Randomness

[Aquarius]

Final post on this subject, since it doesn't really belong on this board. The fourth chapter of my book is up on my blog. BTW, the hero is not over 100, and the heroine is not The Dumb Chick etc. The guy over 100 is a supporting character. The heroine is a researcher/historian.

The first 3 chapters are essentially rewrites of earlier work that I started back in 2000. Chapter 4 is completely new, I just finished it tonight. It represents a complete break with the older version. You might say chapter 4 is the first part of the book that was written by BnB.

Anyway, that's all I will say about it here. Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it.

Actually, I'm glad you mentioned it here! I think it's exciting to know what other members of the community are up to in terms of other writing projects.

[TPoptarts]

It just occurred to me that I never named my iPod nano. So I named it SELMA. It's about the right size

[Elessar]

I just saw Zack and Miri Make a Porno. It was actually really awesome, very funny , with quite a few nods to director/editor Kevin Smith's first movie Clerks.

[dark_rain]

Just discovered that my colour laser printer (an Epson Aculaser C1100) is indeed secretly putting a tiny printed code onto every colour page.

[JadziaKathryn]

Really? Why would it do that?

[TPoptarts]

^ Because it's an evil communist spy

[dark_rain]

Apparently it's so that the government can trace forgeries, although how they justify that I have no idea, as laser printed currency is going to fool no-one. From what I've managed to decode it's printing its serial number and (I think) part of the model number of its onboard computer into tiny yellow dots that cover every page. These yellow dots are VERY small. Less than 0.5mm wide and very hard to see with an unaided eye. I used a UV torch and they stood out like sore thumbs.

Theoretically the printer's serial number could be used to track down where it was made, which supplier bought it (Best Buy etc) and who bought it from them. Chances are that the government could track down the owner of any colour laser printer (this type of printer is especially good at volume printing, and are quite cheap to run) just from a single document. Be it a leaflet, a photograph, anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_steganography

[Elessar]

Apparently it's so that the government can trace forgeries, although how they justify that I have no idea, as laser printed currency is going to fool no-one. From what I've managed to decode it's printing its serial number and (I think) part of the model number of its onboard computer into tiny yellow dots that cover every page. These yellow dots are VERY small. Less than 0.5mm wide and very hard to see with an unaided eye. I used a UV torch and they stood out like sore thumbs.

Theoretically the printer's serial number could be used to track down where it was made, which supplier bought it (Best Buy etc) and who bought it from them. Chances are that the government could track down the owner of any colour laser printer (this type of printer is especially good at volume printing, and are quite cheap to run) just from a single document. Be it a leaflet, a photograph, anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_steganography

Jeez. The U.K.'s more fascist than we are!

[dark_rain]

Apparently it's so that the government can trace forgeries, although how they justify that I have no idea, as laser printed currency is going to fool no-one. From what I've managed to decode it's printing its serial number and (I think) part of the model number of its onboard computer into tiny yellow dots that cover every page. These yellow dots are VERY small. Less than 0.5mm wide and very hard to see with an unaided eye. I used a UV torch and they stood out like sore thumbs.

Theoretically the printer's serial number could be used to track down where it was made, which supplier bought it (Best Buy etc) and who bought it from them. Chances are that the government could track down the owner of any colour laser printer (this type of printer is especially good at volume printing, and are quite cheap to run) just from a single document. Be it a leaflet, a photograph, anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_steganography

Jeez. The U.K.'s more fascist than we are!

Sorry to bust your bubble there Johnnyboy, but it's the US government that came up with the idea. It's just kinda spread.

EDIT: Actually thinking about it you might be right anyway

[justTripn]

HI guys. I'm going to be "gone" for a week and a half. I'm traveling to the Texas Star Party again this year, but this time I'm driving down and back with one of my friends from the astronomy club!!! Yes, from Pittsburgh. YIKES!!!

The Texas Star Party will have wi fi Internet, which I can access from my fancy phone. With all the burdens of life on hold for the week and nothing to do but study stars and swim, it may turn out that I'm not "away" at all but hanging out with you all. We shall see. And in case it goes that other way. No one worry. I'm on another perfect vacation.



The Milky Way wont be up until late this year, because it is Spring, so I guess we will be looking at galaxies. I'm finally going to sort out which galaxy is which in that crowded Virgo cluster of galaxies.



Ann

[Asso]

Have a good time.

[Linda]

Hey, JT, have a great week with swimming and the stars! Then tell us all about it when you get back, or if you have time to tell us while it is happening. Be sure to take some sun screen to protect yourself from the star nearest to us.

[justTripn]

Ooo good point. I better check my inventory of big hats.

[JadziaKathryn]

Have fun!

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

And I'm back from Aachen. No aliens there, unless you count me as being technically an alien (my sister is not since she recently got German citizenship). Although considering how old the city is - being founded by the Romans and made an Imperial seat for Charlemagne - it could be considered as an Ancient city! Anyway, I had a great time.

And you have fun stargazing, jT!