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Comment Linc 8 (Score 2) 61

I used a predecessor to the PDP machines in the early 60’s. It was an 11 bit machine, had 4K of memory, 2 small Dec tapes and a switch panel for programming a bootstrap loader. Generally we used the 1st 2K of memory which we used for program and would shuffle segments of the program in and out as the program ran. The upper 4K was used for data. We programmed an FFT which took up to 30 minutes to run a 1k sample. Then we had it output the graph to a calcomp plotter. Definitely a hands on computer and kind of fun to use.

Comment Re:Popcorn ready! (Score 1) 155

considering the total energy inputs to build snd operate a nuke plant that includes the energy required to educate all the workers, build and operate the machinery, delivery and disposal of fuel over the lifespan with the same energy inputs for the equivalent amount of wind or solar, which one is the winner?

Comment Breakthrough moments (Score 1) 86

This article is totally accurate. When I had an NIH grant for my research, at one point I reached a block that stopped my progress cold. I was afraid that I’d have to turn the remainder of my grant back to NIH. I obsessed over this for months with no idea about how to make progress. One day I was walking through my lab carrying some glassware when all of a sudden what seemed like a bolt of lightning hit me. It was a very physical experience. But in moment a new direction for my research opened up. It led to a breakthrough paper in PNAS and a renewal of my grant.

Comment Possible effects of EMP (Score 1) 142

The novel “One Minute After”, by William Forstchen, describes the after effects of an EMP over the US. Complete societal breakdown due failure of critical infrastructure: grid, communications, travel except with older vehicles without electronics, etc. Loss of power and refrigeration and concomitant loss of storage for drugs and food means lots of people will die. The book describes the breakdown of laws and the rise of roving gangs. Definitely thought provoking.

Comment Re: May have.. (Score 1) 341

Science accepted a paper I wrote But with some revisions. I made the revisions but the editor sent to a new reviewer who panned it (it had been accepted by 3 reviewers). No reason given. It was subsequently published in the Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. I canâ(TM)t comment on Scienceâ(TM)s review policies but the paper made a big impact in the field. And I never had to retract any part of it.

Comment Scope of work? (Score 2) 63

Any contracted pentesting activity MUST include a scope of work that defines the range of permitted and not permitted activities. This is mutually agreed to by both parties in the contract. This includes testing physical security. Either the latter was not included in the scope of work and ignored by the pentester, or was not communicated adequately to the pentester. In any event work done not specifically in the scope of work leaves the pentester liable for illegal activities. Coalfire has to know this.

Comment Re:Unexpected results (Score 1) 254

I studied some of the mechanical and contractile properties of smooth muscle. In spite of vast morphological differences between smooth muscle and striated (skeletal) muscle, smooth muscle demonstrated qualitatively similar results as striated muscle. https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnas.org%2Fcontent%2F7.... The surprise here is that form and function do not necessarily follow each other.

Sounds like research into Fleshlights.

ok I'll bite. How is this related to Fleshlights? Did you look at the link I posted or any of the citations?

Comment Unexpected results (Score 4, Interesting) 254

I studied some of the mechanical and contractile properties of smooth muscle. In spite of vast morphological differences between smooth muscle and striated (skeletal) muscle, smooth muscle demonstrated qualitatively similar results as striated muscle. https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnas.org%2Fcontent%2F7.... The surprise here is that form and function do not necessarily follow each other.

Comment Scientific papers as advertising (Score 1) 140

In the 70â(TM)s I had 4 papers published in peer reviewed journals. For this my grants had to pay for this (think taxpayer money). Because of this, the articles were marked as advertising. And, if you wanted to read the article, additional payment was necessary. Similarly as companies that socialize losses but privatize profits.

Comment demotivation (Score 5, Insightful) 163

When one spends time doing meditation, one can start to see how stupid things are in the world around us. That can be demotivating. BUT, it can also open up new paradigms. Sitting still, doing nothing (except breathing of course), there is a lot of noise in our heads. After a while (time frame indeterminant), the noise subsides and often a clear idea emerges about a path to follow. Such an activity is similar to doing software development when an difficult problem is encountered. Getting away from the problem and maybe taking a quiet walk reveals the source and the solution to the problem.

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