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_archon_

329 karma · joined February 6, 2014

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_archon_··on Guessing C for Every Answer Is Now Enough to Pass the NY State Algebra Exam
Tests are easier to grade in a multiple choice format, since the grading problem is reduced to a set of circumstances that are friendly to being automated. Nowadays I'm sure it's possible to have a computer OCR the writing, check the algebra, and grade a problem... but it's a lot cheaper and easier to have the test taker choose the answer from a labeled subset and then check their choice against the correct label.
_archon_··on Glassdoor not so anonymous
The... remaining reviews may not look that bad. I imagine a scenario may exist where a fired employee has to sign an NDA and take down their review to receive severance or suchlike.
_archon_··on The brain has a ‘low-power mode’ that blunts our senses
Juice is a fast delivery method for sugars, and the prepackaged fruit juices you might find in a gas station convenience store almost certainly have added sugar as well as the innate fructose in the fruit juice component.

Also, if you're running low enough on nutrition that your eyes aren't working right, you're also likely to be dehydrated, which can also affect vision.

_archon_··on Tell HN: Salary data is for sale
When you applied for money from someone else, either as credit or in exchange for labor.
_archon_··on Tell HN: Salary data is for sale
People in salary ranges are not a protected class; sexual orientation is protected.
_archon_··on A stochastic method to generate the Sierpinski triangle
I thought I'd note that one of my favorite pages on the web pertains to exploring Sierpinski triangles [0]

"The sierpinski triangle page to end most sierpinski triangle pages ™"

[0]:http://www.oftenpaper.net/sierpinski.htm

_archon_··on Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times
HDMI can pass-through communications. Wireless is also a possibility. "Thank you for plugging me in! Please enter network credentials so I can update myself!"
_archon_··on Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics
As an aside, next time, see if there's a silicone lubricant or other lube spray available. WD is good for what it was designed to do, and is barely acceptable as a lubricant. Better than nothing though!
_archon_··on The Clickbaitification of Netflix
You have described a Raspi media center with a remote and the wifi turned off. It may take a couple seconds longer to boot, but you get back VLC et al in exchange, and there are many good, free options to use it as an interface for your NAS.

What a time to be alive

_archon_··on My business might have 32 days before it's shut down by NYC [video]
It's a fee separate from state business income tax. Possibly deductible, but separate.
_archon_··on An impersonator issued a fake Reddit take down notice against SaveVideo
While old. is an improvement, mobile accessibility is horrendous by design. It increasingly seems like the site has entered a profit-driven tailspin.
_archon_··on IRS records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax
In your house example. this is only if the homeowner takes out a loan against the new increased value of the house, and then pays tax on a portion of that loan. If your house appreciates and you don't play financial games with it, the only increase in costs would come from a local tax reassessment.
_archon_··on Bring back the station wagon
I've been low-key searching for a country squire for a couple years now. If it's not in good condition, I'll put in a 3.5 Ecoboost, fully modern suspension, and a trailer hitch. Just a perfect vehicle.
_archon_··on Bring back the station wagon
Modern vehicles of similar weight to an old wagon have better suspension components, wider wheels and tires, and most importantly better tires. A modern refresh will have an old wagon cornering just as well, if not better than a "crossover".

The modern crossover/compact SUV trend is worthy of nothing kinder than active contempt.

_archon_··on Academic acceleration in gifted youth: a 35-year longitudinal study
I propose that a 20 year old phd will have many options open to them, including taking an easy job and spending their own time on an interesting hobby. If a person can be educated with the information and methods to succeed, they should be better able to interact with the world. Slowing down a person with the potential to finish formal education so that they can spend more time being spoonfed isn't going to improve their chances.

Also, if one chooses a grinding slog of a job, it's better to be a 20-year-old phd. Presumably, they're getting paid well, and they can start on their early retirement fund from better positions vis a vis a generic 20 year old.

I am unconvinced by your argument.

_archon_··on ISS Docking Simulation
I was thinking that the ends of the masts would be excellent places for a machine vision high-contrast target, and maybe also the bottom of the cupola for full 6 axis machine correction. I doubt we'll be taking a human out of the loop anytime soon, though.
_archon_··on Modern submarine torpedo attacks are not like in the movies
I would assume that we're talking about the physical location being sequential, like stages on a rocket.
_archon_··on Apple store workers should be paid for time waiting to be searched, court rules
I had been under the impression that it's a hemp/linen mix...

Nope. From [1]: Federal Reserve Notes are made of 75% cotton and 25% linen fibers.

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note

_archon_··on California Auditor's Damning Report About Automated License Plate Readers
I would like to know 3 things that license plate cameras can do that a police officer can't. From the perspective of a citizen who wants to live in a free and safe society, but also understands the importance of personal privacy. I'll start:

- Can locate the plate of a stolen car more rapidly than relying on human observers by reading and querying all plates

_archon_··on Airbus unveils 'blended wing body' plane design after secret flight tests
When you're aloft, you are safe unless the plane is depressurized or on fire. The key safety feature in aviation is the manner in which the plane returns to the earth. This is a job for humans to manage.

Some pilots stop paying attention on long, boring stretches where the autopilot is fully capable of following a vector and an altitude. However, if there's an alarm due to control issue or other emergency, the human is alerted and would take over amyway. That's why it's called an alarm. I don't mean to imply that I support this behavior, but it is an understandable human factor that's a lower priority to correct than other safety factors.

_archon_··on Airbus unveils 'blended wing body' plane design after secret flight tests
If I have extra volume in the airframe, and I'm using it for fuel tanks, why wouldn't I use it for conventional aviation fuel and extend the range of my plane? I can use existing infrastructure, not have to worry about cryogenics, not have to worry about high pressure fluids...

We know how to use aviation fuels safely now. Although hydrogen is interesting as a potential fuel, I don't anticipate its use in the near future.

_archon_··on Airbus unveils 'blended wing body' plane design after secret flight tests
Because that's not how flying works. When you apply rudder, you create a moment in the yaw axis, but that doesn't change the vector of the aircraft's speed/momentum. So your plane is still moving along its original vector, it's just not pointed straight at the direction it's moving anymore. This creates aerodynamic inefficiencies (which often self-correct) until eventually the plane's motion vector can be re-aligned to the direction it's pointing (completing a turn). Unfortunately, this is super inefficient. You're basically burning extra fuel to compensate for the aerodynamic inefficiencies you created by using the rudder only.

Plus, there may be some juddering/felt turbulation by the passengers, depending on how severe your induced yaw is. The passenger would also feel the plane pushing them to the side, rather than back and down into the seat as in a conventional turn.

Changing direction more conventionally is way more efficient, loads control surfaces less, is more consistent for passengers, and is pretty much better in every way.

_archon_··on What to do if the Space Shuttle payload bay doors won't shut properly
I visited the mentioned Air and Space Museum Annex this past weekend. It's well worth the effort if you're in the area, and IMO a better destination than the location on the National Mall.
_archon_··on Trucking accounts for one-fourth of the fuel used on U.S. roads
In other news, three quarters of the fuel used on US roads are used to ferry people around.
_archon_··on You Can't Keep Your Relatives' Skulls
They may purchase previously-reduced skulls and profit on arbitrage.
_archon_··on Ask HN: What is the fastest way you can think of to make a million dollars?
I'd buy 1,000,000 dollars. Starting with linen paper and printing it is super slow.
_archon_··on Tesla received a cease-and-desist letter from NHTSA over Model 3 safety claims
NHTSA crash test ratings are within the car's class only. A 5 star subcompact may well be less safe than a 4 star minivan. The model S is likely (my opinion) more safe than a model 3.

I believe the Tesla marketing would have been more true if it had included "... in an NHTSA-style incident" or some such. But that's not how marketing works.

_archon_··on Adblocking: How about Nah?
When referring to popups from such websites, you're not pronouncing it correctly if you're not wiggling your eyebrows.
_archon_··on Mr. Darcy’s Ten Thousand a Year
Depends on the rate. To quote Steve Martin, "All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work."

You and I could make Mr. Darcy wages on an hour of work a week, providing that we could find someone willing to pay it :-)

_archon_··on Court Says Using Chalk on Tires for Parking Enforcement Violates Constitution
What's to say you didn't leave and return and your wheels are in roughly the same configuration?
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