"'While we don’t comment on speculation of this kind, we do have a very strong point of view on the future of entertainment to offer you today.... We’re in the business of breaking down old technology boundaries to create a borderless world where work, play and home become one virtual reality. No matter where you are, you can reach out and touch the people, the information and the entertainment you love, any time, on all your favorite devices.... Because FiOS TV is such a powerful, interactive, cloud-based service, it is a natural match for devices like game consoles, and we've demonstrated our ability to blend FiOS with gaming systems at events like the Consumer Electronics Show.... We’re not announcing any new products today, but stay tuned for the future!
I agree that China wins hands down when it comes to local pollution. They are the pollution leaders in heavy metals, POPs, and inorganic toxins of all sorts. They are poisoning themselves in their quest to become a world power but it seems that they are willing to accept the risk. As nasty as these pollutants are they really don't migrate on a global scale. Local pollution of Chinese ground water, soil or air does not cause appreciable direct harm outside Asia.
My comment was restricted only to global pollutants(GH gasses, elemental mercury, etc.)which is why I chose that particular metric. The reasoning is that, assuming an equivalent standard of living, the greater the population the greater the emission of a given pollutant. It may be unwise(stupid, naive, insane) to use total population as the only factor for comparison but it should taken into account.
While I do not deny that China is responsible for a significant portion of global pollution they are far from the largest per capita. The U.S. is now the second largest polluter with a population in the neighborhood of 300-400 million. China has a population of over 1 billion but their pollution output of most pollutants only just exceeds that of the U.S. Pretty much every western nation is a larger per capita emitter than China(Google it), some by a very large margin.
I am not trying to stir up trouble with my comments but I do feel that if we are going to get a handle on the management of various global pollutants the population size must be taken into account. To use CO2 as an example; if China were to emit only 1/4 the amount of the U.S. per capita they would still fall just behind the total U.S. output.
350 million x 1 pollution unit = 350 million units for the U.S.
1 billion x 1/4 pollution unit = 250 million pollution units for China.
You mean double-penetrate my Kin?
Respect for books(and electronics) is something that must be taught. Since young children are fantastic at mimicry the best way to teach them is by example. Read with them, flip the pages, encourage them to treat the book gently. If they want to throw something give them a ball. If they want to hit something give them a pot and a wooden spoon. If the child insists on treating the book badly then take it away and don't give it back until they finish crying. If you teach respect for books then your electronics are (mostly) safe as well.
Can someone lend me a kindle (/ipad/whatever) and a stopwatch? I have an experiment in mind...
It is the job of a parent to inhibit destructive behavior in their children. If an iPad or Kindle is introduced to them properly then there is little risk. Children have no concept of money but they do recognize value. If the device is seen as valuable to the child then it is not as likely to be destroyed.
See if you can corroborate this experiment:
If you give a young child a bucket of quarters and put them near a fountain I guarantee every single quarter will be thrown or dumped into the fountain. Give them something they like(candy, favorite toy) and it is extremely unlikely(not zero) they will throw this object away no matter how little its monetary value.
The space industry today reminds me a great deal of the early automobile industry. When the auto industry was in its infancy each vehicle was essentially a custom designed and hand built object. The vehicles may have been beautiful works of art and craftsmanship but they were out of reach for all but the very wealthy. Ford revolutionized the industry by making a vehicle that worked well(enough), could be made at low cost and had interchangeable pats. The Model-T was not as fancy and perhaps not as reliable as the bespoke autos of the time but it was functional.
The rigors of space are known conditions at this point and there are many proven systems that have already been developed. What we need are standardized hardware and communication protocols based on what we already know. If mass production could be applied to space exploration we could have hundreds or thousands of probes throughout our solar system.
Just think! We could have something like a game console...IN SPACE!
He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him. -- Bion