OldHand2018

I've been told that on my Subaru, if I subscribe to the services that need it, they will do the upgrade for free. But if I don't subscribe, they won't do it at all. I'm fine with that, I am unreasonably against subscriptions, lol.

A lot of people in car forums are super upset about this and angry with their specific automaker. But of course, it is happening to all of them that haven't moved off of 3G.

https://www.toyota.com/audio-multimedia/support/3g-faq/

https://lexus2.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10537/~/...

https://www.subaru.com/3g-network-retirement.html?SIE=9ad00c...

Etc. https://autobala.com/how-3g-shutdown-in-2022-will-ruin-your-...

Amazing that Honda have current cars affected.

> At least in vehicle infotainment systems, we test 911 functionality EXTENSIVELY. It's a major part of call testing, because dialing 911 overrides all sorts of lockouts and exercises code paths that aren't otherwise well-covered by testing.

When I worked at Motorola doing mobile infrastructure, you couldn't even merge your code into a release candidate branch unless it was tested against emergency calls, for all the reasons you listed (plus more).

We used giant attenuators screwed on to the antenna plugs because everything had to be running at full power to ensure that it was as life-like as possible. Every once in a while, though, someone didn't screw the attenuator on tight enough and the emergency call would be picked up on the real mobile network and the fire department would show up in our parking lot.

My M1 Mac mini says "Designed in California Made in Malaysia" on it.

So perhaps it is "approximately 95%"?

It would be really interesting to know the actual number, wouldn't it?

And don't you just love that the trains they'll be running will consist of end-of-life Metra coaches that they're paying to have refurbished?

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-n...

These are the new Metra coaches, BTW:

https://chi.streetsblog.org/2021/01/13/metra-board-chooses-n...

That reminds me of a visit to the Berlin Zoo about 15 years ago. Some teenagers were harassing a leopard. Once it had had enough, it projectile-peed through the bars, right on to them.

I laughed.

Fair enough. Perhaps something like doing checks after the plans have been manually computed, and then errors/warnings are flagged and used for evaluations and training. But then again, how is the culture of the Navy? Would such data be used exclusively to punish people?

The author seems to know about submarines, so let's give him (?) the benefit of the doubt... But without knowing the cause of the accident, the author is calling for a specific change. This seems problematic. Perhaps there is a very good reason that the computer system performs like this.

Also, if you have the computer checking everything, then those 5 people that are supposed to be redundantly computing the navigation plan are highly likely to be less diligent. Human nature and all. Isn't that likely to result in a worse outcome?

It's been years since I read Eisenhower's biography, but my recollection is that within the military a lot of the aid to Russia was seen as a terrible idea and many felt that the British tricked the US into giving that aid in a secret three-way meeting in North Africa.

Did I remember that correctly?

> Teachers don't get laid off or face the types of uncertainty other types of careers do.

Sure they do, although I think most places call it a RIF.

Wait until you live in an area with stagnant or declining enrollment due to demographic changes (even if your city is still growing).

EDIT - please remember that >50% of US counties faced population decline in the 2020 census!

They don't have old equipment they can use? Is it stuck on a boat or something?

I ordered a snowmaking machine from a place in Connecticut this summer and got it a few weeks later, right on time. Once the humidity drops enough to make some snow, I'll have a nice sledding hill in the back yard. Can't wait!

Thanks, I'll look for that. I didn't know you could get a pdf out of the app

I have an Audi - the button to turn it off and on is at the tip of the turn signal stalk. You can toggle it with your pinky without removing your hands from the steering wheel or eyes from the road.

I also have a Subaru - turning it off or on requires three levels of menu navigation, and you have to use the center console touch screen.

I suppose they do their testing and validation in drastically different environments!

Unfortunately, they've moved to electronic instructions for many of their kids sets that also include electronics. You have to use the iPad/Android app to assemble. For example, the playable Super Mario kits.

Now, as far as I've seen, this is limited to kits that are designed to use their apps for play. Those apps are really cool though, so I am willing to look at it benevolently (all the more complicated steps give you an optional assembly video for that step which makes it nicer for smaller kids).

The app for the Duplo train is really surprising. It lets you mirror your custom track setup in the app and then play games with it while controlling the train.

If I understand the article correctly, these are one-time charges for lifetime access to the videos she produces.

I'm obviously not the target market, but I really appreciate people that don't gate repeated access to content with monthly subscriptions.

LOL, by predicting their own future of course!

But seriously - the most important part is saving for retirement. You can't go wrong with either choice as long as you contribute. Please don't let bike shedding prevent you from contributing.

I, for one, would love to see the two face off in a lawsuit that costs millions and saps the attention and focus of both sides for years on end.

Some other things to consider in favor of the traditional IRA:

- Assume you are in the 22% tax bracket (single filer, $42-89k income). If you contribute $6k to a traditional IRA, you avoid ~$1300 in federal income tax right now and can put those savings into some other non-tax-advantaged investment account. You have absolutely zero restrictions on withdrawals from that account and of course only pay capital gains taxes when you do withdraw.

- IRA contributions are limited to $6k per year and if you are eligible for a Roth IRA then let's be honest - you probably aren't going to be moving up that far in your tax bracket when you retire (sorry).

- (Long shot) If Congress ever changes the laws about IRA taxation, it will be paid at the point of withdrawal. With the traditional, you haven't yet paid anything and therefore can't be double taxed. Don't be so sure about a Roth.

- When you contribute to a Roth, you pay federal, state and local taxes on that money. There are 6 states that have no income tax so that may reduce the tax paid. On the other hand, when you contribute to a traditional you pay no tax now and instead pay at the time of withdrawal. But there are 9 states that do not tax withdrawals, and 27 more that limit taxes on withdrawals.

Anyway, I think the Roth is great, but it is definitely not the right choice for 99% of people :)

I found this page, you may like it :)

https://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_05/texto...

> The decision to paint or polish the metal surfaces of airplanes is based on marketing, economic, and environmental considerations. Although the net operating cost of polished airplanes is slightly more than that of painted airplanes, no compelling reason generally exists to choose one type of livery over the other.

I don't disagree with you at all. If you regularly exceed 40 hours with exempt employees (especially developers) the compensation structure will have to reflect that or you will have retention problems.

That cost is far more transparent when dealing with hourly contractors, and maybe the employer prefers this! But, you know, theory of the firm etc tells us that in the long run you are usually better off with exempt employees even if they are frequently working less than the 40 hours you expect from them.

Thanks :)

> I'd never hire a full time employee who can work remotely. I'd employ a contractor who has to itemize their invoice.

That's a knee-jerk reaction that you probably already know has some serious problems ;)

People who are working 40 hours a week have no capacity to take on some important task with no notice unless they go past 40 hours a week. Which generally doesn't cost any extra money.

Hiring a contractor to work 40 hours per week is going to get really expensive really fast when you need them to suddenly ramp up beyond 40 hours on no notice. If you can even get them to do it!

If you're any kind of normal modern business, this is going to eat all your cost savings and probably even cause you to unnecessarily miss a lot of deadlines.

I guess it's not just me: It is confusing. I thought there were two ways to get music from Apple but apparently there are at least 3.

One of which gives you re-downloadable DRM-free files.

iTunes Match is a subscription service, right?

Buying individual tracks or entire albums from the iTunes Store gets you DRM-free music files. No?

Yes definitely. I've used this one [1] multiple times because it is a short distance from Chicago's central business district and they are responsive and highly competent for just a small amount of money. I think that when you look at public university systems in the USA, you'll see that they already have an internal need to offer test proctoring because they have students temporarily at one campus location but enrolled at a different one. Offering the service to the outside public is not much extra effort on their part.

[1] https://testing.uic.edu/tests-administered/proctoring-servic...

Go through the hoops to put a preprint on Arxiv. Put in the effort to properly format the document, etc. They’ll probably want you to get an endorser before you can submit, but they also explain how to find people to endorse you.

https://arxiv.org/help/submit

Illinois budget problems are due primarily to pension promises made decades ago. The current state government is reasonably well run, for the most part.

If you look at the 2020 Census data, the Chicago metro area grew slightly while the rural areas and small towns lost population. The state saw a growth in high earners that pay lots of taxes, and a loss in lower income folks that pay relatively low taxes.

Since you mention politics: Illinois will send 1 fewer person to the US Congress next year. Currently, there are 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans from Illinois. After the elections next year, there are almost certainly going to be 14 Democrats and 3 Republicans. Knowing that might help understand some of the criticism…

The article contains a link to an Adobe blog that talks about fair use of copyrighted material.

It references the fair use doctrine in a way that is not fully analogous to this type of use and mentions the Google books case. It also mentions that this is not settled law. It's clear that the author wants it to be fair use, but that might cloud their analysis.

Keep in mind that Google was scanning books that the legitimate owner of the physical books gave them permission to scan. If I buy a book and want to use it to train my model, fair use says I am free to do so. If I grab an unauthorized torrent of a training set, itself containing images were not legitimately purchased or licensed, there is absolutely no case law that I know of that says it is ok. I have to spend my money on lawyers trying to argue that I'm in the clear with no guarantee of success.

Maybe I'm wrong - I'd love to hear a convincing argument to the contrary!

I really liked the old American Airlines scheme where they just didn't paint the airplane. It was beautiful.

But in the modern age, if you need a metal mesh around a carbon fiber fuselage then not painting the airplane is probably not an option. Sad.

Halfway through the article is this extraordinarily helpful information (given that I know nothing at all about aircraft paint):

> When Airbus 15 years ago launched the A350, it chose to follow Boeing's new 787 in using carbon-fibre instead of metal.

> Experts say the lighter jets consume less fuel but are harder to deck out in a way that makes paint stick.

> The new jets also need a layer of metallic mesh to dissipate lightning strikes because carbon-fibre is not conductive.

> Finally, unlike metal, carbon does not expand and shrink as temperatures change. Yet paint does, resulting in a tug of war between plane and paint that can cause peeling over time.

> Problems reported by Qatar Airways and some - though far from all - other A350 operators suggest this is happening earlier than expected, two people familiar with the design said.

> The problem may have been compounded by the paint's especially weak adhesion to titanium rivets, they added.

I wonder how dissimilar the paint and/or painting process is to the 787. Perhaps it will one day suffer the same issues.