Watercooler Talk

[AlexLachance]

Moar special trailer designing! This one is most likely going to be a stationnary unit for towns that are far from everything. Roof opens up to allow for loading and also acts as a compactor. There's a huge ram inside that also serves as a compactor/unloader.

[zwei]

Recently came across something called "Open Material License" by stratasys and formlab

[Frederick_Law]

"Open road license: unlock to the possibility to drive on all road in your car."
"Open air license: unlock to the possibility to breath on all air."

Sounds like they got DS employees. Need to pay for Certified everything.
Let's see how far they can travel down that road.

[DanPihlaja]

"Open road license: unlock to the possibility to drive on all road in your car."
"Open air license: unlock to the possibility to breath on all air."

They are already talking about subscription fees to use certain features of your car.

[Frederick_Law]

They are already talking about subscription fees to use certain features of your car.

Yea, read that before.
Tesla did that first, $5000 to unlock more power.
Good thing CANBUS is easy to hack.

[dave.laban]

They are already talking about subscription fees to use certain features of your car.

BMW have just announced they're abandoning subscriptions for heated seats that they had started rolling out. There's a tiny chance for sense to prevail.

[Frederick_Law]

"Do you want legs with your baby? Left leg $500, right leg $600. No bundle discount."

[Frederick_Law]

BMW have just announced they're abandoning subscriptions for heated seats that they had started rolling out. There's a tiny chance for sense to prevail.

"Certified air for your tire."

[SPerman]

I don't know about Canada, but here in the US many dealership charge hundreds of dollars to put nitrogen in your tires.

[DanPihlaja]

I don't know about Canada, but here in the US many dealership charge hundreds of dollars to put nitrogen in your tires.

That is ridiculous. And only beneficial for racers (if you aren't getting PAID to race, and you are racing...then you aren't a racer...you are a criminal) and areas where temperature swings are massive.

[AlexLachance]

That is ridiculous. And only beneficial for racers (if you aren't getting PAID to race, and you are racing...then you aren't a racer...you are a criminal) and areas where temperature swings are massive.

I've read in the past that it could affect fuel efficiency but I doubt that the gain outweighs the cost.

[SPerman]

That is ridiculous. And only beneficial for racers (if you aren't getting PAID to race, and you are racing...then you aren't a racer...you are a criminal) and areas where temperature swings are massive.

It is part of the games dealerships play here. All kinds of add-ons of limited value at outrageously inflated prices.

[Frederick_Law]

(if you aren't getting PAID to race, and you are racing...then you aren't a racer...you are a criminal)

There are legal race track and drag strips all over the world.
Also legal Rally race events.
Autocross in parking lots.

Not getting paid to race is not criminal.

Me, in Autocross:


https://www.casc.on.ca/autoslalom

[Frederick_Law]

That is ridiculous. And only beneficial for racers (if you aren't getting PAID to race, and you are racing...then you aren't a racer...you are a criminal) and areas where temperature swings are massive.

Nitrogen supposed to leak slower. Not much about racing.
https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles ... -car-tires

[Glenn Schroeder]

It is part of the games dealerships play here. All kinds of add-ons of limited value at outrageously inflated prices.

That's why when I get ready to buy a vehicle (which I haven't done since 2007, by the way) I decide how much I'm willing to spend, then tell the sales associate that that's how much I'll pay. They can add whatever taxes, fees, etc to the base price they want, as long as they add up to my figure, because that's what I'll write a check for.

And no, I don't want the extended warranty. If the vehicle was likely to need enough repairs to justify the extended warranty then I didn't want it.

[SPerman]

Nitrogen supposed to leak slower. Not much about racing.
https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles ... -car-tires

Race teams use it mainly because it has much less moisture in it than what would come out of an air compressor. As temperature builds, the pressure inside the tire builds. Reducing the moisture decreases the delta P per unit of delta T.

As far as putting it in street tires? I see no value.

[Frederick_Law]

Race teams use it mainly because it has much less moisture in it than what would come out of an air compressor. As temperature builds, the pressure inside the tire builds. Reducing the moisture decreases the delta P per unit of delta T.

As far as putting it in street tires? I see no value.

Only if race team use HomeDepots compressor without any moisture removal.
Any good shop will have separator and desiccant.

It did mention N2 has less pressure change per temperature then air but PV = nRT.

[SPerman]

I spent most of my adult working life in Nascar, and 17 years at one of the best in the business. Shop air was for running air tools and blowing off chips. It was conditioned, but nearly as well as you think.

[zwei]

All this Saas stuff and licensing stuff is getting out of hand...

https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity- ... nstall-fee

“We are introducing a Unity Runtime Fee that is based upon each time a qualifying game is downloaded by an end user,”

[Frederick_Law]

One step closer to the "you own nothing" society.

[AlexLachance]

All this Saas stuff and licensing stuff is getting out of hand...

https://www.polygon.com/23870247/unity- ... nstall-fee

“We are introducing a Unity Runtime Fee that is based upon each time a qualifying game is downloaded by an end user,”

Wow, that's quite astounding.

[Frederick_Law]

https://www.core77.com/posts/125788/BMW ... d-Grenades

[RichGergely]

Talking of cars, scumbags have stolen my Fiesta ST this week. The key fobs were protected in the house but they still got it, I suppose I should be happy they didn't break into the house to get the keys.

[Frederick_Law]

A convenient tech went wrong.

[RichGergely]

I've heard Canada has quite a problem with car thefts so it's probably no new news to you Frederick. It's gone through the roof in UK following the end of the pandemic. There just doesn't seem enough/proper checks at the ports in the UK to tackle the problem. If the gangs were stopped getting the cars/parts out of the UK with strict checks there wouldn't be a business model.

[AlexLachance]

I've heard Canada has quite a problem with car thefts so it's probably no new news to you Frederick. It's gone through the roof in UK following the end of the pandemic. There just doesn't seem enough/proper checks at the ports in the UK to tackle the problem. If the gangs were stopped getting the cars/parts out of the UK with strict checks there wouldn't be a business model.

There is indeed. There is even a huge issue with tire stealing and other things of that nature.

For instance, we've had people steal tires from two of our shops. They literally took them off the trailers that were in the yard and left the trailer on little wood blocks. (Picture is not us but it is a company that had the same faith as us)

We were able to track the last batch of tires that was stolen. They were at the ports in a container waiting there. I believe they caught a few people but not the whole gang. Each time we were stolen, it was over 100K worth of stuff. What kinda left me wondering was that they didn't touch steel rims, they would only take aluminium rims.

The crazy part also was that they were able to take off over 100 tires from about 10 different trailers all in less then an hour. They also special equipment to turn off cameras and what-not. So, these guys were very well equipped.

[Frederick_Law]

I've heard Canada has quite a problem with car thefts so it's probably no new news to you Frederick. It's gone through the roof in UK following the end of the pandemic. There just doesn't seem enough/proper checks at the ports in the UK to tackle the problem. If the gangs were stopped getting the cars/parts out of the UK with strict checks there wouldn't be a business model.

Police in Toronto just went and gave out free FOB Condoms .....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ ... -1.6983820

Insurance already declining cover for some high risk vehicles.

[Frederick_Law]

The crazy part also was that they were able to take off over 100 tires from about 10 different trailers all in less then an hour. They also special equipment to turn off cameras and what-not. So, these guys were very well equipped.

Ex-NASCAR pit crew .....

Not trying to offend anyone here .....

[Glenn Schroeder]

This is well worth viewing (and opening it in YouTube so you can click on Like and leave a comment probably wouldn't make @Alin mad).

[Frederick_Law]

[bnemec]

PXL_20231008_175037704.jpg

The longest of the Iowa class. Amazing ships.

[AlexLachance]

PXL_20231008_175037704.jpg

I'd love to see one up close some day

[Frederick_Law]

Took a while to walk through. Great to see it in real. I was planning to see Big Mo. Happened to go Philadelphia and drove over to see Jersey.

Yamato visit New Jersey with me.

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[bnemec]

Took a family trip down south last spring and passed through Mobile AL. Couldn't resist stopping to see BB60. Walking on USS Alabama's Teak decking, looking up at the battle stations was surreal. Also went through USS Drum sub. Sad to see the A12 was parked outside.

As I remember back there was a partially disassembled seaplane in wrap. Learned just a month ago that it was part of an anonymous donation, along with a Stearman from Mr. Buffett. If you're ever near Mobile it's well worth the time to stop in for a few hours.

[Frederick_Law]

Probably got more room in a coffin then bunk bed in the ship .....
Crazy they got beds everywhere.
Got dizzy walking around.

I was inside a battle station looking out.

[Glenn Schroeder]

. . . Also went through USS Drum sub. Sad to see the A12 was parked outside.

As I remember back there was a partially disassembled seaplane in wrap. Learned just a month ago that it was part of an anonymous donation, along with a Stearman from Mr. Buffett. If you're ever near Mobile it's well worth the time to stop in for a few hours.

I remember going through a submarine at Galveston when I was in high school. I got about halfway through and had seen all I needed to see. Submarines, even when they're out of the water, are no place for someone with even a little bit of claustrophobia.

[AlexLachance]

It's crazy sometimes how some little compliments here and there can do so much good. Our annual evaluation's coming up in a few days and some of my collegues caught me off guard to tell me that I've been getting back on the righteous path and that all my efforts were noticed and appreciated. It really touched me, the last 3 years were probably the hardest that I've had in my life.

Honestly, I think I appreciate the kind comments more then the raise that I'll most likely get.

[Glenn Schroeder]

It's crazy sometimes how some little compliments here and there can do so much good. Our annual evaluation's coming up in a few days and some of my collegues caught me off guard to tell me that I've been getting back on the righteous path and that all my efforts were noticed and appreciated. It really touched me, the last 3 years were probably the hardest that I've had in my life.

Honestly, I think I appreciate the kind comments more then the raise that I'll most likely get.

One of the engineers here, who has since moved on, complimented me on my work more than all the rest put together. Of course he also pissed me off more than all the rest combined, so it evened out.

[AlexLachance]

One of the engineers here, who has since moved on, complimented me on my work more than all the rest put together. Of course he also pissed me off more than all the rest combined, so it evened out.

If you're going to throw some crap at people for whatever reason, you better compliment them when the opposite situation happens or else people start seeing the "crap" as casual and end up ignoring directives.

[AlexLachance]

Bionic hand fuses with bones,muscles and nerves:
https://www.sciencealert.com/revolution ... v3tUi4ZXEg

This was quite the interesting read, seems like something pretty revolutionary.

[XHawkeye]

Youtube channel recommendation

https://www.youtube.com/@animagraffs/videos

[zwei]

Going to switch from Microsoft to Google..

Consider how many of our tool need Microsoft/Excel/Word to function... this is going to be fun

[AlexLachance]

Going to switch from Microsoft to Google..

Consider how many of our tool need Microsoft/Excel/Word to function... this is going to be fun

You mean Office? Why is that? Who took that decision? Perhaps they should concider having office licences for the engineering department.

[zwei]

You mean Office? Why is that? Who took that decision? Perhaps they should concider having office licences for the engineering department.

Yes... Office
From what i heard... one of the plan/option is to have separate office license for engineering (whether is it the whole engineering department is still a BIG question mark)... which mean more tool to maintain and master (YAY /s) and using different tool with other department

[Frederick_Law]

Google could maintain offline Excel file. So you may not lose link to CAD.

MS Team can do that too.
Actually I like Excel in Team. Multiple users can edit the file at the same time.

[AlexLachance]

Google could maintain offline Excel file. So you may not lose link to CAD.

MS Team can do that too.
Actually I like Excel in Team. Multiple users can edit the file at the same time.

We've been using Teams a lot for things like that. Trello is also an awesome tool/add-on that you can add to it to do some planning.

[Frederick_Law]

I was looking for something for Planning, Task list.

We're at "print out spreadsheet and email and put on the desk" century.
Try to get a bit more advance.

[CarrieIves]

I really like the shared Excel and Word and PowerPoint. Having more than one person working at a time is nice.
We use Trello here also. We use it for tracking project status and working with our customers capturing requirements.

[AlexLachance]

Woke up yesterday to 4 inches of snow. There's still some left but no so much. Enough to remind us that winter's coming.

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[Frederick_Law]

It was 20C last week. Drop to 5C on the weekend.
I was outside re-lube calipers and swap winter rims.
I was frozen after 5pm.

So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snoooooooow.