To my mind, the killer app for huge local storage is consumer-grade entertainment GIS. Imagine being able to integrate images like those provided by Blue Marble and by the various sources used by Terraserver into one consistent interface.
Imagine being able to start with that gorgeous Blue Marble image and zoom smoothly all the way down to aerial imagery with 1-4m^2/pixel resolution...
As I write this, there are 20 comments posted already. Nearly all of them are from people who quite clearly haven't read the actual article, or even just its abstract.
I worked at a large pharmaceutical company for two years (known internally as the Squid), and supported a 380TB protein interaction database (Oracle) and a 260TB SAP-backend database (Informix + custom).
Certainly Wayback's database is large, and certainly it holds far more varied information and appeals to a far larger audience, but by no means is it the biggest. I'm sure there are databases that made the ones I worked on look puny by comparison.
Has anyone ever done a study on ham radio operators who use handheld 2m and 70cm (146/440mhz) radios all the time? These tend to be far more powerful than any cell phone in terms of watts (usually 3-5), and are held just as close to the head. - Daniel N2SXX
The general scientific consensus for years has been that EM in any strength is completely harmless.
Huh? I'm missing something here. Nobody has ever thought that "EM in any strength is completely harmless." It's never been thought that you can stand in front of a 1000w microwave horn to no ill effect, or for that matter in front of a strong laser, or to receive huge quantities of X or gamma rays. People have always known of the tissue-heating safety hazards of both sub (radio/microwave) and supra (UV, X, Gamma) light radiation.
Huh? I'm missing something here. Nobody has ever thought that "EM in any strength is completely harmless." It's never been thought that you can stand in front of a 1000w microwave horn to no ill effect, or for that matter in front of a strong laser, or to receive huge quantities of X or gamma rays. People have always known of the tissue-heating safety hazards of both sub (radio/microwave) and supra (UV, X, Gamma) light radiation.
My personal feeling on my LASIK procedure: If there were anything in my life I could go back and undo, this would be it.
There have been a number of very informative posts on this topic, so rather than repeating general details I'll give my specifics:
My LASIK was performed at TLC Manhattan by Dr. Speaker. Before: OD Sphere -11.75, Cyl -1.50 OS Sphere -12.00, Cyl -1.50 (yes, that's twelve, not a typo)
Bilateral LASIK January 25 1999 (age 20) Three months postop: OD Sphere plano, Cyl -0.50 OS Sphere plano, Cyl -1.00
Second procedure June 30 1999 Four months postop: OD Sphere plano, Cyl -0.50 OS Sphere plano, Cyl -0.25 to -0.75 still fluctuating
I have had extensive problems with healing due to dry eyes, and my vision was cloudy for months. More importantly, though, is my night vision -- rather, the lack thereof. I have worse than Snellen 20/100 vision at night or in any low light environment.
I cannot read road signs, at all.
I cannot drive on unlit or poorly lit roads at night.
My vision is essentially unusable at night -- and unlike when I had glasses, this unusability is uncorrectable with today's technology.
Night vision problems occur because your entire cornea is not corrected -- only a central region. When your pupil is dilated, more of the cornea is engaged -- and light from the uncorrected and transition zones is allowed to pass. This light drowns out the corrected image, creating blurry and washed out images. Even in medium lighting, the effect is apparent. Ever see double out of one eye? If I cover one eye and look at a bright, sharp object (for example, the screwdriver on my shelf beside me right now), I can see three images of it, slightly offset from each other. If I lower the light at bit more, more images start to appear, until it's completely blurry with dozens of blurry and/or distorted copies.
Now, granted -- I started out with a huge prescription, and certainly there are a lot of success stories out there. In fact, I'd highly recommend the procedure to someone who can currently see better than 20/100 or so without glasses -- since the 'uncorrected' light you're left with post-op will be sufficiently focused that these problems won't be an issue. But for someone with my prescription -- I'm frankly shocked that Dr Speaker even allowed me to go ahead with the procedure.
I think LASIK is a very exciting technology, and probably will be as common as orthodontry in the near (10 years) future. However, with the current ablation zones in use, it is not appropriate for the correction of extreme myopia.
As I'm sure you're aware, this is complete bunk. Want to move through grocery and toll queues faster? Think a universal ID is the way to do it? Fine. There's probably some good a universal ID would do. Put it on a laminated card, then.
Voluntary means choice -- if you don't want to be identified going through the checkpoint this particular time, do you expect there to be tattoo-removal clinics on the side of the road (and matching booths on the opposite side to re-imprint you)?
So when I met Jake Lloyd and realized that Ender might be played by a child actor who would not
culkinize the character, I was able to rethink the entire project.
... the 2.4 GHz range is virtually uncluttered. You simply aim the MP3 Anywhere receiver toward the transmitter, and instantly you get clear digital sound on any stereo connected to the receiver.
The writers were clearly told that it operates in the GHz range, but they still think it's infrared or some other line-of-sight method.
The best part about this technology is that it creates a circular polarization signal to provide clear, powerful retransmission of audio signals throughout your home - unobstructed by walls, ceiling, furniture, or even floors.
Wow! I can understand it going through ceilings, but floors, too? Will wonders never cease?
In response to the responses to funny responses -- a good new feature for slashdot:
Get rid of the 'Submit' button. Have a huge banner at the top of the preview screen saying "Have you considered the possibility that this person is being humorous"?
I mean, sheesh. Attached to nearly every funny/sarcastic/ironic comment are four or five responses saying "you're stupid, that's wrong". Even the obvious ones.
Because right now, of course, all traffic lights are totally standalone and not connected to any central control or monitoring system. The advent of IPv6 will clearly change this, opening Main Street USA to renegade crackers from the soviet union (the collapse was faked).
Slashdot Mirror
Hey, it's not only low, it's nifty, too!
Imagine being able to start with that gorgeous Blue Marble image and zoom smoothly all the way down to aerial imagery with 1-4m^2/pixel resolution...
As I write this, there are 20 comments posted already. Nearly all of them are from people who quite clearly haven't read the actual article, or even just its abstract.
Please, read the article first!
The biggest database ever? 100TB? Hardly.
I worked at a large pharmaceutical company for two years (known internally as the Squid), and supported a 380TB protein interaction database (Oracle) and a 260TB SAP-backend database (Informix + custom).
Certainly Wayback's database is large, and certainly it holds far more varied information and appeals to a far larger audience, but by no means is it the biggest. I'm sure there are databases that made the ones I worked on look puny by comparison.
The indentation at the bottom of (most) bottles is there because it makes the bottle stronger.
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From http://www.microsoft
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According to Vandenberg AFB, there are still Iridium launches scheduled. Or is that something else?
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Has anyone ever done a study on ham radio operators who use handheld 2m and 70cm (146/440mhz) radios all the time? These tend to be far more powerful than any cell phone in terms of watts (usually 3-5), and are held just as close to the head.
- Daniel N2SXX
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Huh? I'm missing something here. Nobody has ever thought that "EM in any strength is completely harmless." It's never been thought that you can stand in front of a 1000w microwave horn to no ill effect, or for that matter in front of a strong laser, or to receive huge quantities of X or gamma rays. People have always known of the tissue-heating safety hazards of both sub (radio/microwave) and supra (UV, X, Gamma) light radiation.
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>>
Huh? I'm missing something here. Nobody has ever thought that "EM in any strength is completely harmless." It's never been thought that you can stand in front of a 1000w microwave horn to no ill effect, or for that matter in front of a strong laser, or to receive huge quantities of X or gamma rays. People have always known of the tissue-heating safety hazards of both sub (radio/microwave) and supra (UV, X, Gamma) light radiation.
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My personal feeling on my LASIK procedure:
If there were anything in my life I could go back and undo, this would be it.
There have been a number of very informative posts on this topic, so rather than repeating general details I'll give my specifics:
My LASIK was performed at TLC Manhattan by Dr. Speaker.
Before:
OD Sphere -11.75, Cyl -1.50
OS Sphere -12.00, Cyl -1.50
(yes, that's twelve, not a typo)
Bilateral LASIK January 25 1999 (age 20)
Three months postop:
OD Sphere plano, Cyl -0.50
OS Sphere plano, Cyl -1.00
Second procedure June 30 1999
Four months postop:
OD Sphere plano, Cyl -0.50
OS Sphere plano, Cyl -0.25 to -0.75 still fluctuating
I have had extensive problems with healing due to dry eyes, and my vision was cloudy for months. More importantly, though, is my night vision -- rather, the lack thereof. I have worse than Snellen 20/100 vision at night or in any low light environment.
Night vision problems occur because your entire cornea is not corrected -- only a central region. When your pupil is dilated, more of the cornea is engaged -- and light from the uncorrected and transition zones is allowed to pass. This light drowns out the corrected image, creating blurry and washed out images. Even in medium lighting, the effect is apparent. Ever see double out of one eye? If I cover one eye and look at a bright, sharp object (for example, the screwdriver on my shelf beside me right now), I can see three images of it, slightly offset from each other. If I lower the light at bit more, more images start to appear, until it's completely blurry with dozens of blurry and/or distorted copies.
Now, granted -- I started out with a huge prescription, and certainly there are a lot of success stories out there. In fact, I'd highly recommend the procedure to someone who can currently see better than 20/100 or so without glasses -- since the 'uncorrected' light you're left with post-op will be sufficiently focused that these problems won't be an issue. But for someone with my prescription -- I'm frankly shocked that Dr Speaker even allowed me to go ahead with the procedure.
I think LASIK is a very exciting technology, and probably will be as common as orthodontry in the near (10 years) future. However, with the current ablation zones in use, it is not appropriate for the correction of extreme myopia.
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This ban is rarely heeded.
My opinion on this is intentionally not stated.
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Voluntary means choice -- if you don't want to be identified going through the checkpoint this particular time, do you expect there to be tattoo-removal clinics on the side of the road (and matching booths on the opposite side to re-imprint you)?
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Now that's a good word. I like that.
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On some cellular systems in the southeast, you do listen to a short (5-10 second) ad before your 411 info.
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Well, you got nearly all of that wrong...
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In response to the responses to funny responses -- a good new feature for slashdot:
Get rid of the 'Submit' button.
Have a huge banner at the top of the preview screen saying "Have you considered the possibility that this person is being humorous"?
I mean, sheesh. Attached to nearly every funny/sarcastic/ironic comment are four or five responses saying "you're stupid, that's wrong". Even the obvious ones.
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Rob Malda -- 485
Hitler -- 355765
Linus Torvalds -- 18849
Bill Gates -- 282274
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That's kinda like saying Sharpie has the rights to my artwork, though.
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For those of you who've read Dan Simmons' Hyperion...
Great. We're gonna get the earth sucked into a black hole, and we don't even have the Hawking drive yet.
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Because right now, of course, all traffic lights are totally standalone and not connected to any central control or monitoring system. The advent of IPv6 will clearly change this, opening Main Street USA to renegade crackers from the soviet union (the collapse was faked).
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Thomas Edison lived in Menlo Park, NJ.
Therefore, the current Mayor of Menlo Park may take the rights to the light bulb, right?
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Perhaps the icon for this story should be changed to The Foot.
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