Tuesday, May 1, 2012
How Beginner's Luck Works and How You Can Reproduce It Anytime (Even If You're Not a Beginner) [Mind Hacks]
How Beginner's Luck Works and How You Can Reproduce It Anytime (Even If You're Not a Beginner) [Mind Hacks]:
At some point in your life you've won a game you've never played before or witnessed a young child say or create something with worldly depth. These are both examples of events we attribute to something called beginner's luck, as if chance caused them to happen. The reality is that the effects of this supposed beginner's luck have very real causes that can be reproduced under the right circumstances. Here's how the phenomenon works and how you can use that information to incite good fortune when you need it. More »
The Workspace in The Roof [Featured Workspace]
The Workspace in The Roof [Featured Workspace]:
Attic rooms with sloped ceilings can be awkward spaces, but this one is a cozy, special workspace, thanks to the owner's clever design choices. Sitting here might feel like you're working in a treehouse—a grown-up comfortable version of one, that is. More »
Ask Slashdot: Building A Server Rack Into a New Home?
Ask Slashdot: Building A Server Rack Into a New Home?:
jawtheshark writes "I'm building a house, and obviously I want a modest network built-in. Nothing fancy, two RJ-45 per room, four in the living room, and that's basically it. I already got myself a rack mountable Cisco Small Business switch and I have a self-built 4U server (low-power, won't make much heat) which can be rack mounted (505mm deep). Now, the construction company suggests a wall mounted rack (6U: 340mm x 600mm x 480mm — 6U definitely won't be enough, but a 12U model exists). It's not expensive, but I have never worked on a rack where the backside is unreachable. (For work, I get to work in a data center with huge racks that are accessible from both sides). Now obviously, I don't need a data center-grade rack, but these wall-mounted racks scream 'switch-only' racks to me. What are your experiences? Is it possible to put servers in racks like these, or should I find a 'both-side-accessible' rack instead?"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
jawtheshark writes "I'm building a house, and obviously I want a modest network built-in. Nothing fancy, two RJ-45 per room, four in the living room, and that's basically it. I already got myself a rack mountable Cisco Small Business switch and I have a self-built 4U server (low-power, won't make much heat) which can be rack mounted (505mm deep). Now, the construction company suggests a wall mounted rack (6U: 340mm x 600mm x 480mm — 6U definitely won't be enough, but a 12U model exists). It's not expensive, but I have never worked on a rack where the backside is unreachable. (For work, I get to work in a data center with huge racks that are accessible from both sides). Now obviously, I don't need a data center-grade rack, but these wall-mounted racks scream 'switch-only' racks to me. What are your experiences? Is it possible to put servers in racks like these, or should I find a 'both-side-accessible' rack instead?"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
1 World Trade Center Becomes the Tallest Building In NYC
1 World Trade Center Becomes the Tallest Building In NYC:
darthcamaro writes "On 9/11, terrorists took the lives of thousands of Americans — and removed a pair of icons from the New York City skyline. For the last 10+ years, The Empire State Building was the tallest building in NYC, but that changed today. 'Poking into the sky, the first column of the 100th floor of 1 World Trade Center will bring the tower to a height of 1,271 feet, making it 21 feet higher than the Empire State Building.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
darthcamaro writes "On 9/11, terrorists took the lives of thousands of Americans — and removed a pair of icons from the New York City skyline. For the last 10+ years, The Empire State Building was the tallest building in NYC, but that changed today. 'Poking into the sky, the first column of the 100th floor of 1 World Trade Center will bring the tower to a height of 1,271 feet, making it 21 feet higher than the Empire State Building.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Woman coughs up "tumor"
Woman coughs up "tumor":
Above left is 62-year-old Bianca Riveron's lung x-ray showing a block spot that physicians told her was likely cancer. For decades, she had suffered from a constant cough and difficulty breathing. A few months ago, she coughed up blood and the doctors noticed the dark mass in her lung. But after a second endoscopy, Riveron coughed up the "tumor." Best guess is that it was the pit of a nispero fruit that Riveron inhaled nearly thirty years ago. "Lung ''cancer'' may have been fruit pit from 1984" (WTSP)
Above left is 62-year-old Bianca Riveron's lung x-ray showing a block spot that physicians told her was likely cancer. For decades, she had suffered from a constant cough and difficulty breathing. A few months ago, she coughed up blood and the doctors noticed the dark mass in her lung. But after a second endoscopy, Riveron coughed up the "tumor." Best guess is that it was the pit of a nispero fruit that Riveron inhaled nearly thirty years ago. "Lung ''cancer'' may have been fruit pit from 1984" (WTSP)
Student's brain flatlined during classes
Student's brain flatlined during classes:
From "A Wearable Sensor for Unobtrusive, Long-term Assessment of Electrodermal Activity" (by Poh, M.Z., Swenson, N.C., Picard, R.W. in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol.57, no.5), a chart showing a single student's electrodermal activity over the course of a week. Note the neural flatlining during classtime. As Joi Ito notes, "Note that the activity is higher during sleep than during class." He also adds, "Obviously, this is just one student and doesn't necessarily generalize."
A week of a student's electrodermal activity
(Thanks, Joi!)
From "A Wearable Sensor for Unobtrusive, Long-term Assessment of Electrodermal Activity" (by Poh, M.Z., Swenson, N.C., Picard, R.W. in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol.57, no.5), a chart showing a single student's electrodermal activity over the course of a week. Note the neural flatlining during classtime. As Joi Ito notes, "Note that the activity is higher during sleep than during class." He also adds, "Obviously, this is just one student and doesn't necessarily generalize."
A week of a student's electrodermal activity
(Thanks, Joi!)
Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device, choose one
Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device, choose one:
When we first heard about the Kickstarter-funded Triggertrap, it was a nice but nichey lab instrument of a device that could fire your DSLR with diverse stimuli, like lights or ringing phones. It wasn't the first photo-tripping idea we'd seen, but at least it could be had for a fair sum ($75.00) and be used out of the box. But now, by connecting that tech to an app and charging $19.98 for both the software and hardware, Triggertrap might open up remote snapping to a lot more folks.
Running off any iPhone, iPad or iPod using iOS 5, the app uses a dongle which can be connected by cable or infrared to most DSLRs or advanced compacts. From there, you'll be able to use all of your iDevice's sensors as triggers, from motion through to facial recognition and even GPS. The app doesn't just fire the shutter, either -- it also gives you control over the focus and flash. And if you don't have a separate camera, the iPhone's built-in cam can be used instead -- which would save you from buying the $9.99 dongle, if you have the necessary accoutrements. So if you've been wondering how to get those hard-to-shoot images, or have more nefarious ideas, check the videos after the break.
Continue reading Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device, choose one
Running off any iPhone, iPad or iPod using iOS 5, the app uses a dongle which can be connected by cable or infrared to most DSLRs or advanced compacts. From there, you'll be able to use all of your iDevice's sensors as triggers, from motion through to facial recognition and even GPS. The app doesn't just fire the shutter, either -- it also gives you control over the focus and flash. And if you don't have a separate camera, the iPhone's built-in cam can be used instead -- which would save you from buying the $9.99 dongle, if you have the necessary accoutrements. So if you've been wondering how to get those hard-to-shoot images, or have more nefarious ideas, check the videos after the break.
Continue reading Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device, choose one
Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device, choose one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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UK High Court rules ISPs to block Pirate Bay, forgets it ain't the boss anymore
UK High Court rules ISPs to block Pirate Bay, forgets it ain't the boss anymore:
The High Court has ruled that British ISPs must block web-browsing citizens from accessing the infamous Pirate Bay. The controversial ruling comes just six months after the European Court of Justice (a superior court) declared that companies like Sky and TalkTalk were protected against injunctions to block, filter or monitor internet traffic for that purpose. Virgin Media told the BBC that it would comply, before sensibly adding that censorship measures like this are ineffective in the long term.
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UK High Court rules ISPs to block Pirate Bay, forgets it ain't the boss anymore originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT (update: video)
PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT (update: video):
Today, SpaceX is test-firing the engines of its Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for that oft-delayed May 7th launch for its Dragon capsule. You'll be able to watch the static-fire test from the comfort of your own desk by pointing a browser at the company website (link below) from 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT. If successful, then the rocket will lift-off properly in a week's time, with designs on being the first commercial craft used to resupply the International Space Station.
Update: For those who missed the live stream, you can check out a replay of today's event just after the break.
Continue reading PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT (update: video)
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Update: For those who missed the live stream, you can check out a replay of today's event just after the break.
Continue reading PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT (update: video)
PSA: Space X streaming test-firing of Falcon 9 at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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New Study Suggests Wind Farms Can Cause Climate Change
New Study Suggests Wind Farms Can Cause Climate Change:
nachiketas writes "A study led by Liming Zhou, Research Associate Professor at the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at the University of New York concludes that large wind farms could noticeably impact local weather patterns. According to Professor Zhou: 'While converting wind's kinetic energy into electricity, wind turbines modify surface-atmosphere exchanges and transfer of energy, momentum, mass and moisture within the atmosphere. These changes, if spatially large enough, might have noticeable impacts on local to regional weather and climate.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
nachiketas writes "A study led by Liming Zhou, Research Associate Professor at the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at the University of New York concludes that large wind farms could noticeably impact local weather patterns. According to Professor Zhou: 'While converting wind's kinetic energy into electricity, wind turbines modify surface-atmosphere exchanges and transfer of energy, momentum, mass and moisture within the atmosphere. These changes, if spatially large enough, might have noticeable impacts on local to regional weather and climate.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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