There's precedence for this. Imagine that every broadcast system, AM, FM and TV used it's own frequencies and protocols. If you wanted to watch CBS you'd need a different TV from the one that watches ABC. Exclusive deals would be made, and some TVs could receive NBC, FOX and ABC, but some would only receive independents. That's what's happening with Internet TV right now. The thought is we're still in the shakeout phase, but once the great ideas bubble to the top, everything will work. But with exclusive contracts, it's possible that there will never be one (inexpensive) platform that will display all internet broadcasts.

Arms aren't "weapons that use a small explosive charge to propel a metal slug".

Arms are weapons that you can carry. Cannon are weapons that need help. (horse & or carriage)

Individuals were allowed to own weapons they could carry, but not the big stuff. Your example is apt. The Supremes have decided that some small weapons *could* be regulated, regardless of the 2nd amendment. No backpack nukes.

You can mod all you want, but you can't sell the device/process that makes the mods. Even selling you moded console after you are done with it is grey.

Unless your console is a cell phone that was under contract with a cell carrier.

Unless your local prosecutor is having a bad day.

Unless ...

From the original article:

The article didn't say, "almost zero" emission reductions, it claimed zero.

The reality is that the original article is lying by omission. Yes, if one person turns off one 100 watt bulb, the generating plants don't burn any less fuel, what happens is everyone else's bulbs get a few millionths of a volt more, and put out a few millionths more lumens. No-one notices.

If *everyone* turns off every light bulb in their house, then there should be a noticeable drop in load at the generators, and less fuel should be burned. Energy companies could also shift load from the more expensive generator stations.

Anyway, this is an example of Poe's law.

Let's run that in reverse. A small increase in energy usage, like my one, 100 watt, bulb, won't increase the amount of energy pumped into the grid, so I shouldn't have to pay for it. (It's only 100 watts)

Let's get everyone to do that! Free energy!! Perpetual Motion!!!

You must be on the other side of the Pond. Over here in the USA, a 2.6GHz machine can only do 2.6 Billion OPS.

That's the best idea so far. A few machines that students can trash are invaluable. If the students spend most of the time tearing it down, and rebuilding the cluster, it's not going to use much power.

You could have them predict what changing CPU/Memory/Interconnect will do to performance, then make them try it out. Put some *Science* into Computer Science.

Bulges are bad. Leaks are bad. If the smoke has been released, doubly bad.

Other than that, you have to know what voltage is supposed to be on them, and measure it. If you still suspect something use a scope. Worst case, you have to desolder it, then check it's value and ESR. Mostly, I don't bother, I just replace suspect caps until whatever is working.

Right now, the genetic tests still cost $1000's, any may not be covered by insurance. (At least for what I might have)

A sub $1000 test for *everything* could save some people a lot of money.

The trick is getting the insurance companies to use genetic testing to help people instead of simply excluding the high risk patients. (The most recent bill in congress banned health insurance exclusion, but not life or long term care)

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him... The unreasonable man adapts surrounding conditions to himself... All progress depends on the unreasonable man."

--- George Bernard Shaw

But that product doesn't have to actually *work*.

Also, they'd probably only have to offer the product for sale. Actual customers wouldn't be necessary.

Or two separate patent trolls get into the business of building products and selling exactly one each to each other for $1,000,000. If the law tries to prevent this, they use 3 trolls and a few shell corporations so they are all classified "Practicing Entities".

Or the trolls just start rolling their own bogus patents.

So you place dozens of beacons, and encrypt them. Only one will lead you to a valuable rock, the rest are less useful or empty space.

There's a fine line between clever and stupid. If an average programmer reads the explanation, and "Doesn't get it", it could be either. Most patents are very poor explanations for what they are about.

AFAIK, if the engine in a VOLT fails, you can still go. With a Prius you're stranded.

I'd like to see an electric car that has 4 motors, one for each wheel. Add redundant control electronics and you could have 50% systems failure and still be able to get home.