These are random snips from many web articles and blogs(www.digg.com) about this latest “Grid” technology. I found and very interesting and exciting; some of the early statistics say it will be over 10,000 times faster than cable internet.

the Grid is the future of collaborative problem-solving.

More than 400 scientists gathered at the Global Grid Forum this week to discuss what may be the Internet’s next evolutionary step.

Though distributed computing evokes associations with populist initiatives like SETI@home, where individuals donate their spare computing power to worthy projects, the Grid will link PCs to each other and the scientific community like never before. The Grid will not only enable sharing of documents and MP3 files, but also connect PCs with sensors, telescopes and tidal-wave simulators. IBM’s Brian Carpenter suggested “computing will become a utility just like any other utility.” Carpenter said, “The Grid will open up … storage and transaction power in the same way that the Web opened up content.” And just as the Internet connects various public and private networks, Cisco Systems’ Bob Aiken said, “you’re going to have multiple grids, multiple sets of middleware that people are going to choose from to satisfy their applications.”

As conference moderator Walter Hoogland suggested, “The World Wide Web gave us a taste, but the Grid gives a vision of an ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-enabled world.”

Though the task of standardizing everything from system templates to the definitions of various resources is a mammoth one, the GGF can look to the early days of the Web for guidance. The Grid that organizers are building is a new kind of Internet, only this time with the creators having a better knowledge of where the bottlenecks and teething problems will be.

The general consensus at the event was that although technical issues abound, the thorniest issues will involve social and political dimensions, for example how to facilitate sharing between strangers where there is no history of trust.

Amsterdam seemed a logical choice for the first Global Grid Forum because not only is it the world’s most densely cabled city, it was also home to the Internet Engineering Task Force’s first international gathering in 1993. The IETF has served as a model for many of the GGF’s activities: protocols, policy issues, and exchanging experiences.

The Grid Forum, a U.S.-based organization combined with eGrid – the European Grid Forum, and Asian counterparts to create the Global Grid Forum (GGF) in November, 2000. The Global Grid Forum organizers said grid communities in the United States and Europe will now run in sync.

In some online browsing I found an article explaining a trick played on so called “Audiophiles”. In this experiment they were supposed to listen to a set of the highest quality speakers and tell which were powered by Monster’s most expensive cable and which was powered by normal 12 gauge speaker cable. this was done 8 times with 12 “Audiophiles” to get good results. What they didn’t know was that the guy in the back switching the wires was using the Monster cable and some coat hangers he stretched apart and twisted together. Not one of them could tell the difference.Yeah, Monster cable is way over priced and ridiculous, but something not really known is that fact that monster isn’t the one who does the price increase. I have a friend who works at best buy and his discount is a certain % over cost, when he purchases a $60 Monster cable he only pays around 4 to 5 dollars. So, just be aware of the store markups and don’t be afraid to buy the cheap stuff when it some to cables…they are mostly the same.

Alright to everyone I have talked to knows what these are, so somehow I guess I got left out of the loop. Regardless I still want one.

Chemicals, contaminants, pollution, price: new reasons to rethink what you drink and beware of bottled water.

When playing the “Door Game” for the first time I switched 6 times before I didn’t want to open anymore doors and scored a 2003. On the second try I didn’t switch at all and scored 2497. I’m very confused.

Last year I found this new “sport” called slackling; yeah I’m one of the guys tightrope walking out on Old Main’s back lawn. It is a lot more fun and much harder than it looks.  It was started on chains in California by some climbers, eventually the climbers started using their webbing to do it and it slowly progressed into what it is now.

Here are some websites of videos and places to buy premade sets:

Buy the Gear 

Videos

Wiki

Housing – 400

Heat – 20

Water – 0

Electricity – 20

Car insurance – 225

Gas – 150

Medical insurance – 125

Food – 500

Entertainment, bars, extras – 150

Clothing – 40

Cell-phone – 10

Cable – 10

Internet access – 10

Total – 1660 $/month = 19920 $/year = 25896 $/yeah before tax

My dad just got sold to Michelin and in his introduction to the company he saw their Tweel. Yeah, its the combination of a tire and a wheel, really innovative name I know. Never the less, I found it very interesting.

They are composed of a glass reinforced rubber and flexible polyurethane spokes. they are still in development but are on track to be in general use by 2015. With higher lateral strength than normal tires they have better turning abilities. They also have applications in heavy machinery and military vehicles.

When I think failure one huge one comes to mind, Sony’s Betamax. With the on going battle between Microsoft Corporation’s HD-DVD and Sony’s Blue-Ray, I thought reflecting on Beta Tapes would be a good. JVC released VHS in 1980 and by 1988 Sony conceded defeat when it too began producing VHS recorders. Betamax and especially SuperBetamax had a higher quality than VHS but the battle was won in the marketing. Sony set the standard and controlled the market with their U-matic. So, JVC (Victor Co. of Japan) had a great idea to create their own and compete, which as we know didn’t turn out well for Sony.

• 350×240 (250 lines): Video CD
• 330×480 (250 lines): Umatic, Betamax, VHS, Video8
• 400×480 (300 lines): Super Betamax, Betacam (professional)
• 440×480 (330 lines): analog broadcast
• 560×480 (420 lines): LaserDisc, Super VHS, Hi8

• 670×480 (500 lines): Enhanced Definition Betamax
• 720×480 (500 lines): DVD, miniDV, Digital8, Digital Betacam (professional)
• 720×480 (400 lines): Widescreen DVD (anamorphic)
• 1280×720 (700 lines): D-VHS, HD DVD, Blu-ray, HDV (miniDV)
• 1920×1080 (1000 lines): D-VHS, HD DVD, Blu-ray, HDCAM SR (professional)

In Japan, Betamax had a little bit more success and eventually evolved into Enhanced Definition Betamax with more than 500 lines resolution. It is clear that Sony had the better product, which just shows with out good marketing you will fail.

Goolge and Specialized Bicycle’s “Innovate or Die” challenge.

The challenge is to invent and build machines that transform pedaling energy into new and useful forms.

At first glance, the winner of the innovate or die contest, The Aquaduct Team, seemed to be one of the only contestants who had a somewhat original useful idea and actually went ahead and built it. Most other contestants with original ideas basically posted their drawing board.

I believe that The Aquaduct Team truly deserved to win the contest but don’t necessarily have a fool proof idea. Their product is great as long as they and be easily distributed and maintained in third world countries.

Some of the other idea were very interesting, but didn’t have explanations of how they worked. For example, the human-electric hybrid vehicle has this crazy idea but they don’t really show the mechanics of how this is a bike and how it even works. So, I’m not sure what their steps would even be to put their concept into production, or if it is even possible; it may just be an idea that looks fancy with the wheels going over your head.