Posts by Jan 0

1991?

No, it's more like the 1960s and this is IBM's tribute to Marvin Minsky.

Re: Isn't there a standard defence against lasers?

Don't chemical lasers use internal mirrors any more? How clean do they stay inside a supersonic reactor?

Re: Why not hydrogen?

Because hydrogen is a highly reactive element that will a. react with materials in the hard disc assembly and b. diffuse through the metal case. The end result will be an evacuated case with compromised components.

Solving the problem of maintaining constant head/disc separation in a vacuum, would be a better proposal. However, isn't this effort rather like the way that clockwork controllers suddenly became more reliable and cheaper when electronic controllers were introduced? Which controls your automated industrial process or domestic appliance nowadays? Do you expect to be using spinning rust in another 5 years?

Re: Close your eyes and make a wish

The only downside of the eradication of the coypu in the UK seems to be the demise of "Coypu Comix". I don't think that Mick Sparksman and his family were rendered destitute by the eradication of the coypu. The workers in Coypu Control were paid extra to compensate for eliminating their jobs. (A bonus of 3 x their annual salary IIRC.)

Re: Lack of violence

> "At this point your realize that your body is build on geological layers of ancestors that were maladapted, crippled, too slow or with maladapted immune systems, all dying horrible deaths."

Actually, no. Our ancestors were the ones that weren't in such a bad way and survived to breed. I don't think we have an English word for ancient relatives that had no children. (Anonymous Coward is quite close:)

Re: -nomy/-logy

> ".. Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll."

Errm, leave out the drugs, this is the Lemmy who left Hawkwind, right?

Re: Eh?

Richard, thanks very much for that clew! It's about 3 or 4 decades too late, but I'm glad you pointed me at this. I found from (can I live this down?) "http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-turn-on-typography-in-word-2011-for-mac.html" that it works with Word 2011, which is the newest version of Word that I possess:

Select Word :: Preferences :: click Ribbon button :: Customize area, select Typography option.

There don't seem to be many fonts which have stylistic sets and Gabriola doen't offer me a curvy 'E'. I see that Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop can use font stylistic sets, for small values of "use". Where else? Is there a better approach than MS OpenType? How many more decades before this becomes commonplace?

Re: My favorite floppy story...

> And they made pretty decent... coasters!

That saying has always fascinated me. What use is a smooth, non absorbent coaster that just lets your spilled coffee/beer/whatever runs straight off onto your desk? An absorbent paper beer mat seems like a much better idea to me.

Re: *sigh*

No, just use "their" instead of "his" to imply female a well as male. It's worked for centuries and doesn't need changing.

Re: It's not that unlikely

Muscleguy wrote: "How does the pilot see laterally? the 'wings' get in the way".

Well, even back in Earth's puny 20th Century, you could have used analogue video techniques. The Victorians would have used optics: lenses and mirrors in ducts.

I dare say that in an age where interstellar travel is possible, there might be better sensors, than eyes or video cameras, to eliminate the blind spots.

Re: pre-show ads

If you've got a seat allocated, time your entry for the start of the trailers, or the end of the trailers. (Most cinema staff can tell you when the film actually starts.)

I'd pay more for a showing free of advertisements. I'm pleased to see trailers, but they could be after the film. Some UK cinemas seem to skip the advertisements before the first show of the day, presumably so the staff can come in later.

Upvote or Downvote?

Upvote for the great article.

Downvote for Infortrend for abuse of English. No wonder the spell checker is embarrassed.

Re: Nuka-toaster

Ah, now that's the most sensible toaster in the known universe. Glass over the heating elements, so you can fish broken chunks of toast out using a metal knife or fork even when the toaster is powered on. Full marks Dualit!

As far as I can see the most useful household remote control would be a heating controller, to turn the heating on or off when you're miles from home. (Yes I know that there are proprietary and d-i-y solutions, but they're all pants.) What else would you need to turn on or off from afar? Well, I could see the advantage of running a bath from your bed, but, frankly, a short walk to the bathroom for a slash and to turn the taps on, followed by ten minutes back in bed with a timer set on the 'phone, to wake me up in case Today isn't interesting enough, seems adequate.

Re: Well, hurray..

Wow!

I never knew that, but you're right. I just tried it.

Upvotes/Downvotes can be rescided. Hurrah!

Re: Never was fully sold on the cloud concept

Concept?

It's not a cloud, it's just somebody else's computer!

If you want to look after your stuff, use your own hardware! Or maybe a friends' hardware. Do you trust strangers? What do you tell your kids?

Re: £10?

Oh right, sleep on the coach. Find you can't walk after 11 hours of knee torture. How much is the stretcher team for the museum tour?

Why can't exhibitions like this tour the country!? Go Green, take one exhibition to the people, rather than thousands of people to the exhibition! Simples?

Re: Is there any legitimate reason to choose Oracle?

No! I recall how Comp. Sci. students getting their first jobs at Oracle in the '90s reported how poor the database implementation was compared to Ingres.

Oracle (like Microsoft) is yet another demonstration of how marketing is more powerful than engineering (to all our detriment).

(c.f Shimano vs. Campagnolo, sic transit gloria mundi, etc.)

Re: Weigh Station...

That would be a reasonably wind free weigh station, big enough to hold an airliner?

How expensive would that be and how long would it take to open and shut the doors?

Re: but but

MInd the Gap? Are you sure it isn't "minador"?

(Goons/Quatermass anyone?)

Re: What is wrong with assassination?

That would be fine if we killed the murderers too.

Oh, wait.

Re: Colour blind risk...smart-arse

> Colorblind James experience

Hey, thank you for the reminder! I must flick through the albums and get that on my turntable again. It'll go nicely with the Thinking Fellas Union Local 242 and Camper van Beethoven.

Re: Ultimate goal

Remote observation of the solar system is dandy. What's so desirable about getting our species off this rock? Maybe it's better that we all die in the looming overpopulation wars (water, food, oil, religion and so on) than contaminate the rest of the universe.

Re: Wire photo scanners

@Andy A. You are deliciously correct. I foolishly upvoted AC for the nice usage.

Re: A Lot of People..

Short? My 6 year old doesn't find it difficult, but I do worry about his hearing loss.

Re: Best cockwomble definition I've seen

> "cuntwomble"

But that would be a deliciously, delightful, enticing, exciting womble!

Re: The bloody flies (and other airborne thingies)

600 round trip? I thought I was a wimp because the most I've ever done in a day's ride is 600 miles. (On a Ducati M900, which makes a fine tourer.). In fact, compared with the 150 miles I've done in a day on a loaded touring bicycle, it seems woefully inadequate to only do 600 miles!

As for other airborne thingies, I've cycled unscathed through a swarm of bees, but have been stung by wasps and bees that crash unerringly into the flesh just above my collar when motorcycling. The impact at faster'n miles per hour* hurts, but then there's the rising suspicion that you've just been shot with a white hot pellet.

*obscure reference for Jonathan Richman fans.