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GamesArchive for November, 2009
In this episode, Josh and Chuck explain the finer points of hostage negotiation, including the symbolism of hostages, the negotiator’s goals and tactics, Stockholm syndrome — and what happens when people refuse to negotiate.
‘Smart’ armor learns more with every bullet – “Smart armor being developed by scientists and engineers at U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Michigan can not only predict its own failure, but also identify the size of bullets shot at it and even generate electrical power upon impact…” 10 First Person [...]
One of those delicious rumors – The Google Phone is on the way
by Marshall Brain | November 25, 2009
The Googlephone: Google gears up for attack on mobile-phone market The first paragraph is only only one sentence long but it is rich with promise: Google is gearing up for an all-out assault on the mobile-phone market that will include a new, Google-branded handset and the first comprehensive Google phone service with unlimited free calls. [...]
Giving Thanks for Plymouth and Travel
by Amanda Arnold | November 25, 2009
Have you ever been to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Mass.? I ask this because, you know, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which got me thinking about pilgrims and whatnot. Also, I went to Plimoth Plantation when I was about eight years old. I remember that the plantation overlooked the ocean, and that the sky and the water were so blue it almost hurt.
The 2038 Problem and the Office of the Future on TechStuff
by Jonathan Strickland | November 25, 2009
Greetings from the World of Tomorrow TechStuff! This week, Chris and I fired up the DeLorean, set the time circuits to The Future and blasted off for another pair of exciting podcasts. We have to take a moment to thank Liz, our amazing editor. It’s Liz who adds in all the special sound effects that make our shows even better (in this host’s humble opinion, at any rate). She’s also the person responsible for trimming out mistakes. Not that we make mistakes often. Ahem.
On Monday, we answered a listener request to explain the 2038 problem. Do you remember the hysteria surrounding 2000 and the dreaded Y2K problem? The 2038 problem is similar to that. It all hinges on the way Unix-based systems keep time. The whole story is both bizarre and interesting. For example, did you know that according to Unix, time began on Jan. 1, 1970?
Then on Wednesday, we take all our listeners on a field trip to the future to see how offices will take advantage of emerging technologies. We also learn that the TechStuff Time Machine can get mighty stuffy.
Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, I spent a lot of time in arcades and skating rinks. And I love pinball. Unfortunately, virtually all of the giant game manufacturers — at least, the ones still in operation — have discontinued the game. As far as I know, Stern Pinball is the only company in the United States still making machines.
The issue of the future president’s health was a much-discussed topic in the months leading up to the 2008 presidential election. Would Barack Obama’s smoking lead to cancer or emphysema? Would John McCain’s age affect his cognitive abilities? The question behind these questions was always this: If we elect you as president, can we count on you to be in sound mind and body?
With all the comparisons we’ve seen in the news between Obama and FDR, you might be surprised to know that there’s a link McCain and FDR might have in common: melanoma.
Toyota invents the world’s ultimate driving simulator: The only problem is that it costs millions of dollars and fills a warehouse-size space. What if you want something close to the Toyota version in a much smaller, lower-cost package? Consider something like this: More info: Force-dynamics.com See also: Driving Simulation [[[Jump to previous invention - Swype, [...]
High Speed Stuff Wrap-up: James Bond Cars and Five Reasons to Buy a Hybrid
by Scott C. Benjamin | November 25, 2009
Ben and I have been fairly busy over the past several days; however, we both found a little time to get away from our other assignments at HowStuffWorks.com to record a couple of podcasts. So, what did we talk about?
Over at Reddit someone asked “What’s your favorite online, hour-long lecture?” and a friend sent me the link. Some of the suggestions are fantastic, and are collected here for easy viewing: – Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams (see also : Randy Pausch Lecture: Time Management) – Seven famous lectures by Richard Feynman [...]
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