OK, perhaps the HP35 didn't have the beveled keys but, the classic HP keys have been beveled almost from the beginning. True, the alphabet isn't a QWERTY keyboard (you switched into Alpha by hitting the "Alpha" key on top). Even so, it would be pretty obvious to arrange them into a QWERTY format for a different application. For example: http://www.hpmuseum.org/3qs/41...

Yes, if you want to call the 9100 a calculator. ;-) Actually, I have one. It was really cool and had ferrid core memory and gold plated PC board. I've also got a few HP35s floating about both with and without the printed keys. Ah, the wonders of growing up in Los Alamos and what was once known as Zia Salvage. (They even had a nuclear rocket engine at one point -- though probably without the core.)

Beveled Keys have been in use since the HP 35 calculator. The HP35 was HP's very first calculator and the first iterations only had printing on a few of the keys -- the rest of the key designations were printed on the board the keys protruded through. The HP41 (early to mid 1980's) had a full alphabet keyboard as well as punctuation and all the keys were beveled. As I understand the patent, it should be thrown out due to prior art or at least obviousness since all the HP keys were beveled.

This is great news! The UV flashes naturally warn the reindeer so that they won't land on the power lines.

FYI: The "Mormon Church" as you describe it is actually a team at BYU that specializes in genetic identification of family relationships. One of their geneticists is one of the top in the country and to date, they have identified a number of unknown mummies who have been floating around various museums. They have also built a genetic family tree. There is all sorts of things one can learn about ancient Egypt this way. (For example, just because historical records say that two people are related, it doesn't mean they are genetically.) The BYU team has no interest in it from a religious perspective. King Tut wouldn't provide any additional "religious" information than the other 30+ mummies they have already worked with. They are very interested in it from a scientific perspective which is another way of saying that they are curious as all scientists should be.

Definitly bubble sort. I usually throw in the Matrix trillogy and if I'm not done, I can follow it up with the extended version of Lord of the Rings. The great thing is that if my wife checks in on me, I'm sorting like mad the whole time!

I have always found it interesting that people take a 2,000 page book and insist that they can read how God accomplished just about everything. This is especially the case when it takes isles and isles of documentation to describe just about anything complex. I have a sneaking suspicion that when we die and get to the pearly gates (or not) and find out if there is an afterlife (or not) that we will find out how little we really know and how childish our interpretations really were.

The final version will probably be about the size of a Quidditch.

I was thinking these would be great to use for electrolisis to make hydrogen for my fuel cell. Oh, wait...

Perhaps it is for use by Duke Nukem....

This isn't very impressive. If it isn't mobile, then it is like any other cutting solution. Of course, if you want to see something really impressive for cutting metals, Petrogen is the way to go. It is an oxy-gasoline cutting torch and can cut up to 14 inches of steel at once. Be sure to check out their videos. Super impressive.

What happened to the second law of thermodynamics? As I read this, Windows is run in Wine which can then power the chip to run Windows.....

With a little global warming one of the world's greatest landmarks could be recovered, the sag in central Greenland would be fixed and a new source of income for Greenland could be tapped as tourists flock to this new "Grand Canyon" to go hiking, fishing, and camping.

I just gave up and switched to Windows 8 -- just like you suggested. I did find it easier to not install the programs you suggested as I'll just become dependant on them. Instead, I have grown to love the beautiful orange tinge that Windows 8 gives to the screen. I figure if I ever want to switch the screen back, I can switch from Cheetoes to Chicken in a Biscuit.

The more they try to make college "affordable" via loans, scholarships, etc. the more the colleges and universities will raise their prices until it is just barely affordable by all participants. They want to maximize their income -- as any business does. On the other hand, if we were to cut off student loans and scholarships you can bet that the prices would plummet and they'd stop building fancy buildings named after themselves. (Some universities have exercise areas that are reminiscent of spas and exclusive health resorts than a university.) It is amazing that our parents and grandparents were able to do things like send men to the moon without plush padded seating and nicely carpeted hallways at their universities. Even so, they could still afford to get an education.