reydar - Slashdot User

Comment Fuhgeddaboudit,,,, (Score 1) 312

by reydar on Tuesday July 03, 2012 @11:57PM (#40537845) Attached to: SETI Running Out of Money

C'mon. What has SETI actually accomplished in all the time that it has spent scouring the static for patterns? NOTHING. When/If aliens decide to present themselves it probably won't be because they accidentally blurted out some frequency that was picked up by SETI. It will probably be either by delegation or by an armada of Earth scorching death ships. Why don't we save a buck and let SETI drift off into the romantic imaginary world of what could have been... There are more possibilities for it in that realm than the real one.

Submission + - The Search for the Mount Everest of caves (failuremag.com)

Submitted by NoMeansYes on Sunday July 11, 2010 @12:54PM

NoMeansYes writes: An interview with James Tabor, author of the new best-selling book “Blind Descent,” reveals that it's a pair of accomplished scientists — American Bill Stone and Ukranian geologist Alexander Klimchouk — that are the two most prominent figures in extreme caving, and both have figured prominently in the ongoing quest to discover the deepest cave on earth. Tabor describes what conditions are like inside supercaves like Cheve (-4,869 feet) and Krubera (-7,188 feet), before discussing Stone and his far-reaching technological innovations, which include The Posideon Discovery Rebreather and NASA’s ENDURANCE. Extreme caving probably won't remain underground (so to speak) much longer, however. The article notes that James Cameron is planning to release a 3D film next year about extreme cave divers.

Submission + - China: US uses Facebook to spread political unrest (skunkpost.com) 1

Submitted by crimeandpunishment on Saturday July 10, 2010 @11:21AM

crimeandpunishment writes: A Chinese government-backed think tank says the US and other western governments use Facebook and other social networking sites to spread political unrest. Their report says "We must pay attention to the potential risks and threats to state security as the popularity of social-networking sites continues to grow", and calls for increased scrutiny of the sites.

Submission + - U.K. Designer “Grows" Clothes From Bacteria (ecouterre.com) 2

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 10, 2010 @11:14AM

An anonymous reader writes: Experimental UK designer Suzanne Lee "grows" clothes from bacteria. She has developed a method for growing clothing from yeast, a pinch of bacteria, and several cups of sweetened green tea. From this microbial soup, fibers begin to sprout and propagate, eventually resulting in thin, wet sheets of bacterial cellulose that can be molded to a dress form. As the sheets dry out, overlapping edges “felt” together to become fused seams. When all moisture has evaporated, the fibers develop a tight-knit, papyrus-like surface.

Submission + - China Censors HIV/AIDS Awareness Documentary (amnesty.org)

Submitted by eldavojohn on Saturday July 10, 2010 @09:02AM

eldavojohn writes: Amnesty International is reporting an unusual case of censorship in which Chinese police questioned HIV/AIDS workers in China and instructed them to cancel an airing of a documentary made by Aizhixing Institute of Health Education on the disease. The director of that NGO recently left China after constant police harassment. The canceled documentary was about Tian Xi, a patient who contracted HIV by blood transfusion at age 9.

Comment HOLY COW! (Score 1) 168

by reydar on Sunday July 04, 2010 @05:05PM (#32793830) Attached to: Information On Philips' "Coffee" Machine?

I didn't even remember that thing until I read this post... That really takes me way back. I am only 28 and left Ontario before the '90s but it was definitely there until the late 80's. I am feeling very nostalgic...

Comment Only electric cars can SAVE THE FUTURE? (Score 1) 652

by reydar on Monday April 13, 2009 @09:25PM (#27565481) Attached to: Tesla CEO Says Gov't Loan Is 99% Sure and Deserved

Forget about the fact the we are racing towards an barter based economy where wealth will be measured by lumps of coal and sacks of grain hoarded in your garage as we burn oil cans for warmth in the wintertime surrounded by the great withering monuments built by our once great civilization. IF ONLY WE HAD BUILT THE ELECTRIC CAR SOONER!! Maybe this could have all been averted. Forgive me if I am wrong but this whole bailout deal is sorta to prevent us from ending up in a post-cataclysm type of Mad Max like future. Why has an affordable electric car been chosen as the imaginary panacea for the systemic failure that is rotting away the foundation of our lives?

Comment Re:Likewise... (Score 1) 416

by reydar on Sunday August 31, 2008 @03:43PM (#24822017) Attached to: Pitfalls of Automated Bill Payment

And those five banks all have deposit insurance... How's all that banking competition going to help you out when your mickey mouse mom n'pop bank fails and doesn't have deposit insurance? Too many banks in the US has left them substantially worse off in this crisis.

Burglar Steals Bishop's Crown

Posted by samzenpus on Tuesday January 29, 2008 @02:19PM

A burglar who broke into a Greek Orthodox bishop's car stole a crown valued between $6000-$10000. The bishop said he was thankful that the thief hadn't found his +4 cloak of protection and gauntlets of ogre power. He has offered a $1000 reward to any noble band of adventurers who can return his crown.

Submission + - Aftermath of Distant Planetary Collision? (astrobio.net)

Submitted by

gazurtoid

on Saturday January 19, 2008 @12:34PM

gazurtoid writes: "Astrobiology Magazine is reporting that astronomers have announced that a mystery object orbiting the 8-million-year-old brown dwarf 2M1207 170 light-years from Earth might have formed from the collision and merger of two protoplanets. The object, known as 2M1207B, has puzzled astronomers since its discovery because it seems to fall outside the spectrum of physical possibility. Its combination of temperature, luminosity, and age do not match up with any theory. "Hot, post-collision planets might be a whole new class of objects we will see with the Giant Magellan Telescope", said Eric Mamajek of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics."

Feed Engadget: Forty-foot tall fire-breathing Robosaurus for sale (engadget.com)

From feed by engfeed on Sunday January 06, 2008 @05:12PM

Filed under: Robots

Wanted: good home for 31-ton robotic dinosaur, completely up-to-date on all immunizations and oil changes. This frisky 40-foot tall, fire-breathing bot answers to the name Robosaurus, and a traumatic youth spent crushing cars in front of thousands of rednecks means this guy needs a lot of love and attention -- along with plenty of open space to graze. All manuals, kits, and accessories are included with adoption, although new owner will assume responsibility for any damage caused by Robo's jaws and their 20,000 pounds of crushing force. Interested parties can bid on this one-of-a-kind companion at the 37th annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdate, AZ starting on the 12th.

[Thanks, jo]

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Pentagon Urges Space-Based Solar Power 552

Posted by kdawson on Sunday October 14, 2007 @07:54PM from the let-the-beam-me-down-jokes-begin dept.

eldavojohn writes "The Pentagon issued a report indicating that space-based solar power 'has the potential to help the United States stave off climate change and avoid future conflicts over oil by harnessing the Sun's power to provide an essentially inexhaustible supply of clean energy.' The report, from the Pentagon's National Security Space Office, calls for funding the development of space-based solar power culminating in 'a platform in geosynchronous orbit bigger than the international space station and capable of beaming 5-10 megawatts of power to a receiving station on the ground.' The Pentagon's interest in such an effort stems from the need to acquire energy on the battlefield, which today often comes at a painful premium."

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