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Comment Oblig Car Analogy (Score 1) 257

by purpleque (#28948161) Attached to: Major New Function Discovered For the Spleen
The parallel in car terms is a company fleet of vehicles. You don't want to have to rent an entire fleet from the ground up every time you need it.

You gotta go to the rental agency and hope they have enough vehicles to meet your needs then you gotta return em all and hope they have enough the next time.

Comment Re:Who in their right mind would want to use FAT? (Score 0, Troll) 272

by purpleque (#28567997) Attached to: Linux Patch Clears the Air For Use of Microsoft's FAT Filesystem
It is insightful because it is true. It was said that "people" don't use linux and there was no mention of "newbs".

I have written code in a few different languages, built several computers from spare parts, and spent years in the tech support arena.

I can download an ISO and install Linux from it. For the life of me, I cannot install the utilities or programs that I want to use. Even after reading through the cryptic forum posts related specifically to my topic of interest. I follow the instructions to orient my computer 5 degrees off north, sprinkle the blood of my first born onto the keyboard, make sure to check the hash of the files, and belt out show tunes during the entirety of the installation process. Despite going through several first born, my program will just not work.

On windows, I can download or buy the software I want to use, double click on a file that says "install", go through a few screens that tell me to click different options and viola! I am using my software in no time at all. I don't have to acquire hardware passed down from the direct descendants of Linus or only use software that was translated from the native tongue of antarcticans.

I comprehend what linux is. And if you want to come on over and type your super secret cheat codes on all the programs I want to use, I will use your linux. "People" don't have a you to help them out with the everyday operation of their computer. There is no repository of magical phrases.

People, don't use linux.
IBM

Submission + - After 53 Years at IBM, Engineer Dies

Submitted by BBCWatcher
BBCWatcher writes: Mainframers are still catching up to the sad news that Vern Watts, the "Father of IMS," died suddenly. He was 77. Vern "retired" from IBM in 2004, but he still worked at IBM two days per week (and three days per week at ScaleDB) up until his death. Incredibly that's over 53 years of continuous IBM service. His famous child, IMS, is now entering its 11th major version. IMS's Chief Architect got it right: IMS gracefully evolved from a 1960s Saturn V rocket parts inventory system into a globally popular, extreme performance, zero downtime transaction manager and database with XML, SOAP, Java programming, and JDBC support, among other modern features, while retaining backward compatibility. IMS is reportedly IBM's highest revenue software product (and growing). What have you done with your life?
Power

Submission + - New Gen Nuclear Power Plant Breaks Ground in China (mediaroom.com)

Submitted by
Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward writes: "The construction of first next-generation Westinghouse nuclear power reactor breaks ground in Sanmen, China. The reactor, expected to generate 12.7 Megawatts by 2013, costs 40 billion Yuan (~US$6 billion; that's a lot of iPods.) According to Westinghouse, "The AP1000 is the safest and most economical nuclear power plant available in the worldwide commercial marketplace, and is the only Generation III+ reactor to receive Design Certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)." However, Chinese netizens suspect China is being used as a white rat to test unproven nuclear technologies (comments in Chinese)."
Power

Submission + - Stuck Rod at Turkey Point Nuclear unit 3 (miamiherald.com)

Submitted by delvsional
delvsional writes: After a Refueling outage, it was found that one of the Control Rods for Turkey Point's Unit 3 Nuclear Reactor would not withdraw. This is the more conservative position for the rod as it is one of the things that reduces fission, but it needs to be withdrawn to make power. Major Repairs are underway and the Miami herald has a story on it. Interesting stuff.....

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1004815.html

''This is certainly not something that you see every day,'' said Roger Hannah, the Atlanta-based spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Hannah said the situation started earlier this week when the nuclear operators were attempting to return Turkey Point Unit 3 to service after a routine outage for refueling.

To get the reactor functioning again, mechanisms lift from the core control rods that absorb neutrons. The rods keep the reactor dormant during the refueling.

In this case, one of the control rods ''appeared to be stuck — and could not be moved out of the reactor vessel,'' said Hanna. That meant that the reactor had to be cooled back down since it would unsafe to operate with a rod in the core.

Because this was a rare event, any attempt to remove the rod from the core fell outside the technical specifications approved by the NRC. That meant FPL had to seek a ''technical specifications amendment from the NRC,'' said Hannah.

That amendment was granted, and a power saw was used on Friday to cut the mechanism that lifts the rods and part of the rod from the rest of the rod, which remains in the core.

It remains unclear what FPL plans to do about the rod remaining in the core and whether the mechanism that lifts the rods will be need to be replaced, Hannah said.
Power

Submission + - New Tram uses induction technology (olino.org) 3

Submitted by
jeroen8
jeroen8 writes: "Trams all over the world could soon be operating without the eyesore of overhead cables according to Bombardier, the world's leading supplier of trams. Primove, Bombardier's new tram system, uses induction technology for the transfer of electric power. This contact-less technology is five to six percent more efficient than other technologies in current use, says Bombardier. Amsterdam council (The Netherlands) has already shown serious interest. The Primove tram is also fitted with an integrated MITRAC energy saving system installed on its roof. This system consists of capacitors which store energy when the tram brakes and allows this energy to be used for acceleration. Tests conducted on a "light-rail" system in Mannheim since 2003 have shown that up to thirty percent less energy is required, greatly reducing costs and emission levels."
PC Games (Games)

Submission + - Duke Nukem Forever Reaches Development Milestone 1

Submitted by
mlauzon
mlauzon writes: "If you told your spouse that the two of you would be together until Duke Nukem Forever hit shelves in an attempt to be absolutely precious, it might be time to start sweating. According to a tweet by 3D Realms man George Broussard, Duke Nukem Forever's unending development cycle may soon be leaving the death-and-taxes consistency club.

"Closing out a milestone this week. 71 more tasks to do and we started with probably 800-900. Been a good push. Next one starts Monday," he tweeted.

After some rudimentary math, we've determined that — assuming development continues at a nice clip — Duke will be back in business sometime next year. Guess the Mayans were a little off with their apocalypse calculations.

Maximum PC"

Comment Re:levitation (Score 1) 72

by purpleque (#27561227) Attached to: Flying Micro-Robot Takes Off
I thought not as well. That is why i said technically it is flying. Well, because technically by definition it is flying.

But you don't hear people talk about maglevs that fly down the track (unless they are referring to its speed) or a railgun flying its projectile down the barrel. When you hear "fly" related to anything it is usually something with wings (living and non-living), jets, rockets, propellers, rotors, a ballistic arc, or a chemically induced euphoria. Not something being levitated or propelled by magnetism.

And why does rocket propulsion have to be crazy? It is quite a normal thing.

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