I guess I was wrong about the Amero.

Posted by: jcallery at 10:11 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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How nerdy are you?

Posted by: jcallery at 07:39 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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What it took to operate on this guy.  What an incredible testimony to the doctors and soldiers who responsible for rescuing him.  Having been in the Navy, and having a doctor for a dad and a brother, I can tell you that those in the military and those who are physicians are in a class by themselves.  The juxtaposition of the two on the battlefield has to take a person of unbelievable character.

Found on the Ace of Spades HQ.

Posted by: jcallery at 03:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Will have to be one of these.

I first saw the Dodge Viper in person at the Naval Academy in 1991 when Dodge had brought one to the yard for an engineering conference.  I already owned every car magazine that I could find that had an article on this luscious roadster in it.  Of course, at $50k it was a little out of my price range (Midshipman pay was $543 a month).

Posted by: jcallery at 11:41 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Take a look at this, and be sure to watch the video on the left.

Certainly a unique solution to a vexing problem.  Watching the steam powered arm work is simply amazing.  The main questions will probably revolve around durability and safety.  Hydrogen Peroxide isn't the safest chemical around.  And. if you have valves machined to 50 millionth of an inch, any little piece of contamination is going to cause problems.  But, if it can help soldiers who have lost limbs return to a more normal life, I'm sure there are some of them who will take the chance.  Will they use it to actually fire a pistol?  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Posted by: jcallery at 09:28 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The USS Augusta (SSN 710), was my home in the Navy for 40 months from 1997 to 2000.  Now she is being decommissioned as it would be too expensive to refuel her nuclear core.  The alumni are putting together a big shindig in October, but I will not be able to attend. 
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Posted by: jcallery at 08:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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An interesting new theory has appeared that contradicts the current hysteria of CO2 causing the current global warming trend.  It will be interesting to see where this goes - if it gets buried or taken seriously.  I would hope that this plus the current brouhaha with NASA's correction of temp trend data would open some eyes, and we would at least realize how little we know, and what little data all of these theories are based upon.

Posted by: jcallery at 04:27 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Launched on a trip to the International Space Station last week. Updates are here.

No matter how many times I see this, it's still cool...

Posted by: jcallery at 03:26 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A little background - a couple of years ago, SCO sued IBM for its use of Linux, claiming that it illegally transferred pieces of Unix into Linux.  IBM countersued, and they've been fighting ever since.  One key question is whether or not SCO actually owns the Unix copyrights that they are suing IBM about.  SCO had bought Unix from Novell, but Novell claims they retained the copyrights.  If Novell did retain the copyrights, then SCO's case against IBM is on extremely shaky ground.  Novell sued SCO about the copyrights, and the judge has now rendered his judgment.


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Posted by: jcallery at 01:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Last night we joined a couple of friends and went to the fireworks and symphony show at Lake Benson in Garner.  The place was absolutely mobbed with people, but we found a patch to throw down our blanket and set up the chairs in order to enjoy the festivities.  After a bite to eat we settled down to listen to the North Carolina symphony, which was predictably good.  The selection of music, I think, was tailored for the audience, with many big band classics and patriotic selections.  The fireworks were excellent, and went on for longer than I would have guessed.

We joined the mass of people all trying to leave at the same time after the conclusion of the show, and maneuvered our way through a tiny gate that was the easiest way out if you are on foot.  Just outside of the gate was a lone protester going on about the plot of the government to dissolve the U.S. and form the North American Union with Canada and Mexico.  That drew a snicker or two from me, but when he started ranting about changing the currency to the 'Amero' it turned to outright laughter.  I'm sorry, but if you are going to convince me that the NAU is a legitimate threat, then you need to come up with something more plausible than the Amero.  I can tell you that in Garner, NC, I don't think that he is going to find many converts anyway.

It was an interesting twist to a fun evening.  If you are ever in the Raleigh area for the 4th of July, I would recommend it.

Posted by: jcallery at 10:05 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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