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User: scharkalvin

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  1. Re:Gasoline-like energy density on IBM Creates 'Breathing' High-Density Lithium-Air Battery · · Score: 1

    Batteries do store energy as a chemical reaction. But what is the efficiency of a battery in terms of the percentage of energy you get out vs what was put in? It's probably well over 90%. As battery technology improves the energy storage method might more resemble a capacitor than the chemical battery. Capacitors can be charged almost instantly and are also fairly efficient. They don't store as much energy as a battery however (might need a megafarad capacitor to replace a battery!)

  2. Re:Not really bothered, tbh on Expect Mandatory 'Big Brother' Black Boxes In All New Cars From 2015 · · Score: 1

    Actually what happens is that YOU have to sue the guy in back of you for the damages that YOU caused to the guy's in front of you. If the guy in back of you wasn't the actual cause of the accident HE has to sue the guy in back of HIM for the damages that HE was sued for by the guys in front of HIM. Just a way to keep the asshole lawyers busy.

  3. Re:Used car ... on Expect Mandatory 'Big Brother' Black Boxes In All New Cars From 2015 · · Score: 2

    What about car 'kits'? You know those "T" bucket roadsters. Most of those are based on old VW bug chassis, but some builders actually wield up their own frames and drop in big block Chevy engines (my next door neighbor used an old Ford marine engine). the bodies are usually store bought fiberglass. Then there are the EV conversions.

  4. Re:If You're Going To Make Promises ... on Macbook Owner With Defective GPU Beats Apple In Court · · Score: 1

    And now that there is a precedent Apple will have to make good on EVERY similar failed Macbook. And thanks to /. every geek that owns one knows this.

  5. At least he wasn't carring a bomb. on Man Protests TSA With Nudity · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did the TSA do a body cavity search before they called the cops?

  6. Re:Imagine if it had been Uranus he was looking at on Snoozing Pilot Mistakes Venus For Aircraft; Panic, Injuries Ensue · · Score: 1

    You mean Urectum?

  7. Pilots have mistaken Venus for a UFO many times. Some have even mistaken the MOON for a UFO (either in clouds or while drunk).
    I can see how one could mistake Venus for the landing lights of an aircraft several miles away, but how long would it take to realize that it WASN'T MOVING?

  8. Scripting languages on Ask Slashdot: Best Book For 11-Year-Old Who Wants To Teach Himself To Program? · · Score: 1

    Since he has a Linux computer available writing simple programs in any of the scripting languages such as Perl or Python is a good way to start. Then move on to Tck/Tcl and simple GUI constructs. http://oreilly.com/ has a good selection of programming books for Linux and would be a good place to start. Some of their titles are available freely on line too.

  9. Re:Screens are getting wider... on 1366x768 Monitors Top 1024x768 For the First Time · · Score: 3, Funny

    And LEON is getting LARGER!

  10. No purchases for 90 days. on Best Buy Scans Drivers License For Returns — No More Allowed For 90 Days · · Score: 1

    If they did that to me I'd tell them point blank, then I won't buy anything else from this chain for 90 days ether. Also I always pay with a credit card (amex). If I had a valid reason to return something (aka defective crap) and they refused I'd just have Amex bounce the charges on them. They've never refused to do that for a claim of defective product or other retailer bull shit.

  11. Oops! on Dental X-Rays Linked To Common Brain Tumor · · Score: 1

    I've been having problems with frequent headaches recently and I was worried that I might have a brain tumor or something. I've been to a neurologist who had me get an MRI to eliminate that possibility (which BTW it did, phew!). I've had enough dental xrays over the years, but rarely a full mouth set. Most of the time the dentist would only take views of any teeth that looked problematic visually, or if I was complaining of pain and nothing was visual in that area. I also had localized views taken before root canal work, and before a possible tooth implant (I didn't get the implant because the Xray reviled that I had insufficient bone density in my jaw to support it. I got a bridge instead). So dental xrays are useful as a diagnostic tool (especially before possible surgery), and a good dentist will do as much as possible visually before taking one. I still don't know what is causing my headaches, but the problem may be dental related ... seems I grind my teeth in my sleep and I now have a bite guard I wear and night.
     

  12. Re:Really just as well on How Las Vegas Missed Out on a Life-Sized Starship Enterprise · · Score: 2

    Hey this is Vegas. The full size Enterprise could have become a hotel (just how many crew staterooms ARE there on the USS Enterprise?). As a hotel it would have been booked solid FOREVER (who wouldn't want to stay there?) They would have had to build the turbo lifts oversized and have more of them then in the plans though, otherwise there wouldn't have been enough elevator capacity for all the guests. You know the real Enterprise (as per the published plans) had a bowling alley and a full size swimming pool?

  13. Re:LOL! American Freedom! on MPAA Chief Dodd Hints At Talks To Revive SOPA · · Score: 1

    Hey MPAA, don't touch OUR internet or we will take it away from YOU!
    Don't mess with geeks. You have been warned!

  14. The case for Humanoid robots on Humanoid Robots For the Next DARPA Grand Challenge? · · Score: 2

    The advantage of a humanoid robot, especially a bipedal one is that it can make use of tools and vehicles designed to be used by humans. Such a robot can perform tasks too dangerous for a human that could be done by a human. More specialized robots in non human form can be designed especially for high risk jobs, such as clean up of a nuclear disaster. The Japanese have been specializing in humanoid robots for some time as they have special needs. With an aging and shrinking population they see the need to develop service robots to take care of the ill and elderly. A proposed 'first step' was Project Atom to develop a humanoid robot with the Intelligence level of a 9 year old child. (The name for the project comes from Tezuka Osmau's Tetsuwan Atom manga, better known outside of Japan as Astro Boy).

  15. Re:Arizona on Arizona Attempts To Make Trolling Illegal · · Score: 1

    Arizona was never the same since Goldwater died.

  16. Re:It still sucks. on Chevy Volt To Resume Production One Week Early Following Record Sales · · Score: 1

    I read of a guy who transplanted a VW turbo-diesel engine into a Saturn compact with some aerodynamic mods. He is now getting MPG in the low 70's. NOT a hybrid!

  17. Re:Volt is a game changer. on Chevy Volt To Resume Production One Week Early Following Record Sales · · Score: 0

    Er that's after the $7500 tax rebate, which the GOP will kill if schmucks elect them.

  18. Re:Volt is a game changer. on Chevy Volt To Resume Production One Week Early Following Record Sales · · Score: 1

    The volt is NOT an electric car, it is a serial hybrid that can be plugged in to charge. But with a range of only 30 miles most people are going to power the thing with gasoline for most of their travel. If the volt could get something like 100 miles range and still have the gas engine for back up that would be different. Where I live most jobs would require an average of 20-40 mile commute ONE WAY. The Leaf could do this, but it would be too close for comfort unless I could sneak an extension cord our the window to the parking lot at work. A hybrid electric with a range on battery of at least 60 miles would be ideal. The volt is half way there.

  19. Taste? on Young Butchered Mammoth Discovered In Siberia · · Score: 1, Funny

    Did they taste it? Does it taste like chicke?

  20. Re:One half the range of a Cessna 152 on Flying Car Makes Successful Maiden Flight · · Score: 1

    Even with pre-flight planning weather can creep up on you. Every VFR pilot that intends to do any long cross country work should have training in handling near IFR conditions which means knowing how to keep straight and level on instruments. Every VFR aircraft intended for cross country work should have a minimal set of Instruments (artificial horizon and turn and bank indicator). The first time you try to fly without seeing out of the aircraft is bound to cause vertigo however so training ahead of time is a VERY good idea.

  21. Re:2 Hours? That is fast! on GNU/Linux Running On An 8-Bit Processor · · Score: 1

    You want to talk slow? Any DEC fans out there? Do you remember DEC TAPE II? This was a 3m tape cart that emulated a standard DEC TAPE which itself emulated a floppy disk. Had one of those hooked to an LSI II running RT-11 and the Dungeon (ZORK) game. Now that was slow!

  22. Re:No it won't. on GNU/Linux Running On An 8-Bit Processor · · Score: 2

    Intel sold the 8088 CPU as an 8 bit processor. It really was a 16 bit machine inside, but with an 8 bit data bus that could use all the 8 bit parts that worked with the 8085 CPU. So many people are confused and think windows ran on an 8 bit machine. BTW windows vers 1 and 2 could run on a 16 bit 8088 PC XT machine. Version 3 and 3.1 dropped the XT support but continued to run on 286 AT machines.

  23. Re:Is this useful? on Flying Car Makes Successful Maiden Flight · · Score: 1

    Probably similar to the Citrabrea I used to fly.

  24. Re:Not a flying car. on Flying Car Makes Successful Maiden Flight · · Score: 1

    It's similar enough to a motorcycle or scooter to be road licensed as such, I wouldn't see any problem there. It should also meet all safety requirements for vehicles in these classes. The harder part would be to meet FAA requirements as a personal aircraft. It's probably too heavy to meet the ultralight class regs (thought I don't know if there IS an ultralight category for autogyros). It CAN be licensed under the experimental category, but this would require it to be sold in kit form and meet the 51% user assembled requirements.

  25. Flying Motorcycle actually on Flying Car Makes Successful Maiden Flight · · Score: 1

    This is a three wheeled flying motorcycle or ATV. It would probably be street legal as it somewhere between a scooter and a motorcycle in size. The gyrocopter or autogyro concept is interesting. It should be pointed out that autogryos require expensive maintenance and inspection of the rotor blades and their linkages which are crucial for safe operation of the craft. The folding prop is also a potential source for expensive maintenance and inspection. An inflight failure of either of these systems would be instantly fatal in most cases. I would check out the safety records of other autogyros such as the famous 'Benson' before considering one of these. I do think it has potential as a sport personal aircraft, but not as serious transportation. BTW I have a private pilot's license and I think I would be comfortable flying an autogyro after a few hours of instruction in type.