Remembering PRESTAGS

Live Long and Prosper

I was very saddened this morning to wake up and learn that Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015) had died, aged 83.

His character Mr Spock, which came into being in 1966 and continued throughout the 1960s (original TV series) and 1970s (movies) and into the 1980s, became one of Science Fiction's greatest characters. And a PRESTAGS era character at that. While I was never a hard core 'Trekie', Star Trek was part of my growing up and Spock was always my favourite character. In some ways, he reminds me of the Python.

I am pleased to see that the media is highlighting some of his great quotes, both as the actor Leonard Nimoy and as the character Spock.

- "Without followers, evil cannot spread." (Spock)

- "My folks came to the US as immigrants, aliens, and became citizens. I was born in Boston, a citizen, went to Hollywood and became an alien." (Nimoy)

- "Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them." (Spock)

- "Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end." (Nimoy)

- "I have never understood the female capacity to avoid a direct answer to any question." (Spock)

 

In later years I came to recognize some subtle themes in the Star Trek universe which I didn't like, a kind of masonic utopian humanist morally relativist view of things, and a reinforcement of some of society's current trends concerning human behaviour and acceptance of deviancy with no reference to God or higher values. But the show was still very enjoyable science fiction.

 

 

Look at Dr McCoy's oufit in the photo below and tell me this is not the PRESTAGS era!

 

Televisions, Computers and Laptops

PythonMagus has asked me for EMF readings for television and computers. I am happy to oblige. The nasty surprise comes with laptop computers.

Televisions

I detected no danger with my television. I have a Samsung 50 inch LCD flatscreen.

[1]  Right next to the screen there was an electro magnetic reading of 10-15 milligauss, however [2] this dissipated to less tham 3 milligauss a couple of feet away. The readings were the same whether the TV was showing moving images or a still photograph with lots of black as in the above image. There was a low microwave reading of .03 mW/cm2 but only within 3 centimetres of the screen.

With the TV sitting in the corner of the room, and at least 7 feet away from the nearest watching position, there does not appear to be anything to worry about.

Laptop Computers

We are a household with one desktop, and four laptop computers. All of the girls have an Apple laptop and I used a three month old Macbook Pro 13 inch for my test.

[3] Right next to the laptop screen I got a reading of 10-15 milligauss. [4] Moving back to the keyboard this reading went down to 4-5 milligauss which is just over my safe level of 3 milligauss. [5] Moving further back to the fromt of the laptop the reading was down to 1 milligauss.

The above readings may be a bit higher than I would like but not cause for huge concern as long as you don't stick your face right near the screen. But there is a less obvious and nasty problem with the laptop.

[6] Under the laptop, at the area where the computer actually makes contact with your body, was a high reading of 100 milligauss. This is definitely not good, especially when the 'lap' is the part of the body near the testicles and ovaries.

The lesson is don't use a laptop on your lap. When you put the laptop on a table and sit under the table, or use a portable laptop table / tray, this high reading is mostly blocked out. The table is better because there is more space between the computer and the lap. The laptop readings were the same whether the power cord was used or the laptop operated on battery. I did not get any microwave readings with the laptop.

Desktop Computers

My desktop computer setup did not give me grounds for concern.

[7] The desktop computer itself only gave a reading of 3 milligauss immediately outside the front of the case. [8] The computer screen, which is a Dell 22 inch LCD flatscreen, gave a reading of 10 milligauss right against the screen, but this went down to 3 milligauss 1 foot away. [9] The keyboard gave a reading of 2.5 milligauss. [10] The biggest reading came from the powerboard, which was over 100 milligauss right next to the outlets but down to 1 milligauss less than 1 foot away. As long as the powerboard is a couple of feet away from the body this is OK. I did not get any microwave readings with the computer equipment.

The last computer equipment I tested was the wireless router. Given that this equipment is designed to emit wireless internet to the house I was expecting a high reading. [11] Right next to the router the reading was 100 milligauss. [12] However, moving away from the router the reading was down to 2.5 milligauss 1 foot away. I did not get any microwave readings with the wireless router.

As long as the wireless router is keep at least a couple of feet away from the body it seems to be OK.

The children (and myself) are pleased that the television and the computers are not going to meet the same fate as the microwave. But (notwithstanding the name) the laptops should not be used directly on the lap.

Profoundly Traumatised

I am profoundly traumatised, and may not be able to speak for a little while.

My favourite character - Hershel - in my favourite television program - The Walking Dead - has been killed off in the show. I don't watch that many TV dramas because most of them are garbage, but The Walking Dead is exceptionally well done and the most exciting (and nail biting) show on TV. It is difficult to explain why a show about the Zombie apocalypse is so good, other than to say just watch it. Unfortunately it is on FX channel which I think is only on cable.

Hershel was the voice of conscience in the show, and I'm not sure how the scriptwriters will temper the behaviour of the other characters in the future. The dramatic events which saw the demise of Hershel were the mid season finale of season 4 which does not return until February 2014. This will give me time to recover.

 

Rogue's Gallery: Aiming for 10 / 10

Tonight in the election there is fun to be had, and so many interesting little contests in addition to the big game.

I am aiming for 10 out of 10. That is, I especially-especially-especially want to see 9 sitting parliamentarians lose their seats, plus 1 epic fail in an attempt to gain a seat.

In no particular order, but all vile in their own ways:

(1) Kevin Rudd QLD, (2) David Bradbury NSW, (3) Adam Brandt VIC, (4) Craig Thomson NSW, (5) Peter Slipper QLD, (6) Darren Cheeseman VIC, (7) John Murphy NSW, (8) Mike Kelly NSW, and the only senator (9) Sarah Hanson Young SA.

And the pretender, the recycled, (10) Peter Beattie QLD.

Please note that the following random words and phrases are to test the * function on my keyboard and have no relationship to anything in the real universe.

** apostate liar ** arrogance without cause ** green (what more need be said) ** the true face of unionism ** beware dress ups ** party machine men aren't people ** the definition of a useless local member ** failed expectations ** [censored] ** insulting the electorate.

I am going to go and vote as soon as I publish this post. Tonight when the results come in on TV, I will see whether I get my perfect 10/10. I predict that I will get a majority score, at least 6 out of 10.

How Steven Moffat Ruined Doctor Who - A Rant

(Loyal follower 'the_conqueress' has written this post about Dr Who that needs to be shared with the world. I wish I could write this well)

 

Despite being the BBC's most lauded show, when you remove the opening episodes and finales (which people are naturally most inclined to watch), Doctor Who's viewing figures have been declining since around mid series 6.

The reason for this? Steven Moffat.