Regarding your editorial, "Lying with Statistics" (DN 05.05.03): This problem has always been around, as pointed out in the old saying, "Figures don't lie but liars can figure."
I just had a lot of fun reading "In Pursuit of a Better SUV" (DN 05.05.03). Given that the article's subtitle was "Students apply their design skills to curb the appetite of a gas-guzzler", I found it more than hilarious that the 2002 winning team from the University of Wisconsin simply yanked the Ford's gasoline motor and dropped in a diesel engine. That's kind of like entering a mule in a "design a better horse" competition. It's neither revolutionary nor evolutionary. It's merely "substitutionary."
Regarding the sidebar, "Futuretruck Design Goals," I would advise the Futuretruck 2003 teams to consider the following for an easy win: Pry the Ford logo off of the Explorer and glue it to a Saturn VUE. The Saturn VUE meets every design goal right off the showroom floor.
Being a relatively new homeowner myself, I can empathize with your editorial, "Lessons of Home Repair" (DN 05.05.03). Whether it is too much paint, too little paint, or "eyeballing" shelves, I've done it all. However, the best story I have is from my grandmother's home.
About four years ago, my uncle and I were visiting my grandmother, who lives in an old farmhouse. You know the type —two usable floors, monster-size attic, and a basement built of rock. My uncle and I were asked to change the filter on Grandma's water softener. We were very careful to follow the pipes leading to and from the softener to find the appropriate shut-off valve. Well, we didn't. When I managed to get the filter off, a stream of cold water hit me like a fire hose. Hearing the commotion, my Grandma, wife, and aunt came to the basement and found me trying to put the filter back in place to stop the water, while my uncle was shutting off any valve he could find. Of course it was the last one he tried. Needless to say, home improvement has taught me a great deal, including always keep a dry set of clothes handy!
The title of a short blurb in your news section "Windows rules ... now" (DN 05.05.03) implies that you do not think it will rule for ever, and I cannot agree more strongly. True, many CAD packages only run on Windows, but do not discount OS/2 for non-engineering use. Check the IBM web page and search for OS/2 and you will find that it is available and that it is actually supported. Do a web search for OS/2 or go straight to www.eComStation.biz and see what you find. eCS is OS/2 in disguise and it is fully supported by an independent company. I use OS/2 on my PC and do not plan to change.
In your recent article, "Lifesavers: The Components Behind Today's Medical Breakthroughs" (DN 05.05.03), you featured Activa Therapy from Medtronic Inc. as a treatment being used to help people suffering from some of the most common movement disorders. Although this article brings to light some of the promising uses of brain stimulation and Activa Therapy, there were some points in the article that were incorrect.
The mention of the Activa System using a 9V battery as its power source is incorrect and misrepresents the size of the device. A battery much smaller in size is used. The neurostimulator as a whole (including the battery and all other microelectronic circuitry) is slimmer than a 9V battery. Overall its size is comparable to that of a cardiac pacemaker, hence the phrase "brain pacemaker."
Additionally, the description of "battery replacement surgery" is misleading. While it is correct to note that surgery is required at the end of the battery's life, the entire neurostimulator must be replaced, not just the "battery" (although replacement of the other parts of the system, including leads and lead extensions, may not be required).
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