Apparently unconnected

[da_lj]

Oh, you, Timex. Radium watches were manufactured and sold by Timex up until the '50s, and they still will sometimes light up a Geiger counter even if they don't glow at night.

Timex Indiglo watches, on the other hand, excites a phosphor (zinc sulphide atoms) using a high-voltage field through a thin conductive indium tin oxide layer.

Comments

[sulle_stelle]

When I saw the link to radium watch dial painters, I was going to comment about the cancer risk, but they beat me to the punch. :-(

However, a quibble: the main cancer reported was osteosarcoma, as the paint is tropic to bone, and is a short-range alpha emitter, concentrating the radiation there. (This is one of the minutiae they like to ask on my board exams.)

[icedrake]

A note on cellphone cameras: There was an Engadget (might've been New Scientist; I forget) post a few months ago about a new technology that collapsed the lens into a very thin construct, and still allowed for massive resolution, to the tune of 8MP. So all is not lost yet! Just, y'know, an unspecified delay in actually having the capability :)

[da_lj]

I remember reading about that. Cool stuff.

...I just googled again, and it looks like an upcoming model of my phone (I have the Sony Ericsson k790a, they just came out with the k850, so at least the successor to that) might have optical zoom - 3x optical, 5mp is good enough for me. Whenever they get around to finishing it, and whenever I get around to replacing my phone, which I've only had since June.

[da_lj]

I don't think I need to make a whole LJ post about it, but I happened across this post, and wanted to follow up: a Sony Ericsson SO905ics
is soon going to be released, with 5.1mp, 3x optical zoom, autofocus, and xenon flash. But only for the Japanese market, though I'm hopeful for a year or so from now...

[da_lj]

Well, he sure was when I was a kid. Dumb teachers. :)

[says_simon]

I never saw Puff the Magic Dragon before. I watched that cartoon and it really touched me. Thank you. It comes close to home for me.

[da_lj]

I'm glad to pass it on!

[amarylliss]

Hey, I totally picked you up Saturday night! Does that make us LJ friends?

[da_lj]

Best Pickup Evar! *tee hee*