The book is Snow Crystals by W. A. Bentley and W. J. Humphreys. It's available from Barnes & Noble here.
It truly is a magnificent work. Highly recommended!
There was a time in the not too-distant past when this might have mattered. "AOL's adoption of Netscape and Gecko will force websites to comply... blah, blah, blah." But it's hard for me to believe now, that in their weakened state, AOL carries more than a faint wisp of the influence they might have wielded. How many balls can you drop before the audience yawns and goes home?
When I first saw the COBE map awhile back, a little part of me said, "Well, that's nice, but such subtle data from a single platform isn't much to go on." But now, the new image certainly does seem to correlate well with it. The similarities are graphically obvious, and the fact that those data were obtained independently from COBE's is what makes this announcement most significant.
...why don't they exhaust other means? For example, Streetmap doesn't even have a robots.txt file, which as much as says, "Welcome all!" EuroTV does have one, which reads:
That should be enough to block well-behaved scripts, so one point for EuroTV. For the more ill-mannered client, their server can always check the client's UserAgent string. Perl's LWP suite, by default, does not try to mimic a browser and could easily be blocked from access. Only then, if those two measures fail, should the lawyers be called -- but not as a substitute for technical cluefulness.
I've got a TV built back in the 80s. It has a row of buttons across the bottom. When I click one of them by pressing it, the the contents of the screen change to a different channel. And guess what? The buttons stay put!
Why not just leave the heatsinks in place and attach water-cooling blocks to them using thermal pads? They're already drilled, and there'd be no need to desolder anything!
Another gem from LawMeme! A couple points I might quibble with though:
Perhaps a search engine is important enough to be treated as a regulated utility, the same way that water, gas, and the cables over which search requests travel are. Google is good, most netizens seem to think, but what if it weren't?
People would notice and switch search engines, that's what. The internet is still fluid enough that another -- and better -- search engine company would come in and fill the quality void. Look what happened to AltaVista. It's the free market at work.
... On that view, a low PageRank isn't just an opinion, it's also partly a factual statement that you don't exist in answer to certain questions, on the basis that low search results are never seen. When was the last time you looked for results beyond 200 on a search request returning 20,000 pages?
When was the last time you looked at anything from a search returning 20,000 pages without first refining that search? If I get more than 200 pages, I figure I'm making a poor query.
I have a theory that if you can do what you dreamed of doing when you were 14 or 15, you'll have a fulfilling career. By then your personality had pretty well gelled, but other... um... distractions hadn't yet comepletely clouded your vision. You may take some detours along the way, and that's okay. Just be careful not to take on too many financial obligations too soon. You'll end up chasing money instead of your dream, and you may never get back on track.
Linux continues its endless, asymptotic approach to desktop nirvana. Will it ever get close enough? I doubt it. The main problem for Linux's wide acceptance is a congenital failure of the free software model, namely, that there is too much ego and not enough subservience to a standard. I have a Redhat/Gnome box. I daily suffer at least six different graphical file selection paradigms of various capabilities and presentations. One lets me scroll with the mouse wheel; another doesn't. One lists files in strict ASCII order; another ignores capitalization when sorting by name. And none approaches the ease and uniformity of the Windows standard. Don't get me wrong: I think Windows is the OS from hell, reliability-wise. But at least Microsoft has the luxury of dictating to their programmers that they SHALL adhere to a common look and feel. That never can and never will happen with Linux -- or any product of a developemnt model that subjugates responsibility to freedom.
The second big problem Linux faces is that its written by the OS-infatuated for the OS-infatuated. It very clearly lacks the "common touch". All I want is an OS that does what it's supposed to, then stays the hell out of my way. With Linux, I'm constantly tripping over piss-ant details and indiosyncratic quirks. The control is nice, and so is the ultimate reliability. But at what price? There's a line in one of the many HOW-TOs I've waded through that goes something like this:
If you don't understand this, contact your sysadmin. If you
are the sysadmin, God help you.
The sad thing about Mr. Ralsky's house is its proximity to his neighbors. In these parts, when someone pays three-quarter mil, they get some acreage to spread out in. Hell, he's crammed cheek-to-jowl with his neighbors like poor people! And where are the trees? Tsk. Such taste.
IMAX Coaster Simulator
on
Robocoaster
·
· Score: 1
I "rode" an IMAX simulator once at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. The seats were hydraulicly driven and everyone wore 3D shutter glasses. Despite the fact that we were always nearly upright, the movement provided by the seats, combined with breathtaking 3D animated graphics on the huge IMAX screen, made for a very realistic experience.
The best part about simulated rides is that you're not constrained by the limitations of real-world materials -- or the laws of physics, for that matter -- insofar as the illusion they create. It really is a step beyond the real thing and not just a poor substitute.
To call it a "nucleus" is a little off, since that implies it's at the center of something. But without a charge, it can't attract a cloud of electrons, so must exist forever naked. Perhaps "globule" would be a more apt term.
I agree. There's a great chapter in John Steinbeck's East of Eden where a Model T Ford is delivered to a first-time driver. It comes with a very thick, intimidating manual, explaining all the nuances of keeping the new owner's purchase humming. The Model T is where Linux is now. Today's strap-yerself-in-and-go cars are where it needs to be, and a whole library of HOW-TOs and newbie guides isn't gonna get it there.
I have five domains hosted by FutureQuest. For that they charge me $14.95/month total. Beyond the first domain, setting up each additional domain was a one-time charge of $25, and the disk and download limits apply to the five in aggregate. For that I get CGI, a great support staff, multiple POP mailboxes... well, just check 'em out. They're a Linux shop and proud of it!
Wirtz and his roommate lost at least 8 PC's total, even those who were behind firewalls and incapable of benefitting from the uncapped modem.
Say what? I don't know what firewall they were using, but mine didn't come configured with a speed limit.
Tradeshows are yesterday's news
on
The Last Comdex?
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
It's not just Comdex. I've exhibited at a number of trade shows myself. Was it worth it? No! They're expensive, exhausting to prepare for, and yield few if any solid leads. When you ask exhibitors why they're there, they all say the same thing: "It's just something we're expected to do." But now with the economy on the skids, companies are taking a harder look at where their marketing dollars go, and tradeshows just don't cut it. Once the myth that they're "necessary" is dispelled, I doubt they'll see a resurgence, even with an economic rebound. Besides, with the web, everybody's got a tailor-made tradeshow right on their desk, anytime they want.
... and that something is peer review. Cryptography is extremely tricky to get right. And if you're the sole custodian of your idea, chances are you've got it wrong and the idea is worthless. Do you feel lucky? Lucky enough to risk $20K on a patent, only to have someone break it as soon as the patent is published? Perhaps shopping it around (under an NDA) to some experts in the field would be a good preliminary step. Do this with a lawyer's help, though. You don't want premature disclosure under the wrong conditions to screw up your chances for a patent!
The DMCA is a bad law, and as citizens of this country we can choose to disobey bad laws. That's really the definition of "Civil Disobedience".
Well, you're half right. The half you left out is that you do it in a publicly conspicuous manner, so as to attract the attention of law enforcement, and be willing to pay the consequences of arrest and apprehension. Disobeying bad laws in the privacy of your parents' basement doesn't really count as "civil disobedience".
Migawd! They even let you populate an array without reading the numbers from punchcards! And pointers?! Back in my day a pointer was a dog used to hunt birds.
I use the Axis 2100 and like it a lot. However, there are some things worth noting that the reviewer overlooked:
Without support for an autoiris lens, none of these cameras is suitable for outdoor use. If the sun were to come into the field of view, directly or through a strong reflection, the sensor would be irreversibly damaged. Axis has a camera that overcomes this limitation, their 2120 with an autoiris lens -- for considerably more money.
The Axis 2100 can support pan and tilt (or just about any other function) through its serial port -- if you're willing to work at it. I obtained from their tech support a daemon (serservd) which interfaces to the serial port over the network using telnet. This allows commands from, say, a Perl script to communicate directly with devices attached to the 2100's serial port.
Axis' use of Linux makes their cameras eminently malleable. The API/HTTP interface specs are published, and the latest firmware versions even support camera-resident shell scripts!
Contrary to what the review might lead one to believe, I've found Axis -- especially their tech support group -- to be very helpful and responsive.
Slashdot Mirror
As an ardent Perl user, all I can say is, "Methinks he doth protest too much."
The book is Snow Crystals by W. A. Bentley and W. J. Humphreys. It's available from Barnes & Noble here. It truly is a magnificent work. Highly recommended!
There was a time in the not too-distant past when this might have mattered. "AOL's adoption of Netscape and Gecko will force websites to comply ... blah, blah, blah." But it's hard for me to believe now, that in their weakened state, AOL carries more than a faint wisp of the influence they might have wielded. How many balls can you drop before the audience yawns and goes home?
When I first saw the COBE map awhile back, a little part of me said, "Well, that's nice, but such subtle data from a single platform isn't much to go on." But now, the new image certainly does seem to correlate well with it. The similarities are graphically obvious, and the fact that those data were obtained independently from COBE's is what makes this announcement most significant.
... from three million years ago.
I've got a TV built back in the 80s. It has a row of buttons across the bottom. When I click one of them by pressing it, the the contents of the screen change to a different channel. And guess what? The buttons stay put!
I guess next he can award his own book the Pulitzer Prize! (I wonder if he's made up his mind what the "J" stand for yet?)
Why not just leave the heatsinks in place and attach water-cooling blocks to them using thermal pads? They're already drilled, and there'd be no need to desolder anything!
I have a theory that if you can do what you dreamed of doing when you were 14 or 15, you'll have a fulfilling career. By then your personality had pretty well gelled, but other ... um ... distractions hadn't yet comepletely clouded your vision. You may take some detours along the way, and that's okay. Just be careful not to take on too many financial obligations too soon. You'll end up chasing money instead of your dream, and you may never get back on track.
The second big problem Linux faces is that its written by the OS-infatuated for the OS-infatuated. It very clearly lacks the "common touch". All I want is an OS that does what it's supposed to, then stays the hell out of my way. With Linux, I'm constantly tripping over piss-ant details and indiosyncratic quirks. The control is nice, and so is the ultimate reliability. But at what price? There's a line in one of the many HOW-TOs I've waded through that goes something like this:
God help us all!The sad thing about Mr. Ralsky's house is its proximity to his neighbors. In these parts, when someone pays three-quarter mil, they get some acreage to spread out in. Hell, he's crammed cheek-to-jowl with his neighbors like poor people! And where are the trees? Tsk. Such taste.
The best part about simulated rides is that you're not constrained by the limitations of real-world materials -- or the laws of physics, for that matter -- insofar as the illusion they create. It really is a step beyond the real thing and not just a poor substitute.
To call it a "nucleus" is a little off, since that implies it's at the center of something. But without a charge, it can't attract a cloud of electrons, so must exist forever naked. Perhaps "globule" would be a more apt term.
I agree. There's a great chapter in John Steinbeck's East of Eden where a Model T Ford is delivered to a first-time driver. It comes with a very thick, intimidating manual, explaining all the nuances of keeping the new owner's purchase humming. The Model T is where Linux is now. Today's strap-yerself-in-and-go cars are where it needs to be, and a whole library of HOW-TOs and newbie guides isn't gonna get it there.
I have five domains hosted by FutureQuest. For that they charge me $14.95/month total. Beyond the first domain, setting up each additional domain was a one-time charge of $25, and the disk and download limits apply to the five in aggregate. For that I get CGI, a great support staff, multiple POP mailboxes ... well, just check 'em out. They're a Linux shop and proud of it!
Say what? I don't know what firewall they were using, but mine didn't come configured with a speed limit.
It's not just Comdex. I've exhibited at a number of trade shows myself. Was it worth it? No! They're expensive, exhausting to prepare for, and yield few if any solid leads. When you ask exhibitors why they're there, they all say the same thing: "It's just something we're expected to do." But now with the economy on the skids, companies are taking a harder look at where their marketing dollars go, and tradeshows just don't cut it. Once the myth that they're "necessary" is dispelled, I doubt they'll see a resurgence, even with an economic rebound. Besides, with the web, everybody's got a tailor-made tradeshow right on their desk, anytime they want.
... and that something is peer review. Cryptography is extremely tricky to get right. And if you're the sole custodian of your idea, chances are you've got it wrong and the idea is worthless. Do you feel lucky? Lucky enough to risk $20K on a patent, only to have someone break it as soon as the patent is published? Perhaps shopping it around (under an NDA) to some experts in the field would be a good preliminary step. Do this with a lawyer's help, though. You don't want premature disclosure under the wrong conditions to screw up your chances for a patent!
Okay, okay, nor do I. It was a tongue-in-cheek generalization that I was too weak to resist. ;-)
Well, you're half right. The half you left out is that you do it in a publicly conspicuous manner, so as to attract the attention of law enforcement, and be willing to pay the consequences of arrest and apprehension. Disobeying bad laws in the privacy of your parents' basement doesn't really count as "civil disobedience".
Migawd! They even let you populate an array without reading the numbers from punchcards! And pointers?! Back in my day a pointer was a dog used to hunt birds.
- Without support for an autoiris lens, none of these cameras is suitable for outdoor use. If the sun were to come into the field of view, directly or through a strong reflection, the sensor would be irreversibly damaged. Axis has a camera that overcomes this limitation, their 2120 with an autoiris lens -- for considerably more money.
- The Axis 2100 can support pan and tilt (or just about any other function) through its serial port -- if you're willing to work at it. I obtained from their tech support a daemon (serservd) which interfaces to the serial port over the network using telnet. This allows commands from, say, a Perl script to communicate directly with devices attached to the 2100's serial port.
- Axis' use of Linux makes their cameras eminently malleable. The API/HTTP interface specs are published, and the latest firmware versions even support camera-resident shell scripts!
Contrary to what the review might lead one to believe, I've found Axis -- especially their tech support group -- to be very helpful and responsive.