Roger Wright wrote:

It was by design. Where previously a test would contain ten reasonably difficult problems, by my junior year they were being written with programmable scientific calculators in mind, containing twenty or thirty questions that were numerically intense.

That was my experience.

Roger Wright wrote:

We both passed, but only because we showed up for the test with our idiot boxes preprogrammed. The others didn't do so well.

For a while programmable calculators or calculators with a memory were often banned.

Roger Wright wrote:

Nope, not a chance. I could never marry a girl who likes cream in coffee. It just wouldn't work... Sigh

You have to have your standards ...

I unearthed my Dietzgen while packing to move. I was just in on the switch over to calculators. I would go into finals with an HP45 and the slide rule just in case the HP's batteries gave out.

modified on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:24 PM

Diagnostics booted from punch tape programmers keyed in their programs using the front panel switches used slide rules instead of calculators

I have been there and done that so I feel your pain. The important point is that you ARE getting paid. In this day and age that is a good thing. Consider it an exercise in character development. A few years ago I had to take an 'office' job after 20+ years of freelancing. I'm back on my own now and have more character than I can stand.

Proper computers: - had flashing lights, preferably in HEX - Memory was itty bitty magnetic donuts - Input was punch cards - Interactive access was by Teletype ASR33 (if you were fortunate) - Storage was on a drum - Really fast storage was 'head-per-track' And you are really really old if you: - Know what a card sorter is AND knew how to program the punch panel I suddenly feel very tired ...

Two words: Overdraft Protection...

Remember, just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you...

I worked for a company that used Lotus instead of Outlook. I have no great love for Outlook, but Lotus Notes SUCKS big time. The servers (primary and backup) went down, we were with out e-mail for over a week. Had to negotiate contracts via our personal Yahoo and GMail accounts. Now for sure the server issue was partly because of our 'crack' staff, but a week? This is at a major company too! What a joke!

Dark Star? A friend just moved to Benson Arizona

That's about what I am getting. What is cool is getting that kind of speed going down the freeway...someone else driving of course! Or working down by the river at the park nearby. Do you know about ##DEBUG?

Is that Sprint PCS Mobile Broadband? EVDO Rev.A? I just switched to it. Very fast, for a wireless connection, comparable to the Earthlink DSL I just dropped. My unscientific benchmark are that through-put drops during rush hour. When everyone is talking on their cell phone!!! -- modified at 18:24 Monday 6th August, 2007

what in the heck is wrong with Houston??? aside from the fact the it's like "LA with the climate of Calcutta" you must be from Dallas or something...

Or look for LGPL code. There don't seem to be as many areas that are subject to interpretation like what constitutes a service. Nude photos are optional but frankly I think it's too much information.

John Cardinal wrote:

It's also a great place to buy more obscure stuff, I rarely ever bid on anything anymore, I almost always use the buy it now links for the "stores" that are there.

I think you have hit on a key point here. A great place to buy or sell obscure stuff. Everyday items you can get at WalMart or Super Tar-jay.

Patrick Sears wrote:

I've had several instances where it was the seller themselves signed on under other accounts increasing the bid. Yes, that's illegal and against eBay's rules, but good luck getting them to admit it's happening more often than they'd like.

That's called shill bidding and it's quite common. A former (emphasize the word 'former') girlfriend wanted me to bid up one of her items because it was not selling for enough. She didn't see anything wrong with it.

Patrick Sears wrote:

Whenever I see someone doing that, I increase the bid on purpose just to spite them. I hate that behavior and if they're going to engage in it, they'll pay for it.

Problem with that strategy is that sometimes we pay for it. So I just bid once at my best offer. It's just another way eBay has declined as a marketplace.

One of the trends I have seen are higher shipping and handling fees as sellers try to offset the ever growing ebay and paypal fees. There are a lot of hidden costs with eBay selling. I tend to list items at the lowest price I would want to sell them. But that does not always work. Relisting is an option however there are the additional fees. I'm also a 'sniper' via esnipe.com. I've had too many times where someone has upped my bid just for the sake of it. Sniping tools also give you the flexibility to lower or cancel your bid should you have a change of heart.

AMEN to all of that... I would add that once I actually get into some of these places I find the usual assortment of nincompoops, petty dilettante's and wannabe axe-murderers. Simply amazing. So it would seem to me that these 'tools' for screening applicatants are not very effective.

A pound of flesh???

A friend of mine took these, some in the driveway of his house when he lived outside Tampa. He is out west somewhere now... His rig is at the bottom of the page.