POV-Ray : Newsgroups : povray.off-topic : Music selection Server Time
15 Oct 2026 03:19:09 EDT (-0400)
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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 11:46:45
Message: <47a9e475$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:14:46 +0100, scott wrote:

>>> Well, no, you just had to stop somewhere in order to open or close the
>>> window.
>>
>> Why? Unless of course you're talking about non-driver's windows when
>> no-one is sitting there.
> 
> And unless you are really rich and have a huge car, you can just lean
> over and do the passenger window by hand whilst you're driving.

Or if you drive a sensibly-designed car, the window controls are on the 
centre panel rather than the doors.  (My Saturn is like that)

Jim


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 11:51:18
Message: <47a9e586@news.povray.org>
"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
news:47a98896$1@news.povray.org...

You're just slightly out of date.

> And then, about 4 years ago, I purchased the newest car that anybody I
> know has ever had. It was 3 years old. It's so new, in fact, that it has
> *metalic* paint. And electric windows. And power steering. And ABS. It
> even has *air bags*.

The car I have now has metallic paint, power steering, electric windows,
ABS. It's close on 11 years old.
It doesn't have airbags though.

> As far as music goes, most cars come with an AM radio. With mechanical
> tuning buttons. (You know, "radio buttons"?)

Haven't seen one of those for a couple of decades. Haven't seen a radio
without FM for even longer.

> If you're lucky they have
> FM as well. And if it's a really expensive car, there might be a tape
> deck. My current car is unique in that it can play *CDs*. In fact, it
> has a *six* disk changer in the boot. Advanced!

Unique? I bought my car (2nd hand) 6 years ago and it had a 6 CD changer in
the boot, FM radio, tape deck. The car I sold at that time had a 4 CD
changer under the driver's seat, tape deck, FM and AM radio and it had had
that for around 4 years.

Most cars don't have tape decks any more. Who sells tapes these days?

> Sure, I know there are absurdly rich people who can afford expensive
> shiny cars that have all sorts of electronic gizmos in them. But
> seriously, normal people don't have that kind of money...

Ever heard of a loan? Very few people buy cars outright. Most people take
loans from the bank and repay over 3-5 years. I paid off my car (R80 000) in
3 years. Think I was paying around R3500 - R4000 per month. (do the
conversions yourself.).


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 11:51:29
Message: <3cpjq391nkgsag9onq49j78lpte4octqhj@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 11:38:27 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:10:24 +0100, scott wrote:
>
>> 7.5 million new cars were sold in the US in 2004, so presumably some
>> people can afford them.  A lot of people get given them by their
>> company, and a lot of other people just buy cars that are a few years
>> old (but not decades).
>
>Cars in the US are a fair bit cheaper than they are in the UK.  Part of 
>the reason for that is the additional cost of actually delivering the 
>vehicles to the island - there's not a lot of space for manufacturing 
>plants (though there are a few, of course).
>
There are a few manufactories on this sceptered isle, you know :) 
We do make some cars and even export them.


Regards
	Stephen


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 11:53:08
Message: <47a9e5f4@news.povray.org>
"scott" <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote in message
news:47a96ba6$1@news.povray.org...
> > (Benny's car stereo is somehow able to decode MPEG-1 layer-3 digital
audio
> > from yellow-book CDs. Yes, yellow-book, but red-book. As a result, 1 CD
> > plays for about 13 hours. And the trebble is sufficiently chewed up to
> > annoy me. Apparently the difference is inaudible to everyone else...)
>
> Best invention ever - I would never get a car that wasn't capable of
playing
> MP3s now.

I wish mine did. The music system's a bit too old. It does read CD
rewritables, so that's a plus.
I'd love to be able to plug my ipod/Zen into the car radio. There's probably
some way to do it.


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From: Invisible
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 11:54:34
Message: <47a9e64a$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:

> There are a few manufactories on this sceptered isle, you know :) 
> We do make some cars and even export them.

Really?

It's news to me that *anything* is manufactured in the UK. I thought all 
mass-produced goods were imported...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 12:00:33
Message: <47a9e7b1@news.povray.org>
"Bill Pragnell" <bil### [at] hotmailcom> wrote in message
news:47a98c7f@news.povray.org...

> In the back, for the kids, fine. However, I've recently been horrified
> to see that front-seat players, apparently aimed at drivers, are
> becoming common.

With the traffic situation here I'll take one of those happily. On Monday I
listened to an hour long podcast from start to finish during my drive from
work to the dojo. It's a distance of around 15km, 90% of that on the highway


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 12:41:44
Message: <dasjq31lbrlpt9oa0gd97umb623qo1tijf@4ax.com>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:54:34 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>
>> There are a few manufactories on this sceptered isle, you know :) 
>> We do make some cars and even export them.
>
>Really?
>
>It's news to me that *anything* is manufactured in the UK. I thought all 
>mass-produced goods were imported...

You have too "down" a view of the world. You need to get away from the Home
Counties to get your hands dirty. :)

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 12:55:56
Message: <47a9f4ac@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:51:26 +0000, Stephen wrote:

>>Cars in the US are a fair bit cheaper than they are in the UK.  Part of
>>the reason for that is the additional cost of actually delivering the
>>vehicles to the island - there's not a lot of space for manufacturing
>>plants (though there are a few, of course).
>>
> There are a few manufactories on this sceptered isle, you know  We do
> make some cars and even export them.

Oh, yes, I know (miss the paranthetical?).  But I also know that a lot of 
the materials still have to be imported, which adds to the cost - 
especially with the increase in oil/gas prices.  And that said, petrol 
isn't exactly cheap over there.

Jim


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 12:58:42
Message: <47a9f552$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:53:12 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:

> I wish mine did. The music system's a bit too old. It does read CD
> rewritables, so that's a plus.
> I'd love to be able to plug my ipod/Zen into the car radio. There's
> probably some way to do it.

The only thing I don't like about my Saturn is that the connector on the 
back of the radio is a nonstandard connector, and Saturn can't even tell 
me how to hard-wire my iPod to it.  So I use an RF transmitter instead, 
and that generally works well.

Jim


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From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:18:09
Message: <47a9f9e1$1@news.povray.org>
> Cars in the US are a fair bit cheaper than they are in the UK.  Part of
> the reason for that is the additional cost of actually delivering the
> vehicles to the island - there's not a lot of space for manufacturing
> plants (though there are a few, of course).

We don't really drive cars that are actually made in the USA in Europe :-) 
Most cars sold here are either built in Europe from a European make (mostly 
French or German) or built in Europe from a Japanese make.


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From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:20:15
Message: <47a9fa5f@news.povray.org>
> Oh, yes, I know (miss the paranthetical?).  But I also know that a lot of
> the materials still have to be imported, which adds to the cost -

I'm currently working on a radio system for Ford, where most of the core 
components are made in Japan, assembled in either China or Taiwan, then 
moved to Mexico to assemble into the complete radio unit, then moved to some 
Chrysler plant somewhere to be assembled into the car.  Madness isn't it?


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From: Orchid XP v7
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:21:50
Message: <47a9fabe$1@news.povray.org>
Gail Shaw wrote:

> I wish mine did. The music system's a bit too old. It does read CD
> rewritables, so that's a plus.

Mine plays writables - don't know about rewritables.

> I'd love to be able to plug my ipod/Zen into the car radio. There's probably
> some way to do it.

Yeah... me too!



I did hear some guy who had is car stereo knicked. So he wanted to set 
up a laptop running Xine on Linux to act as a music player. He was 
asking how to wire a switch to the serial port and script it so he could 
change tracks.

At this point, somebody said "dude, you just had your car stereo 
knicked, so you want to park a *laptop* on the passenger seat??"

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:33:30
Message: <47a9fd7a$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:20:35 +0100, scott wrote:

> Madness isn't
> it?

Yep. :-)

Jim


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:35:49
Message: <47a9fe05@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:18:29 +0100, scott wrote:

>> Cars in the US are a fair bit cheaper than they are in the UK.  Part of
>> the reason for that is the additional cost of actually delivering the
>> vehicles to the island - there's not a lot of space for manufacturing
>> plants (though there are a few, of course).
> 
> We don't really drive cars that are actually made in the USA in Europe
> :-) Most cars sold here are either built in Europe from a European make
> (mostly French or German) or built in Europe from a Japanese make.

Well, yes, I did know that - I've driven in the UK, and while there are a 
few US-made cars around, they didn't seem prevalent and quite expensive.

Similarly, most of the BMWs driven in the US are manufactured in the US 
AIUI; same sort of thing for Hondas & Toyotas.

Jim


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:37:19
Message: <47a9fe5f$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:21:52 +0000, Orchid XP v7 wrote:

> I did hear some guy who had is car stereo knicked. So he wanted to set
> up a laptop running Xine on Linux to act as a music player. He was
> asking how to wire a switch to the serial port and script it so he could
> change tracks.

Over here you can get aftermarket removable stereos or with removable 
faceplates (which takes the entire control interface off the radio).  The 
thing is, if you get one of those, you'd better *always* take it with you.

> At this point, somebody said "dude, you just had your car stereo
> knicked, so you want to park a *laptop* on the passenger seat??"

Hehehehehehehe


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From: Mike Raiford
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:37:22
Message: <47a9fe62@news.povray.org>
scott wrote:

> Do you have that rear "wing" that goes across the middle of the rear 
> window? I found that it was exactly the right height to block out the 
> view of cars behind on the motorway ... perhaps just the way I had the 
> seat set and my height?

Nope, thankfully. ;)


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:39:00
Message: <47a9fec4@news.povray.org>
"Orchid XP v7" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
news:47a9fabe$1@news.povray.org...
> Gail Shaw wrote:
>
> > I wish mine did. The music system's a bit too old. It does read CD
> > rewritables, so that's a plus.
>
> Mine plays writables - don't know about rewritables.
>

I didn't know until I tried. Is good. Means I can keep on reburning podcasts
to a rewritable CD to listen to. With all the power outages and resultant
traffic chaos lately I should be able to get through my backlog of podcasts
in a couple of weeks. Beats listening to the same songs over and over from
the local radio stations.

> At this point, somebody said "dude, you just had your car stereo
> knicked, so you want to park a *laptop* on the passenger seat??"

That's kinda silly. I suppose he was planning on taking the laptop when he
left the car. If cars only get broken in to when they're parked that might
not be so bad. Here, where smash and grabs and hijackings are the order of
the day, not so bright.

If I have my laptop in the car, it's in a bag, in the boot


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:44:41
Message: <47aa0019$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:39:00 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:

> If I have my laptop in the car, it's in a bag, in the boot

Man, around *here* I wouldn't do that.  We had our car broken into a few 
years ago, and the first thing they did was open the boot.  When they 
found nothing, they cut the speaker wires.  Apart from a bottle of washer 
fluid, a backpack with a backlight for my kid's gameboy (but not the 
gameboy itself), and about $0.12, they didn't get anything.  Burned a 
hole in the passenger seat with a cigarette (and the passenger visor has 
a burn mark on it), but that was it.

Jim


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From: Fredrik Eriksson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:45:07
Message: <op.t5381iuz7bxctx@e6600.bredbandsbolaget.se>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:56:50 +0100, scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote:
> Actually you would need a gearbox for it to be useful.  Electric motors  
> generate maximum torque at very slow speeds, the faster the motor goes  
> the lower the torque.  This is exactly the wrong thing you need for a  
> car, where the faster you go the more torque you need to overcome the  
> speed squared air drag.  If you didn't use a gearbox you'd end up with a  
> car capable of burning out the tyres at low speed, but that took 10  
> minutes to accelerate from 60 to 70 mph.

http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/acceleration_and_torque.php

Gets by with only two gears, and can supposedly be kept in second gear at  
all times while still performing adequately.


-- 
FE


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:55:49
Message: <47aa02b5@news.povray.org>
"Jim Henderson" <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote in message
news:47aa0019$1@news.povray.org...
> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:39:00 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:
>
> > If I have my laptop in the car, it's in a bag, in the boot
>
> Man, around *here* I wouldn't do that.

Laptop's only in the car if I'm in the car. Car's fairly safe at night -
behind a locked gate. Main worries are parking at shopping centers, smash
and grabs (kinda hard if the item is in the boot) and hijackings. Fortunatly
I drive a car that's not very desired by thieves.

My boss got hijacked last week. They took the car, his laptop, cellphone,
wallet, few other things. Tracking company got the car back. Didn't get the
rest of the stuff


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From: Orchid XP v7
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 13:58:56
Message: <47aa0370$1@news.povray.org>
scott wrote:

> I'm currently working on a radio system for Ford, where most of the core 
> components are made in Japan, assembled in either China or Taiwan, then 
> moved to Mexico to assemble into the complete radio unit, then moved to 
> some Chrysler plant somewhere to be assembled into the car.  Madness 
> isn't it?

You know what? Screw light bulbs - THIS is the thing we need to fix to 
stop global warming! ._.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Orchid XP v7
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 14:02:07
Message: <47aa042f@news.povray.org>
Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:21:52 +0000, Orchid XP v7 wrote:
> 
>> I did hear some guy who had is car stereo knicked. So he wanted to set
>> up a laptop running Xine on Linux to act as a music player. He was
>> asking how to wire a switch to the serial port and script it so he could
>> change tracks.
> 
> Over here you can get aftermarket removable stereos or with removable 
> faceplates (which takes the entire control interface off the radio).  The 
> thing is, if you get one of those, you'd better *always* take it with you.

Yeah, I used to have one of those. It's a pitty is you forget to take 
the faceplace with you... no music. :-(

My mum has this currently. And never removes it. But then, this woman 
can't find her car keys in the morning, so...

>> At this point, somebody said "dude, you just had your car stereo
>> knicked, so you want to park a *laptop* on the passenger seat??"
> 
> Hehehehehehehe

Yeah. Literally, is plan was to take a knackered old laptop and park it 
on the passenger seat with a bunch of wires going into the speakers. 
Hmm... ;-)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 14:56:18
Message: <47aa10e2$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:02:01 +0000, Orchid XP v7 wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:21:52 +0000, Orchid XP v7 wrote:
>> 
>>> I did hear some guy who had is car stereo knicked. So he wanted to set
>>> up a laptop running Xine on Linux to act as a music player. He was
>>> asking how to wire a switch to the serial port and script it so he
>>> could change tracks.
>> 
>> Over here you can get aftermarket removable stereos or with removable
>> faceplates (which takes the entire control interface off the radio). 
>> The thing is, if you get one of those, you'd better *always* take it
>> with you.
> 
> Yeah, I used to have one of those. It's a pitty is you forget to take
> the faceplace with you... no music. :-(

Yeah, that would be my problem.  I spend enough time in the morning 
trying to remember to grab my access badge and office keys before I head 
down to Provo.  But I've also determined that it sucks to get there and 
then realise I can't get into the building (or my office) - because there 
ain't no way I'm driving another 90 miles so I can open my door. :-)

> My mum has this currently. And never removes it. But then, this woman
> can't find her car keys in the morning, so...



>>> At this point, somebody said "dude, you just had your car stereo
>>> knicked, so you want to park a *laptop* on the passenger seat??"
>> 
>> Hehehehehehehe
> 
> Yeah. Literally, is plan was to take a knackered old laptop and park it
> on the passenger seat with a bunch of wires going into the speakers.
> Hmm... ;-)

I'd believe that.  On longer trips, I've done this myself (back when I 
had a USB-powered RF modulator that I could plug into the headphone jack 
on my laptop).  One power inverter and I could run the laptop as long as 
the car had power.  But I'd just use RF to get it to the stereo, rather 
than wires.

A lot of the newer radios I've seen in rental cars have an aux-in jack on 
the front now.  I wish mine did (I'm too cheap to put in an aftermarket 
radio these days).

Jim


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 14:58:30
Message: <47aa1166@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:55:49 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:

> "Jim Henderson" <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote in message
> news:47aa0019$1@news.povray.org...
>> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:39:00 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:
>>
>> > If I have my laptop in the car, it's in a bag, in the boot
>>
>> Man, around *here* I wouldn't do that.
> 
> Laptop's only in the car if I'm in the car. Car's fairly safe at night -
> behind a locked gate. Main worries are parking at shopping centers,
> smash and grabs (kinda hard if the item is in the boot) and hijackings.
> Fortunatly I drive a car that's not very desired by thieves.

Ah, yes, and I do that as well - I put the bag usually on the back seat 
or on the passenger seat, but if I've got it with me, I won't stop to 
pick things up at the store unless I stop at home first and drop it off.  
I usually have a 1 TB external drive with me as well for work.  I'm 
generally not concerned about the laptop so much as the data on it - I 
have source code as well as source files for training materials, not 
stuff we want "in the wild."

> My boss got hijacked last week. They took the car, his laptop,
> cellphone, wallet, few other things. Tracking company got the car back.
> Didn't get the rest of the stuff

Ouch - was he OK?

Jim


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From: Orchid XP v7
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:02:17
Message: <47aa1249$1@news.povray.org>
> A lot of the newer radios I've seen in rental cars have an aux-in jack on 
> the front now.  I wish mine did (I'm too cheap to put in an aftermarket 
> radio these days).

That would indeed be very useful...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Gail Shaw
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:25:06
Message: <47aa17a2@news.povray.org>
"Jim Henderson" <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote in message
news:47aa1166@news.povray.org...

> Ah, yes, and I do that as well - I put the bag usually on the back seat
> or on the passenger seat,

Asking for a smash & grab in these parts. In the boot is safer as far as I'm
concerned.

> > My boss got hijacked last week. They took the car, his laptop,
> > cellphone, wallet, few other things. Tracking company got the car back.
> > Didn't get the rest of the stuff
>
> Ouch - was he OK?
>

Shaken, not hurt. Apparently 3 guys with guns ambushed him in his driveway.


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:29:29
Message: <47aa18a9$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:25:09 +0200, Gail Shaw wrote:

> "Jim Henderson" <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote in message
> news:47aa1166@news.povray.org...
> 
>> Ah, yes, and I do that as well - I put the bag usually on the back seat
>> or on the passenger seat,
> 
> Asking for a smash & grab in these parts. In the boot is safer as far as
> I'm concerned.
> 
>> > My boss got hijacked last week. They took the car, his laptop,
>> > cellphone, wallet, few other things. Tracking company got the car
>> > back. Didn't get the rest of the stuff
>>
>> Ouch - was he OK?
>>
>>
> Shaken, not hurt. Apparently 3 guys with guns ambushed him in his
> driveway.

Here's hoping none of us have to experience that (and for him as well!)

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:35:27
Message: <vf6kq3pr6emd6c9qd3hf5i0rc33mu797ro@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 12:55:56 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>Oh, yes, I know (miss the paranthetical?).  But I also know that a lot of 
>the materials still have to be imported, which adds to the cost - 
>especially with the increase in oil/gas prices.  And that said, petrol 
>isn't exactly cheap over there.

Well, it is maybe a sore point, with the decline of our manufacturing base. :)
Thank you Mrs T.

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:36:28
Message: <8h6kq3hsu45enqlpq1rps5s8tj76pqkj2t@4ax.com>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:58:58 +0000, Orchid XP v7 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>
>You know what? Screw light bulbs - THIS is the thing we need to fix to 
>stop global warming! ._.
>

BC light bulbs!

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 15:45:07
Message: <47aa1c53$1@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:35:24 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> On 6 Feb 2008 12:55:56 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>Oh, yes, I know (miss the paranthetical?).  But I also know that a lot
>>of the materials still have to be imported, which adds to the cost -
>>especially with the increase in oil/gas prices.  And that said, petrol
>>isn't exactly cheap over there.
> 
> Well, it is maybe a sore point, with the decline of our manufacturing
> base. :) Thank you Mrs T.

I know what you mean.  While we haven't seen as deep a decline in 
manufacturing over here, there has been a pretty steep decline anyways - 
after all, look at all the toys painted with lead-based paints coming out 
of China to the US....

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 16:19:26
Message: <gu8kq3926m0lq6t82u42na5cfk5q2ncq29@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 15:45:07 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>I know what you mean.  While we haven't seen as deep a decline in 
>manufacturing over here, there has been a pretty steep decline anyways - 
>after all, look at all the toys painted with lead-based paints coming out 
>of China to the US....

Well that's what happens with globalisation. Everything goes to the cheapest.
B*gg*r the quality.  :(
Remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs!

Andrew probably won't remember it was in 1834 after all. :)

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 16:24:44
Message: <47aa259c@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:19:23 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> On 6 Feb 2008 15:45:07 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
> 
>>I know what you mean.  While we haven't seen as deep a decline in
>>manufacturing over here, there has been a pretty steep decline anyways -
>>after all, look at all the toys painted with lead-based paints coming
>>out of China to the US....
> 
> Well that's what happens with globalisation. Everything goes to the
> cheapest. B*gg*r the quality.  :(
> Remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs!

Heh, true enough.  But the other thing that *should* happen with 
globalisation is that the expertise moves up - so as more rote jobs are 
shipped overseas, the former workers have to learn new skills.

Nobody ever said that life was easy or that continued employment didn't 
require the acquisition of new skills.  It's a sad reality for those who 
don't adapt to the changing employment scene, but those who do tend to do 
a lot better than those who don't.

My dad's generation stayed employed by one employer for most of their 
lives (dad worked for Massey-Ferguson for something like 50 years before 
he retired in '81).  Those days are pretty much long past (though I work 
on a team with people who've been with the company for 15-20 years).  
Most people also can expect to go through 3-5 total career changes these 
days as well.  I'm on #3 myself - went from implementing/fixing 
technology to teaching it to managing those who teach it.  I never 
thought I'd move out of implementing.

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 16:45:22
Message: <2hakq31h7ucnp689d20vdf293h4d54e0la@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 16:24:44 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>Heh, true enough.  But the other thing that *should* happen with 
>globalisation is that the expertise moves up - so as more rote jobs are 
>shipped overseas, the former workers have to learn new skills.
>Nobody ever said that life was easy or that continued employment didn't 
>require the acquisition of new skills.  It's a sad reality for those who 
>don't adapt to the changing employment scene, but those who do tend to do 
>a lot better than those who don't.
>
>My dad's generation stayed employed by one employer for most of their 
>lives (dad worked for Massey-Ferguson for something like 50 years before 
>he retired in '81).  Those days are pretty much long past (though I work 
>on a team with people who've been with the company for 15-20 years).  
>Most people also can expect to go through 3-5 total career changes these 
>days as well.  I'm on #3 myself - went from implementing/fixing 
>technology to teaching it to managing those who teach it.  I never 
>thought I'd move out of implementing.

Yes but what do you do with the millions of people that were needed for
manufacturing and keeping the system going before automation and cheap
transport. That's the problem or at least one of them.
Not everyone has the opportunity to re-skill and move up. I'm on career #4;
worked in factories, became a service engineer, worked offshore, now in SAP. 
But then I'm a chancer :)
I can't believe I've had three interviews this week for jobs that would take me
completely round the world. And one later in the week to work in Malaysia. That
is a far cry from my father who only went abroad in the war. :) 

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 16:47:20
Message: <3lakq39bromfdtoahcani23b479smagj9t@4ax.com>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:45:19 +0000, Stephen <mcavoysATaolDOTcom@> wrote:

>I can't believe I've had three interviews this week

And one of the interviewers had used Pov!
What is that handshake again? :)

Regards
	Stephen


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 17:02:53
Message: <47aa2e8d@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:45:19 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> Yes but what do you do with the millions of people that were needed for
> manufacturing and keeping the system going before automation and cheap
> transport. 

That can be a tricky one, especially early in the cycle.  I tend to think 
that *most* can re-skill and move up, or move sideways into a somewhat 
similar position in a different industry.

Those who tend to be successful, I think, tend to be people who instead 
of learning "how to build a paint sprayer", but rather how to follow 
instructions on how to build something.

From there, one possible career path is process optimization, which can 
open a bunch of other doors as well.

> That's the problem or at least one of them. Not everyone has
> the opportunity to re-skill and move up. 

At least in my experience, the opportunities are there, but the 
motivation often isn't.  Of course, it's not 100% who have the 
opportunities (or don't have the motivation).  A big problem also has to 
do with people living beyond their means; when you do that, you can't 
take a lower paying job while you are re-skilling.

When I moved into instruction, I took about a 7% pay cut (in base 
salary), and it was a struggle for a while.  After 5 years, I'm back 
where I was when I left the previous employer; but I'm also described as 
"unamerican" by some because I don't carry a lot of debt load and 
generally we only buy what we can afford right now (excepting big-ticket 
items like cars, houses, and that sort of thing).  Credit management is a 
skill that it seems a lot of younger people don't have these days - even 
in my generation, debt loads tend to be higher than our parents' were, 
and we learned about credit management later in life than we really 
should have.

> I'm on career #4; worked in
> factories, became a service engineer, worked offshore, now in SAP. But
> then I'm a chancer

Same here.  The director I worked for 6 years ago (when I left to come to 
Novell) said that he wished he had the guts to make a drastic change like 
I did.  I think he was also commenting on my choice of employer as well; 
Novell has long been known as a company that you're likely to get laid 
off from.  I've survived 3 or 4 RIFs in 5 years, the first one a month 
after I started.

> I can't believe I've had three interviews this week for jobs that would
> take me completely round the world. And one later in the week to work in
> Malaysia. That is a far cry from my father who only went abroad in the
> war.

Wow, that's impressive.  :-)

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 17:28:33
Message: <kackq35seftecsmfd9llv02c652263q742@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 17:02:53 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>Those who tend to be successful, I think, tend to be people who instead 
>of learning "how to build a paint sprayer", but rather how to follow 
>instructions on how to build something.

That is dispiriting.

>From there, one possible career path is process optimization, which can 
>open a bunch of other doors as well.
>
>> That's the problem or at least one of them. Not everyone has
>> the opportunity to re-skill and move up. 
>
>At least in my experience, the opportunities are there, but the 
>motivation often isn't.  Of course, it's not 100% who have the 
>opportunities (or don't have the motivation).  

I saw it differently here when Mrs T started to go the way she did. (I won't go
into that. It is an old story and you shouldn't talk politics or religion if you
want to keep friends. Oh what the Hell I can't keep my mouth shut :) 

>A big problem also has to 
>do with people living beyond their means; when you do that, you can't 
>take a lower paying job while you are re-skilling.

How very true. Debt is a major problem here in the UK.

>When I moved into instruction, I took about a 7% pay cut (in base 
>salary), and it was a struggle for a while.  After 5 years, I'm back 
>where I was when I left the previous employer; but I'm also described as 
>"unamerican" by some because I don't carry a lot of debt load and 
>generally we only buy what we can afford right now (excepting big-ticket 
>items like cars, houses, and that sort of thing).  Credit management is a 
>skill that it seems a lot of younger people don't have these days - even 
>in my generation, debt loads tend to be higher than our parents' were, 
>and we learned about credit management later in life than we really 
>should have.
>
It may be what brings gown the house of cards :(

>> I'm on career #4; worked in
>> factories, became a service engineer, worked offshore, now in SAP. But
>> then I'm a chancer
>
>Same here.  The director I worked for 6 years ago (when I left to come to 
>Novell) said that he wished he had the guts to make a drastic change like 
>I did.  I think he was also commenting on my choice of employer as well; 
>Novell has long been known as a company that you're likely to get laid 
>off from.  I've survived 3 or 4 RIFs in 5 years, the first one a month 
>after I started.
>

Welcome to our caring company. I won't introduce you to those people they won't
be here long. :)
Yeuch!

>> I can't believe I've had three interviews this week for jobs that would
>> take me completely round the world. And one later in the week to work in
>> Malaysia. That is a far cry from my father who only went abroad in the
>> war.
>
>Wow, that's impressive.  :-)
>
Thanks I think so too that's why I'm bragging. :) Even if I don't get any of
them I'm pleased that I was considered. 


Regards
	Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 6 Feb 2008 17:43:12
Message: <47aa3800@news.povray.org>
On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:28:30 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> On 6 Feb 2008 17:02:53 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>Those who tend to be successful, I think, tend to be people who instead
>>of learning "how to build a paint sprayer", but rather how to follow
>>instructions on how to build something.
> 
> That is dispiriting.

What, that people have to evolve their skills?  That's the way the world 
is (at least in the so-called "western world") these days.  Adapt or 
die....It sounds harsh, but it's reality.

>>From there, one possible career path is process optimization, which can
>>open a bunch of other doors as well.
>>
>>> That's the problem or at least one of them. Not everyone has the
>>> opportunity to re-skill and move up.
>>
>>At least in my experience, the opportunities are there, but the
>>motivation often isn't.  Of course, it's not 100% who have the
>>opportunities (or don't have the motivation).
> 
> I saw it differently here when Mrs T started to go the way she did. (I
> won't go into that. It is an old story and you shouldn't talk politics
> or religion if you want to keep friends. Oh what the Hell I can't keep
> my mouth shut :)

I'm happy to talk either politics or religion.  Maybe that's why I don't 
have a lot of friends. ;-)

I'm having a great debate right now with someone about the relative 
merits of calling Wicca a religion (he doesn't believe it is, and he's 
wrong <g>) and the US armed forces holding weekly services for those who 
are observant of that particular faith.  Of course, his definition for 
"religion" is pretty narrow - you have to believe in a monotheistic god, 
which generally narrows the field to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.  
By his definition, Buddhism and Hinduism don't (and shouldn't) qualify.

Add to that his statement that belief that science can eventually explain 
everything is irrational (but belief in an invisible guy in the sky who 
controls everything isn't?), and you've got a conversation that's ripe 
for lots of fun shouting. :-)  Needless to say, *I've* been having fun 
with it.

>>A big problem also has to
>>do with people living beyond their means; when you do that, you can't
>>take a lower paying job while you are re-skilling.
> 
> How very true. Debt is a major problem here in the UK.

Yeah, I understand that you guys are catching the sub-prime mortgage wave 
that hit us the end of last year.  Don't get bitten.  I also understand 
that there's been an interesting development in a bank bought by Citi 
over there - that they're terminating accounts for people with *good* 
credit because they're not making any money on interest.  Terminating 
accounts for people who pay their cards off every month:  What's the 
world coming to?

>>When I moved into instruction, I took about a 7% pay cut (in base
>>salary), and it was a struggle for a while.  After 5 years, I'm back
>>where I was when I left the previous employer; but I'm also described as
>>"unamerican" by some because I don't carry a lot of debt load and
>>generally we only buy what we can afford right now (excepting big-ticket
>>items like cars, houses, and that sort of thing).  Credit management is
>>a skill that it seems a lot of younger people don't have these days -
>>even in my generation, debt loads tend to be higher than our parents'
>>were, and we learned about credit management later in life than we
>>really should have.
>>
> It may be what brings gown the house of cards :(

Yep.  I have to admit that I'm concerned about my retirement fund; I was 
stupid when I was in my early 20s and closed my 401(k) account so I could 
make a down payment on a house.  That money would, in the long run, been 
much better left invested where it was.  I may have another 30-35 years 
of working time left before I retire, but the operation of compound 
interest would've served me well with the money I put in when I was 19-22.

>>> I'm on career #4; worked in
>>> factories, became a service engineer, worked offshore, now in SAP. But
>>> then I'm a chancer
>>
>>Same here.  The director I worked for 6 years ago (when I left to come
>>to Novell) said that he wished he had the guts to make a drastic change
>>like I did.  I think he was also commenting on my choice of employer as
>>well; Novell has long been known as a company that you're likely to get
>>laid off from.  I've survived 3 or 4 RIFs in 5 years, the first one a
>>month after I started.
>>
>>
> Welcome to our caring company. I won't introduce you to those people
> they won't be here long. :)
> Yeuch!

It can be a bit depressing at times.  That said, I love the job, though, 
and right now couldn't see myself doing anything else.  I've always been 
a bit mercenary when it comes to employment (though there are things I 
*won't* do), and for the first time in my career, I'm in a place where, 
if something "better" came along I probably wouldn't take it.  I would 
look at it, but IME "better" is always a case of appearances, and things 
are pretty good where I am.  I made a jump once before for "better" and 
it was (work-wise) a very bad call.  Life-wise, it worked out very well 
(I met my wife because I moved for the job), but I was miserable for 
about 2 years, and unemployed for 6 months of that.

>>> I can't believe I've had three interviews this week for jobs that
>>> would take me completely round the world. And one later in the week to
>>> work in Malaysia. That is a far cry from my father who only went
>>> abroad in the war.
>>
>>Wow, that's impressive.  :-)
>>
> Thanks I think so too that's why I'm bragging. :) Even if I don't get
> any of them I'm pleased that I was considered.

That's always a good ego-boost, isn't it?  Current job sent me to 
Barcelona a few years ago (and actually, it was before I was in this job 
- I was doing some of the job prior to moving back into the department), 
and this year is looking like I'll get to at least go to Europe (probably 
Germany) and Australia, possibly also New Zealand and Japan (the latter 
will be on my own dime to visit my brother - I figure if I'm "in the 
neighborhood" I should go visit him in Osaka).

I really enjoy travel - the actual "getting there" bit isn't a lot of 
fun, but once I'm there, I like to get out and see things.

Jim


Post a reply to this message

From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 04:04:05
Message: <47aac985$1@news.povray.org>
>> I'm currently working on a radio system for Ford, where most of the core 
>> components are made in Japan, assembled in either China or Taiwan, then 
>> moved to Mexico to assemble into the complete radio unit, then moved to 
>> some Chrysler plant somewhere to be assembled into the car.  Madness 
>> isn't it?
>
> You know what? Screw light bulbs - THIS is the thing we need to fix to 
> stop global warming! ._.

Agreed - but unfortunately people would rather pay 10% less for something 
that has been shipped all round the world to make it as cheap as possible. 
Until that changes, or they introduce some huge global tax on shipping, the 
situation is going to stay.


Post a reply to this message

From: Invisible
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 04:11:32
Message: <47aacb44$1@news.povray.org>
scott wrote:

>> You know what? Screw light bulbs - THIS is the thing we need to fix to 
>> stop global warming! ._.
> 
> Agreed - but unfortunately people would rather pay 10% less for 
> something that has been shipped all round the world to make it as cheap 
> as possible. Until that changes, or they introduce some huge global tax 
> on shipping, the situation is going to stay.

As far as I can tell, the problem is that it's cheaper to make stuff in 
some distant country than to make it right here. When that changes, the 
problem should go away...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 04:58:35
Message: <47aad64b@news.povray.org>
> As far as I can tell, the problem is that it's cheaper to make stuff in 
> some distant country than to make it right here. When that changes, the 
> problem should go away...

I don't think it will ever be the case that it costs the same to make 
something in every country on Earth...


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From: Phil Cook
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 05:31:38
Message: <op.t55gr5pyc3xi7v@news.povray.org>
And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:45:08 -0000, Fredrik Eriksson  
<fe79}--at--{yahoo}--dot--{com> did spake, saying:

> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:56:50 +0100, scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote:
>> Actually you would need a gearbox for it to be useful.  Electric motors  
>> generate maximum torque at very slow speeds, the faster the motor goes  
>> the lower the torque.  This is exactly the wrong thing you need for a  
>> car, where the faster you go the more torque you need to overcome the  
>> speed squared air drag.  If you didn't use a gearbox you'd end up with  
>> a car capable of burning out the tyres at low speed, but that took 10  
>> minutes to accelerate from 60 to 70 mph.
>
> http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/acceleration_and_torque.php
>
> Gets by with only two gears, and can supposedly be kept in second gear  
> at all times while still performing adequately.

How amusing - assembled in the UK yet you can't buy one here.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com


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From: Invisible
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 05:51:53
Message: <47aae2c9$1@news.povray.org>
scott wrote:
>> As far as I can tell, the problem is that it's cheaper to make stuff 
>> in some distant country than to make it right here. When that changes, 
>> the problem should go away...
> 
> I don't think it will ever be the case that it costs the same to make 
> something in every country on Earth...

No. But if the price difference wasn't *so* vast, the cost of transport 
would make it work out to be cheaper in general to make stuff near to 
where you want it rather than half way across the world.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


Post a reply to this message

From: Phil Cook
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 05:56:21
Message: <op.t55hwrzcc3xi7v@news.povray.org>
And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:43:12 -0000, Jim Henderson  
<nos### [at] nospamcom> did spake, saying:

> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:28:30 +0000, Stephen wrote:
>
>> On 6 Feb 2008 17:02:53 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>>
>>> Those who tend to be successful, I think, tend to be people who instead
>>> of learning "how to build a paint sprayer", but rather how to follow
>>> instructions on how to build something.
>>
>> That is dispiriting.
>
> What, that people have to evolve their skills?  That's the way the world
> is (at least in the so-called "western world") these days.  Adapt or
> die....It sounds harsh, but it's reality.

Except ever since conveyor-belt style systems were introduced the skills  
gap has gotten wider and more difficult to jump.

>>> From there, one possible career path is process optimization, which can
>>> open a bunch of other doors as well.
>>>
>>>> That's the problem or at least one of them. Not everyone has the
>>>> opportunity to re-skill and move up.
>>>
>>> At least in my experience, the opportunities are there, but the
>>> motivation often isn't.  Of course, it's not 100% who have the
>>> opportunities (or don't have the motivation).
>>
>> I saw it differently here when Mrs T started to go the way she did. (I
>> won't go into that. It is an old story and you shouldn't talk politics
>> or religion if you want to keep friends. Oh what the Hell I can't keep
>> my mouth shut :)
>
> I'm happy to talk either politics or religion.  Maybe that's why I don't
> have a lot of friends. ;-)

Heh my current favourite topic is how the Conservative Party is promising  
to either bring back or abolish things that they removed or introduced  
last time they were in power. No-one remembers that's the trouble.

> I'm having a great debate right now with someone about the relative
> merits of calling Wicca a religion (he doesn't believe it is, and he's
> wrong <g>) and the US armed forces holding weekly services for those who
> are observant of that particular faith.  Of course, his definition for
> "religion" is pretty narrow - you have to believe in a monotheistic god,
> which generally narrows the field to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
> By his definition, Buddhism and Hinduism don't (and shouldn't) qualify.

The FSM is monotheistic :-)

>>> A big problem also has to
>>> do with people living beyond their means; when you do that, you can't
>>> take a lower paying job while you are re-skilling.
>>
>> How very true. Debt is a major problem here in the UK.
>
> Yeah, I understand that you guys are catching the sub-prime mortgage wave
> that hit us the end of last year.  Don't get bitten.

Big fuss quite a while ago about banks encouraging people to lie about  
their earnings in order to qualify for a mortgage, ah well I dealt with  
that on my blog some time ago. But Northern Rock is still a touchy subject  
in terms of the sub-prime wave.

>  I also understand
> that there's been an interesting development in a bank bought by Citi
> over there - that they're terminating accounts for people with *good*
> credit because they're not making any money on interest.  Terminating
> accounts for people who pay their cards off every month:  What's the
> world coming to?

Egg. Supposedly terminating accounts of high-risk customers (about 7% of  
their base) i.e. those whose credit ratings have changed for the worse  
since they applied; trouble is some of those terminated customers are  
pointing at their perfect credit ratings. The common factors for these  
people appear to be their status as homeowners and that they pay off the  
balance in full every month. IOW they don't make any money for Egg and  
instead could be persuaded to take out a big fat loan instead using their  
home as collateral.

Not really new - MBNA added an annual charge to people who didn't use  
their credit card enough and apparently First Direct started charging a  
monthly fee for customers who didn't credit enough money into their  
accounts each month.

The option is simple - move companies, there's enough about.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com


Post a reply to this message

From: Phil Cook
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 06:06:13
Message: <op.t55ic01qc3xi7v@news.povray.org>
And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:58:42 -0000, Jim Henderson  
<nos### [at] nospamcom> did spake, saying:

> So I use an RF transmitter instead,
> and that generally works well.

They used to be illegal here. Well to be precise you were using a device  
that sent a signal that your radio could receive wirelessly and thus by  
law were classified as a broadcaster, for which you needed a licence  
costing a few grand. Only got changed at the end of 2006 so as to allow  
low-power broadcasters.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 06:09:35
Message: <kgolq3h1gbnqbv1ek3kvj2n03he93bpo47@4ax.com>
On 6 Feb 2008 17:43:12 -0500, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
 
>> That is dispiriting.
>
>What, that people have to evolve their skills?  That's the way the world 
>is (at least in the so-called "western world") these days.  Adapt or 
>die....It sounds harsh, but it's reality.
>

No I meant that you feel that it is the people that learn how to follow
instructions as apposed to people who learn how to build something that will be
successful. That is dispiriting.

>
>I'm happy to talk either politics or religion.  Maybe that's why I don't 
>have a lot of friends. ;-)

Maybe you weren't brought up in a region that was renowned for violence and
religious bigotry. I was and it is taboo for a very good reason IMO. Although I
understand others feel differently.:)

>I'm having a great debate right now with someone about the relative 
>merits of calling Wicca a religion (he doesn't believe it is, and he's 
>wrong <g>) 


It is not surprising to me that the "Old Religion" is not considered a religion
by some.
and the US armed forces holding weekly services for those who 

>Add to that his statement that belief that science can eventually explain 
>everything is irrational (but belief in an invisible guy in the sky who 
>controls everything isn't?), and you've got a conversation that's ripe 
>for lots of fun shouting. :-)  Needless to say, *I've* been having fun 
>with it.

Ah! Well. Each to their own and rib him mercilessly :)


>Yeah, I understand that you guys are catching the sub-prime mortgage wave 
>that hit us the end of last year.  Don't get bitten.  

Too late [quote http://www.creditaction.org.uk/debt-statistics.html ] Average
household debt in the UK is ~ £8,985 (excluding mortgages). This figure
increases to £20,895 if the average is based on the number of households who
actually have some form of unsecured loan.

>I also understand 

> :  What's the 
>world coming to?

It looks like its going to Hades in a wheelbarrow. :) But then I've been hearing
that all my life. If you extrapolate that back there must have been a Golden Age
:-)

>Yep.  I have to admit that I'm concerned about my retirement fund; 

I've decided to work until I die. :)
But then I like my work. Thinking about it I just like working :)

> I was 
>stupid when I was in my early 20s and closed my 401(k) account so I could 
>make a down payment on a house.  That money would, in the long run, been 
>much better left invested where it was.  I may have another 30-35 years 
>of working time left before I retire, but the operation of compound 
>interest would've served me well with the money I put in when I was 19-22.

If only we could see into the future but don't get me started on religion :)


>It can be a bit depressing at times.  That said, I love the job, though, 
>and right now couldn't see myself doing anything else.  I've always been 
>a bit mercenary when it comes to employment (though there are things I 
>*won't* do), and for the first time in my career, I'm in a place where, 
>if something "better" came along I probably wouldn't take it.  I would 
>look at it, but IME "better" is always a case of appearances, and things 
>are pretty good where I am.  I made a jump once before for "better" and 
>it was (work-wise) a very bad call.  Life-wise, it worked out very well 
>(I met my wife because I moved for the job), but I was miserable for 
>about 2 years, and unemployed for 6 months of that.
>

I'm glad you found something you like and I hope that it lasts for as long as
you want it to.
And as my old granny used to say. "What's for you, won't go past you."


>That's always a good ego-boost, isn't it? 

Yes

> Current job sent me to 
>Barcelona a few years ago (and actually, it was before I was in this job 
>- I was doing some of the job prior to moving back into the department), 
>and this year is looking like I'll get to at least go to Europe (probably 
>Germany) and Australia, possibly also New Zealand and Japan (the latter 
>will be on my own dime to visit my brother - I figure if I'm "in the 
>neighborhood" I should go visit him in Osaka).

The brotherly thing to do, IMO. :)
Keep us posted it sounds like it could be Pov-Con on a world tour. :)

>I really enjoy travel - the actual "getting there" bit isn't a lot of 
>fun, but once I'm there, I like to get out and see things.
>
In a nutshell! But my wife actually likes the travel part. (Weird :)


Regards
	Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 06:13:08
Message: <6qplq31slvqc81oronmljbmk6doeckebqq@4ax.com>
On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:54:17 -0000, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>> What, that people have to evolve their skills?  That's the way the world
>> is (at least in the so-called "western world") these days.  Adapt or
>> die....It sounds harsh, but it's reality.
>
>Except ever since conveyor-belt style systems were introduced the skills  
>gap has gotten wider and more difficult to jump.

I agree. I started out working on the factory floor and now I help to introduce
technology that makes life easier for fewer. :(


Regards
	Stephen


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From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 08:53:58
Message: <47ab0d76@news.povray.org>
> http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/acceleration_and_torque.php
>
> Gets by with only two gears, and can supposedly be kept in second gear at 
> all times while still performing adequately.

The 0-60 time certainly seems impressive, but I'm concerned about the very 
low top speed (compared to other cars with this sort of 0-60 performance). 
I wonder what the acceleration is like between 70 and 100 mph?


Post a reply to this message

From: Darren New
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 7 Feb 2008 12:05:29
Message: <47ab3a59$1@news.povray.org>
scott wrote:
> some huge global tax on shipping

Like, $100/barrel oil? :-)


-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     On what day did God create the body thetans?


Post a reply to this message

From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 8 Feb 2008 02:47:27
Message: <47ac090f$1@news.povray.org>
>> some huge global tax on shipping
>
> Like, $100/barrel oil? :-)

Make it $10000/barrel for international shipping and you might see some 
changes.  At the moment it costs almost nothing to ship an item round the 
world two or three times.


Post a reply to this message

From: scott
Subject: Re: Music selection
Date: 8 Feb 2008 10:33:22
Message: <47ac7642$1@news.povray.org>
> http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/acceleration_and_torque.php
>
> Gets by with only two gears, and can supposedly be kept in second gear at 
> all times while still performing adequately.

I have just been playing about with the details from that car in a simulator 
I have here.  Some interesting facts:

1) The motor output torque seems to be limited to exactly the right amount 
at low rpm to provide roughly 1.1g of acceleration in 1st gear.  This is 
probably matched to the tyres on dry tarmac to provide optimal acceleration 
without having to worry about traction control.

2) It really would benefit from having a 3rd gear.  It runs out of steam at 
125mph, but that's not because the air drag equals the engine power, but 
because it's run out of rpm in 2nd gear.  If I give it a 3rd gear with a 
gear ratio of 1.15 it can get up to 145 mph which is a bit more impressive 
for a car with really good low speed performance.  In theory that's the true 
top speed possible with this electric motor and that body shape.

3) I made it have a race with a stock BMW 123d (I just happened to have all 
the details for that car) and it's quite interesting.  Obviously the insane 
low speed torque helps the electric car to get a really good lead from a 
standing start, but after just 7 seconds the BMW is now accelerating faster. 
However it takes until 48 seconds for the BMW to catch up because it's so 
much slower at the start.  After that the BMW just pulls away due to it's 
better high-speed performance, moving roughly 10 metres further away every 
second.

In conclusion, you'll be the quickest on the road under 40 or 50 mph, and 
one of the quickest up to 80 or 90 mph.  Around 100 and above "normal" cars 
will be passing you... :-)


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