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Comment Hydrogen looks very atrractive to Australia (Score 2) 130

This is a very current issue in Australia which has a vast empty sun drenched interior that can host truly heroic amounts of solar infrastructure but is a long way from east coast consumers and even further from export markets so there has been limited investment to date.

There is now a lot of interest in building that renewable capacity, using electrolysis to convert seawater to hydrogen, and hydrogen to ammonia which is less explodey than hydrogen and being a liquid can easily be transported by pipeline to Australian users and shipped to export customers who would convert it back to hydrogen and either run fuel cells or more likely just burn it to create electricity close to the point of consumption. Interestingly hydrogen can also be added to existing gas supplies up to 10% without requiring any equipment or infrastructure changes.

Potentially hydrogen could eventually replace the large amounts of coal and LNG that Australia uses and exports providing a solution to the extremely thorny issue of how to decarbonise our economy without destroying our economy. Politically it is feasible since new hydrogen jobs can be created in the same areas that old coal jobs are lost.

Since Australia also has vast amounts of iron ore hydrogen could also power "green" steel production which eliminates carbon emissions, creates more jobs and a value added industry onshore rather than just exporting coal and iron ore.

Comment The Situation looks different from Down-Under (Score 4, Interesting) 313

My own experience and expectations contrast sharply with the original poster, probably because I live in Australia not America.

Current Situation:
1. Australia is an island with very strong border controls and mandatory quarantine measures
2. Total recorded covid-19 infection are 6,968 with 692 still infected and 97 deaths
3. State and Federal government continue to act in a timely and effective manner

My Assumptions:
1. This will be with us for at least a couple of years.
2. Vaccine will be a year or more away.
3. Most Australians will not be exposed to covid-19
4. Population and demographics will remain largely unchanged
4.1 -- Food supply is strong and will remain so
4.2 -- Dramatic reduction in foreign students, foreign workers, tourism and migration has a large economic cost
5. Fabric of Society will probably strengthen
5.1 -- Strong sense of economic nationalism that may see a return to onshore manufacturing
5.2 -- National reassesment of geo-political risks and opportunities particularly in relation to China
5.3 -- Popular mood to further strengthen the national welfare system

My Situation:
1. Staying at home
2. No wife
3. No Kids
4. No non-essential travel
5. Still smoking
6. Last filled up the car in January
7. No Bug-Out plans at all

I bought an absolutely kick ass home theater setup and have now watched the Marvel Comic Universe in it's entirety and despite my initial distate have come to appreciate the rich and complex tapestry quite unlike any other film franchise.

Comment Re:Back in the day.. (Score 1) 243

Have the wrong demographics and you risk a PC backlash that presumably hurts you at the box office, build a cast that ticks all the PC boxes and maybe you attract additional viewers that otherwise would have had no interest in the film. Since the film will be released globally, you probably need some casting tweaks to make it appeal to say a chinese audience. Lastly there are numerous singers, comics, sports stars and minor celebrities that need to be included. Only a few of the cast need to be talented actors the rest are there because because some algorithm says that will make the most money.

Comment Re:Don't care about one reviewers opinion (Score 1) 243

So true, I watch a lot of movies but just don't bother with the cinema anymore. Often I found the cinema disappointing because the surrounding hype had built up unrealistic expectations the films just couldn't meet, watching the same film at home I would probably been pleasantly surprised. Also with you on sometimes enjoying quite mediocre films, I could make a list of the best films I have ever seen and the movies I enjoyed the most and rewatch most often and there wouldn't be many films that appear on both lists.
Image

Believing You Are Very Good Or Evil Boosts Your Physical Capabilities 192

Research by Kurt Gray, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard, shows that a person's capacity for willpower and physical endurance increases if they perceive themselves as good or evil. "Evil" acts in particular give a person a large boost in physical strength. From the article: “'People perceive those who do good and evil to have more efficacy, more willpower, and less sensitivity to discomfort,' Gray said. 'By perceiving themselves as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more capable of physical endurance.' Gray’s findings run counter to the notion that only those blessed with heightened willpower or self-control are capable of heroism, suggesting instead that simply attempting heroic deeds can confer personal power."
Government

Experts Say ACTA Threatens Public Interest 107

langelgjm writes "In the lead up to next week's Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations in Lucerne, a conference that drew over 90 academics and experts from six continents has released a statement issuing a harsh condemnation of both the substance and process of the agreement. Held last week at American University's Washington College of Law, the attendees say, 'We find that the terms of the publicly released draft of ACTA threaten numerous public interests, including every concern specifically disclaimed by negotiators.' The 'urgent communique' covers more than the usual ACTA topics of interest on Slashdot: in addition to the agreement's effect on the Internet, it also considers the effects on access to medicines, international trade, and developing countries. Meanwhile, Public Knowledge has an action alert where you can send a note to the White House expressing your opposition to ACTA."
Businesses

Best Places To Work In IT 2010 205

CWmike writes "These top-rated IT workplaces combine choice benefits with hot technologies and on-target training. Computerworld's 17th annual report highlights the employers firing on all cylinders. The Employer Scorecard ranks IT firms based on best benefits, retention, training, diversity, and career development. Also read what IT staffs have to say about job satisfaction. How's your workplace, IT folk?" Read below for a quick look at the top 10 IT workplaces according to this survey.
Cellphones

Why Overheard Cell Phone Chats Are Annoying 344

__roo writes "American researchers think they have found the answer to the question of why overhearing cell phone chats are annoying. According to scientists at Cornell University, when only half of the conversation is overheard, it drains more attention and concentration than when overhearing two people talking. According to one researcher, 'We have less control to move away our attention from half a conversation (or halfalogue) than when listening to a dialogue. Since halfalogues really are more distracting and you can't tune them out, this could explain why people are irritated.' Their study will be published in the journal Psychological Science."

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