If they were able to increase it's velocity to about 4x its value, It would have launched into orbit! If I remember correctly, the ISS is moving at 22,500 mph (36200 km/h). I wonder if they had to generate some downforce the keep the trainything on the rails. The earth is a sphere and therefore the track should be slightly bent!
"Researchers at Holloman AFB have broken their own two decades old land speed record for rail vehicles. The rocket powered sled covered the 4.8 km track in roughly 6 seconds. Preliminary numbers put the sled's speed at mach 8.6 or about 10300 km/h - it covered the last 2.9 km in just 1.3 seconds. The previous record of 9851 km/h was set on Oct. 5, 1982. Other accounts are at the Alamogordo Daily News, the Denver Post, and CNN."
Maybe we should make a rule that say you always have to supply metric and imperial units... It would make my job so much easier...
Now that most of the Marvel Comic characters have been done, what will be next? Since cartoon characters have shown to be very lucrative movie material, allsorts of non-Marvel characters will be eligible.
Will we see some anime on the big screen? Will we see all the pokemon clones (digimon, beyblade, medabots) to be made into movies?
I was just wondering where these steriotypes come from? Are they based on real people which are extapolated to include the masses?
In my opinion, steriotypes are a way to visualize the unknown. It give you the false impression that you know everything about something you have never seen before, thereby removing the fear of the unknown.
(I'm throwing a ball here, please feel free to reply:) )
I agree that legislation is a first step, but how are you going to uphold that law? The problem is so diverse (from security camera's to e-mail). And where is the line: A security camera can help prevent crime, but can it be used againt you if you commit e.g. adutery? And moreover: if the information is never disclosed to you, how can you file a complaint or press charges?
Most people are completely oblivious to the amount of information that is gathered about themselves. If you can compile all the scattered information of a particular person you can obtain a reasonable complete picture: Medical history, education, spending habits, income, where you live, what sports you do, etc. etc. In the end there is only one way your privecy is protected: just another face in the crowd. Just like zebra-stripes. One zebra is very visible, but a heard is just like a striped ocean. Just make sure you are and stay a number, you have no problems.
There are many concepts that, if tweaked to the current technology, could be greatly improved. However, keeping old technology also has it's merits: Firstly, it's proven technology so all quicks are known or resolved; New technology undoubtedly has more problems. Even the threat that new technology has more problems, people will not use it. Also, changing to a new kind of technology require huge investments. New technology has to be pretty profitable if it is to overcome the investments made in the old one.
This principle is part of human nature: People get used to some kind of technology/ideas and stick to it. Even when these concepts stop to be meaningful. I refer to the Querty-effect: Old typewriters had little pins with letters on them which hit an ink-soaked ribbon and presses it onto the paper. To prevent these pins from hitting eachother (which happened a lot), the qwerty keyboard was invented. The most abundant letters in English were as far apart as possible to prevent collisions. But a computer doen's have pins, so why do we still use a qwerty keybaord? But also think of buttons in programmes: You press buttons in real life, why show them on a screen and press them with a virtual hand (the mouse cursor)? There are many more examples; the radio/TV frequency story if Mr. Reed being one of them.
The problem usually isn't the technology, it's the ideas that need to be changed. But sometimes technology improvements do get through, e.g. the DVD is nothing than an up-to date CD. MP3-player replacing the old walkman. Telefones replacing the telegraph.
Things change, ideas change. Some want to accellerate it, some want to slow it down. In the end, things just change at the rate they do and, as harsh as it sounds, there's nothing you can do about it. It just takes a little time...
In my opinion, cycling is much more intricate than NASCAR. Since theorists like simple things.
Let me give some examples of how cyclng is more intricate than NASCAR: - The person in front of a group is putting in more effort than the rest of the group. Therefore everybody takes turns at the front of the group and the group is constantly rotating ("cycling"). - Although the wind-effect is levelling the field, there are still people who are better (are fitter) than others. As said in the article, the differences between nascars are minimal. Also there are specialists in every team: Sprinters, Climbers, Loners, Rain-people, Coblle, etc. - In a burst effort, you can get clear of your group. But you can only do that a few times, therefore you have to play your cards right. - Not to mention team tactics. Cyclist who are designated as a "helper" (in Dutch "knecht") is obliged to put effort into getting his teammate into a good position, an action which removes all chances of him winning. Sometimes that means thaking the front position in a group. This often escalates to an entire team (about 7 persons) at the front of the pack; racing like mad. But positioning is also vital. When the pack makes a sprint the positioning and timing in the pack is vital. Since the pack is constanly rotating (usually the ouside goes faster than the inside, followed by the outside becoming the inside) it's a question of timeing. Also if the pack makes a turn, the cyclist on the outside has to make a lot more distance than the inside. Being on the wrong side of the curve will cost you 10 places, at least!
As everybody knows, the metric system was invented to make all the americans feel superoir! (Don't you whatch the X-Files? (And they only want you to believe that show has ended, trust me!;) ) )
For all you metric-starved people, me included, here's what the article would read in cetric units: Coaster Art Guy writes "Cedar Point amusement park unveiled the tallest roller coaster in the world today. Top Thrill Dragster launches you from 0 to 190 km/h in 4 seconds via a hydraulic launch. The dragster looking like cars take you straight up a 130 meter high tower, into a top hat element, and twists you 3/2*Pi radians straight down. All in about 20 seconds from start to finish. How about that one? Also check out the POV video here Quicktime or here Windows Media Player."
Sounds much less exciting now hah? Just proves my point.
I hope they don't change the story of the comics too much... If you only knew how much effort and research Herge, the creator of Tin-Tin, put in to his comics. For instance, in the episode "On a Marche sur la Lune" (We have walked on the moon) captain Haddocks drink starts to float out of his cup when the artificial gravity is swithed off. The boose takes the form of a bubble. Nobody had ever seen that before in real life. When Haddock gets detached from the ship he floats alongside of the spaceship (and does not lag behind). Also, the characters hop over the moon in stead of walk. Remember, this was before Neal ever set foot on the moon. So if they do put the scissors into the story I know Herge is going to, as we say, turn around in his grave.
P.S. In Flanders (Vlaanderen) and the Netherlands Tin-Tin is called "Kuifje" (cowlick,quiff) because of his unusual hairdo.
P.S.2: Some years ago, there was a TV-series (cartoon) made from the Tin-Tin stories. Luckely they were smart and did not make any changes in the original storyline.
True story: Somebody I knew was one of the many people with Window-phobia. Using the (File-)explorer was nearly a insurmountable taks. But she (I'm not trying to uphold a steriotype here, I know men who are even worse) was the chairman (or chairwoman) of a social club and needed to keep track of all the names and adresses of all the members.
She only needed one list so I made a programme that was specific for that task. Once you opened the programme the database was automatically opened. It was saved as you exited (or if you printed, just in case windows crashed on printing). It had no menu bar or status bar, just a row of buttons with home-made images on the right like: - Add member (pic: Arrow to document) - Change member; but you could also doubleclick (pic: Arrow from and to document) - Delete menber (pic: Arrow from document to cross) - Print (pic: printer), which didn't popup a print setting dialog! - Exit (pic: point to door), because she didn't undestand what the three buttons were for at the top-right of the window. It had keyboard shortcuts, but she never used those.
From the day she first used it she loved it. It supplied just the things you need and nothing more.
Summerisingly, I think that there is an even worse Cluft than the article mentioned: unnecessary options. I see it all the time: people are so easily distracted by all the options they never use. It quickly causes another phobia: option-phobia. They are so afraid they accidentally start one of those stupid options, not knowing how to shut it up again.
There was this song from my childhood that suggested that very same thing? Was the writer psychic or what?
In "Belgie" (Belgium) a song from "Het goede doel" (The Right Cause) there is a line that goes (All Dutch people sing along please!):
"Is er leven op Pluto? Kun je dansen op de maan? Is er een plaats in de sterren waar ik heen lan gaan?" Is there life on Pluto? Can you dance on the moon? Is there a place amongst the stars where I can go?
Does anyone know what the vieuwing distance must be to see the 3D effect?
I think that "parellax-barrier" only works when you are right in front of it and at a certain distance from the screen. Else, for instance, the data for the right eye will meet the left eye, thus killing the effect.
> You wanted to say: Most people out there are not using ancient medievel units based on body parts, plant semen and the like anymore
True, but it's always better to put these things delicately. We wouldn't want the Americans to believe there is something (or someone living) outside their vast continent?;-P
Next time, could you please remember that there are still people out there using the metric system!
But 10 kg is a really large block of ice. When melted it would give a litle bit less then 10 liters (2 gallons) of water. If it would fall into your house you would not only have a hole in the roof, but also a flood!
You think we could get a rocket up there, grab them and send them to the sahara?
May take a little wile longer than May next year..
on
Sen To, X-Men 2
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Allthough it's getting better, the film probably won't be show in europe until October next year. I don't know why, but it allways takes such a long time. It's pretty bad too, because when the film is "hyped" in America we hear it too. So when it finally hits the theaters here (in Europe) people go like: "Oh yeah, that movie. That movie's old, man!"
Re:If Magneto is in this one...
on
Sen To, X-Men 2
·
· Score: 1
I remember an STV (Star Trek: Voyager) episode in which Neelix and Tuvok repaired an "orbital tether", a magnetic wire into the stratosphere to launch carrages. Had a consperacy and some aliens who launched astroids at planets too.
No mam, Sci-Fi doesn't rot your brains out, it's educational!
Borax (Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate) by be a simple laundry detergent, but borohydride ISN'T. It's one of the most reducive agents I know. It's corrosive, toxic, forms hydrogen when in contact with water and reacts with almost any organic material. Just look at the security sheet for this chemical.
Do you really want to put this in your car? I don't think so! The fact that it's similar to another chemical doesn't mean it has to have the same properties?! Just like you can say:
Toluene is not such a bad substance (it's found in ordinary petrol; as long as you don't drink or bathe in it), so toulene with three NO3 groups is just as safe. For the people who didn't get it: I'm talking 'bout trinitrotoluene(TNT)!
IMHO, The chance that this is going into production isn't that large.
I'm useing Windows (So shoot me)since all programmes I need are for that platform. I started using it because I din't want to use M$IE and I found this one to have (in my opinion) the nicest interface. It started out to be pretty slow, even slower than M$IE. But it just started to get better and better. With 0.93 it even rivalled IE.
I'm curious if they can keep this pace of improvement up. Pity it doesn't load the slashdot page when it's not the first page loaded.
Slashdot Mirror
If they were able to increase it's velocity to about 4x its value, It would have launched into orbit! If I remember correctly, the ISS is moving at 22,500 mph (36200 km/h). I wonder if they had to generate some downforce the keep the trainything on the rails. The earth is a sphere and therefore the track should be slightly bent!
For the non-US people in the world:
"Researchers at Holloman AFB have broken their own two decades old land speed record for rail vehicles. The rocket powered sled covered the 4.8 km track in roughly 6 seconds. Preliminary numbers put the sled's speed at mach 8.6 or about 10300 km/h - it covered the last 2.9 km in just 1.3 seconds. The previous record of 9851 km/h was set on Oct. 5, 1982. Other accounts are at the Alamogordo Daily News, the Denver Post, and CNN."
Maybe we should make a rule that say you always have to supply metric and imperial units... It would make my job so much easier...
If software produced under the (L)GPL can be used in software under the EULA, can software under the EULA be used in software under the GPL?
Just compare that observation to this:
"A chimpanzee is an ape, but an ape is not a chimansee"
This test shows that chims are a subgroup of apes.
Does this also show the GPL is a subgroup of the EULA? >>;-E'''
Now that most of the Marvel Comic characters have been done, what will be next?
Since cartoon characters have shown to be very lucrative movie material, allsorts of non-Marvel characters will be eligible.
Will we see some anime on the big screen?
Will we see all the pokemon clones (digimon, beyblade, medabots) to be made into movies?
What's your opinion?
I was just wondering where these steriotypes come from? Are they based on real people which are extapolated to include the masses?
:) )
In my opinion, steriotypes are a way to visualize the unknown. It give you the false impression that you know everything about something you have never seen before, thereby removing the fear of the unknown.
(I'm throwing a ball here, please feel free to reply
I agree that legislation is a first step, but how are you going to uphold that law? The problem is so diverse (from security camera's to e-mail). And where is the line: A security camera can help prevent crime, but can it be used againt you if you commit e.g. adutery?
And moreover: if the information is never disclosed to you, how can you file a complaint or press charges?
Most people are completely oblivious to the amount of information that is gathered about themselves. If you can compile all the scattered information of a particular person you can obtain a reasonable complete picture: Medical history, education, spending habits, income, where you live, what sports you do, etc. etc.
In the end there is only one way your privecy is protected: just another face in the crowd. Just like zebra-stripes. One zebra is very visible, but a heard is just like a striped ocean. Just make sure you are and stay a number, you have no problems.
Is this article implying that the Americans are actually worse than Bush jr.?
Whatch out: Big brother is watching you!
There are many concepts that, if tweaked to the current technology, could be greatly improved. However, keeping old technology also has it's merits: Firstly, it's proven technology so all quicks are known or resolved; New technology undoubtedly has more problems. Even the threat that new technology has more problems, people will not use it. Also, changing to a new kind of technology require huge investments. New technology has to be pretty profitable if it is to overcome the investments made in the old one.
This principle is part of human nature: People get used to some kind of technology/ideas and stick to it. Even when these concepts stop to be meaningful. I refer to the Querty-effect: Old typewriters had little pins with letters on them which hit an ink-soaked ribbon and presses it onto the paper. To prevent these pins from hitting eachother (which happened a lot), the qwerty keyboard was invented. The most abundant letters in English were as far apart as possible to prevent collisions. But a computer doen's have pins, so why do we still use a qwerty keybaord?
But also think of buttons in programmes: You press buttons in real life, why show them on a screen and press them with a virtual hand (the mouse cursor)? There are many more examples; the radio/TV frequency story if Mr. Reed being one of them.
The problem usually isn't the technology, it's the ideas that need to be changed. But sometimes technology improvements do get through, e.g. the DVD is nothing than an up-to date CD. MP3-player replacing the old walkman. Telefones replacing the telegraph.
Things change, ideas change. Some want to accellerate it, some want to slow it down. In the end, things just change at the rate they do and, as harsh as it sounds, there's nothing you can do about it. It just takes a little time...
Did you see that picture of Bill Gates? Arg! Gasp!
;-)
Even worse: It had a button beneath it saying: "Enlarge". AAAAAAA! The horror!
*Takes a pill and kick up the telephone*
Mr. Shrink, I think I need to get back to my happy place!
In my opinion, cycling is much more intricate than NASCAR. Since theorists like simple things.
Let me give some examples of how cyclng is more intricate than NASCAR:
- The person in front of a group is putting in more effort than the rest of the group. Therefore everybody takes turns at the front of the group and the group is constantly rotating ("cycling").
- Although the wind-effect is levelling the field, there are still people who are better (are fitter) than others. As said in the article, the differences between nascars are minimal. Also there are specialists in every team: Sprinters, Climbers, Loners, Rain-people, Coblle, etc.
- In a burst effort, you can get clear of your group. But you can only do that a few times, therefore you have to play your cards right.
- Not to mention team tactics. Cyclist who are designated as a "helper" (in Dutch "knecht") is obliged to put effort into getting his teammate into a good position, an action which removes all chances of him winning. Sometimes that means thaking the front position in a group. This often escalates to an entire team (about 7 persons) at the front of the pack; racing like mad.
But positioning is also vital. When the pack makes a sprint the positioning and timing in the pack is vital. Since the pack is constanly rotating (usually the ouside goes faster than the inside, followed by the outside becoming the inside) it's a question of timeing. Also if the pack makes a turn, the cyclist on the outside has to make a lot more distance than the inside. Being on the wrong side of the curve will cost you 10 places, at least!
I could go on and on and on...
As everybody knows, the metric system was invented to make all the americans feel superoir! (Don't you whatch the X-Files? (And they only want you to believe that show has ended, trust me! ;) ) )
For all you metric-starved people, me included, here's what the article would read in cetric units:
Coaster Art Guy writes "Cedar Point amusement park unveiled the tallest roller coaster in the world today. Top Thrill Dragster launches you from 0 to 190 km/h in 4 seconds via a hydraulic launch. The dragster looking like cars take you straight up a 130 meter high tower, into a top hat element, and twists you 3/2*Pi radians straight down. All in about 20 seconds from start to finish. How about that one? Also check out the POV video here Quicktime or here Windows Media Player."
Sounds much less exciting now hah? Just proves my point.
I hope they don't change the story of the comics too much... If you only knew how much effort and research Herge, the creator of Tin-Tin, put in to his comics. For instance, in the episode "On a Marche sur la Lune" (We have walked on the moon) captain Haddocks drink starts to float out of his cup when the artificial gravity is swithed off. The boose takes the form of a bubble. Nobody had ever seen that before in real life. When Haddock gets detached from the ship he floats alongside of the spaceship (and does not lag behind). Also, the characters hop over the moon in stead of walk. Remember, this was before Neal ever set foot on the moon. So if they do put the scissors into the story I know Herge is going to, as we say, turn around in his grave.
P.S. In Flanders (Vlaanderen) and the Netherlands Tin-Tin is called "Kuifje" (cowlick,quiff) because of his unusual hairdo.
P.S.2: Some years ago, there was a TV-series (cartoon) made from the Tin-Tin stories. Luckely they were smart and did not make any changes in the original storyline.
True story: Somebody I knew was one of the many people with Window-phobia. Using the (File-)explorer was nearly a insurmountable taks. But she (I'm not trying to uphold a steriotype here, I know men who are even worse) was the chairman (or chairwoman) of a social club and needed to keep track of all the names and adresses of all the members.
She only needed one list so I made a programme that was specific for that task. Once you opened the programme the database was automatically opened. It was saved as you exited (or if you printed, just in case windows crashed on printing). It had no menu bar or status bar, just a row of buttons with home-made images on the right like:
- Add member (pic: Arrow to document)
- Change member; but you could also doubleclick (pic: Arrow from and to document)
- Delete menber (pic: Arrow from document to cross)
- Print (pic: printer), which didn't popup a print setting dialog!
- Exit (pic: point to door), because she didn't undestand what the three buttons were for at the top-right of the window.
It had keyboard shortcuts, but she never used those.
From the day she first used it she loved it. It supplied just the things you need and nothing more.
Summerisingly, I think that there is an even worse Cluft than the article mentioned: unnecessary options. I see it all the time: people are so easily distracted by all the options they never use. It quickly causes another phobia: option-phobia. They are so afraid they accidentally start one of those stupid options, not knowing how to shut it up again.
Philips Natlab in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, has also put some work into this field. See this link
In "Belgie" (Belgium) a song from "Het goede doel" (The Right Cause) there is a line that goes (All Dutch people sing along please!):
"Is er leven op Pluto? Kun je dansen op de maan? Is er een plaats in de sterren waar ik heen lan gaan?"
Is there life on Pluto? Can you dance on the moon? Is there a place amongst the stars where I can go?
You can find the rest of the lyrics here
Does anyone know what the vieuwing distance must be to see the 3D effect?
I think that "parellax-barrier" only works when you are right in front of it and at a certain distance from the screen. Else, for instance, the data for the right eye will meet the left eye, thus killing the effect.
Can anyone confirm this?
> You wanted to say: Most people out there are not using ancient medievel units based on body parts, plant semen and the like anymore
;-P
True, but it's always better to put these things delicately. We wouldn't want the Americans to believe there is something (or someone living) outside their vast continent?
Next time, could you please remember that there are still people out there using the metric system!
But 10 kg is a really large block of ice. When melted it would give a litle bit less then 10 liters (2 gallons) of water. If it would fall into your house you would not only have a hole in the roof, but also a flood!
You think we could get a rocket up there, grab them and send them to the sahara?
Allthough it's getting better, the film probably won't be show in europe until October next year.
I don't know why, but it allways takes such a long time. It's pretty bad too, because when the film is "hyped" in America we hear it too. So when it finally hits the theaters here (in Europe) people go like: "Oh yeah, that movie. That movie's old, man!"
Toad sucks? No he licks with his tounge!
It seems like Microsoft was held hostage by Mr Freeze. (Batman rulez!)
The name says it all: All those fancy Microsoft stuff will eventually Freeze up! (BSOD)
(I'd wish!)
No mam, Sci-Fi doesn't rot your brains out, it's educational!
Do you really want to put this in your car? I don't think so! The fact that it's similar to another chemical doesn't mean it has to have the same properties?! Just like you can say:
Toluene is not such a bad substance (it's found in ordinary petrol; as long as you don't drink or bathe in it), so toulene with three NO3 groups is just as safe. For the people who didn't get it: I'm talking 'bout trinitrotoluene(TNT)!
IMHO, The chance that this is going into production isn't that large.
I concur.
I'm useing Windows (So shoot me)since all programmes I need are for that platform. I started using it because I din't want to use M$IE and I found this one to have (in my opinion) the nicest interface. It started out to be pretty slow, even slower than M$IE. But it just started to get better and better. With 0.93 it even rivalled IE.
I'm curious if they can keep this pace of improvement up. Pity it doesn't load the slashdot page when it's not the first page loaded.