Is being a smartass and not adding anything of value, not even your opinion, even lamer than that AND completely useless? Absolutely. Please remove yourself from the gene pool, preferably with a pair of bolt cutters.
To date, it's been impossible to "cure" pedophiles. It's not that they're "mentally ill" (except in the social sense, i.e., society at large considers it "sick") it's a brain-wiring issue. Thusfar the only way we, as a society, has been able to deal with people who have the miswiring of their brains, is to lock them away and otherwise do all that is possible to ensure they're never left alone with children.
Would I view or appreciate cartoon child porn? No.
Do I think drawing, viewing, or posessing such material is in extremely poor taste and very much ill-advised? You bet I do.
Do I think such material constitutes the same offense as actual child porn and those drawing or posessing it should be prosecuted as such? Absolutely NOT. Apples and oranges.
I'm not sure what you're responding to here.. but I don't agree with you. What do you do about kids? Tell them they can't ride a bicycle on the street until they're old enough to drive? Do you really expect a 5 year old to go to some special class and pass a bunch of tests? What about people on low or fixed incomes? While it's true that some of us are more serious about it as a sport and spend $$$ on it, many people ride casually or ride because they can't afford any other transportation. What you're proposing would invite beaurocratic shenanigans that would end up raising the price of being a cyclist out of the range of everyone except people who have money and don't NEED to ride a bicycle. It's as preposterous an idea as they come. What's next, requiring training and licensing for rollerblades and skateboards?
Looks like batteries of this design are on a par energy-density-wise with Lithium-Ion, and have an estimated life-span of 15 years (although I couldn't find a charge-discharge cycle figure). How expensive are these to produce compared to other chemistries, I wonder?
Some of you are discussing using a flywheel. Does anyone have some data on the efficiency of that technology versus using this type of battery? My first thought would be that coming up with bearings for a flywheel that can handle the mass of the wheel yet be as close to frictionless as possible would be difficult and expensive to develop and then later to maintain.
Check out Google Maps sometime, our road system isn't made for bikes.
We can change that. Between where I live and Davis, California, there is nothing but freeway, but there is a bike lane connecting the two over the causeway that is off to the side, protected by concrete guards and a fence. Cyclists use it every day.
That's an absolutely insane idea. It would make cycling as costly for the casual rider as driving a car, and it would make it impossible for a kid to ride a bike, which is WHY this hasn't already been done.
Making broad generalizations isn't going to improve the situation any, it's just going to give a false sense of entitlement to poor drivers with already bad attitudes, and enrage the cycling community in general for being punished for the actions of the few. Stop pointing fingers and making accusations, and start doing something positive about the situation.
..I have no doubts about why more people do not subject themselves to this.
I hear you; I ride a motorcycle, too, and get that sort of treatment with that as well -- but doing nothing about it isn't going to change anything. BTW we both know that cyclists are also partly to blame for this attitude, because too many of them also don't realize they are subject to the same rules of the road -- or just don't care. Cyclists need to behave better, and drivers need to be educated better as well as be made an example of by police and the courts for misbehaving.
According to what I hear, an average speed of 40 km/h (25mph) would be 'normal'
Ummm... depends 100% on your fitness level, really. If you're a couch potato, you're not going to average 25mph, maybe not for a long time, maybe never. Professional racers average 25mph over significant distances. *I* can't average 25mph, that's for sure!
Define "parking problems"... cause I have yet to figure out how to go shopping with my bike. Where do you leave yours when you go shopping ?
I'm not one of the nut-jobs who insist on riding a bicycle everywhere -- you can't go to Costco on a bicycle (although I can sometimes on a motorcycle). I drive my pickup for errands that require hauling significant amounts of cargo. But I'm more than capable of riding the 6.4 miles each way to work.
I suppose if you're dedicated to being "green", you can take public transit when you need to shop. (?)
I think it's the other way around: we place a high "intrinsic" value on certain objects because they stimulate our brains the way they do. Otherwise why should compressed carbon or base metals be worth more or less than anything else? Iron is a more useful metal than gold or silver for making tools, and you can't burn diamonds to keep warm in the winter.
..and solve three problems at once: Zero emissions, doesn't require fossil fuels, and more people will get off their fat lazy butts and get the exercise they NEED to be a reasonable weight and otherwise healthy.
My suggestion is to build "electric lanes" on major highways
See previous takes on "problems building infrastructure". I've heard this idea I don't know HOW many times before, and it's a fine idea -- for a science fiction novel.
Let's just say that over the course of my life, I've discovered that having skepticism as my default attitude is orders of magnitude safer than optimism, especially when it comes to politics and politicians: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.;-)
Preface: I voted for Obama. Why? No better choices. That being said, I think he's on the up-and-up.
That being out of the way: This sounds lovely on paper, but I don't think it's going to work out the way he thinks it will; much easier said than done. Telecoms all over the country have been resistant (to say the least!) of "free" broadband, and they sure as hell haven't been trying to reduce the costs of broadband OR going out of their way to increase the size (OR the capacity!) of their networks. My $0.02 worth on the subject is that throwing money at this subject likely won't do much of anything other than line the already well-lined pockets of the telecoms, there needs to be some sort of reform(s) to go along with it (read as: strings attached to the money, SERIOUS strings). Even then.. not so sure I want the gov'ment mucking about with the Internet any more than they already do.
I disagree; what it mainly will do is give the illusion that Australia's children are being protected from the Big Bad 'Ol Intarwebs -- which is to say that it'll make some busybody politicians look good to their constituency.
Don't they have anything better to do over there than screw with the internet? Don't they have some crime problems to solve or something?
What I'm seeing here indicates that it's an array consisting of banks of capacitors in series to get the working voltage, and then connected in parallel to get the overall capacity.
Second that, all of it. They want a fight? BT has been more or less on the up-and-up thusfar, because it wasn't created solely for illegal purposes -- but if you piss off the developers, they'll just start obfuscating the traffic by design somehow. What they don't get is that they can't stop it if it's what enough people want.
I'd prefer to hope that the RIAA is starting to get the clue, but I'm still way too cynical to believe that yet. Sad thing is that if the RIAA would take all the money they've been paying lawyers thus far and apply it to an updated business model, they'd get much more benefit out of it quicker than any number of lawsuits against people who have no money to start with!
Also, this: MEMO TO RIAA: You're NOT going to stop people from sharing music. You couldn't stop it when it was cassette tapes recorded off of vinyl, you couldn't stop it when it was cassette tapes copied off of CDs, you couldn't stop it when it was CDs ripped to CDRs, you couldn't stop it when it was CDs ripped to MP3s, and you haven't stopped it when it was MP3s and AACs shared directly over the public internet. What makes you think you can ever stop it?GIVE UP NOW!!!
*sigh*
If all you have is $18, then all you're going to SPEND is $18. If all you're doing is email and light web browsing and you don't CARE that it's censored by the government, then you're likely to spend as little as possible. If you WANT faster speed and/or WANT uncensored access and (most importantly) you HAVE the money then you're GOING to pay to get what you want -- but again I say, if all you HAVE is $18 then all you're going to SPEND is $18; you can't eat steak on a hamburger budget not matter how hard you wish for steak. Similarly if all you have for internet is ZERO DOLLARS then you're not going to have internet AT ALL unless there is an alternative. I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU AT ALL and your assertion that it's "common sense" is a bunch of hot air and speculation as much as what I AM SAYING is speculation or what ANYONE has to say on the subject is speculation. End of discussion.
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Is being a smartass and not adding anything of value, not even your opinion, even lamer than that AND completely useless? Absolutely. Please remove yourself from the gene pool, preferably with a pair of bolt cutters.
To date, it's been impossible to "cure" pedophiles. It's not that they're "mentally ill" (except in the social sense, i.e., society at large considers it "sick") it's a brain-wiring issue. Thusfar the only way we, as a society, has been able to deal with people who have the miswiring of their brains, is to lock them away and otherwise do all that is possible to ensure they're never left alone with children.
Would I view or appreciate cartoon child porn? No.
Do I think drawing, viewing, or posessing such material is in extremely poor taste and very much ill-advised? You bet I do.
Do I think such material constitutes the same offense as actual child porn and those drawing or posessing it should be prosecuted as such? Absolutely NOT. Apples and oranges.
Do not take it out on me.
I'm not sure what you're responding to here.. but I don't agree with you. What do you do about kids? Tell them they can't ride a bicycle on the street until they're old enough to drive? Do you really expect a 5 year old to go to some special class and pass a bunch of tests? What about people on low or fixed incomes? While it's true that some of us are more serious about it as a sport and spend $$$ on it, many people ride casually or ride because they can't afford any other transportation. What you're proposing would invite beaurocratic shenanigans that would end up raising the price of being a cyclist out of the range of everyone except people who have money and don't NEED to ride a bicycle. It's as preposterous an idea as they come. What's next, requiring training and licensing for rollerblades and skateboards?
Some of you are discussing using a flywheel. Does anyone have some data on the efficiency of that technology versus using this type of battery? My first thought would be that coming up with bearings for a flywheel that can handle the mass of the wheel yet be as close to frictionless as possible would be difficult and expensive to develop and then later to maintain.
As yet, there is nowhere to ride them safely AND legally.
We can change that.
Check out Google Maps sometime, our road system isn't made for bikes.
We can change that. Between where I live and Davis, California, there is nothing but freeway, but there is a bike lane connecting the two over the causeway that is off to the side, protected by concrete guards and a fence. Cyclists use it every day.
I sometimes wish I had a stick that I could hold out just in front of them so they would fall
You're a fucking JERK, then.
That's an absolutely insane idea. It would make cycling as costly for the casual rider as driving a car, and it would make it impossible for a kid to ride a bike, which is WHY this hasn't already been done.
..cyclists usually suck.
Making broad generalizations isn't going to improve the situation any, it's just going to give a false sense of entitlement to poor drivers with already bad attitudes, and enrage the cycling community in general for being punished for the actions of the few. Stop pointing fingers and making accusations, and start doing something positive about the situation.
..I have no doubts about why more people do not subject themselves to this.
I hear you; I ride a motorcycle, too, and get that sort of treatment with that as well -- but doing nothing about it isn't going to change anything. BTW we both know that cyclists are also partly to blame for this attitude, because too many of them also don't realize they are subject to the same rules of the road -- or just don't care. Cyclists need to behave better, and drivers need to be educated better as well as be made an example of by police and the courts for misbehaving.
According to what I hear, an average speed of 40 km/h (25mph) would be 'normal'
Ummm... depends 100% on your fitness level, really. If you're a couch potato, you're not going to average 25mph, maybe not for a long time, maybe never. Professional racers average 25mph over significant distances. *I* can't average 25mph, that's for sure!
Define "parking problems" ... cause I have yet to figure out how to go shopping with my bike. Where do you leave yours when you go shopping ?
I'm not one of the nut-jobs who insist on riding a bicycle everywhere -- you can't go to Costco on a bicycle (although I can sometimes on a motorcycle). I drive my pickup for errands that require hauling significant amounts of cargo. But I'm more than capable of riding the 6.4 miles each way to work.
I suppose if you're dedicated to being "green", you can take public transit when you need to shop. (?)
What realistic options are left to us?
It's called "civil disobedience", dude. Try it sometime. Worked wonders for us, back in the day. Looks like it's time for it, again.
I think it's the other way around: we place a high "intrinsic" value on certain objects because they stimulate our brains the way they do. Otherwise why should compressed carbon or base metals be worth more or less than anything else? Iron is a more useful metal than gold or silver for making tools, and you can't burn diamonds to keep warm in the winter.
..and solve three problems at once: Zero emissions, doesn't require fossil fuels, and more people will get off their fat lazy butts and get the exercise they NEED to be a reasonable weight and otherwise healthy.
My suggestion is to build "electric lanes" on major highways
See previous takes on "problems building infrastructure". I've heard this idea I don't know HOW many times before, and it's a fine idea -- for a science fiction novel.
So you are saying Obama is naive?
Let's just say that over the course of my life, I've discovered that having skepticism as my default attitude is orders of magnitude safer than optimism, especially when it comes to politics and politicians: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. ;-)
That being out of the way: This sounds lovely on paper, but I don't think it's going to work out the way he thinks it will; much easier said than done. Telecoms all over the country have been resistant (to say the least!) of "free" broadband, and they sure as hell haven't been trying to reduce the costs of broadband OR going out of their way to increase the size (OR the capacity!) of their networks. My $0.02 worth on the subject is that throwing money at this subject likely won't do much of anything other than line the already well-lined pockets of the telecoms, there needs to be some sort of reform(s) to go along with it (read as: strings attached to the money, SERIOUS strings). Even then.. not so sure I want the gov'ment mucking about with the Internet any more than they already do.
Don't they have anything better to do over there than screw with the internet? Don't they have some crime problems to solve or something?
What I'm seeing here indicates that it's an array consisting of banks of capacitors in series to get the working voltage, and then connected in parallel to get the overall capacity.
But, how long will it take to charge with the optional Mr. Fusion unit? How about with the optional lightning-rod emergengy-charging attachment?
Second that, all of it. They want a fight? BT has been more or less on the up-and-up thusfar, because it wasn't created solely for illegal purposes -- but if you piss off the developers, they'll just start obfuscating the traffic by design somehow. What they don't get is that they can't stop it if it's what enough people want.
Also, this: MEMO TO RIAA: You're NOT going to stop people from sharing music. You couldn't stop it when it was cassette tapes recorded off of vinyl, you couldn't stop it when it was cassette tapes copied off of CDs, you couldn't stop it when it was CDs ripped to CDRs, you couldn't stop it when it was CDs ripped to MP3s, and you haven't stopped it when it was MP3s and AACs shared directly over the public internet. What makes you think you can ever stop it? GIVE UP NOW!!!
*sigh*
If all you have is $18, then all you're going to SPEND is $18. If all you're doing is email and light web browsing and you don't CARE that it's censored by the government, then you're likely to spend as little as possible. If you WANT faster speed and/or WANT uncensored access and (most importantly) you HAVE the money then you're GOING to pay to get what you want -- but again I say, if all you HAVE is $18 then all you're going to SPEND is $18; you can't eat steak on a hamburger budget not matter how hard you wish for steak. Similarly if all you have for internet is ZERO DOLLARS then you're not going to have internet AT ALL unless there is an alternative. I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU AT ALL and your assertion that it's "common sense" is a bunch of hot air and speculation as much as what I AM SAYING is speculation or what ANYONE has to say on the subject is speculation. End of discussion.