You might like to read this. It's easy to look back, but perhaps 100x more difficult to make decisions at the time. Are you sure of what you say? How do you know? NO ONE knew when/if the Japanese would surrender!
Try $400 Million for Spirit Rover. You're quoting the cost of 2 Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Opporunitty is to land the 24th on the other side of Mars. Don't worry, there are 3 ramps Spirit can go down. Only one is blocked, and perhaps only temporarily. THINK POSITIVELY. I read that positive thinking people outlive others, if you're interested in being around a while to see the fruits of Mars exploration.
January is far too late as Beagle's batteries last only a day or so. If nothing's heard by boxing day, it's all over except for (non-beagle) data from the Mars express orbiter. The remarkable success of the NASA Vikings in '76 looks better and better as time goes by.
Good idea. However, that contradicts the color of the first panel to come loose. Panels of the upper surface of the shuttle are white while those on the lower surface are black. Visuals indicate the first panel to seperate off the left side was WHITE, which seems to rule our the tire being a culprit???
You're right on! I was at the JPL-NASA-Smithsonian event this spring with O'Keefe, congressmen, Press, past JPL Directors, etc. which very effectively documented JPL achevements in the past, current research and future missions. I doubt that other NASA Center (with Government restrictions) could accomplish such effective PR. It is outstanding what JPL has achieved for the U.S. public, but as you indicate the public is often confused by who actually does the work and research at NASA as often mission telemetry, video and data on space missions are fed back using the excellent JPL downlink facilities so JPL is often given credit for project actually run by other NASA Centers. For example, how many know that the first successful Mars Landings in 1976 (Bicentenial) were the NASA Langley managed Viking Project? There are actually some that think the '97 Mars Pathfinder & Rover was our first Mars landing. To review NASA accomplishments, I like Apollo and Solar.
You are correct and it is something not widely known! Actually as I understand it, NASA HQ issues one big contract to Caltech to run JPL for NASA. There are very few NASA government employees at JPL but mostly Caltech employees whose paycheck is issued by Caltech, not NASA. This becomes even more complicated when JPL turns around and issues a subcontract to a 3rd party (i.e. Lockheed) for missions such as Mars Polar Lander etc. as Lockeed reports to Caltech (JPL) which in turn reports to NASA (NASA HQ plus a few bonefide NASA employees on-site to manage the JPL contract). My son, who graduated from Caltech suggested that missions run strictly by Caltech for NASA had a high success rate, but those subcontracted out by JPL to a third parties (i.e. Lockheed) often ran into management communications problems which the NASA inquiry pointed to in the two Mars failures. Hope this clarifies that JPL is not "strictly" NASA. Legally, since JPL (Caltech) is not a government entity but a contractor (just like Boeing or Lockheed) it owns all copyrights and inventions unless it's NASA HQ contract retains such rights for NASA. This is most likely as otherwise this slashdot story from the JPL (Caltech) Press Release would not have been issued in the first place.
I agree, computer benchmarks, whether MIPS, BogoMips, MFLOPS, Dhrystones or whatever can be very misleading and outright wrong, especially for "real life" scientific or engineering applications.
For example, LINPAK can solve a sparse matrix (say 95% of the matrix is populated with zeros) at a very high MFLOP rate:), but since LINPAK spends most of its time on needless zero mutiplies, the actual LINPAK solution time is likely to be hundreds or thousands of times longer than a faster sparse solver (that avoids needless storage or multiplies by zeros). Such sparse matrices occur in nearly all structural analyses of buildings, aircraft, automobiles, etc. as well as many electromagnetic applications. Thus, the ultimate "true" benchmark (in this case) is the actual time to solve the sparse matrix, despite excellent LINPAK MFLOPS (most of which are unnecessary zero multiplies).
Benchmarks, especially those involving MIPS or MFLOPS, are almost useless in such practical scientific and engineering applications.
I appreciated you comments. As far as my "bias" (or should it be called experience), besides super/hypercomputers, I use a Red Hat Linux PC (dual 1GHz processors), and 2 Wndows PCs at the Office and a Linux/Windows Laptop and 3 OS/X Macs (2 G3s plus a recently-purchased G4) at Home. All are connected via at least 2.5 Million bits/sec cable. My Applications include Scientific Computing (see free OS/X C, FORTRAN), plus Photoshop, Office (I've also used Star Office), Web access, email etc. My O/S
preference: OS/X first, then Linux and lastly Windows. As far as Hardware: G4, G3 then my dual 1GHz Pentiums.
One item I'd like to add is that there are many Mac "hobbyists out there that like to tinker and experiment with their systems, and an array of web sites supporting them. I put myself in that category, as in addition to knowing I have reliable Mac system that'll last 3 years or more, I also like to keep them up-to-date without buying a new system. My G3s occurred by purchasing and installing (1 minute) G3 upgrades to surplus 8600 systems I bought for $150 long ago. The upgrade was $200 and I overclocked it to 333 MHz. and if had 1MB cache so the slower disk and bus speeds were hidden. Photoshop on my G3s and G4 runs better than on any of my PCs, and exploiting ALTIVEC for scientific floating point calculations, as per NASA Engineer, Craig Hunter can reach 681 MFLOPS
My 1.6GB G4 cost $700 (eBay helped). I plan to update my Linux/Windows laptop next week to a G4 Powerbook for many of the same reasons you cite. Thus, although I don't consider myself a "guru", I feel confident that anyone with a Mac and the plethora of web info can experiment and "tinker" to upgrade CPUs, CDRW, video, SDRAM, and even run OS/X on 8600s upgraded to G3s, just as I have done.
Thus, even in the 5%, there's a large community of MAC "tinkerers" who can probably hold their own (and find much in common) with their PC comrades who like to "mess with their system" and not just fix power supplies.
Sorry, somehow the above link didn't cut and paste correctly. Try to see the Smithsonian exhibit when it's near you. Firsts are often disputed, but I think if you do enough research, you'll find: First electronic computer (Atanasoff) despite ENIAC First Laser (Gould) despite Townes Nobel Prize First Settlement in America (Vikings) despite Columbus, Chinese. However the "skrallings" were already established in North America
Anyone who has had the opportunity to examine the actual artifacts first-hand in the travelling Smithsonian exhibit (now in LA): http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/ will have no doubt that the Vikings came to America and settled on the northern tip of Newfoundland nearly 500 years in advance of any Chinese or Italian seafarers. Of course no one can claim to have "discovered" America as it was already inhabited by what the Vikings referred to as skrallings, who killed some of the Vikings and is the likely reason that they retreated to Greenland after a year or so of living in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. For more see: http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/parks/newfoundl and/an se_meadows/english/history_e.htm
I suggest you try NPR and Canadian TV on CSPAN-2. Both are quite factual, in-depth and not ratings driven.
Wednesday's CBC coverage and yesterday's Canadian
noontime prayer service was very moving. Canada is familiar with and is tracking such terrorists and is clamping down on their infiltration into our hemisphere.
Please explain the concept of Islamic Gihad?
Whoever believes in such a concept is the root of today's tragedy and needs to be retrained or perhaps removed from the face of the earth. If Gihad is found in the Koran (I believe NOT), then the KORAN should be changed so the rest of the world can live in peace. Unfortunately many Palistinians believe in and flaunt Islamic Gihad. The world knows it and has absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who espouses such a concept, or even worse, brings up their children to believe in such a concept.
Of course Bin Laden and Sadam stand out with their objective in life to kill Americans and introduce terrorism and chaos into our world. Arafat has had a wonderful opportunity to bring about peace but evidently is NOT much of a leader as he can't control his countrymen against suicide attacks and Palistinians today rejoicing over the U.S. deaths in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. The faces of the Palistinians rejoicing in the streets today will be remembered around the world. Hopefully their photos will be taken and entered in FACEIT (face recognition) software so they forever loose the privilige of riding on an airplane, at least any airplane I ride on.
Where have you been? Out of touch?
Why not take a look at CNN documented
reports by known officials before writing such
things, or perhaps you wrote this before the latest reports?
I agree! The world waits for Sadam, Arafat, bin Laden or others possibly responsible or even harboring, sympathizing with or contibuting to their causes to be uprooted, cross examined and eliminated if responsible for these atrocities. The world cannot put up with such cowards. They're time is over. Think about it if you have sympathy for such "people". The Palistinians cheering in the streets should be ashamed of themselves. The entire "civilized" world has no sympathy for such behavior..
Yes! I'm recommending people become informed by taking a look at DSLREPORTS which contains user feedback/ratings etc. on DSL and Cable providers. . There are many confused people out there dealing with "supposed" DSL providers that could benefit from the experiences documented by others on DSLREPORTS just as we did. Hope you're not against people educating themselves? (I see you're from RPI which is a respected educational institution!)
Slashdot Mirror
Hitchens discloses many of the Movie's errors quite effectively.
You may find more truth here.
According to the Smithsonian, U.S. Patent Office, U.S. Courts and many others, the honor goes to John Victor Atanasoff
You might like to read this. It's easy to look back, but perhaps 100x more difficult to make decisions at the time. Are you sure of what you say? How do you know?
NO ONE knew when/if the Japanese would surrender!
Try $400 Million for Spirit Rover. You're quoting the cost of 2 Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Opporunitty is to land the 24th on the other side of Mars. Don't worry, there are 3 ramps Spirit can go down. Only one is blocked, and perhaps only temporarily.
THINK POSITIVELY. I read that positive thinking people outlive others, if you're interested in being around a while to see the fruits of Mars exploration.
Dan Goldin is who you're thinking of.
As I recently heard, plans are to orbit Mars and return to earth, NOT Land. Certainly LESS complicated and requiring CONSIDERABLY LESS funds.
"First" photos have arrived from Mars! Much faster that those I saw from Viking in '76
January is far too late as Beagle's batteries last only a day or so.
If nothing's heard by boxing day, it's all over except for
(non-beagle) data from the Mars express orbiter.
The remarkable success of the NASA Vikings in '76
looks better and better as time goes by.
Good idea. However, that contradicts the color of the first panel to come loose. Panels of the upper surface of the shuttle are white while those on the lower surface are black. Visuals indicate the first panel to seperate off the left side was WHITE, which seems to rule our the tire being a culprit???
You're right on! I was at the JPL-NASA-Smithsonian event this spring with O'Keefe, congressmen, Press, past JPL Directors, etc. which very effectively documented JPL achevements in the past, current research and future missions. I doubt that other NASA Center (with Government restrictions) could accomplish such effective PR. It is outstanding what JPL has achieved for the U.S. public, but as you indicate the public is often confused by who actually does the work and research at NASA as often mission telemetry, video and data on space missions are fed back using the excellent JPL downlink facilities so JPL is often given credit for project actually run by other NASA Centers. For example, how many know that the first successful Mars Landings in 1976 (Bicentenial) were the NASA Langley managed Viking Project? There are actually some that think the '97 Mars Pathfinder & Rover was our first Mars landing.
To review NASA accomplishments, I like Apollo and Solar.
You are correct and it is something not widely known! Actually as I understand it, NASA HQ issues one big contract to Caltech to run JPL for NASA. There are very few NASA government employees at JPL but mostly Caltech employees whose paycheck is issued by Caltech, not NASA. This becomes even more complicated when JPL turns around and issues a subcontract to a 3rd party (i.e. Lockheed) for missions such as Mars Polar Lander etc. as Lockeed reports to Caltech (JPL) which in turn reports to NASA (NASA HQ plus a few bonefide NASA employees on-site to manage the JPL contract). My son, who graduated from Caltech suggested that missions run strictly by Caltech for NASA had a high success rate, but those subcontracted out by JPL to a third parties (i.e. Lockheed) often ran into management communications problems which the NASA inquiry pointed to in the two Mars failures. Hope this clarifies that JPL is not "strictly" NASA. Legally, since JPL (Caltech) is not a government entity but a contractor (just like Boeing or Lockheed) it owns all copyrights and inventions unless it's NASA HQ contract retains such rights for NASA. This is most likely as otherwise this slashdot story from the JPL (Caltech) Press Release would not have been issued in the first place.
Click Working Calender for Powerpoint slides. See also
Some Caltech CS courses
are already on-line including CS294,
by Professor DeHon, formerly of MIT & Berkeley.
For example, LINPAK can solve a sparse matrix (say 95% of the matrix is populated with zeros) at a very high MFLOP rate :), but since LINPAK spends most of its time on needless zero mutiplies, the actual LINPAK solution time is likely to be hundreds or thousands of times longer than a faster sparse solver (that avoids needless storage or multiplies by zeros). Such sparse matrices occur in nearly all structural analyses of buildings, aircraft, automobiles, etc. as well as many electromagnetic applications. Thus, the ultimate "true" benchmark (in this case) is the actual time to solve the sparse matrix, despite excellent LINPAK MFLOPS (most of which are unnecessary zero multiplies).
Benchmarks, especially those involving MIPS or MFLOPS, are almost useless in such practical scientific and engineering applications.
One item I'd like to add is that there are many Mac "hobbyists out there that like to tinker and experiment with their systems, and an array of web sites supporting them. I put myself in that category, as in addition to knowing I have reliable Mac system that'll last 3 years or more, I also like to keep them up-to-date without buying a new system. My G3s occurred by purchasing and installing (1 minute) G3 upgrades to surplus 8600 systems I bought for $150 long ago. The upgrade was $200 and I overclocked it to 333 MHz. and if had 1MB cache so the slower disk and bus speeds were hidden. Photoshop on my G3s and G4 runs better than on any of my PCs, and exploiting ALTIVEC for scientific floating point calculations, as per NASA Engineer, Craig Hunter can reach 681 MFLOPS
My 1.6GB G4 cost $700 (eBay helped). I plan to update my Linux/Windows laptop next week to a G4 Powerbook for many of the same reasons you cite. Thus, although I don't consider myself a "guru", I feel confident that anyone with a Mac and the plethora of web info can experiment and "tinker" to upgrade CPUs, CDRW, video, SDRAM, and even run OS/X on 8600s upgraded to G3s, just as I have done.
Thus, even in the 5%, there's a large community of MAC "tinkerers" who can probably hold their own (and find much in common) with their PC comrades who like to "mess with their system" and not just fix power supplies.
Viking Link
Sorry, somehow the above link didn't cut and paste correctly.
Try to see the Smithsonian exhibit when it's near you. Firsts are often disputed, but I think if you do enough research, you'll find:
First electronic computer (Atanasoff) despite ENIAC
First Laser (Gould) despite Townes Nobel Prize
First Settlement in America (Vikings) despite Columbus, Chinese. However the "skrallings" were already established in North America
Anyone who has had the opportunity to examine the actual artifacts first-hand in the travelling Smithsonian exhibit (now in LA):l and/an se_meadows/english/history_e.htm
http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/
will have no doubt that the Vikings came to America and settled on the northern tip of Newfoundland nearly 500 years in advance of any Chinese or Italian seafarers. Of course no one can claim to have "discovered" America as it was already inhabited by what the Vikings referred to as skrallings, who killed some of the Vikings and is the likely reason that they retreated to Greenland after a year or so of living in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. For more see:
http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/parks/newfound
You may be interested in today's Dagbladet Story:
9 1. html
G
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2002/01/10/3054
Helps in translating words & phrases are at:
http://www.freedict.com/onldict/nor.html
http://dictionaries.travlang.com/
http://home.online.no/~otjoerge/files/word.htm#
I suggest you try NPR and Canadian TV on CSPAN-2. Both are quite factual, in-depth and not ratings driven.
Wednesday's CBC coverage and yesterday's Canadian
noontime prayer service was very moving. Canada is familiar with and is tracking such terrorists and is clamping down on their infiltration into our hemisphere.
Please explain the concept of Islamic Gihad?
Whoever believes in such a concept is the root of today's tragedy and needs to be retrained or perhaps removed from the face of the earth. If Gihad is found in the Koran (I believe NOT), then the KORAN should be changed so the rest of the world can live in peace. Unfortunately many Palistinians believe in and flaunt Islamic Gihad. The world knows it and has absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who espouses such a concept, or even worse, brings up their children to believe in such a concept.
Of course Bin Laden and Sadam stand out with their objective in life to kill Americans and introduce terrorism and chaos into our world. Arafat has had a wonderful opportunity to bring about peace but evidently is NOT much of a leader as he can't control his countrymen against suicide attacks and Palistinians today rejoicing over the U.S. deaths in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. The faces of the Palistinians rejoicing in the streets today will be remembered around the world. Hopefully their photos will be taken and entered in FACEIT (face recognition) software so they forever loose the privilige of riding on an airplane, at least any airplane I ride on.
Where have you been? Out of touch?
Why not take a look at CNN documented
reports by known officials before writing such
things, or perhaps you wrote this before the latest reports?
I agree! The world waits for Sadam, Arafat, bin Laden or others possibly responsible or even harboring, sympathizing with or contibuting to their causes to be uprooted, cross examined and eliminated if responsible for these atrocities. The world cannot put up with such cowards. They're time is over. Think about it if you have sympathy for such "people". The Palistinians cheering in the streets should be ashamed of themselves. The entire "civilized" world has no sympathy for such behavior..
Yes! I'm recommending people become informed by taking a look at DSLREPORTS which contains user feedback/ratings etc. on DSL and Cable providers. . There are many confused people out there dealing with "supposed" DSL providers that could benefit from the experiences documented by others on DSLREPORTS just as we did. Hope you're not against people educating themselves? (I see you're from RPI which is a respected educational institution!)