tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34931780638984522572024-03-13T05:34:57.769-07:00Ex Terra ExpeditionsA new company that will arrange an out of this world vacation.Westleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09586869004295098058noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-56487443967800439042011-10-14T17:09:00.001-07:002011-11-26T16:06:38.886-08:00More on the party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsRnbqlwbGTjGNK3iFoKOeUk4JF6mW7l-tmPb7n2qXN2SYN7uxvU8LyAx0uCNl0Hu-nAJ6gKleFbqu24mP9-APtE-wsngeJHnZXihWnn7R74dqaxQr3M2Vztu7ZmAXjsM9e1eNH4haaQ/s1600/grand_feast.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsRnbqlwbGTjGNK3iFoKOeUk4JF6mW7l-tmPb7n2qXN2SYN7uxvU8LyAx0uCNl0Hu-nAJ6gKleFbqu24mP9-APtE-wsngeJHnZXihWnn7R74dqaxQr3M2Vztu7ZmAXjsM9e1eNH4haaQ/s200/grand_feast.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679417715153251666" border="0" /></a>All right, so I left the posting mid-thought <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/10/55.html">last week</a>, but I was so excited to get <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> posted, and didn't want to leave you with nothing, that I figured some now is better than more later. Well, here's the 'more later' part. (Again, I must apologise for the lack of real pictures, but not having had the presence of mind, nor the time, to bring the camera, I have nothing to show for it.)<br /><br />So, I was trapped on the other side with Tom and a bunch of natives. We walked for what seemed like a dozen miles down to a river where we were met by a large wagon being pulled by some kind of local <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_animal">beast of burden</a>. We all piled in and headed south (or at least that's what Tom said; at that point I hadn't a clue which way was up, much less south) following along the river. We were passing through a forest when we turned suddenly east, taking a much longer route. Tom explained that we had to circle around a large cliff. Apparently the wagon path and the foot path separate near a tall <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall">waterfall</a>. (Tom said that he'd bring me back to the base of the waterfall later.)<br /><br />We pulled into the town and stopped in front of a huge building. Turns out that it was the general <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeting_house">meeting house</a> for the town and where they entertained guests (usually folks from nearby towns, not from so far out of town as Tom and me). Ushered into the hall, we sat at long tables where the local kids served us the best meal I've ever eaten. I'm still not quite certain what all we ate, but Tom said that it was mostly fresh vegetables and fish from the river (same river as the waterfall, just much farther downstream). He says that usually they would have some kind of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_meat">red meat</a>, but we hadn't given them time to prepare for this visit. As unexpected as this trip was for me, Tom hadn't given them any warning either.<br /><br />After a long, drawn out meal, Tom took me for a walk around the small <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village">village</a>, pointing out various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmarks">landmarks</a>, such as the local school. As is typical for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourists">tourists</a>, we were followed by a crowd of kids, all wanting to see the stranger: me! They had worked with Tom for a while and almost considered him one of them, but I was a serious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbie">newbie</a> for them.<br /><br />Augh! Out of space again for the posting. More on my trip next time.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-73598828899859802212011-10-07T17:02:00.001-07:002011-11-26T16:04:03.953-08:00A veiw from the other side<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUKCKarzMRUlG4HObTAIYgu8_3jy8x8ndZIy026DxVoZkq_psmCkH6egeYe5sLCI3QQELEGcYCzs3fO_jPpeKiw41gawBkxXjUvxgqMi3jMbjew0K3_s4z0Z4OhVvrm5YgrUWqJOE2jU/s1600/why-do-you-have-to-be-so-far-away.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUKCKarzMRUlG4HObTAIYgu8_3jy8x8ndZIy026DxVoZkq_psmCkH6egeYe5sLCI3QQELEGcYCzs3fO_jPpeKiw41gawBkxXjUvxgqMi3jMbjew0K3_s4z0Z4OhVvrm5YgrUWqJOE2jU/s200/why-do-you-have-to-be-so-far-away.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679412273137293490" border="0" /></a>Well, they talked me into it: I visited the other side of the Door! I didn't spend much time there, only one week, but it was fantastic! Right after <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-discovery-of-electrons-to-nuclear.html">last week's posting</a> (about all the things that happened on Sep 30th), Tom grabbed me and practically dragged me to the room where the Door actually opens. Oh, of course, I've seen it open a couple times, but I usually find something else to do when they're opening it...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Far_Away_Idol#Far_Far_Away_Idol">something far away</a>. This time, though, Tom said he had something really interesting to show me: a native artefact that he claimed he couldn't bring through to this side. Well, he was right, sorta. What he wanted to show me was how they throw a party, a real party, but I didn't know that, not at first.<br /><br />When we got to the room, and closed it off, sealing out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_World">the real world</a>, he pulled me right over to the dais, so I was practically sitting right on top of the platform as the Door opened. I've never been anywhere near that close, and the wind rushing through as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure">atmospheric pressures</a> balanced almost knocked me off my feet. Anyway, the Door opened, Tom headed through, and I just stood there waiting for him to show me whatever it was he was all excited about.<br /><br />I could see him there on the other side waiting. There were a few natives standing around with him. (I must say, they look pretty fierce even though Tom says they look scarier<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1f8qML2Vst4YFNDe7Qw0V3m9g8_nWdixOAHlxIMvx5-dIMn2lXDHhL6ceGN2ZxcvulGksfjk8ugR6hk679E4-qdleMXkHVp8vf7jarwFnXN34b-y9LY4_l3bdTl1DmkARI1ke7314qc/s1600/Not+like+this.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1f8qML2Vst4YFNDe7Qw0V3m9g8_nWdixOAHlxIMvx5-dIMn2lXDHhL6ceGN2ZxcvulGksfjk8ugR6hk679E4-qdleMXkHVp8vf7jarwFnXN34b-y9LY4_l3bdTl1DmkARI1ke7314qc/s200/Not+like+this.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679410112271787714" border="0" /></a> when they're dressed for battle. Nothing like the picture, but I've got nothing better to show. I need to bring the camera next time.) As the charge on the capacitors started draining, and the connection to the other side was weakening, I made a decision: Go for it! I leapt up to the Door itself, feeling all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity">the hairs on my arms stand up</a>, paused a moment (it <span style="font-style: italic;">mi</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ght </span>have looked like I stumbled, but I didn't!), then almost fell through the Door. I only had a moment to glance back over my shoulder to see the whole thing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefunction_collapse">collapse</a>, and I was trapped! Stuck on the other side for at least a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Week">week</a>, or at least until they could build up another charge to get the Door open again. At that point, my only hope was that Tom could get me back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality">reality</a>. Later, that changed.<br /><br />I could go on and on about my experiences over there, but I'm running out of space to get this posted. More next week!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-42979406597676691522011-09-30T17:09:00.000-07:002011-09-30T17:09:00.527-07:00From the Discovery of Electrons to a Nuclear MeltdownFrank decided to look up the path from simple electronics to nuclear power, and he found that a few things happened on today's date. Here they are: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKvVbwYWQftUEUaunHyqdlklYmzgcPUNFZkaYhmOEwvbaxtiYBwH_nK3RdG_YbLmF_cW49QteWNscxiJ2tz4G8NuEQZ_n5d-YcQdB6XuefC_dHRjyjMX_c3UI04yCwCUAkrNVVsDxP6BP/s1600/220px-Diode_vacuum_tube.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKvVbwYWQftUEUaunHyqdlklYmzgcPUNFZkaYhmOEwvbaxtiYBwH_nK3RdG_YbLmF_cW49QteWNscxiJ2tz4G8NuEQZ_n5d-YcQdB6XuefC_dHRjyjMX_c3UI04yCwCUAkrNVVsDxP6BP/s200/220px-Diode_vacuum_tube.svg.png" width="194" /></a>I<span style="font-family: inherit;">n 18</span>95, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baptiste_Perrin">Jean Baptiste Perrin</a> (born today in 1870) showed that what had been called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_rays">Cathode Rays</a> weren't actually rays, but physical particles that had mass and travelled from one end of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_tube">vacuume tube</a> (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cathode">cathode</a> end) to the other (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_electrode">plate</a>). He had found electrons.<br />
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In 1882, the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydro-electric#Run-of-the-river">hydro-electric generator</a>, designed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Alva_Edison">Edison</a>, began operation today at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_Street_Plant#The_Appleton_Edison_Electric_Light_Company">Appleton Edison Electric Light Company</a>.<br />
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(On a side note, in 1913 on today's date, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel">Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel</a>, the inventor of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine">diesel engine</a>, died under mysterious circumstances. He was on board the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Dresden_%281897%29">Dresden</a>, bound from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp">Antwerp</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London">London</a> for a meeting, and after dinner, he headed for bed at 10pm requesting to be woken shortly after 6am, but he was never seen alive again. Over a week later, a decomposing body was found adrift with items that belonged to him, but due to the advanced state of decay, the body itself was never verified to be his.)<br />
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In 1935, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam">Hoover Dam</a> was dedicated, and its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectric_power#Conventional_.28dams.29">hydro-electric generators</a> now supply enough power to run <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam#Power_distribution">public and private consumers</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada">Nevada</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona">Arizona</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California">California</a>.<br />
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(Interesting and possibly useful, but also irrelevant, in 1953, on Sep 30, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Translators">International Federation of Translators</a> was set up, and ever since, they have used today, the feast day of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Jerome">St Jerome</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Jerome#Reception_by_later_Christianity">accepted</a> as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patron_saint">patron saint</a> of translators), as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Translation_Day">International Translation Day</a> (also St Jerome's death date, 420). St Jerome was well known for translating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible">Bible</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetus_Latina">older Latin</a>, with extensive reference to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulgate#Translation">Greek and Hebrew texts</a>. His version is known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulgate"><i>versio vulgata</i></a>, or commonly used translation. The world '<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vulgar#Etymology">vuglar</a>' meaning having to do with ordinary or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_people">common folk</a>.)<br />
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In 1954, the world's first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_marine_propulsion">nuclear-powered</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine">submarine</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nautilus_%28SSN-571%29">USS Nautilus (SSN-571)</a>, was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_commissioning">commissioned</a>.<br />
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In 1977, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevill_Francis_Mott">Sir Nevill Francis Mott</a> (born today in 1905) received the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_for_Physics">Nobel Prize for Physics</a> due to his work in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_silicon">electronics</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_solid">magnetism</a>.<br />
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Sep 30, 1980, is a date that is probably not as well known as it should be, considering the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_medium">medium</a> we are using now. That was the date that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet">Ethernet</a> specification was published by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation">Digital Equipment Corporation</a> (DEC), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel">Intel</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox">Xerox</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr6v9m5hCmrAn1tJV_4aoJhCToCT5Kp3e5lvQSrp_uC30osx2rOS176dsrn9bBeSyQUHLSWzRM4BLWfTt8tp-AxCFJUsLSWA3LgRKeq10QRGtjuN6oOlAoGqEayOMVXkfrU6ccTe3HJZh/s1600/lossy-page1-200px-Map%252C_location_of_Tokaimura_nuclear_accident.tif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr6v9m5hCmrAn1tJV_4aoJhCToCT5Kp3e5lvQSrp_uC30osx2rOS176dsrn9bBeSyQUHLSWzRM4BLWfTt8tp-AxCFJUsLSWA3LgRKeq10QRGtjuN6oOlAoGqEayOMVXkfrU6ccTe3HJZh/s200/lossy-page1-200px-Map%252C_location_of_Tokaimura_nuclear_accident.tif.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>Finally, in 1999, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokaimura_nuclear_accident">accident at a uranium processing plant</a> in the village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dkai,_Ibaraki">Tōkai</a> killed three technicians and caused dozens of people to be hospitalised. In that incident, due entirely to human error, workers added a critical seventh bucket of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranyl_nitrate">uranyl nitrate</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution">solution</a> into a precipitation tank, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_mass">exceeding the limits</a> set for the tank and starting a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticality_accident">self-sustaining fission reaction</a>.<br />
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So, just on today's date, we have found everything from the initial discovery that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron">electrons</a> must be particles all the way up to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_meltdown">nuclear meltdown</a>. We have certainly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We%27ve_Come_a_Long_Way_Baby">come a long way</a>, haven't we?Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-8351436660455036282011-09-23T17:02:00.000-07:002011-09-23T17:02:00.592-07:00Celebrating the Autumnal Equinox and other important dates in history<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfQDlZjKkw3Ek-CbuWxDwlY0rcf_siH6LOPPjawEFhGt18I5kaXK2Gn6WhMEYCTWUZsWb2Atpg2RCTfmkVNv6K7kYR1KFkOQd_3xj-YfN0yt1iKitkT4-JquEjmoYp_hdQXONghLWGiY8/s1600/240px-Equinox-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfQDlZjKkw3Ek-CbuWxDwlY0rcf_siH6LOPPjawEFhGt18I5kaXK2Gn6WhMEYCTWUZsWb2Atpg2RCTfmkVNv6K7kYR1KFkOQd_3xj-YfN0yt1iKitkT4-JquEjmoYp_hdQXONghLWGiY8/s200/240px-Equinox-0.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Frank is in a party mood today, what with all the things he has to celebrate today. First off, today at 9:04 this morning, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumnal_equinox">Autumnal Equinox</a> occurred. That's when the Earth's axis is exactly parallel to its orbit around the sun. From our view down here, we see the sun rising and setting right over the equator.<br />
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Other things that Frank likes to celebrate today include these folks born on this date, going from the oldest to the most recent:<br />
<ul><li>480 BC <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euripides">Euripides</a>, who in effect created the theatre later used by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibsen">Ibsen</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw">Shaw</a>. </li>
<li>1215 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan">Kublai Khan</a>, who was rumoured to have built a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan_%28poem%29#Poem">Pleasure Dome in Xanadu</a>.</li>
<li>1926 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane">John Coltrane</a>, who could play a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxophone">saxophone</a> like nobody's business.</li>
<li>1930 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles">Ray Charles</a>, who also played the sax and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombone">trombone</a> but excelled on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano">piano</a>, which allowed him to sing along with his music.</li>
</ul>But the biggest event that Frank celebrates today is that back in 1889 (yes, that <i>does </i>say prior to the 1900s!) the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo">Nintendo</a> company was formed. Of course, back then it only dealt with playing cards, but still it was the beginning of a vast empire that has influenced many. In fact Frank carries his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U_Controller">Wii U controller</a> around with him at work, so he can keep up on his games when he's not sitting in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television">tele</a> at home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUz4c5hFPz-KMnXH4hJMI5JY3VRVm9GLe3UiA2lE_EQUnCoNdqsqbPOC89kE56PjFXUrYQ4mu5Kn8sxor44PAxVOW3ABmyIkrUfczbhQQ83jxTOm0Ftb3f7HnNKme3PzE8r8IvIGZWa4d/s1600/240px-Wii_U_controller_illustration.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUz4c5hFPz-KMnXH4hJMI5JY3VRVm9GLe3UiA2lE_EQUnCoNdqsqbPOC89kE56PjFXUrYQ4mu5Kn8sxor44PAxVOW3ABmyIkrUfczbhQQ83jxTOm0Ftb3f7HnNKme3PzE8r8IvIGZWa4d/s200/240px-Wii_U_controller_illustration.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div>Have fun, and I hope you don't get <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_thumb">Nintendinitis</a>!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-47355675901707834082011-09-16T17:10:00.000-07:002011-09-16T17:10:00.811-07:00Not Magnetic Monopoles? Possibly Reimann manifoldsWe know from the <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/09/pots-no-way-voip-instead.html">last post</a> that phones are a pain, but there's no need to elaborate on that. I think we've all recovered from that experience.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrDiAGIO_tPLZjawXJM-BuMFVm-MDLI9xVOBb7ruCP9Nfc7cSp6zWEZk-eKs7nib17wo7gAGZv_d5WgT-ixYrvTtYf7GJPcYn-jHvkyDhqcxFInZ-P0j6TKL_M_6zIzxs6XCRLiUrW4an/s1600/220px-Magnet0873.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrDiAGIO_tPLZjawXJM-BuMFVm-MDLI9xVOBb7ruCP9Nfc7cSp6zWEZk-eKs7nib17wo7gAGZv_d5WgT-ixYrvTtYf7GJPcYn-jHvkyDhqcxFInZ-P0j6TKL_M_6zIzxs6XCRLiUrW4an/s200/220px-Magnet0873.png" width="200" /></a></div>Anyway, Frank has been working on that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_monopole">magnetic monopole</a> theory again, and he says that it's probably not relevant. On a macro level, we all know that if you break a magnet, you don't end up with a North piece and a South piece; what you get are two smaller magnets, each with their own pair of poles. In spite of the fact that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Polchinski" title="">Joseph Polchinski</a>, a prominent string-theorist, <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0304042">claimed</a> that the existence of monopoles was "one of the safest bets that one can make about physics not yet seen", Frank doubts that the Door is based on that theory. He says that it's just not logical (and if Frank is anything, he's logical).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbw3JHJPQPTW_AedStZEoAEZVygXlvsM8CvjhNzWbRABlZ92jnM1fm-GBLHSImNV0ea8gizXt9Ou5YcXqBx_b1Iz9cZQNZmh1Cz_na55VZXtsV7Ns2HIKNH9AP9jr4HoyR0Yq1kYFDyzL/s1600/114px-Riemann_surface_sqrt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbw3JHJPQPTW_AedStZEoAEZVygXlvsM8CvjhNzWbRABlZ92jnM1fm-GBLHSImNV0ea8gizXt9Ou5YcXqBx_b1Iz9cZQNZmh1Cz_na55VZXtsV7Ns2HIKNH9AP9jr4HoyR0Yq1kYFDyzL/s1600/114px-Riemann_surface_sqrt.jpg" /></a></div>Frank's latest theory has to do with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_surface#Examples">Reimann surfaces</a>. Those surfaces appear to be fairly normal if you only look at a small section, "but the global <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topology" title="Topology">topology</a> can be quite different", depending on the calculations involved. The overall impression of the shapes can be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere" title="Sphere">sphere</a> or a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torus" title="Torus">torus</a> or even just a couple of sheets glued together. Frank thinks that the way the Door works is to fold our normal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-space">3-space</a> into a shape like those through some kind of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-space#Geometry">4-space</a>, making two points normally distant very close together. The typical example is a folded piece of paper. (Quite a few examples of this appear all over.)<br />
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We might have more about the theory behind the Door next time, as long Frank doesn't get <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_dysfunction">distracted by any other bright, shiny objects</a>.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-25093167222207290722011-09-09T17:03:00.000-07:002011-09-16T10:47:06.816-07:00POTS? No way! VOIP instead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnlSf3tffpmcbEoM5Y2FdhnynYD9ynP8n7F4rPJ9qTFmSO9yo7lfv29mVZyEfnQsE0OtoVKqCXCmseOc3xHYHI5zB2TMT-PuNvGw8vng6U44Nk7h1mVAILAS0YSSuDKfho0ybqUodIOHs/s1600/300px-Alt_Telefon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnlSf3tffpmcbEoM5Y2FdhnynYD9ynP8n7F4rPJ9qTFmSO9yo7lfv29mVZyEfnQsE0OtoVKqCXCmseOc3xHYHI5zB2TMT-PuNvGw8vng6U44Nk7h1mVAILAS0YSSuDKfho0ybqUodIOHs/s200/300px-Alt_Telefon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When we moved into this new building, Frank insisted on upgrading the phones in our office. The previous tenants had been on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_old_telephone_service">POTS</a>, but now we have swapped everything over to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voip">VOIP</a>, and let me tell you, it's been a learning experience!<br />
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With POTS, the local phone company brings in a separate pair of wires for each line, and each one has a different phone number associated with it. Then someone (us!) has to physically connect them to each desk. Keeping track of all those interconnects is just plain ugly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33pUL-H6o7FY3VnnYcL9vgEiG3QFn1iD494DemkVBI3og8MvqiduBVWopNCi3nMQuHxxSpyNgt984CCRygHzgIg76pAH9ifQMUzLb4fmcqPVaYTss_yb4wiNFeqc7XaFsGY-TUg9JZSIe/s1600/220px-Cisco7960G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33pUL-H6o7FY3VnnYcL9vgEiG3QFn1iD494DemkVBI3og8MvqiduBVWopNCi3nMQuHxxSpyNgt984CCRygHzgIg76pAH9ifQMUzLb4fmcqPVaYTss_yb4wiNFeqc7XaFsGY-TUg9JZSIe/s200/220px-Cisco7960G.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>With a VOIP system, each phone number is encoded into the phone set itself, so all the wires going to all the desks are identical. There is no need to swap any wires. If we had someone move to a new desk, all we have to do is pick up the phone, unplug it, move it to the new desk, and plug it back in. That's it. All the number changes are done on a computer, assigning the phone number to a specific <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address">MAC</a> address.<br />
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All I can say, after pulling an all nighter helping to update an old POTS system, I'm glad that Frank convinced us to install VOIP when we moved in here.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-11336539880956058472011-09-02T17:10:00.000-07:002011-09-02T17:10:00.294-07:00Tom's data untrustworthy? Electronics still don't work; Halbach Spheres?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQw_tmA92g_OpUrbVT4ADzkex5f79iB5WkFvzwyREgZD2tv5tAUqNA0WqGPT1u1YXKF-GP221KnmeQ4otz9h79Wd9AUsY6slolP1Otdmfj8L-_2Am4B6rQxOmwQ0Aj-4-ZFUTGne4qA7o/s1600/155px-Animati3.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQw_tmA92g_OpUrbVT4ADzkex5f79iB5WkFvzwyREgZD2tv5tAUqNA0WqGPT1u1YXKF-GP221KnmeQ4otz9h79Wd9AUsY6slolP1Otdmfj8L-_2Am4B6rQxOmwQ0Aj-4-ZFUTGne4qA7o/s200/155px-Animati3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647625591160565154" border="0" /></a>Well, Tom collected quite a bit of data for Frank to analyse, but at first glance, Frank doesn't trust some of the numbers. Tom suggested that Frank go collect his own data, but Frank says that he's not going through the Door until someone he trusts is at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_system#Overview">controls</a> to make certain he can get back. Of course, Frank doesn't trust anyone, so he's likely only going to see the part of the other planet visible through the Door as it's opened. (Sometimes dealing with these two is like <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/herding_cats">herding cats</a>, I swear!)
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<br />Anyway, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOD3-9-NL55IQKDK85VlmrExFCiyWu8F9w3iXtWysdDIYc87SY7r9PSS72T0JgLzdD3_kId3SXzWdlzyhmNY9RtSr_D2KlGTadrmJWcpY5Qxo0veDj_1MEwugP96bajlB5GIlNaBwKNA/s1600/EarthCore.GIF"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOD3-9-NL55IQKDK85VlmrExFCiyWu8F9w3iXtWysdDIYc87SY7r9PSS72T0JgLzdD3_kId3SXzWdlzyhmNY9RtSr_D2KlGTadrmJWcpY5Qxo0veDj_1MEwugP96bajlB5GIlNaBwKNA/s200/EarthCore.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647626143404505762" border="0" /></a>the initial guess that the planet is larger than Earth makes sense (even though we haven't actually measured it), but it must be far less dense (as Frank <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/08/photos-examined-by-astromers-and-core.html">claimed</a>), which explains why the gravity is still so close to 'normal'. So, what we've got is a larger planet that spins slower, doesn't have an iron core, and no magnetic field to speak of. All that still doesn't explain why electronic things don't work. We really need to get Frank working on that.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv987p5CIRcwkVKuGnyO2H5hamzeLLJHkGfpuDu78H_a2QEJJI_5fjEygBKfDJeYgj7M7otyeAX35A8UUKd8bzR5e0Ecs4NFh9nPRE4A82yeTzX0aBHmnkt94CGLG_yF5J7u0LJE1AgQY/s1600/220px-Sphere.GIF"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv987p5CIRcwkVKuGnyO2H5hamzeLLJHkGfpuDu78H_a2QEJJI_5fjEygBKfDJeYgj7M7otyeAX35A8UUKd8bzR5e0Ecs4NFh9nPRE4A82yeTzX0aBHmnkt94CGLG_yF5J7u0LJE1AgQY/s200/220px-Sphere.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647635826589937122" border="0" /></a>Instead, Frank is still trying to figure out how the Door itself works. He's made a <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/supposition#Noun">supposition</a> that the way it works is probably similar to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres">Halba</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres">c</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres">h</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres"> </a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres">sph</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_sphere#Halbach_spheres">ere</a>. The only difference is that a typical Halbach sphere is made of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_magnet#Types_of_permanent_magnets">permanent </a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_magnet#Types_of_permanent_magnets">magnets</a>, whereas the Door is basically a huge <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnet#Magnetic_circuit_.E2.80.93_the_constant_B_field_approximation">electromagnet</a>, just with a twist to it. (Twist, get it? Frank opens the Door by spinning the magnetic field.)
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<br />Frank may have more for us soon, but Tom certainly will. He's been really excited about taking some folks out for an adventure, a '<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/walkabout">walkabout</a>' he calls it. We'll see what he has to say next week.
<br />Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-14590733335643855312011-08-26T17:04:00.000-07:002011-08-26T17:04:00.350-07:00Measuring gravity with Kater's Pendulum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyeNZAMdGAEZPALqJDYp2PE3NJiF3M8DErO0Jlvrcmi5BdWqjlX4yKUAJGc3H5sahj5eatyM2dgydaQLAL5lMAZfXysfi4qvTiXxF6nl-oDO4kbPXvTB_9XyMasuVKnrAqsUbPhmSBcRS/s1600/400px-Kater_pendulum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyeNZAMdGAEZPALqJDYp2PE3NJiF3M8DErO0Jlvrcmi5BdWqjlX4yKUAJGc3H5sahj5eatyM2dgydaQLAL5lMAZfXysfi4qvTiXxF6nl-oDO4kbPXvTB_9XyMasuVKnrAqsUbPhmSBcRS/s320/400px-Kater_pendulum.png" width="320" /></a></div>First off, let me describe how this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kater_pendulum">Kater's Pendulum</a> (shown in the adjacent picture) is supposed to work. There are two <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pivot#Noun">pivot points</a> (a), one at each end. At one end there is a major weight (d) and at the other end a minor weight (b & c). The minor one is adjustable, and by moving it in or out, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_%28physics%29">period</a> (the rate at which the pendulum swings) can be changed. So, what you do with this thing is hang it from one pivot and time the swing, then flip it over and time it again, moving the minor weight in and out until the two times are the same. Moving the minor weight counter-balances the major one and makes the whole thing effectively an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum#Compound_pendulum">'ideal' pendulum</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-fFGfWPvNxZAbRZPy2v7P3_NhUV7oqbFTdg7KIsEh4dhQ6w2-hq_4d_CBHs-ZP1HBEFGT_SOcB1F1EzCr8clN4DnTBZBr2B7i0hNXXAM3d3BuX8p-lWvDUsjTuvuaz_b9ApKRiQQ-lCm/s1600/equation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-fFGfWPvNxZAbRZPy2v7P3_NhUV7oqbFTdg7KIsEh4dhQ6w2-hq_4d_CBHs-ZP1HBEFGT_SOcB1F1EzCr8clN4DnTBZBr2B7i0hNXXAM3d3BuX8p-lWvDUsjTuvuaz_b9ApKRiQQ-lCm/s1600/equation.png" /></a>Knowing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance">distance</a> between the pivot points and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time">time</a> of the swing, we can use this formula to get the value of gravity at that point. Of course Tom isn't going to be using a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculator">calculator</a> over there, so all he's going to do is collect the numbers at various points and bring them back to Frank to do all the number crunching.<br />
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It turns out that Frank just happens to have a museum-quality piece that he's going to let Tom take through the Door to do some testing. It wasn't designed to be <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/portable#Adjective">portable</a> at all, so Frank has to make some modifications to the frame where Tom will be hanging the thing. Frank also has a set of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hourglass">hourglasses</a> (though they really should be called minute-glasses) that Tom will be using as timers. I'm not certain if Tom (or ANYone for that matter) will have enough patience to do all this stuff. Those physicists must have been really dedicated to their field of study to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invent">invent</a> stuff like this.<br />
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We'll see what we have to report next week. Until then, keep swinging!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-49305271953769502082011-08-19T17:12:00.000-07:002011-08-19T17:12:00.078-07:00Photos examined by astromers, and the core of the planet isn't iron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbGeAPYVR4OSlGJOZqP4SSHtU3WnY9afzfC4G5_DD1H2zna3T9vflOovYLO249Ox1p2kGx27l1EjpfymxyY0b9zqfQoXYy6K6i2sjd0bcWDRf00W2FRb30w4ET7cPSilBywfj_ZbcoGih/s1600/5313372442_c74cb91dc8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbGeAPYVR4OSlGJOZqP4SSHtU3WnY9afzfC4G5_DD1H2zna3T9vflOovYLO249Ox1p2kGx27l1EjpfymxyY0b9zqfQoXYy6K6i2sjd0bcWDRf00W2FRb30w4ET7cPSilBywfj_ZbcoGih/s200/5313372442_c74cb91dc8_b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Well, the photos have been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_developing">developed</a> and most of them were quite good. Turns out Tom is fairly handy with a camera. Frank has sent the pictures off to an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomer">astronomer</a> friend of his, and we hope to have some kind of estimate of the planet's location soon. Most of the pictures looked very much as we expected (see the adjacent picture from an <a href="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-beginners-forum-photo-gallery/229832-first-attempt-star-trails.html">amateur photo site</a>). The only thing Frank has been able to determine from them so far is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet#Rotation">rotation of the planet</a>. Doing a calculation using the length of the star streaks and knowing the shutter speed, Frank says that a 'day' on the planet is a bit less than 32 hours. Much <a href="http://news.discovery.com/earth/what-can-earths-core-tell-us-about-climate-110310.html">longer than here</a> on Earth, but Tom says that it doesn't feel longer; he just has more time to get things done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTapLdoL-LAfpj8Z_8K9d-tBdSR1Okp8BavhZOFd0U4usrF-w-XN0zm4YDo2XkrP0-9HaEJC1uwrIpFVw1kgUQCfWsuHddwbMaC6Qnl3MUyK2R1CQDMNthCngeSM52g4_76Nx2_HVGeM1/s1600/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTapLdoL-LAfpj8Z_8K9d-tBdSR1Okp8BavhZOFd0U4usrF-w-XN0zm4YDo2XkrP0-9HaEJC1uwrIpFVw1kgUQCfWsuHddwbMaC6Qnl3MUyK2R1CQDMNthCngeSM52g4_76Nx2_HVGeM1/s1600/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" /></a>The fact that a 'day' is longer there can be the result of a couple different things. Either the planet actually <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Brousse#Parallel_Worlds">rotates slower</a>, or it has a much larger diameter. A larger planet should have a stronger gravitational field, but only if the composition is similar to Earth's. From the lack of magnetism over there, Frank has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothesis">hypothesised</a> that the planet is lacking the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_core">iron core</a> that forms the basis of Earth's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_magnetic_field#Field_characteristics">magnetic field</a>, so although it might be larger, it has less mass. In other words, it is less <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_density">dense</a>.<br />
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So, based on his guess about the core, Frank's next experiment is going to test the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Andries_Vening_Meinesz#Research_and_Discoveries">exact gravity</a> there, using a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kater%27s_pendulum#Gravity_measurement_with_pendulums">Kater's Pendulum</a>. I suggested that he also measure the size of the planet the same way <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes#Eratosthenes.27_measurement_of_the_Earth.27s_circumference">Eratosthenes</a> did, but he just laughed. Apparently we'd have to explore a bit more of the planet to be able to get measurements like that.<br />
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BTW we can't just keep calling it 'the planet', so Frank thinks we should <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doctor_Who_planets">name it</a>, but I'm certain that the natives already have a name for it. We just need to <i>ask</i> them. What do you think? Let us know in the survey.<br />
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I'll report on it next week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-52834765395514045772011-08-12T17:05:00.000-07:002011-08-19T00:15:33.117-07:00Happy Birthday to the IBM PC (and what about Apple?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzUpfgmjFp8HhaHGs1dAqaAtlDVlUL3LseGwyu8wJWeYsZJdWYTCQ-q8W3b7jPfNJCYxiIMwaIZF-JROXCQluY7DvEbzPKIrulruw74V8QMHLAjXf49sJc1cOUpR23hz-0DWNpvFQ4plM/s1600/250px-Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F077869-0042%252C_Jugend-Computerschule_mit_IBM-PC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzUpfgmjFp8HhaHGs1dAqaAtlDVlUL3LseGwyu8wJWeYsZJdWYTCQ-q8W3b7jPfNJCYxiIMwaIZF-JROXCQluY7DvEbzPKIrulruw74V8QMHLAjXf49sJc1cOUpR23hz-0DWNpvFQ4plM/s200/250px-Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F077869-0042%252C_Jugend-Computerschule_mit_IBM-PC.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Well, Frank has yet another anniversary to celebrate today. It's been 30 years since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer">IBM PC</a> was released, and THAT was a step in the right direction. Of course, he's quick to point out that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.">Apple</a> beat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibm">IBM</a> by four years when they released the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II">Apple ][</a> in 1977. (I think Frank still has an old Apple ][ in the back of his closet, though he'd never admit it in public. In fact if he <i>does</i> have one, I know he'd never <a href="http://www.vintage-computer.com/apple_ii_plus.shtml">sell</a> it.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4n6AJujpKVuZ6lEOgoDUXYHghgNIM4LbLYzth9HS0uPkPqaAZQ3ZELyKYF9kEk3H3Dhvtw0iBduh5sHsrKcTiHpjxOhMCML5niOpMeOLD8JqgUqqZMAkhCxnRjhWEWy69XUF1aqCZ9uj/s1600/250px-Micromodem_II_in_Apple_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4n6AJujpKVuZ6lEOgoDUXYHghgNIM4LbLYzth9HS0uPkPqaAZQ3ZELyKYF9kEk3H3Dhvtw0iBduh5sHsrKcTiHpjxOhMCML5niOpMeOLD8JqgUqqZMAkhCxnRjhWEWy69XUF1aqCZ9uj/s200/250px-Micromodem_II_in_Apple_II.jpg" width="200" /></a>Back in those days, IBM kept most of the technical details close to the chest, if not outright <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_hardware">proprietary</a>, and Apple's reference manual not only had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II_series#Industry_impact">schematic</a> that folded out, but it also had the source code of the Monitor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory">ROM</a> (what is now known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS">BIOS</a>). Times have certainly changed since then, what with Apple keeping all the secrets and IBM being so open that just about anyone can build an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Architecture">ISA</a> compatible board to expand the capabilities of a PC.<br />
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Well, enough <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/reminisce#Verb">reminiscing</a>, we've got work to do. Next week. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28TV_series%29#After_the_cliffhangers">Same bat time, same bat channel.</a>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-12124356176620971412011-08-05T17:15:00.000-07:002011-08-07T11:16:27.528-07:00Developing REAL film: a REAL task ahead of us<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDUI4EauD2DJkLQA8N6-s8V2nkY6tAtcv9ASthiMzBLlwgYYhDNNooTE1NkOxn6EAKwPyumo7gQ8dVDNx5CdMdyjJ5d4R33MXCqO_8s0YDPHSlXTJuQV43Wq5TdWBvkP6y2zhlwiK49A/s1600/200px-Light_trap_tank.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDUI4EauD2DJkLQA8N6-s8V2nkY6tAtcv9ASthiMzBLlwgYYhDNNooTE1NkOxn6EAKwPyumo7gQ8dVDNx5CdMdyjJ5d4R33MXCqO_8s0YDPHSlXTJuQV43Wq5TdWBvkP6y2zhlwiK49A/s200/200px-Light_trap_tank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637239469257396770" border="0" /></a>We had a bit of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem">difficulty</a> getting the pictures Tom took of the stars <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_processing">developed</a>. Do you know how few places are available that can take <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_film"><span style="font-style: italic;">real </span>film</a> and make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_print">pictures</a>? Yes, I know that may<a href="http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=photo_center&ref=nav_t_15_14"> local stores</a> can make prints, but almost all of them only handle <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_photography">digital pictures</a>, which obviously <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-group-is-backat-least-most-of.html">won't work for us</a>. In our case the decision was made easier by the fact that Frank is a bit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoid">paranoid</a> about keeping the details of the Door secret (he's right to be concerned about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_espionage">industrial espionage</a>). The <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making">decision</a> </span>was easier, but the results of that decision just made more work for us: Frank decided that it would be better to process the film <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_house">in house</a>.<br /><br />Frank gave<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh95jpDkECVY6frrlWEhE4_A4sxHZwbmT3zfVbs7yrJ6w037yPQAM88k9JIDA6PFY9kah6R5GW4jxLagL3U2OVsm6p4ZQhr4DFDavhWalCIxdZzw5vNY6Aig1jd-QEa5PQ9jiFZ-2P18g/s1600/220px-Chemistry_Rainbow.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh95jpDkECVY6frrlWEhE4_A4sxHZwbmT3zfVbs7yrJ6w037yPQAM88k9JIDA6PFY9kah6R5GW4jxLagL3U2OVsm6p4ZQhr4DFDavhWalCIxdZzw5vNY6Aig1jd-QEa5PQ9jiFZ-2P18g/s200/220px-Chemistry_Rainbow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637253706234250946" border="0" /></a> me a list of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemicals">chemicals</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-41_process#Process">needed</a>, and whilst I was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procurement">procuring</a> them, he built a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_tank">light-tight tank</a> that would do the trick. <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/BTW#English">BTW</a>, this is <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedure_%28term%29">procedure</a> that I'd recommend to anyone who isn't seriously into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_it_yourself">doing </a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_it_yourself">things on your own</a>.<br /><br />Well, I've clearly <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/8/messages/1401.html">got my work cut out for me</a>, so I'll <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/call_it_quits">call it quits</a> for now. See ya in a week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-91449094931082686212011-07-29T17:13:00.000-07:002011-07-29T17:13:00.401-07:00Trojan asteroid in the news, and Tunnels go both waysFirst off, Frank wants everyone to be aware that an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid">asteroid</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_TK7" title="2010 TK7">2010 TK7</a>) has been found to be stable in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrangian_point#L4_and_L5">L4</a> point in the Sol/Earth <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-body_problem">two-body</a> system. (Of course, anyone <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pay_attention">paying attention</a> to the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14307987">science news </a>would already know that.)<br />
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Now that we've gotten that out of the way, back to the <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/normal">normal</a> stuff. So, Frank is really <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stuck_on">stuck on</a> trying to locate the other end of the Door. Now he's even gone so far as to give Tom an old-style <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_camera">film camera</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripod_%28photography%29">tripod</a>, which Tom is supposed to set up, point 'north' (see discussions of '<a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/01/tom-is-on-other-side-checking-out.html">east</a>' and '<a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/01/door-is-aimed-right-weve-reconnected.html">west</a>' in previous postings), and take a few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_%28photography%29">time-exposures</a> of the stars. Frank will then use that information to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_%28graphics%29">plot</a> out the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_position">relative position of the stars</a> as well as establish the speed of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotation_period">planet's rotation</a>. From all that, Frank is very hopeful that he'll be able to identify the other end.<br />
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A recent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry">concern</a> that came up in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randomness">random</a> talk in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_room">lunch room</a> is that the other end of this obviously-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_life">alien</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_SG-1">device</a> may connect with the home world of its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventor">creators</a>. The worry here is that we might not be opening up a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel">tunnel</a> through space so we can go out and explore, rather we're opening up a hole that will let others come 'visit' us.<br />
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What do you think?Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-67603484915992910152011-07-22T17:21:00.000-07:002011-07-22T17:21:00.589-07:00Not PI day, just almost PI day, but no invisibility cloaks<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day#Date_abstractions_from_pi">PI approximation day</a>. Today is the 22nd day of the 7th month, so if we write it in day/month format, it looks like 22/7, which is a close <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation">approximation</a> to the value </span><span style="font-size: large;">π (only off by 0.04%). </span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">As an aside, a closer approximation that is easy to remember is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/355/113">355/113</a>, the first three odd numbers each used twice. It is only off by 0.000008%! </span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Back to dates, March 14th, is often celebrated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day">PI day</a>, with <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/03/happy_pi_minute.html">PI minute</a> being one minute until 2:00 in the afternoon. At that moment, the date/time (in month/day format) would be 3/14 1:59. (Yes, it would really be 13:59, but only the most <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staunch%5B2%5D">staunch</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd">nerds</a> are willing to be up at 2:00 am to celebrate the <i>right </i>time, which they do.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So what does all this have to do with the Door? Probably not much, but when we spin up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field">magnetic fields</a> to open the Door, it <i>does </i>make a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere">sphere</a>, which has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi">pi</a> in the calculation of both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volume">volume</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface">surface</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> (just like calculating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area">area</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumfrence">circumference</a> of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle">circle</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Considering the recent hoopla with the Potter movie, I was hoping to discuss <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/07/20/138506746/hidden-in-plain-view-the-physics-of-cloaking-time-space-and-experience?sc=fb&cc=fp">bending light around objects</a> and <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-invisibility-cloaks-corner.html">invisibility cloaks</a>, but there's still more research to do on it. Maybe next time.</span></span></span></div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-65383032047101260852011-07-15T17:19:00.000-07:002011-07-28T22:51:15.239-07:00Time Travel still isn't possible, but Where does the Door put us?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYCtI1DCSptJDaFIe_FQKRprotooLAdLWYjNWersOOJD-cD0kTcGuF7Xr9VvpBrgxht-suMlqeqt8TR8LzC56bvNeQbupsK2dnq50yXhNbPlXDoLWK1oTK7LWXIqrbKVZHtjDL2MzDj0_/s1600/map.php.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYCtI1DCSptJDaFIe_FQKRprotooLAdLWYjNWersOOJD-cD0kTcGuF7Xr9VvpBrgxht-suMlqeqt8TR8LzC56bvNeQbupsK2dnq50yXhNbPlXDoLWK1oTK7LWXIqrbKVZHtjDL2MzDj0_/s200/map.php.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>All right, so there are plenty of folks out there who <i>do</i> think time travel is possible in spite of Frank's 'proof' (see <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/07/42-and-is-time-travel-possible.html">last week</a>'s posting). Frank points out that even plausible Time Travel using an infinite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipler_cylinder">Tipler cylinder</a> would still require a spaceship accelerating along its length. May I point out, yet again, for those who haven't noticed, the Door not only <i>isn't</i> a spaceship but it also doesn't leave the general area where it's been set up.<br />
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The <i>other end</i> of it, though, is a different matter. Where <i>it</i> leads we still haven't figured out. From the few sighting of stars that Tom has been able to copy down and bring back, Frank hasn't been able to place it in <a href="http://www.whitten.org/starmap/index.php?select_center=1&select_star=13916">mapped space</a>, but once Frank has enough stars identified, he'll be able to pin down the location of the other side on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-dimensional_space">3-D</a> <a href="http://solstation.com/47ly-ns.htm">map of the stars</a>, and then we'll know where we're going. (Although, Frank is the only one who even cares enough to worry about it; to the rest of us, it doesn't really matter as long as we get to charge folks to visit.)<br />
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Keep up the comments. See ya!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-23112601135488770502011-07-08T17:17:00.000-07:002011-07-08T17:17:00.082-07:0042 and Is Time Travel Possible?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QoDOgEJHJwFgloaHV1ud-8Wf-O7_yTmVWcw8OrJwVyXASTADb-Lr39OwBVaHPo1HFr_4ZeYozXF6UP7IcY9tdRKEOBpZwKe4hwtqK5BYGtDrVdOKH4jF2wVZ-C13ZtzHKbveNtsjfUCz/s1600/170px-Ultimate_Hitchhikers_Guide_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QoDOgEJHJwFgloaHV1ud-8Wf-O7_yTmVWcw8OrJwVyXASTADb-Lr39OwBVaHPo1HFr_4ZeYozXF6UP7IcY9tdRKEOBpZwKe4hwtqK5BYGtDrVdOKH4jF2wVZ-C13ZtzHKbveNtsjfUCz/s200/170px-Ultimate_Hitchhikers_Guide_front.jpg" width="129" /></a>In honour of this being our forty-second posting, Frank insists on mentioning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hhg2g">HHG2G</a> and how it influenced his education. All right, so I mentioned it. Now we can continue, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFMvV5o0eCrkrbwQzTrTZNUDb-3wk0EMCxNFlCjGNOJ9IARBbicWjb0lw4ucF5uJLecXR09KYQ579fvsnJOBAq5jyb0Ohd_h_-w-dtDfeSIMtj7ICGS8k13r5RbxUxwSkI6P86LO_LZNR/s1600/220px-LorentzianWormhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFMvV5o0eCrkrbwQzTrTZNUDb-3wk0EMCxNFlCjGNOJ9IARBbicWjb0lw4ucF5uJLecXR09KYQ579fvsnJOBAq5jyb0Ohd_h_-w-dtDfeSIMtj7ICGS8k13r5RbxUxwSkI6P86LO_LZNR/s200/220px-LorentzianWormhole.jpg" width="200" /></a>Some folks investigating how the Door works have suggested that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole">wormhole</a> effect isn't so much a connection between different points in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space">space</a>, but rather they say that it connects the same point in space, but in a different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time">time</a>. In other words, it's connecting two points in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-dimensional_space">four-space</a> that just happen to have the same <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Y-Z_matrix">x, y, and z</a> values. Frank is convinced that it couldn't possibly happen that way, and his biggest argument is the one espoused by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Steven Hawking</a>: We don't see tourists from the future <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel">time travelling</a> back for a quick jaunt. Of course <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan">Carl Sagan</a> has an alternative viewpoint on that argument: The tourists from the future are very careful to blend in so that no one notices them.<br />
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Either way, bringing in big names like those is just Frank's way of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name-dropping">name-dropping</a>, so don't pay any attention to him and his <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/swellhead">head won't swell</a> too much.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-83378441281311644832011-07-01T17:15:00.000-07:002011-07-01T17:15:00.245-07:00Space-Time curvature and Guinea PigsAccording to Frank, the Door causes a curve in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime">space-time</a>. I don't know exactly what that means, but he tried to explain it b<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624256442953459538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQxihP7CwQ7Rigx1VR0c0eMc1-2oFu1rzze2L42KrRH6H9t_bR03OJYJwuBdcBamenh01oz89kAVD4iOuzmWVmXNUz3He0H94NkU5G6cfl_ODrQBEIzN5CVglJ8GXiWIm4vJrPUV1Zfk/s320/300px-Spacetime_curvature.png" />y drawing a picture of a mattress with different weights on it. A marble hardly affects the surface at all, but a bowling ball bends it quite a bit. He says that the Door goes so far that the hole comes out somewhere else (in the basement?). With the info we have now, there's no way to predict where the other end of the tunnel created ends up. Of course there's the opinion that it doesn't go far...at least not in the standard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-dimensional_space">three dimensions</a>, rather in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_black_hole#The_possibility_of_time_travel">fourth: time</a>.<br /><br />Where ever the Door connects to, it's certainly keeping Tom busy.<br /><br />I think I've found some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig">guinea pigs</a> to send out to explore. If they get back to me soon enough, I'll have info to post next week. See you then.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-71244777441719864072011-06-24T17:10:00.000-07:002011-06-24T17:10:00.599-07:00Lost Energy Chart and Language Issues<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU5XzfgQ2I80oQuY0DkAT_HCE1vy4-ZZ0YmnoYspSvMUMe7IVMUgiYZL6Wkvq-pzqVJf3Ax_lYXFui60Sv8wGK3QMQLV3t1KVxYKXxXGAsh_MUUu8MTxdVRFpkTXJ1jG1X0gx2nC1VYZq/s1600/220px-Efficiency_diagram_by_Zureks_svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU5XzfgQ2I80oQuY0DkAT_HCE1vy4-ZZ0YmnoYspSvMUMe7IVMUgiYZL6Wkvq-pzqVJf3Ax_lYXFui60Sv8wGK3QMQLV3t1KVxYKXxXGAsh_MUUu8MTxdVRFpkTXJ1jG1X0gx2nC1VYZq/s200/220px-Efficiency_diagram_by_Zureks_svg.png" width="200" /></a></div>All right, so Frank seems to be excessively focused on energy conversion and efficiency. Now he's trying to find some chart he used to have. Apparently, it shows six or seven different types of energy and arrows linking them showing how each can be converted to another form. The problem is that he can't find it. If anyone out there can find such a chart, he'd really appreciate it.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDnG4pXd7d_p5kmQb1q3zXM5ja6ZtU45eAKqZAdLol2wkxPBIuqfJvf0jt-Hm-45nUZgmkMr362r2YV6PhOZo5py7d8LZOor3kT3RlNXETMdiY6oMuER7NzSjZHr2h18H_mLbhWYWAnz/s1600/220px-Defense_Language_Institute_copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpDnG4pXd7d_p5kmQb1q3zXM5ja6ZtU45eAKqZAdLol2wkxPBIuqfJvf0jt-Hm-45nUZgmkMr362r2YV6PhOZo5py7d8LZOor3kT3RlNXETMdiY6oMuER7NzSjZHr2h18H_mLbhWYWAnz/s200/220px-Defense_Language_Institute_copy.png" width="153" /></a></div>In other news, Tom is still working with the natives to work out language <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation">issues</a>. It seems the natives pick up English easier than Tom has been able to get a grip on their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpreting">language</a>, so in our next big foray into the unknown, we'll need to bring along some kind of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-phil-#Hobbies">expert linguist</a> or at least a <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/logophilia">logophile</a>. If there were some military use, I'm certain we could get the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Language_Institute">government</a> involved.<br />
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Looking forward to some excitement next week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-49883752733729138132011-06-17T17:09:00.000-07:002011-06-17T17:09:00.157-07:00Types of energy and conversionsSo, in discussing the different ways to generate electricity, Frank diverged onto the topic of energy itself. I already knew about most of the energy types, but in spite of that, Frank insisted on defining each type of energy as he listed them off: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy">thermal</a> is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat">heat</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_energy">chemical</a> is...well...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemistry">chemistry</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_energy">electrical</a> is what we were talking about trying to generate <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/06/power-supplies-ac-or-dc.html">last week</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiant_energy">radiant</a> energy he says is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation">EM radiation</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy">nuclear</a> is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_power">atomic power</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_energy">magnetic</a> is obvious, right? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_energy">Elastic</a> is like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_band">rubber band</a> stretched out, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_energy">sound</a> is energy that you can hear, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energy">mechanical</a> is something moving, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_energy">luminous</a> energy is visible (in other words you can see it).<br />
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If you'll <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/06/power-supplies-ac-or-dc.html">remember</a>, we can convert almost all of those different types directly into electrical energy, but some require an intermediate step, such as converting sound into mechanical energy first, then using that to move a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction">conductor through a magnetic field</a> to make electricity. If we go the other way around, we can make electricity go through a wire, which will make a magnetic field that can move a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker">speaker</a> cone and make sound. Most of the conversions from one form of energy can be reversed fairly easily with little loss. Of course, <em>some</em> loss is to be expected. After all we can't fight the constant loss of energy: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy">entropy</a>.<br />
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Most of what Frank says certainly sounds true, but some of it I just accept without comment. I guess it's a case of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credo_quia_absurdum_est">credo quia absurdum est</a>. (If you don't know what that means, go look it up!)<br />
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Keep studying until we talk next week. See ya!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-9500272979237759472011-06-10T17:08:00.000-07:002011-06-10T17:08:00.262-07:00Power supplies, AC or DC?I mentioned a problem with the power supply <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/06/power-supply-issues-and-technology-that.html">last week</a>, and ever since then Frank has been <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pontificate#Verb">pontificating</a> on the various methods of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_generation#Methods_of_generating_electricity">electrical generation</a>. According to Frank, there are seven different ways to do it. The problem is, the only one that's practical creates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac_power">AC power</a>, but we really need <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_current">DC</a>.<br />
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The typical method of creating electrical power involves moving a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductor">conductor</a> through a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field">magnetic field</a>, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction">electromagnetic induction</a>. That's how we get all our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_power">power for household</a> use.<br />
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The other methods all make DC power and involve converting other forms of energy to electrical. Physically pulling electrons from atoms creates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity">static electricity</a> (like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator">Van de Graaff generator</a>). Using chemicals is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistry">electrochemistry</a> (as in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemical_cell">battery</a>). When light is changed to electricity it's known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelectric_effect">photoelectric</a> power (think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell">solar power</a>). Using heat is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect">thermoelectric</a> (used in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_thermometer#Electronic">electronic thermometers</a>). Putting certain solids under stress is makes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effect">piezoelectric</a> power (used in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighing_scale#Milligram_scale">scale</a>). But the best one of all uses a radioactive source to produce loose electrons: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaics">betavoltaic</a> power (but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promethium#Applications">promethium</a> can produce <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray">x-rays</a>!)<br />
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The big problem is that all the DC power generators create such low <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage">voltages</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_current">currents</a> that they aren't practical. We're still working on it.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-18683542138992375942011-06-03T17:06:00.000-07:002011-06-03T17:06:00.523-07:00Power supply issues and Technology that isn't available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVpaAKur-9qjFtYH6UMi8sUUGLjL8NsB8KsY7dHj_TNO3M_eBegqiwaW-NorhL81DiO4iw2jxHNljjoC_zFh0ktaipKtkblcB7yUTM3btCyQ63MjJVX8ANqvDfjbIIb8T1lY0RrZEItzS/s1600/250px-Current_rectification_diagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVpaAKur-9qjFtYH6UMi8sUUGLjL8NsB8KsY7dHj_TNO3M_eBegqiwaW-NorhL81DiO4iw2jxHNljjoC_zFh0ktaipKtkblcB7yUTM3btCyQ63MjJVX8ANqvDfjbIIb8T1lY0RrZEItzS/s200/250px-Current_rectification_diagram.png" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div>We are still having a few problems with the Door. Apparently, the traditional power supplied on the grid isn't quite right. In spite of the fact that Frank has been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply#DC_power_supply">filtering</a> it through his bank of capacitors, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current">AC</a> signal really isn't working very well, and it's causing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_decomposition">degradation</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitor">electrolyte</a> (at least that what Frank said). It seems that the best power for the equipment would be flat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_current">DC</a> (see the top graph in the picture), but that would take a whole pile of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)">batteries</a>. AC power is much easier to produce and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission">transmit</a>, so despite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison">Edison</a>'s efforts to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents">promote DC</a>, we are a nation, no a world, of Alternating Currents.<br />
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Yes, there are methods to convert AC to DC, but both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_to_DC_conversion#Half-wave_rectification">half-wave</a> (see middle graph in the picture) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_to_DC_conversion#Full-wave_rectification">full-wave</a> (bottom graph) have bumps. In other words, they still aren't flat. Even adding a few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_capacitor">filter caps</a> to the output only gets <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_to_DC_conversion#Rectifier_output_smoothing">close</a>. It still has wigglies. The best bet would still be to run the equipment directly from a full DCsource such as a battery, but as that's not <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/feasible">feasible</a>, we're just going to keep on with what we have.<br />
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There <em>was </em>this rather useful circuit that Frank came across when he was trying to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering">reverse engineer</a> the equipment, but he's been unable to reproduce it (mostly due to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_barrier">language barrier</a>). He says that it must have been a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unimolecular_rectifier">Unimolecular Rectifier</a>. Unfortunately, the technology available to folks these days isn't fully functional, so all we can do is work with what we have. (He <em>has</em> been pretty good at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering#Reverse_engineering_for_military_applications">re-building</a> stuff just by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis">analysing</a> the equipment, in spite of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering#Legality">objections</a>, and this <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stumbling_block">stumbling block</a> really <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/irk">irks</a> him.)<br />
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If anyone knows of a better DC source, please let us know, and I'll report on it next week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-20081571147756911252011-05-27T17:05:00.000-07:002011-05-27T17:05:00.069-07:00Area 51 covered elsewhere and curved surfacesLast week I spent quite a bit of time talking about Area 51, but apparently someone else covered it quite <a href="http://www.trutv.com/shows/conspiracy_theory/episodes/index.html">completely</a>, so I guess I don't need to mention it anymore. :-)<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRMuwTFJWLpJr4OGAyhoSUE1uGsxWioOg-tFzhMMomdbeGiThsNK2W9sgSy8La6eWgOdwKVB8NRO9OTcI0qf0dYeImFdojkjZXj7UKZ4YxP97DHTB9T2x7xHWcqjiIiV93ig1InyY0aH9/s1600/175px-Gravitation_space_source.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRMuwTFJWLpJr4OGAyhoSUE1uGsxWioOg-tFzhMMomdbeGiThsNK2W9sgSy8La6eWgOdwKVB8NRO9OTcI0qf0dYeImFdojkjZXj7UKZ4YxP97DHTB9T2x7xHWcqjiIiV93ig1InyY0aH9/s1600/175px-Gravitation_space_source.png" t8="true" /></a>So, Frank tried again to explain to me how the Door works. He wrote some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equation">equations</a> on the chalkboard as he talked, but it just looked to me like a bunch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations_in_curved_spacetime#Electromagnetic_field">squigglies</a>. Then he showed me a picture in a book he had, and it looked neat, and I said that I'd seen a similar hole at a minature golf course. (He didn't like it when I said that.) He explained the picture as showing a hole representing the Door, curved space in a flat area, except that our Door is a curved thingy in a flat space. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's difficult for me to explain (especially as I don't understand it myself), but at least he did give me some kind of approach to getting my head wrapped around it: Picture a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland">flat world</a> where all the people living there are two-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension">dimensional</a>. Then try to explain to them how you can <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrinkle_in_Time#Tesseract_concept">bend their world</a> and connect two distant points. It's the same thing with the Door, except it's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-dimensional_space">three-dimensional</a> world being bent through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime">fourth dimension</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It seems that the topic has been covered quite well, too. You just have to know where to look for the info. I'll see if I can get a hold of some of those reference books and let you know what I find by next week.</div>Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-17705447908819175302011-05-20T17:15:00.000-07:002011-05-20T17:15:00.232-07:00Area 51 is in the news, and Frank's in a bookRecently Area 51 has made the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110518/od_yblog_upshot/new-book-says-ussr-behind-roswell-ufo">news</a>. In fact it's there because of a new book, and the good news is that Frank was interviewed for <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136356848/area-51-uncensored-was-it-ufos-or-the-ussr?sc=fb&cc=fp">the book</a>. He may be famous! I just hope she quotes him properly. Anyway, consider <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Area-51-Uncensored-Americas-Military/dp/0316132942/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305776740&sr=1-1">reading it</a>; we all need to support <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Annie%20Jacobsen">authors</a>, right?<br />
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So, Area 51 is back in the public view again, but what do we really know about it? Many folks have heard about it, and <a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/news/8768">many</a> go to check it out, but the government <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51#U.S._government.27s_positions_on_Area_51">denies it exists</a>. Take my word for it, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51">Area 51</a> really does exist. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">After all</span>, where do you think Frank came across the <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2010/09/well-i-suppose-i-should-explain-how.html">equipment</a> needed to make the <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2010/10/technology.html">Door</a> function? If you want to read more about it, check out the Area 51 blog listed down in our Blog List (bottom of the left column).<br />
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And do you think that's the only one? Not likely. Consider <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Znamensk,_Astrakhan_Oblast">Znamensk</a> in Russia or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera,_South_Australia">Woomera</a> in Austrailia, both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_city">secret locations</a>, they lie just outside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapustin_Yar">Kapustin Yar</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_Prohibited_Area">WPA</a>, respectively. Neither one as famous as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell,_New_Mexico">Roswell, NM</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_UFO_incident">incident</a> that happened there, but to the locals, they are just as mysterious.<br />
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Lots of info to read, so I'll leave you to get to it. See you in a week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-54873404362739722972011-05-13T17:03:00.000-07:002011-11-26T16:09:55.048-08:00Wormhole blog and Beta tripWell, it appears that <em>someone</em> was took note of some of Frank's <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/04/more-physics-about-wormholes.html">wormhole theories</a>, but he was apparently too embarrassed to use his real name. Anyway, thanks to Mr. Anonymous, we found a <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/12521/forget-black-holes-how-do-you-find-a-wormhole/">blog from Universe Today</a> (with some neat pictures) that had a comment referencing a <a href="http://www.webfilesuci.org/WormholeFAQ.html">FAQ</a> posted by <a href="http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=5416">Enrico Rodrigo</a>, who had been a professor at <a href="http://uci.edu/">UC, Irvine</a>, so if any of you are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interested">interested</a>, go ahead and read it...just make certain you're in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfortable">comfortable</a> place, because it'll take a while. Maybe we can get a good <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discussion">discussion</a> going. (Enrico also does research into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brane_world">Brane Worlds</a>, whatever <em>they </em>are.)<br /><br />Last week I mentioned a possible <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_test#Beta">beta-trip</a>, just as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_%28assessment%29">test</a> of the idea of sending folks out on weekly trips. Well, Frank thinks we need to keep it <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_house">in house</a> before we get the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_public">general public</a> involved. What do you think? Should we open things up to people who haven't been with us since the beginning?<br /><br />Let us know on the poll. Thanks!Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-7696919354174982952011-05-06T17:12:00.000-07:002011-05-06T17:12:00.801-07:00Geeks and guinea pigsAll right, so the <a href="http://exterraexpeditions.blogspot.com/2011/04/putting-up-with-tree-huggerswe-have.html">tree huggers</a> aren't too bad, just a bit of a pain to get through on our way into and out of work. At least they are generally nice folks. Fortunately, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_wars">Star Wars</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek#Reclamation_and_self-identification">geeks</a> have yet to find us. It would have been worse a couple days ago (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day">May the 4th</a>).<br />
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Anyway, Frank wanted to discuss more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics">physics</a>, but I <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veto">vetoed</a> that idea. I think we've had enough of those <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lessons">lessons</a> for now. (If you <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disagreement">disagree</a>, let me know, and I'll tell Frank that he was right.) So, last week when I mentioned volunteers, it got Frank's attention. He thinks that if we were to get more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_subject_research">guinea pigs</a> ...er... volunteers to help us out, it would help him with the design. If anyone knows of a group of about a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dozen">dozen</a> or so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk">folks</a> interested in making a <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trial_run">trial run</a>, let us know. We'd be willing to send them out on a trip for free...as long as they give us some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feedback">feedback</a> on how things went. Any takers??<br />
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Gotta keep things short this week as Frank has plans...I'll tell you more next week.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493178063898452257.post-59375585902309044142011-04-29T17:11:00.000-07:002011-04-29T17:11:00.419-07:00Putting up with tree huggers...We have work to doNow, I've got nothing bad to say about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement">tree huggers</a> in general, but when they <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/interfere">interfere</a> with things they don't understand, there are bound to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences">unintended consequences</a>. I mean, there are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiktor_Szostalo#Other_work">tree huggers</a>, then there are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_environmentalism">TREE HUGGERS</a>. Yes, operating the Door does cause some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_interference">interference</a> with some electronic things, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television">tellys</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio">radios</a>, but really, can't you just <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiddle_factor">twiddle</a> your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antennae">antennae</a>. Better yet, just go with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal">digital signal</a> as most interference only affects <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_signal#Disadvantages">analog signals</a>.<br />
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I guess what I want to say is that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly">hanging</a> around in front of our office, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picketing_(protest)">waving signs</a> and stopping traffic doesn't get a lot <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/accomplishment">accomplished</a>. Yes, you do have the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States">right</a> to say what you want, but do you need to exercise it here? What are we doing that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annoy">annoys</a> you to the point where you have to get in the way of our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_crew">techies</a> coming and going?<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Don%27t_Mean_to_be_Rude,_but...">I don't mean to be rude, but</a> we have work to do, and it gets done better if we don't have to keep <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taddei_Tondo">looking over our shoulders</a> to watch for things being thrown at us. At least the only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_experimentation">animals involved in testing</a> are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Experimentation:_Opposing_Viewpoints">voluntary</a>, mostly just Tom, so after I get done <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rant">ranting</a>, I'll get back to helping Frank get this thing fully <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/functional">functional</a>. Any <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering">volunteers</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aid">help</a>? I'm certain we can find something for you to do.<br />
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Now, back to work.Eugenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16556005014875808605noreply@blogger.com0