Text 22171, 95 rader
Skriven 2009-03-21 05:00:06 av Michael Loo (1:18/200.0)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: Snags 374
=================
 GJ> It is difficult to understand how the altimeter in that 737 that
 GJ> landed hard got to think that the plane was below ground level and so
 GJ> told the autopilot to shut down the engines.

It is, I believe, a tenet of elementary computing 101 that
such errors as divide-by-zero or result-out-of-domain are
handled promptly by a fixed routine.

   Is there an internet site
 GJ> where the interesting technical details of aircraft accidents are
 GJ> published? 

After the final report is filed, the summary, including the
apportionment of fault, is posted at some US Government site
that is public but that I have no particular incentive to read.
I believe that this is true of accidents where US carriers are
involved, the aircraft is of US origin or registration, there
are US victims, the accident occurs on US territory, or where
a US agency is invited to participate in the investigation.

 GJ> How often are scales at meat packers checked
 GJ> by weights and measures inspectors?

Depends on the timetable and availability of inspectors
obtaining in the municipality in question. I believe that
the typical statutory requirement is annually and the
typical enforcement somewhat less frequent.

 How often does MLoo check the
 GJ> weighing accuracy of his purchases?  (Glen sometimes does, using a
 GJ> cheap mechanical scale of doubtful accuracy.)

Every time, by hand. This was more effective when I was
spending more time lifting violin bows professionally and
was calibrated to within 0.5 g in the range of 50 to 70
grams, somewhat less accurate outside that range, but
hefting a package to see if its apparent and claimed
weights are compatible is still a routine for me.

 ML> Do you not get a grace period on your credit purchases - if so,
 ML> why keep a positive balance, and if not, why have a credit
 ML> account at all?
 GJ> Because when I use it overseas the bank charges are lower than if I
 GJ> use my debit card.

Tip for US citizens: this is usually the other way round -
credit cards impose an usurious fee on top of a poor exchange rate,
whereas debit cards give the interbank rate while charging a fixed
fee (which, in the case of my bank, is refunded up to $4 as of now,
used to be $2).

   Also, I keep a lesser amount of money in my credit
 GJ> card than the other, in case some nasty person manages to steal it, and
 GJ> I would lose much less than the amount in my debit account.

The way to solve this is to link your debit card to a smaller
account without overdraft protection. 

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v7.07

      Title: India Khir (Rice Pudding with Almonds)
 Categories: Indian, Desserts
   Servings:  6

    1/2 ts Salt
    1/4 c  Uncooked rice
      2 c  Boiling water
      1 qt Milk
      1 tb Butter or margarine
      3 tb Sugar
      3 tb Chopped almonds
      2 tb Fresh coconut, grated
    1/3 c  Raisins

  Add salt and rice to boiling water. Cook, stirring often until water has
  evaporated and rice is almost dry.

  Place rice in well greased 2-quart casserole. Add milk, butter, and sugar.

  Bake in very slow oven (275 degrees F.) about 3 hours, stirring
  occasionally.

  In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add almonds, coconut, and raisins.

  Garnish with coconut, if desired.  Serve either hot or cold from casserole.

  Recipe from: Mary Margaret McBride Encyclopedia of Cooking, Published by
  Homemakers Research Institute Evanston, Illinois Copyright 1959.

MMMMM

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