Majority of Wireless Microphones will become Illegal to Use..

Due to the spectrum reshuffle from switching television to digital broadcasts, a large section of wireless microphones used in houses of worship, clubs, and schools will become illegal to use after Jun 12, 2010.  Specifically microphones that use 698MHz through 806Mhz are what will no longer be allowed. Many of the top-of-the-line microphones can be programmed to use frequencies below 698MHz, but these systems typically are $1000 and above in cost.    Two manufactures are offering trade-in-rebates to help defer the cost of the change.  The biggest problem with this is actually getting the word out to the owners of these systems, since it’s not tracked.   So think about your community who may use them and ask if they are aware of the upcoming change. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/01/time-for-churches-to-come-to-jesus-on-wireless-mic-legality.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Tales of Nuclear Safety

Back in December 2007, the main nuclear reactor that supplies the majority of the worlds supply of cobalt-60 and almost half of the world’s supply of Tech-99 had to be shut down.  This create a shortage of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine.  Apparently the Canadian government saw this possibility and started creation of two new reactors as backups; however, these had to be essentially scraped due to a miscalculation of the power coefficient of reactivity (PCR.)   A negative PCR means as the reaction increases, the design of the reactor is such that the reaction will slow down in a negative feedback loop.  The only problem was when they started tests, it actually had a positive reaction, meaning it would continue to build unless other safety measures were enabled (inserting rods for example to slow the reaction.)  Since the negative PCR was part of the safety spec, it was not allowed to continue. 

 

It’s an interesting read:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527431.400-nuclear-safety-when-positive-is-negative.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Interested in a NASA shuttle? only $29 Million

http://www.dailytech.com/NASA+Offers+Shuttles+at+Clearance+Prices+Is+Investigating+Cocaine+Found+in+Hangar/article17434.htm

The Sound of Snow..

Having our first real snow of the year reminded me of something I heard as a kid:  when you walk on snow you can gauge the temperature by the pitch of the ‘squeak’ or ‘crunch’ it makes.   So of course I decided to do some fact finding, or at least search the web.   I found an interesting summary from this blog:  http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2008/12/29/why-does-snow-crunch-under-your-feet/  as well as a link to the National Snow and Ice Data Center:http://nsidc.org/snow/faq.html 

Apparently at about –10°C   there is a change in sound from ‘Crunch’ to a ‘Squeak.’  They suggest there is a thin layer of water on the crystals lubricates above –10°C and does not below –10°C , the squeak sound comes from the crushing of the ice crystals.    

I was unable to find anything that indicated the pitch of the squeak changes.  On a different note, I noticed last time we visited the beach that my bare feet on the sand causes a similar type of sound.  

 

In any case, next time you go for a walk in the show, listen..

A quick overview of 2009..

World’s Tallest Tower Burj Dubai Opens today..

Curious what the view is like atop the the tower Burj Dubai tower?  2,689 feet!!  check it out:

This was too funny/cool not to pass along..

Widespread Y2k16 hits Windows Mobile

Apparently tons of cell phone carriers are having a problem with SMS messages showing a 2016 date instead of 2010, mine included.  Interesting thing is 10 in HEX is 16 in decimal, so perhaps the date storing formula as a slight bug?  read more here: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/01/03/1312209/2016-Bug-Hits-Text-Messages-Payment-Processing

Happy Holidays all

A video to bring a warm smile..

30 Meter Telescope Dwarfs Them all

“The enormous Thirty Meter Telescope, with a primary mirror the size of a blue whale, is part of a new generation of super powerful ground-based telescopes. Scheduled for completion in 2018, it will have nine times the collecting power of the Keck telescopes and 12 times the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope. From its recently selected location atop the volcanic dome of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the pioneering telescope will provide an extremely detailed look at the universe.”

 

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/thirty-meter-telescope/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29

TechNet Direct – Get most Microsoft Software for Cheap

Yes this is legal.  Yes it is a good deal:  for example: get Windows 7 Ultimate, Server 2008 R2, Sql Server, Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007, etc for $349 – 28%  of the cost using this code: TMSAM07   so the total cost is $251.28.  If you already have TechNet Direct, use the code to renew, and pay only $179.28 plus tax. $186.86 for me) 

People: this is good for ~10 copies of Windows 7 Ultimate, plus 10 copies of Office 2007 Ultimate.  all for HALF the cost of one retail copy of Windows 7.

 

go to http://technet.microsoft.com  and upgrade all your systems cheap.  Hurry, these codes don’t last long..

 

cheers.

How Your Brain Filters Distracting Thoughts

What was I saying?  Oh yes, apparently the idea that your brain uses gamma ways frequency to differentiate current experiences from past experiences.  “They found that the hippocampus selectively tunes in to different frequencies of gamma waves coming from different brain areas. The lower gamma wave frequencies are used to transmit memories of past experiences, and the higher frequencies are used to convey what is happening where you are right now.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091120000140.htm

http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=news_single.html?id%3D11439

Duplicate SID problem? Nope.

For years the mantra has been you have to use sysprep or sidwalker if you make an image of a pc before deploying it to other servers/workstations.  It turns out that is true, but ONLY if it is a domain controller.    Otherwise there is no need, at least according to Mark: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/04/0040203/The-Machine-SID-Duplication-Myth?from=rss

I need a good laugh today.. well.

Happy Friday!

A little shot a friend took of a McDonalds located on the Mizzou college campus.  I would guess this was quite the talk of the town.  Anyone hungry?

Flexible Solar Cells Generate Electricity at the Same Cost as Coal

Nanosolar has a manufacturing facility churning out flexible solar cells on aluminum foil.  They claim they could produce electricity at five to six cents per kilowatt hour, which is 3-4 times less expensive than current methods.  This brings solar cells electricity generation down to the same cost as coal.    Now why hasn’t this gotten the attention of the US government..?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current US & Britain Intake of Vitamin K too low

Age related disease such as bone fragility, cardiovascular disease, and kidney and arterial calcification,may be a result of not enough vitamin K intake according to new scientific research.   Eat your greens! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090917131554.htm

Computer Evolution Primer

An excellent read for anyone who missed the fun times.. http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/09/a-trip-down-memory-lane-and-beyond-at-vintage-computer-fest.ars/2

The Most Accurate Flat world Map

relating size, shape and position: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Waterman_Butterfly_Map_1996.jpg

RSAT – Remote Server Admin Tools for Windows 7 Released

Finally RSAT for Windows 7 released !  Don’t forget to go to add/remove programs, select windows components, and install the tools.
Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

Version: 1.0
Date Published: 8/11/2009
Language: English
Download Size: 215.1 MB – 437.2 MB*

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d
amd64fre_GRMRSATX_MSU.msu 222.1 MB
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/F/7/4F71806A-1C56-4EF2-9B4F-9870C4CFD2EE/amd64fre_GRMRSATX_MSU.msu

x86fre_GRMRSAT_MSU.msu 215.1 MB
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/F/7/4F71806A-1C56-4EF2-9B4F-9870C4CFD2EE/x86fre_GRMRSAT_MSU.msu