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scott wrote:
> Best invention ever - I would never get a car that wasn't capable of
> playing MP3s now. Most new cars have some option for getting MP3s in to
> it, either through the CD player, USB socket or memory card socket. Car
> designers realise that everyone has portable music players and MP3s now...
My car's 17 years old. I use one of those cassette adaptors and the MP3
player in my phone. Works a treat. :)
> Some cars even play video DVDs you know!
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. What next? A button to randomly switch which direction
the steering wheel turns the car, just for a laugh?
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> As far as music goes, most cars come with an AM radio. With mechanical
> tuning buttons.
I have not seen a car with mechanical tuning buttons for ages. Even my
sisters 12 year old Clio has a radio with electronic buttons. My first car,
which must be 20 years old now if it was still alive, had manual tuning for
AM and FM. It cost me £50.
> (You know, "radio buttons"?) If you're lucky they have FM as well.
Find me a car radio that doesn't do FM.
> 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!
Dude, you are decades out of date. Even my bottom-of-the-range Peugeot 206
that cost around £3000 had a CD player and electric windows. Even my £50
first car which was bottom of the range 20 year old wreck 950cc had a tape
player and FM radio.
> 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...
The other day I was given a small Ford while mine was being serviced - even
that had a 3,5mm input socket for an MP3 player - plus an SD card slot at
the side of the radio (which had a small colour screen and CD). These are
not expensive cars, these are cars that normal people buy. Can you even buy
a car with a tape deck anymore?
Try glancing inside some parked cars as you are walking around, you'll be
suprised how many of them have electronic tuning with FM and CD players :-)
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>> Some cars even play video DVDs you know!
>
> 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. What next? A button to randomly switch which direction the
> steering wheel turns the car, just for a laugh?
In most places it's illegal to show video that the driver can see while the
car is moving (and in some places it's even illegal to show any video in the
front, even if the driver can't see it). There is no way a car manufacturer
would put any device like that in a car, however there is nothing to stop
someone adding such a system afterwards. Then it's just like using your
phone or a laptop whilst driving, it's up to the police to enforce the
illegal behaviour.
In Japan it's pretty common for drivers to watch TV while they are stopped
in traffic. As soon as the car begins to move the display switches to a
map, or radio info or whatever. This is built-in by the car manufacturers.
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scott wrote:
> In most places it's illegal to show video that the driver can see while
> the car is moving (and in some places it's even illegal to show any
> video in the front, even if the driver can't see it).
Not sure how satnavs get past that but I guess it's not *technically* video.
> There is no way a
> car manufacturer would put any device like that in a car, however there
> is nothing to stop someone adding such a system afterwards.
Yes, I've mostly seen this on things like Halfords ads.
> Then it's
> just like using your phone or a laptop whilst driving, it's up to the
> police to enforce the illegal behaviour.
Good luck with that lads.
> In Japan it's pretty common for drivers to watch TV while they are
> stopped in traffic. As soon as the car begins to move the display
> switches to a map, or radio info or whatever. This is built-in by the
> car manufacturers.
Yes obviously the idea of front-mounted players is to relieve monotony
in slow traffic, but the potential for homicidal negligence is
staggering. I like the Japanese solution though!
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>> In most places it's illegal to show video that the driver can see while
>> the car is moving (and in some places it's even illegal to show any video
>> in the front, even if the driver can't see it).
>
> Not sure how satnavs get past that but I guess it's not *technically*
> video.
Yeh, I'm not sure on the details. I just know that the car manufacturers
are having problems in some US states when they want to allow the front seat
passenger to watch video (when the driver can't see it). Apparently some
states outlaw any video in the front, while others only outlaw it if the
driver can see it.
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:14:45 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] dev null> did
spake, saying:
> scott wrote:
>
>> Best invention ever - I would never get a car that wasn't capable of
>> playing MP3s now. Most new cars have some option for getting MP3s in
>> to it, either through the CD player, USB socket or memory card socket.
>> Car designers realise that everyone has portable music players and MP3s
>> now...
>
> Hmm, I must be living in a different world or something...
Ya think?
> In the world where I live, people buy second hard cards that are about
> 20 years old. And even that is cripplingly expensive. When I was a kid,
> my family went through old wrecks at a prodigious rate. Nobody in my
> family has ever owned a "new" car. They're just too expensive.
>
> 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.
To make it look all pretty.
> And electric windows.
Actually I don't like electric windows, the only advantage to them I see
is when you're squashed up in a car you're not jammed up against the
turning handle.
> And power steering.
Still amused my teeeny tiny car has power steering.
> And ABS. It even has *air bags*.
Woah advanced stuff indeed :-P
> As far as music goes, most cars come with an AM radio. With mechanical
> tuning buttons. (You know, "radio buttons"?) If you're lucky they have
> FM as well.
Um as Scott points out I've never seen a car-radio without an FM button .
> And if it's a really expensive car, there might be a tape deck.
No if it's a normal car it'll have a CD player, though mine has a tape
deck which doesn't bother me as I rarely play music when driving (except
when trying to remember the name of an Enya song).
> My current car is unique in that it can play *CDs*. In fact, it has a
> *six* disk changer in the boot. Advanced!
Meh takes up boot space.
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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Bill Pragnell wrote:
> My car's 17 years old. I use one of those cassette adaptors and the MP3
> player in my phone. Works a treat. :)
I've tried that, but the sound quality tends to be really, *really* low.
(Or maybe the adaptor I used was just cheap, I'm not sure.)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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scott wrote:
>> As far as music goes, most cars come with an AM radio. With mechanical
>> tuning buttons.
>
> I have not seen a car with mechanical tuning buttons for ages. Even my
> sisters 12 year old Clio has a radio with electronic buttons. My first
> car, which must be 20 years old now if it was still alive, had manual
> tuning for AM and FM. It cost me £50.
My first car [which cost me several hundred pounds] as an ancient Ford
Siesta. The clock had been back to zero twice. Changing gear required
using your right foot to force the gear to enguage. The brakes... well I
*think* they were hydrolic, just very unresponsive. (!)
Similar things can be said about just above every car my family has ever
owned. They're all old wrecks. What can I say? Cars are expensive.
>> (You know, "radio buttons"?) If you're lucky they have FM as well.
>
> Find me a car radio that doesn't do FM.
They were common when I was a child. I would think now there can't be
*that* many of them left. (I hope...?)
> Dude, you are decades out of date.
No, all the cars I've come across are decades old. ;-)
Sure, *new* cars probably do have a whole load of good stuff in them.
But who can afford to buy cars new? That's why the second-hand car
market exists...
>> 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...
>
> The other day I was given a small Ford while mine was being serviced -
> even that had a 3,5mm input socket for an MP3 player - plus an SD card
> slot at the side of the radio (which had a small colour screen and CD).
> These are not expensive cars, these are cars that normal people buy.
> Can you even buy a car with a tape deck anymore?
Well I imagine they give you nice cars while yours is being serviced.
That way they can say "hey, that car was nice, wasn't it? Would you like
to buy one, sir?" ;-)
I hired a car once - I forget why - and it didn't have an ignition key.
Go figure. (Was really horrible to drive though... I think it was an
Astra? Might be wrong.)
I very much doubt many people can afford to buy one of these things new
though...
> Try glancing inside some parked cars as you are walking around, you'll
> be suprised how many of them have electronic tuning with FM and CD
> players :-)
Or rather, how many people are richer than me?
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Phil Cook wrote:
>> And electric windows.
>
> Actually I don't like electric windows, the only advantage to them I see
> is when you're squashed up in a car you're not jammed up against the
> turning handle.
What, you mean apart from the fact that you can now open and close the
windows while the car is moving?
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Invisible wrote:
> Bill Pragnell wrote:
>
>> My car's 17 years old. I use one of those cassette adaptors and the
>> MP3 player in my phone. Works a treat. :)
>
> I've tried that, but the sound quality tends to be really, *really* low.
> (Or maybe the adaptor I used was just cheap, I'm not sure.)
Well, the amp isn't great, the speakers are cheap, the adaptor is, as
you say, sub-optimal and the MP3 is also by definition a lower-quality
version of the sound (discuss), but then again the noise made by engine,
wind, fan etc in an old car pretty much swamps all the hifi
shortcomings. I just tend to crank the volume up until I can hear most
of the frequencies and sing along at the top of my voice (such as it is).
:)
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>> I've tried that, but the sound quality tends to be really, *really*
>> low. (Or maybe the adaptor I used was just cheap, I'm not sure.)
>
> Well, the amp isn't great, the speakers are cheap, the adaptor is, as
> you say, sub-optimal and the MP3 is also by definition a lower-quality
> version of the sound (discuss), but then again the noise made by engine,
> wind, fan etc in an old car pretty much swamps all the hifi
> shortcomings. I just tend to crank the volume up until I can hear most
> of the frequencies and sing along at the top of my voice (such as it is).
>
> :)
I'm a musician.
Actually, on this particulr car [not mine], if you play a CD it sounds
fairly good. But if you use the tape adaptor, it sounds horrid. Still,
if the engine is loud enough...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Invisible wrote:
>>> I've tried that, but the sound quality tends to be really, *really*
>>> low. (Or maybe the adaptor I used was just cheap, I'm not sure.)
>>
>> Well, the amp isn't great, the speakers are cheap, the adaptor is, as
>> you say, sub-optimal and the MP3 is also by definition a lower-quality
>> version of the sound (discuss), but then again the noise made by
>> engine, wind, fan etc in an old car pretty much swamps all the hifi
>> shortcomings. I just tend to crank the volume up until I can hear most
>> of the frequencies and sing along at the top of my voice (such as it is).
>>
>> :)
>
> I'm a musician.
Well, I wouldn't try that as an alternative to a bad car stereo.
Especially if you're driving ;-)
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Bill Pragnell wrote:
>> I'm a musician.
>
> Well, I wouldn't try that as an alternative to a bad car stereo.
> Especially if you're driving ;-)
Benny did. Damn fool drumming on the dashboard the whole way through the
trip!
(He used to be the drummer in a band. Damnit, my dad used to be in a
band too. In fact, it seems almost every normal male used to be in a
band... hmm.)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> a écrit dans le message de news:
47a99ddd@news.povray.org...
> My first car [snip] as an ancient Ford Siesta.
A Ford Siesta? It was a sleeping car?
G.
--
**********************
http://www.oyonale.com
**********************
- Graphic experiments
- POV-Ray and Poser computer images
- Posters
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Gilles Tran wrote:
> "Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> a écrit dans le message de news:
> 47a99ddd@news.povray.org...
>> My first car [snip] as an ancient Ford Siesta.
>
> A Ford Siesta? It was a sleeping car?
Well it moves like one...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Invisible wrote:
> Well I imagine they give you nice cars while yours is being serviced.
> That way they can say "hey, that car was nice, wasn't it? Would you like
> to buy one, sir?" ;-)
I wish. Usually the cars I get for a loaner if my car is in the shop for
any length of time are usually bottom of the line, though new cars. If a
salesman offered to sell me a similar car after using the loaner car,
complete with sticky steering wheel and mystery stain in the back seat,
I'd run.
> I very much doubt many people can afford to buy one of these things new
> though...
That's why there are lenders. Most people (at least in the U.S.) take
out a loan to purchase a car.
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Mike Raiford wrote:
> Invisible wrote:
>
>> Well I imagine they give you nice cars while yours is being serviced.
>> That way they can say "hey, that car was nice, wasn't it? Would you
>> like to buy one, sir?" ;-)
>
> I wish. Usually the cars I get for a loaner if my car is in the shop for
> any length of time are usually bottom of the line, though new cars. If a
> salesman offered to sell me a similar car after using the loaner car,
> complete with sticky steering wheel and mystery stain in the back seat,
> I'd run.
LOL @ mystery stain.
Hahahahaha... ha... huh... eeewww! :-S
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Invisible wrote:
>
> (He used to be the drummer in a band. Damnit, my dad used to be in a
> band too. In fact, it seems almost every normal male used to be in a
> band... hmm.)
>
I was never .... ...oh.
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Mike Raiford wrote:
> I was never .... ...oh.
...and that's when it hits you(tm).
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:46:32 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
spake, saying:
> Phil Cook wrote:
>
>>> And electric windows.
>> Actually I don't like electric windows, the only advantage to them I
>> see is when you're squashed up in a car you're not jammed up against
>> the turning handle.
>
> What, you mean apart from the fact that you can now open and close the
> windows while the car is moving?
And yet amazingly before the advent of electric windows many people
managed this complicated feat without a problem nor complaint.
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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>>> Actually I don't like electric windows, the only advantage to them I
>>> see is when you're squashed up in a car you're not jammed up against
>>> the turning handle.
>>
>> What, you mean apart from the fact that you can now open and close the
>> windows while the car is moving?
>
> And yet amazingly before the advent of electric windows many people
> managed this complicated feat without a problem nor complaint.
Well, no, you just had to stop somewhere in order to open or close the
window. Not fun if it suddenly starts raining...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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> Sure, *new* cars probably do have a whole load of good stuff in them. But
> who can afford to buy cars new?
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).
> Well I imagine they give you nice cars while yours is being serviced.
Actually this one was smaller (which I actually preferred) but a lot slower
than mine. It was almost brand new though (900 km on the clock IIRC).
> I hired a car once - I forget why - and it didn't have an ignition key. Go
> figure. (Was really horrible to drive though... I think it was an Astra?
> Might be wrong.)
I got a VW Passat like that once, also had a digital button instead of a
handbrake - never got used to it in the week or so I had to drive it. I'm
told that my new car automatically shuts off the engine whenever you stop,
and as soon as you put it in gear the engine starts automatically again.
Saves up to 8% fuel consumption in city driving apparently. I will wait
until I actually drive it before commenting further, although the fuel
consumption figures are very impressive compared to my existing car
(especially given it's heavier and has 50% more power!).
> I very much doubt many people can afford to buy one of these things new
> though...
I see lots of new cars on the road - especially in England where you can
instantly tell the age by looking at the numbers on the licnese plate. They
look like ordinary people driving ordinary cars to me - nothing fancy.
> Or rather, how many people are richer than me?
Based on your posts here, it seems you could be easily in a job earning a
good salary that would allow you to buy a new car. You seem much cleverer
than a lot of people I know who aren't exactly poor.
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scott wrote:
>> Sure, *new* cars probably do have a whole load of good stuff in them.
>> But who can afford to buy cars new?
>
> 7.5 million new cars were sold in the US in 2004, so presumably some
> people can afford them.
Hmm. I wonder how many people there are in the US? Even so, that's A LOT
of cars. You buys must be loaded! :-D
>> I hired a car once - I forget why - and it didn't have an ignition
>> key. Go figure. (Was really horrible to drive though... I think it was
>> an Astra? Might be wrong.)
>
> I got a VW Passat like that once, also had a digital button instead of a
> handbrake - never got used to it in the week or so I had to drive it.
I believe my dad had a curtisy car like that one time... Damn weird. It
also had a dashboard that looked like the bridge of a starship...!
> I'm told that my new car automatically shuts off the engine whenever you
> stop, and as soon as you put it in gear the engine starts automatically
> again. Saves up to 8% fuel consumption in city driving apparently. I
> will wait until I actually drive it before commenting further, although
> the fuel consumption figures are very impressive compared to my existing
> car (especially given it's heavier and has 50% more power!).
I still can't figure out why they don't make a car that's electric, but
has a small deisel generator in the boot...
(You'd only need to run it when the battery gets low. You wouldn't waste
fuel sitting in traffic. Electric motors don't require a gearbox or a
differential, so you'd get continuous acceleration without gear shifts...)
>> I very much doubt many people can afford to buy one of these things
>> new though...
>
> I see lots of new cars on the road - especially in England where you can
> instantly tell the age by looking at the numbers on the licnese plate.
> They look like ordinary people driving ordinary cars to me - nothing fancy.
Hmm. I guess I just come from a very poor family then. *shrugs*
>> Or rather, how many people are richer than me?
>
> Based on your posts here, it seems you could be easily in a job earning
> a good salary that would allow you to buy a new car. You seem much
> cleverer than a lot of people I know who aren't exactly poor.
Do I really give that impression? Interesting... Certainly when
everybody tells me I'm an idiot for not knowing who Stallman or So
Greats is, I don't *feel* particularly cleaver. :-S
Anyway, I'm hoping to get a better job soon. The problem is going to be
that I have no experience as a commercial programmer, and I don't know
any of the trendy languages except Java... [And I have to give 3 months'
notice.]
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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> Hmm. I wonder how many people there are in the US? Even so, that's A LOT
> of cars. You buys must be loaded! :-D
In 2004 2.6 million new cars were sold in the UK. There's 60 million people
in the UK.
> I believe my dad had a curtisy car like that one time... Damn weird. It
> also had a dashboard that looked like the bridge of a starship...!
The prize for that one has to go to the Honda Civic I had a few months back.
Definitely like controlling a spaceship with it's 2-tier curvy dashboard,
blue lights everywhere, and big 7-segment digital speedo at the top.
> I still can't figure out why they don't make a car that's electric, but
> has a small deisel generator in the boot...
>
> (You'd only need to run it when the battery gets low. You wouldn't waste
> fuel sitting in traffic. Electric motors don't require a gearbox or a
> differential, so you'd get continuous acceleration without gear shifts...)
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.
And "small" diesel generator? What happens if you run out of juice while
doing 80mph on the motorway? Stop and wait 45 minutes for it to recharge
the batteries enough to get you home without being run over by trucks?
> Do I really give that impression? Interesting... Certainly when everybody
> tells me I'm an idiot for not knowing who Stallman or So Greats is, I
> don't *feel* particularly cleaver. :-S
But compared to the average person in the street earning an average salary
doing an average job, yeh, you seem pretty clever.
> Anyway, I'm hoping to get a better job soon. The problem is going to be
> that I have no experience as a commercial programmer, and I don't know any
> of the trendy languages except Java... [And I have to give 3 months'
> notice.]
Don't worry about the 3 months notice, a lot of people have that and your
new employer will expect it. Is there not anything else you would like to
do apart from being a full-time programmer in some language you probably
won't even like? Even just applying to be an IT dude for a larger company
will likely get you more money, or at least the opportunity to move on in
your career. And then you might get the opportunity to show off some of
your programming talent.
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:07:29 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
spake, saying:
>>>> Actually I don't like electric windows, the only advantage to them I
>>>> see is when you're squashed up in a car you're not jammed up against
>>>> the turning handle.
>>>
>>> What, you mean apart from the fact that you can now open and close the
>>> windows while the car is moving?
>> And yet amazingly before the advent of electric windows many people
>> managed this complicated feat without a problem nor complaint.
>
> 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.
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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>> 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.
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scott wrote:
>> Hmm. I wonder how many people there are in the US? Even so, that's A
>> LOT of cars. You buys must be loaded! :-D
>
> In 2004 2.6 million new cars were sold in the UK. There's 60 million
> people in the UK.
Dude, how do you know all this??
>> I believe my dad had a curtisy car like that one time... Damn weird.
>> It also had a dashboard that looked like the bridge of a starship...!
>
> The prize for that one has to go to the Honda Civic I had a few months
> back. Definitely like controlling a spaceship with it's 2-tier curvy
> dashboard, blue lights everywhere, and big 7-segment digital speedo at
> the top.
Yeah, IIRC this car didn't have a speed dial, just some numbers. In big,
green 1980s style retro LEDs. You know, the big chunky ones...
>> I still can't figure out why they don't make a car that's electric,
>> but has a small deisel generator in the boot...
>>
>> (You'd only need to run it when the battery gets low. You wouldn't
>> waste fuel sitting in traffic. Electric motors don't require a gearbox
>> or a differential, so you'd get continuous acceleration without gear
>> shifts...)
>
> 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.
Mmm, interesting. I was told for example that some large freight train
used electric motors because if they used diesel motors they would need
a gearbox, and it would be impossible to make one strong enough...
> And "small" diesel generator? What happens if you run out of juice
> while doing 80mph on the motorway? Stop and wait 45 minutes for it to
> recharge the batteries enough to get you home without being run over by
> trucks?
Well no, the generator cuts in when the batteries get down to 80% or
something, charge them back up to 100%, then stop. [Unless you run out
of fuel. Don't do that! In ANY car...]
>> Do I really give that impression? Interesting... Certainly when
>> everybody tells me I'm an idiot for not knowing who Stallman or So
>> Greats is, I don't *feel* particularly cleaver. :-S
>
> But compared to the average person in the street earning an average
> salary doing an average job, yeh, you seem pretty clever.
Really? Hmm, interesting...
I find it curios that anybody who speaks to me for more than a few
minutes ends up saying "you're very cleaver". And "you need to be more
positive". (Even if I don't say anything negative...)
>> Anyway, I'm hoping to get a better job soon. The problem is going to
>> be that I have no experience as a commercial programmer, and I don't
>> know any of the trendy languages except Java... [And I have to give 3
>> months' notice.]
>
> Don't worry about the 3 months notice, a lot of people have that and
> your new employer will expect it.
Er, actually... when I spoke to the nice lady at the recruitment agency,
she said "three MONTHS?! Jesus Christ!... Why so long?"
> Is there not anything else you would
> like to do apart from being a full-time programmer in some language you
> probably won't even like?
Well, given that I don't have any other useful talents... unless
somebody is going to pay me to surf the net? Oh, wait, that's my current
job...
> Even just applying to be an IT dude for a
> larger company will likely get you more money, or at least the
> opportunity to move on in your career. And then you might get the
> opportunity to show off some of your programming talent.
I don't like being the support guy. Almost all problems that occur are
beyond my ability to fix, so everybody just hates me... Even when I fix
it, everybody is still pissed that I didn't prevent it from happening in
the first place. :-(
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Invisible wrote:
> Bill Pragnell wrote:
>
>>> I'm a musician.
>>
>> Well, I wouldn't try that as an alternative to a bad car stereo.
>> Especially if you're driving ;-)
>
> Benny did. Damn fool drumming on the dashboard the whole way through the
> trip!
Hmm, I can kind of see that working, but where did he put the bass?
;-)
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Invisible wrote:
> I don't like being the support guy. Almost all problems that occur are
> beyond my ability to fix, so everybody just hates me... Even when I fix
> it, everybody is still pissed that I didn't prevent it from happening in
> the first place. :-(
... to which the answer is "I don't get paid enough for that!"
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scott wrote:
>
> The prize for that one has to go to the Honda Civic I had a few months
> back. Definitely like controlling a spaceship with it's 2-tier curvy
> dashboard, blue lights everywhere, and big 7-segment digital speedo at
> the top.
>
That's what I currently drive. The blue dash is on all models except the
Si, which has red illumination. The dash took a little getting used to,
but not much. What I like is the model I have has the stereo controls
embedded in the steering wheel. Nice to jump around tracks and folders
on a CD.
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Mike Raiford wrote:
> What I like is the model I have has the stereo controls
> embedded in the steering wheel. Nice to jump around tracks and folders
> on a CD.
My car also has this.
And then I burned a CD of The Beach Boys. 80% of the time the stereo
refuses to play it. The other 20% of the time, it stops playing if I try
to skip tracks.
It's almost as if my car stereo is telling me my taste in music sucks...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Bill Pragnell wrote:
> Invisible wrote:
>> I don't like being the support guy. Almost all problems that occur are
>> beyond my ability to fix, so everybody just hates me... Even when I
>> fix it, everybody is still pissed that I didn't prevent it from
>> happening in the first place. :-(
>
> ... to which the answer is "I don't get paid enough for that!"
LOL!
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Phil Cook 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.
Well have *you* ever tried to wind the window while the car is moving? I
mean, sure, it's great if you're *trying* to drive along a slalum course...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Bill Pragnell wrote:
>> Benny did. Damn fool drumming on the dashboard the whole way through
>> the trip!
>
> Hmm, I can kind of see that working, but where did he put the bass?
>
> ;-)
OMG, cruise control FTW!
(I don't really understand what that is or how it works, but it seems
appropriate here...)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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> That's what I currently drive. The blue dash is on all models except the
> Si, which has red illumination. The dash took a little getting used to,
> but not much. What I like is the model I have has the stereo controls
> embedded in the steering wheel. Nice to jump around tracks and folders on
> a CD.
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?
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>> What I like is the model I have has the stereo controls embedded in the
>> steering wheel. Nice to jump around tracks and folders on a CD.
>
> My car also has this.
Huh? I thought you were poor and only had a car with AM radio and no tape or
CD player?!?!?!
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scott wrote:
>>> What I like is the model I have has the stereo controls embedded in
>>> the steering wheel. Nice to jump around tracks and folders on a CD.
>>
>> My car also has this.
>
> Huh? I thought you were poor and only had a car with AM radio and no
> tape or CD player?!?!?!
...until now, yes.
That's what I'm saying. This [now] 7 year old car is the newest thing
I've ever had.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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>> In 2004 2.6 million new cars were sold in the UK. There's 60 million
>> people in the UK.
>
> Dude, how do you know all this??
Google?
> Mmm, interesting. I was told for example that some large freight train
> used electric motors because if they used diesel motors they would need a
> gearbox, and it would be impossible to make one strong enough...
Maybe for trains the air-drag is small compared to the other sources of
friction that are constant wrt speed.
> Well no, the generator cuts in when the batteries get down to 80% or
> something, charge them back up to 100%, then stop. [Unless you run out of
> fuel. Don't do that! In ANY car...]
But if you're driving long-distance at high speed, there is no way the
generator could refill the batteries as you would be using the electricity
much faster than it could refill them! You would still need to charge them
when you got to your destination, just maybe a few miles further down the
road due to using up the fuel.
> Er, actually... when I spoke to the nice lady at the recruitment agency,
> she said "three MONTHS?! Jesus Christ!... Why so long?"
She obviously doesn't have much experience with people in proper jobs then -
3 months is quite common, as it would take that long to find a replacement.
> I don't like being the support guy. Almost all problems that occur are
> beyond my ability to fix, so everybody just hates me... Even when I fix
> it, everybody is still pissed that I didn't prevent it from happening in
> the first place. :-(
Why don't you try and learn some more (books, training courses) so that you
can start to fix some of the problems that are beyond you? I'm sure the IT
directors of large companies (who are earning 6 or 7 figure salaries)
started off somewhere like you.
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On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:25:14 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> [And I have to give 3 months' notice.]
What notice do they have to give you?
Regards
Stephen
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scott wrote:
>>> In 2004 2.6 million new cars were sold in the UK. There's 60 million
>>> people in the UK.
>>
>> Dude, how do you know all this??
>
> Google?
Interesting. Never works for me... [At least, not for statistics.]
>> Mmm, interesting. I was told for example that some large freight train
>> used electric motors because if they used diesel motors they would
>> need a gearbox, and it would be impossible to make one strong enough...
>
> Maybe for trains the air-drag is small compared to the other sources of
> friction that are constant wrt speed.
Mmm, maybe.
>> Well no, the generator cuts in when the batteries get down to 80% or
>> something, charge them back up to 100%, then stop. [Unless you run out
>> of fuel. Don't do that! In ANY car...]
>
> But if you're driving long-distance at high speed, there is no way the
> generator could refill the batteries as you would be using the
> electricity much faster than it could refill them!
Really? I thought electric motors were more efficient than internal
combustion engines, and hence should use power more slowly...
>> Er, actually... when I spoke to the nice lady at the recruitment
>> agency, she said "three MONTHS?! Jesus Christ!... Why so long?"
>
> She obviously doesn't have much experience with people in proper jobs
> then - 3 months is quite common, as it would take that long to find a
> replacement.
Hmm, that's not a good sign... heh.
>> I don't like being the support guy. Almost all problems that occur are
>> beyond my ability to fix, so everybody just hates me... Even when I
>> fix it, everybody is still pissed that I didn't prevent it from
>> happening in the first place. :-(
>
> Why don't you try and learn some more (books, training courses) so that
> you can start to fix some of the problems that are beyond you? I'm sure
> the IT directors of large companies (who are earning 6 or 7 figure
> salaries) started off somewhere like you.
I doubt there's any book that can tell you how to make Word stop crashing...
[And I don't care how many figures you pay me, I don't *want* to be the
director of anything! Far too much pressure...]
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Stephen wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:25:14 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
>
>> [And I have to give 3 months' notice.]
>
> What notice do they have to give you?
None, IIRC.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:59:46 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
>Stephen wrote:
>> On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:25:14 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
>>
>>> [And I have to give 3 months' notice.]
>>
>> What notice do they have to give you?
>
>None, IIRC.
Don't you think that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander?
Regards
Stephen
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:30:30 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
spake, saying:
> Phil Cook 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.
>
> Well have *you* ever tried to wind the window while the car is moving?
Well yes I can also walk and chew gum at the same time.
> I mean, sure, it's great if you're *trying* to drive along a slalum
> course...
And this action is different to fiddling with the CD/Radio how? I'm not
saying I'd do it while turning a corner, but then would you be trying to
open your electric window while driving around a corner?
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:14:46 -0000, scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> did
spake, saying:
>>> 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.
Uh no that'd take you away from the driving position and uh yes I'm
guessing you're being sarcastic.
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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>>>> [And I have to give 3 months' notice.]
>>> What notice do they have to give you?
>> None, IIRC.
>
> Don't you think that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander?
/Invisible is horribly lost/
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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>> I mean, sure, it's great if you're *trying* to drive along a slalum
>> course...
>
> And this action is different to fiddling with the CD/Radio how?
Pressing a button an a radio doesn't require bruit strength.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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> Really? I thought electric motors were more efficient than internal
> combustion engines, and hence should use power more slowly...
The problem is that in petrol/diesel you can store much more energy per unit
weight than you can with batteries, even after taking into account the
better efficiency of the electric system. To carry around enough batteries
to match the amount of useful energy in 50 litres of diesel wouldn't be
practical at the moment.
> [And I don't care how many figures you pay me, I don't *want* to be the
> director of anything! Far too much pressure...]
Unfortunately, higher paid jobs usually come with more
responsibility/pressure...
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And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:11:39 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
spake, saying:
>>> I mean, sure, it's great if you're *trying* to drive along a slalum
>>> course...
>> And this action is different to fiddling with the CD/Radio how?
>
> Pressing a button an a radio doesn't require bruit strength.
No it requires concentration which is what I thought you were pointing to.
If you require that much strength to wind down a window you're either a
wimp or got problems with your windows.
--
Phil Cook
--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com
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scott wrote:
>> Really? I thought electric motors were more efficient than internal
>> combustion engines, and hence should use power more slowly...
>
> The problem is that in petrol/diesel you can store much more energy per
> unit weight than you can with batteries, even after taking into account
> the better efficiency of the electric system. To carry around enough
> batteries to match the amount of useful energy in 50 litres of diesel
> wouldn't be practical at the moment.
I see... Hence the hydrogen fuel cells and so forth?
>> [And I don't care how many figures you pay me, I don't *want* to be
>> the director of anything! Far too much pressure...]
>
> Unfortunately, higher paid jobs usually come with more
> responsibility/pressure...
Well yeah - the high paid jobs are high paid because no sane person
would want to do them. ;-)
Anyway, currently I have a low-paid job that no sane person would want.
If I can find a somewhat higher-paid job that's less obnoxious I'd be
happier.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Phil Cook wrote:
> And lo on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:11:39 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
> spake, saying:
>
>>>> I mean, sure, it's great if you're *trying* to drive along a slalum
>>>> course...
>>> And this action is different to fiddling with the CD/Radio how?
>>
>> Pressing a button an a radio doesn't require bruit strength.
>
> No it requires concentration which is what I thought you were pointing
> to. If you require that much strength to wind down a window you're
> either a wimp or got problems with your windows.
No, it's just hard to physically crank a stiff window handle while
holding the steering wheel straight.
I suppose they could gear the mechanism down really really far to make
it lighter... or just have electric windows. :-D
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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