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Comment Re:Reminds of of something at a past job (Score 1) 765

hungHi = (word & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16;

FYI, this is pretty bad. It does exactly the same as:
hungHi = word >> 16;

Not necessarily in 64 bit code.

It is not safe if for some reason word is signed (compiler bug on an exotic platform or some programmer resolving some signed/unsigned warning by doing the wrong thing):
((unsigned)0x80000000) >> 16 = 0x00008000
((signed)0x80000000) >> 16 = 0xFFFF8000

Maybe that's what he wants.

Instead, you should use:
hungHi = (word >> 16) & 0xFFFF;

Maybe, or maybe this : hungHi = (word & ~0xFFFF) >> 16;
Don't assume he got it wrong without context, but clearly the choice in variable name don't help understanding...

Comment Re:Learning trumps instincts (Score 1) 77

On ABS-equipped cars, stabbing the brake *is* the correct action for emergency breaking. In normal conditions, no human can beat the efficiency of ABS breaking, even professional pilots. In unusual situations (gravel, snow, ...) a skilled driver can beat the ABS by basically doing a controlled skid, something that the system won't let you do anyways unless you turned on "suicide" mode.
So much that many modern cars are able to detect emergency breaking situations and use 100% breaking power even if the pedal isn't completely depressed. The ABS takes care of the skid. (see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E...).

Comment Re:meanwhile (Score 1) 342

This is going to put many a libertarian in a hissy fit.

Why ? Allowing companies to exploit loopholes is not libertarianism.
There is one thing that regulators and libertarians have in common : they want everyone to play by the same rules. For libertarians, that's no rule at all, for regulators, that's unbreakable rules. Allowing loopholes is probably the last thing both camps want.

Comment Re:Garbage research yields garbage results. (Score 1) 127

Judging a book by its cover is stupid, in short. Judging an employee by browser is FUCKING STUPID. Making hiring decisions in ANY part on which browser OR which OS he or she uses is BEYOND GODDAMNED FUCKING RETARDED.

If you have more candidates than you can interview, you need to filter them somehow. And if a criteria such as browser usage is shown to be effective, why not use it ? We don't need causation, only correlation. In this phase all you have are arbitrary criteria, so there is no way you can be fair unless you are using random selection.

BTW, I believe that many business decisions including hiring would benefit from a bit of randomness but it's another story.

Comment Topre is what I prefer (Score 1) 452

I tried many keyboards in a shop in Akihabara : there were a nice sample of different styles of switches : various Cherry MX, Topre, high quality rubber domes, etc... The Topre was clearly the one I prefered, even though I didn't know about these at the time so it was like a blind test. I didn't buy it back then : it was a Japanese layout and I didn't want this + the outrageous price.
I finally bought it years later, in my native layout. Considering how my previous keyboard (a Keytronic KT2001) outlasted three computers, I consider getting a nice keyboard a worthwile investment.

FYI, the Topre Realforce looks as plain as a keyboard can look but is much heavier. The keys feel like a hybrid between a rubber dome and mechanical switches like the Cherry MX brown. The actuation point is rather high and it is not "mushy". It is a tiny bit louder than rubber domes but quieter than mechanicals (especially the clicky ones like the Cherry MX blue), it makes a "twok"-like sound that is rather pleasant.

In the end I think you should try it if you can : description can only get you so far.

Comment Re:It's a model (Score 1) 230

Sure, it is a nice model, but people are getting fed up with these 3D printing related articles. Especially with misleading headlines : he built a model, not full-size gearbox that transmits a significant amount of torque.
What this guy did is really cool, and if my friend or coworker did this I would have been very impressed but I don't consider it a newsworthy :
- It is not a breakthrough in 3D printing technology : we all knew something like this could be done, and professional 3D printers can even do this in one part, with no further assembly needed.
- It is not a breakthrough in workmanship : I find works made with traditional methods (lathe, router, hand tools, etc...) much more impressive. The works of some master craftsmen really amaze me.

His work is definitely worthy of a site that focus more on personal archivements, like hackaday.

Comment What a recruiter told me (Score 2) 292

"We ask for god in person, hoping to get the prophet, and usually we only have the faithful"

So yes, the requirements are not realistic, and they don't expect anyone to meet them at the price they are ready to pay. In fact these just give an idea of the profile they need and serve as a starting point for the negotiation.

Comment Re:What is the problem? (Score 1) 367

There are obvious public safety concerns. It has already been established through the courts that people do not have the right of free speech to shout "fire" in a crowded theater. If Yik Yak is being used to promote illegal activity then ban it. Last time I checked gang rape is against the law.

Yes but :

The app's privacy policy prevents schools from identifying users without a subpoena, court order or search warrant, or an emergency request from a law-enforcement official with a compelling claim of imminent harm.

Tu put is simply, it's just the school administrations that are unhappy because they can't do as they please. If it is against the law, it is a job for the police, who have the right to uncover users identity.

Comment Better weapon != more damage (Score 1) 247

The goal of GPS is to make weapon more accurate, which is a good thing.
When your weapon are inaccurate, you compensate with more firepower and it results in more collateral damage. It's because of low accuracy that we had monstrosities like the 100Mt Tsar Bomba. The idea was that even if we missed the target, the blast was big enough to take it down.

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