The University of Wisonsin, Madison (great campus) has announced that researchers have been able to derive a fuel source from plant sugars. This fuel has a higher energy density than ethanol, with lower energy requirements for production. This is a good thing, because (some argue) ethanol has a nearly 1:1 energy return. For every erg of energy you get out of ethanol during transportation, you have to put an erg in during production. Compare that to a 25:1 return from gasoline, and you’ll see why I don’t think ethanol is a viable alternative fuel source. Sure, it could subsitute for gasoline, but we will require 25 times more energy production elsewhere, and currently that means more natural gas, oil, or coal burning. Not a good solution. Of course, if we went thoroughly nuclear in our electric generation, we would eliminate a large percentage of primary generation greenhouse gas emissions at the same time we were providing enough surplus energy to produce a less-than-cost-effective fuel. But that is another post.
Month: June 2007
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Self-Serving Publicity? Or Good-Natured Intentions?
The University of Georgia has extended a scholarship to a soccer player who may not be able to play. They indicate that despite her medical condition, Caroline Simpson is welcome to come to her freshman year in any capacity.
I confess that my first thought after reading this article was, “that’s some well-aimed publicity for the school,” but I shouldn’t assume that there were ulterior motives here. From all accounts, Ms. Simpson is an excellent addition to any college soccer team, when she’s on her game, and the chances of her relapsing during college are, while high, still acceptable for a player of her caliber.
I think it shows enormous grit and gumption for a coach to make a decision like this, in today’s what-have-you-done-for-me-since-breakfast culture, and I applaud him.
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Competing Crossword Puzzles
This link, as provided by the grand offices of Pharyngula, takes you to a demonstration of the differences between science and creationism/”intelligent design”. A well put-together metaphor for a complex topic.
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This Week in Traffic: 19 June 2007
Bicycle Ban Barrier to Bucolic…ummm…Roads?
Couldn’t alliterate any farther than that. A ban on bicycles aboard trains caused some issues in Brighton.
Passengers may Protest Traffic Stop
U.S. Supreme Court rules that a passenger is “seized” during a traffic stop and therefore has standing to protest the constitutionality of the stop. It also means that the passenger is not free to depart the scene.
Vagabonding
This looks like an interesting website. I haven’t had a chance to peruse it yet…
Space Transportation Agreements
Three companies have signed letters of understanding with NASA (the least-funded government agency!) that allow them access to systems req’s and other information. This will assist the companies in their quest to put low earth orbit in commerically applicable reach. At the moment, I believe that cost-to-orbit is around $10,000 a pound. That needs to get a heck of a lot lower to make orbital labs cost effective.
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This Week in Traffic: 17 June 2007
Are Transportation Biofuels Sustainable?
They don’t know.
More Talk of Federal Anti-Jam Funds
There are 11 cities who are finalists for federal grants to combat traffic jams. This article discusses it, and the names of some of the nation’s worst point-congestion locations.
Man Arrested for Filming a Public Scene
I’m not an expert, but I don’t believe you are violating any laws by filming a traffic stop. Everyone is in the public view, and any documentation (including video!) the police produce is subject to the Public Information Act disclosure rules. This is right up there with people telling you you can’t photograph various things for “security reasons.” Photography of public places is legal in all 50 states. Photography of private places is legal if you do it from a public spot.
Bars on Commuter Trains
Yes, you can still get a drink on the way home.
Kerfuffle over potential Shreveport Traffic Signal
TSA will GETCHA!
Don’t misrepresent the security-line fiasco you’re in because the TSA will produce the tape.
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This Week in Traffic: 15 June 2007
BEST ENTRY! Traffic Diagrams I should Use
This person needs to be hired so I can use those diagrams. I was rolling on the floor reading this.
Bassists and their Transport Woes
Read and find out how easy it is to commute with a Bass
Real-Time Traffic Simulator
A simulator purported to use real traffic data to simulate disaster events. It sounds cool and useful, if it works. And by “works” I mean, replicates the situation as is likely to happen in the real world. Hopefully, they are drawing on the Katrina and Rita situations for information.
Discussion of Urban Planning Principals
Everyone Is Responsible…
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Favorite Photo of the Week
I received my personal copy of the Saganami Island Tactical Simulator yesterday. This is a game, based on the Attack Vector game engine by Ad Astra Games. It is a true physics-based three-dimensional space naval combat simulator. It uses Newtonian1 physics in the sense that if you’re moving at a certain speed in a certain direction, you will continue at that speed in that direction until you apply thrust to change your vector. f=ma. Action, reaction. Inertia. I love it. No zooming banks like an X-Wing or the Starship Enterprise.
This game appeals to me for several reasons. One, I’m a big fan of the Honor Harrington series of books by David Weber, in who’s uninverse this game is set. Two, it purports to be a reasonably easy system to handle, once you get used to it. Three, it’s true physics! Things take time to move from place to place and you have to vector your thrust correctly to end up on the correct heading. That’s cool.
I started going through the manual last night, playing some of their practice exercises to get used to the way it works. Ack! It would be much easier if there were someone who already understood the mechanics. As it is, I got to page 5 and my brain started to hurt. I’ll work on it more tonight.
This is definitely a niche game, not for everyone.
1 I haven’t gotten through the rulebook yet, but I don’t think the game takes into account relatavistic effects (Einstenian physics). No need to account for the weirdness of relativity when your battle fleet is assaulting another fleet at a closing velocity of 0.8 c. Perhaps that is at the end of the manual.
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Xkcd to the rescue…
I have tried to handle comments like the ones exhibited in this day’s xkcd comic. It can be difficult to do, especially in a crowded setting at a public information meeting.
Thankfully, there are people who can draw it in a manner that makes us engineers feel better.
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Washing your Keyboard
NPR Morning Edition had a story today concerning the cleansing of your computer keyboard. Most manufacturer’s recommendations that I’ve seen have involved wiping the surface down with mild disinfectant and/or using canned air to blow the crumbs/dust/hair out from between the keys (holding upside down and vigourously shaking, as is the practice by yours truly, is discouraged).
However, the NPR story was about washing your keyboard in the dishwasher.
Though an entertaining piece to listen to, I think they’re all insane. Well, wait. Maybe they’re not. Our household has experience a few keyboards awash in drink, with no lasting adverse effect. The only funkiness was when only a few drops of fluid were in the keyboard, causing odd short circuits between keys, resulting in a sdentewcve thwat lookewsd likwe thisa. So, maybe washing (and drying!) a keyboard isn’t such a bad idea.
This topic has apparently made a big dent on google.
I’m adamantly convinced that though this might not kill your keyboard, it has got to shorten its lifespan by a large fraction. And really, the only reason to do this is to have a clean looking keyboard, not necessarily one that is sanitary. So, if you can put up with a keyboard that is a bit grimy (better yet, buy a black one) you’re good to go.
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Grading Papers
My wife is a professor. She spends approximately 169 hours per week during the school year grading various things. She never avails herself of my (constantly) offered assistance. She insists upon a high and rigourous method for grading, unlike other tried and true methods.