Which of the following are April 1st Gags ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:23:40 am
content: The following CAN'T be an April fool's joke, because it is on March 31st, a VERY reliable source "Daily Mail UK", and it is about a totally believable and plausible storyline, about what we on Earth are doing, to prevent Alien Invasions.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3517649/Could-cloaking-device-LASERS-hide-Earth-aliens-Firing-light-beams-space-protect-planet-invading-extraterrestrials.htmlBut I'm NOT sure about this one ?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35940302

author: made2hack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:33:03 am
content: Are you referring to the price tag being called "affordable" ? Or Tesla's inability to produce 500,000 of them?

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:37:24 am
content: Quote from: trs80 on April 01, 2016, 07:33:03 amI meant the affordable price tag, to those that buy brand new cars, in that segment. But also "affordable", to those who buy that same car, when it is considerably cheaper, as it gets older, on the second/used hand market.I did also mean that making so many, would also make the story a lot less plausible.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:43:17 am
content: To be fair 35k is actually pretty decent price. Most new gas cars even go for around that range.But I have trouble justifying buying a new car when I can get used for like 5k. Though the idea of an EV sounds really fun too... If I was buying new, electric would be on my radar especially at that price. Only thing I don't think any of the dealers here sell electric cars and that's probably because they don't do well in winter.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:47:41 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 01, 2016, 07:43:17 amAlso in Europe/UK, petrol/gas prices, can be HUGE! (Because of the very large duty taxes on petrol/gas, especially in the UK).So an electric car, with a decent range, 200..300 miles, can potentially save high mileage drivers, a lot of money.Some countries offer much cheaper, overnight electricity rates. The UK certainly use to, and may still do this. Making modern electric cars, tempting, if the car selling price is reasonable, and you rarely do more than 200..300 miles per day (or can charge up at your destination).

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:54:32 am
content: Yep even here in Canada where our hydro rates keep increasing it would still be cheaper than a gas car to use electric.

author: made2hack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:58:55 am
content: I know nothing of Teslas, how do they resolve the issues of the battery cells going dead? I remember Toyota Priuses had huge costs relating to replacing batteries after a few years.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 07:59:07 am
content: Quote from: MK14 on April 01, 2016, 07:23:40 amThat is, of course, a meta April Fools Day joke.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:03:55 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on April 01, 2016, 07:59:07 amYes, you're right. They are sort of reliable, (outside of April 1st, like most/all UK news sources), but tend to go for somewhat highly controversial news stories, and present them in antagonizing ways, which perhaps puts their news editorial team, in at least a slightly bad light.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:08:10 am
content: Quote from: MK14 on April 01, 2016, 07:47:41 amI pay a lot more for the insurance, mandatory servicing, inspection and such than gas. And while a electric car would be really nice, a used prius have to do for the moment. Maybe in 5 years when they start bringing back their 5 year lease cars to the dealership.No the model 3 is not fake. And it is really affordable. Probably it will be cheaper than the Golf GTE, which sells for 39000EUR. The price of the golf is a joke. And the name. Reminds me:

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:13:07 am
content: Quote from: MK14 on April 01, 2016, 08:03:55 amThere's a useful rule of thumb. If The Daily Wail or the Daily Sexpress says X is worry, then start by assuming X is false.The business model for those papers is to get middle-aged slightly gullible people worried about something that isn't a significant problem, so that they buy the paper to find out the "truth". Example: The Daily Wail had a story about a cancer-causing chemical in food. They didn't bother to note that the chemical had been banned five years earlier! FFI of similar things, seehttp://www.badscience.net/index.php?s=daily+mailThe Wail does, however, have good pictures, e.g.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311828/Shoreham-air-crash-pilot-escapes-stunt-glider-smashes-runway.html

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:20:14 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on April 01, 2016, 08:08:10 amI agree, that the fueling (Petrol/Gas), is only part of the cost, of running a car, and probably only a small part, for lower mileage users. But it puts people off driving their cars, and makes them (sometimes) reluctant to go on longer journeys. Because of having to pay (lots) for Petrol/Gas.But even so, it costs people thousands of poinds a year, if their mileage is somewhat high. Which is typical, for people, who work a far distance, from where they live (which is quite common place in the UK).Anology:When Water usage is unmetered. I.e. you pay water charges, but it is unaffected by actual usages.One freely uses water, as if it was free (although there are regular bills for it). Similarly one freely watches TV or uses the internet.Whereas Electricity/Petrol/Gas(car fuel and for heating etc), are NOT used so freely by many, because of the perceived financial costs.EDIT: I hope you are right, and it is NOT a fake. I also have to admit, to liking the fact that it at least partially, can autodrive itself. I would love to try an autodriving car. Even if its autodriving, is ONLY partial. It is still VERY interesting.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:25:40 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on April 01, 2016, 08:13:07 amWhat you have said, pretty much, is exactly what I meant.E.g.There is one Syrian Refugee, spotted, climbing over a wall, near a UK entry port.Daily Mail..."Horrific Invasion Of Syrian Refugees. We are going to have a huge mass of refugees, much bigger than in France, at ALL UK ports.""The army will have to be brought in""A massive civil war in the UK will occur as a result""London will be burnt to the ground""The rest of the UK will also follow suit, and be a burnt out ruins, which is not suitable for living in"========>> We had all better pack up and move to Syria for safety. Otherwise we may be killed during the UK civil war.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 08:39:18 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 01, 2016, 07:54:32 amI'm pleased (in a sort of nasty/unfair way), that you have said that.A number of years ago, I was really jealous of Canada vs UK. Because the UK has (relatively) high electricity prices, BUT Canada (because of hydro electric dams), had relatively low electricity prices.So if you want to use a fair chunk of electricity (e.g. running old inefficient servers, bought cheaply on ebay), or something, you can't so readily do that. In the UK.