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NPR: '80s Ads Are Responsible For the Lack of Women Coders 786

gollum123 writes: Back in the day, computer science was as legitimate a career path for women as medicine, law, or science. But in 1984, the number of women majoring in computing-related subjects began to fall, and the percentage of women is now significantly lower in CS than in those other fields. NPR's Planet Money sought to answer a simple question: Why? According to the show's experts, computers were advertised as a "boy's toy." This, combined with early '80s geek culture staples like the book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, as well as movies like War Games and Weird Science, conspired to instill the perception that computers were primarily for men.

Comment Re:Sounding another death knell for cable companie (Score 1) 126

I realize that it is all about advertising, but where do these outrageous cable fees go? If it is all about advertising, why do cable providers charge substantial fees for channel packages? Clearly, you can show more adds if you let everyone with a cable watch it.

So it must be not that simple.

Submission + - Samsung admits to software bug on 840 EVO SSDs (computerworld.com)

Lucas123 writes: Samsung has issued a firmware fix for a bug on its popular 840 EVO triple-level cell SSD. The bug apparently slows read performance tremendously for any data more than a month old that has not been moved around on the NAND. The 840 EVO is one of the companies most affordable SSDs, as it retails for under 50 cents a gig. Samsung said in a statement that the read problems occurred on its 2.5-in 840 EVO SSDs and 840 EVO mSATA drives because of an error in the flash management software algorithm. Some users on technical blog sites, such as Overclock.net, say the problem extends beyond the EVO line. They also questioned whether the firmware upgrade was a true fix or just covers up the bug by simply moving data around the SSD.

Submission + - Ethernet is coming to cars (computerworld.com) 3

Lucas123 writes: Automobile industry support for Ethernet as an interconnect specification for all electronics in the car and for the car to connect to the Internet outside the car is growing quickly. Additionally, one of the largest suppliers of silicon to the industry — Freescale — today announced its first automotive-grade Ethernet modules. The 100Mbps modules will offer up to four separate video ports and can connect together instrument clusters, infotainment systems and telematics all on the same ring topology. Driving Ethernet adoption in vehicles are trends such as such as federally mandated backup cameras, lane-departure warning systems, traffic light recognition and collision avoidance sensors, and in-vehicle WiFi as well as streaming video on embedded displays. While Freescale's not the first to offer an automotive-grade Ethernet chipset, it is the largest supplier to date. By 2020, many cars will have 50 to 60 Ethernet ports and even entry-level vehicles will have 10, according to a study by research firm Frost & Sullivan. (Premium vehicles will likely have more than 100 Ethernet nodes by then.)

Comment Re:Easy to solve - calibrate them to overestimate (Score 3, Insightful) 398

You could also decrease speed limit to something unreasonable. For example, 15mph and issue tickets at 21mph.

You can also hide a max speed sign behind something, like a bush, and install it in otherwise higher speed zone.

You can also install speed trap on the down-slope road, where drivers would naturally speed up without any conscious input.

You can also offer "early payment" discounts on tickets, where if you pay and plead guilty your fine reduced to the point of not worth the time fighting it.

You can establish a ticket challenge procedure that would conflict with working hours, making it logistically difficult for people to challenge.

You can intentionally mail tickets to old addresses, then rake up late fees and interest.

Oh, all of these happened in one or another municipality at some point in time.

Comment Re:Easy to solve - calibrate them to overestimate (Score 5, Insightful) 398

>>>You're not even supposed to run the amber, never mind the red.

Incorrect. When you see light turning yellow, you are suppose to stop when it is safe to do so, otherwise proceed through the intersection. If you are a municipality concerned about safety - increase timer on yellow light.

Instead, exact opposite happens - municipality concerned with a budget shortfalls decreases yellow light timer to generate additional red light ticket revenue. As a result, many people slam on the brakes increasing instances of rear-end collisions.

Comment Re:This is good (Score 1) 398

>>>It proves the cameras are working, and people are speeding less.

In before "why won't you think of the children!?".

It does not. It may indicate that problem was overblown in the first place. Also since report focuses on revenue, and no accident rates (possibly because there is zero impact) we can conclude that these were always about revenue-generation.

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