From Yahoo: Now physicists say that adjustments can be made to the proposed warp drive that would enable it to run on significantly less energy, potentially brining the idea back from the realm of science fiction into science. … “Everything within space is restricted by the speed of light,” explained Richard Obousy, president of Icarus … Continue reading “Warp Drive May Be More Feasible Than God”
Now physicists say that adjustments can be made to the proposed warp drive that would enable it to run on significantly less energy, potentially brining the idea back from the realm of science fiction into science.
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“Everything within space is restricted by the speed of light,” explained Richard Obousy, president of Icarus Interstellar, a non-profit group of scientists and engineers devoted to pursuing interstellar spaceflight. “But the really cool thing is space-time, the fabric of space, is not limited by the speed of light.”
With this concept, the spacecraft would be able to achieve an effective speed of about 10 times the speed of light, all without breaking the cosmic speed limit.
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But recently White calculated what would happen if the shape of the ring encircling the spacecraft was adjusted into more of a rounded donut, as opposed to a flat ring. He found in that case, the warp drive could be powered by a mass about the size of a spacecraft like the Voyager 1 probe NASA launched in 1977.
Northern Ireland spends less money per head on public transport than any other UK region. Less than half of Scotland. More @bbcgmu — Jim Fitzpatrick (@jimfitzbiz) September 21, 2012 Transport cuts in NI this budget period: 50% cut in capital investment, 27% cut in current expenditure. — Jim Fitzpatrick (@jimfitzbiz) September 21, 2012 Related posts: … Continue reading “The Way Forward for Public Transport in Northern Ireland. Or, you know, the opposite.”
Northern Ireland spends less money per head on public transport than any other UK region. Less than half of Scotland. More @bbcgmu
The government has announced how it will share the money promised to 10 UK cities to allow them to create superfast broadband networks. “These 10 cities have produced ambitious and comprehensive plans, which will turn them into digital leaders, and give their local economies a real boost,” she said. Momentum/Digital Circle gave a good amount … Continue reading “Belfast to get £13.7M for broadband”
“These 10 cities have produced ambitious and comprehensive plans, which will turn them into digital leaders, and give their local economies a real boost,” she said.
Momentum/Digital Circle gave a good amount of (free) support to the Belfast bid when I wrote a manifesto paper on the definition of broadband and a ten pager on what could be done for local business, for local people and for innovation with a major investment in telecoms infrastructure.
Considering that a third of the population of Northern Ireland lives in the Belfast Metropolitan Area (which includes Lisburn and Bangor), it’s not a large amount of money and it’s important to mention that this level of investment needs to be made across Northern Ireland. And it is equally important for the cities who benefit to remember that they are not just cities, but they are the hubs of their region. Belfast, as the “capital” of Northern Ireland, has a responsibility to all of Northern Ireland.
And, like so many things, you can’t invest outside of Belfast based on per head of population when you are dealing with areas of the country which are remote or rural. It will take more investment to bring them up to 21st Century standards of broadband because they are already so far behind.
Derry is in the next list of cities to be considered for investment by central government. I think it would serve all of us well to consider how we can help them. It won’t arrive in time for City of Culture, but it may help extend the legacy of 2013.
This was Carphone Warehouse about a month ago. The display unit you see in the picture is covered with different types of tablet, on both sides. From Aconia to RIM, from Samsung to Asus. Today, when I went to Carphone Warehouse, there was one tablet on display (a Nexus 7) and the only other with … Continue reading “The Tablet Market Is Changing”
This was Carphone Warehouse about a month ago. The display unit you see in the picture is covered with different types of tablet, on both sides. From Aconia to RIM, from Samsung to Asus.
Today, when I went to Carphone Warehouse, there was one tablet on display (a Nexus 7) and the only other with any presence was a Samsung 10″ tablet, free with a contract phone worth £15.50 a month.
In any war, there are casualties. I think the industry is solidifying around a handful of players. And retailers simply can’t afford to invest in every player. They’re going to pick the winners.
Related posts: Digital Circle going independent and my thoughts on the Future The Broadband Blueprint (re DETI Telecoms Consultation) Coder Dojo Bangor – book now. BarCamp Belfast: 30th June 2007: QUB
From alt.adrianshort Jesus of Nazareth is attributed with saying many things. “Blessed are the meek” was one. “My kingdom is not of this world” was another. As far as we know, he never said, “This thing’s never gonna fly unless my followers can secure a whole raft of legal, political and economic privileges.” … Secularism … Continue reading “The Kingdom Is Not Of This World. Geddit?”
Jesus of Nazareth is attributed with saying many things. “Blessed are the meek” was one. “My kingdom is not of this world” was another. As far as we know, he never said, “This thing’s never gonna fly unless my followers can secure a whole raft of legal, political and economic privileges.”
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Secularism says that religion and belief are no business of the state. A secular state offers no special privileges to anyone because of their belief or lack of belief, nor does it disadvantage anyone likewise. A secular state frees believers from religious persecution and non-believers from religious compulsion. Who in their right mind would want anything else?
What are the top 3 issues in ni right now? Unemployment…and…? — Keith Anderson (@keithbelfast) September 14, 2012 @keithbelfast Equality, Opportunity and Vision. As in the lack of these things. — Matt Johnston (@cimota) September 14, 2012 @keithbelfast Okay? Segregation, unemployment and cronyism — Matt Johnston (@cimota) September 15, 2012 My first answers; Equality, Opportunity … Continue reading “Top 3 issues…”
What are the top 3 issues in ni right now? Unemployment…and…?
My first answers; Equality, Opportunity and Vision
My second answers; Segregation, unemployment and cronyism
The second answers are, essentially, watered down versions of the first answers.
Equality
At an RSA-inspired “Civic Innovation” workshop organised by @denisstewart, I heard an impassioned speech by Dr John Barry about the need for equality in our society, about how we are divided between the haves and the have nots. And how equity in society would solve many of our ills. While I agree it would solve many problems, it would create more problems because we have not yet overcome greed. There is also the aspect of human endeavour and the need for reward. For someone to work 70 hours a week in a manual job and be paid well for it and for someone else to spend that time developing a blister on their thumb from their state-subsidised XBox is not an equitable situation. While there are many deserving cases of equality, I can point at many who need to take their future in their own hands.
The sub-issue of segregation is much more easy to resolve. I drove up to the new e3 Campus of Belfast Metropolitan College and my satnav (I always use my satnav) took me up past the peace wall, a road I had never driven before.
If ever you needed evidence that the peace process in Northern Ireland was a sham, this is it. We still have communities divided by fear, we still have riots in deprived areas of our society (over funding for ‘community groups’). The truth being that the terrorists never went away, the government just started paying them to stop killing people.
We are a society that, if it was an individual, would be given treatment for post-traumatic stress. Our emotionally damaged hive-psyche seems to limp from one victim mentality to the next. You only have to look at this rubbish.
Our politicians are, almost without exception, partitionist. They thrive on dividing the people among primitive tribal lines. They can be denominational (catholic, protestant), nationalistic (republican, nationalist, unionist, loyalist), urbanist (urban, rural), geographic (east of the Bann, west of the Bann, NorthWest, Belfast) and ridiculous (Israel, Palestine). While we let these small-minded bigots rule us, is it any wonder our society does not progress.
Opportunity
I have never had trouble getting a job. My opportunity was always limited by my desire to do things. Like Rory McIlroy I was mostly shielded from the Troubles. It was a self-imposed exile. I socialised with friends from every segregation in society. It didn’t matter which religion or region you were from.
I see opportunity everywhere.
I can understand that this vision of opportunity is not held by all. And when there is no opportunity in sight, corrupt elements are able to take the hopes of the young (and impressionable) and turn them to work. Look at the average rioter in the recent North Belfast disturbances. These are children of the era of Peace.
Unemployment isn’t the only issue here. Dissatisfaction is an issue. A feeling of discomfort exercised into rage by community leaders and partitionist politicians. And those who excel, become community leaders and politicians. How many of these young people have the opportunity to escape this tiny circle of unrepentant hate?
Vision
I was born in 1972 and, as such, I’m a child of my time. My nightmares were of the Cold War turning into a Hot War (this did not happen). Of being beaten as I walked home from school on account of my school uniform colour which identified my parents religion (this did happen). The present, depressing and apocalyptic, was never good enough.
Given three score and tend years and an expectation that I will die around 2050 is sobering. I haven’t much time left to “make a dent in the universe”. To enact some real changes. With modern medical science, however, I might expect to live to 100 years old. Or even more. That means that my legacy doesn’t begin in 2050 but it might stretch to 2100. My legacy becomes that of a 22nd Century Society.
My vision aligns with what I want “Our Wee Country” to be in the year 2101. I can afford this length of vision because I’m not an elected official worried about whether my constituency will vote me back in in three years. I can afford this because I am convinced that I might see 2101.
This is a morning briefing for all prospective mentors for CoderDojoBelfast. It is being held in the Gerald Moag Campus of Belfast Metropolitan College at 10 am on Saturday 22nd September. This briefing will include details on the 2012-2013 programme and the plans and expectations for each mentor and opportunities to get involved. http://digitalcircle.org/events/coderdojobelfast-mentor-briefing Related … Continue reading “CoderDojoBelfast kicks off for 2012-2013”
This is a morning briefing for all prospective mentors for CoderDojoBelfast. It is being held in the Gerald Moag Campus of Belfast Metropolitan College at 10 am on Saturday 22nd September.
This briefing will include details on the 2012-2013 programme and the plans and expectations for each mentor and opportunities to get involved.
“A Developed Country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” Via @Juan_Orj and @petrogustavo Related posts: Translink Annual Report – #freepublictransport Cars … Are Friends Electric Public Education was a challenge in the 19th Century. Public Transport is our challenge. The Transport Singularity Approaches
“A Developed Country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”
iPhone 5 was announced last night. It’s twice as fast for both CPU and graphic, shifts to a larger (4″) 16.9 screen ratio, has an even better camera, new WiFi chips for faster transfers, new 4G wireless with global support, better battery life and managing all of this while being lighter than ever and thinner … Continue reading “incremental”
iPhone 5 was announced last night.
It’s twice as fast for both CPU and graphic, shifts to a larger (4″) 16.9 screen ratio, has an even better camera, new WiFi chips for faster transfers, new 4G wireless with global support, better battery life and managing all of this while being lighter than ever and thinner than ever.
But, yes, incremental is how most jaded journalists are describing it. Of course, when MicroNokiaSungTC brings out a new phone “IN YELLOW”, it will be proclaimed that the cellphone wars are over. Yellow is in.
Such is the situation with tech journalists. When Apple was down, they hated Apple. Now Apple is on the up, guess what?
I suppose “incremental” is a step better than “beleaguered”.
