10/11   http://www.toyota.com/prius/specs.html
        http://tinyurl.com/cgtar (honda.com, click on View and print the Fact)
        Quick comparison between the two auto transmissions:
                        Honda           Toyota
        Compression:    10.8:1          13.0:1  <--- big difference
        Gas HP          85-87HP         76HP
        Elec HP         13.4HP          67HP  <--- big difference
        MPG             47-48MPG        55-60MPG  <--- big difference
        Cost            $20,900         $21,275  <--- little difference
        Sorry, but Honda is clearly a big loser. Their engines suck, their
        electric moter is weak, their mileage is lower, and it's only $300
        cheaper. I don't understand why they even bother to compete.
        \_ looks, my friend.  people go for the looks of it.
        \_ With only 13.4HP, can the Civic run on electricity alone at all?
           \- people buy crappy regular cars. why does it surprise you
              they may buy crappy hybrids.
              \_ But with horsepower as low as 13.4, the engine might need to
                 stay on all the time, which defeats the purpose of having
                 hybrid.
                 \_ The electric motor's for low speeds, where torque is much
                    more important than peak HP.  Picture a team of 13 horses
                    attached to the front of your car.  They could get it going
                    from a standstill just fine... they just couldn't go 70.
           \_ On the Prius, the electric is used to replace the gas engine in
              low power situations.  On the Civic, its used to augment the
              power of the gas engine so they can use a smaller more efficient
              gas engine than on a conventional Civic.
        \_ can hybrids pass other cars?  Is it safe to pass on a mt. road
           with a hybrid?
           \_ No, it's better to pass with a big SUV like the Ford
              Excursion. It's really cool too.  Even the Hummer looks
              small beside it.
              \_ That guy on the bicycle with the RPG will be me.
        \_ speaking of honda hybrids:
           http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/12/Autos/most_efficient_cars/index.htm
        \_ what is the difference between 2006 Insight and previous version?
           they looked the same.

10/11   For future job security - Java or C++?
        Java:
        C++ : .
        \_ English : .
           \_ For Great Justice!
        \_ Chinese : ..
        \_ I would say either all the way to the J2EE field, or get back
           to plain old C.  From my perspective, next 5 year's action is going
           to be in the embedded space.  C is more important than Java in that
           space.
           \_ As an embedded guy who knows neither C++ nor Java, I'm glad to
              hear that!  -- !OP
              \_ COTS or in-house?
        \_ I am going to guess more Java jobs, but also more Java
           programmers. You will not lose with C++ in the near future. You
           can do so many more things with it and there are fewer great
           C++ programmers. If you know C++ then 'plain old C' comes
           easily as well, especially if you only knew Java before.
           C++ programmers. If you know C++ then 'plain old C' comes easily
           as well, especially compared to people who know only Java.
           \_ "seee plus plus is yeezee!" - indian programmer
           \_ "see plus plus is yeezee!" - indian programmer

10/11   King Aragorn against Bush behavior
        http://www.culturekitchen.com/archives/003486.html
        \_ Yawn.
        \_ On the Daily Show he didn't say anything political...just
           hocked his new movie "History of Violence" and pulled some
           rubber animals out of his coffee.
        \_ I prefer to think of him as the hero of "Hidalgo".
           \_ I thought the horse was the hero. Or are you making some
              coy comparisons that I don't really need to think about?
              \_ No, Hidalgo was the title character.  The man was the hero (if
                 there was one in that stinker).  My point is that LotR is the
                 only good thing I've seen from him, and I prefer not to sully
                 that with stupid comments from the actor.
                 \_ Actually, I always think of him as Weps from Crimson Tide.

10/12   The more things change:
        "I can handle a hundred thousand men in battle, and take the City of
        the Sun, but am afraid to manage a lot in the swamp of San Francisco."
          --William Tecumseh Sherman
        \_ "It is much easier to destroy than to create" -King Duh

10/12   BART to SF running 24/7 just this weekend
        http://www.bart.gov/news/press/news20051011.asp
        http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/safer/docs/wknd5flyer_web.pdf - danh
        \_ Finish the thought: "Because the bridge is closed."
           \_ isn't this all just some kind of homosexual code?
                \_ "the subway is open 24/7?"

10/12   Bush: "Miers is qualified because she's an evangelical Christian!"
        Huh?  Since when is the Supreme Court our council of Mullahs?
        \_ Wah?  URL please.
           \_ http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/12/D8D6K760J.html
              \_ What you said and what that article said are not the same.
                 I don't like Miers either but you don't need to make stuff up
                 about her.  It doesn't promote your point.
                 \_ Bush essentially said that part of the reason she is
                    qualified is that she's an evangelical.  This is serious
                    business and borderline unconstitutional (see the
                    Establishment clause re: religious litmus tests for
                    holding office).  I didn't make up jack shit about Miers.
                    \_ "Essentially said..." is not the same a making a direct
                       quote.  I saw nothing new in the article.  I was
                       looking for that shocking quote.  Silly me, it's the
                       motd.
                       \_ "I would remind you that extremism in the defense
                          of libety is no vice.  And let me remind you also
                          that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no
                          virtue."
                          \_ Lying isn't what they were talking about when
                             they said that.
                             \_ An original constructionist!  I am more of a
                                living document fan myself.  In moderation,
                                of course.
                                \_ Funny.  Thanks for the laugh.
                    \_ He's using that to pacify rabid pro-lifers, saying
                       she won't expand (and may overturn) Roe vs. Wade.
                       Unfortunately, most conservatives aren't one-issue
                       people, and we'd rather have someone who will interpret
                       the Constitution according to principles we agree with,
                       irrespective of any one issue. -emarkp
                       \_ True, she must oppose abortion, gay marriage, and
                          support "under God" in the pledge. That's three!
        \_ if you want to bash Dubya, hyperbole / exaggeration is not required
           \_ Perhaps, but invention is easier than truth.
              \_ "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no
                 doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal
                 some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. ... The United
                 States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this
                 threat. But we will do everything to defeat it. Instead of
                 drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward
                 safety. Before the day of horror can come, before it is too
                 late to act, this danger will be removed. ... Recognizing the
                 threat to our country, the United States Congress voted
                 overwhelmingly last year to support the use of force against
                 Iraq." -Dubya (March 17, 2003)
                 \_ Well, I personally aim to be more fair and honest than
                    GWB.  Perhaps it's unreasonable for me to expect the same
                    of the OP.
                    \_ you're saying op is less fair / honest than Dubya?
                       \_ ! (op > GWB) != op < GWB
                          \_ okay, then let's put an equals sign in there too.
                             \_ It's not *me* saying it.  It's the OP saying
                                it when he posted the GWB quote (or whoever
                                it is who poasted the quote) after I accused
                                him of invention.

10/12   4,500 year old noodle to go please!
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20051012/sc_space/worldsoldestnoodlesalterviewofancientdiet
        \_ Man, Chinese food can survive 5000 years?  This explains
           something about my indigestion problems.
        \_ Just more proof of the Flying Spaghetti Monster's greatness

10/12   The full translated text of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri's
        letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi:
        http://www.centcom.mil/english_version.htm
        (http://www.centcom.mil/extremistssay.asp

10/12   http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1012055miers1.html
        I can understand "greatest governor ever" can be considered appropriate
        for b-day cards, but aren't there an awful lot of these kinds of
        comments?