The [STRIKE]stars[/STRIKE] slashes aligned today

[code][Worker #2 Dec 1 08:12] Iteration: 1120000 / 35019287 [3.19%], ms/iter: 20.985, ETA: 8d 05:36
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:13] Iteration: 34170000 / 34961783 [97.73%], ms/iter: 21.429, ETA: 04:42:47
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:13] Iteration: 1310000 / 35017979 [3.74%], ms/iter: 21.763, ETA: 8d 11:46
[Worker #4 Dec 1 08:16] Iteration: 100000 / 35019563 [0.28%], ms/iter: 21.117, ETA: 8d 12:49
[Worker #2 Dec 1 08:16] Iteration: 1130000 / 35019287 [3.22%], ms/iter: 20.985, ETA: 8d 05:32
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:16] Iteration: 34180000 / 34961783 [97.76%], ms/iter: 21.429, ETA: 04:39:13
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:17] Iteration: 1320000 / 35017979 [3.76%], ms/iter: 21.742, ETA: 8d 11:31
[Worker #4 Dec 1 08:19] Iteration: 110000 / 35019563 [0.31%], ms/iter: 21.108, ETA: 8d 12:41
[Worker #2 Dec 1 08:19] Iteration: 1140000 / 35019287 [3.25%], ms/iter: 20.976, ETA: 8d 05:24
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:20] Iteration: 34190000 / 34961783 [97.79%], ms/iter: 21.423, ETA: 04:35:34
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:21] Iteration: 1330000 / 35017979 [3.79%], ms/iter: 21.754, ETA: 8d 11:34
[Worker #4 Dec 1 08:23] Iteration: 120000 / 35019563 [0.34%], ms/iter: 21.140, ETA: 8d 12:56
[Worker #2 Dec 1 08:23] Iteration: 1150000 / 35019287 [3.28%], ms/iter: 21.009, ETA: 8d 05:39
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:23] Iteration: 34200000 / 34961783 [97.82%], ms/iter: 21.456, ETA: 04:32:24
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:24] Iteration: 1340000 / 35017979 [3.82%], ms/iter: 21.771, ETA: 8d 11:40
[Worker #4 Dec 1 08:26] Iteration: 130000 / 35019563 [0.37%], ms/iter: 21.161, ETA: 8d 13:05
[Worker #2 Dec 1 08:26] Iteration: 1160000 / 35019287 [3.31%], ms/iter: 21.027, ETA: 8d 05:46
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:27] Iteration: 34210000 / 34961783 [97.84%], ms/iter: 21.471, ETA: 04:29:01
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:28] Iteration: 1350000 / 35017979 [3.85%], ms/iter: 21.781, ETA: 8d 11:41
[Worker #4 Dec 1 08:30] Iteration: 140000 / 35019563 [0.39%], ms/iter: 21.140, ETA: 8d 12:49
[Worker #2 Dec 1 08:30] Iteration: 1170000 / 35019287 [3.34%], ms/iter: 21.008, ETA: 8d 05:31
[Worker #1 Dec 1 08:31] Iteration: 34220000 / 34961783 [97.87%], ms/iter: 21.444, ETA: 04:25:06
[Worker #3 Dec 1 08:32] Iteration: 1360000 / 35017979 [3.88%], ms/iter: 21.762, ETA: 8d 11:27[/code]

When I'm sixty-four: world's oldest tracked bird returns to refuge with mate
 

I had known that large parrots could live to great age. It is wonderful to find that there are other long-lived avians.

"The world’s [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/30/worlds-oldest-tracked-bird-wisdom-laysan-albatross-midway-atoll"]oldest living tracked bird[/URL] has returned to US soil to lay an egg at the sprightly age of 64."

[QUOTE]Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, was spotted at the [URL="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Midway_Atoll/"]Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge[/URL] with a mate, following a year’s absence. It’s expected that Wisdom will use the world’s largest nesting albatross colony, located north-west of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, to raise another chick.


The new arrival complements an impressive brood; researchers estimate that Wisdom has raised as many as 36 chicks in her lifetime. Wisdom was first tagged with a band in 1956. Given that Laysan albatross do not return to breed until they are at least five years old, it’s estimated that Wisdom is 64 years old, although she could be older.
[/QUOTE]

The telemarketer "YES"
 

This afternoon I received a telemarketing call offering to do a "free" energy audit and save me untold sums on electricity. I had seen a clip on youtube where the person being called simply answered "yes" to anything that was said.

This worked remarkably well and caused extreme annoyance to the caller. They put me on hold twice (perhaps to seek guidance on how to proceed with the script). They finally hung up.

I don't know if this would work with the "Microsoft security department" calling to tell me they have detected a virus, but it would be worth a try.

I would be very leery of a yes script. I've had trick questions that ask if I understand a statement and they interpret it to mean that I approve an automatically charged pointless "service."

[QUOTE=only_human;417980]I would be very leery of a yes script. I've had trick questions that ask if I understand a statement and they interpret it to mean that I approve an automatically charged pointless "service."[/QUOTE]

I would change tactics if anything like that ever happened. All this caller had was name/address/phone from public records.

[QUOTE=Chuck;418003]I would change tactics if anything like that ever happened. All this caller had was name/address/phone from public records.[/QUOTE]
One of things my brother liked to do was in an enthusiastic voice tell them:
"I'm gonna send you a million billion dollars!!"

[QUOTE=only_human;418004]One of things my brother liked to do was in an enthusiastic voice tell them:
"I'm gonna send you a million billion dollars!!"[/QUOTE]

How much is that in binary dollars? :smile:

AC Traction vs DC Traction
 

Traction, in this context, refers to the ability of electric motors on railroad locomotives to effectively transfer power from the source to the load.
[url]http://www.republiclocomotive.com/ac_traction_vs_dc_traction.html[/url]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][QUOTE][/SIZE][/FONT][LEFT][LEFT]The AC (alternating current) Drive, also known as Variable Frequency Drive, has been the standard in industry for many years. While it has been used in locomotives for over two decades (especially in Europe), it has only been recently that the price of the drives has allowed them to be used in most of the new diesel-electric locomotives in the United States.[/LEFT][/LEFT]

AC traction for locomotives is a major improvement over the old DC systems. The primary advantages of AC traction are adhesion levels up to 100% greater than DC and much higher reliability and reduced maintenance requirements of AC traction motors.

The tractive effort of a locomotive (whether AC or DC) is defined by the equations:

[CENTER][CENTER]Tractive effort = Weight on drivers x Adhesion[/CENTER][/CENTER]
[CENTER][CENTER]Adhesion = Coefficient of friction x Locomotive adhesion variable[/CENTER][/CENTER]
[CENTER][CENTER] [/CENTER][/CENTER]
The friction coefficient between wheel and rail is usually in the range of .40 to .45 for relatively clean, dry rail in reasonable condition and is essentially the same for all locomotives. The locomotive adhesion variable represents the ability of the locomotive to convert the available friction into usable friction at the wheel rail interface. It varies dramatically from about .45 for old DC units to about .90 for modern AC units. This variable incorporates many factors including electrical design, control systems, truck type and wheel conditions.


[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][SIZE=2]First generation DC locomotives such as SW1200s, GP9s, SD40s, and GE center cabs typically have adhesion levels of 18% to 20%. More modern units with adhesion control such as SD60s and Dash 8s have adhesion levels of 25% to 27%. The newer AC traction units such as the SD80MAC and the C44AC are usually rated at 37% to 39% adhesion. Thus, the newer locomotives have about twice the adhesion of the older units and the Class I railroads are, in fact, typically replacing two older units with a single new AC unit.[/QUOTE][/SIZE]
[/SIZE][/FONT]

[QUOTE=davar55;418134]How much is that in binary dollars? :smile:[/QUOTE]
Ha! This is a good "devil's dictionary" entry!
Binary dollars: money that you have them, or you don't have them.

[url]http://time.com/4138154/wild-boar-herd-of-cows/[/url]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=White]175: 5 5 7[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;418493][URL]http://time.com/4138154/wild-boar-herd-of-cows/[/URL]
[SIZE=1][COLOR=White]175: 5 5 7[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE]

So the cows don't find him boarish, and he isn't cowed by them. :smile: