It's funny and kind of cute that we humans have this continual tendency to try and imitate ourselves in other forms: in fiction, advertising, spiritualism and now, robotics.
I think what we will find with respect to robots is that, once we work out what we REALLY want them for, that their form will follow their function, and as such, they need not necessarily be bipedal humanoid-like.
I hope I live long enough to see intelligent robots in any potential number of forms serving a myriad of functions, for themselves or others.
There's some big, beautiful potential in this regard, just waiting to manifest itself.
KYOCERA to Begin Solar Product Manufacturing in North America
Tijuana, Mexico production capacity planned for 35 megawatts per year with support from new San Diego engineering and marketing office
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- (August 10, 2004) - Kyocera announced today that it will begin large-scale assembly of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules this fall at its maquiladora facility in Tijuana, Mexico, with plans to establish a regional office in San Diego for solar system engineering and marketing.
Kyocera's PV modules offer an environmentally friendly renewable-energy solution by converting sunlight into electricity with no moving parts or emissions. The Tijuana facility will produce state-of-the-art PV modules ranging from 35 to 190 watts, with a planned production capacity of 35 megawatts per year. This facility will eventually produce all of the PV modules that Kyocera sells in the Americas.
"The partnership between Kyocera's global solar group and our Tijuana maquiladora operations will help to make clean, reliable solar energy systems more widely available for businesses and homeowners throughout the Americas," stated Rodney N. Lanthorne, director of Kyocera Corporation and president of Kyocera International, Inc. "This expansion reflects both the growing demand for solar energy systems and the success of our Mexican operations in providing high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing."
In view of rising public acceptance of solar energy in the United States, led by California, Kyocera's decision to build PV modules at its Tijuana facility represents a natural evolution.
Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc. (http://www.kyocerasolar.com), indicated that the company's goal is to better serve its local markets. "This new assembly operation will support the vision expressed by both California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy to increase regional deployment of solar energy resources," Hill stated. "Solar energy now offers the most affordable and effective means of preserving our environment, promoting energy independence and relieving strain on overburdened utility infrastructures."
Kyocera Solar, Inc. will continue integrating PV systems out of its facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.
About Kyocera
Kyocera Solar, Inc., founded on the management philosophy that business should "coexist with nature and society," is one of the world's leading suppliers of environmentally sound, solar electric energy solutions. With operating headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. and regional sales centers in Brazil and Australia, Kyocera Solar, Inc. serves thousands of customers in both developed and developing regions. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Diego-based Kyocera International, Inc., the North American headquarters and holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining engineered ceramic materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera Corporation has become a leading supplier of solar energy systems, telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2004, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$11 billion (JP¥ 1,140,814 million) with net income of approximately US$655 million (JP¥ 68,086 million).
For now anyway.
But that's the whole point of research and development: improve the product.
Just because something isn't perfect to begin with, doesn't mean that it can't be improved.
Look at the development of: agriculture, automobiles, computers, weaponry, etc., etc.
I think it would be difficult to prevent a company from using databases to track the desirability of customers, unless it was wrapped up in some kind of regulation pertaining to privacy rights. Now that I think about it, privacy should probably be as much a concern given how footloose and fancy free the gubmint seems to be these days with our civil rights.
But getting back to the marketplace, I think that a consumers willingness to patronize a company based on the way they utilize customer db's will ultimately dictate how such information affects the relationship to the customer.
That is to say, a company may track the fuck out of all their customers, but how liberally they treat their customers with respect to return policies, credit worthiness and overall service will dictate how well they're known for customer service which translates into sales (or lack thereof). Assuming of course that the company does not have a monopoly on a particular product/service.
Yep, no national ID Cards here in the good Ol' US-of-A.
**** Item: Social Security Card #
**** Item: Drivers License #
**** Item: U.S. Passport #
Just try applying for ANYTHING (college courses, credit card, library card, Blockbuster video card) these days w/o one of the above.
Want a driver's license? Better be prepared to fork over your SS#. You want a passport? Besides having a U.S. Birth Cert, you need to have some other form of I.D.
Such as a drivers license. Um, which requires (okay, at least in CA) you to provide your SS#.
"The nanofabric belongs to the family of fullerene molecules, which were discovered during the last two decades, but is the first two-dimensional fullerene."
Two-Dimensional? Surely a molecule has at least three dimensions...
While this topic may have been covered before here on good ol' slashdot, I think it's a good subject to review now and again. Manufacturers of Laptop/Notebook backpacks typically change their models from year to year to keep things 'fresh', so what may have been true a year ago, may be different now in terms of availability and choices.
I'm not sure how realistic the $50 price range is for a well-designed and built piece of luggage is, so, I'm going to post what I know to be good manufacturers/vendors and let you sort out how valuable it is to have a well-made, workable piece of gear.
First, if you live in a city where there's an REI (www.rei.com) I *HIGHLY* recommend you roll into the store and check stuff out first hand. They have a great selection of 'computer' luggage, including backpacks and briefcases (all soft cordura or similar fabric). Do a search from their homepage for "computer". You'll see choices from Arcteryx, Eagle Creek and Victorinox. Several people have mentioned the Eagle Creek and I see at least one person mentioned the Arcteryx. From personal experience with BOTH companies, their gear is well designed, durable and functional.
http://www.eaglecreek.com http://www.arcteryx.c om
At my local REI store, I also had a chance to check out the Victorinox (of Swiss Army fame) computer bags, and they're pretty cool as well.
I have no doubt that the Patagonia bags that someone also mentioned are very well made and durable. They are also very well priced, though you can Patagonia stuff for cheap in their outlet stores. I don't think their outlet stores have a website (I did a cursory search on their website out of curiosity and didn't find anything).
Lastly, though this is probably on the outside of the topic of backpacks, I post it for anyone else who might be in the market for some kind of bag for their laptop/everyday use where a backpack is not a necessity. There's a company called Filson (www.filson.com) that makes some incredibly durable and handsome luggage from oil finished twill and saddle leather. Though they don't make a laptop *backpack* (they do have some rather nice rucksacks though), they *DO* have some rather nifty padded laptop briefcases. Although expensive, I expect they'd last 10 or 20 times longer than any other bag I've seen. If you have a proclivity towards creating emotional bonds with your gear, Filson bags may be a good investment for you.
Couple of ideas (I haven't tried these myself, but they/seem/ conceptually sound)
How much paranoia is required...?
1) Pay for a notebook PC in cash (i.e. Dollars, Pounds, Yen, Euros). Don't fill out a warranty card, don't give out your name or any other identifying data. Buy it from a large store with tons of customers. Put the notebook away for several months, or at least, avoid connecting to any network for several months.
2) Download your software (assuming something like FOSS--and check hashes) from a public terminal (Library, Kinkos--pay w/cash) or public wifi spot , again where there's nothing leading back to you. Burn the software to CD. When installing the OS and assorted apps on your notebook, don't enter any identifying info.
3) Set up the notebook with the requisite security settings/software that one would take if one was connecting to a network and one didn't want one's computer to be pwnd.
4) Encrypt HD.
5) Never let the notebook out of your site or let anyone borrow it.
6) Use an anonymous internet proxy such as anonymizer (anonymizer.com). Pay for the service in cash money (sure it's a risk sending cash in an envelope or that they'd actually use the cash to open an account for you, but it's a smaller risk than what you're trying to avoid. Don't give them your real name, give them a throwaway e-mail address.
7)Have another beer.
8)Only ever connect to the net through an open wifi spot and only use your anonymous proxy (which, I think the connection from the PC to the proxy is encrypted)
9) Disable any hardware based serial number identification in the BIOS of the notebook.
10) Tinfoil
Also, there's a new program that came out which is supposed to identify processes downstream that track your web usage. The FBI/CIA/NSA don't want you to know about this but to download it go to http://ww*($$&*(#N C(FD+#FF#F..... [CARRIER LOST]
I understand that you don't mean to diminish Mr. Vincent's accomplishment by pointing out that he's not a scientist in the bona fide sense of the word, but your comment makes me question (strict dictionary definitions aside) where the line between inventor and scientist is drawn?
Perhaps I should read the article again, but I don't recall seeing Vincent mentioned as a "technician", only "employee". Given that he filed a patent for his invention and has stated that he intends for any resulting profits to be shared with URI, I wonder if his actions in that regard make him out to be more of a scientist than inventor?
"So who is going to step forward and write a book, of researched FACTS to counteract this work of FICTION?"
This is an excellent idea, but you need an author who's not only a respected (IT) industry figure, someone who's reasonably famous (or at least known) outside of the IT industry and someone who doesn't have a problem thinking outside the box (who's also not threatened by Linux).
So, I'm thinkin' someone like Steve Jobs. Anyone else?
Slashdot Mirror
First thing I thought of when I read the title was whether the Muppet Show had ever been voiced over in Chinese...
Aside from any VoIP solutions provided by the cable companies, I wonder what this means for the likes of Vonage, Skype, et al?
"This can only mean one thing... You are the Kwisatz Haderach!"
So, does that make *YOU* the Ersatz Haderach?
Seems amusing.
Post pointing out that Parent post is a duplicate of a recent story is itself modded as redundant.
It's funny and kind of cute that we humans have this continual tendency to try and imitate ourselves in other forms: in fiction, advertising, spiritualism and now, robotics.
I think what we will find with respect to robots is that, once we work out what we REALLY want them for, that their form will follow their function, and as such, they need not necessarily be bipedal humanoid-like.
I hope I live long enough to see intelligent robots in any potential number of forms serving a myriad of functions, for themselves or others.
There's some big, beautiful potential in this regard, just waiting to manifest itself.
Somebody, PLEASE find a solution to this semantic quandary.
From:
m ?k ey=992
http://americas.kyocera.com/news/news_detail.cf
KYOCERA to Begin Solar Product Manufacturing in North America
Tijuana, Mexico production capacity planned for 35 megawatts per year with support from new San Diego engineering and marketing office
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- (August 10, 2004) - Kyocera announced today that it will begin large-scale assembly of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules this fall at its maquiladora facility in Tijuana, Mexico, with plans to establish a regional office in San Diego for solar system engineering and marketing.
Kyocera's PV modules offer an environmentally friendly renewable-energy solution by converting sunlight into electricity with no moving parts or emissions. The Tijuana facility will produce state-of-the-art PV modules ranging from 35 to 190 watts, with a planned production capacity of 35 megawatts per year. This facility will eventually produce all of the PV modules that Kyocera sells in the Americas.
"The partnership between Kyocera's global solar group and our Tijuana maquiladora operations will help to make clean, reliable solar energy systems more widely available for businesses and homeowners throughout the Americas," stated Rodney N. Lanthorne, director of Kyocera Corporation and president of Kyocera International, Inc. "This expansion reflects both the growing demand for solar energy systems and the success of our Mexican operations in providing high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing."
In view of rising public acceptance of solar energy in the United States, led by California, Kyocera's decision to build PV modules at its Tijuana facility represents a natural evolution.
Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc. (http://www.kyocerasolar.com), indicated that the company's goal is to better serve its local markets. "This new assembly operation will support the vision expressed by both California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy to increase regional deployment of solar energy resources," Hill stated. "Solar energy now offers the most affordable and effective means of preserving our environment, promoting energy independence and relieving strain on overburdened utility infrastructures."
Kyocera Solar, Inc. will continue integrating PV systems out of its facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.
About Kyocera
Kyocera Solar, Inc., founded on the management philosophy that business should "coexist with nature and society," is one of the world's leading suppliers of environmentally sound, solar electric energy solutions. With operating headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. and regional sales centers in Brazil and Australia, Kyocera Solar, Inc. serves thousands of customers in both developed and developing regions. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Diego-based Kyocera International, Inc., the North American headquarters and holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining engineered ceramic materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera Corporation has become a leading supplier of solar energy systems, telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2004, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$11 billion (JP¥ 1,140,814 million) with net income of approximately US$655 million (JP¥ 68,086 million).
For now anyway. But that's the whole point of research and development: improve the product. Just because something isn't perfect to begin with, doesn't mean that it can't be improved. Look at the development of: agriculture, automobiles, computers, weaponry, etc., etc.
I think it would be difficult to prevent a company from using databases to track the desirability of customers, unless it was wrapped up in some kind of regulation pertaining to privacy rights. Now that I think about it, privacy should probably be as much a concern given how footloose and fancy free the gubmint seems to be these days with our civil rights.
But getting back to the marketplace, I think that a consumers willingness to patronize a company based on the way they utilize customer db's will ultimately dictate how such information affects the relationship to the customer.
That is to say, a company may track the fuck out of all their customers, but how liberally they treat their customers with respect to return policies, credit worthiness and overall service will dictate how well they're known for customer service which translates into sales (or lack thereof). Assuming of course that the company does not have a monopoly on a particular product/service.
Yep, no national ID Cards here in the good Ol' US-of-A. **** Item: Social Security Card # **** Item: Drivers License # **** Item: U.S. Passport # Just try applying for ANYTHING (college courses, credit card, library card, Blockbuster video card) these days w/o one of the above. Want a driver's license? Better be prepared to fork over your SS#. You want a passport? Besides having a U.S. Birth Cert, you need to have some other form of I.D. Such as a drivers license. Um, which requires (okay, at least in CA) you to provide your SS#.
"The nanofabric belongs to the family of fullerene molecules, which were discovered during the last two decades, but is the first two-dimensional fullerene." Two-Dimensional? Surely a molecule has at least three dimensions...
While this topic may have been covered before here on good ol' slashdot, I think it's a good subject to review now and again. Manufacturers of Laptop/Notebook backpacks typically change their models from year to year to keep things 'fresh', so what may have been true a year ago, may be different now in terms of availability and choices.
c om
n .com/257.HTM
I'm not sure how realistic the $50 price range is for a well-designed and built piece of luggage is, so, I'm going to post what I know to be good manufacturers/vendors and let you sort out how valuable it is to have a well-made, workable piece of gear.
First, if you live in a city where there's an REI (www.rei.com) I *HIGHLY* recommend you roll into the store and check stuff out first hand. They have a great selection of 'computer' luggage, including backpacks and briefcases (all soft cordura or similar fabric). Do a search from their homepage for "computer". You'll see choices from Arcteryx, Eagle Creek and Victorinox. Several people have mentioned the Eagle Creek and I see at least one person mentioned the Arcteryx. From personal experience with BOTH companies, their gear is well designed, durable and functional.
http://www.eaglecreek.com
http://www.arcteryx.
At my local REI store, I also had a chance to check out the Victorinox (of Swiss Army fame) computer bags, and they're pretty cool as well.
I have no doubt that the Patagonia bags that someone also mentioned are very well made and durable. They are also very well priced, though you can Patagonia stuff for cheap in their outlet stores. I don't think their outlet stores have a website (I did a cursory search on their website out of curiosity and didn't find anything).
Lastly, though this is probably on the outside of the topic of backpacks, I post it for anyone else who might be in the market for some kind of bag for their laptop/everyday use where a backpack is not a necessity. There's a company called Filson (www.filson.com) that makes some incredibly durable and handsome luggage from oil finished twill and saddle leather. Though they don't make a laptop *backpack* (they do have some rather nice rucksacks though), they *DO* have some rather nifty padded laptop briefcases. Although expensive, I expect they'd last 10 or 20 times longer than any other bag I've seen. If you have a proclivity towards creating emotional bonds with your gear, Filson bags may be a good investment for you.
http://www.filson.com/258.HTM
http://www.filso
Couple of ideas (I haven't tried these myself, but they /seem/ conceptually sound)
How much paranoia is required...?
1) Pay for a notebook PC in cash (i.e. Dollars, Pounds, Yen, Euros). Don't fill out a warranty card, don't give out your name or any other identifying data. Buy it from a large store with tons of customers. Put the notebook away for several months, or at least, avoid connecting to any network for several months.
2) Download your software (assuming something like FOSS--and check hashes) from a public terminal (Library, Kinkos--pay w/cash) or public wifi spot , again where there's nothing leading back to you. Burn the software to CD. When installing the OS and assorted apps on your notebook, don't enter any identifying info.
3) Set up the notebook with the requisite security settings/software that one would take if one was connecting to a network and one didn't want one's computer to be pwnd.
4) Encrypt HD.
5) Never let the notebook out of your site or let anyone borrow it.
6) Use an anonymous internet proxy such as anonymizer (anonymizer.com). Pay for the service in cash money (sure it's a risk sending cash in an envelope or that they'd actually use the cash to open an account for you, but it's a smaller risk than what you're trying to avoid. Don't give them your real name, give them a throwaway e-mail address.
7)Have another beer.
8)Only ever connect to the net through an open wifi spot and only use your anonymous proxy (which, I think the connection from the PC to the proxy is encrypted)
9) Disable any hardware based serial number identification in the BIOS of the notebook.
10) Tinfoil
Also, there's a new program that came out which is supposed to identify processes downstream that track your web usage. The FBI/CIA/NSA don't want you to know about this but to download it go to http://ww*($$&*(#N C(FD+#FF#F..... [CARRIER LOST]
NH,
I understand that you don't mean to diminish Mr. Vincent's accomplishment by pointing out that he's not a scientist in the bona fide sense of the word, but your comment makes me question (strict dictionary definitions aside) where the line between inventor and scientist is drawn?
Perhaps I should read the article again, but I don't recall seeing Vincent mentioned as a "technician", only "employee". Given that he filed a patent for his invention and has stated that he intends for any resulting profits to be shared with URI, I wonder if his actions in that regard make him out to be more of a scientist than inventor?
What actually makes a scientist a scientist?
"So who is going to step forward and write a book, of researched FACTS to counteract this work of FICTION?"
This is an excellent idea, but you need an author who's not only a respected (IT) industry figure, someone who's reasonably famous (or at least known) outside of the IT industry and someone who doesn't have a problem thinking outside the box (who's also not threatened by Linux).
So, I'm thinkin' someone like Steve Jobs. Anyone else?
I have to wonder if the boarding security for the trains running in this proposed tunnel would at least meet that of air travel?
A big enough bomb exploding in transit would basically scrap the whole kit-and-caboodle.
I bring this up because of the fact that Morocco likely has their Muslim fanatics as well, no?