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Comment Re:The cause of the crash remains a mystery? (Score 1) 491

by Kittenman (#46570939) Attached to: How Satellite Company Inmarsat Tracked Down MH370
There was a 'Air Crash Investigation' show about a crash on a Greek plane (Helios?) where the whole plane wasn't getting oxygen, as someone hadn't flipped the correct switch last maintenance slot. Everyone passed out, last man alive was someone who had some experience of low-pressure work (a diver).

Be interesting to know when the plane was last maintained, what for, what was done, etc.

And my heart goes out to the families, of course. To us, this is academic. To them, it is very real.

Comment Re:Yeah, No (Score 1) 54

by Kittenman (#46539725) Attached to: CEO Says One Laptop Per Child Project Has Achieved Its Goals
Ah, Sinclair Basic. A friend had a box of his. I remember having to press three buttons to get the word "Let" or whatever the BASIC command was. You couldn't just type in the word LET using the Alpha keyboard. And this was the 'Spectrum', speaking from memory. Someone likened pressing the keys on that thing to touching dead flesh. I had to take his word for it.

Submission + - NSA Spies in World of Warcraft (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by Kittenman
Kittenman writes: The BBC is reporting that the US and UK spy agencies 'patrol' online games (such as 'World of Warcraft' and 'Second Life') to keep an eye on terrorist communications. The NSA "allegedly warned that such online games could allow intelligence targets to hide in plain sight". The same group have extracted WoW account data, attempting to link it to Islamic extremism.

Certainly a potential for data mining here — but keep an eye on that next elf you meet... it could really be a spook.

Comment Re: Employers want day 1 results (Score 1) 465

by Kittenman (#45551869) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Why Are Tech Job Requirements So Specific?

Hey,

I'm an Australian Citizen and work as a Senior Systems Admin at a telecommunications company. I'm looking for a job in the US on a visa (E-3 which is easier to get than H1B for Australians).

What do you think would be my chances? I guess you'd need a copy of my CV, but just wondering if real employers who are struggling to find the right candidate would bother with the trouble of getting an E-3 visa for an Aussie? (FYI the E-3 is a lot less work than getting a H1B but because its not well known known nobody seems to really want to bother with it).

I also visit the US yearly and could interview in person and have a US ph number (voip) employers can call me on too.

I can't work out if you're serious... but I'm in NZ, and have applied for a couple of US positions from here. I'm in a specialized area (Unisys & ALGOL, if you must know) so there's not many of us about. Got as far as people in the US emailing back, but as soon as they found out I didn't have right of abode, I got dropped.

Fine, no problems, I reply. Good luck with the search.

Comment Re:Whine under engine braking (Score 1) 443

by Kittenman (#45183111) Attached to: I wish my car could...
I had a car once that went through a half-litre of engine oil every time I filled the petrol tank (so about every 500 km). Failing to do this caused the warning light to come on, so I wasn't making it up.

I took it into the garage that sold it to me - well, sold it to the company (company cars... the best sort) and they said yes, that's quite normal. Nothing wrong with that. Have a nice day.

A documented defect is a 'quirk'.

Submission + - Man stays legally dead, despite pulse (nationalpost.com)

Submitted by Kittenman
Kittenman writes: Donald Miller Jr of Ohio was declared legally dead in 1994, eight years after disappearing. He resurfaced in 2005, needing to regain his Social security number. His wife battled the case to declare him alive, as she was unable to repay the social security benefits she had received. The judge declared the man still dead, as there is only a three-year period to reverse the original ruling.

“I don’t know where that leaves you, but you’re still deceased as far as the law is concerned,” the judge said.

Comment Re:Just about... (Score 2) 291

by Kittenman (#45032941) Attached to: My favorite brand of snake oil is ...

Anything labeled "Audiophile" or geared toward audiophiles. ...

Damn you. I have about 100 old vinyl records I'm trying to sell. Of course only a true audiophile would see me in these clothes... I'm sorry, would realize that the sound quality from these scratchy old pieces of vinyl are far superior to modern digital recording techniques...

Contact me for a deal, readers!

Comment Re:Ok... see.. (Score 1) 291

by Kittenman (#45032919) Attached to: My favorite brand of snake oil is ...

Really? I can still clearly recall a sermon ... realize that they can't take their religion too seriously. Religion can be a force for good, but when they demand strict adherence to it .....

Citation needed. (And thanks god for Christoper Hitchens...)

Comment Autumn ... (Score 1) 346

by Kittenman (#44955711) Attached to: My favorite season:
'cause when I was a kid, summer was when the school would try to teach me how to swim. And I hated it - just hated it. Autumn means that summer is gone, and I've another nine months before that cycle repeats.

And I still can't swim. Haven't drowned yet. It's a project for my retirement, I tell my wife.

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