cdh's Comments
Hey John -- The device in the picture an 'Omni' is it not?
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Pick up a computer mouse and speak slowly and carefully into it. Extra credit if you can do so in a convincing Scottish accent.*
(*The Nobel Prize if you can input a relatively inexpensive _and_ scalable formula for transparent aluminium that can be produced using only a few tweaks of our current technology.)
(*The Nobel Prize if you can input a relatively inexpensive _and_ scalable formula for transparent aluminium that can be produced using only a few tweaks of our current technology.)
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Benjamin -- I have never owned a high-end car....I don't know what I wrote that makes you think I brag about doing so. One of my most enjoyable cars was an Izuzu iMark I owned years ago -- it was a fun car to drive, like a go-cart.
I drive old diesel Mercedes because I can run biodiesel, made by a friend from surplus oil. A vehicle I have use of, a truck, also a Mercedes -- ancient - runs on straight veggie oil. Why do me and a few other friends do this? Well, we do it because it's cheap fuel, parts are cheap, and we like simple to maintain cars that last much, much, longer than their interiors, paintjobs and most other cars we can afford to buy, maintain and insure.
Being mechanically inclined from a very, very, early age also has a great deal to do with it....which is why I also developed an interest in watches, and later the mechanical bits of guns. I also loooove old typewriters - but vicariously when I visit friends --- I also have promised myself, friends, and family to keep clutter at a minimum.
Well Ben, I read a couple of your other comments, liked them, your comments look pretty good, so I now understand that you were not trolling me.
I hope this answers things for you, sorry for being kinda abrupt in my first reply.
[John -- thanks for editing my verbiage, and thanks for your diplomatic reply. ;) ]
I drive old diesel Mercedes because I can run biodiesel, made by a friend from surplus oil. A vehicle I have use of, a truck, also a Mercedes -- ancient - runs on straight veggie oil. Why do me and a few other friends do this? Well, we do it because it's cheap fuel, parts are cheap, and we like simple to maintain cars that last much, much, longer than their interiors, paintjobs and most other cars we can afford to buy, maintain and insure.
Being mechanically inclined from a very, very, early age also has a great deal to do with it....which is why I also developed an interest in watches, and later the mechanical bits of guns. I also loooove old typewriters - but vicariously when I visit friends --- I also have promised myself, friends, and family to keep clutter at a minimum.
Well Ben, I read a couple of your other comments, liked them, your comments look pretty good, so I now understand that you were not trolling me.
I hope this answers things for you, sorry for being kinda abrupt in my first reply.
[John -- thanks for editing my verbiage, and thanks for your diplomatic reply. ;) ]
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I wasn't bragging.
How was my comparison of watch movements and gun mechanisms, and how an interest in one led to the other bragging. What the [redacted -- ed.] is wrong with you?
How was my comparison of watch movements and gun mechanisms, and how an interest in one led to the other bragging. What the [redacted -- ed.] is wrong with you?
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Wow...manufactured by the thousands....I have really got to read up on this gun. It would be a neat piece to collect and to show to friends, but I suspect such a piece is many thousands above my budget -- which is sorta running on empty right now ;)
It's interesting - I was originally a watch nerd...still am....and I thought guns were just neat but gave them little thought....then I started studying the mechanisms, how they're put together and now I'm kinda starting to become geekish about guns too. I wonder how much cross-fertilization happens between gun nerds and watch nerds.
It's interesting - I was originally a watch nerd...still am....and I thought guns were just neat but gave them little thought....then I started studying the mechanisms, how they're put together and now I'm kinda starting to become geekish about guns too. I wonder how much cross-fertilization happens between gun nerds and watch nerds.
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Hey there John, and good early morning (yer west coast right?) Interesting post. I did not know about this particular firearm until now.
Why did this not catch-on? I haven't yet read the attached article, but I suspect the reasons were:
1. The mechanism was complex. Complex mechanisms, even if they're pretty reliable, still need maintenance and the occasional tweak, or repair. For example, right now, in the town in which I live, people who drive Ferraris or even ageing Alpha Romeos need to drive up the road to Portlandia (well, 2 hours up the road, 1 hr 20 if you drive real fast.)
Me? I have vowed to only purchase pre-1994 Mercedes 'cause this was the last year they applied their policy of over-engineering. Plus, more relevant, I can easily work on every part of these cars without borrowing friendly Mercedes mechanics' equipment, ears, or time...you gotta go easy on their good will for when you really neeeed it,
I suspect this gun was a proof-of-concept, perhaps a model to be shopped around to various manufacturers. It is an elegant, attractive piece, but I suspect it went nowhere because other, simpler to reload repeater became available around the same time and caused the novel loading mechanism to be perceived as obsolete.
Now....I will actually read the linked article and see if what I just wrote is a good, bad, or ugly guess....Wah Wah Wah....
Why did this not catch-on? I haven't yet read the attached article, but I suspect the reasons were:
1. The mechanism was complex. Complex mechanisms, even if they're pretty reliable, still need maintenance and the occasional tweak, or repair. For example, right now, in the town in which I live, people who drive Ferraris or even ageing Alpha Romeos need to drive up the road to Portlandia (well, 2 hours up the road, 1 hr 20 if you drive real fast.)
Me? I have vowed to only purchase pre-1994 Mercedes 'cause this was the last year they applied their policy of over-engineering. Plus, more relevant, I can easily work on every part of these cars without borrowing friendly Mercedes mechanics' equipment, ears, or time...you gotta go easy on their good will for when you really neeeed it,
I suspect this gun was a proof-of-concept, perhaps a model to be shopped around to various manufacturers. It is an elegant, attractive piece, but I suspect it went nowhere because other, simpler to reload repeater became available around the same time and caused the novel loading mechanism to be perceived as obsolete.
Now....I will actually read the linked article and see if what I just wrote is a good, bad, or ugly guess....Wah Wah Wah....
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Wow -- this is interesting you should mention this.
My Shih-Tzu, Cinnamon - I adopted her at about two years old and she is now about five years old. When I got her, she made it clear when she was happy --- but then a couple of months later me and others notices she started showing her teeth in what looked like a smile (easy for a flat-faced dog) whenever she was happy, content, or wanted something. I figured out that she learned our facial language and was imitating it. She was around a lot of people because my friend and I ran a therapy practice and also lived upstairs. Cinnamon was around a lot of people, plus she's a smart dog. Because we did group work with teenagers, we ordered a lot of pizza, well we also ordered a lot of take-out for ourselves too. We usually paid using petty cash. We also gave out a lot business cards.
After a while we started noticing Cinnamon putting stuff under her dog bed's pillow. Finally, when I went to launder it, I found a bunch of paper money, coins and business cards, along with bones and toys hidden under her pillow. This was fascinating. She must have seen money exchanged for food and somehow made a connection. Some sort of doggie cargo-cult? Weird and unexpected in any-case. We joked about her being Jewish, 'cause we're Jewish. We later learned her street-name is JewDawg...I kid, I kid.
Later, I did a bit of reading about dogs. Dogs do indeed imitate human expressions in a manner consistent with the situation. Maybe they pick it up 'cause their experiencing the emotion associated with the expression, or perhaps they know wearing the expression will get them something....expert opinion differs. Me? I believe it's a bit of both...just like what humans do. But...I do doubt dogs will use these expressions with each other - haven't tested this idea though.
I have noticed, however, that Cinnamon will use the smiling expression when she wants our parrot (also her friend) to toss her down a treat. When she makes eye contact and 'smiles' the parrot tosses some nuts down.
I have also noticed that Cinnamon constantly uses the 'smile' when she is scared of something, loud fireworks that are being set off where she cannot see them. If she can see them, she's okay, but unfortunately, we have neighbours somewhere in the 'hood who set them off. This causes her to have a knitted brow and the 'smile.'
Since I'm going to town on this monologue.... I would like to also mention that domestic dogs and humans have been shown -- in double blind studies to accurately read each others body language and facial expressions over 85 percent of the time for dog owners, but....more interesting....people with little or no experience with dogs are able to read their body language and facial expressions almost as well -- something like 70 or 75 percent of the time. I forgot the reference, I think perhaps it was in Nature (online.)
My Shih-Tzu, Cinnamon - I adopted her at about two years old and she is now about five years old. When I got her, she made it clear when she was happy --- but then a couple of months later me and others notices she started showing her teeth in what looked like a smile (easy for a flat-faced dog) whenever she was happy, content, or wanted something. I figured out that she learned our facial language and was imitating it. She was around a lot of people because my friend and I ran a therapy practice and also lived upstairs. Cinnamon was around a lot of people, plus she's a smart dog. Because we did group work with teenagers, we ordered a lot of pizza, well we also ordered a lot of take-out for ourselves too. We usually paid using petty cash. We also gave out a lot business cards.
After a while we started noticing Cinnamon putting stuff under her dog bed's pillow. Finally, when I went to launder it, I found a bunch of paper money, coins and business cards, along with bones and toys hidden under her pillow. This was fascinating. She must have seen money exchanged for food and somehow made a connection. Some sort of doggie cargo-cult? Weird and unexpected in any-case. We joked about her being Jewish, 'cause we're Jewish. We later learned her street-name is JewDawg...I kid, I kid.
Later, I did a bit of reading about dogs. Dogs do indeed imitate human expressions in a manner consistent with the situation. Maybe they pick it up 'cause their experiencing the emotion associated with the expression, or perhaps they know wearing the expression will get them something....expert opinion differs. Me? I believe it's a bit of both...just like what humans do. But...I do doubt dogs will use these expressions with each other - haven't tested this idea though.
I have noticed, however, that Cinnamon will use the smiling expression when she wants our parrot (also her friend) to toss her down a treat. When she makes eye contact and 'smiles' the parrot tosses some nuts down.
I have also noticed that Cinnamon constantly uses the 'smile' when she is scared of something, loud fireworks that are being set off where she cannot see them. If she can see them, she's okay, but unfortunately, we have neighbours somewhere in the 'hood who set them off. This causes her to have a knitted brow and the 'smile.'
Since I'm going to town on this monologue.... I would like to also mention that domestic dogs and humans have been shown -- in double blind studies to accurately read each others body language and facial expressions over 85 percent of the time for dog owners, but....more interesting....people with little or no experience with dogs are able to read their body language and facial expressions almost as well -- something like 70 or 75 percent of the time. I forgot the reference, I think perhaps it was in Nature (online.)
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Yes, this is true, but it does make for some interesting discussions :)
The zombies, like warp drive, space travel and end-of-the-world scenarios (and etc.), when used constructively, make very effective plot devices -- and a fun way to explore, in mock-earnestness - what-if scenarios with fellow members of the online commentariat.
Based on memoirs, interviews and comments made by aerospace engineers & officials, designers, military folk, academics and others, Science Fiction has been a real source of inspiration and the reason a lot of these smart people chose science as a profession.
(BTW -- I really enjoy Neatorama and the effort ya'll spend on it. Your blog's new redesign rocks too. I am happy that the comment volume is increasing - my fellow readers, and the moderators seem like a mellow, intelligent group of peeps.)
The zombies, like warp drive, space travel and end-of-the-world scenarios (and etc.), when used constructively, make very effective plot devices -- and a fun way to explore, in mock-earnestness - what-if scenarios with fellow members of the online commentariat.
Based on memoirs, interviews and comments made by aerospace engineers & officials, designers, military folk, academics and others, Science Fiction has been a real source of inspiration and the reason a lot of these smart people chose science as a profession.
(BTW -- I really enjoy Neatorama and the effort ya'll spend on it. Your blog's new redesign rocks too. I am happy that the comment volume is increasing - my fellow readers, and the moderators seem like a mellow, intelligent group of peeps.)
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Thanks, I glad you enjoyed it, facetedjewel !
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The predator does seem to have, in its mouth, bony structures that function as teeth. The movable tusks at the corners of its mouth were likely developed in a much, much earlier part of its evolutionary history.
They look to be useful for capturing a prey animal that is hiding in a burrow - just stick your head in and use your prehensile tusks to grab your meal. Later, when the Predator evolved from quadruped to biped, the tusks were repurposed to new functions. Now that the Predator is a biped, the most obvious function for these mobile tusks is communication, much like we use our facial muscles and display our bony teeth. Originally, when hominids displayed teeth, it was a warning or an aggressive act -- now we are simply smiling. Hominids also used their teeth for fighting, now, we usually don't do this, at least after the age of 24 or 25.
So....my theory is that the mobile tusks are used in the way humans use their facial muscles -- for communication (and the films seem to support this.) I am willing to bet the predictor species are not only warriors - the warrior caste is the only one we have encountered.
I bet there are Predators who fret and worry to the point of going to a plastic surgeon to make their tusks more appealing, more sexy. Especially Predators trying to make it big in entertainment, or marry that certain sugar-daddy or sugar-momma.
They look to be useful for capturing a prey animal that is hiding in a burrow - just stick your head in and use your prehensile tusks to grab your meal. Later, when the Predator evolved from quadruped to biped, the tusks were repurposed to new functions. Now that the Predator is a biped, the most obvious function for these mobile tusks is communication, much like we use our facial muscles and display our bony teeth. Originally, when hominids displayed teeth, it was a warning or an aggressive act -- now we are simply smiling. Hominids also used their teeth for fighting, now, we usually don't do this, at least after the age of 24 or 25.
So....my theory is that the mobile tusks are used in the way humans use their facial muscles -- for communication (and the films seem to support this.) I am willing to bet the predictor species are not only warriors - the warrior caste is the only one we have encountered.
I bet there are Predators who fret and worry to the point of going to a plastic surgeon to make their tusks more appealing, more sexy. Especially Predators trying to make it big in entertainment, or marry that certain sugar-daddy or sugar-momma.
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The residents of Bikini Bottom make their festive holiday ice creations from ocean-bottom methane-ice! After the holiday season, they add the methane-ice to their fuel depot. How else would they grill Krabby-Patties underwater?
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Interesting linked story Miss C. thx!
I seem to remember learning somewhere (either TV or web news) that this new trend of deep-frying non-traditional items (such as Snickers bars) started in Glasgow Scotland, then spread to England, then North America. On the other hand, I had dinner with a fellow gourmand from Montreal a few years ago, who believes the trend started in his city and spread virally to other places. I think the news reports, _and_ my dinner-mate's theories are equally accurate. Information spreads so quickly now...
People who don't know each-other, who live on separate continents have been documented to invent the same thing at the very same time (like the light-bulb and aeroplane, surgery techniques, all kinds of stuff.)
This, combined with our suddenly pervasive access to communication and information makes the question of "Who First Started this Trend" really hard to pin. Perhaps this idea of 'Firsties' is rapidly becoming irrelevant?
I seem to remember learning somewhere (either TV or web news) that this new trend of deep-frying non-traditional items (such as Snickers bars) started in Glasgow Scotland, then spread to England, then North America. On the other hand, I had dinner with a fellow gourmand from Montreal a few years ago, who believes the trend started in his city and spread virally to other places. I think the news reports, _and_ my dinner-mate's theories are equally accurate. Information spreads so quickly now...
People who don't know each-other, who live on separate continents have been documented to invent the same thing at the very same time (like the light-bulb and aeroplane, surgery techniques, all kinds of stuff.)
This, combined with our suddenly pervasive access to communication and information makes the question of "Who First Started this Trend" really hard to pin. Perhaps this idea of 'Firsties' is rapidly becoming irrelevant?
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I don't know John...about certain zombies, you're probably right, makes sense about the water freezing.
However, the original zombies, the ones in Haiti that are kidnapped and poisoned (and brain-damaged in a very specific way) are still eating and living. The disease victims in the Walking Dead are called zombies, and I guess they fit that definition -- are an interesting case. They do need to eat and if they do not eat, they fall into a torpor to conserve energy.
Recall -- in the first season, our group of survivors were guests of the CDC in Atlanta which was still being kept online by a PTSD affected scientist. His MRI scans showed that the Walkers were still indeed alive, including an obvious and measurable brain wave pattern, albeit restricted to the lower level systems. As for the heads of the Walkers still being dangerous after decapitation, we don't know how long they live because the show never lets one live more than a few moments before our heroes kill it. I suspect that the head would die after a few minutes, much like a decapitated snake, who has neural systems similar to the systems that are still functioning in the walkers. Maybe this might help you suspend your disbelief when you consider the Nazi snow-zombies? Oh....another thought....the Walkers, even though it's obvious their biological functions are still able to intake nutrients and pump enough blood and maintain respiration well enough to hang on it is also obvious that they are slowly decomposing.
They are steadily decomposing due to their inefficient circulation. Decomposition does produce heat - you know, like when it's freezing out, but your compost heap is still well above freezing?
However, the original zombies, the ones in Haiti that are kidnapped and poisoned (and brain-damaged in a very specific way) are still eating and living. The disease victims in the Walking Dead are called zombies, and I guess they fit that definition -- are an interesting case. They do need to eat and if they do not eat, they fall into a torpor to conserve energy.
Recall -- in the first season, our group of survivors were guests of the CDC in Atlanta which was still being kept online by a PTSD affected scientist. His MRI scans showed that the Walkers were still indeed alive, including an obvious and measurable brain wave pattern, albeit restricted to the lower level systems. As for the heads of the Walkers still being dangerous after decapitation, we don't know how long they live because the show never lets one live more than a few moments before our heroes kill it. I suspect that the head would die after a few minutes, much like a decapitated snake, who has neural systems similar to the systems that are still functioning in the walkers. Maybe this might help you suspend your disbelief when you consider the Nazi snow-zombies? Oh....another thought....the Walkers, even though it's obvious their biological functions are still able to intake nutrients and pump enough blood and maintain respiration well enough to hang on it is also obvious that they are slowly decomposing.
They are steadily decomposing due to their inefficient circulation. Decomposition does produce heat - you know, like when it's freezing out, but your compost heap is still well above freezing?
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Am I really going to post this? It looks like I am. What is wrong with me? I don't live under a bridge and shake down people trying to cross it....I left the profession years ago...can't....must resist the atavism....must.resist..must..not...post...ctrl..v---
Bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Call my baby bubble-butt, tell you why
His kiss is sweeter than an apple pie
And when he does his shaky rockin' dance
Man, I haven't got a chance
I call him bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt bubble-butt
Sweeter than candy on a stick
Huckleberry, chimry or lime
If you had a choice he'd be your pick
But bubble-butt is mine
bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble
bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Crazy way he thrills me, tell you why
Just like a lightning from the sky
He loves to kiss me till I can't see straight
Gee, my bubble-butt is great
I call him bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Call my baby bubble-butt, tell you why
His kiss is sweeter than an apple pie
And when he does his shaky rockin' dance
Man, I haven't got a chance
I call him bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt bubble-butt
Sweeter than candy on a stick
Huckleberry, chimry or lime
If you had a choice he'd be your pick
But bubble-butt is mine
bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble
bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Crazy way he thrills me, tell you why
Just like a lightning from the sky
He loves to kiss me till I can't see straight
Gee, my bubble-butt is great
I call him bubble-butt, bubble-butt
Oh bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble-butt, bubble-butt
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What you see in the picture is just a ta ma de, le se artefact caused by some random solar flares. Nothing to be too concerned about, ren ci de Fo zu qing bao you wo men.
(BTW, I'm kinda clever, but I'm not that clever and college Mandarin was a long time ago. To appear more clever than I actually am, I did a Google search for Firefly Chinese Slang and used the following site as a reference: http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Firefly_chinese_slang#F )