Tom Merritt's Blog, page 1193

July 31, 2012

Tech History Today – Aug. 1

In 1873 – Andrew Smith Hallidie took his San Francisco cable car for its first test run. The tracks ran from Clay and Kearny Streets for 2800 feet to a hill 307 feet above.


In 1967 – The US Navy recalled Captain Grace Murray Hopper to active duty to help develop the programming language COBOL. /


In 1981 – MTV began broadcasting in the United States, playing The Buggles Video Kileld the Radio Star, and changing how we view music forever.

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Published on July 31, 2012 21:37

Tech News Today 554: The Pixel is Dead


Hosts: Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar and Jason Howell


Microsoft’s new email service called Outlook, Twitter bans NBC critic, Hulu comes to Apple TV, and more.


Guest: Simon Dingle and Sharif Sakr


Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.


Submit and vote on story coverage at technewstoday.reddit.com.


We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes at wiki.twit.tv.


Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.


Running time: 50:03

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Published on July 31, 2012 16:01

Tech News Today 553: Mammoth Game of Chicken


Hosts: Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar and Jason Howell


Samsung v. Apple, how Twitter ruined cycling in England, print out a gun, and more.


Guest: Dwight Silverman


Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/tnt.


Submit and vote on story coverage at technewstoday.reddit.com.


We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes at wiki.twit.tv.


Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.


Running time: 50:23

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Published on July 31, 2012 16:01

July 30, 2012

Tech History Today – July 31

1910 – Dr. Hawley Crippen was arrested when the boat he was on docked in Quebec. He was the first person to be caught as a result of a wireless telegraph.


In 1971 – Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to take a drive on the Moon in the lunar rover.


In 1976 – NASA issued a press release describing one photo taken by Viking 1 on Mars as resembling “a human head.” Conspiracy theories about the face on Mars still run today, though close-up pictures from the Mars Express mission have debunked most of them.

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Published on July 30, 2012 21:01

Frame Rate 87: It’s Grandma Good


Hosts: Brian Brushwood and Tom Merritt


Olympics streaming angers, Google Fiber, Cloud Atlas astounds, and more.


Download or subscribe to this show at twit.tv/fr.


We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes at wiki.twit.tv.


Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.


Running time: 59:30

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Published on July 30, 2012 18:22

July 29, 2012

Tech History Today – July 30

1889 – Vladimir Zworykin was born in Russia. He would go on to earn the title “Father of Television” (one of several called that) for his work on the iconoscope and the kinescope. He worked on television for RCA.


In 1898 – The Winton Motor Carriage Company placed a magazine advertisement in Scientific American calling on readers to “dispense with a horse.” It’s the earliest known automobile ad.


In 1971 – The Apollo 15 mission landed the first lunar rover onto the moon.

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Published on July 29, 2012 21:04

July 28, 2012

Tech History Today – July 29

In 1947 – ENIAC was switched on after being transferred to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. It operated continuously until October 2 1955.


In 1951 – A recording was made of Beethoven’s 9th by EMI that eventually became used to justify the diameter of the CD.


In 1958 – President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Published on July 28, 2012 21:36

S&L Video – #8B – ‘Leviathan Wakes’ Wrap-up

It’s our end of month book club wrap-up. We tell you our thoughts on Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, look at what you were saying about it on Goodreads and announce our book pick for August!



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Published on July 28, 2012 13:11

July 27, 2012

Tech History Today – July 28

In 1858 – The first use of fingerprints as identification took place in India. William James Herschel, magistrate of Nuddea, India requested local businessman Rajyadhar Konai make a hand print on the back of a contract. Herschel wanted to “frighten [Konai] out of all thought of repudiating his signature.”


In 1997 – Dell announced its entry into the work station market with the Dell Workstation 400.


In 2000 – Ted Kekatos celebrated the First System Administrator Appreciation Day. He had been inspired by an HP ad showing people bringing gifts to their System Administrator. The day is celebrated annually on the last Friday of July.

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Published on July 27, 2012 21:10

FSL Tonight 2012 Week 7: Turning the tide

Rivendell mounts more than just a comeback and Vulcan’s almost playing with the hint of emotion. Playoff fever has officially begun my friends!


Get the episode at this link.



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Published on July 27, 2012 18:38