the-pdm - Slashdot User

First Membrane Controlled By Light Developed 33

Posted by timothy on Sunday August 01, 2010 @02:54PM from the my-eyelid-aside dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt: "A new membrane developed at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics blocks gas from flowing through it when one color of light is shined on its surface, and permits gas to flow through when another color of light is used. It is the first time that scientists have developed a membrane that can be controlled in this way by light."

Comment wtf is a poke? (Score 1) 394

by the-pdm on Tuesday October 13, 2009 @09:48AM (#29731179) Attached to: Facebook User Arrested For a Poke

WTF is a poke? I've seen it, I've clicked on it, I even sent one, but I still don't know wtf a poke is or what it is for.

The Unmanned Air Force 352

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday January 14, 2009 @09:10PM from the fly-the-robotic-skies dept.

coondoggie writes "How important have unmanned aircraft become to the US military? Well how's this: the Air Force says next year it will acquire more unmanned aircraft than manned. Air Force Lt. Gen. Norman Seip this week said the service is 'all in' when it comes to developing unmanned systems and aircraft. 'Next year, the Air Force will procure more unmanned aircraft than manned aircraft,' the general said. 'I think that makes a very pointed statement about our commitment to the future of [unmanned aircraft] and what it brings to the fight in meeting the requirements of combatant commanders.'"

Ricardo Montalban Dead At 88 280

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday January 14, 2009 @08:05PM from the welcome-to-fantasy-island dept.

DesScorp writes "Ricardo Montalban, immortalized as Khan in the Star Trek franchise, is dead at age 88, passing at his Los Angeles home. Montalban had a long and successful career on television and film. The voice of Rich Corinthian Leather is silenced, but we still have the memories."

Comment build a space ship? (LEGO) (Score 1) 552

by the-pdm on Tuesday July 15, 2008 @11:37PM (#24207941) Attached to: Alternative Uses For an Old Satellite Dish?

I used to build little space hover crafts out of my extra LEGO dishes.

Netflix Changes Its Mind, Will Keep Profiles Feature 267

Posted by timothy on Monday June 30, 2008 @06:01PM from the you-can-finally-sleep-at-night dept.

xChange writes "I too was disappointed at Netflix's decision to remove the Profiles feature, and let them know via email and telephone. I was surprised to find the following email in my inbox today: 'You spoke, and we listened. We are keeping Profiles. Thank you for all the calls and emails telling us how important Profiles are. We are sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope the next time you hear from us we will delight, and not disappoint, you.' I thought that it sounded too good to be true, and went to their blog to confirm, finding this entry. Netflix decided to listen to its customers, and keep a feature that many of us find essential for our use of their service. I am surprised, and very pleased."

Yahoo Ends Talks With Microsoft, Embraces Google Instead 214

Posted by timothy on Thursday June 12, 2008 @04:56PM from the oh-google-you're-so-good-to-me dept.

snydeq writes with a story from InfoWorld which says that "Yahoo has ended its talks with Microsoft and is instead nearing an agreement with Google. Yahoo's purported reason for breaking off the talks? That Microsoft was only interested in purchasing Yahoo's search business, not all of the company. 'Such a transaction would not be consistent with the company's view of the converging search and display marketplaces, would leave the company without an independent search business that it views as critical to its strategic future and would not be in the best interests of Yahoo stockholders,' the company said in a statement. The deal with Google allegedly involves Yahoo's search advertising business. The move likely will draw more ire from Icahn and may in fact remain part of the elaborate poker game between the two companies. Microsoft said this alternative transaction remains on the table and did not confirm that talks between it and Yahoo have concluded." Update: 06/12 23:58 GMT by T : CWmike writes "Just hours after saying it ended talks with Microsoft, Yahoo announced that it will start running advertising from Google alongside Yahoo search results. Yahoo expects the deal, which has a 10-year term, to generate $250 million to $450 million in operating cash flow during the first 12 months."

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