moonbuggy

`Ford is developing a new form of automotive propulsion, and the implications for the American Auto Industry are huge. The Hydraulic Hybrid could be the greatest innovation since the internal combustion engine itself, and Ford is on the inside track with its F-150 Hybrid. New Tech Spy Has learned details about the system that are simply amazing and could put Ford in a commanding position in the fiercely competitive full size pickup market.

The Idea behind the current crop of Hybrid cars is well known; the cars main energy comes from gasoline which recharges batteries that move the car at low speeds. Hydraulic Hybrids work in the same manner, only instead of batteries, excess energy is stored in hydraulic cylinders.That in itself is not revolutionary, except for the fact that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries used today are not an efficient way to store energy, and hydraulic storage blows them away with 3X the efficiency. Even next generation Lithium Ion batteries do not come close to Hydraulic Energy Storage.’

`The above photo is courtesy of Kane Quinnell from Australia. It was almost his last. The above lightning stroke was almost certainly a “bolt from the blue” – a relatively rare positive lightning bolt that originates from the top of a distant storm cloud rather than from the negatively charged cloud base. [..]

“[..] I clicked away a few times, and got nothing, and then clicked the button again, and within 0.5 seconds of me pressing the button, I had jumped at least 2 metres in the air, as I heard a tremendously loud crack of thunder, and see this amazingly bright beam of electricity right in front of me. I had then landed, grabbed the camera, and was inside the house within 2 seconds.

I did not realize just how lucky I was until I uploaded the picture to my computer, and saw a leader stroke that must have originated no more than 2 metres from where I was standing next to my car, under my carport. Had the main charge taken the leader near me, rather than the one it did, I would be dead. [..]”‘

`The huge profits reported by oil and gas companies would turn into losses if the social costs of their greenhouse gas emissions were taken into account.

That is the conclusion of research by the New Economics Foundation (Nef).

Nef found that the £10bn-plus profits just reported by Shell and BP are dwarfed by costs of emissions associated with their products. [..]

Reporting previously undisclosed figures, Nef’s policy director Andrew Simms writes: “Our new calculations from research in progress with WWF, based on Treasury statistics, show that UK government income from the fossil fuel sector – conservatively estimated at £34.9bn ($61bn) – is greater than revenue from council tax, stamp duty, capital gains and inheritance tax combined.’

`We’re getting all too accustomed to hard drive makers squeezing more and more data into smaller and smaller spaces, but there’s still something really sweet about the news that Seagate’s rolling out a new 12GB 1-inch drive called the ST1.3 that’s 23% smaller than their current 1-inch drive yet squeezes in 50% more storage capacity. They’re aiming these drives squarely at mobile phone makers, so brace yourselves for announcements of a whole bunch of 12GB cellphones in the weeks and months after Seagate starts shipping these things (they’re saying it’ll be Q3 of this year).’

‘When your feisty little chihuahua is spending quality time with his favorite toy, it’s best to stay the hell out of the way.’

Borderline, but probably safe for work. 🙂

(1.8meg Windows Media)

see it here »

`Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a tabletop accelerator that produces nuclear fusion at room temperature, providing confirmation of an earlier experiment conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), while offering substantial improvements over the original design.

The device, which uses two opposing crystals to generate a powerful electric field, could potentially lead to a portable, battery-operated neutron generator for a variety of applications, from non-destructive testing to detecting explosives and scanning luggage at airports. The new results are described in the Feb. 10 issue of Physical Review Letters.’

`Two U.S. air marshals face federal drug charges accusing them of using their positions to smuggle narcotics through airport security and onto planes for transport, federal prosecutors said. [..]

Shawn Ray Nguyen, 38, and Burlie L. Sholar III, 32, were arrested Feb. 9 after an informant delivered 33 pounds of cocaine and $15,000 in “up front money” to Nguyen’s Houston home, authorities said. They were ordered to remain in federal custody until a bond hearing Thursday.’

`Ever see a guy at work or school who sends off creepy vibes, and you say to yourself “man, I know that guy rapes children”? Some mental health doctors claim that there’s no way to tell a pedophile apart from anyone else just by looks alone. Wrong. I scoured the FBI’s most wanted list and found some examples that confirmed my theory. Here’s what to look for [..]

On the left is Mark David Keller, wanted for paying young homeless boys for sex. Notice the telltale sign of a man who has a penchant for boy ass: the pedophile-smile or “pedosmile.” It’s part smirk, part grin, and all molester. It’s like he’s having a two-for-one sale on rape, no refunds or exchanges. On the right is John Henry Ramirez, wanted for plain old capital murder. Notice the cold gaze, and no smile. Definitely not a child molester. Probably. Here’s a chance to test your pedometer. Take this quiz to see if you can spot the pedophiles. Choose “yes” or “no” for each suspect; you will be graded at the end.’

Well, I got 12/19 (63.2%) which is better than the average of 53.3%. So there you go.. I’m safer than the average person from pedophiles. 🙂

`A Chinese astronomer from the University of St Andrews has fine-tuned Einstein’s groundbreaking theory of gravity, creating a ‘simple’ theory which could solve a dark mystery that has baffled astrophysicists for three-quarters of a century.

A new law for gravity, developed by Dr Hong Sheng Zhao and his Belgian collaborator Dr Benoit Famaey of the Free University of Brussels (ULB), aims to prove whether Einstein’s theory was in fact correct and whether the astronomical mystery of Dark Matter actually exists. Their research was published on February 10th in the US-based Astrophysical Journal Letters. Their formula suggests that gravity drops less sharply with distance as in Einstein, and changes subtly from solar systems to galaxies and to the universe.’

`The number of Japanese who killed themselves in suicide pacts made over the internet rose sharply last year.

Police said 91 people died in the pacts in 2005, compared with 55 in 2004 and 34 in 2003, when the records started.

Alarm at the rise has led to increased vigilance by internet service providers, who now report suspected suicide pacts to the authorities.

Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and the pacts may appeal to those scared to die alone.’

`Hillsong Church’s benevolent arm has been stripped of a $414,479 federal grant following allegations it obtained the funds by exploiting and deceiving the Aboriginal community that was supposed to benefit from it.

Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison, who approved the grant under a community crime prevention program late last year, withdrew the offer this month following exposure of the controversy by The Australian.

The backflip follows a growing row over the millions of dollars the Federal Government provides to Hillsong Emerge for a range of programs, with claims the money goes mostly into the pentecostal church’s administrative coffers.’

These people will build you a secret room for US$10,000 or DIY kits for US$1,500. Pull a fake book on a bookshelf, twist a candle on a fireplace, all the usual cool ways to open the hidden doors.

I want one. 🙂

`DIRECTIONS:

1. In a slow cooker, combine nipples, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, and potatoes. Pour in the tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with bay leaf, pepper, thyme, and marjoram. Stir together chicken broth and flour. Pour chicken broth mixture and beef consomme into slow cooker, and stir.

2. Cover, and cook on Low 6 to 10 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving.’

`A study conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center has shown that DNA itself can be a catalyst for cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Normal DNA is said to become problematic when it twists in the opposite direction to its familiar right hand spiral, thereby becoming what researchers have dubbed Z-DNA. [..]

The discovery that DNA can mutate into other shapes is not new to science, but Vasquez’s latest study actually shows how these mutated shapes occur within the cell. Previous studies found that the likelihood of Z-DNA forming at all is subject to the shape of the base pairs themselves. It is said, for example, that a consecutive sequence of CG 14 times over would likely form Z-DNA, while a consecutive sequence of AT would not. Based on these genomic studies, says Vasquez, the percentage of DNA sequences likely to form Z-DNA is 0.25 percent of the genome.’

This is pretty cool. If I’d had one of these when I was a kid I’d have been the coolest kid in the whole neighbourhood. No doubt about it.

(streaming video)

see it here »

`Microsoft’s new OS Vista “Welcome Center” screen, seen by all PC users when they start their computers, will display ads. Because that practice has caused complaints, the company is facing trouble from the U.S. Department of Justice as well as states attorneys general who are considering legal action. A report was filed last Wednesday with the judge handling Microsoft’s antitrust compliance.

With millions if not billions of people viewing that screen at least a few times a week, calling it prime advertising real estate is an understatement. While TV has died as a mass media, Microsoft’s “Welcome Center” will cause marketers to drool over its reach but cause extreme concern among those who feel Microsoft will use the space to promote the company’s own products.’

‘British troops take it upon themselves to beat up some iraqis. We’re not making a political statement here, but everyone is talking about this video. Watch and decide for yourself.’

Well, atleast they’re not just shooting at random cars this time.

(5.5meg Windows Media)

more here: Britain probes video of ‘rogue’ troops abusing Iraqis

see it here »

`Evangelist Ken Ham smiled at the 2,300 elementary students packed into pews, their faces rapt. With dinosaur puppets and silly cartoons, he was training them to reject much of geology, paleontology and evolutionary biology as a sinister tangle of lies.

“Boys and girls,” Ham said. If a teacher so much as mentions evolution, or the Big Bang, or an era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, “you put your hand up and you say, ‘Excuse me, were you there?’ Can you remember that?”

The children roared their assent.

“Sometimes people will answer, ‘No, but you weren’t there either,’ ” Ham told them. “Then you say, ‘No, I wasn’t, but I know someone who was, and I have his book about the history of the world.’ ” He waved his Bible in the air.

“Who’s the only one who’s always been there?” Ham asked.

“God!” the boys and girls shouted.

“Who’s the only one who knows everything?”

“God!”

“So who should you always trust, God or the scientists?”

The children answered with a thundering: “God!”‘

`At the heart of PixelOptics’ technology are tiny, electronically-controlled pixels embedded within a traditional eyeglass lens. Technicians scan the eyeball with an aberrometer — a device that measures aberrations that can impede vision — and then the pixels are programmed to correct the irregularities.

Traditional glasses correct lower-order aberrations like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatisms. PixelOptics’ lenses handle higher-order aberrations that are much more difficult to detect and correct.’

`It took over 14 years of research, innovation, and refinements, with a 20 million dollar investment to produce the Laser Turntable! [..]

Two beams read the stereo sound, two track the left and right shoulders of the groove, and one beam maintains the height and focus of playback head on any thickness record, and allowing for some warpage. Rather amazing to think about, and more so to hear!’

`The CIA’s top counter-terrorism official was fired last week because he opposed detaining Al-Qaeda suspects in secret prisons abroad, sending them to other countries for interrogation and using forms of torture such as “water boarding”, intelligence sources have claimed. [..]

Vincent Cannistraro, a former head of counter-terrorism at the agency, said: “It is not that Grenier wasn’t aggressive enough, it is that he wasn’t ‘with the programme’. He expressed misgivings about the secret prisons in Europe and the rendition of terrorists.”

Grenier also opposed “excessive” interrogation, such as strapping suspects to boards and dunking them in water, according to Cannistraro.’

It’s not a real dolphin, but it’s still not safe for work. 🙂

(2.5meg Windows Media)

`An 87-year-old grandmother was jailed this morning after being charged with shooting her 80-year-old caretaker. [..]

Police arrived and surrounded the home only to have 80-year-old J. Elmer Clark hobble out of the home. Clark had been shot in the lower left leg.

“We could tell he had been shot,” Krieger said. “Then we see this older lady come out of the house.”

Krieger said officers were stunned when Pauline Shelby Mattson told officers that she had shot Clark. Police confiscated a .38-caliber revolver believed to have been used in the shooting.’

`Dannii Minogue, the equally hot sister of Australian singer Kylie Minogue seems to have a thing for the ladies. News of the World is reporting that Dannii Minogue was caught on tape, via a closed-circuit video camera, getting a super-raunchy lap dance at London’s Puss in Boots strip club. The lapdance was full on, breaking all the “no touching” rules, and definitely entered into lesbian territory.’

with pictures.

`A box of X-rated fortune cookies was mistakenly delivered to a fundraiser hosted by a Brooklyn politician.

The 350 cookies stuffed with “the most graphically lurid” fortunes got mixed up in a batch of 1,750 cookies ordered for the Chinese New Year event, Borough President Marty Markowitz said Friday. Some guests “were stunned, to say the least.”‘

`A transit bus driver grabbed a woman by the hair, knocked her head into a pole, opened the door and tossed her into traffic after she yelled at him for missing her stop, police said.

The 52-year-old woman, who was not identified, suffered a broken shoulder.’

`It’s one of the darkest secrets of the Warren Jeffs polygamist community. An especially severe form of birth defect is on the rise and may mushroom in coming generations. [..]

Fumarase Deficiency is an enzyme irregularity that causes severe mental retardation, epileptic seizures and other cruel effects that leave children nearly helpless and unable to take care of themselves.

Dr. Theodore Tarby has treated many of the children at clinics in Arizona under contracts with the state. All are retarded. “In the severe category of mental retardation,” the neurologist said, “which means an IQ down there around 25 or so.”

Until a few years ago, scientists knew of only 13 cases of Fumarase Deficiency in the entire world. Tarby said he’s now aware of 20 more victims, all within a few blocks of each other on the Utah-Arizona border.’

`A 12-year-old Aurora boy who said he brought powdered sugar to school for a science project this week has been charged with a felony for possessing a look-alike drug, Aurora police have confirmed.

The sixth-grade student at Waldo Middle School was also suspended for two weeks from school after showing the bag of powdered sugar to his friends.

The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, said he brought the bag to school to ask his science teacher if he could run an experiment using sugar.’

`U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney has shot and wounded a 78-year-old fellow hunter during a Texas quail shoot.

Harry Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, the state capital, was described as “alert and doing fine” in hospital after being sprayed with shotgun pellets late Saturday afternoon at the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas.

Ranch owner Katharine Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird that had just been flushed and accidentally hit Whittington, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported.’

`”A space suit is almost a spacecraft in itself – it provides life support, pressurization, thermal control, micrometeorite protection and other functions necessary to keep the astronaut alive,” says Liang Sim, a researcher in the MVL. “Current spacesuits pressurize the body using the breathing gas inside the suit, which limits mobility, complicates functions such as temperature control and moisture removal, and carries the risk of a catastrophic failure in the event of puncture.”

The suit being developed by MIT and Midé, by contrast, would use a skin-tight weave of controllable materials to maintain surface pressure. Additional layers could then be added to perform other functions such as radiation protections and temperature control. This could provide more mobility and comfort, increase safety, and lower cost.’