What the heck?

[x_multipleman]

Okay, I know that guitar. I didn't think I'd be hearing it today, but . . . this is a good thing, right?

Also: we did not have speakers this loud yesterday, I'm pretty sure.

Comments

[x_multipleman]

And here I was thinking...
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:04:28 UTC
that somebody finally got something decently loud around here.

Too bad the sound was so antiseptically clean, though.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: And here I was thinking...
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:09:21 UTC
Oh, I wasn't complaining, jut pointing out.


Re: And here I was thinking...
x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:15:44 UTC
Well, I didn't think building in mandatory amounts of reverb into the music room's amplifiers would go over well when I have a final due in a week.


Why, thank you!
x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 16:23:49 UTC
I will only point out that it came from a sound-proofed room, to boot.

*grins*


Re: Why, thank you!
x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:35:02 UTC
Teeeeeechnically, the music room isn't soundproofed, just really well insulated. The air vents carry sound pretty well over into the tech supply closet. I've spent enough time in there to know that the beginning vocal class really likes to belt out those Christmas carols like a janitor in the dark, fumbling for the right key.


Re: Why, thank you!
x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 17:00:29 UTC
Considering what studio scale sound-proofing involved (which was yanking out the better part of the building) we went for something a bit less drastic. Now, the recording studio in the city on the other hand...

And hey. At least they weren't caroling as loud as I was playing earlier. ;)

[x_multipleman]

x_cyclops
December 17 2004, 16:05:28 UTC
I think it's definitely a good thing. And hey, if you're going to have anything in particular played too loudly, that is... a pretty good choice.


I didn't recognize the tune.
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:08:42 UTC
But speaking of heavy metal, want to fire up the 'Bird? Stress-test the engines?

Besides, I don't see a fully-documented airframe stress report on the grand lady. How are we supposed to know if she'll do Immelman turns or barrel rolls at supersonic speeds unless we test?

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: I didn't recognize the tune.
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:11:37 UTC
Blackbirds aren't supposed to barrel roll, according to what I remember from the user manual. If you guys got this one to be able to, can I tell my mom so she can go insane with Air-Force-brat-geekness?


Re: I didn't recognize the tune.
x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:16:40 UTC
Blackbird? As in SR-71? Would this be the one Mr. Dayspring was talking about?

There's a Blackbird here? HERE? Who do I have to have beaten in a dark alley to let me get a look at it?


Re: I didn't recognize the tune.
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:21:58 UTC
A pretty heavily modified one, I think--the cabin's bigger than what I remember Grandpa Jessup telling me about, for one thing. Mr. Summers picked me up in it when I first came to the school and I swear that's half the reason my mom lets me stay after everything that's happened.


It started off life as a SR-71
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:22:35 UTC
It has been rather extensively tweaked since then. Passenger room, state-of-the-art stealth capabilities, more computing power than some high-energy physics labs, fuel efficiency's through the -roof-, handling's been extensively modified, and she doesn't leak like a baby with the runs when she's on the ground.

And that's just the stuff I can _talk_ about!

It's a sweet, sweet machine. You want a glimpse of her, you're gonna have to go through me.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: It started off life as a SR-71
x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:24:13 UTC
Who do I have to kill to take a look at it? I'll even promise to keep my hands in my pockets, I swear.


Well...
x_cyclops
December 17 2004, 16:31:04 UTC
For now, at least, just take a really close look at the basketball court in about twenty minutes, I'd say.


Once we're back on the ground...
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:32:10 UTC
we can talk about it.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: It started off life as a SR-71
x_cypher
December 17 2004, 16:35:17 UTC
... How -much- computing power exactly would that be?

If I promise not to touch anything at all -and- promise not to try to remotely connect to it -ever- can I see it? Please?


The design goal...
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 18:48:47 UTC
is to let the 'Bird do some very basic maneuvers without a human being at the controls at all.

Plus there's a whole lot of computer-assist in the flight control surfaces and whatnot - to get extreme maneuverability at high speeds, you either A) have to have superhuman reflexes or B) computer assist.

And the computers don't yak to the outside world. At all. They have no capability to do so on their own. I do all the updates and tweaking from the Flight Deck.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: The design goal...
x_cypher
December 17 2004, 19:33:57 UTC
Yes, but the code to do that is fascinating. One hundred percent pure math and physics. It goes so far beyond F=MA that... wow. I am going to sit here and bask in that for a few minutes.


I'm not half-bad with software...
x_jetstream
December 18 2004, 01:04:06 UTC
in my field of expertise.

Admittedly, I'm cribbing a LOT of it from other sources, but I do all the auditing and the integration. Plus my own special tweaks to compensate for a lot of the modifications Scott has made over the years.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: The design goal...
x_kitten
December 18 2004, 02:29:44 UTC
You know, Doc McCoy has copies of some of the earlier work done on the Bird's programing. Saw it a few years ago as part of an assignment...


Re: I didn't recognize the tune.
x_kitten
December 18 2004, 02:25:07 UTC
Yep. That's where Lockheed's name comes from, too.

Have you even met Lockheed?


You'd be surprised.
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:20:12 UTC
The 'Bird will stop on a dime and hand you change. She'll corner like a dream, run flat-out on sips of fuel, and gives commercial radar system blown fuses.

Scott has been very, very good to the 'Bird. I only have to keep up to the high standards he set.

Salaam,
Haroun


Re: You'd be surprised.
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:31:36 UTC
Think I won't tell Mom, then, so I don't have to hear her self-combust with envy over the phone. I hear about it enough now, when all she knows about it not being a stock airframe is the VTOL.


I'm sorry...
x_cyclops
December 17 2004, 16:17:59 UTC
I think you just asked me if I'd like to do Immelman turns or barrel rolls with the jet, as if there was actually more than one possible answer to that.

I'll see you in the hangar.


Already there, Chief.
x_jetstream
December 17 2004, 16:25:28 UTC
Running through pre-flight checklists now.

Somehow, I knew putting the journalling system 'face into the 'Bird's mainframe would be a good idea.

Salaam,
Haroun


x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:08:51 UTC
Oh, definitely. I'm just wondering if I missed an announcement or something?


x_rahne
December 17 2004, 16:19:19 UTC
Aye... I really liked that.


x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:20:58 UTC
Did everyone recognize that tune but me? I swear I've heard it somewhere before.


x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 16:26:59 UTC
Well, if you're looking for something to concentrate on for next term...


x_forge
December 17 2004, 16:37:02 UTC
Well, since I got here mid-semester, I'm told that it's Music or take Spanish again in the spring. And this semester didn't kill me, so I suppose taking the spring class could be useful.

And while it wasn't exactly what I tend to listen to on my own, what you were playing was kind of interesting.

[x_multipleman]

!!!
x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 16:22:36 UTC
It is a good thing.

And we have speakers that loud now. Boy, do we ever.

:D


Re: !!!
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:27:39 UTC
So when did this happen, huh? I swear, the atmosphere around here would be a lot better if people were as diligent about remembering to announce the good stuff as they are about giving us the bad news . . .


Re: !!!
x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 16:30:11 UTC
You don't call what I just did an announcement? ;)

(That was the confirmation, actually. I... was finding it hard to believe, y'know?)


Re: !!!
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 16:33:18 UTC
Point. And it was a really nice surprise. And go play some more? I missed it.

(I just bet. How'd this happen?)


Re: !!!
x_dazzler
December 17 2004, 17:08:04 UTC
I think I will at that! I kinda missed it too.

(Accidentally. What else?)


Re: !!!
x_crowdofone
December 17 2004, 17:13:40 UTC
I figured you probably had, somehow. Wasn't expecting to have to twist your arm here. :) Besides, that would be how counterproductive?

(Accidentally like connected with whatever it was happened with Mr. Marko yesterday? Is he gonna be up and around no harm no foul pretty soon too, or is that one of those things you're not supposed to get too detailed on?)


Re: !!!
x_jubilee
December 18 2004, 00:25:56 UTC
This means I'm going to have to show you what I've learnt on the violin, doesn't it?

*grins* Glad to see you back, Teach.


Re: !!!
x_dazzler
December 18 2004, 00:54:17 UTC
YES YOU DO!

(And you had better have practiced too! ;) )


Re: !!!
x_jubilee
December 18 2004, 05:49:39 UTC
I did! I still think I sound like two feral cats going at it in a Garbage can, though. But I've graduated from nursery ryhmes to something a bit more musical though.

Dude, just no meditation...okay? I just managed to get 'What ya waitin' for' out of my head.


Oops?
x_madelyn
December 18 2004, 01:54:56 UTC COLLAPSE
Sorry about that, Jamie - it's been a bit on the hectic side down here and we were all stumbling around going 'wtf!?' ourselves over that particular cure... Still, this particular way of announcing it was better than a journal post, don't you think?

[x_multipleman]

x_tarot
December 17 2004, 16:33:45 UTC
I do not know what else -to- say except how fantastic this is.

[x_multipleman]

x_kitten
December 18 2004, 02:30:14 UTC
Dancing now. Come join me?


x_crowdofone
December 18 2004, 02:33:51 UTC
Absolutely. :)


x_kitten
December 18 2004, 02:35:54 UTC COLLAPSE
Al's music, dancing and you. Perfect end to finals week. :D