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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