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Comment Finally! (Score 2) 136

by GeekZilla (#44645745) Attached to: Magellan II's Adaptive Optics Top Hubble's Resolution
We can finally quiet the "moon landing was a hoax" nutjobs. With the ability to make long-exposure images that resolve objects just 0.02 arcseconds across — the equivalent of a dime viewed from more than a hundred miles away", we can actually take pictures of all the junk we left behind as proof that we were actually there.
Businesses

Worst Design Ever? Plastic Clamshell Packaging 398

Posted by Soulskill from the spilled-more-blood-than-all-the-swords dept.
Hugh Pickens writes "Rebecca Rosen writes that if you've recently opened up — or, more specifically, tried to open up — a CFL light bulb, you can sympathize with the question posted on Quora last year, 'What is the worst piece of design ever done?' The site's users have given resounding support to one answer: plastic clamshell packaging. 'Design should help solve problems' — clamshells are supposed to make it harder to steal small products and easier for employees to arrange on display — but this packaging, says Anita Schillhorn, makes new ones, such as time wasted, frustration, and the little nicks and scrapes people incur as they just try to get their damn lightbulb out. The problem is so pervasive there is even a Wikipedia page devoted to 'wrap rage,' 'the common name for heightened levels of anger and frustration resulting from the inability to open hard-to-remove packaging.' Amazon and Wal-Mart are prodding more manufacturers to change their packaging to cut waste. 'We've gotten e-mails from customers who've purchased scissors in a clamshell, which would require another pair of scissors to open the package,' says Nadia Shouraboura, Amazon's vice president of global fulfillment. Other worthy answers to the Quora question include the interfaces on most microwaves, TV remotes, New York City's parking signs, and pull-handles on push-only doors, but none gained even close to the level of popular repudiation that clamshells received."

Comment Re:What is it with these knuckleheads? (Score 1) 336

by GeekZilla (#36828958) Attached to: Sheikh Carves His Name In Desert So It's Visible From Space

Well, remember, you are comparing some of the most revered people in United States history with some guy who just has a lot of money. What did Hamad do that would justify such a monument? And usually, monuments are erected by future generations as a tribute to someone. This is just some rich knucklehead who was bored.

Comment Which is easier to believe? (Score 1) 964

by GeekZilla (#35930318) Attached to: Bizarre Porn Raid Underscores Wi-Fi Privacy Risks

If this person had secured his connection and someone had broken the encryption to download illegal pornography, how likely would it have been that the law enforcement would have believed him?

I know TFA mentioned it took three days and a "forensic" analysis of his electronics before they finally really believed him, but I wonder if it wouldn't have taken longer if the signal had been encrypted. Since these law enforcement personnel couldn't be bothered to do some basic research before over-reacting, how likely would they have been to believe Barry's claims if the router had been encrypted?

Barry: "No, really, I didn't do it!"

Law Enforcement: "Don't lie to us! That's impossible! Your wireless connection is encrypted!!"
Image

Advent Calendar For Geeks 65

Posted by samzenpus from the geek-christmas dept.
bLanark writes "Well, as children and adults all over the world begin their day with chocolate, with the traditional Advent calendar, I'd like to remind you that there's an alternative for geeks. The Perl Advent calendar will give you a new Perl tip every day right up to Christmas."
Transportation

Heroic Engineer Crashes Own Vehicle To Save a Life 486

Posted by kdawson from the delta-vee dept.
scottbomb sends in this feel-good story of an engineer-hero, calling it "one of the coolest stories I've read in a long time." "A manager of Boeing's F22 fighter-jet program, Innes dodged the truck, then looked back to see that the driver was slumped over the wheel. He knew a busy intersection was just ahead, and he had to act fast. Without consulting the passengers in his minivan — 'there was no time to take a vote' — Innes kicked into engineer mode. 'Basic physics: If I could get in front of him and let him hit me, the delta difference in speed would just be a few miles an hour, and we could slow down together,' Innes explained."

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