Pinging/knocking occurs *after* the spark plug has fired and is the premature ignition of parts of the mix before the flame front reaches them. If the mix self-ignites before the spark plug fires, that's pre-ignition. Two different phenomena with two different forms of characteristic damage (the latter is usually way more damaging). Backfiring has nothing to do with either.

Obligatory wiki link.

You may think you gave the simple version, but in fact you gave the wrong version.

Also, octane ratings are not obtained by the pressure at which the fuel spontaneously combusts, or at least that is a misleading explanation (makes it sound like you put it in a pressure chamber and up the pressure until it pops). The two primary measures, RON and MON, are both obtained using a combustion engine with a variable compression ratio. It's a much more real-world measure than you make out.

That may be a fact (I'm an Aussie, what do i know), but it doesn't address what he said. His claim was that if you took all the federal taxes the people and companies in california currently pay and instead gave it to the newly created national government of california, it'd be better placed financially than it is now. He never said the state itself paid money to the federal government. The contention is that there is a net outflow of money from california (taxes paid vs benefits received). If this is the case, then it sorta does make sense for California to break away. In financial terms anyway.

Sorta like a pencil, taking it to the extreme.

Seriously, if the picture in the US is as bad as some of you are painting, move. Seriously. I mean to another country. The rest of the western world is just no where near as fucked up. At the very least, drop any delusions that this is something we are all suffering under. No, it's just you. We don't know why you put up with it, but you really don't have to.

I'm an Australian engineer. My boss is always kind and courteous to me (and would be in trouble if he wasn't). He isn't out to screw me, he is part of the team. We are encouraged to take the 4 weeks of leave we accrue annually (it rolls over if you don't take it and there are thresholds where they start whinging at you to take it). We get paid overtime, and any doctoring of timesheets to work past the overtime caps is strictly discouraged. Actually, in truth, getting overtime as an engineer is fairly rare, but there is usually a TOIL system or equivalent such that you are only working the hours you are paid for on average. There are constant campaigns reminding people about work-life balance. There is even one day of the week where overtime is basically not approved and you get in trouble if you stay back to work on a project (meant so that even in busy times, you see your family occasionally). Work on weekends, while not totally prohibited, is extremely rare (i've never done it in 3 years). It requires special approval and they have to pay 1.5x your hourly rate.

I'm not trying to boast here, just trying to counter the hopeless view some of you have that it is the same everywhere and you should just cop it.

Yes. Well, no, but you could at least point out *why* you think it's a bad idea. Do you have a problem with cruise control too? You do realise that this is meant for long freeway drives, not complicated manoeuvring in urban areas, right?

I don't know about ford's implementation, but generally the idea is to give you not quite enough torque to stay in the lane. Take your hands off, and you *will* drift out of the lane. It just reduces fatigue on long drives, as it's the one doing the thinking, and you just provide a minor torque assist to it to confirm you're still awake and have your hands on the wheel.

And yes, of course you can override the damn thing with minimal force. Engineers aren't complete morons.

(I do love all the people who think this is a new invention. It's been in japanese vehicles since the mid 2000s.)

The entire western world bar the united states solved that problem decades ago (hint, doctors here aren't poor). Why is it that Americans think every problem is theirs and theirs alone? Is it that you think you are so advanced that no one could possibly have faced these problems before? Serious question. Those of us on the outside watching these debates go back and forth can't help but go WTF?!

Nope, currently in the house i grew up in for my whole childhood.

Seriously, this is the worst time for this poll. I normally live 2.5% away, but because it's christmas, i'm currently like 1 km from where i was born.

He said van. If it doesn't have windows and you aren't in his mirror, how is he going to see you? Cars do not have a blind spot unless you are a lazy driver, other vehicles *do*.