Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Sci-Fi

The Hoverboard Flies Closer To Reality 81

Posted by Soulskill from the for-when-you-want-to-travel-in-a-highly-inefficient-manner dept.
Dave Knott writes: Fans of 1980s cinema were disappointed when the year 2015 arrived without a practical version Marty McFly's hoverboard. Now, a Montréal-based man has brought it closer to reality by setting a new record for longest "flight" by hoverboard. In a filmed test recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records, Catalin Alexandru Duru pilots his somewhat cumbersome looking rig for 250 meters — five times the previous record — at a height of five meters above Quebec's Lake Ouareau. Duru and his business partner "hope to have a new prototype finished by the end of the year and then have hoverboards available for purchase across the country. He wouldn't say how much the prototype cost to build, but said that the first generation of the machine will likely be 'quite expensive.'" "This thing is still quite dangerous," he added, explaining that the pilot uses only his or her feet to fly the contraption. The commercial version's software will limit it to flying below a height of about one-and-a-half meters above the ground.

Comment Re:Effect? (Score 0) 385

by BlueStrat (#49751157) Attached to: What Was the Effect of Rand Paul's 10-Hour "Filibuster"?

Then what exactly are you saying you want? Don't hide behind the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers and tell me exactly what it is you are advocating that is in some way different to what George Washington delivered.

"Hide behind the Fed/Anti-Fed Papers"? Seriously? Why do you think "what George Washington delivered" and what the *other* founders agreed on and included in the design of the nation based on the discussions carried out through those very Fed/Anti-Fed Papers is different? You *do* realize that the Federalist/Anti-Federalist Papers are as close to code-comments for the Constitution as we can get, right?

It sounds like you have not invested sufficient time in learning and understanding the history of the design and theory of governance behind the US Constitution.

Until you have, there is no possibility of having a rational discussion.

Good day, sir.

Strat
Earth

ESA Satellite Shows Sudden Ice Loss In Southern Antarctic Peninsula 268

Posted by Soulskill from the uber-for-ice-cubes dept.
ddelmonte tips news that the ESA's CryoSat spacecraft has detected a sharp increase in the rate at which ice is being lost in a previously stable section of Antarctica. In 2009, glaciers at the Southern Antarctic Peninsula began rapidly shedding ice into the ocean, at a rate of roughly 60 cubic kilometers per year (abstract). From the ESA's press release: This makes the region one of the largest contributors to sea-level rise in Antarctica, having added about 300 cubic km of water into the ocean in the past six years. Some glaciers along the coastal expanse are currently lowering by as much as four m each year. Prior to 2009, the 750 km-long Southern Antarctic Peninsula showed no signs of change. ... The ice loss in the region is so large that it has even caused small changes in Earth’s gravity field, detected by NASA’s GRACE mission. Climate models show that the sudden change cannot be explained by changes in snowfall or air temperature. Instead, the team attributes the rapid ice loss to warming oceans.

Comment Re:Effect? (Score 1) 385

by BlueStrat (#49749505) Attached to: What Was the Effect of Rand Paul's 10-Hour "Filibuster"?

If not, then say what you mean instead of this childish shit of suggesting we are better of with something other than an elected government.

Congratulations!

What a marvelous strawman you created and killed! Too bad I never said anything like that.

It was Congress who passed the Patriot Act in a rush in the first place to create this mess, and you want to give them even more ability to stampede things through without ample time for people to learn about, understand, and form opinions and advocate for or oppose legislation?

Please take the time to read the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers before criticizing a system you obviously do not understand.

A runaway/out-of-control Legislative branch is equally as dangerous to liberty as a runaway/out-of-control Executive or Judicial branch.

If you have a problem with the built-in safeguards against a runaway/out-of-control Congress included in the design of the US Congress by the authors of the Constitution, amend it.

Strat

Comment Re:Effect? (Score 1) 385

by BlueStrat (#49749291) Attached to: What Was the Effect of Rand Paul's 10-Hour "Filibuster"?

So that the NSA et al can just get on with business as usual without elected officials telling them what to do?

Wait, I thought it was these same elected officials who authorized the "business as usual" you refer to? They were about to re-authorize the same "business as usual" when Sen. Paul filibustered, were they not? The US Freedom act which codified into law many of the provisions re: domestic surveillance, but which has been promoted as a "fix" despite that fact, was not up for a vote.

Gridlock was intentionally designed into the system as a safeguard against knee-jerk legislative responses in order that there was at least a chance that adults could rein-in such knee-jerk/runaway legislative actions.

You need to check your facts.

You'll love China. They've got all that without those expensive elections. Or how about the colonies when the King was in charge?

Again, rather than tossing accusations & insults you *really* need to check the facts and think before you embarrass yourself further.

As far as Kings and decrees go, the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has been doing a pretty good impression.

Strat

Comment Re:Effect? (Score 1) 385

by BlueStrat (#49749023) Attached to: What Was the Effect of Rand Paul's 10-Hour "Filibuster"?

the rather obvious point is that our legislative rules are specifically designed so that congress accomplishes nothing when there is no majority to push things forward

Yes, quite true.

The tone of your replies to me seems to suggest I am arguing against the things you've stated when I've made no such statements, and in fact agree that gridlock is not a bad thing, and is in fact an intentional feature meant to slow and in some cases curb legislative excesses.

Strat

Comment Re:Effect? (Score 4, Insightful) 385

by BlueStrat (#49747465) Attached to: What Was the Effect of Rand Paul's 10-Hour "Filibuster"?

somehow throw a spanner in the works and cause a massive cost/delay to the government.

Are you asserting that congress would have actually gotten anything done during that time?

Yes. Congress is typically quite industrious at violating the Constitution and destroying civil rights.

I wish the partisans would STFU and realize this is a civil rights issue, not a partisan issue, for *everyone* regardless of political party, ideology, and/or religion (or lack thereof).

For those kool-ade drinkers defending the administration regarding domestic spying, do you want your political enemies to have this power to wield when they inevitably gain office?

Strat

Comment Re:US Proposes Tighter Export Rules ... (Score 1) 126

by BlueStrat (#49746499) Attached to: US Proposes Tighter Export Rules For Computer Security Tools

Paranoid, much?

Those that would mistake paranoia with basic observational skills referencing events over the last 60 years are likely be on some type of 'agenda'. What some call paranoid, others are calling it 'having a big mouth', but you don't see that part now do you?

Don't bother. Just check Dave420's post history. He's drank so much of Leftist/Social Justice kool-aid that California is considering sanctioning him for the amount of water he wastes.

Strat

Comment Re:US Proposes Tighter Export Rules ... (Score 1) 126

by BlueStrat (#49743617) Attached to: US Proposes Tighter Export Rules For Computer Security Tools

Hot air, nothing compared to the US self imposed brain drain caused by fucked up policy, gamed and broken system. If they don't want to see things that are better in the hands of other countries then they should rethink the way things have been going in the US for the last 60+ years. The policy of 'keeping the people stupid' is not going to produce a superior product in any sector anyway so where are these idiots coming from on this?

An economic/social collapse is what those in power need to roll out martial law and complete the final stages of the "fundamental transformation of America" to a police state.

Strat

Comment Re:I laid out the facts, horse will not drink (Score 1, Funny) 102

by BlueStrat (#49740719) Attached to: Do Russian Uranium Deals Threaten World Supply Security?

You haven't laid out anything other than a bunch of baseless accusations. You should write a book about it, I'm sure it'll sell.

Bwaahahaha!

"I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything"

It's the Bart Simpson defense!

[Beetlejuice voice] And it just keeps getting funnier *every* *single* *time* I see it! [/Beetlejuice voice]

How about you just stick your fingers in your ears and go; "Lalalala, I can't hear you! Lalalala!".

Too funny!

Strat

Slashdot Top Deals

What is research but a blind date with knowledge? -- Will Harvey

Close