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 …
Monthly Archives: June 2007
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 …
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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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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, …
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.