It's true, I LOVE Liam Neeson movies! I've no idea why... he's a pretty good actor who happens to get properly cast more often than not.

As for Django.... My wife and I put off watching it for a year, as a lot of people I know made it out to be super offensive/over-the-top. Turns out, I think it's one of Tarantino's best films.

But I digress.... Companies tend to be clueless, as a whole - as people tend to be clueless, as a whole. I mean, how hard is it to ask yourself the converse of a question? "Is it true white people have a special bone in their ankle that prevents them from enjoying movies with black stars?" - (On second thought... Please don't answer that...)

So you're absolutely right, better to ask what is proper etiquette WITH ANY CULTURE, then to display your ignorance (and, since you didn't ask, arrogance) to the entire world. Even if someone is offended by you asking privately...you've still avoided worse.

I don't think any of the languages you've mentioned are ones people would consider one of those "vogue" kiddie languages. Scala, D, Swift, Everything on this list, is not something I would tell a child to start learning, and then bet a career on.

That said, use the right tool for the job! PHP is absolutely a great idea for a webpage, which is, by it's very nature, a scripted entity. With much pain, C *can* do it, but there is a better tool, already. PHP - and just about every other scripted language is written in C/C++. So is the JVM. It's all just (another) layer of abstraction, in the end.

  But, when it comes to kernels, firmware, and just about anything embedded - C should be near the top of your list. It's not the most popular language, but it's steady. It sits nicely on top of only assembly language - and thus, is easily used on any (and almost every) hardware-architecture there is.

In states like Oklahoma, we often create laws that are meant to make a single crime multiply, in order to maximize our "tough on crime" image. A police-friend was telling me one of their favorites is the "Computer Crimes Act", which makes the use of a "computer" (which, by their interpretation, includes a cellphone) during a crime, a separately punishable act.

So it applies to texting-while-driving and phone pranks, all of the way up to bank-robbery. Technically, according to paragraph 8, if you find this post *annoying*, I've just committed a misdemeanor!

Go USA!

Why this post is AC, I do not know. But I agree, as a father of 3, the shield portable/tablet is the bee's-knees! My desktop, in all of it's glory, has been relegated to the garage. But when a shield, I can game running 720p practically lag-free anywhere in the house using 802.11n/5GHz, and turn-based games (Civ/Xcom/etc) work fine outside of the house. It's requires an nVidia setup, however.

Welcome to Oklahoma. We just got one of those laws passed, quite easily.

A net-zero bill just isn't going to sit well here - can't have the rabble hurting profits with their "green" technology. To really take advantage of solar here, you have to change your stated goal to independence from the grid. That's going to mean having smarter appliances that can be told "do this load of laundry during the middle of the day, crank up the electric water-heater to 11, and, if there's any extra power - turn on the stereo just to make a point. Just don't give PSO/AEP free power.

If you try this, there's a 99% chance that you'll lose your steam/origin/ubi account, and everything in it. Companies are vindictive like that.

(Kinda wish you weren't AC, but I'll answer anyway.)

I think there's a little truth in both views. There were a lot of [black] people and businesses in Tulsa that used to be quite well-off prior to The Tulsa Race Riot which did more damage in two days than Jim Crow ever could. Those areas are pretty much welfare neighborhoods now, rife with payday-loans and people dependent upon the government (Which I consider to be the final nail in the coffin.) What was lost (or stolen, depending on whom you ask) cannot be valued, and the effects on later generations isn't limited to that community - it takes away from everyone. Education is nil, as one more likely to end up with a criminal record than a degree (Oklahoma blacks and hispanics have a 64% graduation rate.) And state policy ensures those effects are still heading in the wrong direction.

As for families, yes - [modern] black culture glorifies all of the wrong things which tends to lead to lots of children without [responsible] fathers. But it's inaccurate to say that's the norm everywhere. IMO, poverty and marriage simply don't mix. Two working parents can break the poverty-line, but then (in today's economic/political climate) you'll have staganation. Making too much money to qualify for (genuinely needed) help, while not making enough to make ends meet can easily destroy any family. Of the ones that stay together - Many of their children do quite well in school, and do graduate. But cannot possibly afford college. And, without stable households capable of acquiring even modest wealth, even student loans for some *really*good*kids* are totally out-of-the-question. Ensuring yet another generation of lightly-educated people, with no access to education, mentorship, or even a trade. ...and all of the limitations thereof. (For that reason, I'm actually against the idea that "college is the solution to all problems" that has been ingrained into the minds of all black parents. You can work in many fields, including IT, without a degree. It's debt-free, and if you work hard at what you do, it's upwardly mobile. More-so if you have the aptitude.)

I don't buy into the "victim mentality" at all. I determine my own future. But I'm not alone or ashamed in the fact that I, my parents, grandparents, have to overcome significant obstacles to establish *somewhat* equal footing *starting* with my generation. Most Americans [black, white, whatever] don't seem to understand that the real damage from overt racism isn't "he's [not us], so I won't hire him or serve him food", it was "those [not us] people should never acquire education & wealth, lest they become a threat" which resulted in many calculated (and often violent) actions taken with the intent to deny wealth. Combine that history with welfare and you have a never ending cycle of: ...Poverty - the gift that keeps on giving.

No, the midwest. Oklahoma - to be specific. I think, with the exception of the south, the population in most cities are similar - though my own neighborhood is about as far as it gets from being segregated in any way.

This.

It's sad, but we're rare birds. It's not the fault of any one thing. Culturally, families DO encourage it, however, there are few mentors. I just lucked out and had a dad who was a real dad worthy of mentorship, in engineering. It's rare because of.... I'll leave it at "forces of history" (internal, and external, both).

The stereotypes can be hard to shake, though. Being taken seriously can be an obstacle. It's a different experience, I'm sure. The only way to break the cycle (IMO) is to get out there and try to teach/mentor/train (which is an entirely different can of worms.)

This is from the viewpoint of an OEM manufacturer, btw.

I cannot agree more. States should be going after companies like Walmart to make them pay for any public-assistance their employees qualify for, plus a premium. (They do similar things to individuals, "corporations are people, too" ...remember?) The problem would fix itself.

If your wages from a full-time job don't allow someone who works for you to earn enough of a living to not have to work, you had better not be turning a "profit", much less paying it out to investors...

The whole "flipping burgers isn't supposed to support a family" isn't a valid argument. McDonald's posted 5.5 BILLION in profit for 2012. They can pay their workers (well) above minimum wage.

THIS.

Supply chains and procurement is already wild enough. Checking every part is not part of the deal. (Though, using authorized distributors is the first/best step. Stay away from Shenzhen if you can.) I've never been a huge FTDI fan, but this debacle has all but ensured that I never use their parts in a design. Accidentally acquiring clones could result in a support nightmare that really didn't have to happen.

Besides, this move doesn't punish the clone makers at all. Just end-users. They could have put up a pop-up window or notice. But bricking... that would have me calling up the lawyers. If they feel it's okay to destroy product (especially if those clone chips weren't purchased knowingly). That's more than ill-will:

That's liability.

Tried it, had to down a nice tall glass of ginger-ale afterwards and go back to 2D - I consider myself exceptionally "VR hardned". But this game is the closest I've come to surrendering my stomach contents. (No real spoilers, here)

* I think it's a problem with the calibration routine, which doesn't cancel out any rotation in your head (if you're looking slightly up/down, to tilting your head to the side, even slightly. ...it becomes the new "level". Euurgh...
* Walk speed while on the first ship, walk speed is entirely too high. Your brain is damn-near expecting to feel whiplash. Double Euurgh...
* Framerate and controls are superb, but it's **straaaange** to from from a IRL 6'0" 210lb man to being a 5'4"ish scrawny woman who probably weighs a buck, soaking-wet.

Nevermind that this game is already hard/scary. Probably too much for a first "AAA" VR experience. The interface is an excellent implementation, though. But that calibration...

I thought the part where you're wearing the spacesuit on EVA was amazing, too. Was more comfortable than the game.

That's the kicker, right there. These customers do not, nor will they ever, have $2500 for a down payment (If they did, they could buy a "real" car.) These places take vehicles with a bluebook value of $2000-$5000 and sell them for $10,000 or more with little to nothing "down", at the maximum interest rate the law will allow, and with an "as-is" warranty term.

It's usury, plain and simple. These snakes are just waiting for you to slip-up on a payment. Fees for being late are fair. But their goal is to simply repo the very moment you're late with a payment. Because, then, they can repo the car - sell it again (and again, until it can't be sold). Auction it. Then still leave you with a credit-report item for the difference.

A remote kill-switch (and probably GPS for recovery) only increases profits, I'm sure.

Believe it or not, but 95% of 'Merica isn't New York/Chicago/LA/Big-City. Here in Tulsa, there is no public transit to speak of. Unless you plan carefully where you live/work, it's quite difficult - maybe impossible - to live/work/eat without constant access to a car.

Profits over people. It's the American way.