Another thing that stands out for me in the Travis incident was that when the conventional explosive detonated the odds of it causing a symmetrical implosion would seem very unlikely. Even if the fissile core had been in place it would not have been a nuclear chain reaction, not a nuke, just a "dirty bomb", so the "six figure" death toll would seem to be pure hype.
Maybe I'm wrong. Any experts on this type of bomb design care to chime in?
Getting your science info from a site called "purefood.org" (which links to a "study" funded by the Green Party) is generally a bad idea.
So getting all my information from sites run by bio-tech firms would be better? I do read their sites to get their side of the issue. Its always good to consider all sides of an argument don't you think?
The modified strain of K. Planticola (SDF20) was shown to be unsuitable because the byproducts could not be used in the manner intended, not because it was going to cause Global Disaster(tm).
Ah, yes. The "Official" excuse is always the real one.
The claims made in that article go way beyond what the actual studies showed, and aren't supported by the data.
A valid point. The original researcher never claimed a global disaster, he just raised the point in his Ph.D thesis (he got it by the way) that wheat plants died when the modified K.planticola was present and they didn't when the unmodified strain was present.
You can read the original paper if you wish: Holmes, M.T., E.R. Ingham, J.D. Doyle and C.W. Hendricks. 1999. Effects of Klebsiella planticola SDF20 on soil biota and wheat growth in sandy soil. Applied Soil Ecology 11: 67-78.
It was the journalist who wrote the article who hyped it up.
But lets consider some facts; this modified bacterium generates alcohol from cellulose the unmodified strain is found on the roots of pretty much every terrestrial plant on the planet cellulose is found in the roots of plants plants die when their roots are exposed to alcohol at the levels this modified bacterium could generate on their roots
From these facts, and these are facts, you can draw a logically valid conclusion that there was a risk that the modified strain of K.Planticola could have had unexpected and undesired effects on the environment if it was released.
Even if it wasn't a "Global Disaster"(TM) it still could have been very, very, bad. Note I didn't say would, I said could, if you can't grasp the subtleties of the that distinction then maybe you should take a refresher course in English.
One thing I want to make perfectly clear. I do not advocate the discontinuation of research into genetically modifying organisms. I advocate caution, until such time that science has a better understanding of the techniques and effects of the technology.
When you have the power to destroy something you have responsibility for it. Like it or not.
I'm just glade this is not the sort of GMO that they would want to release into general environment. Considering the near wipe out of terrestrial plants back in 1992 I think letting this tech out of the lab is generally a very bed idea right now.
FYI, the Monarch butterfly report showing harm was discredited due to the concentrations of pollen placed on the milkweed. It was way more than would normally by found in the wild.
And thank your for for the support.
That said, here are some links you might find informative;
Actually I'm very interested in GM and as a result I have done quite a bit of research on the subject.
My criticism of it usually is in regards to how it is being applied with little, if any, real regard to its impact on the environment. Also a concern is the moral, legal and cultural ramifications of the technology. Particularly in situations where profit is being placed above responsible use. I mean come on, patents on a string of amino acids?
And there are too many questions, to many inconclusive or questionable reports into the effects (good and bad) of the tech when introduced into the environment, for me to be the enthusiastic supporter I once was.
I really don't think we know enough about it to use it safely and effectively, with continued research one day we will. Until then we need to be very, very, careful.
Here is a near miss that didn't get much press. The modified K. Planticola would be considered a bio weapon if a terrorist had been found with it. And keep in mind the modified organism had been cleared through the "proper channels" for release into the wild. That and many other stories have made me advocate caution, next time we may not be so lucky.
Indeed, our luck may already have run out, we just don't know it yet.
People complaining about how their digital TV, Netflix, On-Demand and cable modems are suffering severe glitches (black screen, jerky/lost picture/audio, aborted DLs) because of all the people using the limited cable bandwidth.
I foresee a big push for faster "High Speed Broadband" in the near future. I use quotes because in the US its anything but, unless your lucky enough to have fiber in your community, and be able to afford it, and even then...
MS: You know, we could "misplace" the lawsuit MS has going against you.
Motorola: That would be great, but what would we have to do?
MS: Nothing much, just mess with Apple a bit. We could do it ourselves but it would attract the kind of attention we don't want right now.
First thing that when through my mind when I read the headline.
Glade you like it, unfortunately I can't claim it as original.
When I saw this I remembered an article I read in High School that talked about using helicopters to place the windmills. The units where much smaller than those that could be placed with this system but still the same concept. You would still need to bring in some ground based machines to do the foundation/footing but those could be brought in the same way, then deliver the windmill, pick up the machines to lay the foundation and deliver those to the next site.
Only problem with the "breaking news" is that, according to the US Constitution, only Congress can declare war. They have not done so in this case, the last real War was WW2. Rather than take responsibility Congress just passed, again in violation of the Cont., some resolution or other BS giving the President authorization to "deal with it". So legally the US is not at war with anyone.
Anyway it is a moot point. The US government has been ignoring or circumventing the Constitution since shortly after it was written. Income tax and presidential declarations of war are only the more recent and noticeable moves against it.
If you take into account that the launcher itself could have already compensated for distance and initial wind drift the projectile would only need to make minor adjustments, mostly not to hit the exact point the laser was on, ie the person.
Now that I think about it, if the launcher does all the initial wind compensation putting extra hardware in the projectile becomes less important, even if a big gust did knock it way off course it would be easy to just launch another, or a barrage as you suggested earlier.
I foresee a great number of variants of this if it catches on. The 2 shot "Bazooka" style for smaller boats, a hard mounted 10+ shot pod with targeting for larger rescue vessels, the 40mm version you advocate (perfect for lake/close shore), maybe even a 81mm round for conventional mortar tubes (yeah, overkill but fun).
Sorry, I goofed and should have said "high ballistic arch". I was thinking rather than a shallow arch like it appears to use in the vid it could be launched really steep angle and would come down almost vertical to the water. More like a mortar than a bazooka as shown.
As to guidance, its not new tech and would not be hard, or prohibitively expensive, to add to these projectiles. Raytheon make a laser guidance kit you can bolt onto a standard "dumb" bomb, the "brains" in those LGB kits are smaller than a cell phone, for this application could be even smaller (I worked in the industry, I know).
I like you idea of using a 40mm form factor (HK totally ROCKS!, thnx for the lnk). You might have to make the float ring smaller, maybe even just a tube like the ones you see kids play with at pools. In fact the smaller version could be used by life guards at lakes or close to shore.
I can see possibilities for variants of this device being made for many environments.
As others have mentioned what if you hit someone? Yes, unlikely given the range/size/area involved but it still needs to be asked.
Also, how the hell do you aim this thing? If it can go 150m hod do you aim at that little speck of a person 75m away? And compensating for wind/current drift.
Over all a good idea and Kudos to the creator, it does still need a little work. Maybe Laser guided with a ballistic flight path and a bit of "no_hit_person" code in the guidance module so it lands near, but not on the designated target.
You do know that the Constitution of the US prohibits income tax except in times of war, right? And yes, I know this was a state/county tax/fee issue but it still should be considered.
Up till WW2 there was no general Federal income tax, or state income tax. IIRCC. The Government was supposed to get all their money from property tax, which this guy pays.
Funny thing just occurred to me. Since the house is destroyed the property has been de-valued, lowering the amount of property tax revenue generated by the land. I wonder if it will drop by more than $75.
You may not care that it was a few dogs and a cat but what if it had been a human. Next time something like this happens that may be the case. And to many their pets are as important to them, and as much a part of the family as any human. The loss of possessions is sad, but the loss of a loved one is traggic.
Burning to death is one of the most horrific ways to die, for any creature.
I am amazed that there isn't some policy in place where if you don't pay the fee you are libel for the cost of the response but to just do nothing is, at least to me, inconceivable. It goes against the basic drive of any firefighter, you don't let the Beast win.
Excluding: Mars, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa, Titan, Pluto, Mercury, Iapetus, Miranda, Charon, Eris and a bunch of other "further shores" I have forgotten the names of that are just a tad closer to home.
But I agree on your other point, Gliese 581g is, possibly, a truly profound discovery. If improvements in remote sensing and telescopes reveal that this new world has an Oxygen rich atmosphere or other solid indications of life (radio?) then it will likely be the most profound and culturally altering discovery ever made since the development of mathematics and writing.
Its not so much the touchscreen drivers, which most OS's already have, that will make or break a tablet/slate system in the market.
Its the interface and applications. The big problem that Windows has always faced on tablets is that both it and the applications put on it were made for a mouse driven interface. Where Apple scored big was in creating a touch interface, with associated apps, that worked.
All the past tablet computers failed because they didn't have a touch interface that was easy and intuitive.
Unless MS has reworked the interface this "new" tablet is going to be a repeat of the Zune.
I use a $30 Boost phone, hence I know its abilities. It may not have the bells, whistles and "hip" value but it does what I need for what I can afford.
My bad. The $1k was pulled out of the air, I think I had iPhone and iPad mixed up somewhere in the brain. A quick Google has informed me that even when the iPhone first hit the market it was a high of about $600.
Slashdot Mirror
Another thing that stands out for me in the Travis incident was that when the conventional explosive detonated the odds of it causing a symmetrical implosion would seem very unlikely. Even if the fissile core had been in place it would not have been a nuclear chain reaction, not a nuke, just a "dirty bomb", so the "six figure" death toll would seem to be pure hype.
Maybe I'm wrong. Any experts on this type of bomb design care to chime in?
Getting your science info from a site called "purefood.org" (which links to a "study" funded by the Green Party) is generally a bad idea.
So getting all my information from sites run by bio-tech firms would be better? I do read their sites to get their side of the issue. Its always good to consider all sides of an argument don't you think?
The modified strain of K. Planticola (SDF20) was shown to be unsuitable because the byproducts could not be used in the manner intended, not because it was going to cause Global Disaster(tm).
Ah, yes. The "Official" excuse is always the real one.
The claims made in that article go way beyond what the actual studies showed, and aren't supported by the data.
A valid point. The original researcher never claimed a global disaster, he just raised the point in his Ph.D thesis (he got it by the way) that wheat plants died when the modified K.planticola was present and they didn't when the unmodified strain was present.
You can read the original paper if you wish: Holmes, M.T., E.R. Ingham, J.D. Doyle and C.W. Hendricks. 1999. Effects of Klebsiella planticola SDF20 on soil biota and wheat growth in sandy soil. Applied Soil Ecology 11: 67-78.
It was the journalist who wrote the article who hyped it up.
But lets consider some facts;
this modified bacterium generates alcohol from cellulose
the unmodified strain is found on the roots of pretty much every terrestrial plant on the planet
cellulose is found in the roots of plants
plants die when their roots are exposed to alcohol at the levels this modified bacterium could generate on their roots
From these facts, and these are facts, you can draw a logically valid conclusion that there was a risk that the modified strain of K.Planticola could have had unexpected and undesired effects on the environment if it was released.
Even if it wasn't a "Global Disaster"(TM) it still could have been very, very, bad. Note I didn't say would, I said could, if you can't grasp the subtleties of the that distinction then maybe you should take a refresher course in English.
One thing I want to make perfectly clear. I do not advocate the discontinuation of research into genetically modifying organisms. I advocate caution, until such time that science has a better understanding of the techniques and effects of the technology.
_
Indeed, hence my usual caution in regards to GMO.
When you have the power to destroy something you have responsibility for it. Like it or not.
I'm just glade this is not the sort of GMO that they would want to release into general environment. Considering the near wipe out of terrestrial plants back in 1992 I think letting this tech out of the lab is generally a very bed idea right now.
FYI, the Monarch butterfly report showing harm was discredited due to the concentrations of pollen placed on the milkweed. It was way more than would normally by found in the wild.
And thank your for for the support.
That said, here are some links you might find informative;
Monsanto
more Monsanto
Yet more Monsanto (busy aren't they)
intersting site
Canola
GM canola in the wild
Possible wipe out of terrestrial plant life
another one
Have fun reading.
_
Actually I'm very interested in GM and as a result I have done quite a bit of research on the subject.
My criticism of it usually is in regards to how it is being applied with little, if any, real regard to its impact on the environment. Also a concern is the moral, legal and cultural ramifications of the technology. Particularly in situations where profit is being placed above responsible use. I mean come on, patents on a string of amino acids?
And there are too many questions, to many inconclusive or questionable reports into the effects (good and bad) of the tech when introduced into the environment, for me to be the enthusiastic supporter I once was.
I really don't think we know enough about it to use it safely and effectively, with continued research one day we will. Until then we need to be very, very, careful.
Here is a near miss that didn't get much press. The modified K. Planticola would be considered a bio weapon if a terrorist had been found with it. And keep in mind the modified organism had been cleared through the "proper channels" for release into the wild. That and many other stories have made me advocate caution, next time we may not be so lucky.
Indeed, our luck may already have run out, we just don't know it yet.
_
I am usually very critical of GMO tech but even I have to say this is cool.
People complaining about how their digital TV, Netflix, On-Demand and cable modems are suffering severe glitches (black screen, jerky/lost picture/audio, aborted DLs) because of all the people using the limited cable bandwidth.
...
I foresee a big push for faster "High Speed Broadband" in the near future. I use quotes because in the US its anything but, unless your lucky enough to have fiber in your community, and be able to afford it, and even then
_
Just fucking wow.
This is some cool hardware hacking, and for all the right reasons. He just wanted to see if he could.
I tip my hat to the man.
_
MS: You know, we could "misplace" the lawsuit MS has going against you.
Motorola: That would be great, but what would we have to do?
MS: Nothing much, just mess with Apple a bit. We could do it ourselves but it would attract the kind of attention we don't want right now.
First thing that when through my mind when I read the headline.
Anybody know why this tech isn't getting used in the Middle East?
Seems it would solve several problems at once, generate water for drinking/irrigation and electrical energy at the same time.
Glade you like it, unfortunately I can't claim it as original.
When I saw this I remembered an article I read in High School that talked about using helicopters to place the windmills. The units where much smaller than those that could be placed with this system but still the same concept. You would still need to bring in some ground based machines to do the foundation/footing but those could be brought in the same way, then deliver the windmill, pick up the machines to lay the foundation and deliver those to the next site.
_
Parts?
You think too small young apprentice.
One of these could conceivably move a complete wind turbine into place. Just bolt it to a waiting foundation.
Squirrel!!
Only problem with the "breaking news" is that, according to the US Constitution, only Congress can declare war. They have not done so in this case, the last real War was WW2. Rather than take responsibility Congress just passed, again in violation of the Cont., some resolution or other BS giving the President authorization to "deal with it". So legally the US is not at war with anyone.
Anyway it is a moot point. The US government has been ignoring or circumventing the Constitution since shortly after it was written. Income tax and presidential declarations of war are only the more recent and noticeable moves against it.
If you take into account that the launcher itself could have already compensated for distance and initial wind drift the projectile would only need to make minor adjustments, mostly not to hit the exact point the laser was on, ie the person.
Now that I think about it, if the launcher does all the initial wind compensation putting extra hardware in the projectile becomes less important, even if a big gust did knock it way off course it would be easy to just launch another, or a barrage as you suggested earlier.
I foresee a great number of variants of this if it catches on. The 2 shot "Bazooka" style for smaller boats, a hard mounted 10+ shot pod with targeting for larger rescue vessels, the 40mm version you advocate (perfect for lake/close shore), maybe even a 81mm round for conventional mortar tubes (yeah, overkill but fun).
_
Sorry, I goofed and should have said "high ballistic arch". I was thinking rather than a shallow arch like it appears to use in the vid it could be launched really steep angle and would come down almost vertical to the water. More like a mortar than a bazooka as shown.
As to guidance, its not new tech and would not be hard, or prohibitively expensive, to add to these projectiles. Raytheon make a laser guidance kit you can bolt onto a standard "dumb" bomb, the "brains" in those LGB kits are smaller than a cell phone, for this application could be even smaller (I worked in the industry, I know).
I like you idea of using a 40mm form factor (HK totally ROCKS!, thnx for the lnk). You might have to make the float ring smaller, maybe even just a tube like the ones you see kids play with at pools. In fact the smaller version could be used by life guards at lakes or close to shore.
I can see possibilities for variants of this device being made for many environments.
As others have mentioned what if you hit someone? Yes, unlikely given the range/size/area involved but it still needs to be asked.
Also, how the hell do you aim this thing? If it can go 150m hod do you aim at that little speck of a person 75m away? And compensating for wind/current drift.
Over all a good idea and Kudos to the creator, it does still need a little work. Maybe Laser guided with a ballistic flight path and a bit of "no_hit_person" code in the guidance module so it lands near, but not on the designated target.
You do know that the Constitution of the US prohibits income tax except in times of war, right? And yes, I know this was a state/county tax/fee issue but it still should be considered.
Up till WW2 there was no general Federal income tax, or state income tax. IIRCC. The Government was supposed to get all their money from property tax, which this guy pays.
Funny thing just occurred to me. Since the house is destroyed the property has been de-valued, lowering the amount of property tax revenue generated by the land. I wonder if it will drop by more than $75.
Lives where lost.
You may not care that it was a few dogs and a cat but what if it had been a human. Next time something like this happens that may be the case. And to many their pets are as important to them, and as much a part of the family as any human. The loss of possessions is sad, but the loss of a loved one is traggic.
Burning to death is one of the most horrific ways to die, for any creature.
I am amazed that there isn't some policy in place where if you don't pay the fee you are libel for the cost of the response but to just do nothing is, at least to me, inconceivable. It goes against the basic drive of any firefighter, you don't let the Beast win.
Expect some changes to be made to the rules.
Furry Pron!!
Excluding:
Mars, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa, Titan, Pluto, Mercury, Iapetus, Miranda, Charon, Eris and a bunch of other "further shores" I have forgotten the names of that are just a tad closer to home.
But I agree on your other point, Gliese 581g is, possibly, a truly profound discovery. If improvements in remote sensing and telescopes reveal that this new world has an Oxygen rich atmosphere or other solid indications of life (radio?) then it will likely be the most profound and culturally altering discovery ever made since the development of mathematics and writing.
Its not so much the touchscreen drivers, which most OS's already have, that will make or break a tablet/slate system in the market.
Its the interface and applications. The big problem that Windows has always faced on tablets is that both it and the applications put on it were made for a mouse driven interface. Where Apple scored big was in creating a touch interface, with associated apps, that worked.
All the past tablet computers failed because they didn't have a touch interface that was easy and intuitive.
Unless MS has reworked the interface this "new" tablet is going to be a repeat of the Zune.
_
Noooooo!!! It can't be!!
Your wrong!!
I'm never hip!
I wasn't hip in high school and I've never changed!
Stop trying to ruin my non-hip reputation!
_
Actually I didn't.
I use a $30 Boost phone, hence I know its abilities. It may not have the bells, whistles and "hip" value but it does what I need for what I can afford.
My bad. The $1k was pulled out of the air, I think I had iPhone and iPad mixed up somewhere in the brain. A quick Google has informed me that even when the iPhone first hit the market it was a high of about $600.
As lion-O would say "Now I know!"
Even better is you can use a $30 Boost phone to do the same thing.
Way better than risking a $1000+ iPhone that may not be recovered.
This is cool, but not original, The Register has something a little cooler in the works.
Still, major kudos to this Father/Son team.
_