scott wrote:
> braking was locking the rear wheels :-)

Funky enough, the cruise control on my Camry will downshift the transmission 
going downhill to keep the speed in range.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   "Ouch ouch ouch!"
   "What's wrong? Noodles too hot?"
   "No, I have Chopstick Tunnel Syndrome."

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On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:24:33 +0000, Stephen wrote:

>>>>LOL, arguably, the question comes up if a dyslexic person wouldn't in
>>>>fact describe themselves as "lysdexic"....?
>>>>
>>> No.
>>
>>Well, I was making a joke - if it touched too close to home, please
>>accept my most sincere apologies.
>>
> No you didn't, I'm long past caring what people think 'cause I can't
> spell or read big books. :)

Good man. :-)  I didn't think I'd caused offense, but with a one-word 
answer it's hard to tell.

> I do get pissed off with people who don't take the trouble to check
> their spelling especially when they know they can't spell. I even use
> "Word" when I'm writing a hand written note or letter. But then I'm from
> a generation where it was considered important U no wat I meen?

Same here, though I don't often write anything by hand anymore.  I need 
to have a doctor check out my hand (mentioned a few months ago up here) 
because I get really bad cramps if I use a pen too long.  Signing my name 
and dating a document are about the extent of what I write any more with 
a pen.

>>I could see that.  I often will spell something the way I think it's
>>spelt and it doesn't look right.  In my newsreader, of course, it
>>doesn't look right because of the squiggly red line underneath the word.
>>
> I've switched that feature off in my newsreader. It would drive me mad
> seeing other posts :lol:

Ah, see, in my newsreader, it's only on in the message composition 
window. :-)

>>I occasionally get grief from people about it, or light joking about it.
>>One of my coworkers noticed it a few years ago and asked me about it -
>>not because he was anything other than curious, though - his background
>>is linguistics.
>>
>>I don't know why I started using Queen's English spellings, though -
>>just became a habit.  Possibly because I spent a lot of my time writing
>>to brits. :-)
>>
> If you can't beet them, join them ;)

LOL.  Yeah, I guess that might be part of it.

> Did you know that the term "Brit" used to be offensive? It was used by
> the Irish republicans during the troubles and was not complimentary ;)
> Nowadays the word is in favour.

I didn't know that - thanks!  Another day with something learned, another 
day not wasted. :-)

Jim

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On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:05:39 +0200, Eero Ahonen wrote:

> And if you'd had ESP, it should've braked for you (with just left
> wheels, to make the car turn) . For some reason (dunno why) Audi's
> (tested with B7 and B8 A4's) don't seem to do this - if you turn the
> wheels too quickly on ice and slide forwards without turning, the ESP
> won't realize it and does nothing.

LOL, now there's something that would be fun - a car that is driven 
through a neural interface.

Jim

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On 13 Feb 2009 13:04:40 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>Good man. :-)  I didn't think I'd caused offense, but with a one-word 
>answer it's hard to tell.
>

True ;)

>> I do get pissed off with people who don't take the trouble to check
>> their spelling especially when they know they can't spell. I even use
>> "Word" when I'm writing a hand written note or letter. But then I'm from
>> a generation where it was considered important U no wat I meen?
>
>Same here, though I don't often write anything by hand anymore.  I need 
>to have a doctor check out my hand (mentioned a few months ago up here) 
>because I get really bad cramps if I use a pen too long.  Signing my name 
>and dating a document are about the extent of what I write any more with 
>a pen.
>

I use a pencil and pad if I'm taking notes in meetings or at home. It changes
the tendons I use and keeps RSI away.


>> I've switched that feature off in my newsreader. It would drive me mad
>> seeing other posts :lol:
>
>Ah, see, in my newsreader, it's only on in the message composition 
>window. :-)
>

It might be the same in mine but I'm a habit of creature, whatever :)

>> Did you know that the term "Brit" used to be offensive? It was used by
>> the Irish republicans during the troubles and was not complimentary ;)
>> Nowadays the word is in favour.
>
>I didn't know that - thanks!  Another day with something learned, another 
>day not wasted. :-)
>

We are here to serve :)
 
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:12:23 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> On 13 Feb 2009 13:04:40 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>Good man. :-)  I didn't think I'd caused offense, but with a one-word
>>answer it's hard to tell.
>>
> True ;)

Far easier with the smiley. ;-)

>>Same here, though I don't often write anything by hand anymore.  I need
>>to have a doctor check out my hand (mentioned a few months ago up here)
>>because I get really bad cramps if I use a pen too long.  Signing my
>>name and dating a document are about the extent of what I write any more
>>with a pen.
>>
> I use a pencil and pad if I'm taking notes in meetings or at home. It
> changes the tendons I use and keeps RSI away.

I wonder if mine is some sort of RSI; I type a *lot*, and I type quite 
fast as well (I've been clocked at 90-120 WPM when I'm "in a groove") - 
my coworkers are still surprised at how quickly I can type.

Comes from back in my days programming - in my head, I'd be a few lines 
ahead of where my fingers were typing and my speed increased in order to 
keep up with my brain.  Strangely, though, I don't do so well if I have 
to type numbers with text.  I can do 10-key very quickly as well, but 
mixing alpha and numeric slows me down considerably.

>>> I've switched that feature off in my newsreader. It would drive me mad
>>> seeing other posts :lol:
>>
>>Ah, see, in my newsreader, it's only on in the message composition
>>window. :-)
>>
> It might be the same in mine but I'm a habit of creature, whatever :)

LOL

>>> Did you know that the term "Brit" used to be offensive? It was used by
>>> the Irish republicans during the troubles and was not complimentary ;)
>>> Nowadays the word is in favour.
>>
>>I didn't know that - thanks!  Another day with something learned,
>>another day not wasted. :-)
>>
> We are here to serve :)

I'll take a two-piece fish & chips meal, then, served in the traditional 
way. ;-)

Jim

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On 13 Feb 2009 16:20:53 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:12:23 +0000, Stephen wrote:
>
>> On 13 Feb 2009 13:04:40 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> 
>>>Good man. :-)  I didn't think I'd caused offense, but with a one-word
>>>answer it's hard to tell.
>>>
>> True ;)
>
>Far easier with the smiley. ;-)
>

More effect without :)

>
>I wonder if mine is some sort of RSI; I type a *lot*, and I type quite 
>fast as well (I've been clocked at 90-120 WPM when I'm "in a groove") - 
>my coworkers are still surprised at how quickly I can type.
>

Try aspirin or ibuprofen or a graphics tablet. I don't get problems with typing
but with mouse work.

>Comes from back in my days programming - in my head, I'd be a few lines 
>ahead of where my fingers were typing and my speed increased in order to 
>keep up with my brain.  Strangely, though, I don't do so well if I have 
>to type numbers with text.  I can do 10-key very quickly as well, but 
>mixing alpha and numeric slows me down considerably.
>

I learned to type on a TTY so I am slow.


>> We are here to serve :)
>
>I'll take a two-piece fish & chips meal, then, served in the traditional 
>way. ;-)
>

In England that is just Fish and chips, wrapped or open. In Scotland it is a
fish supper and if it is without chips it is a single fish and you get two.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Jim Henderson wrote:
> 
> Ah, I've never driven a 6-speed vehicle.  From higher gears it would 
> probably be less of an issue, 

It's not that different from a 5-speeder, with which I'd probably go
5-4-2 or 5-3-2.

OTOH with my own car (that summertoy I wrecked, Saab 9000) I've done
1-2-5 a lot when accelerating to 80km/h.

> but dropping from 3 to 1 can redline the 
> engine, at least IME.

At least usually yes, at least if you're not running on very low revs on 3.

> Yes, effective use of the clutch in that type of situation would also 
> help - since it would engage/disengage the engine from the drivetrain.

It would've been wise thing to at first stage, while then I wouldn't had
to get traction back nor wait for it, 'cause I wouldn't had lost it at
first place.


> Jim

-Aero

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On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:32:11 +0200, Eero Ahonen wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> 
>> Ah, I've never driven a 6-speed vehicle.  From higher gears it would
>> probably be less of an issue,
> 
> It's not that different from a 5-speeder, with which I'd probably go
> 5-4-2 or 5-3-2.
> 
> OTOH with my own car (that summertoy I wrecked, Saab 9000) I've done
> 1-2-5 a lot when accelerating to 80km/h.

Most of my experience was with a 3-speed.  My automatic (which I drive 
now) is also a 3-speed.

On the manual, I would go from 1st to 3rd - going up gears is a bit 
different than going down, going down you drive the engine revs up 
dramatically.

>> but dropping from 3 to 1 can redline the engine, at least IME.
> 
> At least usually yes, at least if you're not running on very low revs on
> 3.
> 
>> Yes, effective use of the clutch in that type of situation would also
>> help - since it would engage/disengage the engine from the drivetrain.
> 
> It would've been wise thing to at first stage, while then I wouldn't had
> to get traction back nor wait for it, 'cause I wouldn't had lost it at
> first place.

Yeah, if I drove a manual now, the clutch would be another tool I'd use.  
In an automatic, you can shift to neutral with similar effect, but with a 
lot less control.

Jim

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Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:53:30 +0200, Eero Ahonen wrote:
> 
>> Yes, also on drum brakes. But why on earth would you engage brakes
>> fully, if you're not trying to stop the car as quickly as possible?
> 
> Because slamming on the brakes on ice doesn't have that effect.

True, but the optimal braking with almost locked tires is pretty hard
thing to do - usually it's much wiser to just hit the brakes fully, if
you're trying to stop the car ASAP for some reason.

> Yes, but that's the reason to do that.  Similarly, for going down steep 
> inclines, using the engine to slow the vehicle down rather than the 
> brakes keeps you from burning the brakes out.

Yes, engine braking is certainly more economical than using brakes (it
saves both brakes and fuel).

> I don't do it on ice.  You can (and I can) lock the wheels driving at 50 
> MPH with the brakes, but that also is likely to cause an uncontrollable 
> skid - though a shorter one - and often that is more desirable than 
> running into whatever it is that you're braking hard to avoid.

Yep, and the same laws work also on ice and on snow, braking distances
just grow even exponentially.

> Jim

-Aero

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On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:01:42 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> On 13 Feb 2009 16:20:53 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:12:23 +0000, Stephen wrote:
>>
>>> On 13 Feb 2009 13:04:40 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>>Good man. :-)  I didn't think I'd caused offense, but with a one-word
>>>>answer it's hard to tell.
>>>>
>>> True ;)
>>
>>Far easier with the smiley. ;-)
>>
> More effect without :)

Well, certainly more conversation. ;-)

>>I wonder if mine is some sort of RSI; I type a *lot*, and I type quite
>>fast as well (I've been clocked at 90-120 WPM when I'm "in a groove") -
>>my coworkers are still surprised at how quickly I can type.
>>
> Try aspirin or ibuprofen or a graphics tablet. I don't get problems with
> typing but with mouse work.

I do take ibuprofen (usually for headaches, though).  I use a touchpad 
rather than a mouse - I find it very difficult to use a mouse because 
I've used touchpads for so long.

>>Comes from back in my days programming - in my head, I'd be a few lines
>>ahead of where my fingers were typing and my speed increased in order to
>>keep up with my brain.  Strangely, though, I don't do so well if I have
>>to type numbers with text.  I can do 10-key very quickly as well, but
>>mixing alpha and numeric slows me down considerably.
>>
>>
> I learned to type on a TTY so I am slow.

LOL!

>>> We are here to serve :)
>>
>>I'll take a two-piece fish & chips meal, then, served in the traditional
>>way. ;-)
>>
>>
> In England that is just Fish and chips, wrapped or open. In Scotland it
> is a fish supper and if it is without chips it is a single fish and you
> get two.

Aye, then 'tis the supper for me. ;-)

(Our local chip shop shut some months ago, no good alternatives around 
now. :-( )

Jim

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