There is an awesome article how engineers are retrofitting UC Berkley’s stadium. Why?
Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 atop the Hayward Fault, which the U.S. Geological Survey said has a 70 percent chance of hatching a 6.7-magnitude or greater quake by 2030. The earth could move up to 6 feet horizontally and 2 feet vertically, presenting a challenge to engineers charged with saving the stadium and the football fans who might be inside.
While plenty of buildings around the world sit atop earthquake faults, Memorial Stadium is unique because of the sheer quantity of people it holds: 75,662. It’s also unique because seismologists know exactly where the fault lies – under Section LL, through both end zones and out Section XX.
The Nerd Family got a Wii! I was out a Costco and had an opportunity to get the last one they had. This (other than the normal computer desires) was the only thing NerdDad had wanted for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Now we couldn’t find one or justify the expense for those holidays but… Obviously I seized this opportunity when it appeared. The Wii is so much fun, we love it. Something we didn’t know that is cool is that you can play Gamecube games also! What I don’t know is if there is an adapter to play GameBoy games. So any of you know? If so leave me the details.
Best Buy is trying to earn the good will of all the people who bought the HD-DVD players from them before February 23rd since HD-DVD so totally lost out to Blu-Ray. This going to cost them $10 million but I think it is a great idea at twice the price. Anything that will win over early adapters like this is worth its weight in gold. Think about it, they are paying out $50 to people who were willing to spend up to $500 on a player (that isn’t counting any disk purchase). These are the target market. They are automatically mailing out cards, starting in May, to people who purchased and are on the loyalty program or purchased on-line. Not one of those? Then just go into the store with a proof of purchase.
Does this rid the HD-DVD purchasers of the ill taste in their mouth over this issue? No, but it does help stop them from assigning blame to Best Buy.
What happens when you are done with your Nerd Things? We all (ok, the nerdy of us) have old unused computers that we don’t really know what to do with. We don’t want to throw them out because they are of some use but not really to us. Well now there is an option. Costco has paired with GreenSight to give us an option (for Costco members). Basically you go to the site and input the details about your computer. Then it gives you a “trade in value” and if you accept the value you proceed. Then they give you a free, prepaid shipping label to send the equipment to them. Then you get a Costco Cash card for the “trade in value”. GreenSight salvages any parts that can be used and then works with others to dispose of the remains without using a landfill. I think that is a win, win!
I still think this car is cool. Supposedly they are reworking the transmission but will be producing all new ones by mid-March. I guess that they are going to be doing a patch. Then once they have a permanent solution they will retrofit all the ones that are already out. I do have to say, if I was going to put out $98,000 I would wait for the finished version.
Congrats to Sarslyn over at The Place Beneath for winning our giveaway this week!
In honor of Fall Ya’all Giveaways I have a nice little nerdy thing to giveaway, PNY Attache 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive. In order to enter the drawing for this great flash drive you must leave a comment (that either has your email in the profile or in the comment) and a winner will be picked by random. This contest is only open to people with in the mainland US. The winner will be determined Sunday November 4th and I will email the winner.
So this looks very cool. It can sleep 4, is plumbed and has electricity. I am wondering if it sways as you walk in it. You too can have one of these for only a base price of $150,000.
There does seem to be a little discussion as to the authenticity of this. I think it is real. I also think it is cool. I would love to see the plans and have my kids build part of this. Hey, I would rather my kids build me one that would fold laundry…Off to ponder the possibilities… (HT: Instapundit)
So I was reading Child Magazine the other day and I saw some interesting (and odd) news. First, apparently some people get laser treatment to reduce post-baby stretch marks. Secondly, there is now a new procedure, plasma skin regeneration, that is a treatment out there to rid us of our stretch marks. Supposedly there can be up to 60% reduction after 3 or 4 sessions. Interesting… I don’t know if I would ever do it but interesting.
! I was out a Costco and had an opportunity to get the last one they had. This (other than the normal computer desires) was the only thing NerdDad had wanted for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Now we couldn’t find one or justify the expense for those holidays but… Obviously I seized this opportunity when it appeared. The 
games also! What I don’t know is if there is an adapter to play GameBoy games. So any of you know? If so leave me the details.
. In order to enter the drawing for this great flash drive you must leave a comment (that either has your email in the profile or in the comment) and a winner will be picked by random. This contest is only open to people with in the mainland US. The winner will be determined Sunday November 4th and I will email the winner.