Some current vehicles have systems that automatically brake when they detect a potential rear-end collision. First, the driver receives an audible warning. If the driver does not react, the vehicle will apply up to 40% of braking power. If the driver does react at this point, the braking system will modify the pedal pressure input from the driver, applying more or less braking force with the goals of (1) stopping the vehicle before hitting the object in front and (2) avoiding braking too hard so that a vehicle following will not hit your car from behind.

This sounds good, but I wonder about the fact that the vehicle's computer does not have all the information that a human does. For example, the computer will not know that the road has a wet (or oily) patch ahead or that the road surface changes from concrete to gravel ahead. I'm sure that there are other factors that would also modify the collision avoidance attempts a human would try.

If you're speeding, you are not necessarily breaking the law in many states. The speed limit is by default interpreted as the maximum safe speed. Interesting, speeds limits are generally determined by performing a traffic study and setting the speed limit at the 85th percentile. The idea is that about 85% of drivers will choose an appropriate speed, and about 15% will exceed the safe speed. The final speed limit determination can modify the 85th percentile based on engineering factors, and there are some maximum limits established my law in many places. For example, there is generally a maximum speed on freeways (expressways, highways, whatever they are called in your area) prescribed by the law.

What, has the BSOD been changed to a different color?

In the US, we can't even do things that we used to be able to do. We used to be able to go to the moon, but we can't do that anymore. Next, we mothballed the space shuttle fleet without having a via replacement. Now we're dependent on Russia to get to the ISS. Good thing we have such a cozy relationship with Russia. Oh, wait. We managed to royally piss them off. It seems kind of like being stranded in the desert, and we give the finger to the only car that passes by.

Of course C++ is a weapon. People shoot themselves in the foot with it all the time.

In many US states, the speed limits are not maximum legal speeds. Instead the posted speed limited are prima facie speed limits -- limits that are presumed to be maximum reasonable speed. In Texas, where most speed limits are prima facie speed limits, drivers can challenge speeding tickets on this basis, and they do sometimes win. Most people do not do this because it requires someone with legal expertise in this area. The general rule for setting speed limits is that a traffic study is performed, and the speed limit is set at the 85th percentile of measured vehicle speeds. The assumption is that 15% of the drivers will always drive too fast. http://www.txdot.gov/governmen....

DHS: "we must protect the fatherland" -- er, homeland.

Yes, we need a C++ ISO standard to make sure that all the compilers comply with C++11. Oh wait, Microsoft still can't figure out how to support C++11 fully. The MSDN blog cites "resource constraints" as the problem. How that fits in with laying off 18,000 employees, I'm not sure.

Many people work in situations where they must exchange documents with other people (inside or outside the company). When a document looks vastly different in LibreOffice compared to MS Office, that is a problem. At a previous job, I had to use Word on Windows -- Word on Mac was not enough -- when dealing with files containing MathType equations.

Not using A/C is simply not an option in many regions, where every summer we have many people die from the heat.

In the southern United States, the vast majority of energy is used for HVAC (heating and air conditioning).

If people get too worried about this, we will take an activity that kids enjoy doing just for fun into a high-pressure ordeal from that kids dread.

Or multifocal contact lenses. They're even better than bifocal glasses. Unlike bifocals, you don't have to make any effort. The lenses just provide a good combination of near and distance vision. The design I'm wearing is "center near," with more distance correction toward the edges, but you can't tell that there are areas of different correction when wearing them. Somehow the eyes and brain sort it out.

The real problem here is that we simply do not need as many workers in the US as we used to, when adjusted for population growth. Many positions have been eliminated because of new inventions and technology, and we are not creating enough new jobs to take their place. The displaced workers are supposed to be able to support themselves, but there simply are not enough jobs. Consider this: Even if every job opening were filled with an unemployed person, two thirds of the unemployed would still be jobless.

The lobbyists seem to be behind for 2014. They better pony up more money if they want this deal to go through.