I graduated at the end of the Cold War ('93), so an engineering degree was worthless -- all the companies were laying off their engineers as quickly as possible. Combined with the fact that the engineering jobs I interned for or heard about were not very interesting (managing a chemical factory?), I got a liberal arts degree. I went into IT for about 10 years, but in the long run I just didn't care that much about the mechanics of computers. I eventually got a PhD in biostatistics after taking the prerequisite courses. Statistics has let me get into various different research projects without having to overspecialize. I work for a hospital system now and do different research studies every day.

I would think that any laser reflective off a metal rail would lose focus and be scatter far too much to burn a hole in anything. This is a gut feel though and not based on hard math.

1) They're*
2) Dear God, people, attaching lasers to anything makes it epic cool. What the hell has happened to Slashdot?

Wouldn't it be easier to mount brushes or something?

Maybe, but not nearly 1/20th as cool as lasers. Please turn in your nerd card at the door.

I've witnessed people who got arrested BECAUSE they refused to show ID.

what i would like to see is more places that will sell you the NIBS (roasted beans)

Heck any of y'all that want to increase your chances with the ladies get going on how to make Chocolate FROM THE BEAN.

Being in the industry what would you suggest as to the grinder for somebody making for say 3-5 close friends??

I would bet that even when robotics are good enough a down armoured IronMan suit would be cheaper (even if its IM and a flock of drones).

Now that I think about it, if Philae did not bounce off of the comet, then the screws must be doing their job and I would think the harpoons might not be needed at all. I would assume the harpoons were in the plans because the engineers couldn't be sure the screws would work on the surface of a comet.

My understanding is that the harpoons were one of two ways that ESA was going to secure the probe to the comet. There were also screws that were supposed to attach the legs to the surface. So if they can still fire the harpoons they ought not have an issue with Philae flying off into space, but does anyone with more information on the relative strength of each? And if the harpoons could not be fired... what is the real risk of the probe shifting? I mean what would cause it to shift in the first place once settled on the comet?

No it isn't worthless. Most small shops could probably get by with using it exclusively.

think of what a plumber has to deal with if they have a Blackwater line with say 15 gallons worth of back pressure or some of the more involved plumbing nightmares (like how to get a LIVE snake out of a blackwater line).

90% of the time in plumbing you can get away with cut and fit stuff (as long as The Code Allows It) but then there is the 10% of the time you are dealing with having Blackwater all over the carpet.

also it takes more than 3 months (even if you only sleep eat and "play' only 48 hours TOTAL in those 3 months) to learn stuff like (how to get a 90 degree angle from 12 feet of rope and three pegs) much less be able to tell WHY this will work every time.

and if you can do say Chocolate then you will have Multiple Attractive Members Of The Opposite Sex DEMANDING chances to eat with you (previous statement may not need the with in it).

Well, they can certainly file, but they would lose. I remember a business law case we went over many years ago where Hallmark Cards trashed a bunch of their cards, someone salvaged them and got sued. The case ruled against Hallmark. I'm not finding it in a Google, but remember the case from the class.

I wonder if some of these folks were already regretting their decision to tie up money in a space flight. People's finances change, life situations change, priorities change... and this is a convenient way to try to get out of the financial obligation.

No evidence on my part... just idle speculation.