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Comment Re:In a nutshell: (Score 1) 725

While I have read this before and do find it interesting, I grew up with a kinda rhyming mnemonic:

Thirty days hath September
April, June and November
All the rest have Thirty-One
Except February which has Twenty-Eight (or Twenty-Nine)

Although the wiki one is a little better:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_days_hath_September

Comment Re:Someone here actually suggested it before (Score 1) 584

There's something missing - a downmod of "you are factually incorrect". Not "I disagree"

What's wrong with -1 Overrated?

I've have used "-1 Overrated" for that purpose in the past, but only in articles that I have modded in previously and feel strongly about the bad info being presented. If I have no mod points invested in the conversation and I feel strongly about it, then I comment.

Comment Re:Deceleration (Score 1) 133

So how many meters per second per second is his velocity towards the center of the earth increasing?

Zero?

No acceleration, gotcha.

Force can cause acceleration, force does not equal acceleration.

Precisely, the hangman put the noose on you and you have the force of gravity pulling you down, it is not until he opens the trap door that the force of gravity accelerates you downward to snap your neck.

Comment Re:Deceleration (Score 1) 133

You just continually monitor the distance between yourself and the target and can compute both your speed and your acceleration by comparing the distances over specific time intervals. As you take the interval times to zero, you get better and better approximations of your exact acceleration curve (that's pretty standard calculus -- sample and integrate.)

And each time you note the position you create a new reference point for the following position.

Comment Re:Deceleration (Score 1) 133

Following your logic acceleration would not be detectable either therefore pointless.

In order to detect acceleration, you must take at least 3 sample points of reference of the object in motion. The first to set a starting point, the second in order to set an velocity and the third in order to set a later velocity with this information you can detect the change in velocity.

Without these an object in empty space would never have velocity therefore no potential increase in velocity.

Comment Re:Deceleration (Score 3, Informative) 133

The AC who responded to your comment is completely wrong.

While deceleration is used in common speech to indicate a reduction of velocity, in physics there is no deceleration only acceleration in the opposite direction of the trajectory. Both concepts, acceleration reverse acceleration, require a point of reference, in this case it is the sun.

I would have been disappointed if /. used deceleration, particularly on a space article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceleration

Comment Re:Big Box "Repair" Services (Score 1) 317

I agree with your point about a random auto mechanic not allowing you to use his or his employers equipment. I work on cars and computers and other things regularly and if some random person asked to use my equipment to test their stuff, I would feel they were wasting my time, but I am trying to sell a service and I make no money on replacement parts. But, most auto parts stores (even ones with service sections) will test batteries, alternators and starters for you for free if you remove the item from your vehicle and bring it in to the store. I have never brought a starter motor into a parts store/service station and had them tell me to put it back into my car and to bring the car in for their mechanics to test it.

Circuit City/Best Buy have more in common with auto parts stores with service sections than with a repair only auto shop.

Personally, I think it is foolish for a business that sells component/replacement/upgrade parts, which only pros, semi-pros and hobbyists are going to purchase, to not attempt to ingratiate themselves with these persons. In all likely-hood, if a person brings in a component part and it tests bad, that person will purchase a replacement from that same location as long as it is available, besides, these are the same people that are going to make more purchases of repair parts than any other demographic. If they are not interested in this demographic, then they should not waste their floor space with repair parts at all.

Comment Re:Gettin' a tan. Slowly. (Score 1) 264

I use multiply monitors as well and for a very similar reason as yours, I just can't play MMORPGs any more.

A while back, I played a lot of Anarchy Online and got used to playing with 3 PC/monitors, 2 active characters with side-by-side monitors and stacked keyboards/mice and another PC/monitor off to the side with a character standing around in town as a shop. Ever since then, anything less that 2 characters at once feels slow paced. Admittedly, I am more of a RTS player than RPGer or FPSer.

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