Comment Re:Wrong (Score 1) 347
Did the same thing. I don't give a O(n) in a lot of things, but the degree (which ended being an EE) has been invaluable.
Comment Re:More like... (Score 5, Insightful) 347
Agreed. There is a lot more to a college degree than "career development."
Comment Make sure you learn the theory! (Score 1) 254
Good God man, make sure you learn the theory! If you can't graph y=sin(2x+1) by hand, give up now. How about a circle? Sphere? Surface? Bode Plot? Smith Chart? (and God forbid) root locus?? That's past where you're at, but I managed with a TI-86 just fine, and its mostly because I hated doing matrix math (but knew how).
Comment Re:Matlab (Score 1) 254
Agree 100%. I'm an engineer (electrical) and knowing Matlab is simply a requirement. In fact, a PhD student in Physics (my sister-in-law, actually) asked me for some help with it. It's mandatory.
Comment Re:Put stuff in sealed plastic cases? (Score 3, Informative) 434
Agreed. 25 years is no biggie. When I worked for Fitzimmons, we had blue prints for John Deere tractors going back to the 50s. (This was in 2008).
Store *data* in a couple of formats, use high-quality CDs/DVDs, use a good thumb drive, and maybe even an SSD. Store all in a moisture barrier bag (check Uline) with dessicant, and seal. They are also ESD compliant.
You'll be fine. I just had to buy a bunch of ICs* made in 1990 that were stored as such, and they work just fine.
* I work for a contract electronics manufacturer that is based in the US
* I work for a contract electronics manufacturer that is based in the US
Comment Bigger issue (Score 1) 207
This is a much bigger issue than is reported in the mainstream media, and not just with hard drives. I work for a contract electronics manufacturer, and we're really feeling the impact.
They are a number of electrical component manufacturers (TI, Toshiba, On Semi, Fairchild just to name a few) that have had their plants affected. Besides hard drives and their respective components, there are a ton of other electronics manufacturers that are saying their plants will be shut down until as late as Q2 of 2012.
Expect a lot of consumer electronics to go up in prices, especially as class-3 electronic devices (medical, aerospace) get priority for components.
Sharp Rise In Jailing of Online Journalists; Iran May Just Kill Them 233
bckspc writes "The Committee to Protect Journalists has published their annual census of journalists in prison. Of the 136 reporters in prison around the world on December 1, 'At least 68 bloggers, Web-based reporters, and online editors are imprisoned, constituting half of all journalists now in jail.' Print was next with 51 cases. Also, 'Freelancers now make up nearly 45 percent of all journalists jailed worldwide, a dramatic recent increase that reflects the evolution of the global news business.' China, Iran, Cuba, Eritrea, and Burma were the top 5 jailers of journalists."
rmdstudio writes, too, with word that after the last few days' protest there, largely organized online, the government of Iran is considering the death penalty for bloggers and webmasters whose reports offend it.
Hippies Say WiFi Network Is Harming Their Chakras 432
Anti-Globalism writes "A group of hippies is complaining that a recently installed WiFi mesh network in the UK village of Glastonbury is causing health problems. To combat the signals from the Wi-Fi hotspots, the hippies have placed orgone generators around the antennae." Although there have been many studies that show no correlation between WiFi and health issues the hippies say, "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man."
