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.
> 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 :)
> 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.