smaller (but conceivably more accurate) sets than it is to film on nice big sets.
Most of the New York apartments I've seen on TV are considerably larger than their real-life counterparts.
Well, in the case of a military operation, risk isn't quite the concern. America has a national handwringing over 7 dead astronauts but doesn't show nearly the concern for one hundred times the dead soldiers dying in combat.
Second, autonomous spacecraft require lots of research and they may not be able to do what you want when you need to do it. Conversely, life support in space is pretty well understood and human beings are pretty darn flexible. I remember a quote about how having a pilot on board a modern airplane is the cheapest back-up system around. If you can get them the parts, it's much easier to explain to a human being how to fix something than it is to build a machine to do it.
Third, depending on the situation, the enemy might be less inclined to use anti-satellite weapons against a space station filled with humans than against a piece of hardware. If we were concerned about the Chinese seeing something we'd rather they not see, we might consider knocking out a surveillance satellite. We'd probably think twice about knocking out a space station filled with Chinese soldiers.
(This appears to go against the first point, but I note that it depends on the situation. Obviously, in a shooting war, they would be a juicy target.)
Finally, radio communications can be jammed or monitored. What good is having a fancy camera in orbit if you can't receive the pictures? What good is having an orbital death ray if you can't command it to fire?
All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Chinese ever done for Tibet?
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Most workplaces don't have showers, agreed, but there are other possibilities:
Actually, AutoCAD was the classic example of companies that "just don't get it" when it comes to the Mac.
AutoCAD for the Mac was released back in 1988, I believe. But what they did was port their DOS-based product to the Mac. It didn't work or look like a Mac product (no menubar, windows, or anything like that), it worked and looked just like the DOS product. The company said that they planned to release this version first and then make a "more Mac-like" one later on based upon how well this one sold.
Of course, nobody bought it. If you were already doing CAD work on the Mac using one of AutoCAD's competitors, you certainly weren't going to give it up. If you didn't have any Macs, why would you buy the Mac version when it didn't give you anything you couldn't do with the DOS version? Even better, AutoCAD announced their plan to create a "more Mac-like" version. So most Mac users said, "Cool. We'll wait for that one, thank you."
A few years later, AutoCAD for Mac was dropped because there "just wasn't a big enough market for CAD on the Mac." The reality, though, was that there wasn't a big enough market for DOS ports to the Mac. Mac users expected a Mac interface.
I'll add the line I always use whenever somebody suggests I quit smoking:
I would quit, but my parents always told me, "Nobody likes a quitter." And I'd hate to let them down.
Nicotine is a depressant, Caffeine is a stimulant.
Actually, nicotine can do both. Generally, nicotine is a stimulant in larger doses and a depressant in smaller dosages.
For example, lots of people like to smoke when they drink because cigarettes counter-act the depressive effects of alcohol. But "going out for a quick smoke" can calm you down.
Hair dryers pull 1000~2000 watts, right? That is a ton. Try having only a few watts to work with...
You had a few watts?! LUXURY! Why, when I was a boy, we had to generate our own electricity by walking up hill to school! Both ways!
But try to explain that to the kids today...
Except, that given the right science, a lot of the dungeons, dragons, wizards and trolls things could happen.
Agreed.
"Why can't I use the GPS on my Blackberry Pearl in Google Maps?"
Is it possible that it's Google's choice? I know that the free version of Google Maps on my desktop computer does not support a USB-based GPS, but the "Pro" version of Google Maps does. Do they have a paid version?
Not for the 38% of rural customers who have access to broadband, true. But for the other 62%, they're going from no choice to one choice.
Why, we'll take over the world, of course.
I'm sure that everyone will welcome their new wind-powered overlords. They'll greet us with flowers!
So if the water level changes, they don't just sit there and starve or whatever.
they move to where the water is
Which is awesome because in a hundred years or so, according to various maps done on southern California, I'm going to have oceanfront property.
Thank you global warming!
True. On the other hand, if I stuck you on the surface of Titan, you'd be dead, too. So it's pretty pointless to envision the surface of Titan or send probes there or anything like that.
I like to think of it as "Younger and Edgier."
Okay. "Just because Nixon went to China doesn't make him a great guy."
Sun and IBM--SUM?
Personally, I don't like black as a color for cars. Just a personal opinion.
But here in California, for some reason, black is a popular color and dealers stock lots of black and silver. I have a red car, myself, and was considering a new car purchase. When I went to the dealer where I have my present car serviced, I asked whether he had any red or yellow cars. Nope. All they had was black and silver. I asked, "Is the boss an Oakland Raiders fan or something?!"
The salesman I talked to said, basically, that those are the two most popular colors. They don't want to get some other color and have it sit on the lot until they either find someone who wants red or yellow or discount it enough that someone will buy it. I have to admit, also, when I bought my current red car, I had a hard time finding a red color.
So they get rid of the black and all we've got left is silver. Ugh.
Bah. How do you know astronauts put the mirror up there? I'm sure that back in 1969, NASA could land something on the Moon which would reflect back a laser.
If the people in charge at your workplace don't see anything wrong with everyone just having what they want, I think I'd run for the door.
Personally, I'd tell them I want a raise.
Nah. It's too hot and sunny outside. It's much cooler in the garage.
Well, yes it is, but our economy doesn't necessarily pay big money for just "working hard."
Take your coal miner example. I'm not a coal miner and have little experience in mining much of anything. That said, I'd argue that anybody with a strong back and a smattering of intelligence could be a coal miner. And the economy is full of people with strong backs and a smattering of intelligence, so you can't necessarily expect to be well paid for physical labor, no matter how hard the work is.
Also, rooms are "much bigger" because it's more of a pain in the ass to film on smaller (but conceivably more accurate) sets than it is to film on nice big sets.
Most of the New York apartments I've seen on TV are considerably larger than their real-life counterparts.
Now, don't tell me you also reboot your system.
What part of "Windows" don't you understand?
Well, in the case of a military operation, risk isn't quite the concern. America has a national handwringing over 7 dead astronauts but doesn't show nearly the concern for one hundred times the dead soldiers dying in combat.
Second, autonomous spacecraft require lots of research and they may not be able to do what you want when you need to do it. Conversely, life support in space is pretty well understood and human beings are pretty darn flexible. I remember a quote about how having a pilot on board a modern airplane is the cheapest back-up system around. If you can get them the parts, it's much easier to explain to a human being how to fix something than it is to build a machine to do it.
Third, depending on the situation, the enemy might be less inclined to use anti-satellite weapons against a space station filled with humans than against a piece of hardware. If we were concerned about the Chinese seeing something we'd rather they not see, we might consider knocking out a surveillance satellite. We'd probably think twice about knocking out a space station filled with Chinese soldiers.
(This appears to go against the first point, but I note that it depends on the situation. Obviously, in a shooting war, they would be a juicy target.)
Finally, radio communications can be jammed or monitored. What good is having a fancy camera in orbit if you can't receive the pictures? What good is having an orbital death ray if you can't command it to fire?
All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Chinese ever done for Tibet?
(Sorry. Sudden Life of Brian flashback.)
What's not economically viable about he Honda electric car that's powered by a hydrogen fuel cell?
Uh...it's available for lease at $600 a month. A bit over my price range and I get nothing in the end.
Aren't companies like Tesla making money selling electric cars?
Yup. At $109,000 per. Again, a bit over my price range.
So it's bit expensive for "everyone" to have an electric car.
[...] we have an inherent fear of diesel, thanks to the loud, smoky GM diesels of the 1980s.
Actually, a co-worker of my father had a VW Diesel in the late 70s. It was loud, smoky, and tended not to run in cold weather.
So I don't think it was just "GM Diesels."