OT:Shooting Ourselves in the Foot

So just what does "a degree from a university" really mean?

Yesterday I heard a news report that questioned whether or not average US college graduates were even literate -- their test criterion was related to reading product labels/instructions [I was driving at time so I was paying attention to other things ;]

I remember a sophomore EE lab requiring us to design a 1 transistor amp. MANY of my classmates were going to supply tech requesting better than

I had an informative experience interviewing for a student position as electronics tech for university's chemistry department. The intended result of one of my (then future) boss's questions was either a half wave or full wave rectifier. I automatically went from fused connection to wall outlet to filtered DC out. He was surprised.

I later was a tech for the "Power Supply Engineering" dept of a mini-computer manufacturer. A fresh EE grad was assigned to "design" a new AC power control panel (basically cord, fuses, relay, transformer, and distribution of fused AC to convince outlets). Said BSEE had not the foggiest of what to do.

Decades later, between jobs, I applied for a temp position with a community college to pull computer cable for their *TEMPORARY* expansion into new facilities. It was admitted that I was more qualified than many of their permanent staff, but I didn't have letters after my name.

As to PE license, it's irrelevant to reality if not legality. I don't know how it is now. But when I was a BSEE student in 60's, an EE interested in medical monitoring [which I was] was required to be competent to design bridges to receive a PE license. Did they know an aorta from a neuron was irrelevant.

From India of course :-) same with the numbers we now use :-)

Simon

Not over here Jim.

Meal breaks aren't paid time IME.

There's something to be said for that !

Graham

Would that be on account of (mis) 'management' influence by any chance ?

Graham

have

think

One of the problems is the level of literacy.. can you read a university level book or Doctor Sues.. both are levels of literacy (if at the extreme)

Simon

and

So who is unqualified? I have no degree or formal university training. I went to a polytech and studied electrical. Now I design radios and interface them to a digital world.

Simon

Are you kidding ?

On the few occasions I've stayed in a hotel in Germany the buffet breakfast was awesome !

Graham

Depends on how you define literacy I guess. The ability to read a McDonald's menu perhaps ?

Graham

Well, since England has 3x the polulation of China maybe we could do with 3x less of us on this bit of land?

FFF Dirk

The Consensus:- The political party for the new millenium

I fail to see what the population has to do with this supposed decline.

Could you elaborate ?

Graham

Well, please do not extrapolate this on all the European countries. That website is about France and thus it is, um... self-explanatory. ;-))) Despite the fact that we call ourselves "European Union", there is no essential unification between our countries in this field. Each country has its own regulations, so no French labour time limit is applicable in, for example, Poland and vice versa. Here we have

Best regards Piotr Wyderski

Absolutely!

One time my wife spotted some fresh blackberries in a farmers' market in Baden-Baden. She took them down to breakfast to put in her cereal. Everyone was asking, "I can't find the blackberries on the buffet" ;-)

Me, I liked all the cold cuts, sausages and boiled eggs ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Naaah! How to press the buttons on a McD cash register ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Well it's not for a lack of interest on this European's part, I can tell you. Attractive, slim, intelligent, single women are scarce in the UK.

Maybe they don't have a problem with ugly fat stupid or married women in the USA?

I guess being slightly plump is the least of these turn-offs.

Perhaps that explains the high obesity rates in the USA?

Yes, I'd certainly welcome a decrease in population density. I might then be able to afford to buy a house here!

Yes, I do; I would even say that this rate is very low.

Best regards Piotr Wyderski

Richard Owlett wrote: [snip]

I had a corresponding experience in my first job (some 35 years ago). Newly qualified, I was asked to design a simple Colpitts oscillator: 1 transistor, around 2MHz. I fished out my slide-rule, & prepared for a heavy afternoon's maths. My mentor stepped in, & said (in effect) "I know that's how they teach you in Uni, but it's not how we do it in the real world". His design logic went:

1. Supply voltage = 9V (that's what we've got available)
2. Transistor = BC109 (the stores are knee-deep in them)
3. Ic = 5mA (known by experience to work well)
4. Bias chain current = Ic/10 (ditto)
5. Vb = Vcc/3 (ditto) Now solve out the resistors, & give me a parts list.

He signed the list, I took it to the stores & got the bits, & 20 minutes later, the oscillator was running.

Theory vs Practice.

"Theory: when you understand all about it, but can't make it work." "Practice: when it works, but no-one knows why."

- Seen in a German office, 1974 (translation mine)

Actually, whilst German cuisine doesn't really make the headlines they certainly do know how to start the day off !

The temptation is just too much.

Only other place I've seen the likes was in China btw. Again, an absolute feast. This one in fact...

Graham

Unfortunately that attitude includes that of the USA :-(

...Jim Thompson