Posts by TeeCee

Re: I wondered too

The common way to do it is to use integers, with the decimal implied by the currency (0, 2, or 3 [2]).

In most[1] jurisdictions you must round to currency units for storage, so no 6 d.p. shit. Conversions are run to more places in variables and then rounded post conversion for further use or storage[3]. Calculating all the line level components of a charge to higher precision levels and then rounding to currency units after summation is not permitted in places where tax must be calculated and shown at line level (like the EU).

[1] Maybe all, unless anyone knows better.

[2] Three? Yes. Halfpennies. Egypt, for one, still has three.

[3] Highlight of my life in this area was the original Euro startup and the ERM. Currency conversions bertween currencies in the ERM had to be "triangulated" through the Euro. So instead of X to Y, you had to convert X to Euro, round to two decimals, convert the result to Y and finally round to the decimals of Y. The level of conversion precision was also mandated and there was often a small but demonstrable difference between correct triangulation and fudging it by working out the direct conversion rate. The evil-minded little sods threatened to come down like a ton of bricks on anyone caught fudging it too.....

Re: It the Shuttle was still operative...

Their costs are approx $10,000 per lb with a full capsule.

I think you'll find that all those figures are rather lower for the return trip only. The vehicle comes back anyway, anything in it is effectively hitching a ride.

The cost of sending up another one has to be borne anyway, assuming it cannot be fixed in situ, so whether that's a new one or an old one reconditioned is immaterial.

Thus, as the suit costs 12 million, if there's a chance it can be fixed bringing it down is a no-brainer.

Re: I love W3C

Well we all saw what happens when you make it obvious as MS did in IE10, by asking up front on first use what you'd like it set to.

The ad men responded with; "We'll ignore DNT information from IE10.".

Now it seems that they've decided that merely forcing browser makers to bury it in the config where it can't be found by grunt users and having it defaulted to an ad-friendly "off" isn't good enough and they want it watered down even further.

There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that the group trying to scotch it apparently have MS as a member. The same MS pushing it hardest, even to the extent of running an ad campaign[1] based on its provision. I guess those "Chinese walls" are really doing their stuff, to the extent that the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doeth.

[1] More irony.

Re: ARTICLE: Boffins blast briny boat balloon bid as 'gross waste of helium'

As Isaac Asimov put it (from memory, so YMMV):

"Contrary to popular belief, most important scientific discoveries do not start with 'Eureka', but with 'That's interesting.......'.".

Re: No expandable storage

Hmm, I run into the "ethernet only" issue all too often. The other take on that is "ethernet only and your laptop has its ethernet port on the wrong side for this stupidly short cable to reach to".

Answer? Ebay. 10 quid(!) [1] got me a memory-stick-sized(!!) fully-featured wifi router(!!!) from Hong Kong. Plug hotel's ethernet cable in one end and USB power in the other. Presto, my very own wireless network in my room.

I've given up on in-room hotel wifi, when it is provided, as this provides instant access without fannying around configuring an additional wireless network on all my devices.

[1] Anyone care to explain why a complete WiFi router in a small placcy case costs around half what a bit of flash memory in a similar placcy case does?

Re: Take note America

<Google>

Hmm, by American standards[1] he is slim.....

[1] i.e. He fits into one post code and if he were to ride a lard chariot you'd be able to see most of it while he was sat on it.

Re: Thanks

I'm not sure "debunked" is right there.

As both could be fooled, even though the cheap PC reader proved "harder" I reckon a fingerprint reader is less secure than a password. Both are vulnerable once the miscreant has the thing, but your fingerprints are more likely to be available to some scrote without your knowledge. Also if you suspect someone else may have 'em, changing your fingerprints is tricky.

Re: 2.4GHz WiFi cluttering

A service which doesn't transmit significantly through the walls of a house is a significant benefit to your neighbours.

Unfortunately, a service which doesn't transmit significantly through the interior walls and floors of your own house is pretty much bloody useless to you.

My router does 2.4 and 5 simultaneously. 5 works well enough in the same room, but gets flattened for speed everywhere else in the house by 2.4, despite very heavy congestion in that band. What would be nice is if the ruddy clients had the sense to prefer 5 when the signal strength was ok, but unfortunately everything I've tried seems to lock on to 2.4 by preference if the SSIDs are the same, even when right next to the damned thing.