MetaFilter posts by dg.
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What is horsepower anyway?
The term was adopted in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. This was not science for the sake of science, but an attempt to develop marketing blurb for selling steam engines by talking about how many horses they could replace.
The term is used with abandon in all sorts of ways by manufacturers of all sorts of engines, some of which may even be accurate. But what is a horsepower anyway? There are lots of different measures called horsepower and lots of 'standardised' ways of measuring it.
posted on Dec-5-23 at 9:28 PM
While not even approaching the world's longest train journey of 18,755km, Australia offers a number of journeys by train that ask us to consider the opposite of how we mostly travel - the journey is the thing, not the destination.
posted on Oct-23-23 at 7:07 PM
The host of YouTube channel driving 4 answers spends most of his time explaining the technical details of internal combustion engines in great detail and documenting the seemingly endless build and rebuild of his Toyota MR2 in a garage in Sarajevo. The channel also branches out into his adventures with motorcycles and bicycles, but mostly stays in the technical realm. The latest video from the channel, though, while starting by talking about Formula 1, diverts to talking about how the automotive industry pretends to be 'going green' but isn't, the right to repair debate, the problem with capitalism and suggests a rational approach to it all. [SLYT 23 minutes]
posted on Oct-12-23 at 6:23 PM
Real men catch fish like this.
posted on Mar-17-09 at 5:15 AM
Once upon a time in the postwar, before the advent of EPA and OSHA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission and weenies in bike helmets and multilingual warning stickers on stepladders, crazy people walked this earth. Good, fun-loving Americans who knew that "instructions" were something you threw in the trash along with the empty Falstaff bottles. A halcyon era filled with manly men who savored the wholesome virtues of a rugged game of un-seatbelted automotive chicken. One of these men was Gene Middlebrooks, who founded Turbonique.
posted on Apr-23-08 at 5:43 AM
Hey, Mum, look at the hairless monkeys! A group of hairless monkeys are the latest exhibit at Adelaide Zoo. Some background information on the project is available here (you may wonder, as I did, why it took a news site to provide the background to the project) and a live stream from the enclosure here. [more inside]
posted on Jan-2-07 at 7:06 PM
OutsideIn Korea - brought to the world by our own stavrosthewonderchicken. He asked what you would like to see on the site here. Now sit back while he brings it to you. Or not. Probably not, now I think about it. In any case, the man writes like a demon on crack (except twice as interesting) and, whether or not you have the slightest interest in Korea, you will be entertained by the stories. If you follow his personal site, you know what to expect. If you have never read his writings before, strap in, you're in for a bumpy ride.
posted on Aug-14-06 at 4:38 AM
"the silly old buggers gone bloody missing" A yobbo cane toad learns the dangers of being one of the less adored icons of the Aussie landscape.
posted on Jun-15-06 at 3:10 AM
at
posted on May-29-06 at 3:18 PM
Bite me!
posted on Jun-2-05 at 5:23 AM
Cool wheelchairs.
posted on Jul-24-04 at 4:53 AM
The ultimate renewable energy resource - kids. Unlike Monsters inc, who harness the energy of screams, the Playpump (also discussed here) harnesses kids having fun to provide clean water. If they have to cart water, the Q-drum (also discussed here) is a very simple way to make this chore easier. In this complicated world, the best ideas are still the simple ones. via A Whole Lotta Nothing
posted on May-27-04 at 5:07 PM
After all the hoopla about increasing security, it seems that the requirement for biometric data to be included in passports of those entering the US from visa waiver countries will need to be extended for two years to allow other countries to catch up with the technology, as it seems most countries are unable to meet the deadline. Some countries have put on hold the new technology, while others seem committed to going ahead with it, despite doubts about the readiness of the technology. Of course, if civil liberties groups get their way, the biometric passports may never see the light of day. Specific religious issues complicate the matter to some extent, also. Given that, if the technology to produce biometric passports is available, will it really be that hard for forged passports to be created? Unless a massive world-wide database containing the biometric details of every person was used for data-matching, it is hard to see how these new measures will really make much difference to anyone apart from the companies selling the technology.
posted on Apr-26-04 at 6:05 PM
Disembodied
posted on Mar-21-04 at 9:20 PM
This company has released a device which claims to provide water "anytime, anywhere" (No Goodies jokes,please) - from the humidity in the air. With two other companies selling these machines in Australia and prices ranging from AUD1,000 to AUD2,300, is this a viable solution to the massive water shortages around the world, or just something else to talk about around the water cooler?
posted on Mar-19-04 at 1:30 AM
Psst! Wanna download some mp3s? Now you can do so without looking over your shoulder to see who is watching. Creative Commons has compiled a selection of tracks utilising their licensing system for free download. The ability to create derivative works and share them around has resulting in some interesting remixes of one of the original tracks, also. via A Whole Lotta Nothing
posted on Oct-22-03 at 8:44 PM
While the tragedy of the bombing in Bali was bad enough, evidence has surfaced that the bomb was incorrectly assembled, resulting in less than 1/3 of the device exploding (bare-bones link). Experts using computer modelling have worked out the net explosive quantity of the vehicle bomb outside the Sari Club was between 150kg and 300kg – as opposed to a potential 1150kg and that the toll could have been in the thousands had the bomb exploded as planned.
posted on Oct-1-03 at 4:00 PM
Did the earth move for you as well? The biggest earthquake to hit the "Shaky Isles" since 1968 rocked the southern South Island of New Zealand earlier today, with the tremor being felt as far away as Sydney. Did you realise that recorded earthquakes are an almost daily occurrence around the world? In fact, earthquakes with a magnitude of 1 or over happen at an alarming rate. While California is often thought of as earthquake central and New Zealand carries the "Shaky Isles" crown with justification (and not a little pride), Australia is not generally considered to be a country prone to earthquakes. Surprisingly, there have been 15 earthquakes in Australia in the past month alone, ranging from 2 to 6 in intensity.
posted on Aug-22-03 at 7:13 AM
With the trial of the bali bombers underway, a bomb has been exploded in the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta's CBD. Deaths have been reported here on Australian TV at 13, with over 120 injured, although these figures are expected to rise. The BBC is reporting on the experiences of those at the scene.
posted on Aug-5-03 at 6:03 AM
Little Stalker Boy is tired, but mostly he's just restless. Little Stalker Boy is outside her house again tonight - hanging in a tree and taking photos as she passes the front window.
posted on Jul-27-03 at 5:19 PM
Now you see it, now you don't. The infamous blink tag, maligned for so long by almost, but not quite everyone, can now be supported in IE. Isn't that great news?
posted on Jul-23-03 at 5:10 PM
In the aisle by the chill cabinets, no-one can hear you scream.
posted on Jun-11-03 at 3:59 PM
How clean is your computer?
posted on May-25-03 at 9:15 PM
How many cats does it take to screw in a light bulb? Anything to help the cause of Infinite Bandwidth Everywhere for Free... via WebMonkey
posted on May-13-03 at 3:01 PM
Milk is bad for you? Is nothing sacred? When I was growing up, milk was about the purest, cleanest and healthiest thing you could drink (except maybe for the warm carton that we were give at school every day). Now, it seems, we have been killing ourselves slowly by drinking the wrong kind of milk. The authorities and some vested interests are not convinced, but there certainly seems to be quite a bit of evidence to support the theories.
posted on Mar-31-03 at 7:19 PM
In anti-war protests in Australia yesterday, children as young as 12 were shown on TV coverage participating not only in protests, but in the violence that followed when the protesters attacked police. There has, in the past, been condemnation of those who bring their children along to protests, but this is the first time I have seen large numbers of children protesting on their own behalf - most of whom would have been truant from school and, judging by the way many hid from cameras, without the permission of their parents. Should we take them seriously, or are they too young to really understand what it is they are protesting against? [more inside]
posted on Mar-26-03 at 5:30 PM
Techno-cool cars include a fingerprint access system that locks out thieves and a heartbeat detector that sniffs out left-behind infants and pets. In the worst case—when a sensor detects a hostile life form, Star-Trek style, hiding in the car—the driver can hit a button that alerts the police. The truly paranoid, with access to a freewheeling aftermarket, might prefer to fit the button to an ejection seat. [via WebMonkey]
posted on Feb-25-03 at 3:17 PM
Is this the most non-PC TV show ever? As we become more and more desensitised to humour that makes fun of those less fortunate than ourselves, where do we draw the line?
posted on Feb-2-03 at 6:37 PM
Ever wondered how the smart people create those weird ♥ √ ⊄ ⊗ characters on MeFi and in other places? Wonder no more. Brought to you via MeFi's own riffola, who has a simplified version of his own.
posted on Jan-28-03 at 9:10 PM
You are the training manager in a large, progressive company. You get 12 turns and a $200,000 budget, which you can spend in six ways... [more inside]
posted on Dec-12-02 at 2:42 AM
Buying on-line? We're from the Government and we're here to help you. [more inside]
posted on Nov-24-02 at 10:19 PM
Can biaised TV coverage of motorsports events be bought? The Aussport Post says it can. According to the linked article, Ford Australia signed a deal with Network 10, which has exclusive rights to telecast the V8 Supercars series, ensuring that other car manufacturers would be unable to advertise during telecasts of the series, in addition to guarantees of a certain amount of coverage of their cars during the series. Ironically, the car that lead the first 30 laps of the biggest race of the year, the Bathurst 1000, did not carry any Ford signage.
posted on Oct-14-02 at 5:06 PM
Ever wanted to be an author but didn't know how to start? Here's your chance - a story already underway and waiting for you to add your contribution. [more inside]
posted on Sep-18-02 at 6:07 PM
How smart are you? Are blondes really as dumb as people say? Does an IQ test administered via television/net/SMS have any validity anyway?
posted on Aug-6-02 at 4:40 PM
Are these the hardest domains in the world to register, despite the changes that took effect 1 July 2002? Businesses can now own more than one domain name and the new .id.au domain space provides somewhere for individuals to live, but there are still many restrictions, not the least of which is the 21,322 word exclusion list. Given the recent instances of domain hijinks discussed here, it is not surprising to see that it has already started in the .au world. Are these restrictions good or bad news for the .au domain space?
posted on Jul-1-02 at 4:43 PM
The term was adopted in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. This was not science for the sake of science, but an attempt to develop marketing blurb for selling steam engines by talking about how many horses they could replace.
The term is used with abandon in all sorts of ways by manufacturers of all sorts of engines, some of which may even be accurate. But what is a horsepower anyway? There are lots of different measures called horsepower and lots of 'standardised' ways of measuring it.
posted on Dec-5-23 at 9:28 PM
While not even approaching the world's longest train journey of 18,755km, Australia offers a number of journeys by train that ask us to consider the opposite of how we mostly travel - the journey is the thing, not the destination.
posted on Oct-23-23 at 7:07 PM
The host of YouTube channel driving 4 answers spends most of his time explaining the technical details of internal combustion engines in great detail and documenting the seemingly endless build and rebuild of his Toyota MR2 in a garage in Sarajevo. The channel also branches out into his adventures with motorcycles and bicycles, but mostly stays in the technical realm. The latest video from the channel, though, while starting by talking about Formula 1, diverts to talking about how the automotive industry pretends to be 'going green' but isn't, the right to repair debate, the problem with capitalism and suggests a rational approach to it all. [SLYT 23 minutes]
posted on Oct-12-23 at 6:23 PM
Real men catch fish like this.
posted on Mar-17-09 at 5:15 AM
Once upon a time in the postwar, before the advent of EPA and OSHA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission and weenies in bike helmets and multilingual warning stickers on stepladders, crazy people walked this earth. Good, fun-loving Americans who knew that "instructions" were something you threw in the trash along with the empty Falstaff bottles. A halcyon era filled with manly men who savored the wholesome virtues of a rugged game of un-seatbelted automotive chicken. One of these men was Gene Middlebrooks, who founded Turbonique.
posted on Apr-23-08 at 5:43 AM
Hey, Mum, look at the hairless monkeys! A group of hairless monkeys are the latest exhibit at Adelaide Zoo. Some background information on the project is available here (you may wonder, as I did, why it took a news site to provide the background to the project) and a live stream from the enclosure here. [more inside]
posted on Jan-2-07 at 7:06 PM
OutsideIn Korea - brought to the world by our own stavrosthewonderchicken. He asked what you would like to see on the site here. Now sit back while he brings it to you. Or not. Probably not, now I think about it. In any case, the man writes like a demon on crack (except twice as interesting) and, whether or not you have the slightest interest in Korea, you will be entertained by the stories. If you follow his personal site, you know what to expect. If you have never read his writings before, strap in, you're in for a bumpy ride.
posted on Aug-14-06 at 4:38 AM
"the silly old buggers gone bloody missing" A yobbo cane toad learns the dangers of being one of the less adored icons of the Aussie landscape.
posted on Jun-15-06 at 3:10 AM
at
posted on May-29-06 at 3:18 PM
Bite me!
posted on Jun-2-05 at 5:23 AM
Cool wheelchairs.
posted on Jul-24-04 at 4:53 AM
The ultimate renewable energy resource - kids. Unlike Monsters inc, who harness the energy of screams, the Playpump (also discussed here) harnesses kids having fun to provide clean water. If they have to cart water, the Q-drum (also discussed here) is a very simple way to make this chore easier. In this complicated world, the best ideas are still the simple ones. via A Whole Lotta Nothing
posted on May-27-04 at 5:07 PM
After all the hoopla about increasing security, it seems that the requirement for biometric data to be included in passports of those entering the US from visa waiver countries will need to be extended for two years to allow other countries to catch up with the technology, as it seems most countries are unable to meet the deadline. Some countries have put on hold the new technology, while others seem committed to going ahead with it, despite doubts about the readiness of the technology. Of course, if civil liberties groups get their way, the biometric passports may never see the light of day. Specific religious issues complicate the matter to some extent, also. Given that, if the technology to produce biometric passports is available, will it really be that hard for forged passports to be created? Unless a massive world-wide database containing the biometric details of every person was used for data-matching, it is hard to see how these new measures will really make much difference to anyone apart from the companies selling the technology.
posted on Apr-26-04 at 6:05 PM
Disembodied
posted on Mar-21-04 at 9:20 PM
This company has released a device which claims to provide water "anytime, anywhere" (No Goodies jokes,please) - from the humidity in the air. With two other companies selling these machines in Australia and prices ranging from AUD1,000 to AUD2,300, is this a viable solution to the massive water shortages around the world, or just something else to talk about around the water cooler?
posted on Mar-19-04 at 1:30 AM
Psst! Wanna download some mp3s? Now you can do so without looking over your shoulder to see who is watching. Creative Commons has compiled a selection of tracks utilising their licensing system for free download. The ability to create derivative works and share them around has resulting in some interesting remixes of one of the original tracks, also. via A Whole Lotta Nothing
posted on Oct-22-03 at 8:44 PM
While the tragedy of the bombing in Bali was bad enough, evidence has surfaced that the bomb was incorrectly assembled, resulting in less than 1/3 of the device exploding (bare-bones link). Experts using computer modelling have worked out the net explosive quantity of the vehicle bomb outside the Sari Club was between 150kg and 300kg – as opposed to a potential 1150kg and that the toll could have been in the thousands had the bomb exploded as planned.
posted on Oct-1-03 at 4:00 PM
Did the earth move for you as well? The biggest earthquake to hit the "Shaky Isles" since 1968 rocked the southern South Island of New Zealand earlier today, with the tremor being felt as far away as Sydney. Did you realise that recorded earthquakes are an almost daily occurrence around the world? In fact, earthquakes with a magnitude of 1 or over happen at an alarming rate. While California is often thought of as earthquake central and New Zealand carries the "Shaky Isles" crown with justification (and not a little pride), Australia is not generally considered to be a country prone to earthquakes. Surprisingly, there have been 15 earthquakes in Australia in the past month alone, ranging from 2 to 6 in intensity.
posted on Aug-22-03 at 7:13 AM
With the trial of the bali bombers underway, a bomb has been exploded in the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta's CBD. Deaths have been reported here on Australian TV at 13, with over 120 injured, although these figures are expected to rise. The BBC is reporting on the experiences of those at the scene.
posted on Aug-5-03 at 6:03 AM
Little Stalker Boy is tired, but mostly he's just restless. Little Stalker Boy is outside her house again tonight - hanging in a tree and taking photos as she passes the front window.
posted on Jul-27-03 at 5:19 PM
Now you see it, now you don't. The infamous blink tag, maligned for so long by almost, but not quite everyone, can now be supported in IE. Isn't that great news?
posted on Jul-23-03 at 5:10 PM
In the aisle by the chill cabinets, no-one can hear you scream.
posted on Jun-11-03 at 3:59 PM
How clean is your computer?
posted on May-25-03 at 9:15 PM
How many cats does it take to screw in a light bulb? Anything to help the cause of Infinite Bandwidth Everywhere for Free... via WebMonkey
posted on May-13-03 at 3:01 PM
Milk is bad for you? Is nothing sacred? When I was growing up, milk was about the purest, cleanest and healthiest thing you could drink (except maybe for the warm carton that we were give at school every day). Now, it seems, we have been killing ourselves slowly by drinking the wrong kind of milk. The authorities and some vested interests are not convinced, but there certainly seems to be quite a bit of evidence to support the theories.
posted on Mar-31-03 at 7:19 PM
In anti-war protests in Australia yesterday, children as young as 12 were shown on TV coverage participating not only in protests, but in the violence that followed when the protesters attacked police. There has, in the past, been condemnation of those who bring their children along to protests, but this is the first time I have seen large numbers of children protesting on their own behalf - most of whom would have been truant from school and, judging by the way many hid from cameras, without the permission of their parents. Should we take them seriously, or are they too young to really understand what it is they are protesting against? [more inside]
posted on Mar-26-03 at 5:30 PM
Techno-cool cars include a fingerprint access system that locks out thieves and a heartbeat detector that sniffs out left-behind infants and pets. In the worst case—when a sensor detects a hostile life form, Star-Trek style, hiding in the car—the driver can hit a button that alerts the police. The truly paranoid, with access to a freewheeling aftermarket, might prefer to fit the button to an ejection seat. [via WebMonkey]
posted on Feb-25-03 at 3:17 PM
Is this the most non-PC TV show ever? As we become more and more desensitised to humour that makes fun of those less fortunate than ourselves, where do we draw the line?
posted on Feb-2-03 at 6:37 PM
Ever wondered how the smart people create those weird ♥ √ ⊄ ⊗ characters on MeFi and in other places? Wonder no more. Brought to you via MeFi's own riffola, who has a simplified version of his own.
posted on Jan-28-03 at 9:10 PM
You are the training manager in a large, progressive company. You get 12 turns and a $200,000 budget, which you can spend in six ways... [more inside]
posted on Dec-12-02 at 2:42 AM
Buying on-line? We're from the Government and we're here to help you. [more inside]
posted on Nov-24-02 at 10:19 PM
Can biaised TV coverage of motorsports events be bought? The Aussport Post says it can. According to the linked article, Ford Australia signed a deal with Network 10, which has exclusive rights to telecast the V8 Supercars series, ensuring that other car manufacturers would be unable to advertise during telecasts of the series, in addition to guarantees of a certain amount of coverage of their cars during the series. Ironically, the car that lead the first 30 laps of the biggest race of the year, the Bathurst 1000, did not carry any Ford signage.
posted on Oct-14-02 at 5:06 PM
Ever wanted to be an author but didn't know how to start? Here's your chance - a story already underway and waiting for you to add your contribution. [more inside]
posted on Sep-18-02 at 6:07 PM
How smart are you? Are blondes really as dumb as people say? Does an IQ test administered via television/net/SMS have any validity anyway?
posted on Aug-6-02 at 4:40 PM
Are these the hardest domains in the world to register, despite the changes that took effect 1 July 2002? Businesses can now own more than one domain name and the new .id.au domain space provides somewhere for individuals to live, but there are still many restrictions, not the least of which is the 21,322 word exclusion list. Given the recent instances of domain hijinks discussed here, it is not surprising to see that it has already started in the .au world. Are these restrictions good or bad news for the .au domain space?
posted on Jul-1-02 at 4:43 PM