When I was in the computer lab at school I'd listen to CDs over those little headphones that stick inside your ear. Every once and a while I'd roll my chair over to look at a classmate's computer and get a rather unpleasant tingle through the earlobes. Doesn't take much to get uncomfortable.
Heh. Reminds me of the time I had a spare 720 MB drive lying around that I really had nothing to do with. Took the cover off, plugged it in and watched it spin up. That got boring after a little bit, so I took the tip of my screwdriver and had fun etching designs into the spinning platter. Don't understand why it never worked after that....;-)
Reminds me of the time a buddy and I were taking apart a coffee maker. We had it dissasembled down to the heating element, and wanted to wire in an LED so we would know when it was on. Well, we were about 10 or 11, so I thought it would be a great idea just to hold the LED to the exposed main wires while my buddy plugged it in to the wall. Whoops. It seemed like I sat there vibrating for minutes before he saw what was happening and unplugged me. Yes kids, 110V WILL buzz you pretty good.
Or maybe you could find a use in the communications sector. IANAN (neurologist), but I once thought of this: What if you could pick up the brain waves related to speach using a hearing aid-like device, and transmit them to another hearing aid-like device using radio waves. Sort of telepathy, except the device would use a small speaker instead of transmitting incoming signals to your brain. To use the meeting example above, you could invite the Hot Chick(tm) to dinner without making a sound.;-) (Assuming of course you know the frequency her hearing aid is set to)
I too own an MGB, and the single nut "knock-off" wheels are very common among that era British cars (Triumph, MG, Jag). They're designed so that as you're driving the rotation of the wheels actually tightens the nuts, but that leads to a problem where if you tow it backwards for too long the wheels can (and have) come off. It does allow you to have really neat spoke wheels though.:-)
Funny, I just installed Firefox on an ME machine on Friday for a co-worker. Maybe in the circles you run everybody has the latest XP/OSX/$Distro version, but there's still people out there who don't have the time/money to upgrade, especially in the mid- to low-rent district.
Last month's Popular Science. Supposedly you've got two satellites working in conjunction, a targeting bird that handles communication and targeting and a payload bird that handles the 'darts', 10 or 12 to a pack.. The impression I got from the article was that when the satellites were over the target the payload bird drops a dart, which accelerates through the atmosphere until it reaches the target. [BOOM] The thing they didn't adequately explain is how come the darts start accelerating. They made no mention of rockets to get it started, but if the satellite just 'let go' of the dart in a zero G environment, wouldn't it just hang there in its original position?
Umm, can I call 'Duh'? The only reason a particular song is in the "Top-40" is because most people like it more than other songs. That's the whole concept behind the top 40. Now, I admit there's a whole lot of music out there that doesn't get the appreciation it deserves because they're not affiliated with the RIAA, but that doesn't change the fact that out of the music being widely distributed, the "Top 40" is the 40 most popular songs.
Corporate sponsership of Slashdot. Yup, Krispy Kreme paid CmdrTaco an exorbitant amount of money to put that line in the story. Didn't you get the memo, it's the next new wave in marketing.
Unless we pull a Lando Calrissian and put the base on some kind of moving platform.
(The book was by Timothy Zahn, I can't remember the title. Lando was mining on a planet that was so close to its sun the day side got too hot to handle, so he put a star destroyer on the backs of some AT-AT walkers and just kept up with the night side. Unrealistic maybe, but then it was Star Wars.)
But as far as I can tell (No, I didn't RTFA) the technology only blocks incoming calls, it doesn't stop you from calling out. You can still call 911 if the old fogey two rows down from you starts having a heart attack, in which case the movie's probably shot for everyone anyway.
Point the hour hand in the direction of the sun (Keeping it horizontal of course), and the point between the hour hand and 12 will be South. For you "Below the belt"/.rs (South of the equator;-) it'll be pointing North.
US Code Chapter 10 Sec 311
EXPCITE TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART I - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
CHAPTER 13 - THE MILITIA
HEAD Sec. 311. Militia: composition and class
STATUTE (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
So basically if you're a male American citizen between the age of 17 and 45, you're in the militia. No formal declaration of military intent needed.
RTFA man. "The radiation dosage is about the same as sunshine, Hallowell said." So you'd have to be a real frequent flyer to have as much chance of getting skin cancer as, say, a sun worshiper/surfer dude.
'Course since most geeks haven't been exposed to the sun in years.....;-)
You say that tongue-in-cheek, but it's an interesting idea. Would it be possible to create an 'Uber-driver' program of some sort whereby if you can prove you're an excellent driver and pay a fee, you get special driving rights like being allowed up to 15 MPH over the regular speed limit? Income for the state, reduced frustration for good drivers who could safely use higher speeds, and perhaps incentive for the regular drivers to drive safely. (Maybe make one of the requirements for the program "No accidents in the last 5 years")
Now if we could just figure out how to test for common sense, we'd have something.
Slashdot Mirror
I think he rather meant to say you get to keep the releases forever, just no new ones.
Aww Belgium, Did you have to remind me? Now I'm going to have to read the books again. :-)
I DO live without electricity, you insensitive clod!!!
;-)
(Posting this via Carrier Pigeon Protocol, of course.
When I was in the computer lab at school I'd listen to CDs over those little headphones that stick inside your ear. Every once and a while I'd roll my chair over to look at a classmate's computer and get a rather unpleasant tingle through the earlobes. Doesn't take much to get uncomfortable.
Heh. Reminds me of the time I had a spare 720 MB drive lying around that I really had nothing to do with. Took the cover off, plugged it in and watched it spin up. That got boring after a little bit, so I took the tip of my screwdriver and had fun etching designs into the spinning platter. Don't understand why it never worked after that.... ;-)
Reminds me of the time a buddy and I were taking apart a coffee maker. We had it dissasembled down to the heating element, and wanted to wire in an LED so we would know when it was on. Well, we were about 10 or 11, so I thought it would be a great idea just to hold the LED to the exposed main wires while my buddy plugged it in to the wall. Whoops. It seemed like I sat there vibrating for minutes before he saw what was happening and unplugged me. Yes kids, 110V WILL buzz you pretty good.
Later, Rory
Or maybe you could find a use in the communications sector. IANAN (neurologist), but I once thought of this: What if you could pick up the brain waves related to speach using a hearing aid-like device, and transmit them to another hearing aid-like device using radio waves. Sort of telepathy, except the device would use a small speaker instead of transmitting incoming signals to your brain. To use the meeting example above, you could invite the Hot Chick(tm) to dinner without making a sound. ;-) (Assuming of course you know the frequency her hearing aid is set to)
Later, Rory
How inhumane!! How cruel!! Do you know how many naugas gave their lives for....Oh, nevermind.
Later, Rory
Later, Rory
Later, Rory
Funny, the only time I actually DO work is when someone's behind me, otherwise I'm just surfing Slashdot. ;-)
Last month's Popular Science. Supposedly you've got two satellites working in conjunction, a targeting bird that handles communication and targeting and a payload bird that handles the 'darts', 10 or 12 to a pack.. The impression I got from the article was that when the satellites were over the target the payload bird drops a dart, which accelerates through the atmosphere until it reaches the target. [BOOM] The thing they didn't adequately explain is how come the darts start accelerating. They made no mention of rockets to get it started, but if the satellite just 'let go' of the dart in a zero G environment, wouldn't it just hang there in its original position?
Umm, can I call 'Duh'? The only reason a particular song is in the "Top-40" is because most people like it more than other songs. That's the whole concept behind the top 40. Now, I admit there's a whole lot of music out there that doesn't get the appreciation it deserves because they're not affiliated with the RIAA, but that doesn't change the fact that out of the music being widely distributed, the "Top 40" is the 40 most popular songs.
(Hint: It's funny. Laugh.)
"Remember kids, lights timed for 35 MPH are also timed for 70!"
(The book was by Timothy Zahn, I can't remember the title. Lando was mining on a planet that was so close to its sun the day side got too hot to handle, so he put a star destroyer on the backs of some AT-AT walkers and just kept up with the night side. Unrealistic maybe, but then it was Star Wars.)
But as far as I can tell (No, I didn't RTFA) the technology only blocks incoming calls, it doesn't stop you from calling out. You can still call 911 if the old fogey two rows down from you starts having a heart attack, in which case the movie's probably shot for everyone anyway.
1) Enjoy your job
2) Make lots of money
3) Don't break the law
Choose any two.
Point the hour hand in the direction of the sun (Keeping it horizontal of course), and the point between the hour hand and 12 will be South. For you "Below the belt" /.rs (South of the equator ;-) it'll be pointing North.
Cheers!
--RjS
US Code Chapter 10 Sec 311
EXPCITE TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART I - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
CHAPTER 13 - THE MILITIA
HEAD Sec. 311. Militia: composition and class
STATUTE (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
So basically if you're a male American citizen between the age of 17 and 45, you're in the militia. No formal declaration of military intent needed.
RTFA man. "The radiation dosage is about the same as sunshine, Hallowell said." So you'd have to be a real frequent flyer to have as much chance of getting skin cancer as, say, a sun worshiper/surfer dude.
;-)
'Course since most geeks haven't been exposed to the sun in years.....
You say that tongue-in-cheek, but it's an interesting idea. Would it be possible to create an 'Uber-driver' program of some sort whereby if you can prove you're an excellent driver and pay a fee, you get special driving rights like being allowed up to 15 MPH over the regular speed limit? Income for the state, reduced frustration for good drivers who could safely use higher speeds, and perhaps incentive for the regular drivers to drive safely. (Maybe make one of the requirements for the program "No accidents in the last 5 years")
Now if we could just figure out how to test for common sense, we'd have something.