billbail's comments

billbail | 9 years ago | on: Avoid Non-Microsoft Antivirus Software

If you want to know more about the creators of these viruses I'd highly suggest reading Krebs on Security [1] as he often not only covers the viruses but also some of the authors.

[1]: http://krebsonsecurity.com/

billbail | 9 years ago | on: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

Take a look at the evidence. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-23/leaked-dnc-emails-c...

billbail | 9 years ago | on: Mathematical Notation Is Awful

Leibniz notation is very interesting as it is not technically correct but it is still is used in lots of maths today. Recommended: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/21199/is-frac-textrm...

billbail | 9 years ago | on: America uses stealthy submarines to hack other countries’ systems

> (1) A parabolic antenna is a huge radar target for anyone hunting submarines.

I'm not sure if you are suggesting that an antenna would have to be detrimental to the radar cross-section of a submarine or if you are suggesting that you can intercept radio waves from a high directivity antenna.

For the former, directional antennas are on all forms of modern day stealth vehicles without compromising the radar cross-section of the vehicle (eg. modern jet fighters).

For the latter I have already seen successful systems such as MADL [1] which use highly directional radio waves to communicate between stealth fighter jets (something you would hope would go undetected). So I highly doubt that submarines couldn't have a similar system in place.

> (2) A parabolic antenna, or any other very directional antenna, requires a stable platform. Either it's on a huge inflatable raft, or the sub is rigidly attached. Either way, the operation will be noticed.

As shown in [1], directional radio waves can be sent from one jet fighter to another. Both of these are not stable platforms.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multifunction_Advanced_Data_Li...

billbail | 10 years ago | on: Unmasking Startup L. Jackson

Highest ratio I've ever seen is from Sean Lock with 2 tweets and almost 95k followers.

https://twitter.com/theseanlock?lang=en

billbail | 10 years ago | on: Terrafugia's flying car model has been approved for tests in US airspace

They claim "1 MW" of power is supplied to the motors with batteries and a 300bhp engine but since 1 bhp =(roughly) 0.75 KW the batteries would need to supply 775KW the power and the combustion engine would not be able to keep the batteries charged sufficiently.

I'm not an expert on car power systems but this doesn't appear to be feasible.

billbail | 10 years ago | on: Disney's Practical Guide to Path Tracing [video]

For optimised ray tracing you don't beam the light from the camera as that has the same chance to bounce to the sun through indirect illumination as a ray from the sun has if it is going to bounce to the camera.

What they are saying here is wrong or rather extremely simplified for a younger audience.