Comment Props to this guy (Score 4, Insightful) 111
Nice to associate the term "hacker" with "honest" once in a while
Comment Re:This isn't old, and it's simple economics (Score 1) 437
typo this IS old
Comment This isn't old, and it's simple economics (Score 1) 437
In the 80s and 90s, GM sold the tilt steering wheel as an option. The vehicles that didn't have the option had all of the components for it except the handle. A wise "hacker" could install the handle himself instead of buying the option.
The economics are simple. The components are cheaper than the cost of building two different modules. You have to re-tool the factory, keep track of which vehicles have it, deliver the correct one to the dealer, and maintain two different components for the life of the vehicle (i.e. stock replacement parts for both, separate instructions in the service manuals for each, higher learning curve for the mechanic, etc.). And it should be obvious that you're charged what you'll pay, not what it costs.
Comment Media (Score 1) 517
That's pretty obvious. The question is which has MORE influence.
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE or RECENT WEATHER?
http://www.davidryfe.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mccombsch03setting.pdf
Survey Says To UK — Repeal Laws of Thermodynamics 208
mostxlnt writes "As we noted, the new Tory UK government has launched a website asking its subjects which laws they'd most like repealed. There are proposals up for repeal of the Laws of Thermodynamics: Second, Third, and all (discussion thread on this one closed by a moderator). One comment on the Third [now apparently deleted] elucidated: 'Without the Third Law of Thermodynamics, it would be possible to build machines that would last forever and provide an endless source of cheap energy. thus solving both potential crises in energy supply as well as solving the greenhouse gas problem in one step... simples... eh?'"
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