The phenomenon of Brazil's 60+ local currencies seems like one that needs much more study. I'm skeptical that these local currencies aren't prone to massive fraud and tax evasion -- which would seem to undermine the national government's authority. Perhaps taking the national gov't out of macroeconomic decisions is better, but I'd like to see much more detailed studies of what is actually going on in Brazil and how these local currencies actually work.
If a network of local currencies actually can exist without significant drawbacks to the larger national economy, then it might serve as some kind of instrument for countries like Greece to move away from the euro. Greece would have to start creating a whole bunch of local currencies while still saying that the national govt upholds the euro. If the local currencies really flourish, then Greece could someday introduce a new national currency based on some aggregation of the local currencies. It would be like applying the "special drawing rights" concept of the IMF on a national level instead of an international level....
Perhaps it's time for me to write this plan up and try to get that $400,000 prize! :P
I referred to Brazil's plan to stop hyperinflation, but countries like Greece have a different problem. If they announce that they're switching from the euro, then there would likely be a massive kind of bank run on Greek banks....
I don't think the euro is going anywhere either, but is it possible for a single country to stop using it? What if Greece really wanted to back out of the EU and stop using the euro? Is it even possible?
I guess it would be similar to asking "what if Alaska wanted to stop using the dollar?" -- but there are additional complications for the US states b/c states are tied to the federal gov't much more than any EU member is tied to the EU.
AC, but doesn't it seem strange that spy satellites would need to have special structures built just to calibrate them? Why wouldn't they use existing buildings of known dimensions?
I think there were also some guesses that fractal antenna designs were behind the patterns, but that's also an unsatisfactory explanation because it's not clear what a fractal antenna of such a scale would be useful for....
I'm inclined to think that lab safety and environmental protections would make "real garages" unlikely places to do significant biotech.
Just soldiering together some circuits in a garage is a completely different hazard than undertaking biological experiments of any significance. Heck, if you even want to produce commercial-scale food stuffs, you need a license to do so because your products could make people/animals seriously sick.
I'm all for innovative biotech startups, but let's not cut corners on safety and environmental protections just because we think it's cool to grow some microscopic organisms.
Re: Re: why don't hypersonic vehicles set off nuclear war alarms?
I'd guess that ICBMs are just assumed to be nuclear-armed b/c that's what the nations who have them say ICBMS are capable of... but hypersonic vehicles aren't so common, so if you're going to develop a whole new launch vehicle -- might as well say that you're developing it for non-nuclear capabilities first, so that you don't violate international treaties? (And if no one calls out the fact that hypersonic vehicles *can* be fitted with nuclear warheads, then you've got a loophole in nuclear arms agreements! yay?!?)
Those 3D printed lego-like bricks on Thingiverse are pretty cool, but the build quality of those bricks are clearly much lower than the injection-molded ones!
But I'm sure 3D printers will just get better and better...
There actually ARE blocks that compete with Lego... but a lot of people think the knockoffs don't stick together very well and are made from cheaper materials. I've seen some generic "interlocking plastic bricks" that didn't have quite the same quality of Lego, but I don't know if that's why they don't catch on at toy stores... Lego certainly has better branding and market share than any of its competitors.
Here are just a few other bricks that work with Lego:
Knex.com
MegaBloks.com
best-lock.com
On the post: DailyDirt: Sleeping Might Not Be Over-rated
Re: could always try this one
On the post: DailyDirt: Coins Worth More Than Gold
The demand for coins is rising..
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/01/09/144790896/people-want-more-coins-thats-a-good-sign-f or-the-economy
More demand for coins is good for the economy! :P
On the post: Infographic Showing The Problem With Patents
Re:
On the post: DailyDirt: Coins Worth More Than Gold
Re:
If it were 1973... everyone would be looking in their pockets for a few million bucks to auction off.
On the post: DailyDirt: New Year's Diets...
Re: Not All Calories Are Equal
calories may be calories, regardless of their origin, tho... when it comes to weight loss.
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/html/chapter5.html
On the post: DailyDirt: In Money, We Trust (Sometimes)
Re: Re: Re: Brazil..
If a network of local currencies actually can exist without significant drawbacks to the larger national economy, then it might serve as some kind of instrument for countries like Greece to move away from the euro. Greece would have to start creating a whole bunch of local currencies while still saying that the national govt upholds the euro. If the local currencies really flourish, then Greece could someday introduce a new national currency based on some aggregation of the local currencies. It would be like applying the "special drawing rights" concept of the IMF on a national level instead of an international level....
Perhaps it's time for me to write this plan up and try to get that $400,000 prize! :P
On the post: DailyDirt: In Money, We Trust (Sometimes)
Re: Brazil..
On the post: DailyDirt: In Money, We Trust (Sometimes)
but is it possible for 1 country?
I guess it would be similar to asking "what if Alaska wanted to stop using the dollar?" -- but there are additional complications for the US states b/c states are tied to the federal gov't much more than any EU member is tied to the EU.
On the post: DailyDirt: Never Get Involved In A Land War In Asia...?
Re: Weird structures seen from space.
I think there were also some guesses that fractal antenna designs were behind the patterns, but that's also an unsatisfactory explanation because it's not clear what a fractal antenna of such a scale would be useful for....
On the post: DailyDirt: Never Get Involved In A Land War In Asia...?
Re: "but foreign subs shouldn't be able to do that..."
On the post: DailyDirt: Defend Yourself! (Or Give Peace A Chance...)
Re: The real target for all these "non-lethal" solutions are the average citizens
Hopefully, demonstrators won't create an "arms race" of non-lethal weaponry.
On the post: A Biotech Lab In Every Garage, Or In Every Library?
I'm inclined to think that lab safety and environmental protections would make "real garages" unlikely places to do significant biotech.
I'm all for innovative biotech startups, but let's not cut corners on safety and environmental protections just because we think it's cool to grow some microscopic organisms.
On the post: DailyDirt: Crazy Weapons...
Re: how about stealth hypersonic weapons
On the post: DailyDirt: Crazy Weapons...
Re: Re: why don't hypersonic vehicles set off nuclear war alarms?
On the post: DailyDirt: Not-So-Fun Food Findings...
Re: Correlation May Not Be The Same As Causation ...
On the post: DailyDirt: Modern Toys, Not Just For Boys
Re: Re: Re: Gah. Lego.
But I'm sure 3D printers will just get better and better...
On the post: DailyDirt: Modern Toys, Not Just For Boys
Re: Re: Gah. Lego.
There actually ARE blocks that compete with Lego... but a lot of people think the knockoffs don't stick together very well and are made from cheaper materials. I've seen some generic "interlocking plastic bricks" that didn't have quite the same quality of Lego, but I don't know if that's why they don't catch on at toy stores... Lego certainly has better branding and market share than any of its competitors.
Here are just a few other bricks that work with Lego:
Knex.com
MegaBloks.com
best-lock.com
But you're right that the patents have expired for Lego (and Lego also failed in its attempt to trademark its brick designs):
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2008/11/eu-court-says-l/
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/2 0100915/01140511024.shtml
So hopefully, there will be more innovation in plastic brick based toys!
On the post: DailyDirt: Modern Toys, Not Just For Boys
Re: Gah. Lego.
Printing custom blocks would be cool, too.
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Re: Re: 2 suppliers for NASA?
On the post: DailyDirt: Cameras For Science
Re: Ho Ho Ho!
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