Comment: Re:Performant is not a word. (Score 1) 444
I'm flemish, 'performant' may not be used often in the Nederlands, it is the word we use in Belgium. Living together with a french population tends to have it's influences.
Comment: Re:More publishers need to follow this example (Score 1) 129
When I walk round the shops and hear parents shouting at their pre-teens, calling them "little shits", saying things like "fucking get here" etc etc - I wonder what sort of example they are setting to the next generation.
You think cursing is bad parenting? Try abusing or even worse...neglecting.
Do you doubt for a second that the government can do a better job of parenting than most of the parents?
Than most parents? YES! Most parents are still well capable of educating their children on a personal level. Children with a problematic education have worse problems than their parents handing them Mortal Combat. But rather then spending time on the real problem, the government is yet again fighting symptoms with no regard for the ones who do no harm.
Comment: Re:not protects (Score 1) 1066
Amen! All my stuff is backed up and stuffed in boxes in the attic (just in case somebody wants to see if everything is legit). Other reasons: no cd's or DVD's in the wrong cover, no wall full of CD's /DVD's and a search function on my computer.
Li-Ion Batteries Get Green Seal of Approval 69
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the earth-approved dept.
from the earth-approved dept.
thecarchik writes "It is not an easy task to compare the environmental effects of battery powered cars to those caused by conventionally fueled automobiles. The degree to which manufacture, usage and disposal of the batteries used to store the necessary electrical energy are detrimental to the environment is not exactly known. Now, for the first time, a team of Empa scientists have made a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) or ecobalance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, in particular the chemically improved (i.e. more environmentally friendly) version of the ones most frequently used in electric vehicles. Researchers decided to find out for sure. They calculated the ecological footprints of electric cars fitted with Li-ion batteries, taking into account all possible relevant factors, from those associated with the production of individual parts all the way through to the scrapping of the vehicle and the disposal of the remains, including the operation of the vehicle during its lifetime."
Comment: Re:Fee Wi-Fi are a drain on the bottom line? (Score 1) 312
When I'm visiting the seaside I always go to the same café to check my emails. At the bottom of the bill there's a code which gives me about half an hour of free wifi (depending on how fast they bring me the drinks)
Comment: Re:stupid (Score 1) 393
True, it is important to know how the communication between the chip and the PC was made. I'm guessing here, but I think my dad's pacemaker isn't that easily accessable... If it is, or in the future will be, the communication port should -logically- be protected. But for now, I think my dad should fear EMFs more.
Lego Robot Solves Bigger and Harder Rubik's Cubes 63
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the version-2.0 dept.
from the version-2.0 dept.
kkleiner writes "It was only two months ago that we saw Mike Dobson's Cube Stormer Lego robot that could solve any 3x3 Rubik's cube in less than 12 seconds. You would think that there was only one person in the world crazy enough and talented enough to pull this off, but now we have found someone else that is just as amazing. The latest Rubik's cube-solving Lego monstrosity is called the MultiCuber, and although it's constructed out of nothing but Mindstorms components and a laptop, it can solve 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 cubes all in the same build! As if that weren't enough, a larger version solves the dreaded 6×6 Rubik's. We discovered the MultiCuber when its creator, David Gilday (IAssemble), wrote us an email to brag about its puzzle-solving might. Consider us impressed, sir."
Comment: Re:These are useless as transport (Score 2, Interesting) 494
That, in fact is not the problem. The e-bikes perform quite well on steep climbs and recharge a bit on the way down. The test has been done on the Mont Ventoux without problems. I do have concerns on how long it takes for the battery to lose it's full power capability. Six months? A year, maybe? And what will be the price of a new battery?
Comment: Re:So That Takes Care of Wikipedia Then? (Score 1) 420
When I was 7 years old I got a book -with pictures!- from my parents explaining about sex since my sister was on her way and I had a lot of questions. Except for being a regular reader of slashdot I turned out just fine...
Comment: Re:Put the damn thing in neutral! (Score 1) 1146
Just to mention. I used to be a jet mechanic. At 100% throttle the tires of an F-16 have some problems but the brakes will hold.