I know it's a bit late in the discussion, but figured I'd go on record to disagree with this assessment of the slower travel times. I realize I don't have a shred of proof to oppose this except a healthy disbelief that some enormous amount of non igneous rock "sank" to the depths they seem to be talking about.
That there's a difference in the rock/rock type I can believe. That there's water involved in the difference in sonic travel times... at that depth?... no. I'd love to see some opposing viewpoints on this, and suspect that there will be some quite vigorous ones.
Why would a Segway be any better for the environment than any other electric mode of transportation? Are cheaper scooters that don't balance the rider somehow worse? No, of course not, don't be silly. Segways just seem more snazzy.
If all the patents were released tomorrow so that generic Segways could be made, THAT might get some of the push for electric scooters going everywhere, but thankfully, there's a profit to be made.
Convince me Rebates aren't mail fraud when there's two separate rebates I'm applying for, both go to the same street address in Detroit, one is through Best Buy that claims (on the online rebate info site for the item) that the rebate is good through a certain date, but ON ONLY ONE OF THEM the rebate submission has to be filed within 30 days of buying the product AND that they can void the rebate submission (for a late submission) without one single response back to the customer. Mind you, this is for a rebate that is still in effect at the store as I type this. At the store, it's "Rebate good through July 15, 2006" but in the fine print it's "30 days after you buy this, the rebate better be in the mail or else"
and the other item is for an item that has absolutely no stipulation on when you send it the rebate, so long as it's before a certain drop dead date, which follows the end of the rebate. No sliding scale of when they can cut off the rebate allowance.
To the same rebate management company out of Detroit.
One rebate is for $75 and one is for $100.
It's the Best Buy that allows for this extra rule that allows the rebate management folks to cut off more potential rebators.
No, this is tantamount to mail fraud on the part of the rebate management/retailers part.
The rules between rebates AREN'T consistant from rebate to rebate, and since we're sending all this correspondance through the mail, it needs better regulation. Why? Again, "Late, incomplete, postage-due, or illegible claims will be rejected; their senders may not be notified."
In another case last year, Newegg sold out of the item that had a rebate by the time I was shipped the item. Guess what disspears from Newegg.com when they don't have anymore of that item for sale? Yep. Finding THAT particular form took days and days, contacting Newegg, the manufacturer, all that. It took two weeks contacting and recontacting the manufacturer because nobody at that place was actually responsible for that. What was the eventual reply? "Go ahead and send it with the form for the lower priced rebate, and they'll figure it out."
Guess what never came? That rebate! Who do I complain to? I have got nobody to complain to.
Someone, somewhere is making money by refusing rebate checks.
Until you've been screwed out of a rebate, you're not a believer.
Heck, MSL still states that solar power is under consideration.
I'm surprised to hear that solar power is being considered for the next generation of Mars Rovers. That alone would rule out examining any feature with significant relief, like canyons and polar regions. Both Spirit and Opportunity got aid in cleaning off their solar panels from Martian wind gusts.
Would any engineer want to sign off on a design that requires sporadic Martian wind in order to keep power levels high? Without solar panel cleaning, the life expectancy of the mission would be short.
I'm married to an author and through her know three dozen other authors, and many of them swear by the Alphasmart keyboard. Instant On, Instant Save, runs on three AA batteries for days...
I called the thing an overpriced kid's toy. At first. Then I realized the simplistic beauty of what just a keyboard can do for the muse. The Alphasmart Pro, with it's translucent green plastic, has the worst keyboard I can think of. The keys start sticking, making it harder and harder to press.
I'm told the more expensive models have better keyboards, but then why pay so much for JUST a keyboard?
I need to learn how to attach a better keyboard to the guts of the Alphie we now have.
But the psychological impact of using something to type stuff in with that you CAN'T use for ANYTHING else is underrated.
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Just in case Vonage goes under, I've got this Vtech modem for Vonage that works with a couple of those portable phones.
How much rocket science will it take to make this work with other VoIP setups... uh, before Verizon's lawyers go after them, too?
I know it's a bit late in the discussion, but figured I'd go on record to disagree with this assessment of the slower travel times. I realize I don't have a shred of proof to oppose this except a healthy disbelief that some enormous amount of non igneous rock "sank" to the depths they seem to be talking about.
That there's a difference in the rock/rock type I can believe. That there's water involved in the difference in sonic travel times... at that depth?... no. I'd love to see some opposing viewpoints on this, and suspect that there will be some quite vigorous ones.
Wouldn't the use of a ThermoElectric Generator negate most of the issue because of the heat generated?
Why would a Segway be any better for the environment than any other electric mode of transportation? Are cheaper scooters that don't balance the rider somehow worse? No, of course not, don't be silly.
Segways just seem more snazzy.
If all the patents were released tomorrow so that generic Segways could be made, THAT might get some of the push for electric scooters going everywhere, but thankfully, there's a profit to be made.
The Segway was created to help change the way we design our cities, but it seems ended up changing the way we design our dental plans...
Convince me Rebates aren't mail fraud when there's two separate rebates I'm applying for, both go to the same street address in Detroit, one is through Best Buy that claims (on the online rebate info site for the item) that the rebate is good through a certain date, but ON ONLY ONE OF THEM the rebate submission has to be filed within 30 days of buying the product AND that they can void the rebate submission (for a late submission) without one single response back to the customer. Mind you, this is for a rebate that is still in effect at the store as I type this. At the store, it's "Rebate good through July 15, 2006" but in the fine print it's "30 days after you buy this, the rebate better be in the mail or else"
and the other item is for an item that has absolutely no stipulation on when you send it the rebate, so long as it's before a certain drop dead date, which follows the end of the rebate. No sliding scale of when they can cut off the rebate allowance.
To the same rebate management company out of Detroit.
One rebate is for $75 and one is for $100.
It's the Best Buy that allows for this extra rule that allows the rebate management folks to cut off more potential rebators.
No, this is tantamount to mail fraud on the part of the rebate management/retailers part.
The rules between rebates AREN'T consistant from rebate to rebate, and since we're sending all this correspondance through the mail, it needs better regulation. Why? Again,
"Late, incomplete, postage-due, or illegible claims will be rejected; their senders may not be notified."
In another case last year, Newegg sold out of the item that had a rebate by the time I was shipped the item. Guess what disspears from Newegg.com when they don't have anymore of that item for sale? Yep. Finding THAT particular form took days and days, contacting Newegg, the manufacturer, all that. It took two weeks contacting and recontacting the manufacturer because nobody at that place was actually responsible for that. What was the eventual reply? "Go ahead and send it with the form for the lower priced rebate, and they'll figure it out."
Guess what never came? That rebate! Who do I complain to? I have got nobody to complain to.
Someone, somewhere is making money by refusing rebate checks.
Until you've been screwed out of a rebate, you're not a believer.
I see the PS3 is on sale at a Euro website, Play.com for the low low price of 549.99 British Pounds. But that's delivered.
No pixels were harmed in the making of that animated graphic... No pixels thrown out, no interpolation between blocks of pixels needed for analysis.
Try getting THAT through airport security.
With Solar Power, all it takes is for one good Martian Spring dust storm to ruin your whole mission.
Heck, MSL still states that solar power is under consideration.
I'm surprised to hear that solar power is being considered for the next generation of Mars Rovers. That alone would rule out examining any feature with significant relief, like canyons and polar regions. Both Spirit and Opportunity got aid in cleaning off their solar panels from Martian wind gusts.
Would any engineer want to sign off on a design that requires sporadic Martian wind in order to keep power levels high? Without solar panel cleaning, the life expectancy of the mission would be short.
The radioisotope thermoelectric generators have just too many benefits, including the ability to keep the rover electronics warm.
The only real reason I can see to continue to use solar power on Martian rovers is politics.
The lawyers in the case are going to take their winnings in Google advertising links? This I gotta see!
I'm married to an author and through her know three dozen other authors, and many of them swear by the Alphasmart keyboard. Instant On, Instant Save, runs on three AA batteries for days...
I called the thing an overpriced kid's toy. At first. Then I realized the simplistic beauty of what just a keyboard can do for the muse. The Alphasmart Pro, with it's translucent green plastic, has the worst keyboard I can think of. The keys start sticking, making it harder and harder to press.
I'm told the more expensive models have better keyboards, but then why pay so much for JUST a keyboard?
I need to learn how to attach a better keyboard to the guts of the Alphie we now have.
But the psychological impact of using something to type stuff in with that you CAN'T use for ANYTHING else is underrated.
I wouldn't be surprised for Google to include IMs in their next Google Toolbar upgrade.
I'll be interested to read the details of the nuclear powered Martian rover(s) planned for 2009