NJ (#2 in solar in the US) has a subsidy scheme with "Solar Renewable Energy Credits". Many local governments bet on that subsidy to pay off solar panel installs with these SRECs, only for the market to crash (a victim of its own success) : http://www.nj.com/morris/index...

Note the collapse in prices: http://www.srectrade.com/srec_...

Some of this can be attributed to the College Board changing the language of choice for the AP Computer Science test curriculum from C++ to Java in 2004. Most universities in the US phased out C++ in their introductory programming classes after that. I'm also disappointed they phased out the AB Computer Science test.

You can also add NJIT to that list of places that require programming. Check out the syllabus for CS288. I was required to take that class back in the day. It was a joke, mostly because it was developed and taught by a tenured professor that didn't seem to enjoy his job. Somebody else appears to have taken over a revamped it. Plenty of pointers to be found there.

After taking several semesters of Calculus without a calculator (department enforced), I can say its more about developing problem solving skills than it is actual arithmetic. Some of the higher end math beyond the basic undergrad Calculus courses is used in advanced programming algorithms (things like encryption and data compression) , but the majority of programmers aren't going to be exposed to that in the real world.

There are quite a few people who enter CS programs that are game players that want to be game programmers, but quickly drop out or switch majors once they find out how difficult it really is.

They used to teach them C/C++. Pointers and memory management would filter the serious people from the "I wanna make games" crowd.

Many of the crops grown in California don't require the climate. They are grown there because farmers can do year round harvesting. Otherwise you wouldn't have many of the items you like in the supermarket during the winter months.

UEFI uses a FAT32 partition with a special GUID on the hard drive to store boot loaders. Firmware settings have been stored in a battery backed CMOS for decades. There is no need for flash to store any of these settings.

Because the earlier OEM pre-activation system (SLIC 2.1) was easily cracked by modifying the BIOS.

Sounds like the Windows install media is picking up the OEM key in the BIOS instead of prompting you for a key. Best way around this is to create a Windows 8.1 USB stick and setup an ei.cfg file to force the Pro version to install. https://technet.microsoft.com/...

...and they don't know how to bill. Of course they don't even appear to have a billing dept. One day late (or your payment doesn't process properly) and its sent to a collections agency.

The advent of cheap Win8.1 tablets and lack of a "Metro Mode" in Firefox is really going to bite Mozilla in the ass. Hopefully they will reconsider adding that feature back in as even with Australis, Firefox on a Winbook TW802 is a bit annoying to use. I have tried running the Android version of Firefox thru DuOS as an alternative, and its mildly better to use, but still not as slick as IE11 in the tablet UX area.

USB type C finally solves the issue of non-reversible cables. The Lighting port is not that robust, there are issues with the charging pins corroding.

Meanwhile the $99 tablet I picked up at Microcenter has more connectivity (full sized USB, Micro-USB for charging that can take OTG adapters, micro-SD slot, and micro-HDMI). Apple couldn't fit a Micro-HDMI port on this thing? I'd say this laptop is the ultimate example of form over function. "But it looks great on my desk!"

MOOOF!

Plenty of GPL'ed software is bundling things like OpenCandy with the installer.