I can affirm that this is exact scenario is true for PNC in the USA too.

I've gotten two of these phone calls in the past few months. The first time I followed their instructions up until the point that they wanted to take over my computer. They pointed me to a legitimate screen sharing application. I gave them the wrong access code. Once the caller realized I wasn't going to fall for the scam, he got ANGRY and told me that *tomorrow* he was going to destroy my computer. I challenged him to do it now. :-) I should have told him my IP address was 127.0.0.1.

I still wonder *what* he was going to do once he took control. Setup a remote control SPAM bot? Encrypt everything? Or simply ask for $500.00 to "fix" all the problems?

If I had an old throwaway system, I would have pointed him to that...but then I would be worried that he would have been able to infect my other computers on my network...maybe.

Randy -- regardlessitwasfun

I believe that any person who treated a symptomatic Ebola patient should be quarantined for 21 days...IF...they exhibit *any* symptoms...even a simple fever.

While I understand the medicine and science, this disease is just too dangerous to take any chances.

If you happened to be around one of *these* health care workers, then I believe that self monitoring *might* be enough.

Part of the issue isn't simply medical...there is also public reaction which is irrational...but it's there.

Randy --yesinconsistentandirrationalandunscientific

True...to a point. It's mainly limited by domain or function. Can drive on well known established paths. Or only when *all* the cars communicate with each other. Or at slow speeds.

It'll be a long time before a car can drive on an expressway, through a construction zone, then past a parade in your home town and respond correctly to a police officer's hand waving instructions past an accident.

I'm beginning to believe that we are still 20 years from fully autonomous self-driving cars.

Peace,
Randy -- althoughireallyhopeilivetoseeit

I also worked for Xerox at Webster, NY from '80-'90. The Altos were utterly amazing, as well as the software that ran on them...Pilot OS, Mesa, SIL for creating schematics, Swat for debugging. It spoiled me. Even programming on the Sun hardware and OS years later was a step down.

My favorite game was Polish Pong, but I loved Star Trek too.

--
Randy Stegbauer -- thosewerethedays

I see two cases.

1. The object floats on top of the water, and displaces it's weight in water and the water level remains the same.
2. The object sinks below the surface of the water and displaces it's *volume* of water and the water level goes down.

--
Randy -- iamnotapysicist,butrememberansweringthistrickquestionbefore,butmayhavemisremembered

Re: Diagnosing a rare disease with non-specific symptoms

Except for that one very specific symptom of traveling to Western Africa! That should be a bright red flag!

My first question was if it was to be a one way or two way mission. Those are two *completely* different problems and costs!

I would guess 10 years for one and 20 for two.

If I wasn't married, I would go...but recall that a while back *they* were looking for *married* couples to go to Mars. Do you think they'll want the wisdom and fear of a 60 year old couple?

-- Randy

Look at that...a bell curve.

Who woulda thunk?

This 16 miles would have to be part of their normal *working* day and not just leisure strolling.

...or when Nixon did the same thing with tapes...but didn't realize that there would be a gap. LOL

Those were the good ole days!

Randy -- thosewerethegoodoledays

I've been saying this forever.

In the early grades, a student's success is more dependent on parents and teachers.

As the student progresses, the student takes more and more of the responsibility of their success, until High School when the student has *ALL* of the responsibility.

Randy -- ishouldbepaidformyresearch

I understand your point that the code for a 747 or the ISS must be written to *avoid* catastrophic failures and will be much more expensive to design and develop. If a car manufacturer were to write all the code in its ECU like this, then no one would be able to afford a car. However, not all the subsystems in an ECU need to be written to this standard. The portions that control the engine performance and gas mileage don't. But all the fly by wire parts *do* need this level of care. As soon as the gas pedal and brakes are being completely controlled by software, then the manufacturer had better make sure that it fails safely.

That said, I'll be in the *second* wave of people buying robo-cars.

Peace,
Randy

Well...you are lucky. If I didn't go to the dentist for 15 years, then you wouldn't be able to see my individual teeth from all the plaque and tarter deposits.

Yummy!