Sorry. coding 8-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit embedded, as well as desktop apps. You missed the point. parent said

The reason I'm arguing it's important is that there are still a lot of applications out there where dropping in another gigabyte of RAM isn't an option. Embedded doesn't always have gigabytes of memory; sometimes your cost constraints put you in a 25 cent processor with kilobytes of memory. I'm coding 8-bit processors because I write code for embedded application which are cost sensitive. I'll use a 32-bit processor if the design specs show it's called for.

I just went on a rant at work because one of our programmers decided, at some point in the past, to write blocks of code in inline hexadecimal. With little to no comments. It had a bug... five bugs actually. I spent two days in the code, finding and fixing problems which should have taken at most a couple of hours, all because someone decided to be a "Real Programmer", aka elite ass. I don't care what the esteemed Mr. Raymond and Mr. Nather (the author of the article in catb.org) believe; we created higher level languages, like C, to make it easier to write and maintain code. I can write code directly using machine instructions too; but, I have too much work to do. As the parent said, don't be like Mel, we all have real work that we have to get done and someone will hate you later.

clearly written by someone who doesn't do any embedded programming on 8 bit processors. Your world is full of 8 bit processors. They outnumber the 32 bit and 64 bit processors by an order of magnitude.

Of course they're saying a vaccine is coming. You don't think they're trying to keep a general panic from occurring? Step 1, tell everyone it can't happen here. Check. Step 2, tell everyone it can only be passed via contaminated body fluids. Check. Step 3, tell everyone that a vaccine is imminent. Check. Step 4, ... you don't want me to tell you about step 4.

You do realize that, in this case, the practical skills test would involve launching the missiles that bring about Armageddon.

Based on your commend, I suspect someone wired out your building in 230V 3 phase, since it's "close enough" to get away with in place of 120V/240V split phase; and, lets them put in more efficient 3 phase pumps and air conditioning systems. Some residential buildings and residential neighborhoods are wired out in 3 phase but the private residences only uses 2 of the 3 phases, except for the A/C system. Usually that's done in 208V 3 phase; but, it's conceivable someone could have put in 230V transformers.

130V bulbs are for applications where the source is 230V 3 phase.

I've seen one too many scientifically illiterate alarmists who only want to protest for protest sake. "Let's go party at the Greenpeace protest"

If they don't like people burning coal for power, perhaps they should promote an alternative.... like nuclear.

Gas lines need nonconductive sections to protect from becoming long ground loops.

It sounds like this transformer had its center tap grounded and was the path to ground on one side of a ground loop as the geomagnetic field moved under pressure from a CME, inducing a common-mode current in the long-distance power line. A gas pipeline in an area of poor ground conductivity in Russia was also destroyed, it is said, resulting in 500 deaths.

One can protect against this phenomenon by use of common-mode breakers and perhaps even overheat breakers. The system will not stay up but nor will it be destroyed. This is a high-current rather than high-voltage phenomenon and thus the various methods used to dissipate lightning currents might not be effective.

In March 1989 much of Quebec lost power for the same thing.

They lost power because the common-mode breakers tripped, not because their system was actually damaged.

This story was not accepted for publication by Slashdot, and I am submitting it to another venue for consideration. - Bruce

Show me a city where the (wild and domestic) animal biomass approaches double-digit percentages of the human biomass.