Freon will be capable of 'playing games but also offering television capabilities, such as pausing live TV and recording shows onto a computer hard drive.'
What...like Tivo?
Re:this reminds me of a trick for telemarketers
on
He Writes Back
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· Score: 1
An approach that I've used that usually works is to simply say "Hi, you're on the air!" when you hear that pause just before they connect. Usually, my friends will just tell me to knock it off when I answer the phone like that, so it works out well.
Re:Self _cooling_ would rock...
on
Self-Heating Can
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· Score: 1
Am I the only one who thinks that making things heat is kinda useless for drinks? Cold coffee caffeinates as well as warm coffee does, but warm soda/beer is a major nuisance.
So, wake me up when there's a self cooling can of Jolt Cola available...
Actually, what you are suggesting isn't that hard. Ideally, you could created a supersatured solution of a chemical in a solvent (hopefully, water, as it's cheap, non-toxic, etc). Staying to general chemistry (instead of getting into the realm of physical chemistry), all you need to do is add mechanical energy to create a seed crystal. If the heat of crystalization of the solute is negative (think endothermic), it will take heat from the surroundings (in this case the drink) till it reaches it's equilibrium conditions at that temperature.
Incidentally, the same idea is used in some of the portable hand warming devices out there (except the heat of crystalization will evolve heat). If I remember correctly (it's been a while since I looked at one of them), usally an acetic acid/water system in hand warmers.
Hopefully you find this an answer to your question and/or find it interesting.
-Topgun
Gnome gets mono: other programs should watch out!
on
Could Mono Kill Gnome?
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· Score: 1
NEWSFLASH
In the news today, Gnome has contracted a bad case of mono. Development slowed to a standstill as all developers felt the sudden urge to take a nap. Developers on other projects are urged to stop using Open Source Software else their pojects run the chance of developing a case of mono as well. There is no known cure.
Actaully, as another user stated, smoke stacks aren't a good applicaiton. From a chemical engineering standpoint (only one I can give;-), though, there are some kinda neat applications.
For example, in power generation. If you were to use the standard Rankine cycle, you could fit one of these things on the condensation step, feed electricity back thru, everyone is happy. Then all that's left is to have a few drinks for a good days work.
Do not be mistaken, however. As has undoubtedly been mentioned numerous times on/. already, the combined 1st and 2nd Law of Thermo. still applies. Even if you could make these buggers 99% efficient, you still have the 1% loss and the other loss due to the processes you need to supply. Just like a recycle stream in a chemical process, the more you recycle, the less you have to supply as fresh feed.
If you are looking at a Rio Volt, you might as well get the AVC Soulplayer. They are essentially the same core, except the Soulplayer was (at the time I bought mine) some $30 cheaper.
And for people who are anti-CD mp3 player...I've taken my Soulplayer off-roading up here on the logging trails in the upper Upper Penninsula here in Michigan. It didn't skip-not a once-on my numerous excursions (the truck, however, needed a new suspension):-)
So the only time it really might skip is when it is loading a new song when you skip ahead 10 songs. But with the upgradable firmware, AVC has done well to make this a non-issue.
Without much further ado, the link is http://www.soulplayer.com
Alright. Here's one thing I don't understand. If this is a risky business, then take out the risk! Instead of trying to shut down the mp3 file sharing programs, they should be trying to foster them. In fact, they should be pouring money into them.
Imagine the information that could be gleaned from knowing what mp3's are hot and which, well, aren't (no personal information need be given; just like when you request a packet over the internet). As with the auto insurance industry, you could even do a statistical analysis of a share threshold for some confidence level for success; the auto industry has already done this with the higher premiums for teenage drivers (more likely to get into accidents). Why not apply this to another industry?
Now before you flame, you are right. In this scenario, the mp3's (and therefore.wav) would already be distributed for free. Yes. Except you've lost considerably less in initial investment. You are using your money more efficiently So you could sell for less. And, as a result, the cost to the end consumer goes down. The biggest gripe I hear about CD's is that they are too expensive. I also hear that people would have mp3 and CD versions if they cost less, too (see also: college students). So you win.
And then there are the advantages of the internet. It's much cheaper to have one website, etc. as a promoting medium. Nice thing about the digital world is that if you have one copy, you have an infinite number of copies (aka: infinite supply). Hence why the classical laws of economics falter when applied to the internet. But I digress. The point is, it's a possible way to cut costs on promotion, etc. To know the real answer for use in a business plan, you'd have to do a cost analysis. But, then again, these should be done regularly in any self respecting company anyhow.
I'm not trying to say I've the answer for this problem. In fact, I doubt it. I just wonder why we haven't seen an analysis on this as to why it wouldn't work.
...a brief with the courts, the artists were subsequently sued for copyright infringment. A record industry spokesman was quoted as saying: "They have no right to sing these songs. We own them, and we will now charge artists for each time they sing songs."
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, this has to be said, as some people will actually believe the above quote is real instead of a cynical view of things.
"We understand, based upon the fact that our industry didn't rally to support us, that we need to change the way we interact and relate to our industry," Ballmer said.
Oh dear. The return of the Even More Draconian EULA!
The reason for this is we still need to be able to keep a reasonable temperature to reject heat TO. That is, the heat sink is worthless if we haven't some lower T source. If we could transfer heat from a cold source to a hot one, we'd have a perpetual motion machine. Hence, we need to run air across the heat sink to matain this temperature gradient.
As a side note, the temperature gradient is what defines the work done (or dissipated) from the heatsink. So the heatsink becomes more efficient as the gradient increases (n=1-(Qc/Qh) for a Carnot engine).
This is why, also, car engines become less efficient when temperature increases. Also, if the temperature at the tailpipe of your car was the same as that of the combustion, you wouldn't be able to drive the car; there would be no power. You'd also melt by that point, but that's another story.
I can see a VERY big problem here, namely as far as us engineers are concerned. That is, I can see a lot of us engineers having fun by modifying Fido to get more horsepower, be more efficient, and go from zero to mailman in 1.3 seconds.
Let me preface this first by saying I haven't looked at the process itself (simply telling you heat x and y up to 450 degrees Celsius say jack about the PROCESS or CONTROL systems they plan to use), but here's the problems I see with it.
Alright. From a chemical engineering standpoint, this is going to be really tough. When you design a chemical plant, you can figure out process streams or simulate the process using programs such as Hysys. Great. But you can be rest assured that those conditions will last all of two minutes out of the year. If you are lucky.
Now, in this case, they are using a batch process (as opposed to a steady state (continuous) or semi-batch process). This helps in that the environment variables (i.e. Q, pressure, temp, cheese to mayonaise ratios, etc.) can be fixed easier. However, I would like to see how they are planning on keeping the variance between batches to a minimum, and do it effectively and efficiently (more stress put on effectively and efficiently).
This, in turn, is dependent on exactly how close they need to get to the previous batch to be effective. For example, if they have to be.1 standard deviations in order to get a good product, then, well, congrats on the idea, but until you can find a way to produce it, it does no one any good. This, by the way, is why you have lot numbers on paint, carpet, etc.; there is always some variance.
Alright. I'll get off my soapbox now.
Lemme see if I got this straight...
on
Triana Mothballed
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· Score: 1
Alright. Congress complains about NASA budget over runs. They say they need to cut costs and use their money more efficiently and not spend as much.
Then they tell them to mothball a $120 million dollar project, which will take $1 million to refuel and another $3 million to recalibrate, not to mention the costs to store the thing till 2004 (I believe the article said.5 million a year).
The problem is not really the documentation. The problem is the form and media. You can tell someone that you use the "man" command to look things up. You can show them where to look. To get them to understand what they are reading, though, is much different.
Take my family, for example. We moved over to the US in the 1950's. Some of my aunts and uncles never learned the German language aside from hearing it (or, to parallel, reading it in the man pages). What they really needed was some formal (read: book) lessons. It's possible to do it without it, but more formal and boiled down books make it easier. At least when I learned German it did. The "man" pages just serve as a (parallel: German) dictionary so you remember how to use the word you want, not necessarily a means to learn the finer points of Linux.
In the Washington Post tomorrow:
The DoJ has set the sentencing hearing for next week in the "Iceman" murder case. In other news, MS lawyers have started legal proceedings to have themselves cyrogenically frozen until a date can be set (tenatively in 5030) to resolve the anti0trust issues.
-Random
I'm not trying to say this idea won't work, but if I remember correctly, the sails work by the momentum transfer of the masses (KE=mv^2), in this case protons, slamming against the sail. In this case, a mirror-like surface is used instead of a black coating, so as to get 2mv^2 worth of energy out (like a ball rebounding off of a wall, instead of being absorbed by the wall), and thus be more efficient.
This is perfectly alright and all, except what happens if we need to approach a star that has a higher strength solar wind than the one propelling the craft? It seems to me it wouldn't matter what color, etc., the reverse side was, you'd still get a pressure front pushing you away. Thus, wouldn't some stars be impossible to approach with this technology? Kinda like a one way ticket to the moon; you can get there rather elegantly, but you just can't come back using the solar sail. I realize that I'm not an expert, and perhaps someone can clarify.
I did see an article, I'm not sure whether it was a magazine article or on Slashdot (or both), about a similar idea and application being used as a method to get to the moon. In essence, you make a space craft with a mirror on the bottom. Then you construct a really friggin' powerful laser, aim it at the bottom of the spacesraft (the mirror), and off you go. Darwin award, anyone?To hope, though, there is my favorite engineering saying: It works in reality, but will it work in theory? Just my two cents.
You're missing the point. It's not the fact that there should be a uniform standard that developers can rely upon that anyone is contesting. It is, rather, the way in which things are being done.
To support my point. RAM has a standards committee. This is composed of multiple companies. In theory, it's a rocky joint venture. And we've seen what happens when one company uses these standards to their advantage; just see Rambus. Although I know I'm gonna get shot down for it not being a direct parallel, the situations are similar. Sadly, in this case, MS has more clout than Rambus ever did.
Alright. I'm copyrighting the numbers 0 and 1. All your binaries, and all computers in the world are mine. Mwa ha ha.
I live close to where this happened...
on
Duct Tape
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· Score: 2
..and I can verify that this did, in fact, happen.I do remember it making headlines. In fact, it is still talked about in some of the local high school science classes (although not reapeated), thank goodness.
Slashdot Mirror
What...like Tivo?
An approach that I've used that usually works is to simply say "Hi, you're on the air!" when you hear that pause just before they connect. Usually, my friends will just tell me to knock it off when I answer the phone like that, so it works out well.
Actually, what you are suggesting isn't that hard. Ideally, you could created a supersatured solution of a chemical in a solvent (hopefully, water, as it's cheap, non-toxic, etc). Staying to general chemistry (instead of getting into the realm of physical chemistry), all you need to do is add mechanical energy to create a seed crystal. If the heat of crystalization of the solute is negative (think endothermic), it will take heat from the surroundings (in this case the drink) till it reaches it's equilibrium conditions at that temperature.
Incidentally, the same idea is used in some of the portable hand warming devices out there (except the heat of crystalization will evolve heat). If I remember correctly (it's been a while since I looked at one of them), usally an acetic acid/water system in hand warmers.
Hopefully you find this an answer to your question and/or find it interesting.
-Topgun
In the news today, Gnome has contracted a bad case of mono. Development slowed to a standstill as all developers felt the sudden urge to take a nap. Developers on other projects are urged to stop using Open Source Software else their pojects run the chance of developing a case of mono as well. There is no known cure.
http://foreverbright.com/warranty.htm
Actaully, as another user stated, smoke stacks aren't a good applicaiton. From a chemical engineering standpoint (only one I can give ;-), though, there are some kinda neat applications.
/. already, the combined 1st and 2nd Law of Thermo. still applies. Even if you could make these buggers 99% efficient, you still have the 1% loss and the other loss due to the processes you need to supply. Just like a recycle stream in a chemical process, the more you recycle, the less you have to supply as fresh feed.
For example, in power generation. If you were to use the standard Rankine cycle, you could fit one of these things on the condensation step, feed electricity back thru, everyone is happy. Then all that's left is to have a few drinks for a good days work.
Do not be mistaken, however. As has undoubtedly been mentioned numerous times on
If you are looking at a Rio Volt, you might as well get the AVC Soulplayer. They are essentially the same core, except the Soulplayer was (at the time I bought mine) some $30 cheaper.
:-)
And for people who are anti-CD mp3 player...I've taken my Soulplayer off-roading up here on the logging trails in the upper Upper Penninsula here in Michigan. It didn't skip-not a once-on my numerous excursions (the truck, however, needed a new suspension)
So the only time it really might skip is when it is loading a new song when you skip ahead 10 songs. But with the upgradable firmware, AVC has done well to make this a non-issue.
Without much further ado, the link is http://www.soulplayer.com
Brain: Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?
Pinky: I think so brain...but when we mine the moon, what're we going to do with all the cheese!
Alright. Here's one thing I don't understand. If this is a risky business, then take out the risk! Instead of trying to shut down the mp3 file sharing programs, they should be trying to foster them. In fact, they should be pouring money into them.
.wav) would already be distributed for free. Yes. Except you've lost considerably less in initial investment. You are using your money more efficiently So you could sell for less. And, as a result, the cost to the end consumer goes down. The biggest gripe I hear about CD's is that they are too expensive. I also hear that people would have mp3 and CD versions if they cost less, too (see also: college students). So you win.
Imagine the information that could be gleaned from knowing what mp3's are hot and which, well, aren't (no personal information need be given; just like when you request a packet over the internet). As with the auto insurance industry, you could even do a statistical analysis of a share threshold for some confidence level for success; the auto industry has already done this with the higher premiums for teenage drivers (more likely to get into accidents). Why not apply this to another industry?
Now before you flame, you are right. In this scenario, the mp3's (and therefore
And then there are the advantages of the internet. It's much cheaper to have one website, etc. as a promoting medium. Nice thing about the digital world is that if you have one copy, you have an infinite number of copies (aka: infinite supply). Hence why the classical laws of economics falter when applied to the internet. But I digress. The point is, it's a possible way to cut costs on promotion, etc. To know the real answer for use in a business plan, you'd have to do a cost analysis. But, then again, these should be done regularly in any self respecting company anyhow.
I'm not trying to say I've the answer for this problem. In fact, I doubt it. I just wonder why we haven't seen an analysis on this as to why it wouldn't work.
Just my input.
...a brief with the courts, the artists were subsequently sued for copyright infringment. A record industry spokesman was quoted as saying: "They have no right to sing these songs. We own them, and we will now charge artists for each time they sing songs."
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, this has to be said, as some people will actually believe the above quote is real instead of a cynical view of things.
"We understand, based upon the fact that our industry didn't rally to support us, that we need to change the way we interact and relate to our industry," Ballmer said.
Oh dear. The return of the Even More Draconian EULA!
And I thought their wireless service couldn't get any worse!
I can see it now.
Press: Coach, what happened in the game today?
Coach: Well, it's really quite simple: our offense sig faulted and the defense was running Nautalis (see previous story).
No, we can't get rid of the fan.
The reason for this is we still need to be able to keep a reasonable temperature to reject heat TO. That is, the heat sink is worthless if we haven't some lower T source. If we could transfer heat from a cold source to a hot one, we'd have a perpetual motion machine. Hence, we need to run air across the heat sink to matain this temperature gradient.
As a side note, the temperature gradient is what defines the work done (or dissipated) from the heatsink. So the heatsink becomes more efficient as the gradient increases (n=1-(Qc/Qh) for a Carnot engine).
This is why, also, car engines become less efficient when temperature increases. Also, if the temperature at the tailpipe of your car was the same as that of the combustion, you wouldn't be able to drive the car; there would be no power. You'd also melt by that point, but that's another story.
Next thing you know corporations are going to be asking for the right to have standing armies!
On a much more morbid note, this would revolutionalize marketing campagins.
I can see a VERY big problem here, namely as far as us engineers are concerned. That is, I can see a lot of us engineers having fun by modifying Fido to get more horsepower, be more efficient, and go from zero to mailman in 1.3 seconds.
God help us.
Alright. From a chemical engineering standpoint, this is going to be really tough. When you design a chemical plant, you can figure out process streams or simulate the process using programs such as Hysys. Great. But you can be rest assured that those conditions will last all of two minutes out of the year. If you are lucky.
Now, in this case, they are using a batch process (as opposed to a steady state (continuous) or semi-batch process). This helps in that the environment variables (i.e. Q, pressure, temp, cheese to mayonaise ratios, etc.) can be fixed easier. However, I would like to see how they are planning on keeping the variance between batches to a minimum, and do it effectively and efficiently (more stress put on effectively and efficiently).
This, in turn, is dependent on exactly how close they need to get to the previous batch to be effective. For example, if they have to be .1 standard deviations in order to get a good product, then, well, congrats on the idea, but until you can find a way to produce it, it does no one any good. This, by the way, is why you have lot numbers on paint, carpet, etc.; there is always some variance.
Alright. I'll get off my soapbox now.
Then they tell them to mothball a $120 million dollar project, which will take $1 million to refuel and another $3 million to recalibrate, not to mention the costs to store the thing till 2004 (I believe the article said .5 million a year).
Does this seem ironic to anyone else or what?Take my family, for example. We moved over to the US in the 1950's. Some of my aunts and uncles never learned the German language aside from hearing it (or, to parallel, reading it in the man pages). What they really needed was some formal (read: book) lessons. It's possible to do it without it, but more formal and boiled down books make it easier. At least when I learned German it did. The "man" pages just serve as a (parallel: German) dictionary so you remember how to use the word you want, not necessarily a means to learn the finer points of Linux.
In other news today, the RIAA has sued mathematicians everywhere under the DMCA for circumventing pi.
In the Washington Post tomorrow: The DoJ has set the sentencing hearing for next week in the "Iceman" murder case. In other news, MS lawyers have started legal proceedings to have themselves cyrogenically frozen until a date can be set (tenatively in 5030) to resolve the anti0trust issues. -Random
This is perfectly alright and all, except what happens if we need to approach a star that has a higher strength solar wind than the one propelling the craft? It seems to me it wouldn't matter what color, etc., the reverse side was, you'd still get a pressure front pushing you away. Thus, wouldn't some stars be impossible to approach with this technology? Kinda like a one way ticket to the moon; you can get there rather elegantly, but you just can't come back using the solar sail. I realize that I'm not an expert, and perhaps someone can clarify.
I did see an article, I'm not sure whether it was a magazine article or on Slashdot (or both), about a similar idea and application being used as a method to get to the moon. In essence, you make a space craft with a mirror on the bottom. Then you construct a really friggin' powerful laser, aim it at the bottom of the spacesraft (the mirror), and off you go. Darwin award, anyone?To hope, though, there is my favorite engineering saying: It works in reality, but will it work in theory? Just my two cents.To support my point. RAM has a standards committee. This is composed of multiple companies. In theory, it's a rocky joint venture. And we've seen what happens when one company uses these standards to their advantage; just see Rambus. Although I know I'm gonna get shot down for it not being a direct parallel, the situations are similar. Sadly, in this case, MS has more clout than Rambus ever did.
Alright. I'm copyrighting the numbers 0 and 1. All your binaries, and all computers in the world are mine. Mwa ha ha.
..and I can verify that this did, in fact, happen.I do remember it making headlines. In fact, it is still talked about in some of the local high school science classes (although not reapeated), thank goodness.