microcode, compilers, and supercomputer architecture

From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
Date: Mon Apr 5 21:45:33 1999

Hey, I'm still a little hesitant about power brakes, I only recently
stopped driving a vehicle without synchromesh, and power steering is for
wusses...

It looks like we pretty much see eye to eye on this stuff. I almost feel
ashamed I'm trying to get my 1970 Rover P6B back on the road - it's full
of fripperies, although I DO like the Icelert. I wonder if it'd fit on a
PDP-11?

On Tue, 6 Apr 1999, Tony Duell wrote:

> >
> > I'm not sure I buy the arguement. The main reason is this: The last 30
> > years of wonderful safety improvements have unfortunately left us with a
> > population of drivers who are incompetent. Some might say that they are
> > the transport analogue of Windows users.
>
> And that is my problem as well.
>
> IMHO if you are depending on some safety feature (ABS brakes, etc) to get
> you out of trouble then you are driving dangerously. If/when I learn to
> drive I will want to (and will insist that) I learn to drive properly,
> even if the ABS system, power steering, etc all fail at the same time.
>
> > The problem is that drivers will often imagine the brakes can do the
> > impossible and they drive faster, reduce their following distances, brake
>
> Yep. I'd much rather drive slower and leave big gaps (for all then idiots
> decide to cut into them from what I've observed). OK, so my journey takes
> a few minutes longer (and often it is only a few minutes), but at least
> I get there alive.
>
> > harder and crash. It is in this context that ABS is less than total
> > success. This is also the behaviour drivers of many four wheel drive
> > vehicles. Safety equipment is no substitute for prudence and discretion.
> > The greatest safety comes from conducting yourself and your vehicle so
> > that things like ABS never have to come fully into play; when they do,
> > then they provide an extra measure of safety. A trained and capable
> > driver can do wonders with a marginal vehicle, but all the wonderous
> > safety equipment in the world can't make up for a fool at the wheel.
>
> Exactly. Safety equipment is there to save you if you make a mistake and
> nothing more. It is (or should not be) used to keep you out of trouble.
> If you are depending on ABS brakes to prevent a skid in normal
> conditions, then most likely you'll end up killing someone.
>
> -tony
>
>

M. K. Peirce
Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
215 Shady Lea Road,
North Kingstown, RI 02852

"Casta est qui nemo rogavit."
              
              - Ovid
Received on Mon Apr 05 1999 - 21:45:33 BST

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