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User: rfengr

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  1. Re: Man, you guys were ***LUCKY*** ! on Kano Ships 18,000 Learn-To-Code Computer Kits · · Score: 1

    It isn't today since you can get the same sort of things in China, but while China was in the Cultural Revolution, the U.S. was in the Apollo Program. The U.S. had a good 30 year lead over China in terms of technology; not any more.

  2. Re: They are... on Washington DC To Return To Automatic Metro Trains · · Score: 1

    IIRC in one of the crashes the driver was stoned; may have been the one in the 80's the same day that plane crashed into the bridge.

  3. Re: What's Wrong with DC Drivers? on Washington DC To Return To Automatic Metro Trains · · Score: 1

    It's also an insult to the handicapped that the elevators are dysfunctional.

  4. Re: What's Wrong with DC Drivers? on Washington DC To Return To Automatic Metro Trains · · Score: 2

    The cars are also filthy. I remember riding it as a kid in the 70's. It was clean and futuristic; no more.

  5. Re: what's wrong with the Metro drivers? on Washington DC To Return To Automatic Metro Trains · · Score: 2

    It used to be automated, but the nixed that. It's not audio equipment. The driver today was clear and intelligible; I wanted to walk to the front and thank her.

  6. Re: what's wrong with the Metro drivers? on Washington DC To Return To Automatic Metro Trains · · Score: 1

    80% of the drivers are friggin unintelligible, mostly mumbling the station announcement.

  7. Sorry, I'm 6'5" and don't agree. The typical 4-door, cab-forward, American rental car is a pice of shit with no leg room. The best leg room I have had recently is the VW Bug, yes the VW bug. Put the seat all the way back and I have great leg room, and the far view mirror is at eye level, not nose level. German cards tend to me much more accommodating of tall drivers.

  8. Re:SAT SCORES on Getting Into College the Old Fashioned Way: With Money · · Score: 1
  9. Re:SAT SCORES on Getting Into College the Old Fashioned Way: With Money · · Score: 1

    IIRC they added an essay section worth 800 points. I also believe, sometime in the mid 90's, they made it easier by giving everyone 100 additional points.

  10. Re:Whatever happened to parenting? on Google To Refund $19M In In-App Purchases Made By Kids · · Score: 1

    Let the system fight itself. Better to just let your kid fill out one of those junk-mail credit card applications, then let them buy apps to their heart's content.

  11. I'd enjoy watching some from the power company dig around 6 kV lines with dowsing.

  12. Re: Not the PSUs? The actual cables? on HP Recalls 6 Million Power Cables Over Fire Hazard · · Score: 1

    I don't know, but it's a....joke.

  13. Re: Flip the switch on Fermilab Begins Testing Holographic Universe Theory · · Score: 0

    Then I must be pretty good considering I didn't RTFA! I actually read another article last night.

  14. Flip the switch on Fermilab Begins Testing Holographic Universe Theory · · Score: 5, Funny

    The instant we realize it's all an experiment or simulation, the flip will be switched off.

  15. Re: Not the PSUs? The actual cables? on HP Recalls 6 Million Power Cables Over Fire Hazard · · Score: 1

    Yeah, considering I was raised in Virginia, I'm offended at Yank too. South gonna rise again!

  16. Unknown? on The Man Who Invented the 26th Dimension · · Score: 3, Informative

    How could be unknown if "A study in 2009 ranked him as the 14th most influential physicist in the world for the period 1967-1973.", or was he unknown at the time, which is common for anyone before popular ideas? Unknown in the general public is anyone but Einstein.

  17. Pi has poor flash file system on Raspberry Pi-Compatible Development Board Released · · Score: 2

    Call me when they develop a reliable file system for sd-card flash memory. I have had nothing but trouble with the Pi.

  18. Apprentice? on VP Biden Briefs US Governors On H-1B Visas, IT, and Coding · · Score: 2

    Well hell, if the need H1B for an apprentice (i.e. entry level with low skills), that goes to show the true intent.

  19. Re: Two sides to every issue on No Shortage In Tech Workers, Advocacy Groups Say · · Score: 1

    Depends on the color of the reasesrch funds, and RA & TA perks such as free tuition. I knew a few stretching out PhD to 10+ years to avoid being sent back home, and one hiding out from INS after graduation due to student visa expiring. Coasting in school is very easy if you are used to spending very little.

  20. Re: A minority view? on Teaching Creationism As Science Now Banned In Britain's Schools · · Score: 1

    Umm, evolution is a science just like physics, as the models based on evolution theory (framework) can be used to predict events. A model predicted an intermediate species existed between two long extinct species, and what timeframe (sedimentary layer) to dig for those. That species was found, exactly as predicted by the model. It also for short term experiments involving bacteria. Anyway, ditch the bible and read some Dawkins.

  21. Re: The world... on Are the Glory Days of Analog Engineering Over? · · Score: 1

    He said Midwest, which is probably Skyworks.

  22. Re:It's also a management problem... on Are the Glory Days of Analog Engineering Over? · · Score: 1

    Ha ha, you are off an order of magnitude, at least for the PNA-X. The one pictured is actually $500k when decked out. That R&S is only $100k. I just picked up an 8566B spectrum analyzer for $2500. I do have an Agilent VNA at home too, just one of the cheaper models.

  23. It's also a management problem... on Are the Glory Days of Analog Engineering Over? · · Score: 1

    in that every PHB wants the instant gratification of software, along with it's low startup costs (no test equipment), instant duplication and distribution, uniformity etc. They don't understand that some things require multiple revisions to dial in the response, along with applying engineering principles rather than "hacking". In short, everyone wants instant gratification with little investment in time and money. Now let me get back to my vector network analyzer.