The tar sands are the dirtiest source of petroleum. It is true that coal is a bit dirtier than tar sands as a source of energy but for petroleum, tar sands are right up there at the top.
It is good that some people are starting to realize that the toxic tailing ponds need to be cleaned up but it looks like this will be a huge problem.
"The tar sands tailings ponds currently contain around 190 billion gallons of waste water from strip-mining the Boreal forest for the bitumen that is eventually turned into fuels for our cars, trucks and airplanes. In melting the bitumen from the soil, tar sands producers are left with water mixed with naphthenic acids, ammonia, benzene, cyanide, oil and grease, phenols, toluene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, arsenic, copper and iron. "
"Canada keeps saying it wants better environmental management in the tar sands, yet it is failing to enforce laws already on the books that could make this happen. If Canada is sincere and wants to deal with tar sands pollution, it should put the focus and resources it currently dedicates to green-washing the tar sands into enforcing its existing laws at home to limit some of the worst pollution impacts. "
Actually, even the 7" diagonal Kindle Fire is very easy to hold and operate with one hand (which is why I bought it... the iPad is just too big). I don't have large hands so it should also work fine for most people. The Fire also has a 1024 x 600 screen. The 1024 pixel count is the same as the larger screen iPad so you get great resolution which makes it easy to read.
I was amazed to see that the Kindle Fire (7" diagonal) has the same horizontal pixel count (1024) as the larger iPad (9.7" diagonal). It's vertical pixel count, however, (600) is less than the iPad's 768.
This means that smaller screen of the Fire has a much higher resolution than the iPad which should make it easier to read.
My Macbook air (11.6" diagonal) has 1344 x 768 resolution and this gives good definition. It does seem that the iPad is due for an upgrade to a better screen. However, I doubt that the resolution will be something as simple as a factor of 2. Most likely, it will be some odd ratio. This is the reality of the world of small devices and it would be good to come up with a generalized method to deal with this (such as automatic scaling) rather than re-writing code for each new device.
One of the reasons I ordered a Fire is because it is a 7" tablet. I've played with iPads and they are just too large to hold comfortably and to carry easily. To me, 7" is just the right size. My phone (4") is comfortable to hold and carry but a bit too small to read for a long time so I'm looking forward to a 7" screen.
I'm not sure there is a problem with screen supply. It seems that Amazon is not having a problem finding 5 million 7" screens for the Fire. I'm sure they could order a similar number of 10" screens if they wanted (no fundamental difference between the two... These are all made on big sheets of glass and then cut to size). Of course a 10" screen would be more expensive and Amazon has already said they would be introducing a 10" model for those who want it. If I want a larger screen, I'll use my MacBook Air which has a keyboard so I can actually get work done and not just read.
When I was in grade school in Ohio (50s) we had civil defense drills. Something about nuclear war... when the sirens went off we were supposed to kiss our ass goodbye.
It is a myth that you can get health care just by walking into any emergency room and not have to pay.
If you have a real emergency (i.e. bleeding) then they will patch you up and then pursue you relentlessly for their outrageously overpriced "services". If you truly have no assets, you can probably ignore their bill collectors but if you have any assets or income, they will come after you and they will get their money.
However, emergency care is not health care. You can't get a physical exam or routine tests to determine if you are healthy. You can't get a workup for those unusual symptoms you have been having. You can't get routine care if you have a chronic medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc. In any of these cases (which most people consider "health care"), you will be sent home with instructions to "see your doctor". If you don't have health insurance, you are SOL. You will have to wait until you have advanced disease and are ready to die. Then they will patch you up (although often it is way too late to do anything useful).
I remember the good old days when every town had an "air raid siren" (in the USA). They would test them weekly (usually at noon on Saturday). Great fun. Maybe we should bring these back.
I think it's the "cooking oil recyclers" who are complaining. Most restaurants have to pay someone to take away the grease. They grease haulers then resell the grease and they get upset when somebody steals "their" grease.
I don't know how the law would apply here (IANAL) but if you put out trash for collection, you give up rights to it. Could be the same for grease put out for collection or it might be different.
The politics of energy subsidies follow those with money to bribe politicians. I think we can count on continued subsidies to oil, coal, nuclear. They want to kill renewables which are a threat to their business revenue.
The deficit problem is due to the recession, tax breaks to the rich and a few wars. Take care of these distortions and the deficit goes away (like under Clinton).
Power management has always "just worked" on my Linux laptops. Close the lid to sleep and start when you open it. No fiddling required. The laptops with built in WiFi all worked just fine. On older computers with PCMCIA cards... some worked, some didn't but it was easy to change the card to one that worked. I never had to fiddle with the NDIS wrappers. I don't do gaming so high performance video was not a priority. The video always just worked on install. The only problems I had were the cheap Intel graphics cards in some of the machines which had lousy 3D drivers and it was easier to not run 3D.
Ah, I see what you're doing there... blame it on the government.
These reactors are not "forbidden by the government". They are only theoretical designs and not expected to be ready for construction until at least 2030. If anyone can overcome the hurdles of cost, design of new technology, safety, etc., the government will license it for use. The problem is that no one wants to make the large investment in new nuclear technology when the old technology is so problematic and the payback so uncertain.
Only the government is stupid enough to make this long shot bet and I don't think they are going to take the hook on this one at this time. Much better to spend billions on geothermal, solar and wind which are proven technologies with a very short construction time. The private sector is getting to the point where they don't even need govt. subsidies to invest in renewables.
I've installed Linux (various versions over the years) on about 5 laptops (Dell, IBM, AST) and haven't had problems with video, power management, sound, WiFi, etc. Never updated any BIOS. I think your meme is old (but I am older).
I was wondering why the iPhone was outselling Android phones 2 to 1 and why I have such a large selection of Android phones with different features and prices. This article is clearly very insightful. I bet the phone manufacturers are so desperate for sales that they keep introducing new models with different features. All that bad advertising from all those different manufacturers and phone companies is just confusing people... Oh wait... you mean Android phones actually outsell iPhones? Must be all that bad advertising!
Ah! You've been suckered by the "free phone" scam, I see.
I pay $40/month for unlimited talk and text and too much data. Of course, I didn't get a "free" phone but I paid for the cost of the phone from my savings before the first year was over.
I do agree that a touchpad type device would be good. However, you recommend an HP touchpad (obsolete) because of its low cost or an iPad (high cost). There are other better supported options. Both the Nook color and Kindle Fire are low cost and offer most of what the iPad does for about $200. They will certainly meet the needs of grandma.
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.ted.com/talks/yves_rossy_fly_with_the_jetman.html
I've had a copy of 1984 (not from Amazon) on my Kindle for a year now. They haven't deleted it.
It is good that some people are starting to realize that the toxic tailing ponds need to be cleaned up but it looks like this will be a huge problem.
http://notquiteunhinged.blogspot.com/2008/04/alberta-tar-sands-tailing-ponds-fast.html
And here's the current state of "cleanup":
"The tar sands tailings ponds currently contain around 190 billion gallons of waste water from strip-mining the Boreal forest for the bitumen that is eventually turned into fuels for our cars, trucks and airplanes. In melting the bitumen from the soil, tar sands producers are left with water mixed with naphthenic acids, ammonia, benzene, cyanide, oil and grease, phenols, toluene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, arsenic, copper and iron. "
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/sclefkowitz/clearing_the_waters_on_tar_san.html
"Canada keeps saying it wants better environmental management in the tar sands, yet it is failing to enforce laws already on the books that could make this happen. If Canada is sincere and wants to deal with tar sands pollution, it should put the focus and resources it currently dedicates to green-washing the tar sands into enforcing its existing laws at home to limit some of the worst pollution impacts. "
Actually, even the 7" diagonal Kindle Fire is very easy to hold and operate with one hand (which is why I bought it... the iPad is just too big). I don't have large hands so it should also work fine for most people. The Fire also has a 1024 x 600 screen. The 1024 pixel count is the same as the larger screen iPad so you get great resolution which makes it easy to read.
My Macbook air (11.6" diagonal) has 1344 x 768 resolution and this gives good definition. It does seem that the iPad is due for an upgrade to a better screen. However, I doubt that the resolution will be something as simple as a factor of 2. Most likely, it will be some odd ratio. This is the reality of the world of small devices and it would be good to come up with a generalized method to deal with this (such as automatic scaling) rather than re-writing code for each new device.
Alberta is the home of the tar sands... the dirtiest source of petroleum. Do you actually think they are interested in cutting carbon emissions?
"If it's not broken, don't fix it."
It could be built much faster if the money was available.
I found textedit very limited so installed gedit for Mac. Much better.
Check out the Google app market for the Hotray Radiation counter or the web site:
www.hotray-info.de
You are whinging about:
1. They are rich... (I wish I was rich too, stop complaining and get to work, slacker)
2. Firefox crashes... (seems to be a problem with Windows XP... stop using crappy Windows XP)
3. HDMI cables??? (WTF??!?? HDMI cables???)
(My anecdotal experience... Firefox never crashes on my Mac... Chrome OTOH, crashes regularly. YMMV)
I'm not sure there is a problem with screen supply. It seems that Amazon is not having a problem finding 5 million 7" screens for the Fire. I'm sure they could order a similar number of 10" screens if they wanted (no fundamental difference between the two... These are all made on big sheets of glass and then cut to size). Of course a 10" screen would be more expensive and Amazon has already said they would be introducing a 10" model for those who want it. If I want a larger screen, I'll use my MacBook Air which has a keyboard so I can actually get work done and not just read.
When I was in grade school in Ohio (50s) we had civil defense drills. Something about nuclear war... when the sirens went off we were supposed to kiss our ass goodbye.
If you have a real emergency (i.e. bleeding) then they will patch you up and then pursue you relentlessly for their outrageously overpriced "services". If you truly have no assets, you can probably ignore their bill collectors but if you have any assets or income, they will come after you and they will get their money.
However, emergency care is not health care. You can't get a physical exam or routine tests to determine if you are healthy. You can't get a workup for those unusual symptoms you have been having. You can't get routine care if you have a chronic medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc. In any of these cases (which most people consider "health care"), you will be sent home with instructions to "see your doctor". If you don't have health insurance, you are SOL. You will have to wait until you have advanced disease and are ready to die. Then they will patch you up (although often it is way too late to do anything useful).
I remember the good old days when every town had an "air raid siren" (in the USA). They would test them weekly (usually at noon on Saturday). Great fun. Maybe we should bring these back.
I don't know how the law would apply here (IANAL) but if you put out trash for collection, you give up rights to it. Could be the same for grease put out for collection or it might be different.
The deficit problem is due to the recession, tax breaks to the rich and a few wars. Take care of these distortions and the deficit goes away (like under Clinton).
Dell and IBM
Power management has always "just worked" on my Linux laptops. Close the lid to sleep and start when you open it. No fiddling required. The laptops with built in WiFi all worked just fine. On older computers with PCMCIA cards... some worked, some didn't but it was easy to change the card to one that worked. I never had to fiddle with the NDIS wrappers. I don't do gaming so high performance video was not a priority. The video always just worked on install. The only problems I had were the cheap Intel graphics cards in some of the machines which had lousy 3D drivers and it was easier to not run 3D.
These reactors are not "forbidden by the government". They are only theoretical designs and not expected to be ready for construction until at least 2030. If anyone can overcome the hurdles of cost, design of new technology, safety, etc., the government will license it for use. The problem is that no one wants to make the large investment in new nuclear technology when the old technology is so problematic and the payback so uncertain.
Only the government is stupid enough to make this long shot bet and I don't think they are going to take the hook on this one at this time. Much better to spend billions on geothermal, solar and wind which are proven technologies with a very short construction time. The private sector is getting to the point where they don't even need govt. subsidies to invest in renewables.
Samsung... Apple's nightmare.
I've installed Linux (various versions over the years) on about 5 laptops (Dell, IBM, AST) and haven't had problems with video, power management, sound, WiFi, etc. Never updated any BIOS. I think your meme is old (but I am older).
I was wondering why the iPhone was outselling Android phones 2 to 1 and why I have such a large selection of Android phones with different features and prices. This article is clearly very insightful. I bet the phone manufacturers are so desperate for sales that they keep introducing new models with different features. All that bad advertising from all those different manufacturers and phone companies is just confusing people... Oh wait... you mean Android phones actually outsell iPhones? Must be all that bad advertising!
I pay $40/month for unlimited talk and text and too much data. Of course, I didn't get a "free" phone but I paid for the cost of the phone from my savings before the first year was over.
I do agree that a touchpad type device would be good. However, you recommend an HP touchpad (obsolete) because of its low cost or an iPad (high cost). There are other better supported options. Both the Nook color and Kindle Fire are low cost and offer most of what the iPad does for about $200. They will certainly meet the needs of grandma.