Tech Smorgasbord Archives - 11

Black - Not Green - in the OPEC Countries

(source: Reuters, et al)

RIYADH, Nov 16 - "The malls are full, the cars are fast, the fashions are sharp - conspicuous consumption is king as Saudis enjoy the benefits of oil at almost $100 a barrel."

So, the countries that design and produce things are told to ride bicycles to work and use fluorescent light bulbs, while the fat-cat oil cartel countries that produce almost nothing live it up. Do you think they buy carbon credits like our own domestic hypocrites do to make themselves feel good?

"Poor Richard's Almanack" Weather Forecasts Never Missed

Benjamin Franklin, known for his wit as well as for his ingenuity, proclaimed the following in his 1737 edition of the publication after being criticized for the forecasts not being spot on: "We modestly desire only the favorable allowance of a day or two before and a day or two after the precise day. If it does not comes to pass accordingly, let the fault be laid upon the printer." In other words, his weather forecasts were always accurate - it was just a matter of when they would come to pass. Today's meteorologist must operate on the same principle.

America's Most

Data-Wired Cities

(source: Forbes)

Starbucks Detector

My 2007 Chevy Cobalt has a built-in Starbucks alert. It must, because while driving through Pittsburgh at night this week, I found myself in dire need of caffeine. Problem is, my tolerance for bad coffee is very low, so I have to pass up a lot of opportunities from quick stops and all-night diners. Just as I thought I would need to break out the NoDoz tablets, an audible alarm in the dashboard began chiming. After the initial shock from unexpectedly hearing the alarm, I looked out the window and there was a Starbucks sign. I immediately pulled off the exit and got my caffeine fix. Crisis narrowly averted. I then filled my nearly empty gas tank at the Sunoco station across the street and went on my way.

The Average Engineer

According to the latest Electronic Design survey with about 3,000 responders, here is what constitutes the average engineer.

- Male

- Married

- College graduate

- 49 years old

- Earns $102,748/ year

- 24 years experience

- Works 53 hours/week

- 11 years w/company

- 7 years in position

- Earned 2 promotions

  at current employer

- Has worked for 2 or 3

  different companies

These stats might be un-PC, but they are what they are.

Equivalent College Degree Titles from Around the World

Work is Outsourced?

(source: Design News)

Top Patent Winners

for 2006

(source: IEEE Spectrum)