Not the first, not the last, just the latest local one to do it. Klaynos weighs in on What is science?
Monthly Archives: April 2008
OMFG — Buy This Stock … NOW!
UPS has apparently perfected time-travel.
A parcel for which only billing has been transmitted — today — was delivered last August. I am going to be seriously weirded out if I need/am told to ship something to LA next week.
Cleanup on Aisle 12
The Battery-Powered Rats of NiMH
This reminds me — I need some new batteries. A few of mine just died from overcharging.
Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries
For one thing, there’s the issue of discharge rate. It turns out that massive 2500mAh capacity of the Energizer rechargeable battery doesn’t mean much when the battery drains itself within a month.
[…]
So putting a larger number on the box is ultimately a method of fooling consumers with marketing. Where have we seen that before? Oh right, everywhere. Caveat emptor.
The Wikipedia entry on NiMH batteries mentions that the hybrid/pre-charged batteries have an advance that reduces the discharge rate
A new type of nickel-metal hydride battery was introduced in 2005 that reduces self-discharge and, therefore, lengthens shelf life. By using a new separator, manufacturers claim the batteries retain 70 to 85% of their capacity after one year when stored at 20 degrees Celsius (68F). These cells are marketed as “ready-to-use” or “pre-charged” rechargeables. Besides the longer shelf life, they are otherwise similar to normal NiMH batteries of equivalent capacity and can be charged in typical NiMH chargers.
(via Daring Fireball)
I Love My Clipboard
I got a fluorescent clipboard a while back. I love the effect.
The edge is much, much brighter than the rest, though it’s a little easier to see this in person. The clipboard is acting as a waveguide for the emitted fluorescence; any light emitted within the total internal reflectance angle is being transported to the edge, and any light entering through the edge is likewise guided. Except for the places where there is clear tape (holding a Dilbert cartoon on a transparency) where you can see some of the light coupling out through the tape, because the light isn’t totally contained in a waveguide. There is an evanescent wave that can couple to a material of a different index, resulting in frustrated total internal reflection.
The World's Worst Toaster
Fortunately it doesn’t belong to me. But the web experience described does — I buy stuff for the lab. I run across the “bad toaster” interfaces all the time. For the life of me, I don’t get why certain segments of the science/tech world won’t tell you how much things cost, or make you click through a bunch of links to be able to add something to my shopping cart. I would think that, by now, most companies would have learned that every extra step — every mouse click — is an opportunity to decide to shop elsewhere. Meh.
Arrr! 'Tis a Worthy Cause
Email from a navy buddy of mine, who, prior to teaching and serving as one of my mentors, had been enlisted and served at sea.
A bunch of my Navy buddies and I compiled a list of sea stories, and had them published.
All proceeds to to the Navy and Marine Welfare Fund, which will benefit wounded vets and their families.
Oh, Yeah, Like I Really Need That
New Sarcasm Meds (from the makers of Damitol)
The speed of sarcasm: Mock 1
Think!
(I know, I know. The German is wrong. Poetic license. Mordeo me rather than mea culpa)
Random Nonphysics Post
You Say Organic Potato, I Say Poisonous Lump of Neurotoxins
I was thinking of weaponized potatoes, and was going to entitle this “Potato in the Hole!” but that quickly brought up a decidedly uncomfortable mental image.
But it’s not just potatoes that can kill you with their toxins. Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release hydrogen cyanide gas when acted on by enzymes; chocolate containes theobromine (as does tea and cola), which can stimulate the heart to the point of cardiac arrest; and caffeine is a fatal neurotoxin that can also cause miscarriages in pregnant women.
I will continue to throw myself on rogue chocolate that threatens anyone, because I am selfless that way.