- 16,110
- 8,376
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3,857 replies · 225K views
- 16,110
- 8,376
Today I was at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds for a coin/stamp/postcard show. Nearby was one station of the "State Fair Flyer" chairlift ride. I noticed the station's name is "Wilbur".
Hmmm. I thought, I bet the other station's name is "Orville". I hiked to the other end, and sure enough...
Hmmm. I thought, I bet the other station's name is "Orville". I hiked to the other end, and sure enough...
- 13,798
- 16,606
One channel pushes the needle left/right and the other up/down, IIRC. I think the arrows may be trying to point out vinyl structures that are "mostly a ridge" and "mostly a joggle".berkeman said:
Edit: or possibly the orthogonal directions are the two diagonals - that might make more sense.
Edit 2: apparently it is the diagonals: https://www.stereophile.com/content/how-does-stereo-vinyl-record-work.
- 16,110
- 8,376
And in the 1970s there were quadraphonic (4-channel) LPs, with the four channels encoded into the two physical LP channels in such a way that they could be decoded on playback. There were several incompatible schemes for this, and so the whole concept was never very successful commercially.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadraphonic_sound
IIRC some audio receivers or preamplifiers had multiple quad decoding circuits, with a selector knob that you set according to the type of quad LP you were playing. This was high-end stuff that I couldn't afford in my poor student days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadraphonic_sound
IIRC some audio receivers or preamplifiers had multiple quad decoding circuits, with a selector knob that you set according to the type of quad LP you were playing. This was high-end stuff that I couldn't afford in my poor student days.
- 3,380
- 2,933
One of my previous workplace tried to dabble into touchless digitalization of wax recordings. (Some 20+ years ago, when it was still relevant/revolutionary). Not something simple...berkeman said:
- 13,798
- 16,606
The neat thing about the stereo system in @berkeman's photo is that both diagonal channels have a component in the horizontal direction that a mono player expects. So if you only have a mono player you get an average of the two channels, but a stereo player plays the two independently. So I think it still works for the less affluent customer. I'm guessing the quadraphonic system did not...jtbell said:
- 1,564
- 5,195
DennisN
Gold Member
- 2,192
- 10,268
A caiman/crocodile cub:
Author: Tambako The Jaguar, License: CC BY-ND
Source: https://wallpaperscraft.com/download/caiman_crocodile_cub_1030676/5357x3013
Author: Tambako The Jaguar, License: CC BY-ND
Source: https://wallpaperscraft.com/download/caiman_crocodile_cub_1030676/5357x3013
- 16,110
- 8,376
On my way home from Raleigh today, I stopped in High Point NC. This is billed as the "World's Largest Chest of Drawers".
Just outside town, the Furnitureland South complex has what looks like an even larger chest of drawers, but it's only a façade.
Nearby Thomasville has "The Chair".
If one could climb on it, it would be a great place for railfans to sit and watch trains.
Just outside town, the Furnitureland South complex has what looks like an even larger chest of drawers, but it's only a façade.
Nearby Thomasville has "The Chair".
If one could climb on it, it would be a great place for railfans to sit and watch trains.
Gold Member
- 4,922
- 1,572
- 16,110
- 8,376
- 3,380
- 2,933
With already half pairs of socks looks authentic enoughjtbell said:
DennisN
Gold Member
- 2,192
- 10,268
A pretty nice castle! 
Photo by Cederic Vandenberghe, location: Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/closeup-photo-of-castle-with-mist-21DP3hytVHw
Photo by Cederic Vandenberghe, location: Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/closeup-photo-of-castle-with-mist-21DP3hytVHw
docnet
- 796
- 487
That's the Hogwarts School from Harry Potter! Too bad I didn't get accepted. I read the lunch banquets are incredible there.DennisN said:A pretty nice castle!
View attachment 341801
Photo by Cederic Vandenberghe, location: Eltz Castle, Wierschem, Germany
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/closeup-photo-of-castle-with-mist-21DP3hytVHw
Gold Member
- 2,831
- 12,430
- 1,564
- 5,195
A little bit of Texas style smoked corned beef for my great-great grandpappy, on my mothers side. 
To make a proper corned beef and cabbage later and a few drinks waiting for that to be done.
To make a proper corned beef and cabbage later and a few drinks waiting for that to be done.
- 1,564
- 5,195
- 7,807
- 4,119
Point Conception
Gold Member
- 1,166
- 1,923
Always a photo after a cappuccino.
docnet
- 796
- 487
So... What is it?morrobay said:
Point Conception
Gold Member
- 1,166
- 1,923
Part of grab food ad poster on bus. Looks like the same girl.
- 16,110
- 8,376
DennisN
Gold Member
- 2,192
- 10,268
Two different photos taken recently...
Leaves in spring sunlight:
...and a car in hard rain:
(luckily I had my weatherproof camera with me at that time
)
Leaves in spring sunlight:
...and a car in hard rain:
(luckily I had my weatherproof camera with me at that time
)- 16,110
- 8,376
So much for our hoped-for "upset of the century" in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament...
DennisN
Gold Member
- 2,192
- 10,268
No, I didn't use flash (a fast lens (f/1.4 in this case) and high ISO is often sufficient for me). Actually I almost never use flash.berkeman said:
Edit: By the way, I also like to draw as little attention as possible to myself when I'm shooting (and flash is pretty much the opposite
). One thing I have clearly noticed after I started shooting with system cameras is that nearby people very often take notice of me.I guess nowadays people are so used to smartphones so when the see a system camera they may think, well, he's doing something unusual. And in fact I've been asked quite a few times what I am doing
.And if I'm going around in the city with a big zoom lens, it's even worse, then people REALLY take notice
.And it does not fit my personality at all, I usually don't want to be noticed. But no pain, no gain, I guess.
Last edited:
DennisN
Gold Member
- 2,192
- 10,268
- 1,564
- 5,195