'hybrid' can mean 'stop the engine at the lights'

No it can't. That's not a hybrid, idiot. That's a simple start-stop engine. Sheesh.

Biodiesel is NOT "vegetable oil". It is synthesized from vegetable oil and other bio sources by a complex chemical process of esterification. Idiots who burn SVO (straight vegetable oil) or WVO (waste vegetable oil) or any kind of "grease" in their diesels end up with a disgusting gooey mess in their expensive fuel injection system.

Even true biodiesel has its drawbacks. The viscosity isn't the same as the proper diesel fuel the engine was designed for. That matters when you're dealing with the 1000-bar-plus (15,000 psi-plus) fuel pump of a modern common-rail diesel fuel injection system. It gels and stops flowing at a much higher temperature, and the gelling is harder to deal with than normal diesel fuel gelling. The shelf life is shorter. It is harder on the fuel system seals. Completely unlike normal diesel fuel it is hygroscopic. Once it becomes contaminated with water, bacteria grow and rot filters. Most or all modern diesel engine designs are not rated for any more than 2%, maybe 5% at the most, of biodiesel mixed with regular diesel. The old 1980s-and-before designs were fine with 20%, 80%, or even 100% biodiesel, but those days are gone.

Biodiesel & Ethanol are boondoggles

I know that. You know that. Lots of people know that. You know who doesn't know that? Or, more likely, know it but would rather not admit it publicly? Legislators.

Legislators know a lot of things, but DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

How hard can it be to make an engine compatible with burning ethanol or bio-diesel?

Not hard at all, but there are tradeoffs. And what are you trying to accomplish? It certainly wouldn't eliminate exhaust emissions. And ethanol gives absolutely terrible fuel efficiency, and sky-high cost. Biodiesel is a much, much better choice, except that it is a problem with the insanely high-tech, high-strung injection systems that have replaced the dead-simple diesel injection of yore.

Author 2014

You have a funny way of spelling Arthur.

all FOUR of those cat 3 hurricanes ... packed winds higher than Harvey, the cat 4

That doesn't make sense. Category 3 is 112-129 mph sustained. Category 4 is 130-156 mph. It's in the DEFINITION of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

I thought The Tempest was created by Shakespeare.

Humph. Who in hell cares? I personally enjoy programming in python, but I certainly make such choices based on whether or not something is "popular".

W.C. = cute. At first it struck me as hilariously appropriate. But then I realized. A W.C. (toilet) actually does perform a useful function.

True conscientious objectors were excused from using weapons and killing people by the time of WW2, in service to enlightened countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada (not an exhaustive list). They usually still had to perform non-combatant service, often medics including unarmed front-line medics in extreme danger, and essential civilian services in support of the war.

The V1 (Doodlebug) had an 850 kg (1870 lb) warhead. A complete V1 weighed 2150 kg (4740 lb). No "children" are going to carry either object upstairs.

No goddam user-replaceable battery = NO SALE! Idiots.

What is the point of hideously overpriced dog-slow large-capacity SD cards with extremely limited wear leveling and piss poor reliability? What are the chances you could fill this bow-wow up even once and read it all back successfully and error-free?

Corporate apologist shill alert. No one falls for that that old lie any more. The difference between "consumer" and "enterprise" drives is a different label and a huge price gouge. Nothing more. Actually 24x7 operation is a lot easier on them than constant cycling on/off.

Forest, meet trees. That is all very interesting, but really not very relevant. The simple truth is that "civilian" GPS USED TO HAVE only 1/10 to 1/100 the accuracy of "military" GPS, but that hasn't been the case for quite a while now. Anyone who has used a cheap consumer GPS knows it will reliably pinpoint you within a few meters.