Many years ago, doors were built using
only wood boards and hand forged nails, the nails were long enough
to nail the vertical wooden panels and horizontal stretcher boards
securely together and protrude out the back.
By pounding the protruding point of the nail over and down back into
the wood it was almost impossible to pull out and said to be dead.
It was called dead, because it could not be used again. This
technique was called clinching the nail.
So the saying dead as a doornail became to mean can't be undone.
Also clinching something means finishing it.
Jan 11, 2013
Shampoo Myth Debunked
Speaking of dead as a doornail, hair
products, like shampoo and conditioner are mostly useless and cannot
physically change your hair. The hair that is visible on the human
body is dead hair and live hair is beneath the surface of the skin.
Nothing you add to the visible hair can actually make it healthier.
Also, no hair products can repair split ends.
Some hair products may add the artificial appearance of shine or color and for most, that is sufficient.
Some hair products may add the artificial appearance of shine or color and for most, that is sufficient.
Computer Generated Books
The first book completely written
by computer was published in 2008, in Russia and was a love story.
Now, Philip M. Parker, Professor of Marketing at INSEAD Business School, has created a computer system that can write books about specific subjects in about 20 minutes. The patented algorithm has so far generated hundreds of thousands of books. Amazon lists over 100,000 books attributed to Parker, and over 700,000 works listed for his company, ICON Group International, Inc.
Although his work is more of a compiler rather than writer, the end result is written and published books. The book categories include specialized technical and business reports, language dictionaries, rare disease overviews, and crossword puzzle books for learning foreign languages. They are automatically generated by software.
The system automates this process by building databases of information to source from, providing an interface to customize a query about a topic, and creating templates for information to be packaged.
A US patent was issued in 2007. The invention provides for the automatic authoring, marketing, and or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors material. The material is automatically formatted into a desired format, resulting in a title material. The title material may also be automatically distributed to a recipient. Meta material, marketing material, and control material are automatically authored and if desired, distributed to a recipient. Further, the title may be authored on demand, such that it may be in any desired language and with the latest version and content.
To avoid copyright infringement, the system is designed to avoid plagiarism, but the patent aims to create original, but not necessarily creative works. In other words, if any kind of content can be broken down into a formula, then the system could package related, but different content in that same formula.
I looked at a number of the (expensive) books and they follow the same formula of headline lists followed by scores of reference sites. The problem is, as with all printed material the content is static as the world moves on. Think of the books as Google searches as of a specific date and time.
Now, Philip M. Parker, Professor of Marketing at INSEAD Business School, has created a computer system that can write books about specific subjects in about 20 minutes. The patented algorithm has so far generated hundreds of thousands of books. Amazon lists over 100,000 books attributed to Parker, and over 700,000 works listed for his company, ICON Group International, Inc.
Although his work is more of a compiler rather than writer, the end result is written and published books. The book categories include specialized technical and business reports, language dictionaries, rare disease overviews, and crossword puzzle books for learning foreign languages. They are automatically generated by software.
The system automates this process by building databases of information to source from, providing an interface to customize a query about a topic, and creating templates for information to be packaged.
A US patent was issued in 2007. The invention provides for the automatic authoring, marketing, and or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors material. The material is automatically formatted into a desired format, resulting in a title material. The title material may also be automatically distributed to a recipient. Meta material, marketing material, and control material are automatically authored and if desired, distributed to a recipient. Further, the title may be authored on demand, such that it may be in any desired language and with the latest version and content.
To avoid copyright infringement, the system is designed to avoid plagiarism, but the patent aims to create original, but not necessarily creative works. In other words, if any kind of content can be broken down into a formula, then the system could package related, but different content in that same formula.
I looked at a number of the (expensive) books and they follow the same formula of headline lists followed by scores of reference sites. The problem is, as with all printed material the content is static as the world moves on. Think of the books as Google searches as of a specific date and time.
Wordology, Idiot
This word has its origins in the ancient
Greek word idiōtēs, meaning a private person, a person who is not
actively interested in politics. The word is now commonly used to
mean someone of relatively low intelligence.
It seems to have come full circle from its original meaning. Because of the word’s negative connotations, ‘idiot’ slowly changed how it is used today. Ironically, many people now use that word to describe politicians, who are always interested in politics.
It seems to have come full circle from its original meaning. Because of the word’s negative connotations, ‘idiot’ slowly changed how it is used today. Ironically, many people now use that word to describe politicians, who are always interested in politics.
Jan 8, 2013
Third World Countries
They are not primitive,
underdeveloped, or poor, as many believe. A third world country is
just a country that is not considered a capitalist country (first
world) or a communist country (2nd world). The terms “first world”
and “second world” virtually disappeared from usage after the fall
of the Soviet Union.
The terminology came about just after WWII with the “first world” countries that were aligned with the United States common political and economic structure (capitalists). Second world countries were those that aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of their political and economic structure (communists and socialists). Third world countries were the rest that were not aligned with either, whether poor or not.
Correct term to refer to poor or underdeveloped countries is “Developing World”.
The terminology came about just after WWII with the “first world” countries that were aligned with the United States common political and economic structure (capitalists). Second world countries were those that aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of their political and economic structure (communists and socialists). Third world countries were the rest that were not aligned with either, whether poor or not.
Correct term to refer to poor or underdeveloped countries is “Developing World”.
Pacemaker Origin
Wilson Greatbatch was working on a device
that would record human heart beats when he accidentally inserted an
incorrect resistor. It ended up perfectly mimicking the heart’s
rhythm and led to the first implantable pacemaker.
Two Shows One Screen
This week at the 2013 Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) Samsung announced a feature that allows two
people to watch completely different Full-HD content simultaneously
on the same TV screen with corresponding audio and controls.
The two viewers must wear special 3D glasses, which come with personal speakers built in to deliver the stereo audio directly to them. Bringing people together to share. . . the couch. Hey, did you see that play? Shut up you're ruining my movie.
The two viewers must wear special 3D glasses, which come with personal speakers built in to deliver the stereo audio directly to them. Bringing people together to share. . . the couch. Hey, did you see that play? Shut up you're ruining my movie.
Christmas Tree Reuse
The last seasonal item from the
holidays comes from a team of researchers in Allahabad, India that
are in the process of developing a compound derived from the needles
of the Douglas fir to help coat nano medical devices and combat
infection.
One of the largest hurdles for biomedical devices is that bacteria invade implant sites, prosthetics, and tissues. The bionanocomposite from the Douglas fir could potentially cover implants and ward off microbial growth. Combining an extract from from the Douglas fir needles with silver nitrate solution, the team has created silver nanoparticles that can make a coating. The needle extract serves as a natural chemical reducing agent that converts silver ions in the nitrate solution into tiny nanoscopic silver metal particles
One of the largest hurdles for biomedical devices is that bacteria invade implant sites, prosthetics, and tissues. The bionanocomposite from the Douglas fir could potentially cover implants and ward off microbial growth. Combining an extract from from the Douglas fir needles with silver nitrate solution, the team has created silver nanoparticles that can make a coating. The needle extract serves as a natural chemical reducing agent that converts silver ions in the nitrate solution into tiny nanoscopic silver metal particles
Jan 4, 2013
Happy Friday
The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in
our attitude toward them.
I mean to keep a positive attitude toward a Happy Friday!
I mean to keep a positive attitude toward a Happy Friday!
Time
The new year is a good time to think about time. In
1903, the Wright brothers performed their first successful flight.
In 1941, 38 years later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. (Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941).
In 1969, just 28 years after that, man landed on the moon. In 66 years man went from flight a few feet off the earth to flying to the moon.
In 2012, 109 years after the Wright brothers flight we landed a craft on Mars and it is communicating back to us with pictures.
Wikipedia lists the names of 41 people born during or before 1903 that are still living.
In 1941, 38 years later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. (Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941).
In 1969, just 28 years after that, man landed on the moon. In 66 years man went from flight a few feet off the earth to flying to the moon.
In 2012, 109 years after the Wright brothers flight we landed a craft on Mars and it is communicating back to us with pictures.
Wikipedia lists the names of 41 people born during or before 1903 that are still living.
Life Span vs. Life Expectancy
There are two kinds of life
span. One is maximum life span, the greatest age reached by any
member of a species. In humans this is currently about 120 years.
(The oldest confirmed recorded age for any human is 122 years).
The other is average life span, the average age reached by members
of a population.
Life expectancy is the number of remaining years an individual can expect to live, based on his or her current age and average life spans. Life expectancy generally quoted is the ''at birth'' number which is an average that includes all the babies that die before their first year of life as well as people that die from disease, war, etc. For example, the Life Expectancy table at the University of Texas shows ''at birth'' the life expectancy was 25, but at the age of 5 it jumped to 48. So life expectancy changes with your age.
Mozambique has the lowest life expectancy for its population at 39.2. Japan is the highest at 82.7 and the US is 38th at 78.2 years.
Life expectancy is the number of remaining years an individual can expect to live, based on his or her current age and average life spans. Life expectancy generally quoted is the ''at birth'' number which is an average that includes all the babies that die before their first year of life as well as people that die from disease, war, etc. For example, the Life Expectancy table at the University of Texas shows ''at birth'' the life expectancy was 25, but at the age of 5 it jumped to 48. So life expectancy changes with your age.
Mozambique has the lowest life expectancy for its population at 39.2. Japan is the highest at 82.7 and the US is 38th at 78.2 years.
Quirky Idea
Here is something to get your creative juices
flowing in the new year. A website, quirky.com will accept your
idea for an invention, vet it, and if it makes sense will produce
the product and get it sold in thousands of stores. Check the site
at the link below and you can see some of the items it produces as
well as take a look at the invention submission process.
It costs ten dollars to submit an idea and this pays for evaluation and suggestions. If they like your idea, just sit back, relax, and wait for the royalty checks to begin pouring in.
LINK
It costs ten dollars to submit an idea and this pays for evaluation and suggestions. If they like your idea, just sit back, relax, and wait for the royalty checks to begin pouring in.
LINK
Three Kings Debunked
Since the feast of The Three Kings,
or Epiphany is coming up this Sunday, January 6, I thought this
might be interesting. Oh the heresy - The famous “three kings”
from the Biblical birth of Christ narrative were not:
1. Three in number - the number isn’t mentioned.
2. Kings – Likely from Psalm 71:11 (72:11 in protestant bibles): “And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall serve him.”
3. Traveling on camels - Matthew 2:1–2 says: “When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.” It says a little later that they offered Him gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Since there were three gifts, the number of wise men has been assumed to be three. In the East, the number is twelve.
Historical references depict the three variously as scholars, or noblemen, or kings.
Incidentally, Magi is the origin of the word magic.
1. Three in number - the number isn’t mentioned.
2. Kings – Likely from Psalm 71:11 (72:11 in protestant bibles): “And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall serve him.”
3. Traveling on camels - Matthew 2:1–2 says: “When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.” It says a little later that they offered Him gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Since there were three gifts, the number of wise men has been assumed to be three. In the East, the number is twelve.
Historical references depict the three variously as scholars, or noblemen, or kings.
Incidentally, Magi is the origin of the word magic.
Jan 1, 2013
New Year Resolution
Here is a good resolution for the new year. Consider
reviewing your will.
The Internet has complicated things for family and executors of wills. Many of us have multiple online accounts spread across the web and they should be dealt with if something unforeseen happens. If you have multiple online accounts, make sure your online friends are notified of your death and your accounts and email accounts are handled the way you want them to be handled. The best way to do that is to update your will and provide information about your multiple accounts and how you would like them dealt with.
There are many online services now that allow people to register an account, and safely store all their passwords, account information and more so that when they die, a copy of a death certificate to that company will allow all the information to be released to the next of kin or estate executor.
Facebook allows three methods. The first is easy, if you have the account name and password, you can log in and delete it. Second, you can have the account memorialized, meaning it will not change, but specific information will be removed. Third, you can have the account removed by sending a copy of the death certificate to Facebook and ask that it be deleted.
Most other online services offer the same types of options. Too many to get into here, but check the 'Help' files and you can find what you need. Let's hope none of us need to use this info for a long time.
The Internet has complicated things for family and executors of wills. Many of us have multiple online accounts spread across the web and they should be dealt with if something unforeseen happens. If you have multiple online accounts, make sure your online friends are notified of your death and your accounts and email accounts are handled the way you want them to be handled. The best way to do that is to update your will and provide information about your multiple accounts and how you would like them dealt with.
There are many online services now that allow people to register an account, and safely store all their passwords, account information and more so that when they die, a copy of a death certificate to that company will allow all the information to be released to the next of kin or estate executor.
Facebook allows three methods. The first is easy, if you have the account name and password, you can log in and delete it. Second, you can have the account memorialized, meaning it will not change, but specific information will be removed. Third, you can have the account removed by sending a copy of the death certificate to Facebook and ask that it be deleted.
Most other online services offer the same types of options. Too many to get into here, but check the 'Help' files and you can find what you need. Let's hope none of us need to use this info for a long time.
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