You needed models to create the intricate network of bonds based on the homeowners’ payments, models to predict prepayment rates, and models to predict defaults. You needed the Internet to sail these bonds back and forth across the world, massaging their content to fit an investor’s needs at a moment’s notice. Add to all this the complacency, greed, entitlement, and callous stupidity that characterized banks in post-2001 America, and you have a recipe for disaster.
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Dronestagr.am launches to showcase the world's best aerial drone pix - 4 views
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Demand for drones is exploding! Dupin wants to aggregate aerial imagery from around the globle at Dronestagr.am. In the near future we could experience something close to google maps, made with aerial pictures.
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Remember that drones have top-view camera and front-view camera which gives more possibilities in terms of what you can do with collected data. With such a huge database and a little bit of 3D geometry we could get e.g. a 3D map of the world... I guess google can derive something like that already from their streetview images however obviously street view covers some relatively small part of the globe and also can not access places that UAV can. -
Here there's an example of a 3D picture of Tokyo (in high resolution). It is not made by drones, but I think it is something we can use them for. http://360gigapixels.com/tokyo-tower-panorama-photo/
Google combines skycrane, VTOL and lifting wing to make drone deliveries - 6 views
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Nice video featuring the technology. Plus it comes with a good soundtrack! Google's project wing uses a lifting wing concept (more fuel efficient than normal airplane layouts and MUCH more efficient than quadrocopters) but it equips the plane with engines strong enough to hover in a nose up position, allowing vertical landing and takeoff. For the delivery of packages the drone does not even need to land - it can lower them on a wire - much like the skycrane concept used to deliver the Curiosity rover on Mars. Not sure if the skycrane is really necessary but it is certainly cool. Anyways, the video is great for its soundtrack alone! ;-P
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Fair enough, but even if you consider advanced/robust/efficient AI, why would you use a drone? Do we envision hundreds of drones above our heads in the street instead of UPS vans, or postmen, considering delivers letters might be more easily achievable. I am not so sure if personal delivery will take this route. On the other hand, if the system would work smoothly, I can image that I'm send a mail with the question whether I'm home (or they might know already from my personal GPS tracker) and then notify me that they are launching my DVD and it will come crashing into my door in 5min.
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I'm more curios how they're planning to keep people from stealing the drones. I could do with a drone army myself and having cheap amazon or google drones flying about sounds like a decent source.
Why Is This Giraffe Gnawing On An Impala Skull? - 3 views
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Omg - they will not only murder you, but also suck on your bones.
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Marcus, might be up your street? http://www.giraffobia.com/news.htm -
Fantastic! Although my recent encounters with the species helped me control my giraffobia...
New Material: Network of 'Streets' for Light - 1 views
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In recent years, researchers have created early versions of "invisibility cloaks" and advanced optical fibers by manipulating light using structures composed of tiny, repeating units. In the 9 April Physical Review Letters, a team proposes a different way to make an artificial optical material--from a network of light-guiding filaments. If such structures are practical, they could open new ways to control light in technologies ranging from high-speed telecommunication to high-resolution imaging.
Cosmic Log - Volunteers find another prize pulsar - 2 views
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like the profiles ... "The clearest evidence for the pulsar's existence was provided by computers operated by two volunteers: Vitaly Shiryaev, a Russian researcher who has a Ph.D. in radio physics; and Stacey Eastham, who does vehicle testing for the British government in Darwen. In his profile, Eastham says he's studying astronomy and physics on the side. He got involved in the Einstein @ Home project because he's interested in "anything space-like, and being able to be part of something like this is right up my street."
Video: Nanotechnology is Ready for Sesame Street | Wired Science from Wired.com - 0 views
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I demand Jose does the same asap! Even the space elevator is mentioned.
Peter Florjancic: Slovenian inventor extraordinaire - 3 views
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We're all here about inventiveness and creativity, so here you go... Story of a guy who's life's motto has been "Gold lies on the streets and you just need to dig it up with ideas. Ideas are like the shovel" Add to it Monte Carlo, Marlene Dietrich and, say, King Farouk and you get quite an amazing story... And most of all, after reading this you'll know the value of knowing how to ski.
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nice story indeed ...
Google plans for internet from space with 180 LEO satellites - 2 views
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The Wall Street Journal hears that the search firm is preparing to build 180 "small, high capacity" satellites that will go into low orbit and provide internet connections to underserved areas
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sorry, did not see your earlier post ... fully altruistic move of course as they claim
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actually I posted about it first :P
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