A similar technique has been experimented in Italy for several years. Basically you feed an unmodified diesel engine with an emulsion made of 88% standard diesel fuel, 10% water and 2% additives (to prevent emulsion from separating). The combustion is much cleaner, mileage is only slightly higher (but since the fuel is 10% water, actual mileage from the diesel fuel is better).
This is currently used for public transportation in about 80 Italian cities. France and China (Bejing and Shangai) are experimenting as well. Availaiblity is still limited (emulsion is made 'on the fly' at the gas pump, so you need special equipment).
Alas, all I could find on the 'net is a.pdf in Italian: gasolio bianco
Most likely, that's already happening. Law enforcement agencies have set up 'sting' bulletin boards in the Fidonet years, way before the internet became popular.
The quality of the picture on the website is very poor, however:
- the yellow key at center/bottom is marked SpFn, that could stand for Space/Function (looks like the lower ten alpha keys double as F1-F10, how you can make it work, to use the Space button as a 'shift' for function keys beats me);
- close to the center/bottom there are two 'Cap' (i.e. Shift I guess) keys - you could use your thumbs with those, which could actually make sense;
- all the navigation keys are at the center of the keyboard;
- there are two specular numeric pads embedded in the right and left part, and two 'Num' keys you can press with your thumbs;
- there are a 'Start menu' key and a 'Local menu' key near the Ctrl and Alt keys.
They say it's supposed to be released in April, so I wouldn't rule out that it's a very early April Fool, *but* looks like someone put some thought in it. My mother can't type, and I guess I could sell this to her - for a slightly lower price;-)
Amusing detail: accordingly to the description from the Renault site (link in the story), the Vel Satis has *automatic* (i.e. computer controlled) parking brakes...
I wouldn't buy one even if I could afford it (and I can't).:-P
The key to success for Minitel in France was the business model. Quoting from the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minitel: -quote- Mi llions of terminals were handed out free to telephone subscribers, resulting in a high penetration rate among businesses and the public. In exchange for the terminal, the possessors of Minitel would not be given free "white page" directories, but only the yellow pages ; the white pages were accessible for free on Minitel. -end quote- I still wish they had done that in Italy as well...:-(
Re:Teletext to HTTP gateways?
on
Ceefax Turns 30
·
· Score: 1
The Wikipedia article on Teletext points to some: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletext - just check at the bottom of the page. Notably, all the links point to the websites of public television networks... I think Teletext is really great for public information services - and this is the main reason it will eventually be written off.:-(
In Sardegna (Italy) a gang of robbers has specialized in robbing ATM's (in Italy they're better known as Bancomat, yest just like bank-o-mat). They use a front-end loader and a truck (both stolen of course), they use the front-end loader to (literally) rip the ATM out of the building and to load it on the truck. They have seized five ATM's this year. The last time it took them ten minutes to do the job - they obviously triggered the alarm but when the police got there they were gone. And yes, the ATM's are rigged with a paint charge that's supposed to make the money useless... unless they know the right way to open the safe (apparently the alarm itself doesn't trigger the charge) - if they did it right, the last job paid 35,000 Euros (about $ 42,000)
IIRC warheads made in the USSR were much heavier that the US equivalent, so they needed much bigger rockets to launch them. If one of these babies can launch six telecommunication satellites and some extra payload (plus an upper stage able to put each satellite in a different orbit!) IMHO that's a BIG baby...
I remembered about something like that advertised a few years ago. After a couple Google searchs, I found it again: HSV Technologies Inc. - looks like the site is no longer updated... Just wonder if they are still working at it. They even claimed a US Patent as early as 1997!
another site about spam poetry
on
Spam as Poetry
·
· Score: 1
http://www.sperare.com/spam_poetry/blogger.html
pretty good IMHO - made only out of the subject lines from the SPAM.
In Italy we have a service called Bankpass Web for the same purpose - if you have a VISA or MasterCard credit card, you can create an account on the Bankpass website, and access it to generate one-time credit card #s to use for online transactions. Then your 'real' card is charged. It's a free option offered to card holders - I guess it's a way to promote b2c e-commerce...
They also offer a 'secure' payment service for affiliated e-commerce sites (never used that - none of the e-commerce places I visit is affilated)
I live in Italy. When I subscribed the "phone banking" service, my bank issued me a credit-card-sized thing with 30 one-time passwords. Those are for payments or money transfer only - they are not needed for information.
To access the service by phone, I have to log in (user ID 6-digit number, PIN 5-digit number, the latter I can change whenever I want). If the login is failed three times in a row, the service account is locked and I have to ask for a new activation (a one-time PIN that I get *at the counter* - i have to get there myself).
If I only need information that's all. If I want to give disposition for a payment or money transfer, I am asked for one of the one-time passwords - THEY tell me which one I must use (they're numbered) - "please tell me password number 14". As soon as I am running out of passwords the bank issues another batch of 30 (again, I have to get it at the counter).
I am surprised this is anything new in the US, this has been standard here for years...
IIRC the first Rolls-Royce models (100 years ago) were deemed dangerous for the same reason - they were far less noisy than the average car and the pedestrians wouldn't notice them until it was too late...
Another trick I used to play with 5,25" floppy disks: once upon a time, we had 9 sectors, 2 sides, 40 tracks (0.5x9x2x40=360 kb) "double density" floppies and 15 sectors, 2 sides, 80 tracks (0.5x15x2x80=1,200 kb) "high density" ones - the latter much more expensive. At least one manufacturer (Olivetti IIRC) supported an 'intermediate' format - 9 sectors, 2 sides, 80 tracks (0.5x9x2x80=720 kb).
The trick was, if you had a "high density" floppy drive you could install a BIOS extension to support the 'intermediate' format and double the capacity of the (much cheaper!) "double density" floppies. If you had both 5,25" (HD) and 3,5" drives, you could even copy DD 3,5" floppies on 5,25" ones (using DISKCOPY)!
Apparently the 40 tracks limitation was only a characteristic of the drive, even if the medium was not certified for 80 tracks formatting. I used those floppies for years without a flaw.
(FYI the "High Density" 1.44 Mb 3,5" floppy has 18 sectors, 2 sides and 80 tracks)
...and oddly enough, (a) Microsoft added some sixty (!) command-line functions in Windows Server 2003 and (b) "Longhorn" (ETA most likely 2006 by now) is due to have a *NIX-grade Command Shell (IIRC the codename for development is "monad")
These tools seem mostly geared towards system and network administrators and such. However, looks like they have changed their mind a bit on the matter...
Found something more from the site of Humanitas Gavazzeni institute:
The article quoted by BBC: http://www.humanitasalute.it/int_focus.html? id_p=9 45
Another article on similar subjet, from a few months ago: http://www.humanitasalute.it/int_stilidivita.html? id_p=84
Google translation of the first article (with a bit of editing from me):
Coffee, all the health in three cups
The liver helps, alleviates badly of head is effective against the asthma crises. Defects? Not to misuse of.
Million Italians go crazy for the aroma of the coffee, but they believe features of one bad habit, because often the searches of it put in evidence only the negative characteristics and never those positive ones. Many ignore it but the coffee has also many effects benefits for the health and is one promoted drink to full ballots in food habits, pact not to misuse of and not to exceed the three or four cups to the day.
Some cup to the day, in fact, is to greet for the arteries, for the liver, it helps the line and it alleviates badly of head is that features of expressed, American or prepared coffee with the moka and, moreover, do not have calories practically.
We make the point with Chiara Trombetti , dietologist of Humanitas Gavazzeni of Bergamo.
Which are the benefits of the coffee on the health? "Coffee" Chiara Trombetti explains "helps to protect the arteries because it contains some elements like the tannin and other polifenoli that have a anti-oxidant power, four times more effective than one cup of green tea. Moreover, he is a friend of the liver because it contributes to prevent of some diseases like the cirrosi hepatic and the biliary calculosis thanks to the diterpeni (kawehol and cafestol), substances that have the ability protect and to reinforce epatociti (the cells of the liver) from the aggressions of these diseases. In particular, it is above all the coffee prepared with the moka and tasted bitter that, sipped after the meal, the liver in the digestion helps. The coffee, then, continues Chiara Trombetti "may help during the asthma crises because caffein has a broncodilatatore effect and reduces, therefore, the strain of respiratory muscles improving the exhaled volume (until quite to two hours after drinking one cup). Finally, to the contrary of what commonly it is believed, the coffee badly alleviates of head thanks to its vasocostrittore power (shrinks is gone blood) and is slightly analgesic. To case in medicinal ones made up of paracetamolo (it does not use you as pain-killers) is contained also caffein.
And is it true that helps also to maintain the shape? "coffee's caffein" continues Chiara Trombetti "contains a stimulating substance that contributes to accelerate the metabolism immediately rendering the fat people available like energy for physical activity. For this it has an important role in the maintenance of the shape. If, in fact, beyond following a diet a coffee cup is consumed then to fine meal engaging itself for approximately half an hour in the movement, the fat people assumed with their food come burn to you with more facility. Moreover, the coffee does not add calories to the diet because a cup without added milk or sugar does not exceed the two calories.
But a type of coffee is worth another? "actually is several types of coffee and they are not all equal one" it clears Chiara Trombetti. "espresso it more contains elevated doses of caffein regarding that one prepared with the moka and maintains its beneficial property stable, while in the second they are flown them, therefore, for trarne the advantages, is advisable to drink endured it after to have prepared it. The coffee American , instead, is thought from much less strongly than espresso and 'acquoso'. In truth, it contains the caffein double quantity and it is a valid aid in order to maintain high attention, but the present caffein amount is better not to exceed the two glasies to the seen day. That one d? I luff, t
Where I live (Italy) Toyota is pounding us with advertising of their city car Yaris with built-in Bluetooth support (specifically aimed at cellphone users).
If I understand correctly, Bluetooth-enabled cellphones are hardly available in the US, while they are becoming quite common in Europe. Is this becoming another "Europe vs. the US" technology trend?
And, Intel is the no. 1 maker of chips, but Toyota is now the no. 2 maker of cars... (GM is still no. 1 - for now)
This is probably redundant but... I much share the same experience. After thinking about a handheld for a long time, I had a chance to grab a refurbished m125. The biggest issue is, I've become addicted to the little thing since then:-)
The software supplied with the Palm covers most of my needs. My biggest - and most expensive - addition is a MS Money companion - which actually turned the Money desktop software into something USEFUL, as now i do almost all the data entry on the Palm and work on the desktop PC only for balancing, planning and printing reports.
A few nice small applications and utilities - mostly freeware: HandyShopper and MetrO for example - made it even more useful and/or user frendly. Lots of stuff like that for the Palm.
Also, since I keep some confidential data on the thing, I added an encryption software and a hack that allows me to lock and unlock safely the Palm in a snap.
I found it pretty stable. Got crashes trying a few mis-behaving applications - hit the reset button and delete the offender, I never needed more than that.
And I actually like the AAA batteries. I get 20 to 24 hours of operation with two fresh batteries (I make very little use of backlighting), that's more than two weeks of operation for me, and even in the middle of nowhere all I need is two replacement batteries in my pocket. I am going to miss that when I will upgrade to something else...
What I miss? A little more memory (but I could add a SD card), a speaker able to reproduce dialtones (you can do that with OS5 devices, and with Clies as well IIRC). Also, if my next cellphone will have Bluetooth in it, I'll probably want Bluetooth connectivity for the Palm. There are rumors of an upcoming model (Tungsten E2?) like a Tungsten E with larger display and built-in Bluetooth, should be much cheaper of the T3 hopefully! If only they made one with a grayscale display...
Yes, I'm hooked - and what matters, I REALLY use it and it makes my day.
Slashdot Mirror
Fred Hoyle & John Elliot's "A for Andromeda" (IMDB link)
(be warned, contains spoilers...)
And let me say, it was *better* than most sci-fi you get on TV nowadays!
A similar technique has been experimented in Italy for several years. Basically you feed an unmodified diesel engine with an emulsion made of 88% standard diesel fuel, 10% water and 2% additives (to prevent emulsion from separating). The combustion is much cleaner, mileage is only slightly higher (but since the fuel is 10% water, actual mileage from the diesel fuel is better).
.pdf in Italian:
This is currently used for public transportation in about 80 Italian cities. France and China (Bejing and Shangai) are experimenting as well. Availaiblity is still limited (emulsion is made 'on the fly' at the gas pump, so you need special equipment).
Alas, all I could find on the 'net is a
gasolio bianco
Most likely, that's already happening. Law enforcement agencies have set up 'sting' bulletin boards in the Fidonet years, way before the internet became popular.
Read The Hacker Crackdown
Well... this was in Computerworld today:
:-D
GAO: Navy sinks $1B into failed ERP pilot projects
Guess who is their supplier?
My company is due to migrate to SAP in two years. Should I look for another job?
The quality of the picture on the website is very poor, however:
;-)
- the yellow key at center/bottom is marked SpFn, that could stand for Space/Function (looks like the lower ten alpha keys double as F1-F10, how you can make it work, to use the Space button as a 'shift' for function keys beats me);
- close to the center/bottom there are two 'Cap' (i.e. Shift I guess) keys - you could use your thumbs with those, which could actually make sense;
- all the navigation keys are at the center of the keyboard;
- there are two specular numeric pads embedded in the right and left part, and two 'Num' keys you can press with your thumbs;
- there are a 'Start menu' key and a 'Local menu' key near the Ctrl and Alt keys.
They say it's supposed to be released in April, so I wouldn't rule out that it's a very early April Fool, *but* looks like someone put some thought in it. My mother can't type, and I guess I could sell this to her - for a slightly lower price
Amusing detail: accordingly to the description from the Renault site (link in the story), the Vel Satis has *automatic* (i.e. computer controlled) parking brakes...
:-P
I wouldn't buy one even if I could afford it (and I can't).
The key to success for Minitel in France was the business model. Quoting from the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minitel:i llions of terminals were handed out free to telephone subscribers, resulting in a high penetration rate among businesses and the public. In exchange for the terminal, the possessors of Minitel would not be given free "white page" directories, but only the yellow pages ; the white pages were accessible for free on Minitel. :-(
-quote-
M
-end quote-
I still wish they had done that in Italy as well...
The Wikipedia article on Teletext points to some: :-(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletext - just check at the bottom of the page.
Notably, all the links point to the websites of public television networks... I think Teletext is really great for public information services - and this is the main reason it will eventually be written off.
In Sardegna (Italy) a gang of robbers has specialized in robbing ATM's (in Italy they're better known as Bancomat, yest just like bank-o-mat). They use a front-end loader and a truck (both stolen of course), they use the front-end loader to (literally) rip the ATM out of the building and to load it on the truck. They have seized five ATM's this year. The last time it took them ten minutes to do the job - they obviously triggered the alarm but when the police got there they were gone. And yes, the ATM's are rigged with a paint charge that's supposed to make the money useless... unless they know the right way to open the safe (apparently the alarm itself doesn't trigger the charge) - if they did it right, the last job paid 35,000 Euros (about $ 42,000)
N P/ MNU01/A02.html
Newspaper article (in Italian) here:
http://www.unionesarda.it/UNIONE/2004/NZ3005/CR
IIRC warheads made in the USSR were much heavier that the US equivalent, so they needed much bigger rockets to launch them. If one of these babies can launch six telecommunication satellites and some extra payload (plus an upper stage able to put each satellite in a different orbit!) IMHO that's a BIG baby...
I just noticed somebody else already pointed this out... sorry :-P
I remembered about something like that advertised a few years ago. After a couple Google searchs, I found it again: HSV Technologies Inc. - looks like the site is no longer updated... Just wonder if they are still working at it. They even claimed a US Patent as early as 1997!
http://www.sperare.com/spam_poetry/blogger.html
pretty good IMHO - made only out of the subject lines from the SPAM.
In Italy we have a service called Bankpass Web for the same purpose - if you have a VISA or MasterCard credit card, you can create an account on the Bankpass website, and access it to generate one-time credit card #s to use for online transactions. Then your 'real' card is charged. It's a free option offered to card holders - I guess it's a way to promote b2c e-commerce...
They also offer a 'secure' payment service for affiliated e-commerce sites (never used that - none of the e-commerce places I visit is affilated)
Website (italian) http://www.bankpass.it/
I live in Italy. When I subscribed the "phone banking" service, my bank issued me a credit-card-sized thing with 30 one-time passwords. Those are for payments or money transfer only - they are not needed for information.
To access the service by phone, I have to log in (user ID 6-digit number, PIN 5-digit number, the latter I can change whenever I want). If the login is failed three times in a row, the service account is locked and I have to ask for a new activation (a one-time PIN that I get *at the counter* - i have to get there myself).
If I only need information that's all. If I want to give disposition for a payment or money transfer, I am asked for one of the one-time passwords - THEY tell me which one I must use (they're numbered) - "please tell me password number 14". As soon as I am running out of passwords the bank issues another batch of 30 (again, I have to get it at the counter).
I am surprised this is anything new in the US, this has been standard here for years...
IIRC the first Rolls-Royce models (100 years ago) were deemed dangerous for the same reason - they were far less noisy than the average car and the pedestrians wouldn't notice them until it was too late...
I just wonder if they can see it from England...
4
http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=931
lol
...and since in India life is less expensive you can afford a decent lifestyle with that money.
Not that I would run for that. It's a big change to adjust yourself to. But I guess it beats flipping hamburgers at the nearest fast food.
(I still think all this globalization thing is really messed up. However...)
Another trick I used to play with 5,25" floppy disks: once upon a time, we had 9 sectors, 2 sides, 40 tracks (0.5x9x2x40=360 kb) "double density" floppies and 15 sectors, 2 sides, 80 tracks (0.5x15x2x80=1,200 kb) "high density" ones - the latter much more expensive. At least one manufacturer (Olivetti IIRC) supported an 'intermediate' format - 9 sectors, 2 sides, 80 tracks (0.5x9x2x80=720 kb).
The trick was, if you had a "high density" floppy drive you could install a BIOS extension to support the 'intermediate' format and double the capacity of the (much cheaper!) "double density" floppies. If you had both 5,25" (HD) and 3,5" drives, you could even copy DD 3,5" floppies on 5,25" ones (using DISKCOPY)!
Apparently the 40 tracks limitation was only a characteristic of the drive, even if the medium was not certified for 80 tracks formatting. I used those floppies for years without a flaw.
(FYI the "High Density" 1.44 Mb 3,5" floppy has 18 sectors, 2 sides and 80 tracks)
Ah, sweet memories...
...and oddly enough, (a) Microsoft added some sixty (!) command-line functions in Windows Server 2003 and (b) "Longhorn" (ETA most likely 2006 by now) is due to have a *NIX-grade Command Shell (IIRC the codename for development is "monad")
These tools seem mostly geared towards system and network administrators and such. However, looks like they have changed their mind a bit on the matter...
Found something more from the site of Humanitas Gavazzeni institute:
.html? id_p=84
The article quoted by BBC:
http://www.humanitasalute.it/int_focus.html? id_p=9 45
Another article on similar subjet, from a few months ago:
http://www.humanitasalute.it/int_stilidivita
Google translation of the first article (with a bit of editing from me):
Coffee, all the health in three cups
The liver helps, alleviates badly of head is effective against the asthma crises. Defects? Not to misuse of.
Million Italians go crazy for the aroma of the coffee, but they believe features of one bad habit, because often the searches of it put in evidence only the negative characteristics and never those positive ones. Many ignore it but the coffee has also many effects benefits for the health and is one promoted drink to full ballots in food habits, pact not to misuse of and not to exceed the three or four cups to the day.
Some cup to the day, in fact, is to greet for the arteries, for the liver, it helps the line and it alleviates badly of head is that features of expressed, American or prepared coffee with the moka and, moreover, do not have calories practically.
We make the point with Chiara Trombetti , dietologist of Humanitas Gavazzeni of Bergamo.
Which are the benefits of the coffee on the health?
"Coffee" Chiara Trombetti explains "helps to protect the arteries because it contains some elements like the tannin and other polifenoli that have a anti-oxidant power, four times more effective than one cup of green tea. Moreover, he is a friend of the liver because it contributes to prevent of some diseases like the cirrosi hepatic and the biliary calculosis thanks to the diterpeni (kawehol and cafestol), substances that have the ability protect and to reinforce epatociti (the cells of the liver) from the aggressions of these diseases. In particular, it is above all the coffee prepared with the moka and tasted bitter that, sipped after the meal, the liver in the digestion helps. The coffee, then, continues Chiara Trombetti "may help during the asthma crises because caffein has a broncodilatatore effect and reduces, therefore, the strain of respiratory muscles improving the exhaled volume (until quite to two hours after drinking one cup). Finally, to the contrary of what commonly it is believed, the coffee badly alleviates of head thanks to its vasocostrittore power (shrinks is gone blood) and is slightly analgesic. To case in medicinal ones made up of paracetamolo (it does not use you as pain-killers) is contained also caffein.
And is it true that helps also to maintain the shape?
"coffee's caffein" continues Chiara Trombetti "contains a stimulating substance that contributes to accelerate the metabolism immediately rendering the fat people available like energy for physical activity. For this it has an important role in the maintenance of the shape. If, in fact, beyond following a diet a coffee cup is consumed then to fine meal engaging itself for approximately half an hour in the movement, the fat people assumed with their food come burn to you with more facility. Moreover, the coffee does not add calories to the diet because a cup without added milk or sugar does not exceed the two calories.
But a type of coffee is worth another?
"actually is several types of coffee and they are not all equal one" it clears Chiara Trombetti. "espresso it more contains elevated doses of caffein regarding that one prepared with the moka and maintains its beneficial property stable, while in the second they are flown them, therefore, for trarne the advantages, is advisable to drink endured it after to have prepared it. The coffee American , instead, is thought from much less strongly than espresso and 'acquoso'. In truth, it contains the caffein double quantity and it is a valid aid in order to maintain high attention, but the present caffein amount is better not to exceed the two glasies to the seen day. That one d? I luff, t
It's just me, or this sounds a bit like a Total Recall quote? ;-)
I am Italian, and I resent this kind of prejudice agains Italians.
;-)
I'll tell my relatives in Chicago to pay you a visit
Where I live (Italy) Toyota is pounding us with advertising of their city car Yaris with built-in Bluetooth support (specifically aimed at cellphone users).
If I understand correctly, Bluetooth-enabled cellphones are hardly available in the US, while they are becoming quite common in Europe. Is this becoming another "Europe vs. the US" technology trend?
And, Intel is the no. 1 maker of chips, but Toyota is now the no. 2 maker of cars... (GM is still no. 1 - for now)
This is probably redundant but... I much share the same experience. After thinking about a handheld for a long time, I had a chance to grab a refurbished m125. The biggest issue is, I've become addicted to the little thing since then :-)
The software supplied with the Palm covers most of my needs. My biggest - and most expensive - addition is a MS Money companion - which actually turned the Money desktop software into something USEFUL, as now i do almost all the data entry on the Palm and work on the desktop PC only for balancing, planning and printing reports.
A few nice small applications and utilities - mostly freeware: HandyShopper and MetrO for example - made it even more useful and/or user frendly. Lots of stuff like that for the Palm.
Also, since I keep some confidential data on the thing, I added an encryption software and a hack that allows me to lock and unlock safely the Palm in a snap.
I found it pretty stable. Got crashes trying a few mis-behaving applications - hit the reset button and delete the offender, I never needed more than that.
And I actually like the AAA batteries. I get 20 to 24 hours of operation with two fresh batteries (I make very little use of backlighting), that's more than two weeks of operation for me, and even in the middle of nowhere all I need is two replacement batteries in my pocket. I am going to miss that when I will upgrade to something else...
What I miss? A little more memory (but I could add a SD card), a speaker able to reproduce dialtones (you can do that with OS5 devices, and with Clies as well IIRC). Also, if my next cellphone will have Bluetooth in it, I'll probably want Bluetooth connectivity for the Palm. There are rumors of an upcoming model (Tungsten E2?) like a Tungsten E with larger display and built-in Bluetooth, should be much cheaper of the T3 hopefully! If only they made one with a grayscale display...
Yes, I'm hooked - and what matters, I REALLY use it and it makes my day.