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The purchasing cycle of the US Military is a scandal for how slow it procures anything now days. From 1950 to 1975, it was very innovative and a lot quicker. This ceased after the procurement scandals of the 1980s. Each computer, both commercially and in the military, had its own operating system and computer language. The Air Force was an early adopter of machine portable code. For example, when I was in the US Air Force, 1972–1976, we had one of the earliest machine portable language compilers called JOVIAL, Jules’ Own Version of Algol. The statement terminator was the dollar sign. (Perhaps there was a hidden meaning there.)Jovial was first implemented on SAGE (Officially “Semi Automatic Ground Environment,” aka Soviet Aircraft Guaranteed Entry), a vacuum tube dedicated air defense management computer designed in the 1950’s and built in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. For SAGE, a single machine instruction took 6 milliseconds. The computer filled the whole floor of a large building. The same language compiler was later ported to a third generation computer with real, honest to God integrated circuits, a Honeywell WWMCS (World Wide Command and Control) computer. I worked on both. The port was so perfect that the compiler had the same bugs on the 3rd generation machine that it had on the SAGE first generation vacuum tube machine. I checked it just for fun.If the application requires a lot of tinkering, it’s sometimes developed in two phases. The Patriot missile system software was prototyped in an interpreted language called APL. APL isn’t compiled. You run the source and the computer interprets it line by line as it runs. This allowed programmers to make changes quickly, because you can stop the program when it breaks, fix a line and restart it from where it broke immediately. It also uses matrix array notation directly in the language, so it codes up quickly, especially for heavily mathematical applications, like tracking and intercepting missiles. However, it did not meet military specification as an implementation language. So once the software was fully developed in APL it was translated into a language the DOD found acceptable for a production system. I have heard that the Israelis continued development work on code for their Patriot systems in APL.As I understand it, military computers today start with commercial operating systems in most cases, like Windows, UNIX or Linux. Then there is a heavy overlay of security, followed by the mission specific military applications. Most business and manufacturing computers start the same way. The difference its that the military tends to over specify what it wants, buy the bleeding edge of technology, and then makes few changes or improvements because 90% of the money was spent on the last 10 % of capability.Let me give you an example of how counterproductive this is in practice. The famous $600 toilet seats, of 50 to 60 years ago, were hard to catch because the Air Force was using obsolescent line printers with 80 to 100 character wide fixed widths. Because the paper was so narrow, most reports on inventory did not have room for a description and a price on the same page. There were almost no computer screens back then in the military, just printing terminals and key punches.The cost of filling out paperwork for buying anything new means most computer equipment is old. Computers the federal government are allowed to buy, and the negotiated prices that are to be paid for them, are published in a Federal catalog. If the model you want isn’t on the list, you can’t buy it even if it’s cheaper and works twice as fast.

No. Never.The Boeing 747 was the outcome of a real demand placed by the then forceful head, Juan Trippe, of a real airline, Pan-Am. He wanted a high-capacity double- decker but was convinced by Boeing to accept a wide-body twin-aisle product instead.As soon as it was launched, it set off a wave of “me, too!” among the airlines. (Not the “#metoo” kind!) You had to have 747s in your fleet to be counted.Once it entered service, there was nothing till 2007 to challenge it (the DC-10, L-1011, and MD-11 all fell by the wayside).The Airbus A380 was the brainchild of Airbus execs who foresaw a need for a super-high-capacity aircraft to go in and out of slot-constrained airports, like the ones in India and China.Maybe there was some hubris involved, too.Sales were disappointing, and the line was facing closure until Emirates placed an order for 36 more on January 18 this year.The new Boeing 747, too has got a new lease of life from a recent Fedex order.Airbus says China is aware that it is open to industrial co-operation on the A380, but faces a challenge to persuade the country’s airlines to buy the superjumbo.“We need to convince the airlines that they can increase their market share and increase tremendously their image by buying the A380 and operating them from big Chinese hubs,” says Airbus commercial aircraft president Fabrice Brégier.“The Chinese market will be the biggest in the world and I believe the biggest market deserves the biggest aircraft.”Brégier describes as “premature” reports that Airbus has offered China an opportunity to participate on the programme, but stresses the manufacturer’s strong relationship with Beijing, “so they know that we’re open to an industrial co-operation, for instance, on the A380, but the challenge is more commercial.”China Southern is the only Chinese operator of the A380, with five in its fleet.Despite its best efforts, Airbus is struggling to sell the A380 to sceptical customers. And while Singapore Airlines’ new cabin is spectacular, that on its own will not convince the market.Although Airbus chief Tom Enders may call the updated cabin “breathtaking”, SIA cannot make a compelling business case for more of the type, even when its crowded Changi hub is factored in.Malaysia Airlines appears committed to removing its fleet of six A380s from regular service and converting them to enable high-density pilgrimage flights. And while Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce made headlines with his “I’d have to be drunk to order more” quip, far more damaging was his assertion that the double-decker, powered by older-generation engines, is far less efficient than the latest wide-body twins.Most airlines are unconvinced they can regularly fill a high percentage of an A380’s 400-odd seats, while the new management at Airbus may not see a long-term future in an aircraft that is slipping back into unprofitability.China and India will decide the fate of the A380.If they don’t take it, it will be curtains.

If you're hiring a software developer in C, C++, or any other language, an understanding of the complete tech stack is incredibly important. After all, most software development is done using a variety of outside resources in addition to pure code.C and C++ are no exception to this. According to How to screen C and C++ developer programming skills to find the best – guide for IT recruitment, you'll find less universally used libraries with C than with other higher level languages but there are still plenty of specialized ones for C++, there's an even larger stack of libraries the developer can choose from.C Libraries:The C Standard LibraryThe library described by the C standard document, shipping with each compilerOther, less universally used, but still popular libraries:GTKA library for creating graphical user interfacesCairoA 2d graphics libraryALSAA library to interface with Advanced Linux Sound ArchitectureBLASBasic Linear Algebra Subprograms. This library is used for efficient vector and matrix operationsGMPGNU Multi Precision. A library providing for arithmetic operations on arbitrary-precision numberscURLThe multiprotocol file transfer library. Most commonly used for HTTP communicationsOpenSSLA commercial-grade and wildly popular library used for cryptography supportC++ LibrariesThe C++ Standard LibraryThe library described by the C++ standard document, shipping with each compilerBoostOne of the most popular libraries for C++, a set of several dozen disconnected libraries that can be freely used in C++ programsQtThe go-to GUI framework for C++STLA controversial acronym, which usually means C++ Standard Library, but is understood as Standard Template Library, as if the non-template parts weren’t a part of itOther, less universally used, but still popular libraries:EigenC++ template library for linear algebra (matrices, vectors, numerical solvers and related algorithms)GSLGuidelines Support library implementation, recommended by Bjarne Stroustrup, Herb Sutter, and Co. in C++ Core GuidelinesLokidesign patternsFollyA set of C++11 components extending the standard library. Designed with efficiency and practicality in mind. Developed by FacebookAbseilA collection of C++ libraries extending the standard library. Created by GooglePOCOA set of libraries supporting HTTP, networking, encryption and zip file supportWxWidgetsA library allowing the creation of system-independent GUI applicationsOpenCVA computer vision library, designed for computational efficiency with a focus on real-time applicationsOpenMPLess of a library, and more of a specification for compilers how to extend C++ to allow simple and well-designed parallelismIntelTBBA template library for task parallelism. Designed by IntelLibraries a C or C++ developer should knowThe libraries that are essential to know depend on the type of position that you're trying to fill. C developers need to know the Standard Library. Beyond that, is important to check if the developer knows libraries that match the development work they do and the type of position. For instance, if someone works in operating systems needs to know GTK. If they are cryptography developer, they need to know OpenSSL.There are a few more common libraries in C++. A developer should probably know the standard Library, Boost, Qt, and STL. Beyond that, they should know libraries which help them achieve their goal.Where to find more informationUnderstanding the technical requirements of the role and then picking the right libraries will go a long way in figuring out whether you're C or C++ developer has the right skills for the job. How to screen C and C++ developer programming skills to find the best – guide for IT recruitment, provides a full explanation of everything you need to know to screen a C or C++ developer including information about the languages, their similarities and differences, a complete glossary, versions to look for, C & C plus plus interview questions, and information about technical screening.

I have raised both, and lots of other critters as well. Right off the bat I am going to recommend “Story’s Guide to Raising ___.” They have a whole series of very good books on raising everything from cows to rabbits to geese. This is a really tricky question. The simplest answer is, it depends entirely on your resources, how you plan on managing them, what breeds you are interested in, where you live, and how many you plan on managing.If you want really solid feed per pound at finish weight values, expected capital costs per bird, etc, for chickens I suggest you look into commercial operations—most State University Extension Offices publish agricultural data online. However, for small and mid-sized non-commercial farms, that data is not terribly helpful. Data on ducks is going to be harder to find. Than again, none of that data really applies to you—you are not a commercial farm, and you should not act like one. In other words, your biggest concerns are not the minimum space per bird, fecundity, and maturation rates. Your biggest concerns are, which type of animal is my site best suited to sustaining? Are there any resources I can take advantage of if I go with one or the other? What quality of meat am I interested in producing? How much work can I devote to the upkeep of my animals? None of those questions apply to commercial operations, but they will make a world of difference for you. The biggest deciding factor is going to be water. You should not raise large numbers of waterfowl if you do not have some type of pond. It does not have to be huge, but it cannot be the size of a swimming pool either. Ducks need enough water to swim around it. It is how they clean themselves and stay healthy. If you try to make do with a swimming pool, you will find yourself dumping out the feces saturated proverbial bathwater and refilling the pool on a far too frequent basis—only a real pond can handle the biological pressure of large numbers of waterfowl. What sort of climate do you live in? I live in North Carolina, and so long as the birds have water, they are fine. It would be different if I lived in North Dakota. Waterfowl tend to be more cold hardy than chickens (I am convinced Geese are completely impregnable to the cold—they are the bird version of Russians).  Do you plan on free ranging? Pasturing? Locking them in a box and feeding them Purina grain byproduct pellets under a florescent light? The method of management you most prefer, along with your setting, will make a huge different in what sort of animals do well. The more you resemble a commercial operation, the more you will benefit from rearing commercial breeds. The more natural your management, the more you will benefit from rearing heritage breeds. If you free range, chickens can take advantage of wooded areas better than ducks, but ducks forage quite well on pasture and in water-logged areas. If you have a lot of pasture, consider Geese—they are the only bird that turns straight grass and weeds into meat, and at minimal additional feed input.What predators are you going to have to worry about? Stray dogs will decimate any flock they can catch. Hawks will kill small and medium sized chickens and ducks. Snakes loooooove eggs and chicks (in NC we have six foot long rat snakes big enough to eat goose eggs!). Weasels are evil creatures that kill for pleasure and they have an affinity for chicken blood. It is easier to protect chickens, because you can simply lock them up in a coup, but waterfowl are more likely to be able to protect themselves—especially if you include some guard geese in your flock. Geese are far and away the best at protecting themselves (but, they are the slowest growing and least prolific, everything is a compromise). In your area, are there any resources you can take advantage of? I live in sweet potato country. Every year we fill up barrels with sweet potatoes gleaned from the fields and then supplement the birds’ diet with them. Is there something in your area like that? Is it something only chickens would like, or would it be best for ducks?Because of their diet and sanitation needs, waterfowl are harder to scale-up production-wise. It is not too hard to build another coup and raise more chickens, but it is hard to double your pond’s size or establish another pasture for your geese to graze. Thus, the number of animals you want to raise is going to make a difference. In smaller numbers, the waterfowl can be more self-sufficient, but they are less capable of doing that when overstocked. Can you take advantage of the fancy aspect of duck meat? Because they are better at feeding themselves (when not overstocked!) , organic waterfowl are easier than organic chickens. On the other hand, ducks and geese are not very good at production lots of yummy eggs, but many breeds of chicken are dual-purpose. Think long and hard about what you want from these animals, and research different breeds to see if any one in particular suites your wants and your circumstances. In sum, the cost per pound of meat can range from zero to several dollars per pound. If you have specifics, feel free to pm me. I will not be able to give you hard figures, but I can give you advice, and advice is always better that statistics.

In 2006, almost 43 million Americans had no health insurance, which translates into nearly 15 percent of the American population. This might be attributed to the fact that health care costs can be very expensive, and the cost of even the most basic care is steadily rising.Today, the amount Americans spend on health care is four times as much as the government spends on national defence. So it's no surprise that along with increased health care cost comes increased health insurance premiums. Employers typically bear the brunt of the expense for health insurance, but individuals are paying more and more each year as well. In 2006, employer insurance premiums increased 7.7 percent, twice the rate of inflationHow insurance works in US:-Group InsuranceThe majority of people under the age of 65 have medical insurance through their employers' group insurance. According to the National Coalition on Health care, in 2005, over 80 percent of employees were eligible for employer-group insurance and 83 percent of those who were offered, opted for these types of plans. This is usually because employers and other organizations can get better rates because they have a large number of people to cover. The insurance company sees it as good risk because they'll probably end up paying out very little for many people in the group, while collecting premiums from everyone. Normally, this translates into premiums that are much lower than those found in individual health insurance plans and are the same price for everyone in the group regardless.Individual Health InsuranceIndividual health insurance is the most expensive option for people who don't have coverage (or don't have enough coverage) through employers. Physical exams and questionnaires are usually a part of the application process, so poor health can really make a difference in the cost and eligibility. Types of insurance plans include fee-for-service plans, PPOS, HMOs and Catastrophic insuranceMany companies offer health insurance for individuals and specialize in short-term coverage to fill in between employer coverage.National Health insuranceThe federal Government also has health insurance programs for those who are eligible. Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older, those who are under age 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease (those with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a Kidney transplant). Medicare includes hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B) and prescription drug coverage (Part D).Medicaid is a state-administered health insurance program available to certain low-income individuals and families who fit into a recognized eligibility group. You must meet very specific requirements and considerations that include age, pregnancy, disability, blindness, income, resources, and U.S. citizenship or a lawfully admitted immigrant.These rules can vary from state to state.If a family earns too much to qualify for Medicaid, they may still qualify for State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP). Another state-administered program, SCHIP covers uninsured children under the age of 19 whose families earn up to $36,200 a year (for a family of four). For little or no cost, SCHIP pays for doctor visits, immunisations, hospitalisations and emergency room visits.Commercial insurance companies:Right from the start of the campaigning trump has attacked obamacare for its inefficiency.Health insurance soon became a vital aspect of the elections.People of US even potraited the clash as “Obama care Vs Trump care”lets look on to what trump has to say about this.“We’re going to have insurance for everybody.”-President Donald TrumpHe mainly emphasised on the point of universal coverage.As on date if we look at the top commercial insurance companies in terms of market Cap are:United Healthcare (UNH)$91.8 billionWellpoint (WLP)$34.3 billionAetna (AET)$29.8 billionCIGNA Corp. (CI)$26.8 billionHumana (HUM)$21.1 billionHumana is one of the largest and best-known health insurance companies in the United States. It offers health care services for individuals, business owners and military personnel.Best for Heads of families, senior citizens, employeesAetna has been providing health insurance to Connecticut residents since 1853, and today covers people in all 50 states. It is a pioneer in health care legislation and is responsible for making coverage of genetic testing and counseling an industry standard.Best for Heads of families, senior citizensUnited Health Care is the largest single health care carrier in the United States. It currently covers approximately 70 million Americans and contributes large amounts of money to medical research every year.Best for Senior citizens, heads of families, employeesCigna is a worldwide health insurance organization that covers individuals, families and employers. It has been in business for over 30 years.Best for StudentsAs of now it would not be possible to predict the result with accuracy because of the following reasons;1.Insurance business is regulated. No one knows what president will come up with2.The profits are low when compared to other businesses3.A recent survey has people have put the fact that employees are spending a growing share of their income on health insurance costs which means insurance costs are directly proportionate to income growthFinally to conclude with,it’s the point of universal coverage which is emphasised by the president so the insurers with the “most coverage expansion” is expected to grow and make more operating profits under the presidency of Mr.Donald Trump.

Going off the implications of the video, I’d say that in some ways Gender Studies is a joke, and in other ways it’s very much not a joke.Specifically, the video suggests that people with Gender Studies degrees inevitably wind up without jobs.That’s not necessarily true—while it is true that people with Gender Studies degrees tend to earn much less than people with, say, degrees in Computer Science, they’re not flipping burgers, either. (And next time someone tells you to learn a trade instead, remind them that their plumber earns about the same as someone with a degree in “underwater basket weaving.”)But a Gender Studies degree is about a lot more than that. It’s not just about how much you earn, it’s about how much social influence you’ll have. That Gender Studies degree is a pathway to working in a nonprofit, as a researcher, or some other job that has real social consequences far beyond earning a living.That’s a great thing, and it’s also a scary thing.I say it’s scary because a Gender Studies degree really won’t tell you that much about gender per se. You won’t get any biology. You won’t get any anthropology. No neuroscience. You won’t even likely hear a social science perspective that is nonfeminist in origin.That’s because a Gender Studies degree isn’t a degree in gender, it’s a degree in feminism.Without getting into a detailed critique of feminist theory and activism, let me just say that indoctrination is always a bad thing. Learning about other perspectives is always valuable; even if you don’t change your mind, you at least understand better why you believe what you believe.So, when you have a huge number of people, mostly going into research and public service, who have an insecure comprehension of their own topic, it creates a dangerous situation. People like that don’t tend to understand people who disagree with them—instead, they demonize those people. It’s harder for them to create good programs or do effective research.That causes problems for everyone, not just them.

I live in Germany. I got an invite to the Quora partner program the day I landed in USA for a business trip. So from what I understand, irrespective of the number of views on your answers, there is some additional eligibility criteria for you to even get an email invite.If you read the terms of service, point 1 states:Eligibility. You must be located in the United States to participate in this Program. If you are a Quora employee, you are eligible to participate and earn up to a maximum of $200 USD a month. You also agree to be bound by the Platform Terms (https://www.quora.com/about/tos) as a condition of participation.Again, if you check the FAQ section:How can other people I know .participate?The program is invite-only at this time, but we intend to open it up to more people as time goes on.So my guess is that Quora is currently targeting people based out of USA, who are active on Quora, may or may not be answering questions frequently ( I have not answered questions frequently in the past year or so) and have a certain number of consistent answer views.Edit 1: Thanks to @Anita Scotch, I got to know that the Quora partner program is now available for other countries too. Copying Anuta’s comment here:If you reside in one of the Countries, The Quora Partner Program is active in, you are eligible to participate in the program.” ( I read more will be added, at some point, but here are the countries, currently eligible at this writing,) U.S., Japan, Germany, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Australia.11/14/2018Edit 2 : Here is the latest list of countries with 3 new additions eligible for the Quora Partner program:U.S., Japan, Germany, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, India and Brazil.Thanks to Monoswita Rez for informing me about this update.