There is a potential privacy issue here. However, if they "anonymize" the info, I see no problem.
In fact, this could become a great improvement over the "nielsen" ratings model. We all know that the Nielsens are problematic. The sample size is way too small. Too many excellent programs get cancelled due to "poor ratings".
It would be awesome if what people were actually watching would get credit. A lot more quality "niche" shows would probably be more viable. Especially in the cable markets.
I say, that this would be great so long as they: 1) Allow individuals to "opt-out" for ANY reason. 2) Anonymize all the information that is streamed from the box. Make the specific source code open source so geeks can verify that "big brother" isn't watching what they are.
It would be quite complex to dynamically fix the problems with remotes... To move right in one, you use volume up, and to move right in another, you to use channel up. How exactly do you propose to fix that?
As I said, you use task based interfaces. Tasks would include.
* Watch VCR Movie * Watch DVD Movie * Dub Tape * Watch DirectTV * Adjust TV * Radio channel * Listen to CD
etc...
In the appropriate mode commands are mapped appropriatly volume up, volume down, etc...
For example, while watching DirectTV, the channel buttons would command the DirectTV box channel, not the TV channel. Volume would be mapped to either the TV or the Receiver. Switching modes would trigger a macro that would set every component to the correct mode for that task.
This is how people (not geeks) expect to interact with technology. They don't say....
"I wanna set the TV to the S-Video 1 outlet, and the Receiver to channel 4".
they say...
"I just wanna watch channel 5 on DirectTV"
Everything should happen automatically. Of course some configuration of the remote would be required. But provided you set up a good plan, these premapped "modes" would be as easy to program as the "TV" mode of a remote control.
A third option is a "system commander" box. Basically, it would be a small box that could overlay menus on your TV. It would intercept all video and audio transmissions the display.
Basically, it would do all the above, except, instead of an LCD on the remote, it would present menus on the display when called for. In such a way, you wouldn't have to look at the device because all the available functions would be presented logically as an overlay on the TV.
The only buttons necessary would be "Power" "Mode selection" "A D-Configured Channel/Volume mute" "A D-Configured Up/Down/Left/Right, Select"
Such a device could be embedded into a TIVO/DVD recorder device as a value added feature. Programming could be done very simply by the use of menus instead of pressing difficult to understand buttons. Audio/Video instructions would be included.
Learning unkown controls would be especially easy:
"We will now teach the commander the emulate the remote for your... 'VCR/DVD/Dolby Receiver/X10 Room Commander, etc....'. Have the remote in hand and press the buttons requested.
Press the 'Mute' button. Press the 'Channel Up' button. Press the 'Menu' button.... yadda, yadda, yadda,
Thank you, the functions are now programmed. Are their additional buttons on the remote that you would like to program.
YES
Great, please use the onscreen keyboard to enter a name for this function....
"
You get the picture. Powerful enough for geeks. Easy enough for old ladies.
It's not often that a technology like NiMH comes along. You can use it for almost all battery applications. It's safe, extremely affordable and put the "premium" batteries to shame in some applications.
Their self discharging behavior isn't as limiting as some people would suggest when compared with other rechargeables. Rechargeables are typically used for devices that consume TONS of electricity and must be replaced often. If you replace them often, you use them often. If you use it often, shelf life really isn't an issue.
People talk about remote controls. But a standard alkaline in an IR remote control typically lasts for a year or more. This use for a disposable battery is very economical. It's an application that doesn't scream very loudly for rechargeables.
Emergency flashlights (which are barely used) don't really cry out for rechargeables either. I do use NiMH in my headlamp (hiker style) but that gets used and the batteries are swapped out frequently.
The alkaline stuff is a bit problematic and DOES tend to lose it's power capacity over time. I wouldn't use it for a flashlight, because their capacity doesn't approach either standard alkaline or high-capacity NiMH.
I hope they find some ways to make the rechargeable alkalines work better. As it is, they are a niche product good for devices that sit for long times and use little power (smoke alarms, remotes, clocks, etc...).
Like laptops, I would expect fuel cells to replace batteries in R/C toys in coming years. Tied to a LiOn electric "cache" this would probably allow an R/C vehicle to run for hours on lightweight methanol capsules.
If the "key" is indeed a USB key, it's a waste of money.
The risk of losing and subsequently replacing the key is too great. The bother of constantly removing and replacing the key is a too much trouble to be secure, people will forget and the security is broken.
Rather, I would suggest a SmartCard unlocking mechanism with a dedicated keypad. Since the SmartCard is always effectively "locked" there is no need to hide it.
One could do this much cheaper using an external firewire or USB drive housing. Just embed the smartcard reader into the device with a keypad. This way, a hacker could "stash away" their entire drive or take it with them if necessary. Since the reader is portable, he could recover his data on a separate computer.
Better scenarios would entail placing the drive in a separate location and communicating with it wirelessly (over VPN of course). If their computer gets confiscated, they won't get any of the good stuff, only the core system. The drive can be safely tucked away somewhere else in a residence or in a completely separate living space (not covered under warrant).
You've just described the PERFECT scenario for NiMH batteries. All the devices you've described are high-power, high-voltage, and go through Alkalines VERY quickly.
Invest in NiMH batteries for ALL your applications. Basically, all you need is two sets of batteries for each devices. They should last a couple years. Not only will the NiMH batteries outperform your Duracells, they will also last for years and save you loads of $$$$$.
Regular Rayovac NiMH should do nicely. Though various other posters have pointed out more "industrial" alternatives that will do even nicer.
I'm personally surprised that a high level digital camera doesn't demand a lithium-ion cell. While they are WAY more expensive, Lithium-ION pretty much puts all other battery technology to shame for their capacity, charge time, and charge retention.
I'm pretty sure that "big battery" could make lots more money selling lots and lots of disposable cells.
Rayovac gets credit for forcing Duracell and Energizer into rechargeables. Duracell and Energizer were market leaders and had little incentive to sell rechargeables. Rayovac innovated and pushed rechargeable technologies effectively side-stepping Duracell and Energizer. High-voltage devices came around at the right time, now Rayovac is the leader in consumer rechargeables.
Had Rayovac not been a minority player, I doubt they would have invested so heavily in rechargeables.
They self-discharge at a much greater rate than alkaline and are unsuitable for such applications (unless you like finding dead batteries in your remote every few weeks... been there, done that).
I actually do use NiMH batteries in remotes (along with some old Rayovac Renewals). I've been getting months of use out of them. I realize that disposable alkaline would last longer in this application, but recharging NiMH batteries is a little freindlier to the environment AND the wallet when all is said and done.
The one BIG exception to this is using a multi-function lighted remote. Those using PRONTO's and other high-drain remotes are also probably better off with NiMH than most other technologies.
In any case, it's nice to know that you can have one set of batteries that hold up well in MOST applications. Their's no use having a special set of "remote control" batteries unless you absoluetly have to. Emergency flashlights and radios are still the domain of alkaline (and freeplay;-)
I couldn't find a stock replacement battery for my little vtech cordless phone. After inspecting the battery, I determined it was three standard AAA cells soldered together. So I too made my own battery pack using the parts rummaged from the old one and electrical tape.
I used the higher capacity Rayovac AAAs. No more power problems. Seriously, if a small CE battery pack runs more then $7, I'm building one from now on.
One question for anyone who is game. I have a Toshiba laptop with an NiMH battery pack. I recently had to replace it after a few years use. Has anyone ever heard of cracking open NiMH laptop batteries and replacing the cells with standard of the shelf cells in Motorola flip phone fashion?
I can see paying $100-$120 for a Li-On battery, but $100 is way too much if it's only 16 bundled AAA batteries. If thats the case, I could probably swap them out for $30-$40.
Rayovac's NiMH equipment also handles recharges their rechargeable alkaline products. Using this strategy you could probably use the rechargeable alkaline for clocks and remotes while using NiMH for Cameras, CD Players, etc...
For emergency flashlights, plain old alkaline is probably the best bet. Well, actually, the stuff with the "freeplay" handles are best for those since you can crank up 30 minutes of power with a minute of cranking (fat powered;-) ). Hmmm, I wonder if they use NiMH of NiCad in those??;-)
Comon everybody. Lets just face it, with or without the "memory affect" those rechargeable NiCads ALWAYS sucked when compared to normal batteries. They were expensive, took a long time to charge, and had little capacity compared to disposable batteries.
When rechargeable alkaline came out I jumped on them as a godsend despite still paling in comparison to disposable alkaline. NiMH is here and there is no place for NiCad anymore. Though, Radio Shack will probably sell them for years to come;-)
The advice you are given by people who claim the "memory effect" exists is to periodically run your batteries flat. I am told by these chemists and engineers that the more often you "deep cycle" your rechargable batteries (of any type, lead-acid, Ni-Cd, NiMH, Li-ion, whatever), the shorter the total AH life of the battery, guaranteed.
Perhaps the "memory effect" argument was spun by battery manufacturers in back channels to get people to run-down deep-cycle their batteries. Hence, "savvy" consumers would end up using more batteries due to overwear.:=)
Rechargeable alkalines certainly did have advantages BEFORE NiMH came out. But, boy do the NiMH batteries kick the crap out of Rechargeable Alkaline.
The good news is that it you DON'T buy them at Radio Shack, they are VERY affordable. You can buy a Ray-O-Vac charger with AA batteries for $20-$30. You will get especially good results with your GPS receiver. Once you go NiMH, you will resign your rechargeable alkalines to remote controls.
Actually, the biggest poponents (thus far) of the communist lie have been white (Soviet Union (effectively Russia) ). Discrimating against a belief system may very well be discrimination, but it is NOT Racism.
Trading with people in other countries builds cultural bridges, helps to lift people out of poverty, spreads the values of freedom and democracy, and promotes peace between nations.
Yeah, I used to believe this argument as well. This is the brilliant part of WTO and free trade. You can appeal to the smushy liberal notions of the folks on the left and effectively blind them to the effects of so-called "free trade".
The real effect is to marginalize the power of the middle class in democratic nations. The cost savings aren't passed on to consumers, they are gobbled up by greedy industrialists. And the workers, well, their standards of living are hardly increased moving from villages into sweatshop working conditions working for pennies a day.
As for democracry overseas, HAH!!!! The transition between an agrarian and an industrial economy WEAKENS the relative force of labor. They don't have MORE power, they have less. To top it off, most people in Indo-China have no real civil rights. There are no environmental standards. Their is ZERO chance for collective bargaining. Union organizers won't loose, they'll simply dissappear quicker than you can say Suharto.
Free trade with free nations and free peoples is fine. If these nations wan't in on the goods, they should be required to share the benefits of trade with their "peasants" rather than simply treating them like yaks. Free trade is bankrupting the US.
Education !!!!!! Thats the funniest joke of all. Our universities are progressively subsidizing the education of foreigners over Americans through graduate education and academic grants. These folks were SUPPOSED to go home when they were done learning. Instead they have glutted the US high-tech workforce with H-1B and L-Z1 non-immigrants.
Why would a laid of manufacturing worker pay thousands of dollars to re-educate himself over years when greedy corporations are importing foreigners to do these jobs NOW!!!! H-1B and LZ-1's are effectively indentured servants. They have no rights to bargaining. Often, corporations don't even pay them what they state on their Visa application because their is literally NO WAY to punish a company for such an action.
We are not exporting prosperity, democracy and freedom. We are importing depression, totalitarianism and oppression. Indo-China is becoming no free-er. The middle class in these countries are not growing. Only the hordes of dependent serfs. At the same time are employment is going up and we are importing foreign scabs to do American jobs at half the price.
Bay all you want about our freedoms and liberties. However, your freedoms will mean NOTHING when you have to beg for a job from some wealthy ass-hole while standing in a line of thousands of unemployed honest shmucks. When firing you means destitution, you will be forced to ceade your civil liberties for the sake of survival.
Totalitariansim, Facism, Communism, China-ism, Laze-Fare capitalism, Robber-Baronism, Fuedalism, call it whatever you want-ism. It's all the same shit. A few people on top with all the money and power and everybody else begging for their scraps. The would be fuedal lords of the world have dreamed up the scheme to gut the democratic prosperity of industrialized nations by distributing parts of it to rich people in poor countries and the rest to rich people in rich countries.
See: http://nomoreh1b.com and http://zazona.com
For more details. Either this shit ends or the second great depression comes.
Moderators: Please proceed to mod me up for being off-topic, and arguably paranoid.
NiMH recharcheables make Alkaline rechargeables look pretty week. They make normal alkaline batteries look weak as well.
I've had very good luck with Ray-O-Vac. Ray-O-Vac also makes higher capacity line of NiMH batteries than other manufacturers (check the labels for the mAh rating).
The problem with scenario is the fact that the remote operates per DEVICE.
An optimal remote would operate in a "mode". In other words, I would specify "Watch DirectTV", or "Dub Tapes" instead of TV, DVD. Buttons would be mapped appropriate so the units would automatically switch to the appropriate modes and the appropriate commands would be mapped to buttons.
A good smart remote would include both traditional buttons with tactile feedback, and a touch-screen for complex/redundant functionality. Macros would be the primary way of doing business.
The good smart remote would NOT rely on IR. It's too tempermental. RF remotes should be used (a translator may be required).
I believe the concept that ice humans hunting mammoths AT ALL is pretty silly.
The things are just too damn big to bring down with spears. It's also fairly questionable that "cliff hunting" took place. Today's elephants are VERY SMART and can find food over hundreds of square miles of territiory at EXACTLY the right time of year. If Mammoth are similar in their intellect it's doubtful Mammoth groups would return to the same scene over and over to be slaughtered.
I have produced large piles of animal bones and tossed them in the trash. That doesn't mean I killed the animals. Large amounts of bones at the bottoms of cliffs could just as plausibly be thrown over as trash after cutting off carcass pieces of dismembered Mammoth pieces (from natural deaths).
Finally, anyone who thinks ice age men killed mammoths should try hunting a modern elephant with a spear. Have you ever seen the size of an elephant gun? Even those don't bring them down ever time. Even if you DID get close enough, you would likely be gored or trampled do death after the first poke (if you managed to get through their hide).
Re:Making a hybrid is not really cloning...
on
Cloning Mammoths
·
· Score: 2, Informative
True.
However, this method (if successful) would be the quickest, easiest way to get a living mammoth (hybrid). Once you had your hybrids you could bank up lots of samples and clone it using the Dolly technique.
Gene therapy could be used to "mammothize" the hybrids. Subsequent clones from "gene-therapized" samples would be even more "mammoth" then previous generations.
Ultimately, even if a fertile mammoth hybrid could be produced, it would take a VERY long time to produce a near-pure mammoth via selective inbreeding. It takes to darn long for the females to reach fertility (which probably contributed to their extinction).
Ultimately, we will have the technology to reproduce a live mammoth given the VERY pristine condition of the frozen mammoth sample. It is a certainty that one could re-constitute a complete DNA through multiple samples.
I think it will teach us a LOT about evolutionary biology (and genetics as a whole) to effectively DEVOLVE elephants (to a common anscestor) and re-evolve them into Mammoths.
Don't forget that modern DNA is littered with discarded/unused sequences. For example, there have been experiments done where researchers generated chickens with TEETH. The information to create teeth and grow them is there (likely from their dinasour anscestors). It just had to be turned back on.
Re:CDBurners not the end for high-capacity Zip dri
on
DVD Burner Round-up
·
· Score: 1
Yes had zip dropped the price of their media, they would have lasted longer. Their greatest flaw was not implementing the floppy form factor. They did this so they could patent their disc configuration and prevent competing media from entering the market.
Had LS-120 gotten their act together a little sooner, I think you would see LS-120 standard on most PCs today. As it was, the deep market penetration by Zip squelched changed for LS-120.
Yes CD-RW was a big pressure on both, but I think one (not both) could have made it if they effectively replaced a disk part cheaply like CD-RW burners did.
Pioneer has thrown in the towell and now produces +R combo drives. I would strongly suggest that new buyers get the +/- combo drives or +R drives. The +R drives are faster and starting and stopping multi-write sessions and this is probably the reason for Pioneer's aqcuiesence.
Use -R for backups and movie distribution. It's cheaper and the multi-write abilities of +R are irrelevant for "all-at-once" writing.
Slashdot Mirror
There is a potential privacy issue here. However, if they "anonymize" the info, I see no problem.
In fact, this could become a great improvement over the "nielsen" ratings model. We all know that the Nielsens are problematic. The sample size is way too small. Too many excellent programs get cancelled due to "poor ratings".
It would be awesome if what people were actually watching would get credit. A lot more quality "niche" shows would probably be more viable. Especially in the cable markets.
I say, that this would be great so long as they:
1) Allow individuals to "opt-out" for ANY reason.
2) Anonymize all the information that is streamed from the box. Make the specific source code open source so geeks can verify that "big brother" isn't watching what they are.
It would be quite complex to dynamically fix the problems with remotes... To move right in one, you use volume up, and to move right in another, you to use channel up. How exactly do you propose to fix that?
....
... 'VCR/DVD/Dolby Receiver/X10 Room Commander, etc....'. Have the remote in hand and press the buttons requested.
... yadda, yadda, yadda,
...
As I said, you use task based interfaces. Tasks would include.
* Watch VCR Movie
* Watch DVD Movie
* Dub Tape
* Watch DirectTV
* Adjust TV
* Radio channel
* Listen to CD
etc...
In the appropriate mode commands are mapped appropriatly volume up, volume down, etc...
For example, while watching DirectTV, the channel buttons would command the DirectTV box channel, not the TV channel. Volume would be mapped to either the TV or the Receiver. Switching modes would trigger a macro that would set every component to the correct mode for that task.
This is how people (not geeks) expect to interact with technology. They don't say
"I wanna set the TV to the S-Video 1 outlet, and the Receiver to channel 4".
they say...
"I just wanna watch channel 5 on DirectTV"
Everything should happen automatically. Of course some configuration of the remote would be required. But provided you set up a good plan, these premapped "modes" would be as easy to program as the "TV" mode of a remote control.
A third option is a "system commander" box. Basically, it would be a small box that could overlay menus on your TV. It would intercept all video and audio transmissions the display.
Basically, it would do all the above, except, instead of an LCD on the remote, it would present menus on the display when called for. In such a way, you wouldn't have to look at the device because all the available functions would be presented logically as an overlay on the TV.
The only buttons necessary would be
"Power"
"Mode selection"
"A D-Configured Channel/Volume mute"
"A D-Configured Up/Down/Left/Right, Select"
Such a device could be embedded into a TIVO/DVD recorder device as a value added feature. Programming could be done very simply by the use of menus instead of pressing difficult to understand buttons. Audio/Video instructions would be included.
Learning unkown controls would be especially easy:
"We will now teach the commander the emulate the remote for your
Press the 'Mute' button.
Press the 'Channel Up' button.
Press the 'Menu' button.
Thank you, the functions are now programmed. Are their additional buttons on the remote that you would like to program.
YES
Great, please use the onscreen keyboard to enter a name for this function.
"
You get the picture. Powerful enough for geeks. Easy enough for old ladies.
It's not often that a technology like NiMH comes along. You can use it for almost all battery applications. It's safe, extremely affordable and put the "premium" batteries to shame in some applications.
Their self discharging behavior isn't as limiting as some people would suggest when compared with other rechargeables. Rechargeables are typically used for devices that consume TONS of electricity and must be replaced often. If you replace them often, you use them often. If you use it often, shelf life really isn't an issue.
People talk about remote controls. But a standard alkaline in an IR remote control typically lasts for a year or more. This use for a disposable battery is very economical. It's an application that doesn't scream very loudly for rechargeables.
Emergency flashlights (which are barely used) don't really cry out for rechargeables either. I do use NiMH in my headlamp (hiker style) but that gets used and the batteries are swapped out frequently.
The alkaline stuff is a bit problematic and DOES tend to lose it's power capacity over time. I wouldn't use it for a flashlight, because their capacity doesn't approach either standard alkaline or high-capacity NiMH.
I hope they find some ways to make the rechargeable alkalines work better. As it is, they are a niche product good for devices that sit for long times and use little power (smoke alarms, remotes, clocks, etc...).
Like laptops, I would expect fuel cells to replace batteries in R/C toys in coming years. Tied to a LiOn electric "cache" this would probably allow an R/C vehicle to run for hours on lightweight methanol capsules.
If the "key" is indeed a USB key, it's a waste of money.
The risk of losing and subsequently replacing the key is too great. The bother of constantly removing and replacing the key is a too much trouble to be secure, people will forget and the security is broken.
Rather, I would suggest a SmartCard unlocking mechanism with a dedicated keypad. Since the SmartCard is always effectively "locked" there is no need to hide it.
One could do this much cheaper using an external firewire or USB drive housing. Just embed the smartcard reader into the device with a keypad. This way, a hacker could "stash away" their entire drive or take it with them if necessary. Since the reader is portable, he could recover his data on a separate computer.
Better scenarios would entail placing the drive in a separate location and communicating with it wirelessly (over VPN of course). If their computer gets confiscated, they won't get any of the good stuff, only the core system. The drive can be safely tucked away somewhere else in a residence or in a completely separate living space (not covered under warrant).
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!!!
You've just described the PERFECT scenario for NiMH batteries. All the devices you've described are high-power, high-voltage, and go through Alkalines VERY quickly.
Invest in NiMH batteries for ALL your applications. Basically, all you need is two sets of batteries for each devices. They should last a couple years. Not only will the NiMH batteries outperform your Duracells, they will also last for years and save you loads of $$$$$.
Regular Rayovac NiMH should do nicely. Though various other posters have pointed out more "industrial" alternatives that will do even nicer.
I'm personally surprised that a high level digital camera doesn't demand a lithium-ion cell. While they are WAY more expensive, Lithium-ION pretty much puts all other battery technology to shame for their capacity, charge time, and charge retention.
I'm pretty sure that "big battery" could make lots more money selling lots and lots of disposable cells.
Rayovac gets credit for forcing Duracell and Energizer into rechargeables. Duracell and Energizer were market leaders and had little incentive to sell rechargeables. Rayovac innovated and pushed rechargeable technologies effectively side-stepping Duracell and Energizer. High-voltage devices came around at the right time, now Rayovac is the leader in consumer rechargeables.
Had Rayovac not been a minority player, I doubt they would have invested so heavily in rechargeables.
Yeah, apparantly Jordan finally manifested his "memory effect".
They self-discharge at a much greater rate than alkaline and are unsuitable for such applications (unless you like finding dead batteries in your remote every few weeks... been there, done that).
;-)
I actually do use NiMH batteries in remotes (along with some old Rayovac Renewals). I've been getting months of use out of them. I realize that disposable alkaline would last longer in this application, but recharging NiMH batteries is a little freindlier to the environment AND the wallet when all is said and done.
The one BIG exception to this is using a multi-function lighted remote. Those using PRONTO's and other high-drain remotes are also probably better off with NiMH than most other technologies.
In any case, it's nice to know that you can have one set of batteries that hold up well in MOST applications. Their's no use having a special set of "remote control" batteries unless you absoluetly have to. Emergency flashlights and radios are still the domain of alkaline (and freeplay
I couldn't find a stock replacement battery for my little vtech cordless phone. After inspecting the battery, I determined it was three standard AAA cells soldered together. So I too made my own battery pack using the parts rummaged from the old one and electrical tape.
I used the higher capacity Rayovac AAAs. No more power problems. Seriously, if a small CE battery pack runs more then $7, I'm building one from now on.
One question for anyone who is game. I have a Toshiba laptop with an NiMH battery pack. I recently had to replace it after a few years use. Has anyone ever heard of cracking open NiMH laptop batteries and replacing the cells with standard of the shelf cells in Motorola flip phone fashion?
I can see paying $100-$120 for a Li-On battery, but $100 is way too much if it's only 16 bundled AAA batteries. If thats the case, I could probably swap them out for $30-$40.
Rayovac's NiMH equipment also handles recharges their rechargeable alkaline products. Using this strategy you could probably use the rechargeable alkaline for clocks and remotes while using NiMH for Cameras, CD Players, etc...
;-) ). Hmmm, I wonder if they use NiMH of NiCad in those?? ;-)
For emergency flashlights, plain old alkaline is probably the best bet. Well, actually, the stuff with the "freeplay" handles are best for those since you can crank up 30 minutes of power with a minute of cranking (fat powered
Comon everybody. Lets just face it, with or without the "memory affect" those rechargeable NiCads ALWAYS sucked when compared to normal batteries. They were expensive, took a long time to charge, and had little capacity compared to disposable batteries.
;-)
When rechargeable alkaline came out I jumped on them as a godsend despite still paling in comparison to disposable alkaline. NiMH is here and there is no place for NiCad anymore. Though, Radio Shack will probably sell them for years to come
The advice you are given by people who claim the "memory effect" exists is to periodically run your batteries flat. I am told by these chemists and engineers that the more often you "deep cycle" your rechargable batteries (of any type, lead-acid, Ni-Cd, NiMH, Li-ion, whatever), the shorter the total AH life of the battery, guaranteed.
:=)
Perhaps the "memory effect" argument was spun by battery manufacturers in back channels to get people to run-down deep-cycle their batteries. Hence, "savvy" consumers would end up using more batteries due to overwear.
Rechargeable alkalines certainly did have advantages BEFORE NiMH came out. But, boy do the NiMH batteries kick the crap out of Rechargeable Alkaline.
The good news is that it you DON'T buy them at Radio Shack, they are VERY affordable. You can buy a Ray-O-Vac charger with AA batteries for $20-$30. You will get especially good results with your GPS receiver. Once you go NiMH, you will resign your rechargeable alkalines to remote controls.
Actually, the biggest poponents (thus far) of the communist lie have been white (Soviet Union (effectively Russia) ). Discrimating against a belief system may very well be discrimination, but it is NOT Racism.
Trading with people in other countries builds cultural bridges, helps to lift people out of poverty, spreads the values of freedom and democracy, and promotes peace between nations.
Yeah, I used to believe this argument as well. This is the brilliant part of WTO and free trade. You can appeal to the smushy liberal notions of the folks on the left and effectively blind them to the effects of so-called "free trade".
The real effect is to marginalize the power of the middle class in democratic nations. The cost savings aren't passed on to consumers, they are gobbled up by greedy industrialists. And the workers, well, their standards of living are hardly increased moving from villages into sweatshop working conditions working for pennies a day.
As for democracry overseas, HAH!!!! The transition between an agrarian and an industrial economy WEAKENS the relative force of labor. They don't have MORE power, they have less. To top it off, most people in Indo-China have no real civil rights. There are no environmental standards. Their is ZERO chance for collective bargaining. Union organizers won't loose, they'll simply dissappear quicker than you can say Suharto.
Free trade with free nations and free peoples is fine. If these nations wan't in on the goods, they should be required to share the benefits of trade with their "peasants" rather than simply treating them like yaks. Free trade is bankrupting the US.
Education !!!!!!
Thats the funniest joke of all. Our universities are progressively subsidizing the education of foreigners over Americans through graduate education and academic grants. These folks were SUPPOSED to go home when they were done learning. Instead they have glutted the US high-tech workforce with H-1B and L-Z1 non-immigrants.
Why would a laid of manufacturing worker pay thousands of dollars to re-educate himself over years when greedy corporations are importing foreigners to do these jobs NOW!!!! H-1B and LZ-1's are effectively indentured servants. They have no rights to bargaining. Often, corporations don't even pay them what they state on their Visa application because their is literally NO WAY to punish a company for such an action.
We are not exporting prosperity, democracy and freedom. We are importing depression, totalitarianism and oppression. Indo-China is becoming no free-er. The middle class in these countries are not growing. Only the hordes of dependent serfs. At the same time are employment is going up and we are importing foreign scabs to do American jobs at half the price.
Bay all you want about our freedoms and liberties. However, your freedoms will mean NOTHING when you have to beg for a job from some wealthy ass-hole while standing in a line of thousands of unemployed honest shmucks. When firing you means destitution, you will be forced to ceade your civil liberties for the sake of survival.
Totalitariansim, Facism, Communism, China-ism, Laze-Fare capitalism, Robber-Baronism, Fuedalism, call it whatever you want-ism. It's all the same shit. A few people on top with all the money and power and everybody else begging for their scraps. The would be fuedal lords of the world have dreamed up the scheme to gut the democratic prosperity of industrialized nations by distributing parts of it to rich people in poor countries and the rest to rich people in rich countries.
See:
http://nomoreh1b.com and
http://zazona.com
For more details. Either this shit ends or the second great depression comes.
Moderators:
Please proceed to mod me up for being off-topic, and arguably paranoid.
NiMH recharcheables make Alkaline rechargeables look pretty week. They make normal alkaline batteries look weak as well.
I've had very good luck with Ray-O-Vac. Ray-O-Vac also makes higher capacity line of NiMH batteries than other manufacturers (check the labels for the mAh rating).
The problem with scenario is the fact that the remote operates per DEVICE.
An optimal remote would operate in a "mode". In other words, I would specify "Watch DirectTV", or "Dub Tapes" instead of TV, DVD. Buttons would be mapped appropriate so the units would automatically switch to the appropriate modes and the appropriate commands would be mapped to buttons.
A good smart remote would include both traditional buttons with tactile feedback, and a touch-screen for complex/redundant functionality. Macros would be the primary way of doing business.
The good smart remote would NOT rely on IR. It's too tempermental. RF remotes should be used (a translator may be required).
Don't forget that the IR remote just won't cut it in the purely digital age. It's one-way and cannot report state back to your smart-remote.
Think Bluetooth for future smart-remotes with smart devices.
If SBC is a baby, then I'm a embryo.
...
The so-called baby-bells are babies no more. FCC De-regulation has lead to reconstitution of regional "Ma Bell" style control of telecom.
I nominate that the baby-bells now be referred to as
FRANKEN-Bells.
They are pieces cobbled together from other entities. The name, (and it's ominous undertones) is much more fitting.
Actually,
With a TabletPC, you could easily scribble out equations through Microsoft's "Whiteboard" application inside of Messanger.
I believe the concept that ice humans hunting mammoths AT ALL is pretty silly.
The things are just too damn big to bring down with spears. It's also fairly questionable that "cliff hunting" took place. Today's elephants are VERY SMART and can find food over hundreds of square miles of territiory at EXACTLY the right time of year. If Mammoth are similar in their intellect it's doubtful Mammoth groups would return to the same scene over and over to be slaughtered.
I have produced large piles of animal bones and tossed them in the trash. That doesn't mean I killed the animals. Large amounts of bones at the bottoms of cliffs could just as plausibly be thrown over as trash after cutting off carcass pieces of dismembered Mammoth pieces (from natural deaths).
Finally, anyone who thinks ice age men killed mammoths should try hunting a modern elephant with a spear. Have you ever seen the size of an elephant gun? Even those don't bring them down ever time. Even if you DID get close enough, you would likely be gored or trampled do death after the first poke (if you managed to get through their hide).
True.
However, this method (if successful) would be the quickest, easiest way to get a living mammoth (hybrid). Once you had your hybrids you could bank up lots of samples and clone it using the Dolly technique.
Gene therapy could be used to "mammothize" the hybrids. Subsequent clones from "gene-therapized" samples would be even more "mammoth" then previous generations.
Ultimately, even if a fertile mammoth hybrid could be produced, it would take a VERY long time to produce a near-pure mammoth via selective inbreeding. It takes to darn long for the females to reach fertility (which probably contributed to their extinction).
Ultimately, we will have the technology to reproduce a live mammoth given the VERY pristine condition of the frozen mammoth sample. It is a certainty that one could re-constitute a complete DNA through multiple samples.
I think it will teach us a LOT about evolutionary biology (and genetics as a whole) to effectively DEVOLVE elephants (to a common anscestor) and re-evolve them into Mammoths.
Don't forget that modern DNA is littered with discarded/unused sequences. For example, there have been experiments done where researchers generated chickens with TEETH. The information to create teeth and grow them is there (likely from their dinasour anscestors). It just had to be turned back on.
Yes had zip dropped the price of their media, they would have lasted longer. Their greatest flaw was not implementing the floppy form factor. They did this so they could patent their disc configuration and prevent competing media from entering the market.
Had LS-120 gotten their act together a little sooner, I think you would see LS-120 standard on most PCs today. As it was, the deep market penetration by Zip squelched changed for LS-120.
Yes CD-RW was a big pressure on both, but I think one (not both) could have made it if they effectively replaced a disk part cheaply like CD-RW burners did.
DVD -R is cheaper due to it's earlier market entry. The media companies are just plain better at making DVD-R/W media right now.
s .a sp?page_id=1344
However, comprehensive studies have revealed that DVD+R and DVD-R have similar levels of incompatibility in legacy players.
http://www.infoxpress.com/reviewtracker/reprint
Pioneer has thrown in the towell and now produces +R combo drives. I would strongly suggest that new buyers get the +/- combo drives or +R drives. The +R drives are faster and starting and stopping multi-write sessions and this is probably the reason for Pioneer's aqcuiesence.
Use -R for backups and movie distribution. It's cheaper and the multi-write abilities of +R are irrelevant for "all-at-once" writing.