by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 1st 2008 at 4:00AM
[Thanks, holycow]
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Simpsons mocks (m)Apple
by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 1st 2008 at 4:00AM
[Thanks, holycow]
Vatican Activates Their Solar Roof
Way to go Pope Benedict and all of you Vatican eco-warriors! Today the Vatican is scheduled to activate their new solar power system. This system will provide 20% of the city-state's power by 2020. It will also make them slightly more autonomous from Italy, since they won't have to get all of their energy from their surrounding neighbor. You could even say that the Vatican is reducing it's dependence on foreign energy!
The Vatican, which is comprised of 108 acres in the center of Rome, will also be able to greatly reduce their CO2 emissions thanks to the 2,400 photovoltaic panels perched, unseen from the ground, on the roof of "Nervi Hall." One of the most important requirements for the system, set up by German company SolarWorld, was that it not disturb the iconic Vatican skyline.
Pope Benedict has a growing reputation for being an environmentalist. He has appealed to people to use renewable energy sources, and the Vatican even hosted a scientific conference on climate warming. Nowthat's leadership worth listening to!
CONCEPTUALLY SIMPLE HACK TURNS VGA PORT INTO POWER-ONLY USB SOCKET
by Darren Murph, posted Nov 26th 2008 at 8:35AM
[Via EverythingUSB]
Solar Cemetery: Harnessing the Power of the Cemetery... for the Living
Over the last few months, I've uncovered a disturbing trend in the green media world. No, it's not a sci-fiSoylent Green type conspiracy where the dead are used to feed our energy addiction. It's that we're all obsessed (myself included) with death -- seehere, here, here, and here. And why is that? Maybe because we hope to find a way to become helpful to the fight against climate change, even after we've taken a dirt nap. Just like those residing in this Spanish cemetery.After conducting an exhaustive search, the town of Santa Coloma de Gramenet couldn't find a suitable piece of ground to carry out their renewable energy plans, so they decided to build a giant solar array over the town's 4 square kilometer cemetery. At first, there was indignation, but after an awareness campaign, the complaints have for the most part subsided. Instead, many even feel proud that the cemetery is now part of the town energy network.
It's nice to see that solar power is being used for more than just those ridiculous solar powered tombstones. Santa Coloma de Gramenet's solar park includes 462 panels, perched atop the cemetery's mausoleums, where residents are buried 5 deep. Each panel is place at a low angle to remain as unobtrusive as possible.
So far, the panels cover only 5% of the cemetery's surface area, and collect enough energy to power 60 local homes, but officials hope to triple the output in the coming years. According to Esteve Serret, director of the cemetery's management company:
"The best tribute we can pay to our ancestors, whatever your religion may be, is to generate clean energy for new generations. That is our leitmotif."
[via Treehugger]
90% of Gaming Addiction Patients Not Addicted
Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday November 25, @08:05PM
from the don't-worry-i'm-sure-you're-in-the-other-10% dept.
phorm writes"BBC is carrying an article which states that 90% of visitors to Europe's 'video game addiction clinic' are not, in fact, addicted. The problem is a social one rather than a psychological issue. In other words, the patients have turned to heavy gaming because they felt they didn't fit in elsewhere, or that they fit in better 'in the game' than elsewhere in 'the real world.' This has been discussed before, with arguments ranging from gaming being a good way to socialize, the clinical definition of gaming addiction, and claims than males are wired for video-game addiction."
National Day of Listening - Holiday Without Stuff
In the midst of all the Christmas shopping, Thanksgiving cooking and general holiday craziness going on, the National Day of Listening on Friday is a great tradition to institute that doesn't involve a lot of stuff. StoryCorps, a group dedicated to preserving oral history, is encouraging everyone to take an hour on Friday, November 28, to listen to someone tell their story. It could be an older relative, a neighbor or even your kid.
You can record the stories if you want, or just take the time to listen. What a great thing to do - instead of participating in the Black Friday madness and shopping frenzy, stay home and listen to someone.
Can you imagine the joy an older relative might feel if you asked them to tell you their story? And what a great way for kids to learn listening skills and learn more about life. Make Friday a listening day, instead of a shopping day. There is nothing to sort and recycle, no research to find out if it is safe and eco-friendly and no money to spend. Sounds like a perfect new holiday tradition to me.
[Via Lifehacker]
Yachts Get Green with Solar and Wind Power
With the economy in shambles and lay-offs all over the place, I keep asking myself, how can I power my yacht in an eco-friendly way.Fortunately, Solar Sailor, an Australian-based company, has a solution. By using the sun and wind, two things boats have a lot of access to, this technology can help make renewable energy a major power source for your luxury boat.
One of the main hurdles, according to Dr. Robert Dane, the sailor who came up with the concept, was the dangerous combination of strong winds and solar panels. The solution? Make wind sails out of solar collectors, naturally. Ideally, the vessel would be powered by a combination of wind and solar energy, plus batteries and old fashion fuel.
While my student loan payments precludes me for buying a yacht (for now!), it's nice to see the super rich getting on-board with innovative energy ideas.
While the Solar Sailor technology could reduce emissions and costs for yachts, the company has also reported interest from other types of marine vessels, including crewless drones for coast guards (that operate for two years at a time!) and ferry operators in Asia.
Yachts Get Green with Solar and Wind Power
With the economy in shambles and lay-offs all over the place, I keep asking myself, how can I power my yacht in an eco-friendly way.Fortunately, Solar Sailor, an Australian-based company, has a solution. By using the sun and wind, two things boats have a lot of access to, this technology can help make renewable energy a major power source for your luxury boat.
One of the main hurdles, according to Dr. Robert Dane, the sailor who came up with the concept, was the dangerous combination of strong winds and solar panels. The solution? Make wind sails out of solar collectors, naturally. Ideally, the vessel would be powered by a combination of wind and solar energy, plus batteries and old fashion fuel.
While my student loan payments precludes me for buying a yacht (for now!), it's nice to see the super rich getting on-board with innovative energy ideas.
While the Solar Sailor technology could reduce emissions and costs for yachts, the company has also reported interest from other types of marine vessels, including crewless drones for coast guards (that operate for two ye
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
President Pardons Poisoning of National Symbol
In a warm up to his annual pardoning of turkeys in honor of Thanksgiving, the president has been less forgiving to another bird: the bald eagle.Instead, he has pardoned Leslie Owen Collier, who was convicted of killing three bald eagles, via a misdirected attempt to use poisoned hamburger meat to kill coyotes.
Bush has also granted pardons to several convicted of bank fraud and Daniel Figh Pue III who, according to the Associated Press, was "convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit."
This pardon simultaneously says it's ok to kill endangered species andtakes aim at our national symbol. You might say he's killing two birds with one stone.
'Let The Sunshine In' To Protect Your Heart This Winter
ScienceDaily (Nov. 26, 2008) — The temperature might not be the only thing plummeting this winter. Many people also will experience a decrease in their vitamin D levels, which can play a role in heart disease, according to a new review article in Circulation.
Read More
How Is Our Left Brain Is Different From Our Right?
ScienceDaily (Nov. 25, 2008) — Since the historical discovery of the speech center in the left cortex in 150 years ago, functional differences between left and right hemisphere have been well known; language is mainly handled by left hemisphere, while spatial recognition is more specialized to the right hemisphere. However, the structural differences of synapses underlying left-right difference of the brain remained unknown.
Read more
Forests May Play Overlooked Role In Regulating Climate
ScienceDaily (Nov. 25, 2008) — Scientists led by a team at the University of New Hampshire show that forests may influence the Earth's climate in important ways that have not previously been recognized.
Read More
Google Chrome Tops Browser Speed Tests
Posted by kdawson on Tuesday November 25, @03:15AM
from the there-fixed-that-for-ya dept.
ThinSkin writes"So many Web browsers, so little time. The folks at ExtremeTech have assembled the ultimate browser test to determine which Web browser is king. From speed tests to rendering tests, different browsers traded off wins, but Google Chrome came out on top."
'Rhino Rendezvous' an Amazing Safari Auction
Last year the International Rhino Foundation's (IRF) made the news with a kooky rhino poop auction. Yes, they sold rhino droppings. On eBay.This year they're going a little more conventional, but auctioning off something much bigger: an amazing four-day safari that would be the perfect gift for the conservationist or animal lover who really has everything.
They're calling it the "Rhino Rendezvous" - a trip for six to spend four days at the IRF headquarters at White Oak Conservation Center, just north of Jacksonville, Florida. The winner will receive ground transportation (i.e. not airfare), meals, accommodations, and a chance to go behind the scenes at the world class White Oak Conservation Center.
Some of the endangered species you'll get to see at the center include rhinos (of course), tigers, zebras and Komodo monitors. You'll get to take pictures, see feeding sessions and make some priceless memories.
The auction started on November 15th, and goes through December 15th. To give you an idea of what a great opportunity this is, the whole thing is valued at $25,000, but at the time of this post, bidding has only reached $3,100! That's what I call a bargain!
It's also a great cause. If you are thinking of taking a big family trip, and want to do something really unique that will help the conservation efforts of IRF, go place your bid. Some lucky winner is going to have an amazing story to tell.
Should We Clone a Neanderthal?
Posted by kdawson on Tuesday November 25, @12:46AM
from the they-are-among-us dept.
SpaceAdmiral writes"Forget cloning a woolly mammoth — should scientists clone a Neanderthal? Such a feat should be possible soon, although it raises a number of bioethics concerns, including where to draw the line between humans and other animals."
Monday, November 24, 2008
Are You a Frugalista?
The Oxford Dictionary has named the word of the year for 2008:Hypermiling. Hypermiling is"an attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one's car and one's driving techniques."
Well, that didn't get William Safire of the New York Times' On Language column all that excited, especially as we see gas prices plummet back below $2 a gallon. Safire's choice? A nod to the recession with "Frugalista." According to the Oxford Dictionary, a frugalista is "a person who lives a frugal lifestyle but stays fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc."
Safire thinks that frugalista is a much better choice than "recessionista" a term coined by Larry Kudlow and defined in the New York Times as "the new name for a style maven on a budget." I would agree with Safire.
So all you thrify folks out there, take heart! You're not a cheapskate anymore, you're a frugalista!
South Carolina Wants To Jam Cell Phone Signals
Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday November 24, @09:22AM
from the oooo-oooo-me-too dept.
Corey Brook writes"The South Carolina state prison system wants the FCC to grant them and local officers permission to block cell phone signals. News has been out about the growing problem of them perps smuggling cell phones into prisons for a while now. Inmates use cell phones as commerce, to implement fraud, smuggle drugs and weapons, and to order hits. Of course, some may use it to just talk to a loved one any time they can."Hopefully movie theaters and restaurants do it next.
PC Dice PCDICE PC Technician Diagnosis Dice
The long-held PC technician secret is out! With PC Dice you'll be able to identify and deal with nearly every conceivable PC problem. Diagnosis takes just seconds and you won't have to hear about it from that condescending geek in IT. You might want to call them anyway though just for confirmation and to make them feel needed. Includes three dice in a drawstring pouch.
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=19379
Obama Should Axe Daylight Time -- NYT Op-Ed Explains Why
In order to conserve energy, President-elect Barak Obama should eliminate daylight saving time.Twice a year, a bunch of countries, including most of the United States, practice daylight saving time or DST, shifting one hour ahead in the spring and one hour back in the fall. While I go through the whole twice-a-year ritual of looking for clocks, I only vaguely understood the reason behind it. I knew it had to do with more sunlight during waking hours and I assumed it was to save energy.
Turns out, according to two academics on the NYT Op-Ed page, there is little scientific proof that this reduces energy consumption. It also turns out that this practice could be wasteful, a bit annoying, and a lot of people want to get rid of it.
A study in Indiana, a state that recently started DST, showed an overall increase of 1 percent in residential electricity use with occasional increases of 2 to 4 percent in late spring and early fall. So much for conserving energy.
While DST is great for reducing in-door lighting, the shift in time increases the demand for air conditioning during hot summer evenings and increased heating in early spring and late fall mornings. The energy suckers of heat and A/C could eliminate any savings from reduced lighting and, as the Indiana study showed, actually increase electricity consumption.
The hot state of Arizona seems to already know this and opted out of the whole time-shifting practice.
2009: Green Car of the Year is ... a Diesel
After much deliberating and careful consideration, the 2009 Green Car of the Year has been announced. And the winner is, drum roll please ... the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. VW's smooth riding, diesel-sipping, emissions-filtering sedan edged out worthy competitors like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and -- the cult favorite -- the Smart Fortwo. Critics are heralding the win as proof that clean diesel is a real and viable alternative to gas powered hybrids.Of course, this news doesn't come as any great surprise to me, since I had the pleasure of test driving the impressive green machine last September. Reasons to love the Jetta -- and there are a few: it gets 30city/41hwy or 38city/44hwy depending on who's word you take, it's equipped with a post-combustion filter that removes 95% of sooty emissions, and it costs less and/or gets better mileage than the Malibu, Altima, and Civic hybrids. Oh yeah, and you don't give up that characteristic Jetta performance -- the TDI has definitely got some zip.
Gallery: 2009 Green Car of the Year Finalists
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