Exciting Robo-Toilet technology, if you missed it, in Japan (where else?). Each high-tech toilet opens automatically when it senses an approaching humanoid; emits pleasant odors; makes noises to conceil your noises; plays music; and allows you to test your blood pressure and urethra (not sure how that part works). I'm wondering about all the germs on the touch pads, or for that matter, the urethra-tester.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080626-toilets-video-ap.html
Just think, a couple hundred years ago, we just pooped outside. Now look at us!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Who Killed the Electric Car?
I was skeptical about this documentary, based on its too-biased web site. But overall this was well done and presented factually. It covers the release of the General Motors EV1 electric car, and it's subsequent pulling by GM off the market. Basically, GM would not sell the vehicles to people but would only lease them, and when the leases expired, they came and got the cars, then smashed them and recycled the parts. They would not permit anyone to buy the cars; even the last one on display at a car museum had its engine removed. What the hell is that all about? This film gave me a good sense of the powers that be, and how they make idiotic decisions that will effect all of us in the long run.
The best part of this film is that it ends on a high note. People are building better car batteries, they are improvising cars to give them miliage over 100 mpg, and alternative organizations like RMI and Google are working around the inbred, selfish, jackass corporate goon mentality of crippled companies like US automakers, who have ignored foreign competition, market forces, and impending energy changes for well over 30 years. People are not waiting for US car companies to come out with something; they are making them on their own, working the competitive market, and I will jump in as soon as I can with anything I can get my hands on. We are looking for anything to replace our V-6 Mazda Tribute and join the 2000 Honda Insight, which now has 175,000 miles on it and still (knock on poly-synthetic urithane fiber or wood) going strong.
Good general update on the topic in RMI's latest newsletter, downloadable in PDF format here http://rmi.org/sitepages/pid106.php.
But good movie, check it out if you havne't seen it.
The best part of this film is that it ends on a high note. People are building better car batteries, they are improvising cars to give them miliage over 100 mpg, and alternative organizations like RMI and Google are working around the inbred, selfish, jackass corporate goon mentality of crippled companies like US automakers, who have ignored foreign competition, market forces, and impending energy changes for well over 30 years. People are not waiting for US car companies to come out with something; they are making them on their own, working the competitive market, and I will jump in as soon as I can with anything I can get my hands on. We are looking for anything to replace our V-6 Mazda Tribute and join the 2000 Honda Insight, which now has 175,000 miles on it and still (knock on poly-synthetic urithane fiber or wood) going strong.
Good general update on the topic in RMI's latest newsletter, downloadable in PDF format here http://rmi.org/sitepages/pid106.php.
But good movie, check it out if you havne't seen it.
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