[leach is the proper spelling; leech is the organism.]
But yeah, lead is very dangerous, even in a compound like solder. With rain and acids (like the flux used in soldering, and other environmental sources), it is quite easy to see how the lead could dissociate and run off, contaminating the groudwater.
Using human minds as data storage makes about as much sense as using humans as energy generators in a big matrix...... except using humans as energy generators is a really good idea when you don't have much choices as how to produce energy. Humans do a remarkable job at converting complex fuels (e.g., food) into usable energy.
Re:Yomega yoyos rock too, at a much better price
on
Extreme Yo-Yoing
·
· Score: 2, Informative
I sprung for a ProYo Cold Fusion (about $120) when it came out. I was shocked at its performance- I could easily make it sleep for up to 3 minutes right out of the box. Once the berings broke in, 4 to 5 minutes was not uncommon. It has the world record at the time, I think something like 7 minutes and change. I've heard of unofficial times approaching 10 minutes. This thing could do tricks that were up the then impossible on other yoyos.
That said, $120 is a good deal of money to drop on a yoyo. Unless you are really serious about your tricks, you are better of with something like a Team Losi Cherry Bomb, of which you can buy about 8 for the same price of the Cold Fusion. I do not yoyo as much as I did a few years back, but I'd love to take this new one for a spin (pardon the pun) to see what it is capable of.
As in the car world, you usually get what you pay for, in terms of performance and prestige. Cheap Duncans are like used Yugos, they might get you where you need to go, but not much else. Cold Fusions, and this new Freehand Mg are like the Lamborghinis and McLarens - you get killer performance, drop-dead style - but you pay the price.
That's true in your case, however: 1) I buy my pepsi where I work at a signficant discount (~50 cents per bottle). 2) I usually drink 1-3 bottles of diet pepsi per day. 3) I usually walk to work, so it doesn't cost anything other than the little bit of tread I use on my shoes.
Therefore, for 50 cents, I get a tasty beverage and a song.
Re:$33 cd? It is going to decrease profit
on
RIAA's Nasty Easter Egg
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
On iTunes, it costs nearly $24 for Reubenstein's rendition of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. On the original CD, each 'variation' (a short musical segment in the whole work) is on its own track for easier seeking (as the work is about 20 minutes long). They are not separate songs, just different parts of an overall work. Some are only about 10 seconds in lenght, too.
The reason I don't buy music online (besides my 50 or so free tracks, thanks to Pepsi making it impossible to lose!) is I think $0.99 is too expensive for a track. It's just as bad as shelling out $17 for one at the music store. If they think people are going to buy tracks for $2.50, think again. But of course, the RIAA has never been in touch with consumers, so it's unlikely they'd start now...
I recently purchased a Zaurus SL-C860 from Dynamism, and it is truely a device I can't live without. Sure, it was pretty expensive at around $850, but no other pda I've ever used can touch it in terms of speed, style, and overall "coolness." Hell, I'm running an X11-based ROM on it now, and nearly all X apps can be recompiled to run on it.
I think I like the clamshell layout better than the traditional vertical PDA layout of this and the 5X00 series. Being able to quickly convert between mini-laptop mode and PDA mode is more useful than I'd ever imagined it would be. If I were to suggest a PDA to anyone, I'd say the SL-C760 is the better bet, as it costs the same as the 6000 and is nearly identical to the 860 (the 860 has a slightly larger screen, all-silver case and better default software, which is only helpful if you are japanese!).
Sure, the 7XX and 8XX series do not have the built-in wireless, but the coolness factor of the design, and the fact that almost nobody in the US has one, make it the better choice (IMHO).
C'mon guys, it's april first in many parts of the world now. You really think google can afford to have millions of users have a gig of storage? We're talking petabytes of storage here! It was good for a laugh though, seeing how many major news outlets picked this one up.
Curious, do the coins weigh as much as thier non-shrunken counterparts? I wonder what this does to the structure of the metal... perhaps this process could be used to make ultra-dense objects such as bullets that are much more damaging than regular ones.
good points, however, you mention 'membranes' a lot, but if you read the article or look at the pictures, there are no membranes involved. It is simply two non-miscible fluids with a different index of refraction inside of a glass vessel. The actual device does not change shape, only the distribution of the fluid inside. Also, the electrodes will most likely not corrode because chemists would be sure not to use fluids that would oxidize it.
I hate replying to myself, but I forgot something. If you can't scale this up to eyeglass size, why not just replace your *whole* lens with one of these. They are similar in size, and with some nifty bioelectronics, it could learn to focus using the nerve impluses that your brain uses to control your real lenses. Just hope the battery doesn't die when doing something important like driving...
My guess is that it could be possible to cancel the effects of gravity (or other acceleration) on the fluid using the same technology. One set of electrodes would shape the lens, the other would 'hold' the fluid in place.
In my opinion, the biggest thing preventing this from being used in eyeglasses is the fact that the lens must always be as thick as the greatest magnification 'setting' on the lens. Also, since there is at least 4 different indexes of refraction (air, glass, fluid 1, fluid 2), there is a much greater likelyhood of chromatic abberation and other artifacts. But who knows what another century or so of research would do for this technology.
I have Snes9X running on my Zaurus 860 now... FFIII, Zelda, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World, all the great games run just like they do on the console. You can get it for your Zaurus here. Also available are NES, GameBoy/GBA, Genesis, MAME, Atari 400/800/XE and even a Scumm emu for Monkey Island, The Dig, etc. After all, it does run linux and a lot of apps can be ported to run on it. Check out the Zaurus Software Index for more cool stuff.
Say I get my leg traumatically amputated, but live through the event and heal. I keep the leg in the freezer, and decide later to pull it out and have a go on the rotisserie. Is there anything to stop me from doing that (well, besides freaking out just about everyone)? Just a thought, not like I'd do that or anything... or would I?
Is it coincidence, or does the second picture down look like a bunch of dildos all lined up like in a sex shop? I bet ladies would say they feel real good in thier hand (not to mention elsewhere).
BTW, I've never used the tivo remote for a long time, but it is quite easy to just pick up and use. But perhaps my favorite remote was the Sony egg thingy. It looked like an egg and was weighted to stand upright. It only had the essential buttons, and was just fun to use. I just wish my friends wouldn't mistake it for something to throw at each other and smash against the wall...
Re:How will they pay for this?
on
WiFi Free-For-All
·
· Score: 1, Offtopic
Slightly off topic, but somewhat relevant nonetheless.
As many may know, PIT's layout is interesting in that the terminals are separated from the main building (where you check in and stuff) by a subway-like transport. PIT also has a fine foodcourt and many stores like you would find in a mall. Living about a half-hour from the airport, I would occasionally venture down just to get lunch, check out the stores, maybe trade in my money for some Yen and watch planes take off.
Now, that is nearly impossible, considering the security checkpoint is located prior the the transport thingy. This means if you want to eat, check out the stores and watch planes take off, you need to have a boarding pass! I talked to many airport staff over this matter, and they said it is simply too expensive to have it nearer to the terminals, as they would need multiple checkpoints (since the foodcourt-mall thing is in the middle, and terminals are on the sides). Apparently businesses are quite upset as they signed long-term leases for thier stores, as this area used to be accessable to anyone who wanted to spend a day at the airport (and yes, many people used to go to the airport just for shopping and lunch and whatnot). Read some more here.
I guess my point is that free WiFi is dandy and all, but this airport needs more that if they want to stay cutting edge. Letting me eat lunch and shop there would help, but what they really need is THIS!
First of all, you must understand how incredibly simple these devices are. The transmitter simply sends out pulses of IR energy at a rate of 10-14Hz (yes, Hz, not kHz or anything) depending on thier mode of operation. More advanced systems interleave data in these pulses to form identification of specific vehicles or vehicle classes. Since every intersection must be updated every time a new vehicle is equipped with a MIRT, this is often not utilized.
The devices sold on the websites listed in other's comments use a simple strobe with an IR filter to block out visible light. Interestingly, I have used a standard "party strobe" hooked up to a power inverter in my car to change a traffic signal (done late at night so I wouldn't get busted- I had no filter on it so it was quite bright and I did not want to distract other motorists). It only took about 5 minutes of fine-tuning to get the timing right.
This raises an interesting question. If strobe lights are legal (although not on non-emergency vehicles), can't this device simply be remarketed as a dc-powered strobe with optional IR filter for use off road? Or how about as a device to increase your visibility on CCD cameras or night-vision systems? By the way, you can build one of these yourself for about $10 in parts.
Actually, that is just the cost of the motor driver for the robot. Then again, this is the same driver that the guy who built his own segway used, so it is obvously pretty robust.
Sorry if someone wrote on this already, but it's hard to sort through 750+ comments 50 at a time. I own a Sensa ballpoint and mechanical pencil. It is by far the most comfortable pen I have used. The grip conforms to your hand, doing a terrific job of releaving pressure on your fingers. Be sure to keep them in a safe container, as the grip is prone to puncture (I stabbed my ballpoint with my pencil once, and had to shell out $15 for a replacemet. With some searching, you should be able to get each for under $40, or go for the Cloud 9, a less expensive alternative. The ballpoint writes smooth (not as good as a fountain, which I am currently saving up for the Meridian series pen), and the pencil is the best mechanical pencil I have ever used. Go for it, you won't regret it.
I have made many copies of the Post-it notes that come with the pen. I scanned them with my scanner at the best possible resolution, used photoshop to enhance it slightly, and printed four-to-a-sheet with my LaserJet 5. They work perfectly. One note of caution, you must use a laser printer, as most inkjet printer's inks don't absorb the infrared light that comes from the pen.
I was at a gas station in the Southside (a part of Pittsburgh) the other day to get some crappy coffee, and there was a monitor at the cash register playing ads for various car-related products and other crap. Since there was a line, and I have a short attention span, I just kept watching the ads when I was waiting. Apparently, the cashiers hate the thing because it repeats every few minutes or so (I would imagine this would be the only thing worse than listening to a pop or hip-hop radio station for an hour). It will only be a matter of time before these are everywhere.
I like my Logitech iFeel Mouseman. It uses something similar to the vibration function of console game controllers to simulate edges of windows, buttons, menu items, icons, etc. With proper adjustment (don't turn the strength up all the way or it is just plain hokey), the feedback really helps and allows you to use a higher acceleration rate while maintaining accuracy. The best part, I picked mine up at Big Lots for $7.99!
Sorry, but your math is a little wrong. To go from square meters to square centimeters, you must multiply by 10'000 as you must square the units. A corrected version below:
Slashdot Mirror
[leach is the proper spelling; leech is the organism.]
But yeah, lead is very dangerous, even in a compound like solder. With rain and acids (like the flux used in soldering, and other environmental sources), it is quite easy to see how the lead could dissociate and run off, contaminating the groudwater.
Using human minds as data storage makes about as much sense as using humans as energy generators in a big matrix... ... except using humans as energy generators is a really good idea when you don't have much choices as how to produce energy. Humans do a remarkable job at converting complex fuels (e.g., food) into usable energy.
I sprung for a ProYo Cold Fusion (about $120) when it came out. I was shocked at its performance- I could easily make it sleep for up to 3 minutes right out of the box. Once the berings broke in, 4 to 5 minutes was not uncommon. It has the world record at the time, I think something like 7 minutes and change. I've heard of unofficial times approaching 10 minutes. This thing could do tricks that were up the then impossible on other yoyos.
That said, $120 is a good deal of money to drop on a yoyo. Unless you are really serious about your tricks, you are better of with something like a Team Losi Cherry Bomb, of which you can buy about 8 for the same price of the Cold Fusion. I do not yoyo as much as I did a few years back, but I'd love to take this new one for a spin (pardon the pun) to see what it is capable of.
As in the car world, you usually get what you pay for, in terms of performance and prestige. Cheap Duncans are like used Yugos, they might get you where you need to go, but not much else. Cold Fusions, and this new Freehand Mg are like the Lamborghinis and McLarens - you get killer performance, drop-dead style - but you pay the price.
That's true in your case, however:
1) I buy my pepsi where I work at a signficant discount (~50 cents per bottle).
2) I usually drink 1-3 bottles of diet pepsi per day.
3) I usually walk to work, so it doesn't cost anything other than the little bit of tread I use on my shoes.
Therefore, for 50 cents, I get a tasty beverage and a song.
On iTunes, it costs nearly $24 for Reubenstein's rendition of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. On the original CD, each 'variation' (a short musical segment in the whole work) is on its own track for easier seeking (as the work is about 20 minutes long). They are not separate songs, just different parts of an overall work. Some are only about 10 seconds in lenght, too.
The reason I don't buy music online (besides my 50 or so free tracks, thanks to Pepsi making it impossible to lose!) is I think $0.99 is too expensive for a track. It's just as bad as shelling out $17 for one at the music store. If they think people are going to buy tracks for $2.50, think again. But of course, the RIAA has never been in touch with consumers, so it's unlikely they'd start now...
I recently purchased a Zaurus SL-C860 from Dynamism, and it is truely a device I can't live without. Sure, it was pretty expensive at around $850, but no other pda I've ever used can touch it in terms of speed, style, and overall "coolness." Hell, I'm running an X11-based ROM on it now, and nearly all X apps can be recompiled to run on it.
I think I like the clamshell layout better than the traditional vertical PDA layout of this and the 5X00 series. Being able to quickly convert between mini-laptop mode and PDA mode is more useful than I'd ever imagined it would be. If I were to suggest a PDA to anyone, I'd say the SL-C760 is the better bet, as it costs the same as the 6000 and is nearly identical to the 860 (the 860 has a slightly larger screen, all-silver case and better default software, which is only helpful if you are japanese!).
Sure, the 7XX and 8XX series do not have the built-in wireless, but the coolness factor of the design, and the fact that almost nobody in the US has one, make it the better choice (IMHO).
C'mon guys, it's april first in many parts of the world now. You really think google can afford to have millions of users have a gig of storage? We're talking petabytes of storage here! It was good for a laugh though, seeing how many major news outlets picked this one up.
Curious, do the coins weigh as much as thier non-shrunken counterparts? I wonder what this does to the structure of the metal... perhaps this process could be used to make ultra-dense objects such as bullets that are much more damaging than regular ones.
No, ink is not a rip off at all...
$35/17ml = $2.0588/ml
3785.4ml per gallon
$7793.49 per gallon.
$20/8ml = $2.50/ml
$9463.53 per gallon.
Assuming specific weight of ink approximates water (1gm/ml)
$2.50/gm = $70.87/oz.
Silver Bullion = $6.78/oz.
No, not at all overpriced.
good points, however, you mention 'membranes' a lot, but if you read the article or look at the pictures, there are no membranes involved. It is simply two non-miscible fluids with a different index of refraction inside of a glass vessel. The actual device does not change shape, only the distribution of the fluid inside. Also, the electrodes will most likely not corrode because chemists would be sure not to use fluids that would oxidize it.
Did you check out progressive lenses, such as these or these? They might be the answer to your eyeglass switching. They sure helped my dad.
I hate replying to myself, but I forgot something. If you can't scale this up to eyeglass size, why not just replace your *whole* lens with one of these. They are similar in size, and with some nifty bioelectronics, it could learn to focus using the nerve impluses that your brain uses to control your real lenses. Just hope the battery doesn't die when doing something important like driving...
My guess is that it could be possible to cancel the effects of gravity (or other acceleration) on the fluid using the same technology. One set of electrodes would shape the lens, the other would 'hold' the fluid in place.
In my opinion, the biggest thing preventing this from being used in eyeglasses is the fact that the lens must always be as thick as the greatest magnification 'setting' on the lens. Also, since there is at least 4 different indexes of refraction (air, glass, fluid 1, fluid 2), there is a much greater likelyhood of chromatic abberation and other artifacts. But who knows what another century or so of research would do for this technology.
I have Snes9X running on my Zaurus 860 now... FFIII, Zelda, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World, all the great games run just like they do on the console. You can get it for your Zaurus here. Also available are NES, GameBoy/GBA, Genesis, MAME, Atari 400/800/XE and even a Scumm emu for Monkey Island, The Dig, etc. After all, it does run linux and a lot of apps can be ported to run on it. Check out the Zaurus Software Index for more cool stuff.
Say I get my leg traumatically amputated, but live through the event and heal. I keep the leg in the freezer, and decide later to pull it out and have a go on the rotisserie. Is there anything to stop me from doing that (well, besides freaking out just about everyone)? Just a thought, not like I'd do that or anything... or would I?
Is it coincidence, or does the second picture down look like a bunch of dildos all lined up like in a sex shop? I bet ladies would say they feel real good in thier hand (not to mention elsewhere).
BTW, I've never used the tivo remote for a long time, but it is quite easy to just pick up and use. But perhaps my favorite remote was the Sony egg thingy. It looked like an egg and was weighted to stand upright. It only had the essential buttons, and was just fun to use. I just wish my friends wouldn't mistake it for something to throw at each other and smash against the wall...
Slightly off topic, but somewhat relevant nonetheless.
As many may know, PIT's layout is interesting in that the terminals are separated from the main building (where you check in and stuff) by a subway-like transport. PIT also has a fine foodcourt and many stores like you would find in a mall. Living about a half-hour from the airport, I would occasionally venture down just to get lunch, check out the stores, maybe trade in my money for some Yen and watch planes take off.
Now, that is nearly impossible, considering the security checkpoint is located prior the the transport thingy. This means if you want to eat, check out the stores and watch planes take off, you need to have a boarding pass! I talked to many airport staff over this matter, and they said it is simply too expensive to have it nearer to the terminals, as they would need multiple checkpoints (since the foodcourt-mall thing is in the middle, and terminals are on the sides). Apparently businesses are quite upset as they signed long-term leases for thier stores, as this area used to be accessable to anyone who wanted to spend a day at the airport (and yes, many people used to go to the airport just for shopping and lunch and whatnot). Read some more here.
I guess my point is that free WiFi is dandy and all, but this airport needs more that if they want to stay cutting edge. Letting me eat lunch and shop there would help, but what they really need is THIS!
First of all, you must understand how incredibly simple these devices are. The transmitter simply sends out pulses of IR energy at a rate of 10-14Hz (yes, Hz, not kHz or anything) depending on thier mode of operation. More advanced systems interleave data in these pulses to form identification of specific vehicles or vehicle classes. Since every intersection must be updated every time a new vehicle is equipped with a MIRT, this is often not utilized.
The devices sold on the websites listed in other's comments use a simple strobe with an IR filter to block out visible light. Interestingly, I have used a standard "party strobe" hooked up to a power inverter in my car to change a traffic signal (done late at night so I wouldn't get busted- I had no filter on it so it was quite bright and I did not want to distract other motorists). It only took about 5 minutes of fine-tuning to get the timing right.
This raises an interesting question. If strobe lights are legal (although not on non-emergency vehicles), can't this device simply be remarketed as a dc-powered strobe with optional IR filter for use off road? Or how about as a device to increase your visibility on CCD cameras or night-vision systems? By the way, you can build one of these yourself for about $10 in parts.
Well, there are 65536 digits spanned in 16 bits. Monitor 0 would be the first physical monitor, 65535 would be the 65536th monitor.
Who taught you to program?
Actually, that is just the cost of the motor driver for the robot. Then again, this is the same driver that the guy who built his own segway used, so it is obvously pretty robust.
Sorry if someone wrote on this already, but it's hard to sort through 750+ comments 50 at a time. I own a Sensa ballpoint and mechanical pencil. It is by far the most comfortable pen I have used. The grip conforms to your hand, doing a terrific job of releaving pressure on your fingers. Be sure to keep them in a safe container, as the grip is prone to puncture (I stabbed my ballpoint with my pencil once, and had to shell out $15 for a replacemet. With some searching, you should be able to get each for under $40, or go for the Cloud 9, a less expensive alternative. The ballpoint writes smooth (not as good as a fountain, which I am currently saving up for the Meridian series pen), and the pencil is the best mechanical pencil I have ever used. Go for it, you won't regret it.
I have made many copies of the Post-it notes that come with the pen. I scanned them with my scanner at the best possible resolution, used photoshop to enhance it slightly, and printed four-to-a-sheet with my LaserJet 5. They work perfectly. One note of caution, you must use a laser printer, as most inkjet printer's inks don't absorb the infrared light that comes from the pen.
I was at a gas station in the Southside (a part of Pittsburgh) the other day to get some crappy coffee, and there was a monitor at the cash register playing ads for various car-related products and other crap. Since there was a line, and I have a short attention span, I just kept watching the ads when I was waiting. Apparently, the cashiers hate the thing because it repeats every few minutes or so (I would imagine this would be the only thing worse than listening to a pop or hip-hop radio station for an hour). It will only be a matter of time before these are everywhere.
I like my Logitech iFeel Mouseman. It uses something similar to the vibration function of console game controllers to simulate edges of windows, buttons, menu items, icons, etc. With proper adjustment (don't turn the strength up all the way or it is just plain hokey), the feedback really helps and allows you to use a higher acceleration rate while maintaining accuracy. The best part, I picked mine up at Big Lots for $7.99!
Sorry, but your math is a little wrong. To go from square meters to square centimeters, you must multiply by 10'000 as you must square the units. A corrected version below:
500*10'000 = 5'000'000_cm^2
3_cm * 5'000'000_cm^2 = 15'000'000_cm^3
15'000'000_cm^3 * 1.00 = 15'000'000_grams or 15'000_kg
You were probably better off sticking with meters through the whole thing.
I made worse mistakes before, so I can't really complain...