Author: Serkadis

We got a great response to our recent article looking through the lessons learned from the MIT team’s quick victory in DARPA’s “find the red balloons” challenge. JP Werlin pointed out one additional interesting point however: despite this being a task involving searching, finding and aggregating information, Google search was useless for this particular project:

Google didn’t matter because Google is a file cabinet of the past. Yes, we know that supposedly this week Google Real Time Search is launching and it will be the next great thing. We also know there are Google Alerts that help us stay current. But there was no real time search or alert that helped us on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Now Google documents were great (we used Spreadsheets) and Google Maps with Street View was indispensable. But Google’s main function, it reason for being, was 100% irrelevant. Google is great for looking at yesterday. In its current form, Google is a complete failure for looking at today. And when I mean today I do not mean today’s Wall Street Journal or Techcrunch as arguably those are both looking at history as well. I am talking about what is happening right now, this moment. And do you want to know the best place to find out what is happening right now? Twitter Search.

Perhaps that changes (as noted) with Google’s real time search offering, but it is notable. Google positions itself as wanting to be the place where you can find any relevant information, but that information is backwards looking.

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Selamat Tahun Baru Hijriyah 1431 H. Semoga pada tahun-tahun mendatang kita senantiasa mendapatkan limpahan rahmat dan ridho-Nya. Semakin teguh menghadapi tantangan, semakin bersemangat, semakin bijak, semakin istiqomah dalam beribadah dan berkarya.

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Posted in Events, Renungan, Umum Tagged: Hijriyah, Islam, Tahun Baru

More Quantum Theory details are coming out shortly after its surprising announcement that it will no longer be a PS3 exclusive. Today, the game is making the Xbox 360 and the PS3 platforms share yet another item:

Hip-Hop is coming back to games in a brand new pimpin’ ride, Def Jam Rapstar. From 4mm Games, Def Jam Rapstar is set to “provide the ultimate emcee video game experience, and captures the essence of what Hip-Hop is

Let the dog have his sofa and keep it clean too. Sure Fit is now offering new pet sofa throws that can be personalized with your pet’s name. The pet sofa cover is made of quilted soft suede and is machine washable.

The new covers present a budget-friendly way to extend the life of your pet-friendly furniture. Sure Fit’s sofa throws can help protect furniture from drool stains, smells and hair – not to mention the ocassional human soda spill or other mishap! Sure Fit also offers pet throws for chairs and loveseats.

The Sure Fit pet throws are offered in chocolate or taupe with monogramming (up to 15 letters) available in block or script.

Prices for the new pet covers start at $37.49 for the chair throw. If you’re not into personalization, Sure Fit doesn’t force that on you. They have  non-personalized pet throws as well.

How do you feel about personalized pet throws for your furniture?

(Image via Sure Fit)

Post from: Blisstree

Personalized Pet Sofa Protectors

You will not find an easier and more professional installation of a FLOW RATE and LEAKAGE SENSOR FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OIL HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS (hydraulic and gear oil as well as water-glycol HFC)

NO CUTTING PIPELINES INST. 3 MINUTES ONLY – NO CONTAMINATION!
Test our SERV-CLIP® & FLUID-CHECK® up to 9100 psi (630 bar)
(Measuring range 0,5 to 600 Liter/Minute) Output : 4 to 20 mA

Steps for ordering :
-Measuring place : Determine diameter of pipeline (mm or inches)
-Sensor calibration : Instruct us with the wished measuring range L/min
-Installation : Next day of delivery is installed in 3 minutes
-Measuring :Immediately with mobile measuring kit or PLC

Let us know the diameter and the measuring range in Liter/Minute according to your necessities!

You get with your order a data sheet with curves mA -Liter/Minute for the requested steel pipeline in mm or inches

Installationsvideos under www.servclip.com

• Frost protection switches for HVAC systems, e.g. for frost protection monitoring of heating registers/heat exchangers
• Different modules available:
ExBin-FR3 and ExBin-FR6 for zone 1, 2, 21, 22 (Explosion proof)
RedBin-FR3 and RedBin-FR6 for zone 2, 22 (Explosion proof)
InBin-FR3 and InBin-FR6 for safe area (not Explosion proof)
• No additional module in the panel required!
• No intrinsically safe wiring required!
• 24 VAC/DC supply
• 1-stage switch-point, mechanically adjustable
• Output is 1 potential-free make contact
• Temperature range -5 to +15 °C
• 3 meter or 6 meter capilarry
• Switching status display with LED
• Aluminium die-cast housing with integrated terminal box, protection IP66
• Dimensions (H × W × D) 177 × 107 × 66 mm
• Different accessories available for installation
• For more details and technical data sheet click on „More information…“

öln – 2009-09-18 – Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum, a leading supplier of advanced vacuum systems for use in manufacturing industrial and high-tech processes, presents customized vacuum solutions for all photovoltaic processes. The pump systems are being exhibited at the 24. European Photovoltaic Solar and Energy Conference and Exhibition in Hamburg, Hall B5 Booth 26.

Photovoltaic processes require special vacuum solutions. The Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum team has developed special computer assisted tools (LeyCat) to design the optimum customized pumping system in combination with their application know how and experience. Examples of these customized systems with proven performance are being exhibited at the 24. EUPVSEC.

The economic and robust solution:
SOGEVAC / RUVAC Combinations

The compact design provides minimized investment for maximum benefit. The production proven system has been designed especially for fast pump down cycles, offering the perfect solution for load lock and light duty applications.
Due to the SOGEVAC type primary pump, it offers high suction speed from atmosphere and low power consumption and maintenance intervals like dry pump systems guarantees economic operation.
The system is available in modular packages from 500 to 2000 m³/h pumping speed.

The dry and flexible solution:
SCREWLINE / RUVAC Combinations

For those processes, where a dry pumping solution is required, the combination of the roots-blower with the dry screw type primary pump is recommended. The system has been especially designed for industrial applications and is production proven on coating processes. With the fast pump down cycles and dry technology it provides lowest cost of ownership.
Modular packages (up to 9000 m³/h) and speed adaptation by frequency control ensure highest flexible pumping speed.

Customer Benefits
Advantages of the SP630 combinations at a glance:

Coldest pump on market – avoids build up of layers
Gas-ballast purges out vapors and dust
Cantilevered shaft design allows manual cleaning on site
Environmentally friendly – does not produce contaminated waste oils
Completely air-cooled (water-cooling as option)
Low power consumption

Kuka Systems now makes the production of crystalline photovoltaic modules even faster: fully automated, ready-to-use robotic systems now trim, tape and frame. Taping is even performed “on the fly”. Pneumatic proportional technology from Festo ensures that the right pressure is applied to the tape roll.

Padded protective gloves are no longer an obstacle when operating HMI stations for CCTV systems in hazardous areas which run R. STAHL’s ISview video software. Large touch buttons on the screen for quick direct access to cameras are hard to miss even for well-padded fingers. As an alternative, operators may also use mouse, trackball or joystick to select cameras and work their PTZ functions. With ISview, a monitor can display live signals of up to twelve image sources as a multiple-quad view or as single views to be switched between, as window or full image view. In addition to IP cameras video servers can also be incorporated.

ISview achieves the display of moving images with up to 25 frames per second. With a maximum delay of 120 ms the image signals of all connected devices reach the screens almost in real time. The VAPIX-API-based software is licensed for each connected camera so that overall cost corresponds exactly to the actual size of the CCTV system. In addition to powerful, industrial PC-based touch screen stations with various screen sizes, R. STAHL supplies all required network and connection technology as well as camera types that are suitable for hazardous areas and rough ambient conditions. It is therefore possible to source complete CCTV packages consisting of hardware, software and engineering from one single suplier.

If people’s safety is one of your main target and challenge, our steel sheet SAFBLOC enclosures are the answer to meet your needs. They insure the safety of all your staff (production operators, maintenance technicians, mechanics, electricians, subcontractors…) while equipments are being handled. Safety is guaranteed by the direct vision of the contacts, the state indicator (ON/ OFF), the double lock of the door, lateral handle to be locked in 3 points.

Main features:
-From 40 to 1600 A
-Lateral handle to operate
-Up/ Down or Down/ Down connexions
-Steel sheet (thickness: 2 mm)
-Front leaning roof (35 mm) to avoid water and dust to get in

Some accessories can be fitted with our enclosures:
-Auxiliary control buttons
-Door locks
-ISO cable gland
-Engraved labels

Our steel sheet SAFEBLOC is an enclosure very simple, reliable and robust. It can adapt to the roughest environment inside or outside a building (resistance to UV rays).

For further technical information on CEFEM’s steel sheet SAFEBLOC, feel free to contact us.

– GECKO, SPIDER, VIPER –
To gain the most possible information from your specimens!

The new infinitive zoom-stereo microscope series is ideal for biological and industrial applications. It features a binocular/trinocular head or alternatively ERGO head and offers parfocal and parcentered objectives. It comes with widefield eyepieces with a 22 mm field of view. Different objectives are available and delivering an accurate 3D reproduction of the original specimen.
The LED illumination system with variable light intensity can be switched on independently or simultaneously. For a maximum illumination efficiency, we recommend to use our LED ring light VENUS or the computerized SATURN.

The standard magnification of the three models is between 8x – 80x, the total magnification range between 4x – 320x.

There are many accessories like Iris diaphragm, darkfield and polarizing attachment, boom-stand etc. available.

The GEMÜ 520 actuated globe and control valve is now also available in smaller nominal sizes DN 32, 40 and 50.

GEMÜ 520 is particularly suitable for use as a control valve for steam, air, water and process lines on account of its membrane actuator. The existing sizes DN 65 – 150 are now extended to smaller nominal sizes DN 32 – 50 to meet customer requirements. New actuator/valve body versions have also been developed to further increase the range of applications. In sizes DN 32 – 65 the valve can now be used with up to 40 bar operating pressure with valve bodies in cast steel GP 240 H and stainless steel 1.4408. Further new options include valves which can be actuated with a considerably reduced control pressure of 1.5 – 4 bar, depending on nominal size and operating pressure. The matched GEMÜ range of autoset valve positioners provide complete throttling control via PLC or on-board process controllers.

The multi award-winning sequel from Naughty Dog, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, is not quieting down this holiday. Adventure apparently does not recognize holiday breaks, as the team is sending out a new DLC this Christmas.
 
 

While here in the US, we’re still fighting over a federal shield law that will let journalists protect their sources, Michael Scott points us to the news that the European Court of Human Rights recently ruled that the media can protect anonymous sources.

The Court reiterates that freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society and that, in that context, the safeguards guaranteed to the press are particularly important. Furthermore, protection of journalistic sources is one of the basic conditions for press freedom. Without such protection, sources may be deterred from assisting the press in informing the public on matters of public interest. As a result, the vital “public watchdog” role of the press may be undermined and the ability of the press to provide accurate and reliable reporting may be adversely affected. Having regard to the importance of the protection of journalistic sources for press freedom in a democratic society and the potentially chilling effect that an order for disclosure of a source has on the exercise of that freedom, such a measure cannot be compatible with Article 10 unless it is justified by an overriding requirement in the public interest.

This is definitely a good thing, and a bit surprising, since Europe has, in the past, often been a bit less protective of the right to speak anonymously.

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The classification review meeting for Sega’s appeal on Aliens vs. Predator was set for today, but it was not the only that caught the attention of fans. Over at the Australian PlayStation Store, Sega is still apparently

Got this email today, and decided to share it and my response as a message to college kids out there that are pretty much the same as I was. Here you go:

Mark, I was in the group  that listened to you speak at the XXXX.  And I need some guidance, dude.

I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced addictive behavior before, but I’m sure you’ve got an idea of what it would be like.  Now I want to specify that I’m not addicted to drugs or alcohol or any of that junk.  I’m addicted to adventure.  Of pushing physical boundaries and experiencing new things.

But man, it’s killing me right now.  I can’t focus on anything that I need to do.  I’m a full-time undergrad and real estate agent (among other things), and this desperate search for adventure is not driving me toward my goals; it is crippling me.  Before you had the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want, how did you maintain focus on the things you needed to do?

My Response:

You are still in school. You don’t need to have all the answers or focus on one thing. You should be trying a lot of things until you find the one thing you really love to do and are good at. When that happens, you will be able to focus.

Being focused at 21 is way over rated. Now is the time to screw up,  try as many different things as you can and just maybe figure things out.

The thing you do need to do is learn. Learn accounting. Learn finance.  Learn statistics. Learn as much as you can about business. Read biographies about business people. You dont have to focus on 1 thing, but you have to create a base of knowledge so you are ready when its time.

You will never know when that time will come.  But you can be ready when it does.

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What’s in store for you in the PlayStation Store this week before Christmas? A LOT. Apart from the usual game updates, they also have the Best of 2009 Collection, and several items up on sale. And what’s

The 1990s were marked by marvels that scientists are still trying to understand: the discovery of planets outside our solar system … the mysterious dark energy that appears to dominate our universe … embryonic stem-cell research that has sparked so much hope and concern over the past decade.

Today’s installment of our 50-year science timeline, drawn up to mark the 50th birthday of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, focuses on the advances of the ’90s. This list isn’t set in stone, so feel free to weigh in with your own suggested milestones. We’d also love to hear what milestones you’re hoping to see in the next 50 years.