Americans are still way ahead of China in garbage; a population less than a quarter the size of China's 1.3 billion generated 254 million tons of garbage in 2007, a third of which is recycled or composted, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
But for China, the problem represents a rapid turnabout from a generation ago, when families, then largely rural and poor, used and reused everything.
"Trash was never complicated before, because we didn't have supermarkets, we didn't have fancy packaging and endless things to buy," said Nie. "Now suddenly, the government is panicking about the mountains of garbage piling up with no place to put it all."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
remote control codes (and problems)
[10/25/09] I was trying to program the RCA Systemlink 3 for my Apex TV (the code of which is not in the manual).
Tried the code search technique. The TV turned off, but then wouldn't turn on. Looks like when the code was locked in, it overshot by one.
So I checked what code got locked in and subtracted one (1).
The remote code turned out to be 072 which corresponds to a JC Penney TV (looking through the chart in the instruction book). Also LXI, NAD, Sears, Toshiba.
So the instructions are:
Press and hold the code search button until the indicator light goes on.
Press and release the TV button (the indicator light will blink and remain lit)
Key in 0-7-2 (the indicator light will turn off)
Test by pressing on/off button.
The code for my Sony is 002. The code for my Panasonic is 170.
***
Now for the Sony RM-V402 remote
1. Turn on the component to be programmed.
2. On the remote control, press and hold the S button.
3. While holding the S button, press and release the POWER button
4. Release the S button.
5. Press and release the appropriate component button for the component being set up.
6. Using the number pad, enter the component's manufacturer code.
7. Press the ENT button.
8. Point the remote control at the component.
9. Press the POWER button to verify operation.
Both Toshiba codes 059 and 060 work. Sony code is 001. Panasonic is 016.
***
[2/15/10 - Gave Sony remote to Sue to go along with Hitachi TV. I got it from Wellington in the first place]
***
Finally sold that heavy 27" Sony Trinitron flat screen on Craigslist. (Thanks Caleb.) Now to move back the Apex out of mom's room back outside. And to program the Oceanic DVR remote for the Apex.
From my notes, I had programmed it for the Panasonic on 10/16/09, so that's around when I must have gotten the Sony. The remote control model is the Atlas DVR-5 (5/25/12 - now it's the Atlas OCAP-5 backlit)
From the instructions, to program for the Panasonic
Press the TV button. The light will blink (light up red briefly) once.
Press and hold setup. The TV button will blink on the initial press then blink twice a second later
Release setup.
Enter the four digit code. [The TV button will blink twice if you did it right]
Panasonic codes are 0051 0250 0055 / 0250 is the one that works for our TV.
Now to figure out the code for the Apex. I remember the first time, I found it using the search technique.
The instructions for the Oceanic remote controls are here (Atlas OCAP-5 backlit).
It turns out that the Toshiba code 0156 works for my Apex.
To auto-program, press TV button, press and hold Setup until TV button blinks twice, enter 991 (TV button will blink twice), point remote at TV and press PWR button, press CH+ repeatedly until TV turns off, press PWR to turn on TV, press SETUP to lock in the code.
*** [4/5/14]
The Oceanic remote went bad with some of the keys not working (notably the 5 key and the page down key). Though oddly they would start working for a little while before not working again. Anyway, I got a new remote today (after going to Ala Moana yesterday and finding they're no longer there).
Anyway there's new instructions for this remote which is the RC122 (RC 1226001 on the Oceanic site). There's no setup key now. What you do is press and hold the TV and Select/OK button at the same time until the the five buttons at the top blink twice. Then enter the four digit code. The first code for Panasonic is 1021 which works. A lot of the other codes work too like 1028, 1253. Trying to find the code for the Toshiba DVD-R, 2584 and 2624 seem to work the best. At least they turn on/off the Toshiba.
***
[10/20/12] What about the Brookstone jumbo remote control at Donna's house? Found the manual online. The manual says it's the "super-sized tv remote".
Here's the specific instructions for the Panasonic TV.
Press and hold the TV button until the power light goes on.
Enter the code 003. The power light will go off.
Press the on/off button to see if it worked.
[go here for my post on my 8-in-1 Jumbo Universal remote that I bought for Walgreen]
*** [7/5/14] Bought a Sony remote control (Remote Commander RM-VZ320) from Best Buy. This is intended for Donna because the remote for her Sony DVD player doesn't work. Well, it's not strictly a DVD player but part of a Sony home entertainment system (with amplifier and speakers. But hopefully it'll work.
I also want to see if it'll work with the Sony DVD/VCR combo in the dining room at my mom's place. In particular, I want to see if I can access the setup to see if it's set up for a wide-screen TV.
I see the manual is online along with the code list.
Anyway, I tried it out with my equipment at home.
To set up any device, first press the SET button for 3 seconds until the light goes on. Then while still holding the SET button down, press the appropriate device button (e.g. TV) then release both buttons. The light should still be on. Then enter the 5-digit code that you looked up in the code list.
Here's the codes that seem to work best for my equipment.
Panasonic 42" Plasma TV: 00650
Scientific Atlanta cable box: 50877 (the menu button brings up the settings menu), 51877 (the menu button brings up the DVR menu). I can't find a setting where both the setting and DVR menu are both accessible.
Toshiba DVD-R: 12277. Unable to bring up the setting menu (where you can adjust for the aspect ratio of the TV for example)
Apex TV: 00765.
Sony Blu-Ray player: 11516. The subtitle button (the B button) doesn't work. However the eject button does work. That's interesting because the official Sony remote doesn't even have an eject button.
***
OK, testing at CCOH.
The Sharp TV in the dining room: 00818
The Panasonic DVD/VCR combo: 10864. Unfortunately I can't access the setup menu.
*** [7/13/14]
Took the Sony RM-VZ320 remote to Donna's house (to replace her broken Sony RM-ADP015)
Here are the codes I found that seem to work for her system
TV - Toshiba: 01256, 01356, 01524
Satellite Receiver DirectTV: 41377
Sony Home Theater DVD: 31622, 32522
The main reason for this remote was got get her subtitles working. The B button works for this. However a major disappointment is that the Menu button doesn't work, so I can't easily get back to the main menu after the movie has started.
[Sony RM-VZ320 remote split off into a separate new post and continued here]
*** [10/23/14] Ugh. The remote for my Toshiba DVD-R isn't working. Opened it up and one of the batteries looked kind of corroded. So dumped the battery and tried to clean the contacts. Still didn't work.
See that the Oceanic (Scientific Atlanta) remote still works on the Toshiba (I guess I must have programmed it earlier - [yeah see above]), but unable to access the setup menu. So I better not unplug it. [Cool, I found that the record button on the Oceanic remote works on the Toshiba DVD recorder. But I can't access the menu to finalize the DVD-R.]
Looked on ebay for a replacement remote (model SE-RO265) and saw none available. The DVD recorder model number is D-KR10. Hey I found one on ebay $28. And here's a DVD recorder model D-R410 for $39.99. Too bad shipping is $39.99. And no remote. [10/25/14 - swetenman is selling an EZ Copy remote for $20 which is supposed to be compatible. Do a search for "EZ COPY Remote for TOSHIBA DVD RECORDER D-R400 D-R430 DVDR DVR HDMI". Hint: Doing a search for R0265 gets more hits. That's a zero after the R.]
[12/7/14 - according to my notes written on the back of a Charles Schwab envelope, the SE-R0265 remote is evidently compatible with the following models of Toshiba DVD-Recorders: D-R400, D-R430, DKR10, DKR40, DKR40KU, DR400.
Anderic sells a replacement remote for $26.95 on ebay. So I guess I can always go with this one. It's 24.95 on their website. But going through the ordering process, shipping is $4.95. I guess I'll continue checking on eBay.]
[10/24/14 - hey this guy is selling a Toshiba DR430KU on craiglist. Maybe it's compatible. Looks like they use the same remote control. $40.77 from replacementremotes.]
I have several RCA SystemLink generic remotes. Don't know why I have so many. I think somebody must have given me one or two. But most of them are so old that they don't have a DVD button! 8). Wait, here's one with a VCR•DVD button. But I guess I don't have the manual with the codes for that one. I guess I can try Code Search. Didn't work. Tried the codes at this link. Didn't work.
[10/26/14]
And now the remote for my Roku HD isn't working right. It had problems before, then cleared up mysteriously. And now it has problems again.
Before I had to hold down the button for maybe a half-second before the Roku would respond. But when I tried it last night, it wouldn't respond. Then I accidentally pressed the Netflix button and it responded. So now the buttons seem to work, but not the main select button. I assume it's the remote that's the problem.
My options are to buy a replacement remote, buy a new Roku, try one of the universal or learning remotes or use my ipad app. I guess I'll use the ipad app for now.
Darn I kind of wish I bought a learning remote (which I only now am learning about) before my Toshiba DVD recorder remote died.
Or maybe I'll get a Logitech Harmony. I've heard about those but never actually tried one.
[10/26/14]
Hey, cool I see I can program the Apple TV to use a third-party remote
Cool, I programmed the Oceanic remote to control the Apple TV! The Apple TV didn't recognize some of the keys in AUX mode, so I used the VCR mode. Score one for Apple TV.
I guess I can also use this feature to check whether a remote is emitting a signal.
[10/26/14]
Damn. I lost what I was typing. OK, let's recap.
Went to the guy who had the DVD-Recorder, but didn't have the remote
Off to Best Buy.
See cheap RCA remotes have code for Roku. Like $10.95, even cheaper at Amazon.
But looked at rcavideoaudio.com and none of their remotes stated they had support any DVD-R's.
Looking at the Logitech Harmony's, model 650 and 350. I guess they would work, but pretty expensive. A little cheaper at Amazon.com.
Then I see the One For All remote. Model OARUSB04G. For like half the price of the Logtitech.. And I see it comes with a USB cable for connecting to the computer. Like the Logitech Harmony. And it has learning capabilities. And the comments on Amazon say it's JP1 compatible.
OK, let's program it. Choose Toshiba DVD. I guess it works, but still can't access the setup menu.
I think the Info button corresponds to the Display button on the Toshiba remote. And the List button corresponds to the menu/list button. But I don't see a button corresponding to the Setup button.
My Panansonic TV and Time Warner cable box seem to work fine.
OK, let's try the USB cable. Connect to computer. Go to website at simpleset.com. Has me upload the settings file. Then choose DVD, only gives me the option of Toshiba, not a particular model number. So no real difference.
Getting nowhere fast.
There's a list of codes given. The instruction say SimpleSet codes are used for programming using the On-Remote Setup method outlined in the Getting Started guide. The problem is I don't see any Getting Started Guide.
Let's try the oneforall.com website... A search turns up no results. Looking inside the battery cover they another code under the OARUSB04G. It's URC 6540BE0-XXX-R Then under that 4408UE. Then under that MAXQ622X-2576-4.
OK, here's a thread from remotecentral saying similar to the URC-6440.
Then another link to hifi-remote.com. It has to do with JP1.
What's that?
From wikipedia: A JP1 remote is a type of universal remote, usually with a six-pin interface connector labeled "JP1" in the battery compartment, manufactured by Universal Electronics Inc. The JP1 interface allows the remote to be reprogrammed, adding new code lists and functions. Home theater hobbyists use JP1 to avoid obsolescence.
All JP1 remotes are made by Universal Electronics, Inc.[2] UEI sells various models under their One For All brand name,[3] and supplies remotes to consumer electronic manufacturers such as Radio Shack, Sony, and Sky, as well as North American cable TV providers such as Comcast, Rogers, Cox, Shaw, Charter and Time Warner.[4]
I see a file for Toshiba D-R400. But what do I do?
OK, here's the place to start for beginners.
Then I went to JP1 For Beginners
[see separate entry for this One For All remote]
*** 1/31/15
I had brought one of my old RCA Systemlink 3 remotes to ccoh since their other generic remote got lost or stolen. And now that one is gone too. Let's give them another one.
OK, how to program it? The above instructions don't seem to be working. The TV light doesn't go on and off. The other SystemLink 3 (the one with the reddish-purplish buttons) seems to be working, though you gotta press some of the buttons firmly. The SystemLink3 with the green fluorescent buttons works too.
I guess I should dump the one that's not working.
... Let's try new batteries before I toss the remote. WDYK, it worked. Though I had to press the TV button pretty firmly before it worked. Samsung code is 105.
Tried the code search technique. The TV turned off, but then wouldn't turn on. Looks like when the code was locked in, it overshot by one.
So I checked what code got locked in and subtracted one (1).
The remote code turned out to be 072 which corresponds to a JC Penney TV (looking through the chart in the instruction book). Also LXI, NAD, Sears, Toshiba.
So the instructions are:
Press and hold the code search button until the indicator light goes on.
Press and release the TV button (the indicator light will blink and remain lit)
Key in 0-7-2 (the indicator light will turn off)
Test by pressing on/off button.
The code for my Sony is 002. The code for my Panasonic is 170.
***
Now for the Sony RM-V402 remote
1. Turn on the component to be programmed.
2. On the remote control, press and hold the S button.
3. While holding the S button, press and release the POWER button
4. Release the S button.
5. Press and release the appropriate component button for the component being set up.
6. Using the number pad, enter the component's manufacturer code.
7. Press the ENT button.
8. Point the remote control at the component.
9. Press the POWER button to verify operation.
Both Toshiba codes 059 and 060 work. Sony code is 001. Panasonic is 016.
***
[2/15/10 - Gave Sony remote to Sue to go along with Hitachi TV. I got it from Wellington in the first place]
***
Finally sold that heavy 27" Sony Trinitron flat screen on Craigslist. (Thanks Caleb.) Now to move back the Apex out of mom's room back outside. And to program the Oceanic DVR remote for the Apex.
From my notes, I had programmed it for the Panasonic on 10/16/09, so that's around when I must have gotten the Sony. The remote control model is the Atlas DVR-5 (5/25/12 - now it's the Atlas OCAP-5 backlit)
From the instructions, to program for the Panasonic
Press the TV button. The light will blink (light up red briefly) once.
Press and hold setup. The TV button will blink on the initial press then blink twice a second later
Release setup.
Enter the four digit code. [The TV button will blink twice if you did it right]
Panasonic codes are 0051 0250 0055 / 0250 is the one that works for our TV.
Now to figure out the code for the Apex. I remember the first time, I found it using the search technique.
The instructions for the Oceanic remote controls are here (Atlas OCAP-5 backlit).
It turns out that the Toshiba code 0156 works for my Apex.
To auto-program, press TV button, press and hold Setup until TV button blinks twice, enter 991 (TV button will blink twice), point remote at TV and press PWR button, press CH+ repeatedly until TV turns off, press PWR to turn on TV, press SETUP to lock in the code.
*** [4/5/14]
The Oceanic remote went bad with some of the keys not working (notably the 5 key and the page down key). Though oddly they would start working for a little while before not working again. Anyway, I got a new remote today (after going to Ala Moana yesterday and finding they're no longer there).
Anyway there's new instructions for this remote which is the RC122 (RC 1226001 on the Oceanic site). There's no setup key now. What you do is press and hold the TV and Select/OK button at the same time until the the five buttons at the top blink twice. Then enter the four digit code. The first code for Panasonic is 1021 which works. A lot of the other codes work too like 1028, 1253. Trying to find the code for the Toshiba DVD-R, 2584 and 2624 seem to work the best. At least they turn on/off the Toshiba.
***
[10/20/12] What about the Brookstone jumbo remote control at Donna's house? Found the manual online. The manual says it's the "super-sized tv remote".
Here's the specific instructions for the Panasonic TV.
Press and hold the TV button until the power light goes on.
Enter the code 003. The power light will go off.
Press the on/off button to see if it worked.
[go here for my post on my 8-in-1 Jumbo Universal remote that I bought for Walgreen]
*** [7/5/14] Bought a Sony remote control (Remote Commander RM-VZ320) from Best Buy. This is intended for Donna because the remote for her Sony DVD player doesn't work. Well, it's not strictly a DVD player but part of a Sony home entertainment system (with amplifier and speakers. But hopefully it'll work.
I also want to see if it'll work with the Sony DVD/VCR combo in the dining room at my mom's place. In particular, I want to see if I can access the setup to see if it's set up for a wide-screen TV.
I see the manual is online along with the code list.
Anyway, I tried it out with my equipment at home.
To set up any device, first press the SET button for 3 seconds until the light goes on. Then while still holding the SET button down, press the appropriate device button (e.g. TV) then release both buttons. The light should still be on. Then enter the 5-digit code that you looked up in the code list.
Here's the codes that seem to work best for my equipment.
Panasonic 42" Plasma TV: 00650
Scientific Atlanta cable box: 50877 (the menu button brings up the settings menu), 51877 (the menu button brings up the DVR menu). I can't find a setting where both the setting and DVR menu are both accessible.
Toshiba DVD-R: 12277. Unable to bring up the setting menu (where you can adjust for the aspect ratio of the TV for example)
Apex TV: 00765.
Sony Blu-Ray player: 11516. The subtitle button (the B button) doesn't work. However the eject button does work. That's interesting because the official Sony remote doesn't even have an eject button.
***
OK, testing at CCOH.
The Sharp TV in the dining room: 00818
The Panasonic DVD/VCR combo: 10864. Unfortunately I can't access the setup menu.
*** [7/13/14]
Took the Sony RM-VZ320 remote to Donna's house (to replace her broken Sony RM-ADP015)
Here are the codes I found that seem to work for her system
TV - Toshiba: 01256, 01356, 01524
Satellite Receiver DirectTV: 41377
Sony Home Theater DVD: 31622, 32522
The main reason for this remote was got get her subtitles working. The B button works for this. However a major disappointment is that the Menu button doesn't work, so I can't easily get back to the main menu after the movie has started.
[Sony RM-VZ320 remote split off into a separate new post and continued here]
*** [10/23/14] Ugh. The remote for my Toshiba DVD-R isn't working. Opened it up and one of the batteries looked kind of corroded. So dumped the battery and tried to clean the contacts. Still didn't work.
See that the Oceanic (Scientific Atlanta) remote still works on the Toshiba (I guess I must have programmed it earlier - [yeah see above]), but unable to access the setup menu. So I better not unplug it. [Cool, I found that the record button on the Oceanic remote works on the Toshiba DVD recorder. But I can't access the menu to finalize the DVD-R.]
Looked on ebay for a replacement remote (model SE-RO265) and saw none available. The DVD recorder model number is D-KR10. Hey I found one on ebay $28. And here's a DVD recorder model D-R410 for $39.99. Too bad shipping is $39.99. And no remote. [10/25/14 - swetenman is selling an EZ Copy remote for $20 which is supposed to be compatible. Do a search for "EZ COPY Remote for TOSHIBA DVD RECORDER D-R400 D-R430 DVDR DVR HDMI". Hint: Doing a search for R0265 gets more hits. That's a zero after the R.]
[12/7/14 - according to my notes written on the back of a Charles Schwab envelope, the SE-R0265 remote is evidently compatible with the following models of Toshiba DVD-Recorders: D-R400, D-R430, DKR10, DKR40, DKR40KU, DR400.
Anderic sells a replacement remote for $26.95 on ebay. So I guess I can always go with this one. It's 24.95 on their website. But going through the ordering process, shipping is $4.95. I guess I'll continue checking on eBay.]
[10/24/14 - hey this guy is selling a Toshiba DR430KU on craiglist. Maybe it's compatible. Looks like they use the same remote control. $40.77 from replacementremotes.]
I have several RCA SystemLink generic remotes. Don't know why I have so many. I think somebody must have given me one or two. But most of them are so old that they don't have a DVD button! 8). Wait, here's one with a VCR•DVD button. But I guess I don't have the manual with the codes for that one. I guess I can try Code Search. Didn't work. Tried the codes at this link. Didn't work.
[10/26/14]
And now the remote for my Roku HD isn't working right. It had problems before, then cleared up mysteriously. And now it has problems again.
Before I had to hold down the button for maybe a half-second before the Roku would respond. But when I tried it last night, it wouldn't respond. Then I accidentally pressed the Netflix button and it responded. So now the buttons seem to work, but not the main select button. I assume it's the remote that's the problem.
My options are to buy a replacement remote, buy a new Roku, try one of the universal or learning remotes or use my ipad app. I guess I'll use the ipad app for now.
Darn I kind of wish I bought a learning remote (which I only now am learning about) before my Toshiba DVD recorder remote died.
Or maybe I'll get a Logitech Harmony. I've heard about those but never actually tried one.
[10/26/14]
Hey, cool I see I can program the Apple TV to use a third-party remote
Cool, I programmed the Oceanic remote to control the Apple TV! The Apple TV didn't recognize some of the keys in AUX mode, so I used the VCR mode. Score one for Apple TV.
I guess I can also use this feature to check whether a remote is emitting a signal.
[10/26/14]
Damn. I lost what I was typing. OK, let's recap.
Went to the guy who had the DVD-Recorder, but didn't have the remote
Off to Best Buy.
See cheap RCA remotes have code for Roku. Like $10.95, even cheaper at Amazon.
But looked at rcavideoaudio.com and none of their remotes stated they had support any DVD-R's.
Looking at the Logitech Harmony's, model 650 and 350. I guess they would work, but pretty expensive. A little cheaper at Amazon.com.
Then I see the One For All remote. Model OARUSB04G. For like half the price of the Logtitech.. And I see it comes with a USB cable for connecting to the computer. Like the Logitech Harmony. And it has learning capabilities. And the comments on Amazon say it's JP1 compatible.
OK, let's program it. Choose Toshiba DVD. I guess it works, but still can't access the setup menu.
I think the Info button corresponds to the Display button on the Toshiba remote. And the List button corresponds to the menu/list button. But I don't see a button corresponding to the Setup button.
My Panansonic TV and Time Warner cable box seem to work fine.
OK, let's try the USB cable. Connect to computer. Go to website at simpleset.com. Has me upload the settings file. Then choose DVD, only gives me the option of Toshiba, not a particular model number. So no real difference.
Getting nowhere fast.
There's a list of codes given. The instruction say SimpleSet codes are used for programming using the On-Remote Setup method outlined in the Getting Started guide. The problem is I don't see any Getting Started Guide.
Let's try the oneforall.com website... A search turns up no results. Looking inside the battery cover they another code under the OARUSB04G. It's URC 6540BE0-XXX-R Then under that 4408UE. Then under that MAXQ622X-2576-4.
OK, here's a thread from remotecentral saying similar to the URC-6440.
Then another link to hifi-remote.com. It has to do with JP1.
What's that?
From wikipedia: A JP1 remote is a type of universal remote, usually with a six-pin interface connector labeled "JP1" in the battery compartment, manufactured by Universal Electronics Inc. The JP1 interface allows the remote to be reprogrammed, adding new code lists and functions. Home theater hobbyists use JP1 to avoid obsolescence.
All JP1 remotes are made by Universal Electronics, Inc.[2] UEI sells various models under their One For All brand name,[3] and supplies remotes to consumer electronic manufacturers such as Radio Shack, Sony, and Sky, as well as North American cable TV providers such as Comcast, Rogers, Cox, Shaw, Charter and Time Warner.[4]
I see a file for Toshiba D-R400. But what do I do?
OK, here's the place to start for beginners.
Then I went to JP1 For Beginners
[see separate entry for this One For All remote]
*** 1/31/15
I had brought one of my old RCA Systemlink 3 remotes to ccoh since their other generic remote got lost or stolen. And now that one is gone too. Let's give them another one.
OK, how to program it? The above instructions don't seem to be working. The TV light doesn't go on and off. The other SystemLink 3 (the one with the reddish-purplish buttons) seems to be working, though you gotta press some of the buttons firmly. The SystemLink3 with the green fluorescent buttons works too.
I guess I should dump the one that's not working.
... Let's try new batteries before I toss the remote. WDYK, it worked. Though I had to press the TV button pretty firmly before it worked. Samsung code is 105.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Americans cooling toward global warming
Americans seem to be cooling toward global warming. Just 57 percent think there is solid evidence the world is getting warmer, down 20 points in just three years, a new poll says.
And the share of people who believe pollution caused by humans is causing temperatures to rise has also taken a dip, even as the U.S. and world forums gear up for possible action against climate change.
In a poll of 1,500 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released Thursday, the number of people saying there is strong scientific evidence that the Earth has gotten warmer over the past few decades is down from 71 percent in April of last year and from 77 percent when Pew started asking the question in 2006. The number of people who see the situation as a serious problem also has declined.
The steepest drop has occurred during the past year, as Congress and the Obama administration have taken steps to control heat-trapping emissions for the first time and international negotiations for a new treaty to slow global warming have been under way. At the same time, there has been mounting scientific evidence of climate change — from melting ice caps to the world's oceans hitting the highest monthly recorded temperatures this summer.
The poll was released a day after 18 scientific organizations wrote Congress to reaffirm the consensus behind global warming. A federal government report Thursday found that global warming is upsetting the Arctic's thermostat.
* * *
[10/27/09] Have you heard that the world is now cooling instead of warming? You may have seen some news reports on the Internet or heard about it from a provocative new book.
Only one problem: It's not true, according to an analysis of the numbers done by several independent statisticians for The Associated Press.
The case that the Earth might be cooling partly stems from recent weather. Last year was cooler than previous years. It's been a while since the super-hot years of 1998 and 2005. So is this a longer climate trend or just weather's normal ups and downs?
In a blind test, the AP gave temperature data to four independent statisticians and asked them to look for trends, without telling them what the numbers represented. The experts found no true temperature declines over time.
And the share of people who believe pollution caused by humans is causing temperatures to rise has also taken a dip, even as the U.S. and world forums gear up for possible action against climate change.
In a poll of 1,500 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released Thursday, the number of people saying there is strong scientific evidence that the Earth has gotten warmer over the past few decades is down from 71 percent in April of last year and from 77 percent when Pew started asking the question in 2006. The number of people who see the situation as a serious problem also has declined.
The steepest drop has occurred during the past year, as Congress and the Obama administration have taken steps to control heat-trapping emissions for the first time and international negotiations for a new treaty to slow global warming have been under way. At the same time, there has been mounting scientific evidence of climate change — from melting ice caps to the world's oceans hitting the highest monthly recorded temperatures this summer.
The poll was released a day after 18 scientific organizations wrote Congress to reaffirm the consensus behind global warming. A federal government report Thursday found that global warming is upsetting the Arctic's thermostat.
* * *
[10/27/09] Have you heard that the world is now cooling instead of warming? You may have seen some news reports on the Internet or heard about it from a provocative new book.
Only one problem: It's not true, according to an analysis of the numbers done by several independent statisticians for The Associated Press.
The case that the Earth might be cooling partly stems from recent weather. Last year was cooler than previous years. It's been a while since the super-hot years of 1998 and 2005. So is this a longer climate trend or just weather's normal ups and downs?
In a blind test, the AP gave temperature data to four independent statisticians and asked them to look for trends, without telling them what the numbers represented. The experts found no true temperature declines over time.
Friday, October 16, 2009
backup programs
Still looking for a good backup program that works with external hard drives.
Maybe the first thing to try is Windows XP Backup (found from this article while googling cloning your computer.
Maybe the first thing to try is Windows XP Backup (found from this article while googling cloning your computer.
Monday, October 12, 2009
RevoluSun
As the sun beats down on her St. Louis Heights home, Susan Chandler walks to her laundry room in the morning and taps on a DC-AC inverter to check how much carbon dioxide she has kept out of the atmosphere. Her daily average: 14.2 pounds.
Then she walks to the meter box on the side of her house and watches the black line rotate backward.
"I love to see the meter spinning backwards, which means I'm reducing my electricity," she says. "Rather than going to HECO, it's saving the world."
Chandler had earlier installed solar water heating and CFL light bulbs in her five-bedroom residence, but decided to make a bigger leap toward the "green" movement by adding six photovoltaic panels from RevoluSun to reduce her dependence on the grid.
"I'm making my own electricity," said Chandler. "For me, it's pretty exciting."
A professor at the University of Hawaii Public Policy Center, Chandler opened her house to the community yesterday to showcase RevoluSun's solar module, which generated 86 kilowatt hours of power and offset 142 pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide in just 10 days.
Chandler expects her electricity bill to be around $25 with the addition of the solar panels, compared to the $125 bill she's paid in the past.
RevoluSun, a new company, hopes to educate the community and expand awareness of affordable solar systems to help Hawaii become more sustainable and lower electric bills.
***
[10/27/12] From Consumer Lines October 2012
Because of the many considerations involved with purchasing one of these systems, we developed “Going Solar,” a helpful online resource accessible at: http://goingsolar.heco.com.
Solar water heaters can last 15 years or longer, and PV systems can last 30 years or more.
While these systems will pay for themselves over time with the savings on your monthly electric bills, they do require a financial investment.
An important consideration is connecting your PV system to the grid. Most residential customers select our
Net Energy Metering program, which provides full retail credit for excess electricity sent to the grid. Other
options are the Feed-In Tariff and the Standard Interconnection Agreement. These programs are described
in detail on our website.
Then she walks to the meter box on the side of her house and watches the black line rotate backward.
"I love to see the meter spinning backwards, which means I'm reducing my electricity," she says. "Rather than going to HECO, it's saving the world."
Chandler had earlier installed solar water heating and CFL light bulbs in her five-bedroom residence, but decided to make a bigger leap toward the "green" movement by adding six photovoltaic panels from RevoluSun to reduce her dependence on the grid.
"I'm making my own electricity," said Chandler. "For me, it's pretty exciting."
A professor at the University of Hawaii Public Policy Center, Chandler opened her house to the community yesterday to showcase RevoluSun's solar module, which generated 86 kilowatt hours of power and offset 142 pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide in just 10 days.
Chandler expects her electricity bill to be around $25 with the addition of the solar panels, compared to the $125 bill she's paid in the past.
RevoluSun, a new company, hopes to educate the community and expand awareness of affordable solar systems to help Hawaii become more sustainable and lower electric bills.
***
[10/27/12] From Consumer Lines October 2012
Because of the many considerations involved with purchasing one of these systems, we developed “Going Solar,” a helpful online resource accessible at: http://goingsolar.heco.com.
Solar water heaters can last 15 years or longer, and PV systems can last 30 years or more.
While these systems will pay for themselves over time with the savings on your monthly electric bills, they do require a financial investment.
An important consideration is connecting your PV system to the grid. Most residential customers select our
Net Energy Metering program, which provides full retail credit for excess electricity sent to the grid. Other
options are the Feed-In Tariff and the Standard Interconnection Agreement. These programs are described
in detail on our website.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Firefox memory leaks?
[10/28/10] OK, nothing has really worked that well so far. I think the only solution is to install more memory on my computer.
But in the spirit of never giving up, I'm going to try SpeedyFox.
Mozilla Firefox is a fast browser, but with the lapse of time it starts working much slowly. The reason is fragmentation of profile databases. A free tool SpeedyFox is designed specially to resolve that problem. [via frwr_news]
***
[10/2/09] When I leave my computer along for long stretches, it often becomes really slow with long hard drive activities when using applications. I suspect it's swapping memory to disk, so I may have a memory leak.
There was recently an application on frwr_news to fix Firefox memory leaks (and other apps). Decided not to use it at the time. But I googled Firefox memory leak fix and came across this pages which suggests some Firefox configuration tweaks.
So far I changed browser.cache.disk.capacity to 5000, it was defaulted to 10000.
And I'll toggle Network.prefetch-next to false.
[10/12] Seems to be working. My computer used access the hard drive for long stretches after leaving it alone and coming back hours later. Notice it's not doing that any more (cross fingers).
***
[4/23/10] The slow firefox came back. I think all the settings reset when I upgraded the browser. Anyway, I took a look with task manager what was running when firefox was releasing the memory, and it showed a program called sysfader was running. Googling it showed it manages some windows animation effects (like fading out windows and menus.) So I turned it off and firefox now seems to release memory on shutdown much (much) quicker. The last time I did it anyway... We shall see. The first time I tweaked sysfader, it somehow changed the windows appearance from Windows Classic style (which I prefer) to Windows XP style. [I knew something looked different.] So I changed it back.
***
[5/28/10] Firefox was getting really slow after exiting. It would remain in memory (looking at task manager) as the hard disk churned for several minutes. Then memory would slowly get released back to the system. I think I finally figured out what the problem was. It was clearing the disk cache when exiting. I turned off that option and it's much faster now in releasing the memory after exiting. And the disk churning is very minimal now. Go to Tools/Options/Privacy. Then click the Settings Box to the right of Clear History When Firefox Closes. Uncheck Cache.
OK, seems to slowing down as the cache fills up. But still faster than before (so far).
[6/9/10] Firefox was getting superslow again thrashing the hard drive, even before exiting. And a long time after exiting too. Try a new approach. Create a new profile as per these instructions.
[6/10/10] I had left Firefox running and went to sleep. Hours later, I came back and the hard drive was churning. Took a little while to exit firefox. Seemed to exit memory a little quicker, but far from instantaneously. Maybe a couple or three minutes.
OK, try this config.trim_on_minimize and see how it goes.
[9/9/10] still trying. latest tweak: change browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers from -1 to 0. Supposedly this reduces the amount of RAM Firefox uses for its cache
But in the spirit of never giving up, I'm going to try SpeedyFox.
Mozilla Firefox is a fast browser, but with the lapse of time it starts working much slowly. The reason is fragmentation of profile databases. A free tool SpeedyFox is designed specially to resolve that problem. [via frwr_news]
***
[10/2/09] When I leave my computer along for long stretches, it often becomes really slow with long hard drive activities when using applications. I suspect it's swapping memory to disk, so I may have a memory leak.
There was recently an application on frwr_news to fix Firefox memory leaks (and other apps). Decided not to use it at the time. But I googled Firefox memory leak fix and came across this pages which suggests some Firefox configuration tweaks.
So far I changed browser.cache.disk.capacity to 5000, it was defaulted to 10000.
And I'll toggle Network.prefetch-next to false.
[10/12] Seems to be working. My computer used access the hard drive for long stretches after leaving it alone and coming back hours later. Notice it's not doing that any more (cross fingers).
***
[4/23/10] The slow firefox came back. I think all the settings reset when I upgraded the browser. Anyway, I took a look with task manager what was running when firefox was releasing the memory, and it showed a program called sysfader was running. Googling it showed it manages some windows animation effects (like fading out windows and menus.) So I turned it off and firefox now seems to release memory on shutdown much (much) quicker. The last time I did it anyway... We shall see. The first time I tweaked sysfader, it somehow changed the windows appearance from Windows Classic style (which I prefer) to Windows XP style. [I knew something looked different.] So I changed it back.
***
[5/28/10] Firefox was getting really slow after exiting. It would remain in memory (looking at task manager) as the hard disk churned for several minutes. Then memory would slowly get released back to the system. I think I finally figured out what the problem was. It was clearing the disk cache when exiting. I turned off that option and it's much faster now in releasing the memory after exiting. And the disk churning is very minimal now. Go to Tools/Options/Privacy. Then click the Settings Box to the right of Clear History When Firefox Closes. Uncheck Cache.
OK, seems to slowing down as the cache fills up. But still faster than before (so far).
[6/9/10] Firefox was getting superslow again thrashing the hard drive, even before exiting. And a long time after exiting too. Try a new approach. Create a new profile as per these instructions.
[6/10/10] I had left Firefox running and went to sleep. Hours later, I came back and the hard drive was churning. Took a little while to exit firefox. Seemed to exit memory a little quicker, but far from instantaneously. Maybe a couple or three minutes.
OK, try this config.trim_on_minimize and see how it goes.
[9/9/10] still trying. latest tweak: change browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers from -1 to 0. Supposedly this reduces the amount of RAM Firefox uses for its cache
Thursday, October 01, 2009
merging outlook express messages
Nelson had a block of missing messages from his Outlook Express sent folder which were still on the old computer and wanted them on his new computer. Not sure why there were missing.
I found this message thread which was helpful for hints, but I couldn't make it work when I tried to exactly follow their suggestions.
Here's what I wound up doing after playing around a bit.
Found the location of the old messages and backed up the folder to an external drive. (Did this previously).
Created a new Outlook Express identity on the new computer. Called it something like Old.Messages.
Copied the old messages to the Old.Messages Outlook Express folder on the new computer overwriting any duplicate files. (Make sure it's the right folder or you might overwrite the current messages! You might want to back up the current messages first.)
Go to Outlook Express and change to the Old.Messages Identity. Rename the folder you want to import to something different than what's in the current messages Identity. (I did this for safety so as not to erase the current messages. Again, you might want to back up the current messages, just in case.)
Go to the current Identiy. And create a folder that's the same name as the one you renamed in the Old.Messages.
Go to Outlook Express and go File, Import, Messages, Microsoft Outlook Express 6. Choose the Old.Messages Identity. Click Next. Click Selected folders. Choose the folder which holds the messages you want to import.
Click Next. The messages should be imported into the current identity.
Then you can copy the messages you want in the new folder to the desired folder.
Actually I think you can import directly into the folder. Not sure if it'll overwrite the current messages or just make a duplicate if the message is already there. Duplicate I think.
I found this message thread which was helpful for hints, but I couldn't make it work when I tried to exactly follow their suggestions.
Here's what I wound up doing after playing around a bit.
Found the location of the old messages and backed up the folder to an external drive. (Did this previously).
Created a new Outlook Express identity on the new computer. Called it something like Old.Messages.
Copied the old messages to the Old.Messages Outlook Express folder on the new computer overwriting any duplicate files. (Make sure it's the right folder or you might overwrite the current messages! You might want to back up the current messages first.)
Go to Outlook Express and change to the Old.Messages Identity. Rename the folder you want to import to something different than what's in the current messages Identity. (I did this for safety so as not to erase the current messages. Again, you might want to back up the current messages, just in case.)
Go to the current Identiy. And create a folder that's the same name as the one you renamed in the Old.Messages.
Go to Outlook Express and go File, Import, Messages, Microsoft Outlook Express 6. Choose the Old.Messages Identity. Click Next. Click Selected folders. Choose the folder which holds the messages you want to import.
Click Next. The messages should be imported into the current identity.
Then you can copy the messages you want in the new folder to the desired folder.
Actually I think you can import directly into the folder. Not sure if it'll overwrite the current messages or just make a duplicate if the message is already there. Duplicate I think.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
The Web Book
The Web Book v1.0 - 10216 KB
How to create Web sites and applications with HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and MySQL.
A full-length book, free for personal use.
The Web Book is a complete 330-page book that tells you how to create a Web site from scratch. It covers everything from registering a domain name and renting some hosting space, to creating your first HTML page, to building full online database applications with PHP and MySQL. You can download The Web Book as a PDF file completely free of charge for personal use.
[via frwr_news]
How to create Web sites and applications with HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and MySQL.
A full-length book, free for personal use.
The Web Book is a complete 330-page book that tells you how to create a Web site from scratch. It covers everything from registering a domain name and renting some hosting space, to creating your first HTML page, to building full online database applications with PHP and MySQL. You can download The Web Book as a PDF file completely free of charge for personal use.
[via frwr_news]
Friday, September 04, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
comparing HDMI cables
While I don't even have a HD TV, one day I probably will.
And so I'm not looking at getting an HDMI cable and saw this guy reviewing cables at Amazon. But come to think of it, the HDMI cable will probably come with the cable box and/or Blu-Ray player, so the following will probably be useless, but since I've written this far, WTH, here goes.
* * *
Explanation of technique used for Review (actual results are below with accompanying title).
My first inclination when I received this cable, was to attempt to do a side-by-side comparison of various HDMI cables to determine what benefit, if any the various cables provide. To make such a test fair however, I had to find identical televisions, input devices, (cable box, blu-ray, standard dvd, etc), and a place to put them; as you may imagine this proved to be way more effort than it would be worth.
After contemplating the issue I came to the conclusion that such a test would be pretty worthless anyways. Since I (like most people) never watch identical televisions side by side the real question lies in whether one HDMI cable improves the picture enough that it is discernable without viewing the pictures simultaneously. After all, if a viewer cannot discern a difference between the two without looking at both together, then there is no justifiable reason to buy one over the other.
With this in mind I used the following equipment to test the cables:
Television: Sony Grand WEGA KDS-55A2000 55-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV
Cables:
1. HDMI Cable 6ft 6 ft 1.3 1080P FOR PS3 TO DVD LCD HDTV
2. Cables To Go 98035 Premium HDMI v1.3 Digital Audio/Video Cable (8 Feet, Black/Grey)
3. Mediabridge - 6ft Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable - 120 Hz - Version 1.3 Category 2 - 1080p - PS3 - Blu-Ray
4. Monster M Series M1000 HDTV HDMI Cable (8 ft. / 2.43 m.)
5. Sony 5mm High speed HDMI cable ver. 1.3 (White)
Inputs:
1. PlayStation 3 80GB
2. Optimum HD Cable Box/DVR (not sure of the model number)
**The Test**
To conduct the test I had my wife label each of the cables with a number, the cables were mixed then piled together behind the television. With my wife assigned as the operator. I and two friends sat on the other side of the television. We watched pieces of Planet Earth on Blu-Ray, as well as Transformers on Blu-Ray and Standard Def. In addition, we watched the same song from American Idol in both HD and SD, and portions of an NBA playoff game.
Each of us had a card numbered 1-5 with space for comments on image quality, sound, etc., for each cable. The test was, as aforementioned, blind. This was to ensure that one of my friends (one of whom provided the $200 monster cable) and I, owner of the .01 + shipping no name cable (and most of the other ones) would not be biased by knowing it was our cable. If you shell out $200 for something you really want it to outperform, which creates bias.
And now:
**The Results**
All three of us agreed that there were no conclusive differences in the test. After a lot of switching between various inputs the conclusion was that while we occasionally perceived slight differences it was never clear and would be impossible to tell if the two pictures were not side by side.
Thus I must conclude that these 5 HDMI cables are, for all practical purposes, identical. Which means that they all had average performance and the main purchase determiners are price, aesthetic quality and build quality.
So to sum up, taking into account my opinion of the different cables, the HDMI Cable 6ft 6 ft 1.3 1080P FOR PS3 TO DVD LCD HDTV is the cheapest and feels it, it will probably need to be replaced soonest as well but at .01 cent plus shipping you can afford to. The Cables To Go 98035 Premium HDMI v1.3 Digital Audio/Video Cable (8 Feet, Black/Grey) and Mediabridge - 6ft Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable - 120 Hz - Version 1.3 Category 2 - 1080p - PS3 - Blu-Ray were pretty similar but I like the design and build quality of the Cable-to-Go a little more, it feels more solid, I feel like this one would last a while longer than the first cable but I didn't do any endurance tests. My least favorite of the bunch in terms of feel/price was the Sony 5mm High speed HDMI cable ver. 1.3 (White) which I felt, was very thin and cheap feeling considering its price tag, I wouldn't bet that it would outlast either the Cable-to-Go cable or the Mediabridge. The Monster M Series M1000 HDTV HDMI Cable (8 ft. / 2.43 m.) is well made and aesthetically pleasing and looks as if it will last you until something replaces HDMI, I cannot however recommend it because the price tag is simply preposterous, as it provides no visual or auditory improvement.
And so I'm not looking at getting an HDMI cable and saw this guy reviewing cables at Amazon. But come to think of it, the HDMI cable will probably come with the cable box and/or Blu-Ray player, so the following will probably be useless, but since I've written this far, WTH, here goes.
* * *
Explanation of technique used for Review (actual results are below with accompanying title).
My first inclination when I received this cable, was to attempt to do a side-by-side comparison of various HDMI cables to determine what benefit, if any the various cables provide. To make such a test fair however, I had to find identical televisions, input devices, (cable box, blu-ray, standard dvd, etc), and a place to put them; as you may imagine this proved to be way more effort than it would be worth.
After contemplating the issue I came to the conclusion that such a test would be pretty worthless anyways. Since I (like most people) never watch identical televisions side by side the real question lies in whether one HDMI cable improves the picture enough that it is discernable without viewing the pictures simultaneously. After all, if a viewer cannot discern a difference between the two without looking at both together, then there is no justifiable reason to buy one over the other.
With this in mind I used the following equipment to test the cables:
Television: Sony Grand WEGA KDS-55A2000 55-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV
Cables:
1. HDMI Cable 6ft 6 ft 1.3 1080P FOR PS3 TO DVD LCD HDTV
2. Cables To Go 98035 Premium HDMI v1.3 Digital Audio/Video Cable (8 Feet, Black/Grey)
3. Mediabridge - 6ft Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable - 120 Hz - Version 1.3 Category 2 - 1080p - PS3 - Blu-Ray
4. Monster M Series M1000 HDTV HDMI Cable (8 ft. / 2.43 m.)
5. Sony 5mm High speed HDMI cable ver. 1.3 (White)
Inputs:
1. PlayStation 3 80GB
2. Optimum HD Cable Box/DVR (not sure of the model number)
**The Test**
To conduct the test I had my wife label each of the cables with a number, the cables were mixed then piled together behind the television. With my wife assigned as the operator. I and two friends sat on the other side of the television. We watched pieces of Planet Earth on Blu-Ray, as well as Transformers on Blu-Ray and Standard Def. In addition, we watched the same song from American Idol in both HD and SD, and portions of an NBA playoff game.
Each of us had a card numbered 1-5 with space for comments on image quality, sound, etc., for each cable. The test was, as aforementioned, blind. This was to ensure that one of my friends (one of whom provided the $200 monster cable) and I, owner of the .01 + shipping no name cable (and most of the other ones) would not be biased by knowing it was our cable. If you shell out $200 for something you really want it to outperform, which creates bias.
And now:
**The Results**
All three of us agreed that there were no conclusive differences in the test. After a lot of switching between various inputs the conclusion was that while we occasionally perceived slight differences it was never clear and would be impossible to tell if the two pictures were not side by side.
Thus I must conclude that these 5 HDMI cables are, for all practical purposes, identical. Which means that they all had average performance and the main purchase determiners are price, aesthetic quality and build quality.
So to sum up, taking into account my opinion of the different cables, the HDMI Cable 6ft 6 ft 1.3 1080P FOR PS3 TO DVD LCD HDTV is the cheapest and feels it, it will probably need to be replaced soonest as well but at .01 cent plus shipping you can afford to. The Cables To Go 98035 Premium HDMI v1.3 Digital Audio/Video Cable (8 Feet, Black/Grey) and Mediabridge - 6ft Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable - 120 Hz - Version 1.3 Category 2 - 1080p - PS3 - Blu-Ray were pretty similar but I like the design and build quality of the Cable-to-Go a little more, it feels more solid, I feel like this one would last a while longer than the first cable but I didn't do any endurance tests. My least favorite of the bunch in terms of feel/price was the Sony 5mm High speed HDMI cable ver. 1.3 (White) which I felt, was very thin and cheap feeling considering its price tag, I wouldn't bet that it would outlast either the Cable-to-Go cable or the Mediabridge. The Monster M Series M1000 HDTV HDMI Cable (8 ft. / 2.43 m.) is well made and aesthetically pleasing and looks as if it will last you until something replaces HDMI, I cannot however recommend it because the price tag is simply preposterous, as it provides no visual or auditory improvement.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
temperature rise not explained entirely by carbon
A team of scientists led by a University of Hawaii oceanographer had a big surprise when they looked to the ancient past for clues to global warming.
Atmospheric carbon increased 70 percent during the period known as Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum 55 million years ago, said Richard Zeebe. Yet it was less than expected to explain a rapid increase in temperatures, he said in an interview.
"This constitutes an enigma because carbon dioxide released cannot account for the entire warming. This means something else contributed significantly to the warming," he said.
"We're not saying carbon dioxide is not important," he emphasized. "It is very important. Current and future warming is almost entirely due to carbon emissions. There is no doubt about this."
However, his team believes other mechanisms could have contributed to the rapid heating during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum period, which they said represents "a possible analogue for the future."
"The question is still open by how much the global temperature will increase until the end of the century, depending how much carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere," Zeebe said.
Atmospheric carbon increased 70 percent during the period known as Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum 55 million years ago, said Richard Zeebe. Yet it was less than expected to explain a rapid increase in temperatures, he said in an interview.
"This constitutes an enigma because carbon dioxide released cannot account for the entire warming. This means something else contributed significantly to the warming," he said.
"We're not saying carbon dioxide is not important," he emphasized. "It is very important. Current and future warming is almost entirely due to carbon emissions. There is no doubt about this."
However, his team believes other mechanisms could have contributed to the rapid heating during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum period, which they said represents "a possible analogue for the future."
"The question is still open by how much the global temperature will increase until the end of the century, depending how much carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere," Zeebe said.
Monday, August 03, 2009
a coin flip isn't a coin flip
We use coin tosses to settle disputes and decide outcomes because we believe they are unbiased with 50-50 odds.
Yet recent research into coin flips has discovered that the laws of mechanics determine the outcome of coin tosses: The startling finding is they aren't random. Instead, for natural flips, the chance of a coin coming up on the same side as it started is about 51 percent. Heads facing up predicts heads; tails facing up predicts tails.
Three academics—Persi Diaconis, Susan Holmes, and Richard Montgomery—through vigorous analysis made an interesting discovery at Stanford University. As they note in their published results, "Dynamical Bias in the Coin Toss," laws of mechanics govern coin flips, meaning, "their flight is determined by their initial conditions."
Yet recent research into coin flips has discovered that the laws of mechanics determine the outcome of coin tosses: The startling finding is they aren't random. Instead, for natural flips, the chance of a coin coming up on the same side as it started is about 51 percent. Heads facing up predicts heads; tails facing up predicts tails.
Three academics—Persi Diaconis, Susan Holmes, and Richard Montgomery—through vigorous analysis made an interesting discovery at Stanford University. As they note in their published results, "Dynamical Bias in the Coin Toss," laws of mechanics govern coin flips, meaning, "their flight is determined by their initial conditions."
Monday, July 27, 2009
We choose the moon
BOSTON (AP) — Families crowded around black-and-white television sets in 1969 to watch Neil Armstrong take man's first steps on the moon.
Now, they'll be able to watch the Apollo 11 mission recreated in real time on the Web, follow Twitter feeds of transmissions between Mission Control and the spacecraft, and even get an e-mail alert when the lunar module touches down. Those features are part of a new Web site from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum commemorating the moon mission and Kennedy's push to land Americans there first.
"Putting a man on the moon really did unite the globe," said Thomas Putnam, director of the JFK Library. "We hope to use the Internet to do the same thing."
The Web site — WeChooseTheMoon.org — goes live at 8:02 a.m. Thursday, 90 minutes before the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. It will track the capsule's route from the Earth to the Moon, ending with the moon landing and Armstrong's walk — in real time, but 40 years later.
Internet visitors can see animated recreations of key events from the four-day mission, including when Apollo 11 first orbits the moon and when the lunar module separates from the command module, as well as browse video clips and photos and hear the radio transmission between the astronauts and NASA flight controllers.
The site also connects the mission back to Kennedy, who first set the goal to have a man on the moon by the end of the decade during a May 25, 1961, speech before Congress.
* * *
And, of course, we all know, it was faked anyway..
* * *
[7/17/09] NASA could put a man on the moon but didn't have the sense to keep the original video of the live TV transmission. In an embarrassing acknowledgment, the space agency said Thursday that it must have erased the Apollo 11 moon footage years ago so that it could reuse the videotape. But now Hollywood is coming to the rescue.
Smithsonian Institution space curator Roger Launius, a former NASA chief historian, said the loss of the original video "doesn't surprise me that much."
"It was a mistake, no doubt about that," Launius said. "This is a problem inside the entire federal government. ... They don't think that preservation is all that important."
Launius said federal warehouses where historical artifacts are saved are "kind of like the last scene of `Raiders of the Lost Ark.' It just goes away in this place with other big boxes."
The company that restored all the Indiana Jones movies, including "Raiders," is the one bailing out NASA.
As part of the moon landing's 40th anniversary, the space agency has been trotting out archival material. NASA has a Web site with audio from private conversations in the lunar module and command capsule. The agency is also webcasting radio from Apollo 11 as if the mission were taking place today.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
developing nations unspecific on emissions
L’AQUILA, Italy — The world’s biggest developing nations, led by China and India, refused Wednesday to commit to specific goals for slashing heat-trapping gases by 2050, undercutting the drive to build a global consensus by the end of this year to reverse the threat of climate change.
As President Obama arrived for three days of talks with other leaders of the Group of 8 nations, negotiators for 17 leading polluters abandoned targets in a draft agreement for the meetings here. But negotiators embraced a goal of preventing temperatures from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and developing nations agreed to make “meaningful” if unspecified reductions in emissions.
The mixed results underscored the challenges for Mr. Obama as he tries to use his first summit meeting of the Group of 8 powers to force progress toward a climate treaty. With Europe pressing for more aggressive action and Congress favoring a more restrained approach, Mr. Obama finds himself navigating complicated political currents at home and abroad.
If he cannot ultimately bring along developing countries, no climate deal will be effective.
As President Obama arrived for three days of talks with other leaders of the Group of 8 nations, negotiators for 17 leading polluters abandoned targets in a draft agreement for the meetings here. But negotiators embraced a goal of preventing temperatures from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and developing nations agreed to make “meaningful” if unspecified reductions in emissions.
The mixed results underscored the challenges for Mr. Obama as he tries to use his first summit meeting of the Group of 8 powers to force progress toward a climate treaty. With Europe pressing for more aggressive action and Congress favoring a more restrained approach, Mr. Obama finds himself navigating complicated political currents at home and abroad.
If he cannot ultimately bring along developing countries, no climate deal will be effective.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
url shorteners
On the short-messaging service Twitter, space is at a premium: You've got 140 characters to make your point, and you probably don't want to waste half of it on a super-sized link to your latest YouTube obsession.
There's an increasingly popular quick fix: a free URL shortener. On one of these Web sites, you can plug in a long Internet address, known as a URL, and it will assign you a much shorter one that is easier to post in e-mails, on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere else. Some link-shrinkers let you personalize the new address with a unique phrase such as your name, or show you how many people click the link after you've posted it.
URL shorteners have been around for several years to offer alternatives to long Web links that were too unwieldy to paste into e-mails. Perhaps the oldest and most popular is TinyURL, a free service started in 2002 by Kevin Gilbertson, a unicycle enthusiast from Blaine, Minn., who was tired of seeing URLs get split up in e-mails related to his online unicycle forum.
Now the rise of Twitter and other social Web sites that encourage users to share small bursts of information has spawned several TinyURL followers, whose names run the gamut from the very short — tr.im — to the not long — notlong.com.
Twitter has directly contributed to the prominence of two services in particular: TinyURL and bit.ly, which began in July as a project at New York-based Web media incubator and Twitter stakeholder Betaworks.
Until recently, Twitter automatically shrank lengthy links by running them through TinyURL. But this spring Twitter switched its default link shortener to bit.ly after finding TinyURL unreliable, said Alex Payne, one of Twitter's lead engineers. (Gilbertson said Twitter didn't contact him about the issues or the change.)
Bit.ly is seeing growth that Betaworks Chief Executive John Borthwick called "pretty amazing." About 100 million bit.ly URLs are clicked on per week.
There's an increasingly popular quick fix: a free URL shortener. On one of these Web sites, you can plug in a long Internet address, known as a URL, and it will assign you a much shorter one that is easier to post in e-mails, on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere else. Some link-shrinkers let you personalize the new address with a unique phrase such as your name, or show you how many people click the link after you've posted it.
URL shorteners have been around for several years to offer alternatives to long Web links that were too unwieldy to paste into e-mails. Perhaps the oldest and most popular is TinyURL, a free service started in 2002 by Kevin Gilbertson, a unicycle enthusiast from Blaine, Minn., who was tired of seeing URLs get split up in e-mails related to his online unicycle forum.
Now the rise of Twitter and other social Web sites that encourage users to share small bursts of information has spawned several TinyURL followers, whose names run the gamut from the very short — tr.im — to the not long — notlong.com.
Twitter has directly contributed to the prominence of two services in particular: TinyURL and bit.ly, which began in July as a project at New York-based Web media incubator and Twitter stakeholder Betaworks.
Until recently, Twitter automatically shrank lengthy links by running them through TinyURL. But this spring Twitter switched its default link shortener to bit.ly after finding TinyURL unreliable, said Alex Payne, one of Twitter's lead engineers. (Gilbertson said Twitter didn't contact him about the issues or the change.)
Bit.ly is seeing growth that Betaworks Chief Executive John Borthwick called "pretty amazing." About 100 million bit.ly URLs are clicked on per week.
Friday, July 17, 2009
steering with your brain
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. says it has developed a way of steering a wheelchair by just detecting brain waves, without the person having to move a muscle or shout a command.
Toyota's system, developed in a collaboration with researchers in Japan, is among the fastest in the world in analyzing brain waves, it said in a release Monday.
Past systems required several seconds to read brain waves, but the new technology requires only 125 milliseconds — or 125 thousandths of a second.
The person in the wheelchair wears a cap that can read brain signals, which are relayed to a brain scan electroencephalograph, or EEG, on the electrically powered wheelchair, and then analyzed in a computer program.
Research into mobility is part of Toyota's larger strategy to go beyond automobiles in helping people get around in new ways.
The new system allows the person on the wheelchair to turn left or right and go forward, almost instantly, according to researchers.
Toyota's system, developed in a collaboration with researchers in Japan, is among the fastest in the world in analyzing brain waves, it said in a release Monday.
Past systems required several seconds to read brain waves, but the new technology requires only 125 milliseconds — or 125 thousandths of a second.
The person in the wheelchair wears a cap that can read brain signals, which are relayed to a brain scan electroencephalograph, or EEG, on the electrically powered wheelchair, and then analyzed in a computer program.
Research into mobility is part of Toyota's larger strategy to go beyond automobiles in helping people get around in new ways.
The new system allows the person on the wheelchair to turn left or right and go forward, almost instantly, according to researchers.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
New Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Testing
A new method of attacking cancer cells, developed by researchers in Australia, has proved surprisingly effective in animal tests.
In one striking use of the method, reported online Sunday in Nature Biotechnology, mice were implanted with a human uterine tumor that was highly aggressive and resistant to many drugs. All of the treated animals were free of tumor cells after 70 days of treatment; the untreated mice were dead after a month.
The lead researchers, Jennifer A. MacDiarmid and Himanshu Brahmbhatt, say their company, EnGeneIC of suburban Sydney, has achieved a similar outcome in dogs with advanced brain cancer. “We have been treating more than 20 dogs and have spectacular results,” Dr. Brahmbhatt said. “Pretty much every dog has responded and some are in remission.” These experiments have not yet been published.
Cancer experts who were not involved with the research say that the new method is of great interest, but that many treatments that work well in laboratory mice turn out to be ineffective in patients.
In one striking use of the method, reported online Sunday in Nature Biotechnology, mice were implanted with a human uterine tumor that was highly aggressive and resistant to many drugs. All of the treated animals were free of tumor cells after 70 days of treatment; the untreated mice were dead after a month.
The lead researchers, Jennifer A. MacDiarmid and Himanshu Brahmbhatt, say their company, EnGeneIC of suburban Sydney, has achieved a similar outcome in dogs with advanced brain cancer. “We have been treating more than 20 dogs and have spectacular results,” Dr. Brahmbhatt said. “Pretty much every dog has responded and some are in remission.” These experiments have not yet been published.
Cancer experts who were not involved with the research say that the new method is of great interest, but that many treatments that work well in laboratory mice turn out to be ineffective in patients.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
EPS declares carbon dioxide an endangerment
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday (4/17/09) formally declared carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that endanger public health and welfare, setting in motion a process that will lead to the regulation of the gases for the first time in the United States.
The E.P.A. said the science supporting the proposed endangerment finding was “compelling and overwhelming.” The ruling initiates a 60-day comment period before any proposals for regulations governing emissions of heat-trapping gases are published.
Although the finding had been expected, supporters and critics said its issuance was a significant moment in the debate on global warming. Many Republicans in Congress and industry spokesmen warned that regulation of carbon dioxide emissions would raise energy costs and kill jobs; Democrats and environmental advocates said the decision was long overdue and would bring long-term social and economic benefits.
The E.P.A. said the science supporting the proposed endangerment finding was “compelling and overwhelming.” The ruling initiates a 60-day comment period before any proposals for regulations governing emissions of heat-trapping gases are published.
Although the finding had been expected, supporters and critics said its issuance was a significant moment in the debate on global warming. Many Republicans in Congress and industry spokesmen warned that regulation of carbon dioxide emissions would raise energy costs and kill jobs; Democrats and environmental advocates said the decision was long overdue and would bring long-term social and economic benefits.
Friday, July 10, 2009
cow gas
One contributor to global warming — bigger than coal mines, landfills and sewage treatment plants — is being left out of efforts by the Obama administration and House Democrats to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Cow burps.
Belching from the nation's 170 million cattle, sheep and pigs produces about one-quarter of the methane released in the U.S. each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That makes the hoofed critters the largest source of the heat-trapping gas.
In part because of an adept farm lobby campaign that equates government regulation with a cow tax, the gas that farm animals pass is exempt from legislation being considered by Congress to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA under President Barack Obama has said it has no plans to regulate the gas, even though the agency recently included methane among six greenhouse gases it believes are endangering human health and welfare.
* * *
Vermont dairy farmers Tim Maikshilo and Kristen Dellert, mindful of shrinking their carbon footprint, have changed their cows' diet to reduce the amount of gas the animals burp — dairy cows' contribution to global warming.
Coventry Valley Farm is one of 15 Vermont farms working with Stonyfield Farm Inc., whose yogurt is made with their organic milk, to reduce the cows' intestinal methane by feeding them flaxseed, alfalfa, and grasses high in Omega 3 fatty acids. The gas cows belch is the dairy industry's biggest greenhouse gas contributor, research shows, most of it emitted from the front and not the back end of the cow.
"I just figured a cow was a cow and they were going to do whatever they were going to do in terms of cow things for gas," said Dellert. "It was pretty shocking to me that just being organic wasn't enough, actually. I really thought that here we're organic, we're doing what we need to do for the planet, we're doing the stuff for the soil and I really thought that was enough."
She learned it wasn't. The dairy industry contributes about 2 percent to the country's total greenhouse gas production, said Rick Naczi, a vice president at Dairy Management Inc., which funds research and promotes dairy products. Most of it comes from the cow, the rest from growing feed crops for the cattle to processing and transporting the milk.
To satisfy consumers' demands for sustainable production, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy in Rosemont, Ill., is looking at everything from growing feed crops to trucking milk to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. That would be the equivalent of removing about 1.25 million cars from U.S. roads every year, said Naczi, who manages the program.
One way is by feeding cows alfalfa, flax and grasses, all high in Omega 3s, instead of corn or soy, said Nancy Hirschberg, head of Stonyfield's Greener Cow Project. The feed rebalances the cows' rumen, the first stomach of ruminants, and cuts down on gas, she said. Another way is to change the bacteria in a cow's rumen, Naczi said.
Cow burps.
Belching from the nation's 170 million cattle, sheep and pigs produces about one-quarter of the methane released in the U.S. each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That makes the hoofed critters the largest source of the heat-trapping gas.
In part because of an adept farm lobby campaign that equates government regulation with a cow tax, the gas that farm animals pass is exempt from legislation being considered by Congress to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA under President Barack Obama has said it has no plans to regulate the gas, even though the agency recently included methane among six greenhouse gases it believes are endangering human health and welfare.
* * *
Vermont dairy farmers Tim Maikshilo and Kristen Dellert, mindful of shrinking their carbon footprint, have changed their cows' diet to reduce the amount of gas the animals burp — dairy cows' contribution to global warming.
Coventry Valley Farm is one of 15 Vermont farms working with Stonyfield Farm Inc., whose yogurt is made with their organic milk, to reduce the cows' intestinal methane by feeding them flaxseed, alfalfa, and grasses high in Omega 3 fatty acids. The gas cows belch is the dairy industry's biggest greenhouse gas contributor, research shows, most of it emitted from the front and not the back end of the cow.
"I just figured a cow was a cow and they were going to do whatever they were going to do in terms of cow things for gas," said Dellert. "It was pretty shocking to me that just being organic wasn't enough, actually. I really thought that here we're organic, we're doing what we need to do for the planet, we're doing the stuff for the soil and I really thought that was enough."
She learned it wasn't. The dairy industry contributes about 2 percent to the country's total greenhouse gas production, said Rick Naczi, a vice president at Dairy Management Inc., which funds research and promotes dairy products. Most of it comes from the cow, the rest from growing feed crops for the cattle to processing and transporting the milk.
To satisfy consumers' demands for sustainable production, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy in Rosemont, Ill., is looking at everything from growing feed crops to trucking milk to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. That would be the equivalent of removing about 1.25 million cars from U.S. roads every year, said Naczi, who manages the program.
One way is by feeding cows alfalfa, flax and grasses, all high in Omega 3s, instead of corn or soy, said Nancy Hirschberg, head of Stonyfield's Greener Cow Project. The feed rebalances the cows' rumen, the first stomach of ruminants, and cuts down on gas, she said. Another way is to change the bacteria in a cow's rumen, Naczi said.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
System Security Virus
6/18/09 Mary C computer HP Pavilion a1213w
Upon booting into Windows XP, the following pops up
System Security
Protect Your PC
Open File Security Warning
Nintendo WFCReg.exe
C:\program files\Wifi Connector
Looking up on the web for a solution.
download MBAM (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware) (had to dl w/ ie since Firefox locked)
run setup, says can't run, infected
boot up into safe mode
install MBAM
run quick scan
found 37 infections
remove selected
restart computer
system security message doesn't show up
run antimalware again
check for updates
run full scan 52 minutes, 48 seconds
no malicious items detected
disk cleanup
download avast
install avast (play freecell while waiting)
scan on reboot
delete files in temporary internet files
HP\9972322\Program\Interop.SHDOCVS.dll
infected by Win32:Adware-gen [adw]
9 - ignore (might be false positive?)
c:\windows\temp\skynet ... temp
etc.
infected by win32.Alvrem.BH [rtk]
1 - delete
remove spyware doctor (out of date)
turn on Windows Defender
quick scan
Suspicious files found (by avast)
c:\windows\system32\drivers\skynetnlxbttvp.sys
delete
search being redirected in ie
virus detected in memory
reboot & scan on boot (twice)
detected and deleted
file windows\system32\SKYNET ... infected
delete
Fri 6/19/09
IE seems OK
Firefox errors out on first run
locks up on retry
Thunderbird reads email ok
uninstall firefox and install latest version
install SP3
run Windows Update until no more updates
Internet Explorer on desktop
install Chrome
install and run ccleaner
Makana's account
slow starting up
deactivate HP Organize from startup (was making startup slow)
deactivate myspace IM from autostartup, put shortcut on desktop
deactivate googletalk from startup, put on desktop
remove wkcalrem from startup
register avast
Upon booting into Windows XP, the following pops up
System Security
Protect Your PC
Open File Security Warning
Nintendo WFCReg.exe
C:\program files\Wifi Connector
Looking up on the web for a solution.
download MBAM (MalwareBytes Anti-Malware) (had to dl w/ ie since Firefox locked)
run setup, says can't run, infected
boot up into safe mode
install MBAM
run quick scan
found 37 infections
remove selected
restart computer
system security message doesn't show up
run antimalware again
check for updates
run full scan 52 minutes, 48 seconds
no malicious items detected
disk cleanup
download avast
install avast (play freecell while waiting)
scan on reboot
delete files in temporary internet files
HP\9972322\Program\Interop.SHDOCVS.dll
infected by Win32:Adware-gen [adw]
9 - ignore (might be false positive?)
c:\windows\temp\skynet ... temp
etc.
infected by win32.Alvrem.BH [rtk]
1 - delete
remove spyware doctor (out of date)
turn on Windows Defender
quick scan
Suspicious files found (by avast)
c:\windows\system32\drivers\skynetnlxbttvp.sys
delete
search being redirected in ie
virus detected in memory
reboot & scan on boot (twice)
detected and deleted
file windows\system32\SKYNET ... infected
delete
Fri 6/19/09
IE seems OK
Firefox errors out on first run
locks up on retry
Thunderbird reads email ok
uninstall firefox and install latest version
install SP3
run Windows Update until no more updates
Internet Explorer on desktop
install Chrome
install and run ccleaner
Makana's account
slow starting up
deactivate HP Organize from startup (was making startup slow)
deactivate myspace IM from autostartup, put shortcut on desktop
deactivate googletalk from startup, put on desktop
remove wkcalrem from startup
register avast
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The Climate Change Climate Change
In April, the Polish Academy of Sciences published a document challenging man-made global warming. In the Czech Republic, where President Vaclav Klaus remains a leading skeptic, today only 11% of the population believes humans play a role. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tap Claude Allegre to lead the country's new ministry of industry and innovation. Twenty years ago Mr. Allegre was among the first to trill about man-made global warming, but the geochemist has since recanted. New Zealand last year elected a new government, which immediately suspended the country's weeks-old cap-and-trade program.
The number of skeptics, far from shrinking, is swelling. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe now counts more than 700 scientists who disagree with the U.N. -- 13 times the number who authored the U.N.'s 2007 climate summary for policymakers. Joanne Simpson, the world's first woman to receive a Ph.D. in meteorology, expressed relief upon her retirement last year that she was finally free to speak "frankly" of her nonbelief. Dr. Kiminori Itoh, a Japanese environmental physical chemist who contributed to a U.N. climate report, dubs man-made warming "the worst scientific scandal in history." Norway's Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize winner for physics, decries it as the "new religion." A group of 54 noted physicists, led by Princeton's Will Happer, is demanding the American Physical Society revise its position that the science is settled. (Both Nature and Science magazines have refused to run the physicists' open letter.)
The collapse of the "consensus" has been driven by reality. The inconvenient truth is that the earth's temperatures have flat-lined since 2001, despite growing concentrations of C02. Peer-reviewed research has debunked doomsday scenarios about the polar ice caps, hurricanes, malaria, extinctions, rising oceans. A global financial crisis has politicians taking a harder look at the science that would require them to hamstring their economies to rein in carbon.
The number of skeptics, far from shrinking, is swelling. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe now counts more than 700 scientists who disagree with the U.N. -- 13 times the number who authored the U.N.'s 2007 climate summary for policymakers. Joanne Simpson, the world's first woman to receive a Ph.D. in meteorology, expressed relief upon her retirement last year that she was finally free to speak "frankly" of her nonbelief. Dr. Kiminori Itoh, a Japanese environmental physical chemist who contributed to a U.N. climate report, dubs man-made warming "the worst scientific scandal in history." Norway's Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize winner for physics, decries it as the "new religion." A group of 54 noted physicists, led by Princeton's Will Happer, is demanding the American Physical Society revise its position that the science is settled. (Both Nature and Science magazines have refused to run the physicists' open letter.)
The collapse of the "consensus" has been driven by reality. The inconvenient truth is that the earth's temperatures have flat-lined since 2001, despite growing concentrations of C02. Peer-reviewed research has debunked doomsday scenarios about the polar ice caps, hurricanes, malaria, extinctions, rising oceans. A global financial crisis has politicians taking a harder look at the science that would require them to hamstring their economies to rein in carbon.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
recycling plastic bottle caps
“Like cigarette butts, people toss aside bottle caps because they’re small and seem insignificant,” says Suzanne Frazer, co-founder of Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.).
B.E.A.C.H. launched a new campaign on Earth Day raising awareness of the impact plastic bottle caps have on marine life. Volunteers say plastic bottle caps are one of the top 10 items found during beach cleanups and are the second most-littered item after cigarette butts.
“In just three events since launching this new campaign we’ve collected more than 2,000 bottle caps,” says Frazer. “It’s going really well and those caps won’t end up in our landfills or harm marine life. It’s an ongoing problem. At one cleanup at Kokololio Beach in 2008, volunteers found 1,232 caps and lids.”
“This activity has brought to light what’s recyclable and what’s not,” says Frazer. “A lot of people with blue bins are not sure what to put in them. Many don’t even know why they’re asked to remove caps and lids from the bottles, and when they do, they don’t know what to do with them.”
Frazer recalls a recent incident at Hanauma Bay that highlights the confusion.
“I picked up 20 bottle caps in a just a few minutes then noticed a guy with a bag bulging with plastic bottles,” she recalls. “Turns out he was just throwing caps on the shoreline. People go through garbage cans and take recycled bottles and dropping bottle caps because they know they don’t get money for the caps.”
Frazer says caps are made from a different type of plastic from the bottles and have a different melting point. Any twist-on plastic cap or lid that is made of rigid polypropylene plastic (recycle symbol No. 5) is accepted for recycling, including caps from beverage, shampoo and food product bottles. However, pump, sprayers, plastic lids from margarine containers and any caps that are made of multi layers of plastic resins or metal are not accepted. “In just three events we found more than 3,000 caps, but about 1,000 of them could not be counted,” says Frazer. “It can get confusing, but we’re happy we’re off to a great start and pleased schools are asking how they can help.”
B.E.A.C.H. launched a new campaign on Earth Day raising awareness of the impact plastic bottle caps have on marine life. Volunteers say plastic bottle caps are one of the top 10 items found during beach cleanups and are the second most-littered item after cigarette butts.
“In just three events since launching this new campaign we’ve collected more than 2,000 bottle caps,” says Frazer. “It’s going really well and those caps won’t end up in our landfills or harm marine life. It’s an ongoing problem. At one cleanup at Kokololio Beach in 2008, volunteers found 1,232 caps and lids.”
“This activity has brought to light what’s recyclable and what’s not,” says Frazer. “A lot of people with blue bins are not sure what to put in them. Many don’t even know why they’re asked to remove caps and lids from the bottles, and when they do, they don’t know what to do with them.”
Frazer recalls a recent incident at Hanauma Bay that highlights the confusion.
“I picked up 20 bottle caps in a just a few minutes then noticed a guy with a bag bulging with plastic bottles,” she recalls. “Turns out he was just throwing caps on the shoreline. People go through garbage cans and take recycled bottles and dropping bottle caps because they know they don’t get money for the caps.”
Frazer says caps are made from a different type of plastic from the bottles and have a different melting point. Any twist-on plastic cap or lid that is made of rigid polypropylene plastic (recycle symbol No. 5) is accepted for recycling, including caps from beverage, shampoo and food product bottles. However, pump, sprayers, plastic lids from margarine containers and any caps that are made of multi layers of plastic resins or metal are not accepted. “In just three events we found more than 3,000 caps, but about 1,000 of them could not be counted,” says Frazer. “It can get confusing, but we’re happy we’re off to a great start and pleased schools are asking how they can help.”
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
unconventional global health research
Can tomatoes be taught to make antiviral drugs for people who eat them? Would zapping your skin with a laser make your vaccination work better? Could malaria-carrying mosquitoes be given a teensy head cold that would prevent them from sniffing out a human snack bar?
These are among 81 projects awarded $100,000 grants Monday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a bid to support innovative, unconventional global health research.
The five-year health research grants are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
These are among 81 projects awarded $100,000 grants Monday by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a bid to support innovative, unconventional global health research.
The five-year health research grants are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
reduce your environmental impact
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Yes, you can save money, energy and help save our planet in just one month - without giving up modern conveniences. Just make one of these following small (and easy!) eco-changes each day this month for major environment-friendly results. Feel free to share your progress and ideas for ways to make a difference in the fight to save our planet at countryliving.com/gogreen.
~~Fluorescent Lightbulbs
Use soft-white compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), not traditional incandescents.
BECAUSE: If every American household replaced one standard bulb with a CFL, we could save enough energy to power 3 million homes a year.
~~Place potted plants (like Boston ferns, peace lilies, or English ivy) on windowsills and tables.
BECAUSE: Fifteen plants can absorb most of the average home's airborne toxins within 24 hours.
~~Switch your computer display to go to sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity.
BECAUSE: Sleep mode consumes 90 percent less energy than an animated screen saver - which requires as much energy as normal use.
~~Return wire hangers to the dry cleaner.
BECAUSE: More than 3.5 billion hangers reach landfills each year, amounting to 200 million tons of steel that could be put to new use.
photo credit: kemie/istock
Keywords:
~~Tighten your gas cap until it clicks three times.
BECAUSE: Each year in the United States , 147 million gallons of gasoline literally evaporate into the atmosphere because of loose, damaged, or missing caps.
~~Register to get your name off junk-mail lists.
BECAUSE: Printing junk mail wastes 100 million trees a year. Canceling can reduce your intake by 35 pounds a year. Sign up at proquo.com or at dmachoice.org.
~~Choose natural soy candles over petroleum-based paraffin.
BECAUSE: Paraffin emits 11 toxins; soy doesn't.
~~Scrub down your wheels at a car wash, not at home.
BECAUSE: A drive-through uses less than half the water per car than the typical do-it-yourselfer - and many establishments recycle their soap water.
~~Build a fire with an artificial, petroleum-free log made from wood fibers and biowaxes.
BECAUSE: Man-made logs, surprisingly, burn longer than wood and emit 75 percent less carbon monoxide.
~~Drive with cruise control on the highway.
BECAUSE: Keeping a steady pace burns gas at a constant rate, which lets you drive as much as 10 percent farther on a single tank.
~~Keep your freezer's temperature at 0 degrees F and your refrigerator between 35 degrees and 38 degrees.
BECAUSE: Adjusting a too-cold freezer by five degrees can cut its energy use by 20 percent.
~~Eat meat-free once a week.
BECAUSE: Producing a pound of beef consumes 145 times more fossil fuels than a pound of potatoes.
~~Bar Soap
Leave bar soap by the sink.
BECAUSE: Most liquid soap comes in nonrenewable plastic packaging. Substituting one bottle with a bar in each U.S. home would keep 2.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills.
~~Organic Cotton Clothes
Wear organic cotton clothes.
BECAUSE: Organic cotton's low-impact production methods - which employ fewer pesticides - generate less than a fifth as much greenhouse gas as standard cotton.
~~Stash a pitcher of water in your fridge.
BECAUSE: A faucet releases a gallon a minute. Letting the tap run while the water cools wastes a resource that's often in limited supply.
~~Submit your taxes electronically.
BECAUSE: We would save 660 million sheets of paper - almost 80,000 trees - if every taxpayer filed electronically. Internal Revenue Service: irs.gov.
~~Donate your old cell phone to charity, or return it to the manufacturer for recycling.
BECAUSE: Electronic trash amounts to 70 percent of America 's toxic waste.
Information on donating can be found at sharetechnology.org and recycling at mygreenelectronics.com.
~~Plug your devices into power strips, and turn off the strips when you're not using them.
BECAUSE: Some plugged-in appliances and strips use electricity even when they're turned off. But one 6-outlet strip, when shut down, uses 87 percent less energy than devices left in six individual outlets.
~~Place a recycling bin next to the wastebasket in your home office, to make conserving paper as easy as discarding it.
BECAUSE: Producing one ton of paper from recycled pulp saves 7,000 gallons of water (and 17 trees).
~~Check the water meter. Then wait an hour, without using your faucets or toilets. Now check again. If the number rises during that time, call a plumber.
BECAUSE: A dripping tap wastes five gallons of water a day. Fixing a leak can save at least $50 a year.
~~Use your dishwasher's air-dry cycle, or switch the machine off after the final rinse and crack open the door.
BECAUSE: Skipping the heated-dry cycle can cut your per-wash energy use by up to 50 percent.
~~Use Reusable Shopping Bags
Stow a reusable bag in your car for errands.
BECAUSE: If every American stuck with cloth totes, we'd waste 380 billion fewer plastic bags this year.
~~Car Maintenance
Have your car's air filters cleaned and tires inflated.
BECAUSE: A yearly tune-up can improve your car's efficiency by 15 percent and keep more than one ton of carbon dioxide out of the air.
~~High-Efficiency Showerheads
Replace traditional showerheads with high-efficiency, 2.5-gallon-a-minute models.
BECAUSE: Your shower will consume 30 percent fewer gallons of water every time you wash.
~~Wash with Cold Water
Wash laundry in cold water, or use warm-wash and cold-rinse cycles.
BECAUSE: Most detergents work equally well regardless of water temperature. Using cold washes in every U.S. household would save the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day.
~~Use a toaster oven for simple baking tasks.
BECAUSE: The countertop appliances consume half as much energy as electric ovens (and keep the whole kitchen cooler)
With Many Thanks,
Mother Earth [forwarded from Donna]
Saturday, June 13, 2009
saving flv files
I saw there were some episodes of Quantum Canine at the Fact TV Media Gallery.
The video files are in flv format and at first I couldn't figure out how to save them. Keepvid didn't work. But I finally was able to do it in IE using these instructions. Though I had to increase the space allocated to the temporary internet files. I tried uploading to youtube, but the file was too big. They only take video 10 minutes long and these are 30 minutes.
The next problem was how to play it from my computer. Apparently I didn't have any program on my computer that could play flv files. Windows Media Player didn't work. So I tried flvplayer and vlcplayer both among the most popular video players on download.com. I liked vlcplayer better.
[via kimodog]
The video files are in flv format and at first I couldn't figure out how to save them. Keepvid didn't work. But I finally was able to do it in IE using these instructions. Though I had to increase the space allocated to the temporary internet files. I tried uploading to youtube, but the file was too big. They only take video 10 minutes long and these are 30 minutes.
The next problem was how to play it from my computer. Apparently I didn't have any program on my computer that could play flv files. Windows Media Player didn't work. So I tried flvplayer and vlcplayer both among the most popular video players on download.com. I liked vlcplayer better.
[via kimodog]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
a giant gulp for mankind
HOUSTON (AP) — At the international space station, it was one small sip for man and a giant gulp of recycled urine for mankind.
Astronauts aboard the space station celebrated a space first on Wednesday by drinking water that had been recycled from their urine, sweat and water that condenses from exhaled air. They said "cheers," clicked drinking bags and toasted NASA workers on the ground who were sipping their own version of recycled drinking water.
"The taste is great," American astronaut Michael Barratt said.
Astronauts aboard the space station celebrated a space first on Wednesday by drinking water that had been recycled from their urine, sweat and water that condenses from exhaled air. They said "cheers," clicked drinking bags and toasted NASA workers on the ground who were sipping their own version of recycled drinking water.
"The taste is great," American astronaut Michael Barratt said.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Earth 2100
It's an idea that most of us would rather not face -- that within the next century, life as we know it could come to an end. Our civilization could crumble, leaving only traces of modern human existence behind.
It seems outlandish, extreme -- even impossible. But according to cutting edge scientific research, it is a very real possibility. And unless we make drastic changes now, it could very well happen.
Experts have a stark warning: that unless we change course, the "perfect storm" of population growth, dwindling resources and climate change has the potential to converge in the next century with catastrophic results.
In order to plan for the worst, we must anticipate it. In that spirit, guided by some of the world's experts, ABC News' "Earth 2100," hosted by Bob Woodruff, will journey through the next century and explore what might be our worst-case scenario.
But no one can predict the future, so how do we address the possibilities that lie ahead? Our solution is Lucy, a fictional character devised by the producers at ABC to guide us through the twists and turns of what the next 100 years could look like. It is through her eyes and experiences that we can truly imagine the experts' worst-case scenario -- and be inspired to make changes for the better.
...
In the history of Earth, there have been five mass extinctions in which at least half the species on the planet disappeared. Scientists believe the extinctions were brought on by natural disasters -- massive volcanic eruptions, rapid climate changes and meteors hitting Earth.
Today, scientists say we are in the middle of a "sixth extinction" -- and for the first time, it's being caused by one species -- us. It seems inconceivable that we could do so much damage to our planet that we actually cause society as we know it to collapse. But historical precedent shows that it is, in fact, a very real possibility.
"Every society that collapsed thought it couldn't happen to them," says Joseph Tainter, an expert in anthropology and societal collapse. "The Roman Empire thought it couldn't happen. The Maya civilization thought it couldn't happen. Everyone thought it couldn't happen to them. But it did."
These populations grew too much and exhausted their resources -- and their climate suddenly changed. People were forced to fight each other for what little was left or face starvation. Entire societies broke down.
"Civilizations in the past have lost the fight," says climatologist Heidi Cullen. "They have collapsed as a result of the inability to deal with several different events going on at once. I think the takeaway is that honestly, we are not that special."
It seems outlandish, extreme -- even impossible. But according to cutting edge scientific research, it is a very real possibility. And unless we make drastic changes now, it could very well happen.
Experts have a stark warning: that unless we change course, the "perfect storm" of population growth, dwindling resources and climate change has the potential to converge in the next century with catastrophic results.
In order to plan for the worst, we must anticipate it. In that spirit, guided by some of the world's experts, ABC News' "Earth 2100," hosted by Bob Woodruff, will journey through the next century and explore what might be our worst-case scenario.
But no one can predict the future, so how do we address the possibilities that lie ahead? Our solution is Lucy, a fictional character devised by the producers at ABC to guide us through the twists and turns of what the next 100 years could look like. It is through her eyes and experiences that we can truly imagine the experts' worst-case scenario -- and be inspired to make changes for the better.
...
In the history of Earth, there have been five mass extinctions in which at least half the species on the planet disappeared. Scientists believe the extinctions were brought on by natural disasters -- massive volcanic eruptions, rapid climate changes and meteors hitting Earth.
Today, scientists say we are in the middle of a "sixth extinction" -- and for the first time, it's being caused by one species -- us. It seems inconceivable that we could do so much damage to our planet that we actually cause society as we know it to collapse. But historical precedent shows that it is, in fact, a very real possibility.
"Every society that collapsed thought it couldn't happen to them," says Joseph Tainter, an expert in anthropology and societal collapse. "The Roman Empire thought it couldn't happen. The Maya civilization thought it couldn't happen. Everyone thought it couldn't happen to them. But it did."
These populations grew too much and exhausted their resources -- and their climate suddenly changed. People were forced to fight each other for what little was left or face starvation. Entire societies broke down.
"Civilizations in the past have lost the fight," says climatologist Heidi Cullen. "They have collapsed as a result of the inability to deal with several different events going on at once. I think the takeaway is that honestly, we are not that special."
Friday, May 22, 2009
international fuel bank
VIENNA – Buffett's bankroll, Obama's clout and the partnership of a savvy ex-Soviet strongman may turn the steppes of central Asia into a nuclear mecca, a go-to place for "safe" uranium fuel in an increasingly nervous atomic age.
The $150 million idea, with seed money from U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, must still navigate the tricky maze of global nuclear politics, along with a parallel Russian plan. But the notion of such fuel banks is moving higher on the world's agenda as a way to keep ultimate weapons out of many more hands.
Decisions may come as early as next month here in Vienna.
The half-century-old vision, to establish international control over the technology fueling atom bombs, was resurrected in 2003, when Iran alarmed many by announcing it would develop fuel installations — for nuclear power, it insisted. Mohamed ElBaradei, U.N. nuclear chief, then said the time had come to "multinationalize" the technology, to stop its spread to individual countries.
Last month, the new U.S. president gave the idea its biggest boost.
In a historic speech to tens of thousands in Prague, the Czech capital, Barack Obama detailed an aggressive plan for arms control, including setting up an international fuel bank, "so that countries can access peaceful power without increasing the risks of proliferation."
The $150 million idea, with seed money from U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, must still navigate the tricky maze of global nuclear politics, along with a parallel Russian plan. But the notion of such fuel banks is moving higher on the world's agenda as a way to keep ultimate weapons out of many more hands.
Decisions may come as early as next month here in Vienna.
The half-century-old vision, to establish international control over the technology fueling atom bombs, was resurrected in 2003, when Iran alarmed many by announcing it would develop fuel installations — for nuclear power, it insisted. Mohamed ElBaradei, U.N. nuclear chief, then said the time had come to "multinationalize" the technology, to stop its spread to individual countries.
Last month, the new U.S. president gave the idea its biggest boost.
In a historic speech to tens of thousands in Prague, the Czech capital, Barack Obama detailed an aggressive plan for arms control, including setting up an international fuel bank, "so that countries can access peaceful power without increasing the risks of proliferation."
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
5-Dimensional Discs
"Five-dimensional" discs with a capacity 10,000 times greater than current DVDs could be on the market within 10 years, researchers reported on Wednesday.
A team from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia said that by harnessing nanoparticles and a "polarisation" dimension to existing technology, storage can be massively boosted without changing the size of a current disc.
The researchers, who have signed a deal with Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), said the technique had allowed them to store 1.6 terabytes of data on a disc with the potential to one day store upto 10 terabytes.
One terabyte would be enough to hold 300 feature length films or 250,000 songs.
"We were able to show how nanostructured material can be incorporated onto a disc in order to increase data capacity, without increasing the physical size of the disc," Min Gu, who worked on the research, said in a statement.
"These extra dimensions are the key to creating ultra-high capacity discs."
Discs currently have three spatial dimensions but using nanoparticles the researchers said they were able to introduce a spectral -- or colour -- dimension as well as a polarisation dimension.
-- via spearl (chucks_angels)
A team from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia said that by harnessing nanoparticles and a "polarisation" dimension to existing technology, storage can be massively boosted without changing the size of a current disc.
The researchers, who have signed a deal with Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), said the technique had allowed them to store 1.6 terabytes of data on a disc with the potential to one day store upto 10 terabytes.
One terabyte would be enough to hold 300 feature length films or 250,000 songs.
"We were able to show how nanostructured material can be incorporated onto a disc in order to increase data capacity, without increasing the physical size of the disc," Min Gu, who worked on the research, said in a statement.
"These extra dimensions are the key to creating ultra-high capacity discs."
Discs currently have three spatial dimensions but using nanoparticles the researchers said they were able to introduce a spectral -- or colour -- dimension as well as a polarisation dimension.
-- via spearl (chucks_angels)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
ipod connectivity problems
5/14 troubleshooting computer with problems connecting to ipod
Windows XP
error loading c:\windows\system32\lndrcasq.dll (googling brings up nothing)
loads Super AntiSpyware 4.15.1000 (which actually seems legitimate)
Windows Defender installed
can't check for definition updates
error found Code 0x80070422
try manual update
scan
got error message again
dl AdAware
reboot
scan
restore to April 30
cannot be restored
try May 1
cannot be restored
try msconfig
cannot be found
update Super AntiSpyware
5/16
found a whole bunch
still getting error loading dll message
try backup itunes to dvd-rw - not blank
try restore all the way to 2/16
find msconfig in c:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
deactivate lndrcasq
try restore to Feb 16, nope
Feb 18, nope
Feb 21, nope
uninstall
Windows Defender
Ad-Aware
back up songs to DVD (took 5 DVDs)
ipod charged on my computer, but still not recognized
uninstall AVG
uninstall superantispyware
beeped when I plugged it in
then got do not disconnect message (which stayed there)
try Arlene's computer
what do you know, it's detected and shows up as F: drive
Sun 5/17
install itunes on my computer
ipod still not showing up
suspect bad battery?
(meanwhile d/l and listen to Mad Money podcast)
Windows errors loading device driver
Mon 5/18
had it plugged into my computer
suddenly got a message that it was recognized and is charging
hours later, ipod is charged now, but Windows still doesn't see it
but plugged it into Arlene's computer and it's detected! hmm.
uninstall itunes on my computer, nope still not recognized
try system restore to May 16 - successful
reboot - get "the system has recovered from a serious error message" (again)
looks like a driver problem
try Dell Driver Reset Tool (as suggested by the message)
restart
nope, still not working
Add Hardware Wizard
Portable Device
Windows could not find the installer for WPD
try Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
got of list of installs and can't figure out what to clean up
restore to May 13
The system has recovered from a serious error again
(which tell me device driver is still screwy despite restoration)
message about updating usb drivers, but device (ipod) doesn't show in usb section of device manager
liutilities Apple Ipod USE Driver by jung
Uniblue driverscanner
detected three outdated drivers, but ipod driver not one of them
now ipod not recognized by Arlene's computer
wait it is, on second try
now it's not again :(
maybe the problem is with the ipod after all since the computer recognizes the flash drives which uses the same driver as the ipod (USBSTOR.SYS)
Wed 5/20
tried booting up into Ubuntu on Arlene's computer
but still no sign of the ipod
now the ipod looks dead again, though it's plugged into Arlene's computer
Thu 5/21
hey ipod connected this time (to the original computer)
then died
battery charging
Fri 5/22
ipod looks charged now and connected
don't know why. I did uninstall AVG and SuperAntiSypware and Ad Aware and Windows Defender
Installing Avast and will see if it still works
suspect something's wrong with ipod since battery seems to be dying too fast
Windows XP
error loading c:\windows\system32\lndrcasq.dll (googling brings up nothing)
loads Super AntiSpyware 4.15.1000 (which actually seems legitimate)
Windows Defender installed
can't check for definition updates
error found Code 0x80070422
try manual update
scan
got error message again
dl AdAware
reboot
scan
restore to April 30
cannot be restored
try May 1
cannot be restored
try msconfig
cannot be found
update Super AntiSpyware
5/16
found a whole bunch
still getting error loading dll message
try backup itunes to dvd-rw - not blank
try restore all the way to 2/16
find msconfig in c:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
deactivate lndrcasq
try restore to Feb 16, nope
Feb 18, nope
Feb 21, nope
uninstall
Windows Defender
Ad-Aware
back up songs to DVD (took 5 DVDs)
ipod charged on my computer, but still not recognized
uninstall AVG
uninstall superantispyware
beeped when I plugged it in
then got do not disconnect message (which stayed there)
try Arlene's computer
what do you know, it's detected and shows up as F: drive
Sun 5/17
install itunes on my computer
ipod still not showing up
suspect bad battery?
(meanwhile d/l and listen to Mad Money podcast)
Windows errors loading device driver
Mon 5/18
had it plugged into my computer
suddenly got a message that it was recognized and is charging
hours later, ipod is charged now, but Windows still doesn't see it
but plugged it into Arlene's computer and it's detected! hmm.
uninstall itunes on my computer, nope still not recognized
try system restore to May 16 - successful
reboot - get "the system has recovered from a serious error message" (again)
looks like a driver problem
try Dell Driver Reset Tool (as suggested by the message)
restart
nope, still not working
Add Hardware Wizard
Portable Device
Windows could not find the installer for WPD
try Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
got of list of installs and can't figure out what to clean up
restore to May 13
The system has recovered from a serious error again
(which tell me device driver is still screwy despite restoration)
message about updating usb drivers, but device (ipod) doesn't show in usb section of device manager
liutilities Apple Ipod USE Driver by jung
Uniblue driverscanner
detected three outdated drivers, but ipod driver not one of them
now ipod not recognized by Arlene's computer
wait it is, on second try
now it's not again :(
maybe the problem is with the ipod after all since the computer recognizes the flash drives which uses the same driver as the ipod (USBSTOR.SYS)
Wed 5/20
tried booting up into Ubuntu on Arlene's computer
but still no sign of the ipod
now the ipod looks dead again, though it's plugged into Arlene's computer
Thu 5/21
hey ipod connected this time (to the original computer)
then died
battery charging
Fri 5/22
ipod looks charged now and connected
don't know why. I did uninstall AVG and SuperAntiSypware and Ad Aware and Windows Defender
Installing Avast and will see if it still works
suspect something's wrong with ipod since battery seems to be dying too fast
Sunday, May 03, 2009
could Nano be the catalyst?
On March 23, 2009, India's Tata Motors launched the world's cheapest car, the Nano. Originally priced at $2,500, the strong dollar has effectively re-priced it at $2000. The launch was six-months behind schedule, and the company has a smaller production capacity than originally envisioned.
Wags in the skeptical Western press have greeted the news of the Nano with jewels like, "but, will it blend?" Comparisons with lawn mowers abound, and there is a great deal of concern about its crash-worthiness, emissions and even the ability of its single windscreen-wiper to deal with the monsoon. Such criticism misses the point: Nano's impact on the world is not about what it can't do, but what it can.
According to the World Resources Institute, the annual energy consumption per U.S. resident was about 340 million BTU (British Thermal Unit) in 2005. This number represents all energy consumption (industrial, residential, commercial, etc.), divided by the population. The average American consumes about twice the energy of the average European or Japanese, 10 times the average Chinese and about 25 times the Indian. Between them, China and India constitute about 40% of the global population and their low per-capita energy consumption is changing. Industrial activity was the first to move the graph. Now, there are massive highway construction and expansion programs enabling automobile proliferation in both of these countries. The Nano could well be the catalyst that pushes global emissions to completely unsustainable levels.
[via investwise, 4/9/09]
Wags in the skeptical Western press have greeted the news of the Nano with jewels like, "but, will it blend?" Comparisons with lawn mowers abound, and there is a great deal of concern about its crash-worthiness, emissions and even the ability of its single windscreen-wiper to deal with the monsoon. Such criticism misses the point: Nano's impact on the world is not about what it can't do, but what it can.
According to the World Resources Institute, the annual energy consumption per U.S. resident was about 340 million BTU (British Thermal Unit) in 2005. This number represents all energy consumption (industrial, residential, commercial, etc.), divided by the population. The average American consumes about twice the energy of the average European or Japanese, 10 times the average Chinese and about 25 times the Indian. Between them, China and India constitute about 40% of the global population and their low per-capita energy consumption is changing. Industrial activity was the first to move the graph. Now, there are massive highway construction and expansion programs enabling automobile proliferation in both of these countries. The Nano could well be the catalyst that pushes global emissions to completely unsustainable levels.
[via investwise, 4/9/09]
Friday, May 01, 2009
ExxonMobil's Outlook for Energy
The Outlook for Energy -
A View to 2030
Energy - in all its forms - is critical to economic growth,
development, and social welfare. Meeting the projected
increase in energy demand to support growing
populations and expanding economies poses many
challenges, and will require an integrated set of solutions.
To help us prepare for the future energy marketplace,
each year ExxonMobil develops The Outlook for Energy,
a broad, in-depth look at the long-term global trends for
energy demand and supply, and their impact on carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results of this comprehensive
study provide a foundation for ExxonMobil's business
planning and are shared publicly to help build under-
standing of the world's energy needs and challenges.
The Link Between Economic Growth and Energy
Energy and economic growth have long been entwined: The
availability of energy supports long-term economic and social
progress; economic growth drives increased energy usage.
Despite current economic conditions, global economic
output, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
is expected to increase by close to 3 percent on average
annually through 2030.
Importantly the global economy is becoming more energy
efficient. From 1980 to 2005, "energy intensity" - the amount
of energy used per unit of economic output - improved by
1 percent per year on average. Going forward to 2030, we
expect the rate of improvement will be 70-percent faster
than in the past.
Even with significant energy intensity improvements, global
energy demand is expected to increase approximately
35 percent from 2005 to 2030. The majority of new energy
demand will come from Asia Pacific, reflecting strong
economic growth. Oil, natural gas, and coal will remain the
predominant energy sources through 2030, but renewable
sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels will increase rapidly.
Transportation Demand Driven by Developing Economies
Transportation provides perhaps the most visible use of
energy. Moving people and goods requires tremendous
amounts of energy worldwide, and that will not change
in the foreseeable future. In fact energy demand for
transportation is expected to increase by 40 percent from
2005 to 2030.
The global growth in transportation demand will be met
primarily by oil, which is expected to provide almost
95 percent of all transportation fuel in 2030.
Electricity Demand Increases Need for Power Generation
As economies grow and access increases, global demand
for electricity is projected to increase 75 percent by 2030
versus 2005.
Consistent with this projection, energy for power generation
is expected to remain the largest and fastest growing
segment of global demand, driven in large part by strong
growth in Asia Pacific.
Meeting the expected worldwide growth in power demand
will require a diverse set of energy sources. Today coal is
dominant and will retain the largest share globally through
2030; however, natural gas, nuclear, and renewables will all
gain market share.
Worldwide Liquids Demand
Liquid fuels derived from oil, condensates, and natural gas
liquids provide the largest share of energy supply today, due
to their affordability, wide availability, and ease of transport.
By 2030, global demand for liquids is expected to grow to
approximately 108 million oil-equivalent barrels per day or
close to 30 percent more than in 2005.
This demand will be met by a wide variety of sources.
Conventional non-OPEC crude and condensate production
is expected to remain relatively flat through 2030. However,
growth is expected from a number of supply sources,
including oil sands, natural gas liquids, and biofuels, as
well as crude oil from OPEC countries. While the world's
resource base is sufficient to meet projected demand,
access to resources and timely investments will remain
critical to meeting global needs.
LNG Import Market Will Grow
Increases in natural gas demand in major markets will
require new sources of supply. Unconventional natural gas
resources (e.g., tight gas, shale gas, coalbed methane) will
contribute more significantly to supplies over time, enabled
by technology advances. In addition new technologies
are spurring development of a global market for liquefied
natural gas (LNG), which is expected to more than triple in
volume from 2005 to 2030 and help meet growing demand
in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Global Energy in Perspective
Viewed globally, it is clear that the world's energy mix is
highly diverse. Today, oil, natural gas and coal provide
approximately 80 percent of world energy. By 2030, oil
will remain the largest source of energy supply at close to
35 percent. Natural gas will grow the fastest of the fossil
fuels and will overtake coal as the second-largest energy
source. Nuclear power will increase significantly, surpassing
coal in terms of absolute growth and becoming the fourth-
largest fuel source. Hydro and geothermal will also grow,
but they are limited by the availability of natural sites. Wind,
solar, and biofuels will increase about 9 percent per year on
average, the highest growth rate of all fuels.
In developing this Outlook, we assume significant efficiency
improvements over time. Compared to 2005 energy-intensity
levels, these improvements translate to energy savings of
approximately 170 million oil-equivalent barrels per day by
2030 - about double the corresponding growth in demand.
Achieving these gains will be critical to helping meet global
energy challenges.
Growing Energy Demand and CO2 Emissions
The outlook for energy-related CO2 emissions is linked
directly to projections of the amount and type of energy
Looking globally we do not expect CO2 emissions
to peak by 2030. While the United States and other
developed countries will reduce emissions, the economic
growth and associated energy needs of developing
countries will drive global CO2 levels higher. This highlights
the challenge ahead for the world - how to continue to
provide the energy necessary to bring billions of people
up the economic ladder while mitigating the growth of
CO2 emissions.
Conclusion
This Outlook makes clear that the world's energy challenges
are formidable. We believe that meeting these global energy
challenges requires an integrated set of solutions that includes:
* Moderating demand through new technologies that improve
energy efficiency in our vehicles, homes, and businesses
* Expanding access to all economically viable energy
sources - oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and alternative
and renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels.
* Mitigating the risks of climate change through technologies
that advance energy efficiency, enable widespread use of
renewables, and capture and store CO2 emissions.
Looking to 2030 and beyond, we realize that the scale of our
global challenge is enormous, but so too, is our commitment
to succeed and our capacity to innovate. ExxonMobil is
confident that by pursuing this integrated set of solutions -
while working with governments to create reliable policy and
investment environments for these solutions to thrive - the
world can achieve both energy and environmental security to
support growing economic prosperity.
-- ExxonMobil 2008 Summary Annual Report
***
[6/18/10 from my XOM file] An interesting chart (on the front cover fold-out of the 2009 Annual Report) on how energy sources continue to evolve. In 1850, it was mostly wood. In 1900, it was mostly coal. In 1950 it was about half coal and half oil with some natural gas. In 2000, coal had decreased, oil was nearly the same, natural gas had slightly increased, and nuclear was making an impact. As time goes on to 2030, Exxon sees natural gas increasing slightly, oil decreasing slightly, coal decreasing with nuclear taking up much of the slack, hydroelectric remaining a small impact, and renewables increasing but still a small percentage.
The chart is also here.
A View to 2030
Energy - in all its forms - is critical to economic growth,
development, and social welfare. Meeting the projected
increase in energy demand to support growing
populations and expanding economies poses many
challenges, and will require an integrated set of solutions.
To help us prepare for the future energy marketplace,
each year ExxonMobil develops The Outlook for Energy,
a broad, in-depth look at the long-term global trends for
energy demand and supply, and their impact on carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results of this comprehensive
study provide a foundation for ExxonMobil's business
planning and are shared publicly to help build under-
standing of the world's energy needs and challenges.
The Link Between Economic Growth and Energy
Energy and economic growth have long been entwined: The
availability of energy supports long-term economic and social
progress; economic growth drives increased energy usage.
Despite current economic conditions, global economic
output, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
is expected to increase by close to 3 percent on average
annually through 2030.
Importantly the global economy is becoming more energy
efficient. From 1980 to 2005, "energy intensity" - the amount
of energy used per unit of economic output - improved by
1 percent per year on average. Going forward to 2030, we
expect the rate of improvement will be 70-percent faster
than in the past.
Even with significant energy intensity improvements, global
energy demand is expected to increase approximately
35 percent from 2005 to 2030. The majority of new energy
demand will come from Asia Pacific, reflecting strong
economic growth. Oil, natural gas, and coal will remain the
predominant energy sources through 2030, but renewable
sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels will increase rapidly.
Transportation Demand Driven by Developing Economies
Transportation provides perhaps the most visible use of
energy. Moving people and goods requires tremendous
amounts of energy worldwide, and that will not change
in the foreseeable future. In fact energy demand for
transportation is expected to increase by 40 percent from
2005 to 2030.
The global growth in transportation demand will be met
primarily by oil, which is expected to provide almost
95 percent of all transportation fuel in 2030.
Electricity Demand Increases Need for Power Generation
As economies grow and access increases, global demand
for electricity is projected to increase 75 percent by 2030
versus 2005.
Consistent with this projection, energy for power generation
is expected to remain the largest and fastest growing
segment of global demand, driven in large part by strong
growth in Asia Pacific.
Meeting the expected worldwide growth in power demand
will require a diverse set of energy sources. Today coal is
dominant and will retain the largest share globally through
2030; however, natural gas, nuclear, and renewables will all
gain market share.
Worldwide Liquids Demand
Liquid fuels derived from oil, condensates, and natural gas
liquids provide the largest share of energy supply today, due
to their affordability, wide availability, and ease of transport.
By 2030, global demand for liquids is expected to grow to
approximately 108 million oil-equivalent barrels per day or
close to 30 percent more than in 2005.
This demand will be met by a wide variety of sources.
Conventional non-OPEC crude and condensate production
is expected to remain relatively flat through 2030. However,
growth is expected from a number of supply sources,
including oil sands, natural gas liquids, and biofuels, as
well as crude oil from OPEC countries. While the world's
resource base is sufficient to meet projected demand,
access to resources and timely investments will remain
critical to meeting global needs.
LNG Import Market Will Grow
Increases in natural gas demand in major markets will
require new sources of supply. Unconventional natural gas
resources (e.g., tight gas, shale gas, coalbed methane) will
contribute more significantly to supplies over time, enabled
by technology advances. In addition new technologies
are spurring development of a global market for liquefied
natural gas (LNG), which is expected to more than triple in
volume from 2005 to 2030 and help meet growing demand
in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Global Energy in Perspective
Viewed globally, it is clear that the world's energy mix is
highly diverse. Today, oil, natural gas and coal provide
approximately 80 percent of world energy. By 2030, oil
will remain the largest source of energy supply at close to
35 percent. Natural gas will grow the fastest of the fossil
fuels and will overtake coal as the second-largest energy
source. Nuclear power will increase significantly, surpassing
coal in terms of absolute growth and becoming the fourth-
largest fuel source. Hydro and geothermal will also grow,
but they are limited by the availability of natural sites. Wind,
solar, and biofuels will increase about 9 percent per year on
average, the highest growth rate of all fuels.
In developing this Outlook, we assume significant efficiency
improvements over time. Compared to 2005 energy-intensity
levels, these improvements translate to energy savings of
approximately 170 million oil-equivalent barrels per day by
2030 - about double the corresponding growth in demand.
Achieving these gains will be critical to helping meet global
energy challenges.
Growing Energy Demand and CO2 Emissions
The outlook for energy-related CO2 emissions is linked
directly to projections of the amount and type of energy
Looking globally we do not expect CO2 emissions
to peak by 2030. While the United States and other
developed countries will reduce emissions, the economic
growth and associated energy needs of developing
countries will drive global CO2 levels higher. This highlights
the challenge ahead for the world - how to continue to
provide the energy necessary to bring billions of people
up the economic ladder while mitigating the growth of
CO2 emissions.
Conclusion
This Outlook makes clear that the world's energy challenges
are formidable. We believe that meeting these global energy
challenges requires an integrated set of solutions that includes:
* Moderating demand through new technologies that improve
energy efficiency in our vehicles, homes, and businesses
* Expanding access to all economically viable energy
sources - oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and alternative
and renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels.
* Mitigating the risks of climate change through technologies
that advance energy efficiency, enable widespread use of
renewables, and capture and store CO2 emissions.
Looking to 2030 and beyond, we realize that the scale of our
global challenge is enormous, but so too, is our commitment
to succeed and our capacity to innovate. ExxonMobil is
confident that by pursuing this integrated set of solutions -
while working with governments to create reliable policy and
investment environments for these solutions to thrive - the
world can achieve both energy and environmental security to
support growing economic prosperity.
-- ExxonMobil 2008 Summary Annual Report
***
[6/18/10 from my XOM file] An interesting chart (on the front cover fold-out of the 2009 Annual Report) on how energy sources continue to evolve. In 1850, it was mostly wood. In 1900, it was mostly coal. In 1950 it was about half coal and half oil with some natural gas. In 2000, coal had decreased, oil was nearly the same, natural gas had slightly increased, and nuclear was making an impact. As time goes on to 2030, Exxon sees natural gas increasing slightly, oil decreasing slightly, coal decreasing with nuclear taking up much of the slack, hydroelectric remaining a small impact, and renewables increasing but still a small percentage.
The chart is also here.
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