Work done by the engine on the alternator is exactly that, work. It costs extra power (and hence fuel) to run. Have you ever wondered why using high load electrical components and air conditioners hurts fuel economy? The main point of the heat based system, is that it uses energy from a source that is not otherwise used.

I worked at Toyota for a while we have been talking about this for at least a year. The technology has been around for a long time, but we usually call them thermocouples. It's exactly the same concept, except they need to be much larger, and have a much higher temperature differential to be useful. The main problem is the size and weight. The weight is significant when you're looking to reduce mass to improve fuel economy, and obviously it adds cost to the vehicle.

As for extracted heat reducing the efficiency of the engine, after heat leaves the cylinder head, unless it is used to do work (as in a turbocharger) it is waste.

So it seems that the US isn't the only country where policy can be influenced by angry people with lots of money

I remember in Halo on silent cartographer, you could blast the warthogs on top of this island and drive around. That was a blast!! Definetly one of my favorite glitches.

Another trick, in the same level, you could push the warthog INTO the cartographer room, I'm talking into the structure, down the stairs, and into the room where you access the map. That takes me back!

I also HATE people that are glitching on Call of Duty World at War, getting under the map and killing you with impunity.

Of course, If someone can see very clearly but has no idea what they are looking at (sniperintheweedslookoutyou'redead), it is equally useless information.

Which is worse, bad input, and good recognition, or good input and bad recognition? It seems we have little control over the quality of (unaided) input.

I always thought it was, "Old age and treachery beats youth and skill"

As a younger (24) engineer, I find that it is necessary to have a degree to get a decent job. I don't have any friends without a degree that work in a technical profession, and every engineer at my employer have that's under 30 has a degree. The older guys though, we'll hire anyone, degree or not, that has the requisite experience for the job. Personally, I think it makes for a good mix of challenging traditional ideas and 'tried and true' practicality

"I got the ball!!" *WHAM* You old guys need to build taller coffee tables.

It got me pretty excited too.

and ... In Soviet Russia, 13 year old girl undresses YOU!

Sorry, I couldn't resist

Depends if the bitch is screen-peeking or not

I always thought this in interesting, yet obviously impossible idea.

Even if you used every particle in the universe to store information, (say, it's own position and orientation) as soon as it changes, you will have lost the information of the previous state.