Here's an image of a Bombardier engineer giving a similar monorail a quick test run. Note the prototype's innovative energy-efficient air conditioning. The prototype doesn't have quite as much seating capacity as they expect in the final vehicle, but you get the general idea.
Australia's new supercomputer is the pride of the nation!
In other news, Japanese scientists were disheartened to find several nodes of their new supercomputer had been stolen in the early hours of the morning. Forensics experts are running DNA analysis on the multitude of beer cans found in the computing facility in an attempt to determine the identity of the thieves.
This puts you and I squarely in the minority, though. (Girlfriend is a geology student, unpaved roads are our friend).
How many of the semi-alert doctors' wives careening around in a $60,000 SUV's, complete with 5 inches of clearance and flawless paint, do you figure actually go off-road? Maybe 5% at the most. The majority of them would be just as well-serviced by a station wagon, but hey, that's just not flashy enough.
Just as an semi-interesting aside - about two weeks ago the Canadian government reclassified all SUV's as passenger vehicles (amazing!), making them subject to much stricter pollution laws. It would be nice to see the US do the same, but given the rather strong influence industrial lobby groups have in Washington, I can't see it happening for a while. (Softwood lumber anyone?)
Anyways, it'll be interesting to see what effect, if any, this change will have on the market. Maybe all the soccer-moms and suchlike will start driving slightly more sensible vehicles.. not that I dislike having distracted yuppies careening around in 4-ton monster trucks while chattering in their cell phones or anything. =)
Re:more important things to do in space ...
on
Quark Stars
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· Score: 1
Actually, strange as this may seem, people all over the globe ARE involved in X-ray astronomy. Astronomical observation such as this can help guide and correct our knowledge of physics (and the universe as a whole), something that has the potential to do a lot more for humanity than scuttling around on Mars with a rover full of Murican flags (or getting lost en route - darned metric system!)
Just because you can't immediately see the practical use in one type of research, or even if the people involved can't, does not mean we should abandon it for flashier, more obviously practical things. If you only ask questions that you know the answer to, odds are you won't learn much.
I was about to hit submit, but I have to say as a closing line... a Mars rover would be freaking cool. =) Vroom!
but I can certainly foresee some interesting applications for wearable/portable computing
Would that include a 10-inch, glowing "nerd!" sign? =)
Reminds me of the Dilbert strip about wearable computing.. The caption reads - "Wearable computers will become prevalent. This will not improve the image of computing professionals."
The drawing shows Dilbert wandering around with huge electronic glasses on, waving his hands around with little sensors on the fingers as he works on his wearable computer. Some other guy stumbles past, waving his hands around, but without the equipment... Dilbert asks, "Are you a programmer too?" Guy replies, "Nope, I'm an idiot. Common mistake."
Quimby: And now, I'd, uh, like to welcome Larry White!
[crowd cheers] Barry White: I now celebrate the start of... [aside to Quimby] hey, what's this holiday again?
Quimby: It's the day where the townsfolk kill snakes with clubs.
Barry: My god! [points at crowd] You people make me sick!
[crowd cheers] Barry: Are they even listening to me?
Quimby: I, uh, don't think so.
True, but we are taking the energy out before it hits land. This will decrease natural erosion, deacrease the amount of carbon absorbed by the ocean (it is a natural carbon sink)
According to some stats I found, Vancouver Island alone has some 3400km of coastline, and the world total stands at about 1.6 million km. Unless you decide to build some REALLY big wave machines, I doubt the total carbon uptake by the ocean is going to be significantly affected.
Also, would slowing erosion in some areas be a bad thing? My girlfriend is studying geology, and her peers have been on trips where they've seen whole cliffsides disappear into the ocean, complete with Grandma's uninsured, fully-paid-for house. It seems to me like some people wouldn't be hugely opposed to you building a power generation system on their private strip of beach if it slows down the destruction of their house.
Hey all you programmers and general computing folk! Worried that your guitar-playing will make you more attractive to the opposite sex?
Well fear not - it's the Star Wars guitar to the rescue! Broadcast your utter, utter geekiness while engaging in an activity that until now commanded the respect of your peers... and with a sub-standard instrument to boot!
I am about three years through CS and Math undergrad degree at a major Canadian university. And yes, we are being snowed under with MS Visual Studio, W2K, etc.
Oops... to be fair, I should point out that most of the CS-only labs are running Solaris.
I am about three years through CS and Math undergrad degree at a major Canadian university. And yes, we are being snowed under with MS Visual Studio, W2K, etc.
However, the question has to be asked - is it really going to affect Microsoft's fortunes? This dislike of MS products is hardly a new phenomenon - in my experience, people with a strong interest in computing have ALWAYS held Windows and other M$ products in low regard, and with good cause (they're flaky, limited, bloated, and irritating). However, Microsoft is not making its billions off the backs of computing science students or other demanding users - their target market is precisely that segment of the population that don't know or need any better. They aren't too concerned with how fully-featured the OS they use is, they use it because it's familiar, it's widely available, and it (sort of) performs the tasks they need. And seeing as most software development companies sort of enjoy getting a bit of remuneration for their efforts, as long as MS hangs onto the home market we are going to be stuck with wading through Microsoft garbage in an attempt to produce something for the home market.
Of course, one obvious counter-argument would be that the more developers get driven into the Linux camp, the more feature-rich/easy-to-use Linux will become, which *may* in turn cause Bobby-Joe Punchclock to try out this "new Linux thingy". I suppose to a certain degree this is already happening, but will it be enough to make a real difference?
Feel free to commence screaming about how much you like linux. =) Yes, I like it too... settle down.
Which would mean that it actually takes 11 hours to get there at the speed of light... just like the radio message sent by NASA that was mentioned in the article. =) Doh!
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That monorail could be anywhere... even... Detroit.
Here's an image of a Bombardier engineer giving a similar monorail a quick test run. Note the prototype's innovative energy-efficient air conditioning. The prototype doesn't have quite as much seating capacity as they expect in the final vehicle, but you get the general idea.
In other news, Japanese scientists were disheartened to find several nodes of their new supercomputer had been stolen in the early hours of the morning. Forensics experts are running DNA analysis on the multitude of beer cans found in the computing facility in an attempt to determine the identity of the thieves.
How many of the semi-alert doctors' wives careening around in a $60,000 SUV's, complete with 5 inches of clearance and flawless paint, do you figure actually go off-road? Maybe 5% at the most. The majority of them would be just as well-serviced by a station wagon, but hey, that's just not flashy enough.
640 nodes should be enough for anybody.
Assuming that the scanner is faster than the firewire (400Mbps)
That's a pretty big assumption. =) Every scanner I've ever used is positively glacial.
Umm... $32,000 CDN equals about $20,000 USD. =) Perhaps this was the confusion?
Just as an semi-interesting aside - about two weeks ago the Canadian government reclassified all SUV's as passenger vehicles (amazing!), making them subject to much stricter pollution laws. It would be nice to see the US do the same, but given the rather strong influence industrial lobby groups have in Washington, I can't see it happening for a while. (Softwood lumber anyone?)
Anyways, it'll be interesting to see what effect, if any, this change will have on the market. Maybe all the soccer-moms and suchlike will start driving slightly more sensible vehicles.. not that I dislike having distracted yuppies careening around in 4-ton monster trucks while chattering in their cell phones or anything. =)
Actually, strange as this may seem, people all over the globe ARE involved in X-ray astronomy. Astronomical observation such as this can help guide and correct our knowledge of physics (and the universe as a whole), something that has the potential to do a lot more for humanity than scuttling around on Mars with a rover full of Murican flags (or getting lost en route - darned metric system!)
Just because you can't immediately see the practical use in one type of research, or even if the people involved can't, does not mean we should abandon it for flashier, more obviously practical things. If you only ask questions that you know the answer to, odds are you won't learn much.
I was about to hit submit, but I have to say as a closing line... a Mars rover would be freaking cool. =) Vroom!
Would that include a 10-inch, glowing "nerd!" sign? =)
Reminds me of the Dilbert strip about wearable computing.. The caption reads - "Wearable computers will become prevalent. This will not improve the image of computing professionals." The drawing shows Dilbert wandering around with huge electronic glasses on, waving his hands around with little sensors on the fingers as he works on his wearable computer. Some other guy stumbles past, waving his hands around, but without the equipment... Dilbert asks, "Are you a programmer too?" Guy replies, "Nope, I'm an idiot. Common mistake."
Unfortunately, my hovercraft is full of eels. We were forced to go to plan B.
Hey, who scratched my record?!
As well as a really, really big snow shovel and a 50,000-pound bag of salt.
"Hey Jim, got the drive cleared yet?"
"$&%^$!!!!"
"OK, I'll just wait here then."
j00r 4r71cl3 wuz 0wn3d!
Now excuse me while my 15-year-old friends and I H4X0R YOUR COMPUTAR!!
You would think it would be cheaper just to chuck out the garbage of the station. =) Free garbage incineration, and a hell of a good time to boot!
[crowd cheers]
Barry White: I now celebrate the start of
Quimby: It's the day where the townsfolk kill snakes with clubs.
Barry: My god! [points at crowd] You people make me sick!
[crowd cheers]
Barry: Are they even listening to me?
Quimby: I, uh, don't think so.
Gentlemen, start your whacking!
According to some stats I found, Vancouver Island alone has some 3400km of coastline, and the world total stands at about 1.6 million km. Unless you decide to build some REALLY big wave machines, I doubt the total carbon uptake by the ocean is going to be significantly affected.
Also, would slowing erosion in some areas be a bad thing? My girlfriend is studying geology, and her peers have been on trips where they've seen whole cliffsides disappear into the ocean, complete with Grandma's uninsured, fully-paid-for house. It seems to me like some people wouldn't be hugely opposed to you building a power generation system on their private strip of beach if it slows down the destruction of their house.
That's just what the Canadian government wants you to believe... Those lousy Canucks are trying to move their country further south!
The last time I ran a peer-to-peer client, the darn thing went and stole all my music! =)
Hey all you programmers and general computing folk! Worried that your guitar-playing will make you more attractive to the opposite sex?
Well fear not - it's the Star Wars guitar to the rescue! Broadcast your utter, utter geekiness while engaging in an activity that until now commanded the respect of your peers... and with a sub-standard instrument to boot!
Now you CAN sound AND look terrible!
Oops... to be fair, I should point out that most of the CS-only labs are running Solaris.
I am about three years through CS and Math undergrad degree at a major Canadian university. And yes, we are being snowed under with MS Visual Studio, W2K, etc.
However, the question has to be asked - is it really going to affect Microsoft's fortunes? This dislike of MS products is hardly a new phenomenon - in my experience, people with a strong interest in computing have ALWAYS held Windows and other M$ products in low regard, and with good cause (they're flaky, limited, bloated, and irritating). However, Microsoft is not making its billions off the backs of computing science students or other demanding users - their target market is precisely that segment of the population that don't know or need any better. They aren't too concerned with how fully-featured the OS they use is, they use it because it's familiar, it's widely available, and it (sort of) performs the tasks they need. And seeing as most software development companies sort of enjoy getting a bit of remuneration for their efforts, as long as MS hangs onto the home market we are going to be stuck with wading through Microsoft garbage in an attempt to produce something for the home market.
Of course, one obvious counter-argument would be that the more developers get driven into the Linux camp, the more feature-rich/easy-to-use Linux will become, which *may* in turn cause Bobby-Joe Punchclock to try out this "new Linux thingy". I suppose to a certain degree this is already happening, but will it be enough to make a real difference?
Feel free to commence screaming about how much you like linux. =) Yes, I like it too... settle down.
You're actually off by about a factor of 10.
7.4 billion miles ~= 11.8 billion km
Which would mean that it actually takes 11 hours to get there at the speed of light... just like the radio message sent by NASA that was mentioned in the article. =) Doh!
Am I alone in finding the fact that there was a mistake making distance conversions in a thread about NASA rather funny?
See my loafers, former gophers. See my hat... 'twas my cat.
I'll bet Al Gore didn't see this use for the Internet back when he first started building the thing.
first post yay!