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Transportation

Can the Auto Industry Retool Itself To Build Rails? 897

knapper_tech writes "The scope of the auto industry troubles continues to increase in magnitude. The call to retool and develop new vehicles has been made several times already, but with all of the challenges from labor prices and foreign competition, how exactly can the industry retool itself to be more competitive? In light of superior competition facing losses, there doesn't seem to be enough room in the industry moving forward. In the context of finding a new place in the auto industry, the future isn't bright. Calls for no disorderly collapse of the cash-strapped big three and a reluctant congress can only point to an underlying lack of direction. However, consider two other standing economic challenges. The airlines have continued to struggle due to fuel prices and heightened security. Consumers backed off of SUV's due to high fuel prices, and while those prices have eased in the face of global recession, the trend will pick up again with growth in China and India leading the fight for resources. In short, things are moving less, and the industries that support the movement are in need of developing new products while consumers are in need of a cheaper method of transportation." Read on for the rest of knapper_tech's thoughts.

Comment Re:It's too much to discourage anyone. (Score 1) 128

I hate spammers. I think the punishment should be really cruel..!

We should force the spammers to read each and every character/mail of all the spams that they ever mailed. Hopefully, with all the spelling mistakes they make, they will really get frustrated with themselves and commit suicide.

Comment Re:Unadultered Alterations (Score 1) 622

The alterations of of images transposed from within the confines of allocated semiconductor memory is a travesty of trustworthiness that makes on think of the simpler days of the chemical process for capturing images and storage on layered flexible devices. Those recollections also recoup melancholy days of sipping the Tranya amidst the family on late autumn holidays. One weeps for what this has become.

one possible reason for the above post: Weekend hangover even before weekend started :-)

Comment Re:The future of Computing is in... (Score 1) 124

Low cost, low power CPUs. Already, 99% of people don't use 99% of the power of their CPUs 99% of the time.

I can see you havent kept upgrading Microsoft Operating systems. Everything that used to run well on my XP machine after a fateful Vista upgrade crawls. Why should the machine take 1GB of RAM just to boot up and start operating, when all I do is just check mail.

--
talking about Windows in Slashdot; whining about it. I'm not new here.

Software

Submission + - Chrome is at large

anandsr writes: The Chrome is released, downloadable at http://www.google.com/chrome. Unfortunately I am in the office and our firewall is denying me the pleasure.

Comment Re:Where's the evidence? (Score 1) 131

Well Bullet Cluster or any other cluster is a problem for MOND. But the Bullet Cluster is also a problem for Dark Matter. The velocity of the Cluster is much faster than GR can provide, which MOND can easily handle.

I actually liken MOND to Keplers laws. It shows how the matter moves. If GR cannot reproduce it, then there is a need for a new theory. TeVeS is a patch which will not survive for very long.

The other problem is that GR and QM don't work well. Possibly when we a proper Quantum Gravity theory then we will find out how MOND comes about. MOND is just an indication of the problem.

I don't disbelieve in Dark Matter, but I am sort of convinced that there is something about MOND. It could be that both MOND and DM are correct. DM may exist in significant quantities in Clusters while MOND is sufficient at the Galactic levels.

IBM

Software Backs Up Human Memory 172

CWmike writes "Ever try to remember who you bumped into at the store a few days back? Well, you're not alone. And IBM researchers are working on software that just may help you better recollect all the forgotten pieces of your life. This week, the company unveiled Pensieve, software that stores images, sounds, and text on everyday mobile devices, then allows the user extract them later on, to help them recall names, faces, conversations and events. IBM's project is akin to one that Gordon Bell and other scientists at Microsoft Research have been working on for the past nine years."

Comment Re:Cell Tower Internet (Score 1) 588

Mod parent up ... this is probably the best choice.

We have several contract developers at our company who frequently work from remote locations. One of them from a cabin way the hell in the middle of nowhere in Northern Vermont.

They all connect to our corporate VPN using Verizon's EVDO broadband with an aircard. They claim it works great for them ... would probably fit your parent's needs too.
Space

Satellite Abandoned Due To Orbital Patent 366

EreIamJH brings news about a commercial geostationary satellite that was launched last month. Due to a launch failure, the satellite did not reach the orbit required to perform its function. The satellite's owner, SES Americom, looked for a way to salvage the satellite, but ran into an unexpected hurdle; a Boeing patent on the lunar flyby process that would be used to correct the satellite's orbit. If another company doesn't purchase the satellite, it is likely to become another piece of space junk. The European Space Agency has posted a gallery of the maps they have put together for man-made debris in orbit around the earth.
Government

Fidel Castro Resigns 728

Smordnys s'regrepsA writes "Fidel Castro, the leader of the island nation of Cuba has declined the possibility of keeping his seat as President, after the February 24th National Assembly election. "I neither will aspire to nor will I accept — I repeat — I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," Castro wrote almost 19 months after a severe illness caused him to hand power temporarily to his brother Raul."
Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi Piggybacking Widespread 459

BaCa sent in this article about stealing network access that opens, "Sophos has revealed new research into the use of other people's Wi-Fi networks to piggyback onto the internet without payment. The research shows that 54 percent of computer users have admitted breaking the law, by using someone else's wireless internet access without permission." Of course, online polls being what they are, the results are hardly a plank for a full investigation, but a good share of the answerers did 'fess up to it as well.

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