The Pod Bay

Undo the Snowman

00:00

@TildalWave There's no way to do that anyway.

We never got told about that.

TildalWave

@UndotheSnowman you used to see upvotes and downvotes on your profile dropdown before

not which posts, just the numbers

per day, week, month

Undo the Snowman

@TildalWave Ahhhhh.

TildalWave

at least you saw if there was any change

I inferred meta activity levels through that

Undo the Snowman

Go report it.

TildalWave

too lazy, it'd involve effort

Undo the Snowman

00:01

oh

TildalWave

I'm thinking of watching some movie now or just generally not do much

Undo the Snowman

I wish you luck in that.

And I'm going to go get something done. Bye!

Undo the Snowman

01:20

Wow, chat is empty.

TildalWave

01:35

back ;)

I decided to upgrade my rig a bit too

I added a disk and another graphics card to try something out... can I run AMD and Nvidia at the same time to some use? I thought the older NV one could run hardware accelerated Physics (I think it's possible with some older drivers), and maybe add another monitor to it (not sure that'll work tho)

Stack Exchange

01:50

NASASpaceFlight.com: Atlas V preparing to launch NROL-39 from Vandenberg

posted on December 06, 2013 by Chris Bergin

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) are preparing to launch an Atlas V rocket on the NROL-39 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base... Related posts:ULA Atlas V marks 50th EELV launch by lofting NROL-38 uphillUnited Launch Alliance (ULA) have launched their Atlas V on... Atlas’ 600th Mission launches with DMSP F18 from VandenbergAfter nearly …

Undo the Snowman

02:19

@TildalWave Sounds like fun.

Hash

03:14

@Tildal do you know how to set system path variable ?

Stack Exchange

05:03

I'm SO glad I escaped. They almost had me caught in their weird ... thing.

TildalWave

06:56

Live stream for the Atlas 5 launch on the NROL-39 mission is not available on United Launch Alliance web page

Now starting planned 10 minute hold on T-4:00

L-9 minutes

L-5 minutes

T-3:30

T-2 minutes

wakey wakey!

T-1 min

T-30 sec

liftoff

that's all folks ... payload fairing jettison was completed and the rest will happen in news blackout as per usual with NROL classified missions ;) everything about it: spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-39-launch-updates.html and launch replay video: facebook.com/photo.php?v=610144985711829

Next up, Proton in 2 days:

spaceflight101.com/inmarsat-5-f1-proton-launch-updates.html

Hash

10:55

@TildalWave time to hunt some spams in this question space.stackexchange.com/questions/2871/…

Hash

11:21

@PearsonArtPhoto spam here @TildalWave @Chris

Undo the Snowman

14:38

It always bugs me when spam shows up and I don't know what I'm supposed to be buying.

anyone awake?

@Hash Nice job finding those. I wish I was awake to stab them with my pitchfork too.

Donald.McLean

15:01

@UndotheSnowman Not just awake but also hard at work. Or, at least physically at work.

Undo the Snowman

:D

TildalWave

15:48

@Hash Thanks for posting! ;) Also, if mods are not around, please flag it as spam, downvote and ask others in the chat to do the same, then the posts will be handled by all of you (deleted by flags / votes) and all mods have to do is check if the user account needs to be deleted too. BTW, Chris has stepped down as a mod here (lack of time he said) so it's @Pearson and I for the moment ;)

Stack Exchange

NASA Image of the Day: Fifteen Years Ago, International Space Station Assembly Begins

posted on December 06, 2013

On Dec. 6, 1998, the crew of space shuttle mission STS-88 began construction of the International Space Station, attaching the U.S.-built Unity node and the Russian-built Zarya module together in orbit. The crew carried a large-format IMAX® camera, used to take this image of Unity lifted out of Endeavour's payload bay to position it upright for connection to Zarya. Zarya, launched on Nov. 20, 1…

Hash

16:11

@TildalWave auto save... hmmm ..studied what they have answer

TildalWave

@Hash don't be too bothered by that, it's just pure nonsensical gibberish, likely to test the way the anti-spam engine detects spam around here.

Hash

16:27

@TildalWave i have an image

@TildalWave the address he provided is in India

Hash

16:57

@Undo Undothesnowman

Undo the Snowman

@Hash Yes?

Hash

@Undo i saw that spam because it pinged me

Undo the Snowman

@Hash Yup.

Good job on flagging it out of existence ;)

In related news...

13

Q: We need to improve the quality of our spam!

Recently, I've noticed a downhill effect in the quality of spam posted on Stack Exchange websites. Take this as an example (found on Space.SE): There are a great many things wrong with this artifact: There is not one capitalized letter in the entire post. (-1 grammar point.) The only pun...

Hash

@Undo they spammed my question ..

Undo the Snowman

Yup. And we deleted it.

Hash

17:04

@Undo how many vote to delete is need to delete an spam ?

Undo the Snowman

@Hash Six spam flags.

JohnB

You can always try pinging me in chat if you need an extra spam vote

although sometimes I fall asleep with chat open so ...

Undo the Snowman

Lol

Hash

@John ok i will from now

ok going to shutdown my brain night!;-)

JohnB

night!

Undo the Snowman

17:07

night!

TildalWave

17:39

@UndotheSnowman hahaha this is hilarious

Undo the Snowman

@TildalWave Thanks ;)

TildalWave

"Keep in mind that, like humans, lizards make mistakes too"

@UndotheSnowman <- has a snowball effect on mSO

Undo the Snowman

Yup. In this case, the snowball effect went the right way. Sometimes it doesn't.

TildalWave

@UndotheSnowman It's December. If you posted it in January it'd be deleted as NaRQ :)

Undo the Snowman

:P

NARQ doesn't exist any more.

TildalWave

17:45

I meant last January :P

Undo the Snowman

It'd be 'does not seek the input of the community'.

Oh. Right

TildalWave

hehe

nice save huh?

Undo the Snowman

@TildalWave Yup :D

Has @JonEricson been around lately? I haven't seen him in here recently.

TildalWave

@UndotheSnowman Dunno, he should be around, prolly busy with other stuff.

1

Q: Does anyone know why three of Jupiter's largest moons orbit in 1:2:4 resonance?

Three of the first four moons ever discovered outside of our own planetary sphere of gravitational influence orbit in very close to perfect resonance. Europa's orbit is almost exactly twice as long as Io's, and Ganymede's is almost exactly twice as long as Europa's. Perhaps it is just coincidence...

orbit

Anyone wanna answer this one, it's a great question. Had to ask in the comment if it's related to the last XKCD tho

Undo the Snowman

I really want to close my algebra book as too broad.

David Freitag

18:04

@UndotheSnowman Algebra?

Algebra is good for you, it's like broccoli.

Donald.McLean

18:20

Broccoli is good for you, it's like algebra for your stomach.

TildalWave

18:46

Stunning Moon tonight if you get a chance to see it

Undo the Snowman

@DavidFreitag As soon as the guy said 'complex numbers' I though, 'yeesh, they aren't complex enough already?'

David Freitag

19:09

@UndotheSnowman Heh, just wait until Differential Equations and Linear Algebra. That's when math gets fun.

Undo the Snowman

;)

David Freitag

Multivariable calc is just the beginning of the fun. Once you get Derivatives and Integrals down, Multivariable is pretty much just plug and chug.

Undo the Snowman

Like, a+b=90; solve for a and b? Eeeeek!

David Freitag

I would, however, recommend that you take a CAD class before you take multivariable. It helps with the 3D visualizations.

Undo the Snowman

I am homeschooled :D

David Freitag

19:11

@UndotheSnowman No, like triple integrals in cylindrical coordinates :]

Undo the Snowman

Oh god.

Hmm... would it be bad if I started imagining i to be 42?

David Freitag

Potentially...

Undo the Snowman

@DavidFreitag Am I supposed to write sqrt(5) * i or i * sqrt(5)?

(not sqrt, of course, but the little square root symbol)

David Freitag

@UndotheSnowman What do you mean?

Undo the Snowman

@David Do I write the i after or before the square rooted thing?

(common practice, etc)

PearsonArtPhoto

19:19

I would write the i first, but I don't think it matters..

Undo the Snowman

k

David Freitag

I'm very confused. Do you have my MathJax extension or the bookmarklet?

Undo the Snowman

Nope. Where I get?

PearsonArtPhoto

$i\sqrt{2}$

Didn't work. Oh well.

Undo the Snowman

^ Yeah, that.

David Freitag

19:21

You need this extension to make that work in chat: chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/se-chat-mathjax/…

Only works for chrome

Undo the Snowman

gtg now, brb.

But that's good, because I only work in Chrome.

$/huge{\TEST}$

Meh, whatever. It works.

@DavidFreitag I'm wondering if I should be writing $i\sqrt{2}$ or $\sqrt{2}i$

David Freitag

@UndotheSnowman The former is clearer, although both are technically correct

Undo the Snowman

So the former it is. Thanks!

David Freitag

Well, think about it this way, in front of the root symbol you will never mistake the i for being underneath the root symbol.

Undo the Snowman

Yeah.

David Freitag

19:34

But then it could be confusing and it might look like the i root of 2, $\sqrt[i]{2}$

Stack Exchange

astrobites: Finding Relics of Galaxy Formation

posted on December 06, 2013 by Ryan Foltz

Could the strange-looking irregular galaxies actually be remnants of the birth of galaxies? This paper demonstrates a method to find such galaxies.

TildalWave

On this day in 1957:

►

@DavidFreitag You're OK there?

David Freitag

Uhhhh. I think i may have broken it.

@TildalWave Demonstrating some triple integrals to @UndotheSnowman

TildalWave

you can try MathJax out by simply going to ask or answer a new question and see it in preview ;)

ah OK

David Freitag

$\iiint_E{e^{-x^2}}dV = \iint_D{\left[\int{e^{-x^2}dz}\right] dA}$

$E = \{(x, y, z) | (x, y)\in\mathrm D, h_1(x, y) \le z \le h_2(x, y)\}$

$D = \{(x, y) | a \le x \le b, g_1(x) \le y \le g_2(x)\}$

$\iiint_E{e^{-x^2}}dV = \int_a^b\left[\int_{g_1(x)}^{g_2(x)}\left[\int_{h_1(x, y)}^{h_2(x, y)}{e^{-x^2}dz}\right]dx\right]dy$

There we go, had to split them up. @UndotheSnowman, that's a triple integral in cartesian coordinates. It's a "Case 1" example where you have a 3D solid E that has the projection on the xy-plane D.

JohnB

20:01

@Tildal do you know how to give low rep users chat write access?

TildalWave

@JohnB on the right under room tags there's "room" link... hit "control access" and then add the user to "explicit write access"

JohnB

yeah. that's not working for me

TildalWave

@JohnB where?

JohnB

Trying to add graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/users/16439/sue

to chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/info/1240/the-ink-spot?tab=access

I try adding her profile to the "If you have it, enter the user id or the user's profile URL here:" box

nothin

I suspect that needs to be their chat account url? What if they don't have one?

TildalWave

@JohnB dunno

@JohnB have you tried an invite?

JohnB

20:06

@TildalWave How do I do that?

I have tried this process: meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/114296/…

> Superping the user with some stub message so a chat account is created for them

the superping does not work

TildalWave

@JohnB yeah if there is no chat account that won't work, I meant via comments when it invites you to "get a room" if you chat too much

JohnB

@TildalWave As far as I know, that doesn't work if the user doesn't have enough rep meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/153417/…

I don't even see a "move to chat" message on the post

TildalWave

@JohnB then I'm out of ideas ... you want @ManishEarth or someone on TL

But can't low rep users still come to the room just not talk in it? Wouldn't that create a chat account if you then click on the user icon in the list of chat members?

but alternatively 1) hack user account for login data 2) login as the user 3) be useful to the site, gain some rep 4) write an email to the user that their password might have been compromised 5) invite to chat

Morpheus Live test burns at 20 ft

and that was it :)

Undo the Snowman

20:24

So it didn't go boom?

JohnB

@Tildal heck of a process, but Anna showed me how

the answer is "there is no easy simple way" :P

Undo the Snowman

The problems of the ruling class...

TildalWave

17 mins ago, by TildalWave

but alternatively 1) hack user account for login data 2) login as the user 3) be useful to the site, gain some rep 4) write an email to the user that their password might have been compromised 5) invite to chat

what's not easy about this one?

JohnB

That was plan B

TildalWave

so what's the procedure?

JohnB

20:31

This: meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/114296/…

I got stuck on step 3: you have to search for their username on the access page

I was searching for it here like a dummy chat.stackexchange.com/users

TildalWave

@JohnB so where did you find the user id then?

JohnB

First you superping them using @@userid@<insertsite>.stackexchange.com

Undo the Snowman

Is it bad that I knew that?

JohnB

then you search for them:

It's more difficult if they have a very common name :D

Undo the Snowman

Is it bad that I knew that?

JohnB

20:37

it's only bad because you didn't help! You know how I am with buttons

Undo the Snowman

Actually, is it bad that I've read the entire mod FAQ on Meta?

I could set up a mod help vending machine.

TildalWave

@UndotheSnowman it's bad that you did it on Friday

JohnB

It only took me 45 minutes to figure out, not bad for a moron I think

TildalWave

you're too easy to star :P

Undo the Snowman

I could make it harder....

JohnB

20:39

dammit, we just got rid of the fool one :(

TildalWave

@UndotheSnowman that's what she said?

@JohnB who?

JohnB

no the fool message that every single person starred like it was a true statement or something!

How dare you all I am extremely offended!

TildalWave

right

that's why you keep coming back

JohnB

unless you all starred it ironically like "ohhh that's not true, that's funny because of how wrong it is"

:]

TildalWave

neah we found it useful

JohnB

20:42

haha

a disclaimer to all

TildalWave

that's what the alt text says on the stars ... "star this message as useful / interesting for the transcript"

JohnB

oh hey it does

that is useful information, I agree

"do not listen to this guy, avoid at all costs"

TildalWave

I'm not biting

JohnB

I missed the Morpheus test, are they still hanging it on a string and firing the rockets?

TildalWave

@JohnB found this useful!

then it's star worthy

@JohnB yup :)

JohnB

20:45

they've been doing that for months! Do something interesting!

The post below this one stinks

cheater!

TildalWave

:D

Undo the Snowman

waves Ohai! Just doing some star maintenance....

David Freitag

21:01

@UndotheSnowman Had to pop over to the ol' dyson sphere did we?

Undo the Snowman

21:22

@DavidFreitag Huh wha where WHA?

David Freitag

Dyson sphere

A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar-power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output. Dyson speculated that such structures would be the logical consequence of the long-term survival and escalating energy needs of a technological civilization, and proposed that searching for evidence of the existence of such structures might lead to the detection of advanced intelligent extraterrestrial life. Different types of Dyson spheres correlate with i...

Undo the Snowman

Yes... what about it?

David Freitag

You said you were doing some "star maintenance" :p

Undo the Snowman

Oh. Lol

David Freitag

Also, did you look at what i left you earlier?

Undo the Snowman

21:24

@DavidFreitag Yes... now I don't want to go on in Algebra :P

David Freitag

@UndotheSnowman My friend, that ain't no Algebra ;]

Undo the Snowman

Yes, but I have to go through Algebra to get to whatever that is.

David Freitag

That would be multivariable Calculus

Undo the Snowman

Eeeeek!

David Freitag

And, technically speaking, with simple enough equations you could skip algebra altogether. Derivatives and Integrals operate mostly with simple arithmetic.

Undo the Snowman

21:33

@DavidFreitag Oh, question for you:

I got this in a problem: $5-4i = (a+3)+(b-1)i$

And somehow they solved for $a$ and $b$. How!?!

David Freitag

Solve for a, the plug the result back into the original equation for a

Undo the Snowman

but we need b to solve for a, right?

David Freitag

so get $a=<expression>$

Undo the Snowman

Yess....

Oh, so just manipulate it around until all the variables are b's?

David Freitag

then you get $5-4i=(<expression>+3)+(b-1)i$

Undo the Snowman

21:36

...solve for B, then plug it back in to solve for A, right?

David Freitag

And a will be in terms of b, so your end equation will give $b=<something>$

@UndotheSnowman Yes. Or solve for A and plug in and solve for B.

Undo the Snowman

Ok...

Lemme try it.

So we can say $(5-4i)-(b-1)i=a+3$

$(5-4i)-(b-1)-3=a$

David Freitag

You don't need all of those parentheses, $a=2-4i-(b-1)i$

Undo the Snowman

Then say $5-4i=(2-4i-(b-1) + 3)+(b-1)i$?

David Freitag

Only the ones for the multiplication.

@UndotheSnowman Yep, now solve for b

Undo the Snowman

21:40

Ah, ok.

Thanks!

David Freitag

Heh.

That problem is kinda silly. If you solve for b, then try to plug that back in and find a, you get $0=0$, and if you find a and plug in for b, you get $b=b$...

Undo the Snowman

Yes...

But somehow they did it in the answer book.

Oooohhhhh!!! You're supposed to play off complex numbers!

So you can say $(b-1)i = -4i$

David Freitag

Heh, to be honest I've never used complex numbers :\

TildalWave

22:10

Determinant

In linear algebra, the determinant is a value associated with a square matrix. It can be computed from the entries of the matrix by a specific arithmetic expression, while other ways to determine its value exist as well. The determinant provides important information about a matrix of coefficients of a system of linear equations, or about a matrix that corresponds to a linear transformation of a vector space. In the first case the system has a unique solution exactly when the determinant is nonzero; when the determinant is zero there are either no solutions or many solutions. In the se...

@UndotheSnowman you're doing these ^?

David Freitag

No, just regular Algebra

With the help of some complex numbers, at least.

TildalWave

@DavidFreitag Ah cool, we called them imaginary numbers ... I think. Is there any difference actually?

David Freitag

@TildalWave Complex numbers are the combination of both real numbers and imaginary ones

Complex number

A complex number is a number that can be expressed in the form , where and are real numbers and is the imaginary unit, which satisfies the equation . In this expression, is the real part and is the imaginary part of the complex number. Complex numbers extend the concept of the one-dimensional number line to the two-dimensional complex plane by using the horizontal axis for the real part and the vertical axis for the imaginary part. The complex number can be identified with the point in the complex plane. A complex number whose real part is zero is said to be purely imaginary, where...

TildalWave

@DavidFreitag cool, nice definition :)

David Freitag

@TildalWave Like $a + bi$, where both $a$ and $b$ are real numbers and $i$ is the imaginary one.

TildalWave

22:23

I always had a bit of problems with maths terminology. I had great grades in maths but would often confuse one thing for another by their names. Still, in written tests that's often irrelevant, lucky for me LOL

David Freitag

Yeah, it gets tricky once you run out of letters and have to delve into latin and greek.

TildalWave

Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will launch a total of 11 military satellites by 2015 http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20131129/185149019/Russia-Plans-to-Launch-11-Military-Satellites-By-2015.html http://t.co/RC6B99b2oJ

Tweeted by NATOSource on December 6, 2013 at 7:10 PM

well... more launches :)

Transcript for