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Saturday, August 13. 2016

Roger here. Bird Dog has gone to the spa to take the waters. And by "spa," I mean tavern. And by "waters," I mean single malt. Anyway, he's left me to guard the chicken coop until he can finish his sabbatical, and make bail. I don't know what to talk about. That's because I'm not interesting, the way Bird Dog is.

I'm not interesting, but that's beside the point. What makes me even more useless to the lovely people here at the Farm is that I'm not interested. I don't care about much of anything that makes the front page of the papers, or the nightly news, or Huffpo. At least, I think I'm not interested, because I have no idea what's going on at those venues. It's not a pose like you'd suppose. I think it's all twaddle and avoid looking at it.

I'll try to take the path less traveled, and look for interesting things:

IBM's reputation at risk in wake of census bungle

I was unaware that IBM had any sort of reputation left to bungle. Apparently, they can't even count kangaroos now.

Kansas couple sues IP mapping firm for turning their life into a “digital hell”

I've been subjected to digital hell myself, so I'm sympathetic. But enough about my physical exam.

Should Early Autism Intervention Include Multiple Languages? You Bet!

Never mind autistic kids. Why doesn't every kid speak more than one language? Me pega.

Upping the volts will make hybrid cars much cheaper

First sentence: "VOLTAGE is to electricity what pressure is to water." I don't think so.

New “Bionic” Leaf Is Roughly 10 Times More Efficient Than Natural Photosynthesis

This is called "begging the question," even though it's not a question. It's the smug version of petitio principii. The real question is whether natural photosynthesis is particularly efficient. It isn't. There's just a lot of it going on.

The fall of Schwinn

I find it more edifying to read the news from twenty years ago. All the fibs have mellowed.

How English Gave Birth to Surprising New Languages

I didn't see whatever Guy Fieri speaks mentioned. The list should be expanded.

Now is a really good time to buy a helicopter

As opposed to tomorrow, when you'll need the money for Hamburger Helper

How to Make an Inca Mummy

A bottle of Mateus and Marvin Gaye records always did the trick for me.

Lessons in Small Scale Manufacturing From The Othermill Shop Floor

They make little mills that produce printed circuit boards. They run a factory that makes tiny desktop factories. And you lived to see it.

Well, that's today's roundup of links. You can now return to your regularly scheduled conniption fit about the election.

Posted by Roger de Hauteville in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:43 | Comments (21) | Trackback (1)

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Kansas couple sues IP mapping firm for turning their life into a “digital hell”

doesn't work.

#1 fjord on 2016-08-13 06:26 (Reply)

You're less interested (and interesting) Roger, but you can text format an article more weller. And link to cooler stuff. But seriously, a couple things:

First sentence: "VOLTAGE is to electricity what pressure is to water." I don't think so.

It actually is. 120v in your wall socket is available pressure. And current is to electricity what flow is to water. The analogy holds.

The real question is whether natural photosynthesis is particularly efficient. It isn't. There's just a lot of it going on.

Photosyntheisis is a nearly perfect system, to wit:

Green plants and certain bacteria are able to transfer the energy harvested from sunlight through a network of light harvesting pigment-protein complexes and into reaction centers with nearly 100-percent efficiency. Speed is the key – the transfer of the solar energy takes place so fast that little energy is wasted as heat. In 2007, Fleming and his research group reported the first direct evidence that this essentially instantaneous energy transfer was made possible by a remarkably long-lived, wavelike electronic quantum coherence.

In layman's terms, PS works almost like a herd of Farmers running blindfolded through a forest, never hitting a tree. There's an unusual symbiosis wherein it's a plausible to think of plant and light having an intelligent interplay; of communicating at the quantum level. Quantum superposition - refusing to consider any outcome other than success - is kinda efficient.

If God has a sense of humor I reckon He also has a sense of wonder, even if we take thousands of years to find it on these miniscule scales.

#2 Ten on 2016-08-13 08:14 (Reply)

Ten: Green plants and certain bacteria are able to transfer the energy harvested from sunlight through a network of light harvesting pigment-protein complexes and into reaction centers with nearly 100-percent efficiency.

The study concerns only to one small step of the process. There are several measures of efficiency for the entire process. Here's an overview:

Photosynthetic efficiency

#2.1 Zachriel on 2016-08-13 12:57 (Reply)

Hey all, Z-bot is posting pedantic nonsense for free now that Correct the Record recently blew through 6 mil in a week.

#2.1.1 Ten on 2016-08-13 13:41 (Reply)

The analogy of voltage to the pressure of water a hydraulic system is the most common way to explain voltage. It calls attention to how voltage is "potential." Current, in the hydraulic analogy, is likened to the flow of water through the system. As I learned in electric shop class 50+ years ago, it is current that will kill you, not voltage. If you've ever accidentally discharged a 25,000 volt charge from a capacitor, you'll appreciate that fact. It also explains why the high voltage from a stun gun merely stuns you, while the much lower voltage from a 120VAC line can kill you.

Probably more than you want to know here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_analogy

#3 Basil on 2016-08-13 08:30 (Reply)

"Why doesn't every kid speak more than one language? Me pega."

QUOTE:

The multiplicity of languages is due to the policy of international hate, inaugurated by the nations of Europe to promote the selfish purposes of rulers. Barbarism is diversity; civilization is unity. The human race is one, provided it is civilized, and it should have but one language. Language is a tool, and time consumed in acquiring skill in the use of more than one tool designed for the same end, is wasted. The standing armies of Europe obstruct the way to unity of language. The time will come when all civilized peoples will speak one tongue, probably the English. Then language will cease to be a mere vain accomplishment, and become what it ought always to have been, the simple means of familiarizing the mind with things, and of the communication of knowledge.

#4 JK Brown on 2016-08-13 10:15 (Reply)

"The multiplicity of languages is due to the policy of international hate, inaugurated by the nations of Europe to promote the selfish purposes of rulers. Barbarism is diversity; civilization is unity. The human race is one, provided it is civilized, and it should have but one language. Language is a tool, and time consumed in acquiring skill in the use of more than one tool designed for the same end, is wasted. The standing armies of Europe obstruct the way to unity of language. The time will come when all civilized peoples will speak one tongue, probably the English. Then language will cease to be a mere vain accomplishment, and become what it ought always to have been, the simple means of familiarizing the mind with things, and of the communication of knowledge.

That just about takes the prize for being the most nonsensical, addlepated rant about language I've ever encountered.

#4.1 JJM on 2016-08-13 11:51 (Reply)

"Why doesn't every kid speak more than one language?"

It doesn't pay, if your native language is English. You already know the world's commerical language.

Latin is nice, but the returns only happen late in life when you start noticing where words come from.

#5 rhhardin (Link) on 2016-08-13 10:35 (Reply)

On the contrary, it does pay.

And as a French-speaker, I should know.

#5.1 JJM on 2016-08-13 11:56 (Reply)

How much a month? (Just HAD to ask.)

#5.1.1 Sam L. on 2016-08-13 14:00 (Reply)

"How much a month? (Just HAD to ask.)"

I could probably figure that out if I had the time.

It definitely had an effect on my advancement as a Canadian Army officer, improved my travel opportunities and has directly led to contract work as a retiree.

#5.1.1.1 JJM on 2016-08-13 18:15 (Reply)

I would offer an alternative explanation:
It isn't really that knowing French and English "helped" your career. It is more accurate that living in a nation with two official languages harms anyone who is not at least somewhat fluent in both languages.

To put it another way if your country had only one official language and you knew that language you would have exactly the same advantage that knowing both French and English now provides you in a country with two languages.

#5.1.1.1.1 IdahoBob on 2016-08-14 18:41 (Reply)

Multiple language use likely comes from proximity and necessity. In Europe, with its many small countries, lots of folks with different native tongues live close to each other. Hence, it's handy to know an extra language or two. Plus, getting invaded and occupied periodically has a similar effect.

Island states seem to develop various types of pidgin since they're visited by mariners/colonialists/occupiers from around the world.

More Americans would speak Spanish or French if they lived close to the borders with Quebec or Mexico. And, sonofagun! many of the folks who DO live close to Q or M speak at least a smattering of French or Spanish.

#5.2 OldFert on 2016-08-13 14:43 (Reply)

A friend of mine worked for a fast food chain and he spoke Spanish. He choose to not 'let on' that he knew Spanish because his shift supervisor and about half the workers were Hispanic and spoke it on the job and he didn't want his supervisor to expect him to speak it. But over time he noticed that all the Spanish speaking workers were insulting all the gringos including him. Pissed him off so he got a lawyer and got wired with a recorder and ended up with a big settlement when the recorder was placed into evidence in the suit.

So speaking two languages definitely helped his career.

#5.2.1 SweetPea on 2016-08-15 09:54 (Reply)

"First sentence: "VOLTAGE is to electricity what pressure is to water." I don't think so."

They're getting it from a standard analogy, voltage to pressure and current to stream area, but it doesn't help in the article.

Higher voltage reduces current which lets you use thinner wires for stuff, for the same power. In the case of enormous power, it may make the project possible.

On the other hand, higher voltage is more dangerous if you touch it because the current through your resistive body reaches fatal amounts that it does not at 12v.

#6 rhhardin (Link) on 2016-08-13 10:46 (Reply)

"I should buy a boat." Splendid. It just made my day to see that feline at the breakfast table, all prosperous, reflective and full of himself. As Homer Simpson famously said, "It works on so many levels." Glad to see the Rog back.

#7 Ralph Kinney Bennett on 2016-08-13 11:51 (Reply)

If you want a bike made by a Schwinn look at Waterford or Gunnar.

http://waterfordbikes.com/w/bikes/vision/

http://gunnarbikes.com/site/bikes/grand-tour/

I called them up once when I was flush with cash to ask some questions. Wound up talking to Schwinn. I thought it was kinda cool, but I'm a geek boy.

#8 William O. B'Livion on 2016-08-13 13:10 (Reply)

I agree that in the hydraulic analogy of electricity the pressure represents voltage. The greater "oomph" of higher voltage is not, however, the reason transmission line operate at very high voltage, The reason is that losses along the lines are proportional to current and at higher voltage it takes less current to transfer the same amount of power but with lower losses.

#9 Michael R. Kesti on 2016-08-13 13:11 (Reply)

Re:Kansas couple

You'd think by now, after repeated visitations by "law enforcement officers" they'recognize the address and consider it a wasted trip.
Or do some people in positions in power just enjoy putting the boot on necks?

#10 fjord on 2016-08-13 13:43 (Reply)

"A bottle of Mateus and Marvin Gaye records always did the trick for me."

& neither you nor the article suggested candy.

#11 Jim O'Neil (Link) on 2016-08-13 13:45 (Reply)

I don't know what you're referring to, but I got an ad once for Biogra, a "herbal supplement", with the slogan "Wen Barry White and candlelight aren't enough."

#11.1 Sam L. on 2016-08-13 14:05 (Reply)

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Saturday, August 13. 2016

Durn Interestin'