The placebo and the engineer

An engineer, updating one of his machines, replaced the old analog controls with a plc. In his haste to deliver the machine to the customer, he specified the old control panel faceplate. Rather than leave an unsightly hole where a knob had been, the shop foreman installed the old knob and potentiometer. Neatly taping the unattached wires, he pointed out his service, and told the engineer where the freshest doughnuts could be purchased.

Having delivered and tuned the machine, a technician locked all the settings, inviting the customer, if unsatisfied with the machine’s performance, to call for service. Weeks later the customer’s old, experienced operator told the technician the machine worked well, except the operator needed to adjust the knob once or twice during the shift. Wisely holding his tongue, the technician nodded and made a note. The manufacturing company’s old experienced engineer told the younger engineer to be content, and leave the switch on all models, as a placebo. And so that’s what they did, illustrating the difference between engineers, and smart engineers.

If only

School Answering Machine — Seen here.

Mad man

Choose your Man Men character with Mad Men Yourself. I haven’t seen this show, but it sounds like it might be good.

If it sounds too good to be true…

Maybe there are consequences to unrestricted commerce (at least on our side) with repressive totalitarians. That is, consequences beyond cheap DVD players, all kinds of poison stuff, and the destruction of American manufacturing. I wonder what the Chinese leaders hoped free trade would get them? Probably tenure as leaders, and a pile of money besides. On our side, some of us thought free trade would lead China to embrace capitalism and human rights. Instead, Fake Steve Jobs thinks we have all become complicit in the repression.

“We all know that there’s no … way in the world we should have microwave ovens and refrigerators and TV sets and everything else at the prices we’re paying for them. There’s no way we get all this stuff and everything is done fair and square and everyone gets treated right. No way.” — I’m really thinking maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at that Chinese guy so much (Caution; strong language)

Two short observations

• So You Want to Buy an American Car? Well, buying American is complicated. Here’s my proposed rule: Any sufficiently complex product is made everywhere.
• Changing the summit of math education? It’s a good idea. Instead of trying to teach everyone calculus, let’s try to teach everyone statistics. The traditional math sequence has come to be more about filtering than teaching. It’s a good system for identifying and training engineers, not so good at producing educated citizens.

It’s not my fault

Report: Increasing Number Of Educators Found To Be Suffering From Teaching Disabilities

Three from Wall Street, one from the beach

• Health Care: What does AARP Want? Basically, as much as they can get for old people. For myself, I’m looking forward to enjoying the deference young people accord their elders, and McDonald’s Senior Coffee.
• France: Sleepiest Industrialized Country – The French are asleep, the Mexicans are watching TV, and the Spaniards are playing soccer. Now we need a joke to go with the punch line.
• Wiped Out: Along With Jobs, Laid-Off Lose Photos, Emails – It’s wrong to treat people this way, but in 2009 you have to expect it and plan accordingly.
• Topless Photos of Gay Marriage Opponent – It doesn’t spark outrage because people assume it’s just a self-serving lie.

They’re on to me

Speaking in public has always been easy for me, partly because my standards are so low; partly because of a lifelong commitment to hard cardio workouts. But now some changes may be necessary.

“There is one style that always stands out, no matter what. I like to call it the “Scatter-Drone.” That is the presentation that has 50 bullet points scattered on every slide with a long-winded drone of a voice wavering in the air saying something, but nobody really knows what because catatonia has already taken over.” — Doing a 15 Minute Presentation in 10 Easy Steps

That’s just how I do it, except without the PowerPoint.

See, if the audience says “that was boring,” I can dismiss it as uninformed opinion. If they knew anything about the subject, they’d be giving the talk. But now that they have a word for it – “another one of his scatter-drones” – I’ll have to shape up.

Over-reaching

GM chief Wagoner ousted by Obama: “The chief executive of struggling US car company General Motors has been ordered to step down by US President Barack Obama.”

The BBC goes on to report “Fritz Henderson, the GM president and chief operating officer, will replace Mr Wagoner.” Of course that’s an oversimplification, likely because the Brits don’t fully understand our constitution. The federal government has no power that isn’t explicitly granted to it. Over here, the president can’t just unilaterally appoint a new head of General Motors. He needs the approval of the Senate.

Business casual

“People working in the City of London and in the Docklands financial districts have been advised to dress down — jeans and T-shirts instead of suit and tie and supermarket carrier bags instead of briefcases — to avoid becoming targets.” — Reviled London bankers the focus of demonstrations next week

More news reports:

• G20 anarchists plan wave of strikes against Canary Wharf and BT Tower
• Recession rallies G20 protesters