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Re:I was going to ask... by Chris+Burke · 2008-01-17 04:56 · Score: 1 · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

Still, if even one photon in a hundred escapes, it can't be too black, now can it?

99.9% would be 1 in 1000.

referenced by a different post says that the substance has a total reflective index of 0.045 per cent, which would be 4.5 photons in 10000.

That's pretty black. Maybe not "hole in space" black, but probably a reasonable facsimile.

Re:I was going to ask... by Surt · 2008-01-17 04:56 · Score: 1 · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23060778-13762,00.html

Here is one, honestly. by geekoid · 2008-01-17 04:06 · Score: 1 · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23060778-13762,00.html

So what happens to the standard? by geekoid · 2008-01-17 04:01 · Score: 1 · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

Or more precisly: what happens to items previously measured against the standard? to they get re-evaluated? does that standard not change and this material is given a negative number to reference?

oh, and a nice picture:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23060778-13762,00.html

Re:I was going to ask... by localman · 2008-01-17 00:07 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

Actually, here's a good photo of it, comparing it to the previously most black substance. It's neat: I can already imagine them using this someday in camera optics and such.

Cheers.

Re:Oh wow - an darker shade of black... by Johnno74 · 2008-01-16 22:15 · Score: 5, Informative · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

This story has a photo (seriously)

Pretty cool stuff. The sample on the left is carbon black, which is reasonably black, but the surface still texture stands out clearly with the flash. The sample of the new material looks like a black hole - which I guess it almost is. Except for the suckage.

Another article with a pic of the substance by Spittles · 2008-01-16 21:15 · Score: 4, Informative · on Nanotubes Form The Darkest Material Yet Created

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23060778-13762,00.html not to be confused with: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134847/

how many other "systems" like this? by yagu · 2008-01-11 07:39 · Score: 5, Insightful · on 14-Year-Old Turns Tram System Into Personal Train Set

I know some kids who are extremely bright, curious, and for lack of a better description, "like to experiment". Any one of these I think could have done the same thing, and with completely innocent (though mischievous) intent. For playing with such big toys in such a fashion there should be repercussions. But the kids I know who also could have done something like this would be much more on track with thinking about how they're moving switches than about what moving those switches implies.

However, I'm led to a different train of thought. What other systems are out there created in the same context, i.e., with little thought to external interference? I'm betting there are a "few". I wonder that in the process of designing something like this if we must pay more attention to the possibility of outsiders tinkering. I hope France's TGV has a bit more built in checks and balances than this. I hope the new Boeing 787 has more security built in than this.

I actually think (and hope) this kid's imagination and curiosity somehow gets channeled rather than squashed. He actually sounds like he could be a contributor. Of course, he's at least grounded for the next month.

Oh wait. Where have I heard this one before? by Qem · 2007-12-31 19:22 · Score: 1 · on Australian Government To Mandate Internet Filters

Schools already have compulsory filters. The filters are crap. Not just - a 16 year old took 30 mins to completely break it crap... [ http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22304224-2,00.html ] But, even if you don't touch it and leave it to work as it is supposed to, crap. I've witnessed the filters let pop ups for gambling through, but the Australian, department of education, was blocked. Nice. Most of the teachers I know hate the filter with a passion, will probably hate the new one, can't check their own email, but have to stop kids from trolling wikipedia and are frustrated with having increasing expectations, but no funding to actually maintain the computers their supposed to teach and no training to learn all the fiddly things kids come up with and how to deal with it. I do think that this is supposed to stay within schools and am less worried about political restrictions, great wall of china, et all but I think it's more of the same old same old out to get the news lines but ultimately just plain crap ways the government in Australia has towards computing in general. Even if it is a "new" government.

Re:A real life bad example by Freaky+Spook · 2007-12-28 00:40 · Score: 1 · on Japanese Government to Regulate Online Communication

The reporter who wrote the article was actually Annalise Walliker about a dance party. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22903261-2862,00.html

Which included great "quotes" such as this gem
Ralph Wiggum reported slabs of Smirnoff spirit-based drinks were selling for $240, and cans of spirits for $10.

Which I find kind of Ironic when in university she conducted a survey about a problem with the community and journalistic credibility http://fifth.estate.rmit.edu.au/a-credibility-crisis.php

Re:Oh, and proof of this. by blind+monkey+3 · 2007-12-27 01:18 · Score: 2, Informative · on Australia Scraps National ID Plan

You obviously don't read very well, I pointed out that ALTHOUGH HIGH SCHOOL MIGHT BE STATE RESPONSIBILITY, HIGHER EDUCATION IS FEDERAL. Every report has shown that spending is down on this as well as other areas, you want to go around turning a blind eye to things, looking at your obviously precious Liberal party through your rose coloured glasses. Spending has not increased in comparison to the rest of the developed countries, this is another story, there are plenty but you obviously are only interested in seeing things that agree with you. Health is the same, just google it and read a bit, it might be enlightening for you. Oh government debt was around for a lot longer than Labor was in power, we had debt in the sixties, it actually started taking off in Fraser's era (Howard was Treasurer). I still maintain both are only interested in one thing - their own little club. You think Howard was great, good luck to you, our infrastructure is falling apart, there is no plan for the future of our country (apart for THE FUTURE FUND!! YIPPEEE), water resource management (gets a good run every election - remember last election when they were going to fix the Murray?), rail always gets a mention as well, all forgotten within a few months. These things are obviously not important to you because like your reading, your vision is selfish and self serving, blind to anything else.

By the way, why don't you check your facts before making rash statements about the National debt? We owe more than when Labor was in power The Age, Howard has shifted the debt to the public (by not providing what was previously provided) and people as ignorant as you believe they have fixed the debt problem, so long as we keep running a balance of trade deficit, we are heading for troubled times. Neither party has an answer for this.

Re:Good riddance. by Jarik_Tentsu · 2007-12-26 23:13 · Score: 1 · on Australia Scraps National ID Plan

Probably scrapped so Rudd can enjoy his late night outs anonymously.

~Jarik

Re:They are the Boogeymen! by Anonymous Coward · 2007-12-11 14:26 · Score: 0 · on Iran Builds Supercomputer From Banned AMD Parts

don't forget, israel has modesty police and gender segregated buses. it also registers people according to their religion on travel documents etc. and only religious marriages are permitted, well, only one religion actually.

The Chinese are behind it by Yahma · 2007-12-07 13:35 · Score: 1 · on US Military 'Hacked' by Emails

According to ABC News and several other news outlets, authorities have tracked the hacker attacks back to China.

This is not too surprising, since several recent high profile hacker attacks have originated from china targeting various countries around the world. It's nothing new that China is continuing to hack into our top secret and sensitive installations.

In the coming days, you can expect China to adamantly deny any involvment, just as they have when earlier this year the German, UK, Australian and US governments have accused them of hacking into top secret installations.

"Affect the entire society" by DesScorp · 2007-12-06 08:55 · Score: 4, Insightful · on YouTube Breeding Harmful Scientific Misinformation

Most things humans do effect the entire society. By that rationalization, you could justify pretty much any government control over our lives.

People getting fat? Health care costs go up. Ban pizza. Mandate vegetable consumption.

Auto accidents? Ban private cars. Mandate public transportation use.

I've got two children, and I've had them both vaccinated. But lets not pretend that there are no dangers with vaccines. Our doctors were, to their credit, very upfront with us about that. You're essentially taking a chance, playing the numbers when you take a vaccine, as a percentage of people will always have adverse reactions. Those numbers of adverse reactions are statistically low, and your chances are pretty good, but I do have a friend whose daughter lost the use of her legs from a vaccination. It does happen. And as for the HPV vaccine, you can't call all those parents nutjobs when Gardisil has had some unexpected side-effects. And should a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease be mandatory anyway?

Non-vaccinated people are a danger to no one but themselves. If everyone else is vaccinated, they're safe. And far from under-vaccinating, the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that we may be over-vaccinating . Increasing disease resistance to drugs and immunizations is a far greater threat to the populace than any parent withholding a vaccine.

Re:just a drop in the bucket by NewsWatcher · 2007-11-29 11:29 · Score: 1 · on FBI's Bot Roast II Sees Great Success

According to journalist Xavier La Canna the group being investigated caused a DDoS attack at a Philadelphia university in February 2006 in which computer access was denied to about 4000 university students and staff.

Sometimes the inconvenience is more than just the monetary loss.

Imagine you were a uni student awaiting your examination results, or a researcher who couldn't get vital information to perform an experiment.

Re:Imminent destruction! by Von+Helmet · 2007-11-26 08:40 · Score: 2, Funny · on Everyday Copyright Violations

Never mind the Zune guy, how about the chap who spent a year getting Albus "Homo" Dumbledore tattooed on his back.

Australian Santa's told to trade 'ho ho ho'... by Techman83 · 2007-11-18 13:02 · Score: 1 · on Sesame Street DVD Deemed Adult-Only Entertainment

For 'ha ha ha' because fears the term Ho derogatory for woman and also may scare some children... WTF???

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22737250-5006301,00.html

Everything about Santa is about a Jolly 'Ho Ho Ho' and gifts for the children. Yes some children get scared, but it is by no help moly coddling them, help them with that fear (maybe don't throw them at santa, show them there is no reason to be scared). Otherwise yes we will grow up with a society of 'pussies' to scared to face anything.

Fear is natural, consuming fear is not.

Oh and fears of offending women? Fuck off, it's all about context. If your wearing fish nets, short skirt, high heels and standing on a corner along Greeve's St. Fitzroy (known prostitution area in melbourne) maybe you deserve to called a Ho, but I highly doubt a mother, that's grown up with the spirit of christmas taking their child to visit a jolly santa is going to be offended.