Posted by Soulskillon Sunday March 31, @02:24AM from the i-will-buy-one-of-those-NASAs-please dept.
Tired of seeing ads for cars and soda before the films you watch at the theater? Well, a successful crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo will see a trimmed down version of NASA's 'We Are Explorers' video aired before showings of the upcoming Star Trek: Into Darkness in theaters all over the country. "Most people recognize space as a key expression of our character. They know our space programs as a globally recognized brand of ingenuity. The recently landed Mars Curiosity Rover was the latest reminder that space systems are the crown jewels of our scientific and technical prowess. Less known is the indispensable value space systems bring to our everyday lives. Space provides irreplaceable capabilities for defense, public health, finance, medicine, energy, agriculture, transportation, development and countless other fields. Investments in space programs are precisely about improving and protecting life on Earth. ... By funding this campaign, we can remind students and the general public that our nation's space agency is working hard on the next era of exploration." The campaign's funding goal was reached in just six days — their stretch goal will increase the number of theaters for the clip from 59 screens to 750. The movie comes out on May 17th.
Posted by samzenpuson Monday March 18, @09:39AM from the welcome-back dept.
cylonlover writes "Australian scientists have successfully revived and reactivated the genome of an extinct frog. The 'Lazarus Project' team implanted cell nuclei from tissues collected in the 1970s and kept in a conventional deep freezer for 40 years into donor eggs from a distantly-related frog. Some of the eggs spontaneously began to divide and grow to early embryo stage with tests confirming the dividing cells contained genetic material from the extinct frog. The extinct frog in question is the Rheobatrachus silus, one of only two species of gastric-brooding frogs, or Platypus frogs, native to Queensland, Australia. Both species became extinct in the mid-1980s and were unique amongst frog species for the way in which they incubated their offspring."
From WPClipart, a picture of a female passenger pigeon, below.
While putting together the previous posting about my old, family books, I chuckled to myself - knowing that Stu would (and should) step in to chide my USA definition of old. Peoples of the Old World have books/hieroglyphics/scrolls dating back not just 100 years, not just 100s of years, but (in some cases) thousands of years.
Stu took it easy on me in his comment, presenting links to the facsimile of one book that dates back to 1525. (Of course, had Stu wished to be really kind, he would have provided translations!) I, myself, can read just enough of the German to make me dangerous, my biggest hurdle being to recognize the letters! (Among my "old" books is this one:
A Scientific German Reader
Kip, Herbert Z, PhD, Vanderbilt University
Oxford University Press: New York, London, Toronto, Melbourne & Bombay, Humphrey, Milford
1916
Below, is the graphic to Stu's old book that dates to 1525 and his comment that references one of his wife's old books.
I would like to share 2 of my old book covers with you, but I don't know how to put photos in your comments. So look here http:/www.savory.de/adamriese1.jpg which is my facsimile copy of Adam Riese's 1525 book on how to do arithmetic with arabic numerals (includes 2 chapters on fractions). Up until then Yurp [Europe to the rest of us - CC] had used roman numerals.
Gesundheit! And...happy St Patty's (St Paddy's, if you prefer) day ta ya. St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Engineers - although - I couldn't tell you why! We always had a "big do" at University of Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy (now, Missouri University of Science & Technology).
A project on which I spent a bit of time, today, was cataloguing old, family books that are in my possession. As with other physical possessions, I will be attempting to dispose of the books - either to family, local (to the area in which the original owners lived) museums, or to a different spot in our basement.
Each time I have gone through the books in the past 20-30 years, I have come across so many items of interest that it is difficult to remain on task. (The file linked at the bottom is the listing that I made of the books.)4
1) Mathematics
Stu and I have had, on occasion, an email exchange concerning what each of us meant by certain wording that each of us used. As Stu is fluent in several languages, and as I am semi-fluent only in English, I generally learn more from these exchanges than does he; but, he is game and sticks with me in the effort. One of the books that intrigued me, today, is Ray's Arithmetic, Third Book: Practical Arithmetic1 (published before 1900, at which time Grandmother was 16 years old) which just happens to use some of the mathematical terms that Stu and I have discussed. It is a fascinating book that leads the presumed student, step-by-step through mathematics that one was to learn in USA third grade. Starting with a major section of the book, these are the things one is to learn.
XI. COMMON FRACTIONS
Articles 121 through 124 are untitled, but Article 124 includes, "Fractions are divided into two classes, Common and Decimal."
Article 125. ANOTHER METHOD
Article 126 through128 are untitled.
Article 129. DEFINITIONS which provides definitions of the following: Fraction, Improper Fraction, Simple Fraction, Compound Fraction, Mixed Number, and Complex Fraction.
Article 130. PARTS OF FRACTIONS
Article 131. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Articles 132 through 136 are untitled, but include some of the general principles.
Article 137. REDUCTION OF FRACTIONS
Articles 138 through 164 continue to present mathematical operations on fractions.
Article 165. PROMISCUOUS EXAMPLES - Gee, folks, I probably should leave you in the dark about what the term means (it is certainly not defined in the book); but, from context, I gather that it presents 21 problems that advanced (read: smarter) kids might be encouraged to attempt to solve.
XII. DECIMAL FRACTION which contains Articles 166 through 190
XIII. RATIO which contains Articles 191 through 196
XIV. PROPORTION which contains Articles 197 through 205
XV. ALIQUOTS, OR PRACTICE which contains Articles 206 and 207 - Perhaps I should let you look up "aliquots"; but, having read in the book that "One number is an aliquot part of another, when it will exactly divide it (Art. 110). Thus, 5 cents, 10 cts, 20 cts., &c., are aliquot parts of $1." I'll let you in on it.
There are a total of 28 sections, concluding with
XXVII. PERMUTATION
XXVIII. MENSURATION
I should have reviewed this little (4" wide x 6.5" tall x 1" thick - 336 pages) book before starting discussions with Stu on fractions, ratios, and permutations.
2. Sewing
In an 11-page pamphlet re-printed when I was two years old (that would be 1940), CLOTHING: I.--Sewing Practices for the Beginner2, are the instructions for sewing an apron for oneself.
THE APRON
... you may make an apron according to the directions which follow.
Checked or plaid gingham is used for the apron and is made with a hem at the top which serves as a casing for a tape or belt. Cut the material in a size suitable for the girl who will wear it. An apron 16 inches long and 24 inches wide is a good size for a completed apron for a girl of ten years. In estimating the amount of material necessary to make this apron, allow enough for hems to finish at the top, bottom and sides of the apron.
Straighten the edges by drawing a thread. Turn a hem one inch wide at the top. The hem at the bottom may be 1 1/2 inches wide, and at the sides may be turned the width of the checks or according to the plaid in the ginham. Turn and cut out the corners as shown on page 27 of Extension Circular 373, "If You Would Learn to Sew." Baste all hems carefully and stitch close to the edge of the fold with thread which harmonizes with the color of the material. Tie threads securely and overhand at the corners. Press the finished apron carefully and insert a tape or fabric belt in the top hem for a tie. If desired the top of the apron may be gathered into a belt which is long enough to tie at the back. See page 15 of Extension Circular 373, "If You Would Learn to Sew."
If you wish to know how well you have made your apron, check it with the following:
1. Are the hems folded evenly?
2. Is the machine stitching straight and near the edge?
3. Did you use a thimble in basting and overhanding ends?
4. Have the basting threads been removed?
5. Is the apron clean and well pressed?
What intrigues me is comparing the above directions which take exactly one page of the pamphlet (the only illustrations are in the referenced circular, which the sewer probably won't have on hand!) to the video and color illustrations that would be in a sewing guide published, today. Below, I embed a video - just in case you don't wish to take my word for it.
Obviously, the video wants one to make a much fancier apron than the 1940 pamphlet addresses.
3. Citizenship
Grandmother had a book on citizenship - The American Citizen: West Virginia Edition3 published in 1897. I found the following section compelling. It is contained in a chapter on "The People Acting in Congress"
The Federal Union. -- For a little while after the War of Independence, the States tried the experiment of acting almost independently of each other. It proved a bad and dangerous experiment. New York might make laws to hurt or to tax the commerce of the people of New Jersey or Connecticut. There was no sure way to provide for the common good or the defence of the States. There was no treasury with money in it, or the means to secure money, to provide for the large debt which the Confederation had borrowed to carry on the war. [Omitted two sentences concerning the 1787 convention in Philadelphia.] It [the Convention] worked out the plan for our present Union, and recommended it to the people. According to the new plan the States agreed, by the vote of their people, to give up some of their independence, and to commit to Congress the charge of matters which concern all the people of the nation. No State now could do anything to injure the people of another State. No State could erect custom-houses on its boundaries to collect taxes from the commerce of the other States. The Union could have a treasury and courts with the necessary authority to command obedience. No State could justly resist the authority of the general government; neither could any State withdraw from the others and set up and independent government. Since permanent union proved to be for the general good, it was not only unfair for any State selfishly to threaaten the good of all by withdrawal from the Union, but the State which cut itself off from the rest would be likely to suffer in the long run.
What now, if Congress, which represents all the nation is unwise and passes laws that seem to hurt any part of the people? The remedy is to send wiser and better delegates, or to persuade the mistaken majority; because it is a harm only to the few to acquiesce for the time in what the majority have unwisely decreed, whereas it would injure every one if any portion of the nation were to resist or break up the government. This was abundantly demonstrated in the Civil War.
________________________
1Eclectic Educational Series: Ray's Arithmetic, Third Book: Practical Arithmetic by Induction and Analysis, Ray, Joseph MD, Late Professor of Mathematics in Woodward College. One Thousandth [sic] Edition - Improved. Wilson, Hinkle & Co; Cincinnati, New York
2Clothing: I.--Sewing Practices for the Beginner, 4-H Club Circular 21. Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. University of Missouri College of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, January 1938 (Second Reprint April 1940).
3The American Citizen: West Virginia Edition, Dole, Charles F.; D.C. Heath & Co., Publishers 1897.
4The link to the file has been removed as I could not make it work!
Below is a paragraph from an email from a bird-watcher whom I don't even know. She belongs to the birding list serve in Kansas (she lives in the Manhattan KS area - in which Elder Brother was born in 1936) and her email was among this morning's summary of reports.
Most of us are pretty quick with our complaints when we feel ill-treated by a person, organization, or company. Try as we might, we are usually not as quick about our praise. Here is one bird-watcher's story, below.
On the Wakefield CBC [Christmas Bird Count], the lock on my tripod broke and my 20 year old [sic] Nikon scope crashed on the pavement breaking the focus mechanism. I called Nikon and they had me send it in for repairs. I received a bill for $22 and thought that is not bad considering the age and condition of the scope. Today I finally received the scope back only to open a box that contained a BRAND NEW SCOPE! I really can't believe this-a new scope for $22 and the old one was not even under warranty.
Way to go, Nikon!
I should take this opportunity to laud Parker Pen Co (or whatever its current name might be) for a similar instance. About 10 years ago, I returned a Parker fountain pen (with my name engraved on the barrel) that my parents had given me while I was in high school, some 50+ years previously, for repair. It hadn't worked in at least 30 years. They could not fix the pen because the parts were no longer made, so they sent me a nice gel-pen - without charge! The pens (old and new) were returned to me in a nice box, and I was not even charged for the postage.
Yesterday, some of my friends missed the most amazing Google Doodle that I've ever seen. Here, through the magic of YouTube are two videos of the doodle. I don't know if the sound track has been added; but, there was no sound to the doodle that I was watching, yesterday. Note, too, that, in the upper video, the whole doodle is not displayed in the video - only the PDA and its surrounds. Enjoy!
Hunky Husband yelled for me to "Come - quick!" When I got to the living room, he wanted me to look at a hawk that was perched on a wrought iron feeder-support staff at the edge of "my meadow". I couldn't see it because I had my computer glasses on. By the time I retrieved my driving glasses, the hawk had moved but was still in sight. It wasn't obvious to me the species we were watching (in our yard I expect it to be either a red-tailed or a sharp-shinned), so I tiptoed over to get a pair of binoculars. I still didn't have the species pegged; so I went for my camera, put the longer lens on it, and started snapping pictures.
While I was screwing around with the camera, a second hawk (just like the first) alit near the first hawk. I did not get a picture of the two together, but I did get a dozen frames (not all in focus) of one of the pair. I have tentatively identified the hawks as a species that we've not seen here, before - (see below the fold after you've decided what you think it is.) I would appreciate your opinion either confirming or denying my identification. In posting the photos I have cropped and lightened them; but, I have not changed the coloration. Colors are rather dull due to our overcast sky. The hawks were southeast of my position (I shot through the kitchen window, looking straight back into the back lot) and the sun is hidden but behind the hawks and to my left as the time was about 8:20am.
By the way: HH concluded, and I concurred, that the hawks were worming - pulling worms from the wet ground.
I eventually tired of holding the camera in readiness to catch the hawk in flight (or at least with its wings upraised) and left the scene. The hawk left, too. About an hour later, the hawk returned and stuck around for another 30 minutes or so - of which we know. Here are three photos of the hawk - the last one taken through rain.
The next photo was added at 5:15pm
Note that both hawks are in this photo. They have hung about all day!
The hawk action was in our back yard. In the front yard were three mallard ducks - two drakes and one hen.
Below are three items posted by Slashdot.net that caught my attention this morning. The first is technology/medical, the second and third have to do with US Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @05:22PM from the i-wonder-if-they'll-do-customized-designs dept.
redletterdave writes "An un-named male patient in the U.S. has had 75 percent of his skull replaced with 3D printed materials. The undisclosed patient had his head imaged by a 3D scanner before South Windsor, Conn.-based Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) gained approval from US regulators to print the bone replacement. OPM's final skull replacement was built within two weeks, and inserted in the patient's skull in an operation performed earlier this week; this cutting-edge procedure was only just revealed on Friday. OPM's 3D-printed process was granted approval by the FDA back on Feb. 18, which means the company can now provide 3D printed replacements for bones damaged by trauma or even disease. The company says this technique could benefit more than 500 U.S. citizens each month, from injured factory or construction workers to wounded soldiers."
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @06:45PM from the you're-doing-it-right dept.
An anonymous reader sends this Techdirt report on a welcome ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals: ""Here's a surprise ruling. For many years we've written about how troubling it is that Homeland Security agents are able to search the contents of electronic devices, such as computers and phones at the border, without any reason. The 4th Amendment only allows reasonable searches, usually with a warrant. But the general argument has long been that, when you're at the border, you're not in the country and the 4th Amendment doesn't apply. This rule has been stretched at times, including the ability to take your computer and devices into the country and search it there, while still considering it a "border search," for which the lower standards apply. Just about a month ago, we noted that Homeland Security saw no reason to change this policy. Well, now they might have to. In a somewhat surprising 9th Circuit ruling (en banc, or in front of the entire set of judges), the court ruled that the 4th Amendment does apply at the border, that agents do need to recognize there's an expectation of privacy, and cannot do a search without reason. Furthermore, they noted that merely encrypting a file with a password is not enough to trigger suspicion."
Posted by Soulskillon Friday March 08, @06:05PM from the to-protect-and-serve dept.
New submitter SplatMan_DK writes "Ars Technica reports that the Obama Administration has filed a brief in support of a Maryland photojournalist who says he was arrested and beaten after he took photographs of the police arresting two other men. The brief by the Justice Department argues that the U.S. Constitution protects the right to photograph the actions of police officers in public places and prohibits police officers from arresting journalists for exercising those rights. Context: 'Garcia says that when Officer Christopher Malouf approached him, Garcia identified himself as a member of the press and held up his hands to show he was only holding a camera. But Malouf "placed Mr. Garcia in a choke hold and dragged him across the street to his police cruiser," where he "subjected him to verbal and physical abuse." According to Garcia's complaint, Malouf "forcibly dragged Mr. Garcia across the street, throwing him to the ground along the way, inflicting significant injuries." Garcia says Malouf "kicked his right foot out from under him, causing Mr. Garcia to hit his head on the police cruiser while falling to the ground." Garcia claims that Malouf took the video card from Garcia's camera and put it in his pocket. The card was never returned. Garcia was charged with disorderly conduct. In December 2011, a judge found Garcia not guilty.'"
Hunky Husband yelled for me to "Come - quick!" about 30 minutes ago. When I got there, he wanted me to look at a hawk that was perched on a wrought iron feeder-support staff at the edge of "my meadow". I couldn't see it because I had my computer glasses on. By the time I retrieved my driving glasses, the hawk had moved but was still in sight. It wasn't obvious to me the species we were watching (in our yard I expect it to be either a red-tailed or a sharp-shinned), so I tiptoed over to get a pair of binoculars. I still didn't have it pegged, so I went for my camera, put the longer lens on it, and started snapping pictures.
While I was screwing around with the camera, a second hawk (just like the first) alit near the first hawk. I did not get a picture of the two together, but I did get a dozen frames (not all in focus) of one of the pair. I have tentatively identified the hawks as a species that we've not seen here, before - red-shouldered. I would appreciate your opinion either confirming or denying my identification. In posting the photos I have cropped and lightened them; but, I have not changed the coloration. Colors are rather dull due to our overcast sky. The hawks were southeast of my position (I shot through the kitchen window, looking straight back into the back lot) and the sun is hidden but behind the hawks and to their my left as the time was about 8:20am.
By the way: Hunky Husband concluded, and I concurred, that the hawks were worming - pulling worms from the wet ground.
The following photo (first one that I took), is out of focus; but, it is the better of two shots that show the wings at all lifted.
Addition of 9:45am
The hawk has returned. Although it is raining, the hawk sits there on the wrought iron pole.
I spent 15 minutes waiting for the hawk to fly - to, possibly, snap a photo of the hawk with wings spread. No dice, so I came back to download the photos that I did get. Next thing I know, the hawk is sitting on one of the 4"x4" posts that (mostly) hold bird and squirrel feeders - a bit closer to me and slightly better light, but the rain has not let up. Here is one of the photos, below.
Addition of 4:30pm
Again, HH called me to see the hawk that was sitting, now, on the bluebird box. As I took more photos, the second hawk came in for a landing. I got a lot more photos; but, the only two that add more info were not taken at a fast enough speed. Here they are, below.
With the better lighting, it is easy to see the red shoulders! Just for kicks - one last photo with the hawk nearer to the house than in the other photos. It's pulling up worms!
Update of 11/17/2013:
The red-shouldered hawks raised at least one baby, this past summer, and at least one of them is still hanging around. Most mornings I hear the hawks and I saw one of them, yesterday morning.
I would like to share 2 of my old book covers with you, but I don't know how to put photos in your comments. So look here http:/www.savory.de/adamriese1.jpg which is my facsimile copy of Adam Riese's 1525 book on how to do arithmetic with arabic numerals (includes 2 chapters on fractions). Up until then Yurp [Europe to the rest of us - CC] had used roman numerals.
And look here http://www.savory.de/stus_blog_pix/oldbooks5.jpg [link no longer works - CC] which is an original 1861 algebra textbook which belonged to SWMBOs ancestors :-)