If there were commercially available and low-cost fuel cell batteries that ran on butane, gasoline or methanol - I would all over them!
The hacking potential alone - sure, the initial ones might come as "non-refillable" or only refillable with special "cartridges" - but a dedicated hardware hacker could pull out the PEMs and such easily. Then it would be a simple matter to combine them and make a custom fuel cell for all kinds of uses.
I am in the (long) process of building a small electric vehicle (recumbent chassis using bicycle parts). Currently, I plan on using lead-acid gel-cells (good amperage, fast recharge times, rugged - but they weigh a lot) - I would love to be able to swap them out for a fuel cell. Right now I can't (without spending a whole lotta $$$).
I hope in the future this will change - and just like I can now with NiCd and NiMH batteries, I will be able to find them "surplus", and begin to hack on them to do what I want them to do...
...it is only about Bush vs. Kerry? There are still third-party candidates out there running (even if you don't ever hear about them).
Take a look at *all* of your options (including Bush and Kerry!), then make up your mind who to vote for, and most importantly, vote for who you think will best do the job...
If more people did this, that is vote their conscience instead of "who is most popular by the exit polls", or whatever other inane reason is given - we would likely be a hell of a lot better off today...
Actually, other than my network connection (which was anything but "secure", outside of having a firewall, of course) - a few years back I was virtually secure from an eavesdropping, TEMPEST standpoint.
First off, I lived in a house sitting on a large piece of desert land (not huge, just several acres). The front road was about 100 feet away from the house. All the neighbors were trusted family members, and their houses were a good 100 feet away from the house as well. Nobody to the rear, empty desert lot. The main road was about 500 feet away.
The house was huge - about 75-100 feet wide, 50 feet or so deep, block and concrete construction. Bars on *all* windows (not exactly great in a fire). Best of all was my computer room/office: it was an interior block constructed room with *no* windows - a block wall room within a block wall house. Had I installed a steel door it would have been perfect (ok, and steel mesh over the ceiling).
Had there been anybody trying to "sneak up" and eavesdrop on the house, we would have seen them, no problem. Might have even taken them some lemonade (or, if they were on the property, we would have brought a shotgun).
And used, they are very cheap! I have seen such containers (some with side loading doors!) go for $3000.00 US - that may not be a lot of square footage, but remember this is pretty hefty steel we are talking about - underground bunker workshops are a possibility with these things. Easily modifiable with little work (just a welder!). Modular and stackable - cover with some insulation (a crapload of expandable foam?), add some A/C - cheap and very durable living space...
Currently reading Quicksilver...
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The Confusion
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· Score: 2, Interesting
...and getting to the point of its "end" - maybe 100 pages left to go or so.
Anyhow - since reading Cryptonomicon, and now Quicksilver - and what I am hearing about Confusion - I steadfastly believe that Neal is trying to tell us (geeks? maybe) something, that he is trying to impart on us some form of wisdom that most men have lost.
Now, I know that is a grand bit of hubris to suppose this - who knows what Neal is really thinking or trying to do, and to surmise that this is what he is doing seems to be rather arrogant (and I am someone thinking this!)...
I think he is showing us not only what and how "money" came into being - but how it can be done again - but this time in a fashion that is free from government meddling (ie, taxes, tariffs, fees, etc), among other ills which affects current monetary systems. He started delving into this with Cryptonomicon - but it dealt more with the "bank", less with money - how to store your "money", in other words, so that governments have no say about it. The Baroque Cycle is showing how to "make" money - that is, create a currency of exchange, because that is all that money is - a substitution for barter, because it is hard to carry around pigs and chickens for trade with you everwhere. It is showing it in a quasi-historical account. We, as geeks, should be following up the leads, where they are "true", and finding out the historical truth behind them - to learn how money works, where it came from, and most importantly, how governments function with (and without) it. I think that is the direction Neal is attempting to lead us, if only we would look and follow.
We need to wake up - fully - and recognize that we live in a corrupt world society, and that we have the power to change it, because we control the means of communication of this planet. We can either sit back, and wait for the chains of enslavement to be shackled upon us (if we don't get killed or worse by our fellow "civilized" men), or stand up and make the difference to free the world from this corruption.
The ability to manufacture all the parts for the Analytical (and Difference) Engines all existed at the time of Babbage. The modern team you refer to actually did build their recreation of the Difference Engine to the "spec level" of Babbages time - the only thing different was that they used mass-production techniques to make all the parts, rather than hand tooling each individual part.
Babbage employed a series of very skilled draftsmen/engineers of his time (in some ways, they were the best in their fields).
I would say most of the problems with the Analytical Engine not being built had to do with Babbage's constant redesign of it, along with not being able to secure the funds to build it - coupled with other reasons.
As for the Difference Engine - it is interesting to note that Babbage had a falling out with his main engineer/draftsman - over payment or somesuch for work. This individual (Clement), through a series of disputes, eventually killed the relationship and contract with Babbage (and the Treasury, which provided the finance). Most of the parts that were built ended up being melted down as "scrap", others were used for test models. The other drawings and models, etc were eventually returned to Babbage, but only after some very drawn out legal ordeals. I liken a lot of this similar to today's patent disputes and/or copyright disputes.
Finally, in a way, a form of "DRM" also helped put nails in the coffin of the Difference Engine - in that Clement, when he left, took all of the tools and jigs needed to build the parts with him when the contract ended (actually, IIRC, it was part of the contract he signed with Babbage, that any tools or jigs he constructed, along with all rights, would remain with him at the end of the contract). In a way, it would be like having the code for a project, but your programmer leaves with the one copy of the compiler, which he wrote...
I just wanted to note that Babbage was aware of using punched cards to control his Analytical Engine - indeed, he had forseen using punch cards for the output of the engine - so that the cards could be read via a printing device - divorcing the printing from the computing parts, unlike the Difference Engine (ie, offline printing).
I just want to clarify that I didn't mean to imply that Babbage didn't know about punch cards - he did, to a very great extent.
I reccommend that if you want to find out more about Charles Babbage and his contributions to computing, you should read "The Difference Engine" by Doron Swade (ISBN 0-670-91020-1) - I think/. has had a review on it in the past, as well - it is an excellent book which clears up a lot of confusion about Babbage, Ada, and a whole host of other characters (steampunk as reality?)...
First off, yes - she did do exactly as you describe. As far as whether they work or not...?
You see, no one has yet built a complete Analytical Engine (you are thinking about the Differential Engine - which calculates differential equations). Part of the engine (the Mill) was assembled from the "mass" of parts Babbage left behind when he dies (by his son, I believe) - but the rest of the machine was never completed.
Other builders/inventors, inspired by what Babbage left behind (both physical works, as well as his writings), went on to construct other "Differential" engines - but none (that I am aware of), ever attempted what he designed for the Analytical Engine (that is, a fully mechanical base-10 programmable calculator - which had multiple registers for "memory", and the ability to "loop" and "branch" - it was almost Turing complete!). Most likely because of the immense mechanical complexity involved, thus the great amount of money which would be needed to construct it.
I have always thought it was a pity that Babbage hadn't looked into electrical or electro-mechanical devices to build his machines. Telegraph relays and such were available in his time period, the "punch card" did exist (Jaquard's loom). However, it would take Hollerith to make this connection (and even then, only for tabulation - not general computing/calculation - though some later adapted his machines).
It is a pity - for had Babbage recognized the importance of electricity for his designs, he could have used Boolean logic (which he was very familiar with - he was one of the best mathematicians of his time) instead of base-10 (which he used because it reduced the complexity of various mechanisms, as well as having this reduced complexity being easier to power mechanically by steam).
Whether historically it would have mattered is difficult to say - there is a very good chance it could have changed the world (for good or better who knows) - imagine a 50-70 head start in computer technology - it boggles the mind with the possibilities (and yes, I have read the Difference Engine - but the alternate timeline would go even more sideways had Babbage utilized an electromechanical approach)...
Not that I would buy one (when I am away from a phone, no one can contact me - I am a free man, not a dog on a leash), but still...
This would be limited by battery technology (and may be why it hasn't come to fruition - or only prototype level, if that):
You would have an "earpiece" that would be a combo of the receiver speaker and a small tube (or no tube?) microphone - it would "clip" over your ear or maybe fit right in your ear. Battery to power the audio and bluetooth (or similar tech)...
The receiver/transmitter would fit on your wrist, not much bigger than a watch, with a small screen - showing numbers, status, etc - this would house the actual "phone", and also serve as a watch and simple PDA. If you could throw a camera in, fine (if you could integrate it into the earpiece, facing forward, even better!). It would wirelessly communicate with the earpiece via bluetooth.
Basically, a phone that is always there, always with you - low beeps could alert you when you had a call coming in (no disturbing others with the ringing), both hands are free to do other tasks (typing or writing).
I know this isn't a new idea by far - prototypes and such have been shown by various manufacturers, and similar stuff has be "designed and worn" at some "wearable fashion shows" for a long while. I just wish battery technology (or whatever is holding it all back) would catch up...
Many of you here likely know how to "homebrew" your own solar cells using a sheet of copper (google for "copper oxide solar cell" or "cupric oxide solar cell" for more details). These cells are cheap and easy to make, but they are far from efficient. They use copper oxide as the semi-conductor layer, the copper plate is the back conductive layer, and a transparent front conducting layer needs to be used (typically on homemade cells, this is done using salt water - a much better solution, though more difficult to obtain and use, is to use a silvering solution, like mirrors are made with, to deposit a transparent conductive silver front electrode onto the plate). On top of being inefficient and depending on the front electrode, difficult to make and use for long periods, they also tend to be expensive - copper sheet doesn't come cheap.
I have thought of a possible solution, though I don't know if it will work. I would love for someone to try this possible solution, and let me know their results.
Basically, I am thinking of using a piece of alluminum plate/sheet for the back electrode, painting the alluminum plate with copper-oxide containing anti-fouling paint (used to keep barnacles and other things off boats and ships - must have a very high percentage of copper oxide for this to have a chance in hell of working), then, while the paint is tacky, pressing a piece of copper mesh onto it (to form the front electrode) - hook up wires, sandwitch between some clear acrylic, and...profit?
Would this work? Would this be a cheap way of building solar cells? Would it be cheaper than silicon-based cells? Cheaper than used cells (likely not)?
Actually, I know of a way to get real cheap solar panels, which I am currently exploring - hopefully, something good will come out of it...
Typically, yes - cdrecord and mkisofs (not needed for an already done iso - you have to build an iso before you burn it) are set for root privilege only (that is, execution privileges are for root only). You can change this (sometimes, sudo access is set up) - heck, you can make it wide open if you want to. Best way would be to set up a group for cdrw, set the group for rwx access to both for cdrw, then add the users that need access to that group (actually, add the group to the users login).
I am not sure why these two commands are like this - I am sure there is a good reason though (can anyone enlighten us?)...
One of the most amazing PC demos I ever saw was a 256 byte intro that ran under DOS (I forget the name of it).
It was so well written, it would run perfectly under NT4.0 (mode switches and everything worked perfectly). As if that wasn't enough - the graphics - OMFG!
The intro sped you through a 3D tunnel with twists and turns, with computed-on-the-fly texture map. Spinning (or you were rotating around it - been a while since I watched it) in the middle of the tunnel was this 3D warped texture "blob".
This ran by itself - all in 256 bytes. My brief look at the code (under debug) showed a very simple program, which hit heavily at the math co-processor - lots of math ops - and interfaced with mode 13h via VESA (IIRC). Most of the bytes were for the main meat of the code - but 256 bytes! I am still amazed.
In fact, I may look at that code again, and see if it could be compiled to run under Linux in some manner (from the console, maybe?) - since it seemed so simple...
Every time I hear about this prize, and I read about Scaled's test flights, I am filled with awe and excitement.
Awe at the fact that these people (and other teams) are attempting to get 100 km, safely, and reusably. The amount of engineering and knowledge to do this isn't trivial. I have attended high-powered model rocketry events, and to see these things go up 10,000+ feet, which is well under 5 km - and these things take a lot of work and knowledge alone, to get up and back down in one piece. One rocket self-destructed in flight. I have seen video of HPMR's exploding on the pad.
I feel excitement that this is being attempted at all - and is likely to succeed at some point (all eyes point to Scaled, but you never know what may pop up in the end). It also has a good chance of failing.
I only hope that should an X-Prize contender fails, that other contestants look upon the failure as a learning experience and continue forth with their entries. I believe that all the "test-pilots" and builders of these craft would agree with me (ok, maybe I am being a little arrogant there)...
Not "free software" (which implies lack of monetary worth), but "Free software" (which is meant to imply "free" as in "freedom" - thus, you, the original poster of the article, may need to explain this in your paper).
Do you still have the old box (sans hard drives and fan, of course)? Would you be willing to part with it (I am not interested in buying it - without the hard drives or fans, it is essentially worthless, right?)? I would be willing to pay shipping, though - reply back, or hit my site to send email.
Ultrasound isn't the only method...
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Directed Sound
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· Score: 1
Another form of the technology uses modulated microwave energy.
It is based on the observation by microwave (radar and other) technicians would experience what "sounded" like popping or static inside their heads (ie, it wasn't coming in their ears) when they worked on live equipment. Apparently the microwave energy was causing neurons in the aural region of the brain to fire, which came across as "hearing" (though in the head only).
This was later refined so that tones, then later voice, could be sent. I have heard that voice actually sounds rather "gravelly" - it isn't really useful for more than that (and not even that, actually). There is a company that has a patent on it, and I know a few space and defence agencies have looked into it (there used to be some references on the net about this - NASA was one, I think Australia's "Dept of Defence" (or whatever they are known as) was looking into the possible military use of it).
The conspiracy theory side of this is known as "voice to skull" technology (do a google on it and have fun). Let's take it a step further - imagine a psy-op "weapon" for propaganda purposes that could be pointed at a person, and spoken through - convincing the person that "someone was in his head" or he was "hearing voices in his head tell him things, bad things". Now, apply that to the "enemy". Then, apply that to the general local population (ie, US)...
Who says that "mind control", "tinfoil hats" and such is all just "bunk"? There may be more to it than we will ever know...
Have we all forgotten the PATRIOT Act? That huge pile of paper that none of our representatives read (not to mention it seems to have been written overnight - or more accurately, was written waaay prior to 9/11 - in anticipation? Or was more known?), but every single one of them voted for (ok, that isn't accurate - I think there was one representative who didn't vote for it or voted against it or something).
A huge document (it was supposed to be several inches thick in its entirety) - but not one of our "representatives" actually read it and discussed it before voting on it. It tramples a whole host of our rights, rights guaranteed by our Constitution (and our guns, if "we the people" weren't such pussies) - this should be treasonable action - so why isn't anything happenning?
Don't tell me "but we are at war" - WE ARE NOT AT WAR - Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war - only they can do this, and are required to do this by our laws and the Constitution, but this has not yet happened...
How many "wars" have we been in since WWII that have been "declared wars"? None? They have all been "police actions" or "peacekeeping missions" or some other such drivel - yet we and the media (hell, even our President!) keep calling this a war, that a war - think of the children!
It is sickening, it is disgusting, it is an abomination to the ideals which this country was founded upon.
This is only one piece of so-called "bad legislation" - please. I could rattle off a ton more - you know it, I know it. Most of our congresscritters couldn't find their ass with both hands, many are in the employ of the RIAA and MPAA, bought and paid for with media dollars for legislations like the DMCA, and the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act. The rest: they are bought and paid for various so-called "Christian" organizations, seeking to limit what can be done by and for science, in the name of some fantasy "man in the sky".
Representatives, supposed "statesmen" (but very few deserve that title, once you know the definition of it) - people we supposedly elect (and even this is in question!!!) to protect our greater interests from the few - are instead in their pockets.
Don't tell me that there aren't "good guys" and "bad guys" - most (all?) of our representatives willingly sacrificed our Constitutions when they voted and signed on to the PATRIOT Act without reading or discussing it. Many have lied, cheated, and stolen while in office. Our own President is a known alcoholic with a DUI!
Remember friends, you reap what you sow - and this crop is the worst of them all.
My brother-in-law has a couple of patents relating to a device that attaches to your air vent (in a vehicle) and holds a beverage (keeps it "hot" in the wintertime and "cold" in the summer via the A/C and heater). He patented this in the early 80's (IIRC), and didn't see a dime off of it until recently.
You see, the problem he had was that he saw several instances of companies buying a knockoff product from manufacturers overseas (typically some asian company, mostly in China or Taiwan), importing them and selling them (like at AutoZone, Checker or Walmart - and other retailers as well). He couldn't afford a lawyer for many of the times he saw this happen - and dealt with it as best he could.
He recently had to renew his patents for the last time he could do so - and we were walking through Walmart and saw his device sitting on the shelf. I angered me that this man who had worked damn hard all his life wasn't getting the money he deserved off the patent he had (he is a very hard working construction truck driver, and a very nice man to boot). I talked to my employer about the situation, showed him the patent and the product. As I sat in his office, he called the company's patent and trademark attorney and set up an appointment for me and my brother-in-law.
In short order we got things settled so the lawyer would work from my brother-in-law on a contingency basis. Not exactly pro-bono work, but cheaper than nothing at all. After a year+ of investigation and prep work, one of the infringers settled with him and stopped bringing the product in (this particular company is a well known and large importer of automobile and sports products).
There are other possible infringement cases pending on this patent - I have lost touch on it, need to ask my brother-in-law about it someday.
Honestly, for the most part though, small-time inventors typically get taken to the cleaners if they patent something - which is what the whole patent process was supposed to prevent. You think of the "great" inventors - many of them went to the patent office and applied, many times without all the patent lawyers and other crap that has clogged up the system - and got patents relatively easily and cheaply (I am not saying that back then it was cheap to patent - it did cost some money, more than most people had - but it wasn't something that required taking out mega-loans or anything like we have today).
My brother-in-law has a couple of other patents on another system for automobiles - little drawers positioned over/near the wheel wells that can pop out (manually or electrically), lighting the tire/wheelwell at night so that a person changing a tire on the side of the road can be seen by on-coming drivers. Every so often you hear about a driver who is killed or assaulted while changing a tire (one happened here in Arizona recently) - this device could help prevent that (as well as keeping you from losing your lugnuts in the dark or inclement weather - the drawer acts as a holder for them while you change the tire). However, my brother-in-law has not managed to find a car company willing to put it on thier vehicles (basically the same reason why Ford had the exploding Pinto - such an extra part would take a few pennies from the bottom line). I am waiting for his patent to expire - then to see these devices everywhere (or as an aftermarket item) on vehicles at that point. I know it is going to happen - and there isn't anything he or I can do about it.
Yeah - the first time I installed Debian I bitched about dselect - I did something and hit return when I shouldn't have, and it continued with the install and installed about 1 gig or so of stuff I didn't want. Since I am a stubborn bastard, I decided I would figure it out and sat down for a long while learning what did what in it. I agree that dselect is not for a beginner to Linux (I am not a beginner, and the interface threw me even).
As far as browsing the packages, I found it daunting, but fun at the same time - every time I look I am absolutely amazed at the sheer number amount of software available. Sadly, though, I was depressed that some of the packages were woefully out of date (Mozilla on Woody is 1.0.0!!!). Even so, the number of packages and stuff leaves me with thoughts of what I could do the next time around, or knowing that if I need something, I can check the discs first and maybe it will be there. Most distros are good at giving you a lot of options, but Debian seems to provide all of them, and not just a subset.
This can be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it and your level of experience...
Yeah - he is cool. While I didn't get much time to hang out and really talk with him (I was busy helping clean and organize Chemlab/XERO for the demo that night - by the time the demo had occurred, I was so tired, and dirty, and had already seen the demo because Pauline had to set up and test it prior to the actual demo - agh - anyhow, it was blast all around, both figuratively and literally - I would do it all again in a heartbeat) - what little time I did he came across as quite genuine and nice.
I understand your frustration with not being able to see an SRL show - like I noted, I had signed up for the LV show and it was cancelled in hours (so then I had to cancel my reservations and everything - strange experience). Bummed me totally.
But - I am going (again!) to Burning Man this year. My first burn was last year (so, I still think of myself as a BM newbie), and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I urge you to go. You will see things and meet people unlike anything or anyone else. At times, it gets as loud and strange as an SRL performance. At other times - it gets even *stranger*. At certain times, you aren't even sure if your are on earth anymore.
Take a week or so off, and go. You will have dreams on the Playa unlike any you have ever had (and this is without any intoxicants!). Complete strangers will be your friends and show you incredible experiences. There is so much there to do and see, you won't be able to imagine. The ground thumps with music (of any and all kinds - last year, I saw a couch rolling down the street (4:30 & Inspiration?) singing Willie Nelson!) - lasers dance in the sky, and everything glitters and shimmers in light fantastic (people too!). A giant's chandelier fell from the sky and landed on the Playa...
Go - you won't regret it...
Alright - now I wait for a pundit to post "Burning Man is Cancelled This Year - Go Home!"
I have had one problem with the Debian Woody installer, that took me a little bit of googling to find the answer for, so I think I will post it here as well to help others.
When I was installing Woody on a laptop, my NIC was a Netgear PCMCIA card - at a certain point in the install, but only if you have PCMCIA set up and a NIC in the slot - the ifconfig tables get hosed (routing), so at a certain point, you get stuck in a loop in the installer where it says that the network must be set up, even though it *is* set up previously.
The only way out of it is to set up the PCMCIA then the network, then before going further into the install, toggle to a new console and login as root, "ifconfig eth0 machine-ip up" (where "machine-ip" is the address you assigned to the box), then several "route del..." and "route add..." commands to re-add the proper routes all back in (because they get hosed in some manner by the install). Once this is all done, logout of the console, switch to the install console and continue.
If you are installing PCMCIA without a NIC installed in it, it works OK. If you aren't installing PCMCIA, it works OK. Only if you are installing PCMCIA, with a NIC in on of the slots - will you find yourself trapped in the loop.
Any/.'ers out there who wish to add to this explanation (because I kept it VERY brief), please do!!!
What would you cry about? DSELECT is nothing more than an interface to apt - with "/" and "\" for searching, it makes things fairly simple. Typically, I install first with Tasksel to get things up and going, the dselect to trim out the "fat" and add the stuff I want/need/try out.
I have only had a few complaints about DSELECT - most of them have to do with the keys (the return key seems to act about three different ways depending on what screen you are in - ESC sometimes doesn't work where "X" will, though they are supposed to be the same according to help). I also wish there was an easy way to group the modules together, then selectively go through the modules (ie, graphics or electronics), then open each and see what you want - that is an organization and UI issue more than anything else (and there might be a way to do it, I just haven't found it yet).
You know what Blender's Game engine has never had support for? Joysticks and other input devices. If they would just add a general serial port, parallel port, USB and game port interfaces, it would be a nearly perfect platform for VR and simulation uses.
I keep waiting, while looking at other possible solutions...
Your description of Pauline, is, well...interesting. I haven't spent enough time with him to know how true any of your description is, but I have met and worked with him, and during that time I found him to be very articulate, imaginitive, and entertaining. He seemed like a genuine good person.
I helped him along with David Therian here in Phoenix, AZ set up for a pulse jet engine demo (2001) at ChemLab/XERO downtown (back behind BOB). It was one of the engines that was for the hovercraft - there was supposed to be a show in Phoenix, but it was cancelled when the SFFD called the PFD and caused the whole thing to be shut down in quick order (despite the Phoenix show, which I also attended, back in 1999? 2000? Earlier? Can't remember - anyhow it went off without a hitch at the Icehouse). Earlier this year, was supposed to be a show in Las Vegas - I bought my tickets and got my hotel room, all set to go - in hours it was shut down too - in Vegas, of all places. Seems the SFFD called the Vegas FD and shut it down!!! It was supposed to be held in a stadium.
I am trying to figure out if this isn't a 1st Amendment issue - government officials are involved, it seems like it might be. The people who go to SRL shows *know* what they are getting into and seeing - I can't see how it could be a "public safety issue", but that would be what they would claim...
If you ever have the chance, go see a show, no matter what the cost - you will never forget the spectacle, the message, or the sounds...
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If there were commercially available and low-cost fuel cell batteries that ran on butane, gasoline or methanol - I would all over them!
The hacking potential alone - sure, the initial ones might come as "non-refillable" or only refillable with special "cartridges" - but a dedicated hardware hacker could pull out the PEMs and such easily. Then it would be a simple matter to combine them and make a custom fuel cell for all kinds of uses.
I am in the (long) process of building a small electric vehicle (recumbent chassis using bicycle parts). Currently, I plan on using lead-acid gel-cells (good amperage, fast recharge times, rugged - but they weigh a lot) - I would love to be able to swap them out for a fuel cell. Right now I can't (without spending a whole lotta $$$).
I hope in the future this will change - and just like I can now with NiCd and NiMH batteries, I will be able to find them "surplus", and begin to hack on them to do what I want them to do...
Take a look at *all* of your options (including Bush and Kerry!), then make up your mind who to vote for, and most importantly, vote for who you think will best do the job...
If more people did this, that is vote their conscience instead of "who is most popular by the exit polls", or whatever other inane reason is given - we would likely be a hell of a lot better off today...
First off, I lived in a house sitting on a large piece of desert land (not huge, just several acres). The front road was about 100 feet away from the house. All the neighbors were trusted family members, and their houses were a good 100 feet away from the house as well. Nobody to the rear, empty desert lot. The main road was about 500 feet away.
The house was huge - about 75-100 feet wide, 50 feet or so deep, block and concrete construction. Bars on *all* windows (not exactly great in a fire). Best of all was my computer room/office: it was an interior block constructed room with *no* windows - a block wall room within a block wall house. Had I installed a steel door it would have been perfect (ok, and steel mesh over the ceiling).
Had there been anybody trying to "sneak up" and eavesdrop on the house, we would have seen them, no problem. Might have even taken them some lemonade (or, if they were on the property, we would have brought a shotgun).
Not perfect, not totally secure - but damn close.
And used, they are very cheap! I have seen such containers (some with side loading doors!) go for $3000.00 US - that may not be a lot of square footage, but remember this is pretty hefty steel we are talking about - underground bunker workshops are a possibility with these things. Easily modifiable with little work (just a welder!). Modular and stackable - cover with some insulation (a crapload of expandable foam?), add some A/C - cheap and very durable living space...
Anyhow - since reading Cryptonomicon, and now Quicksilver - and what I am hearing about Confusion - I steadfastly believe that Neal is trying to tell us (geeks? maybe) something, that he is trying to impart on us some form of wisdom that most men have lost.
Now, I know that is a grand bit of hubris to suppose this - who knows what Neal is really thinking or trying to do, and to surmise that this is what he is doing seems to be rather arrogant (and I am someone thinking this!)...
I think he is showing us not only what and how "money" came into being - but how it can be done again - but this time in a fashion that is free from government meddling (ie, taxes, tariffs, fees, etc), among other ills which affects current monetary systems. He started delving into this with Cryptonomicon - but it dealt more with the "bank", less with money - how to store your "money", in other words, so that governments have no say about it. The Baroque Cycle is showing how to "make" money - that is, create a currency of exchange, because that is all that money is - a substitution for barter, because it is hard to carry around pigs and chickens for trade with you everwhere. It is showing it in a quasi-historical account. We, as geeks, should be following up the leads, where they are "true", and finding out the historical truth behind them - to learn how money works, where it came from, and most importantly, how governments function with (and without) it. I think that is the direction Neal is attempting to lead us, if only we would look and follow.
We need to wake up - fully - and recognize that we live in a corrupt world society, and that we have the power to change it, because we control the means of communication of this planet. We can either sit back, and wait for the chains of enslavement to be shackled upon us (if we don't get killed or worse by our fellow "civilized" men), or stand up and make the difference to free the world from this corruption.
Babbage employed a series of very skilled draftsmen/engineers of his time (in some ways, they were the best in their fields).
I would say most of the problems with the Analytical Engine not being built had to do with Babbage's constant redesign of it, along with not being able to secure the funds to build it - coupled with other reasons.
As for the Difference Engine - it is interesting to note that Babbage had a falling out with his main engineer/draftsman - over payment or somesuch for work. This individual (Clement), through a series of disputes, eventually killed the relationship and contract with Babbage (and the Treasury, which provided the finance). Most of the parts that were built ended up being melted down as "scrap", others were used for test models. The other drawings and models, etc were eventually returned to Babbage, but only after some very drawn out legal ordeals. I liken a lot of this similar to today's patent disputes and/or copyright disputes.
Finally, in a way, a form of "DRM" also helped put nails in the coffin of the Difference Engine - in that Clement, when he left, took all of the tools and jigs needed to build the parts with him when the contract ended (actually, IIRC, it was part of the contract he signed with Babbage, that any tools or jigs he constructed, along with all rights, would remain with him at the end of the contract). In a way, it would be like having the code for a project, but your programmer leaves with the one copy of the compiler, which he wrote...
I just want to clarify that I didn't mean to imply that Babbage didn't know about punch cards - he did, to a very great extent.
I reccommend that if you want to find out more about Charles Babbage and his contributions to computing, you should read "The Difference Engine" by Doron Swade (ISBN 0-670-91020-1) - I think /. has had a review on it in the past, as well - it is an excellent book which clears up a lot of confusion about Babbage, Ada, and a whole host of other characters (steampunk as reality?)...
First off, yes - she did do exactly as you describe. As far as whether they work or not...?
You see, no one has yet built a complete Analytical Engine (you are thinking about the Differential Engine - which calculates differential equations). Part of the engine (the Mill) was assembled from the "mass" of parts Babbage left behind when he dies (by his son, I believe) - but the rest of the machine was never completed.
Other builders/inventors, inspired by what Babbage left behind (both physical works, as well as his writings), went on to construct other "Differential" engines - but none (that I am aware of), ever attempted what he designed for the Analytical Engine (that is, a fully mechanical base-10 programmable calculator - which had multiple registers for "memory", and the ability to "loop" and "branch" - it was almost Turing complete!). Most likely because of the immense mechanical complexity involved, thus the great amount of money which would be needed to construct it.
I have always thought it was a pity that Babbage hadn't looked into electrical or electro-mechanical devices to build his machines. Telegraph relays and such were available in his time period, the "punch card" did exist (Jaquard's loom). However, it would take Hollerith to make this connection (and even then, only for tabulation - not general computing/calculation - though some later adapted his machines).
It is a pity - for had Babbage recognized the importance of electricity for his designs, he could have used Boolean logic (which he was very familiar with - he was one of the best mathematicians of his time) instead of base-10 (which he used because it reduced the complexity of various mechanisms, as well as having this reduced complexity being easier to power mechanically by steam).
Whether historically it would have mattered is difficult to say - there is a very good chance it could have changed the world (for good or better who knows) - imagine a 50-70 head start in computer technology - it boggles the mind with the possibilities (and yes, I have read the Difference Engine - but the alternate timeline would go even more sideways had Babbage utilized an electromechanical approach)...
This would be limited by battery technology (and may be why it hasn't come to fruition - or only prototype level, if that):
You would have an "earpiece" that would be a combo of the receiver speaker and a small tube (or no tube?) microphone - it would "clip" over your ear or maybe fit right in your ear. Battery to power the audio and bluetooth (or similar tech)...
The receiver/transmitter would fit on your wrist, not much bigger than a watch, with a small screen - showing numbers, status, etc - this would house the actual "phone", and also serve as a watch and simple PDA. If you could throw a camera in, fine (if you could integrate it into the earpiece, facing forward, even better!). It would wirelessly communicate with the earpiece via bluetooth.
Basically, a phone that is always there, always with you - low beeps could alert you when you had a call coming in (no disturbing others with the ringing), both hands are free to do other tasks (typing or writing).
I know this isn't a new idea by far - prototypes and such have been shown by various manufacturers, and similar stuff has be "designed and worn" at some "wearable fashion shows" for a long while. I just wish battery technology (or whatever is holding it all back) would catch up...
I have thought of a possible solution, though I don't know if it will work. I would love for someone to try this possible solution, and let me know their results.
Basically, I am thinking of using a piece of alluminum plate/sheet for the back electrode, painting the alluminum plate with copper-oxide containing anti-fouling paint (used to keep barnacles and other things off boats and ships - must have a very high percentage of copper oxide for this to have a chance in hell of working), then, while the paint is tacky, pressing a piece of copper mesh onto it (to form the front electrode) - hook up wires, sandwitch between some clear acrylic, and...profit?
Would this work? Would this be a cheap way of building solar cells? Would it be cheaper than silicon-based cells? Cheaper than used cells (likely not)?
Actually, I know of a way to get real cheap solar panels, which I am currently exploring - hopefully, something good will come out of it...
I am not sure why these two commands are like this - I am sure there is a good reason though (can anyone enlighten us?)...
Isn't it "Elbonia"?
It was so well written, it would run perfectly under NT4.0 (mode switches and everything worked perfectly). As if that wasn't enough - the graphics - OMFG!
The intro sped you through a 3D tunnel with twists and turns, with computed-on-the-fly texture map. Spinning (or you were rotating around it - been a while since I watched it) in the middle of the tunnel was this 3D warped texture "blob".
This ran by itself - all in 256 bytes. My brief look at the code (under debug) showed a very simple program, which hit heavily at the math co-processor - lots of math ops - and interfaced with mode 13h via VESA (IIRC). Most of the bytes were for the main meat of the code - but 256 bytes! I am still amazed.
In fact, I may look at that code again, and see if it could be compiled to run under Linux in some manner (from the console, maybe?) - since it seemed so simple...
Awe at the fact that these people (and other teams) are attempting to get 100 km, safely, and reusably. The amount of engineering and knowledge to do this isn't trivial. I have attended high-powered model rocketry events, and to see these things go up 10,000+ feet, which is well under 5 km - and these things take a lot of work and knowledge alone, to get up and back down in one piece. One rocket self-destructed in flight. I have seen video of HPMR's exploding on the pad.
I feel excitement that this is being attempted at all - and is likely to succeed at some point (all eyes point to Scaled, but you never know what may pop up in the end). It also has a good chance of failing.
I only hope that should an X-Prize contender fails, that other contestants look upon the failure as a learning experience and continue forth with their entries. I believe that all the "test-pilots" and builders of these craft would agree with me (ok, maybe I am being a little arrogant there)...
Not "free software" (which implies lack of monetary worth), but "Free software" (which is meant to imply "free" as in "freedom" - thus, you, the original poster of the article, may need to explain this in your paper).
Do you still have the old box (sans hard drives and fan, of course)? Would you be willing to part with it (I am not interested in buying it - without the hard drives or fans, it is essentially worthless, right?)? I would be willing to pay shipping, though - reply back, or hit my site to send email.
It is based on the observation by microwave (radar and other) technicians would experience what "sounded" like popping or static inside their heads (ie, it wasn't coming in their ears) when they worked on live equipment. Apparently the microwave energy was causing neurons in the aural region of the brain to fire, which came across as "hearing" (though in the head only).
This was later refined so that tones, then later voice, could be sent. I have heard that voice actually sounds rather "gravelly" - it isn't really useful for more than that (and not even that, actually). There is a company that has a patent on it, and I know a few space and defence agencies have looked into it (there used to be some references on the net about this - NASA was one, I think Australia's "Dept of Defence" (or whatever they are known as) was looking into the possible military use of it).
The conspiracy theory side of this is known as "voice to skull" technology (do a google on it and have fun). Let's take it a step further - imagine a psy-op "weapon" for propaganda purposes that could be pointed at a person, and spoken through - convincing the person that "someone was in his head" or he was "hearing voices in his head tell him things, bad things". Now, apply that to the "enemy". Then, apply that to the general local population (ie, US)...
Who says that "mind control", "tinfoil hats" and such is all just "bunk"? There may be more to it than we will ever know...
A huge document (it was supposed to be several inches thick in its entirety) - but not one of our "representatives" actually read it and discussed it before voting on it. It tramples a whole host of our rights, rights guaranteed by our Constitution (and our guns, if "we the people" weren't such pussies) - this should be treasonable action - so why isn't anything happenning?
Don't tell me "but we are at war" - WE ARE NOT AT WAR - Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war - only they can do this, and are required to do this by our laws and the Constitution, but this has not yet happened...
How many "wars" have we been in since WWII that have been "declared wars"? None? They have all been "police actions" or "peacekeeping missions" or some other such drivel - yet we and the media (hell, even our President!) keep calling this a war, that a war - think of the children!
It is sickening, it is disgusting, it is an abomination to the ideals which this country was founded upon.
This is only one piece of so-called "bad legislation" - please. I could rattle off a ton more - you know it, I know it. Most of our congresscritters couldn't find their ass with both hands, many are in the employ of the RIAA and MPAA, bought and paid for with media dollars for legislations like the DMCA, and the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act. The rest: they are bought and paid for various so-called "Christian" organizations, seeking to limit what can be done by and for science, in the name of some fantasy "man in the sky".
Representatives, supposed "statesmen" (but very few deserve that title, once you know the definition of it) - people we supposedly elect (and even this is in question!!!) to protect our greater interests from the few - are instead in their pockets.
Don't tell me that there aren't "good guys" and "bad guys" - most (all?) of our representatives willingly sacrificed our Constitutions when they voted and signed on to the PATRIOT Act without reading or discussing it. Many have lied, cheated, and stolen while in office. Our own President is a known alcoholic with a DUI!
Remember friends, you reap what you sow - and this crop is the worst of them all.
You see, the problem he had was that he saw several instances of companies buying a knockoff product from manufacturers overseas (typically some asian company, mostly in China or Taiwan), importing them and selling them (like at AutoZone, Checker or Walmart - and other retailers as well). He couldn't afford a lawyer for many of the times he saw this happen - and dealt with it as best he could.
He recently had to renew his patents for the last time he could do so - and we were walking through Walmart and saw his device sitting on the shelf. I angered me that this man who had worked damn hard all his life wasn't getting the money he deserved off the patent he had (he is a very hard working construction truck driver, and a very nice man to boot). I talked to my employer about the situation, showed him the patent and the product. As I sat in his office, he called the company's patent and trademark attorney and set up an appointment for me and my brother-in-law.
In short order we got things settled so the lawyer would work from my brother-in-law on a contingency basis. Not exactly pro-bono work, but cheaper than nothing at all. After a year+ of investigation and prep work, one of the infringers settled with him and stopped bringing the product in (this particular company is a well known and large importer of automobile and sports products).
There are other possible infringement cases pending on this patent - I have lost touch on it, need to ask my brother-in-law about it someday.
Honestly, for the most part though, small-time inventors typically get taken to the cleaners if they patent something - which is what the whole patent process was supposed to prevent. You think of the "great" inventors - many of them went to the patent office and applied, many times without all the patent lawyers and other crap that has clogged up the system - and got patents relatively easily and cheaply (I am not saying that back then it was cheap to patent - it did cost some money, more than most people had - but it wasn't something that required taking out mega-loans or anything like we have today).
My brother-in-law has a couple of other patents on another system for automobiles - little drawers positioned over/near the wheel wells that can pop out (manually or electrically), lighting the tire/wheelwell at night so that a person changing a tire on the side of the road can be seen by on-coming drivers. Every so often you hear about a driver who is killed or assaulted while changing a tire (one happened here in Arizona recently) - this device could help prevent that (as well as keeping you from losing your lugnuts in the dark or inclement weather - the drawer acts as a holder for them while you change the tire). However, my brother-in-law has not managed to find a car company willing to put it on thier vehicles (basically the same reason why Ford had the exploding Pinto - such an extra part would take a few pennies from the bottom line). I am waiting for his patent to expire - then to see these devices everywhere (or as an aftermarket item) on vehicles at that point. I know it is going to happen - and there isn't anything he or I can do about it.
As far as browsing the packages, I found it daunting, but fun at the same time - every time I look I am absolutely amazed at the sheer number amount of software available. Sadly, though, I was depressed that some of the packages were woefully out of date (Mozilla on Woody is 1.0.0!!!). Even so, the number of packages and stuff leaves me with thoughts of what I could do the next time around, or knowing that if I need something, I can check the discs first and maybe it will be there. Most distros are good at giving you a lot of options, but Debian seems to provide all of them, and not just a subset.
This can be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it and your level of experience...
I understand your frustration with not being able to see an SRL show - like I noted, I had signed up for the LV show and it was cancelled in hours (so then I had to cancel my reservations and everything - strange experience). Bummed me totally.
But - I am going (again!) to Burning Man this year. My first burn was last year (so, I still think of myself as a BM newbie), and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I urge you to go. You will see things and meet people unlike anything or anyone else. At times, it gets as loud and strange as an SRL performance. At other times - it gets even *stranger*. At certain times, you aren't even sure if your are on earth anymore.
Take a week or so off, and go. You will have dreams on the Playa unlike any you have ever had (and this is without any intoxicants!). Complete strangers will be your friends and show you incredible experiences. There is so much there to do and see, you won't be able to imagine. The ground thumps with music (of any and all kinds - last year, I saw a couch rolling down the street (4:30 & Inspiration?) singing Willie Nelson!) - lasers dance in the sky, and everything glitters and shimmers in light fantastic (people too!). A giant's chandelier fell from the sky and landed on the Playa...
Go - you won't regret it...
Alright - now I wait for a pundit to post "Burning Man is Cancelled This Year - Go Home!"
When I was installing Woody on a laptop, my NIC was a Netgear PCMCIA card - at a certain point in the install, but only if you have PCMCIA set up and a NIC in the slot - the ifconfig tables get hosed (routing), so at a certain point, you get stuck in a loop in the installer where it says that the network must be set up, even though it *is* set up previously.
The only way out of it is to set up the PCMCIA then the network, then before going further into the install, toggle to a new console and login as root, "ifconfig eth0 machine-ip up" (where "machine-ip" is the address you assigned to the box), then several "route del..." and "route add..." commands to re-add the proper routes all back in (because they get hosed in some manner by the install). Once this is all done, logout of the console, switch to the install console and continue.
If you are installing PCMCIA without a NIC installed in it, it works OK. If you aren't installing PCMCIA, it works OK. Only if you are installing PCMCIA, with a NIC in on of the slots - will you find yourself trapped in the loop.
Any /.'ers out there who wish to add to this explanation (because I kept it VERY brief), please do!!!
I have only had a few complaints about DSELECT - most of them have to do with the keys (the return key seems to act about three different ways depending on what screen you are in - ESC sometimes doesn't work where "X" will, though they are supposed to be the same according to help). I also wish there was an easy way to group the modules together, then selectively go through the modules (ie, graphics or electronics), then open each and see what you want - that is an organization and UI issue more than anything else (and there might be a way to do it, I just haven't found it yet).
I keep waiting, while looking at other possible solutions...
I helped him along with David Therian here in Phoenix, AZ set up for a pulse jet engine demo (2001) at ChemLab/XERO downtown (back behind BOB). It was one of the engines that was for the hovercraft - there was supposed to be a show in Phoenix, but it was cancelled when the SFFD called the PFD and caused the whole thing to be shut down in quick order (despite the Phoenix show, which I also attended, back in 1999? 2000? Earlier? Can't remember - anyhow it went off without a hitch at the Icehouse). Earlier this year, was supposed to be a show in Las Vegas - I bought my tickets and got my hotel room, all set to go - in hours it was shut down too - in Vegas, of all places. Seems the SFFD called the Vegas FD and shut it down!!! It was supposed to be held in a stadium.
I am trying to figure out if this isn't a 1st Amendment issue - government officials are involved, it seems like it might be. The people who go to SRL shows *know* what they are getting into and seeing - I can't see how it could be a "public safety issue", but that would be what they would claim...
If you ever have the chance, go see a show, no matter what the cost - you will never forget the spectacle, the message, or the sounds...