Tagged With "solar power"
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose
Although I don't use cash every day, I sure want it when I need it. After living through Hurricane Katrina and the LONG power outage of the aftermath, I recognize when cash is crucial. And yes, DrFumblefinger poses a good question about the lack of cash during cyber warfare, which goes on regularly even if we choose to ignore it. Maybe we should go back to bartering for everything. But most of us have lost the art.
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Re: Carrick-a-Rede and the Rope Bridge
It's good that if you want to get the the best places you have to use your own motive power, and a little bit of nerve, too !
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Re: Belfast: An Uneasy City
I think I have to disagree on comparing human societies to plate tectonics; over the latter we have no control, but I would hate to ever think we've exhausted the possibility of dealing with the former. Examining mass religious conflicts generally reveals other issues beneath. That's certainly true of the long and tortured history between the two islands and the two Irelands. While James was a Catholic and William a Protestant, the real issues behind the conflict that set Ireland's future...
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Re: Gallery: Transport, Rural South China
What an amazing variety! I like to look around in Europe for "oddballs" like small pedal-powered trucks and other small delivery vehicles, but these take the cake. I'm especially fascinated by the front-wheel drive truck that appears to be friction-driven (power applied to the surface of the tire, rather than to the axle).
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 1
It's a nightmare! A fair chunk of my packing now includes various chargers, connection cables and mains power adaptors for phones, iPads, Kindles. cameras.... Oh, plus a universal backup power supply battery (RAVPOWER - good value) in case I cannot get to a mains socket - just to keep in touch! I have to say that the Euro proposal to have ONE single charger for all devices has some merit!! PS - watch out that chargers that are sold as suitable for iPhones are often not powerful enough to...
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 1
The RAVPOWER unit that I went for is shown on the following link (a real mouthful): http://www.ravpower.com/ravpow...hite-us-version.html This model has enough power to fully recharge an iPad! Currently available from Amazon for USD 36.00 They also do more powerful packs. (Hope this doesn't cut across any "No Advertising" policies
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 1
In the Duel of the Devices, I'm going to declare the RAVPower unit the winner. Both of these devices are essentially external batteries, something that's becoming more popular as more phones come with non-removable batteries. There are two critical differences, however: capacity and output. The PowerStick has a capacity of 750mAh (about half the power held by an average cellphone battery) and a maximum output current of 700mA (phone chargers usually supply 1000mA). The RAVpower device has a...
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Re: Share Your Budget Tablet and Laptop Picks
I have a high power PC for my hardcore work, but for getting around I like the Google Nexus 7. Nice tablet, slick, fast, less than $200 bucks. Great for using when you fly.
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Re: Share Your Budget Tablet and Laptop Picks
If you want something a little larger and with a keyboard and good computing power, there's a new bunch of chromebooks coming out for the holiday season. PC World recently featured one in the $200 price range, weighing on 1.25 kg. Here's that link.
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Re: Charging your mobile devices on the go
That article has good advice...but should have noted one thing more: Not all USB ports on planes and trains carry power for devices (including chargers). Some are data links only; if you don't know about a particular plane or airline, check or don't count on it!
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Re: Italy: Giant tour bus, tiny street
Yay ! One up for bus drivers ! I drove a 10m DAF bus 20 times from Oslo to North Cape and back. One place in the Lofotens required me to reverse down a winding dirt track with rock on one side and sea on the other with about 2ft of clearance on either side. Thank the lord for power steering and BIG mirrors. Bus drivers deserve all the tips they get !
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Re: Finding Reiner #7: Shrapnel & Bones
Originally Posted by Carlin Scherer: Beautiful image - grabbing on to the spider web and flying into a peaceful land/world. Reiner wrote beautifully!!! Reiner was a great writer, and I'm sure in the original German it's even more elegantly phrased than in this fine translation! PHeymont -- agree with the sentiment. Believe we'll always have evil, power grabbing tyrants in our midst and our challenge is not to keep them from seizing power. Not an easy task. I've been reading Eric Metaxas...
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Re: Charleston's Grand Mansions: Middleton Place
I was interested to note (aside from the alligators!) the fact that the house at Middleton was never restored after the Civil War. I noted that at Magnolia plantation, not far away, a small cottage was moved in to replace the original house...and it left me wondering. While the planter class certainly reclaimed power after Reconstruction, they must have taken quite a while to overcome the economic damage they brought on themselves.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 18th, 2014: Bears
The black bears in Yosemite NP are among the most aggressive and clever in the world. They've been known to pull down a locked closed car door to get at a picnic hamper or cooler in the back seat. They are amazingly strong -- imagine the power needed to peel a locked steel car door off its hinges. And they share this knowledge from generation to generation! Once a bear has eaten human feed, they are "spoiled" forever and often become more aggressive in their hunt for food and may even need...
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Re: Sun will disappear Friday...but most won't notice
I've only experienced one total solar ecclipse in my life and it was very memorable. I'd like to see at least one more in my life time. Thanks for the guide on future dates. There's actually one going across North America in 2 years, so might focus on getting as close to that as possible.
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Re: Sun will disappear Friday...but most won't notice
My first Grandchild will be 1 year old on March 20th next week. The party venue has been booked for a 10am start. Then all outside at 10.30 for the eclipse. That will keep all the kids happy. But it took some planning ! My first total eclipse was in the Dom Rep. years ago. I was on a sun lounger. It went dark. It went cold. All the ants and creepy crawlies of the night came out. Thousands of them ! Very memorable.
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Re: Airplane window to power USB charger?
These are exactly the kind of innovations that can change energy production in a society. Imagine houses covered by the same film. Likely could capture enough power to generate a home. It's an exciting development.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A little further research confirms what I thought: at least in the Toyota and Ford hybrids, the gasoline engine powers a generator/charger while in use. That's in addition to the power captured from braking.
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Re: Guide to Greek Holidays, Summer 2015-style
That's all good information, PHeymont, thanks. No one knows how the Greek people will react to this, but there is a possibility of riots and demonstrations. Perhaps violence -- there is no way of predicting. The crisis will have a major impact on the Greek quality of life. I've heard some estimates that if Greece makes a new currency, it will have only a fraction of the buying power of the Euro, perhaps 25 cents on the Euro. That will obviously not be at all well received but its much too...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 7, 2013: Bicycle taxi, Santa Clara, Cuba.
... and of course - The One Horse Power SUV !
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Re: Classic American Cars #3
No Dave. I've had it since new and it gets a very easy life ! Still only done 24,000 miles. Its has an Aluminum body and is very lightweight. So even the low HP has an amazing power to weight ratio. Red line on RPM is around 11,000 rpm and it flies up to 89mph. Which is where the Maximum speed is electronically governed. The metal roof fits into the trunk in 3 sections and the rear window drops down too.
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Re: Hotel-Malls; Shop 'til You Drop
It's hard for me to imagine liking shopping that much. To the point I can't leave the mall and have dinner and a night's sleep somewhere else. But to each his own. It must meet a consumer demand in that market, so more power to them!
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Re: Tampa Bay Automobile Museum: 3) cars from the USA and UK
Great pics of great cars. I will put the Tampa Bay Museum on my list of things to see. Additionally, The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky is awesome, as well. It includes a 50's diner cafe featuring period stuff for lunch. Less than a mile away is the Corvette assembly plant, which offers tours. This is the only place in the whole wide world where Corvettes are assembled. Both are definitely worth a visit. The National Packard Museum is located In Warren, Oh and is small, but...
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Re: The Big Island of Hawaii (Part 1). Volcanoes Park
Thanks for the comment, PHeymont. It's a great destination partially because the tourist industry can't control it. The volcano will do what it wants and as the flow of lava over the road reminds us, we have little power to stop it.
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Re: Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, Redux
A reminder of the destructive power of nature. I'd be worried about the soles of my shoes melting and welding themselves to rock ! Is the access a tourist has only to dormant areas ? Fascinating blog from what must be the most "lively" location on Earth. Once again DrF , educational and interesting !
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Re: Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, Redux
Hi Garry, and thanks for your comment. The active areas within the National Park are off limits because of toxic fume levels, not so much because of lava. The roads to the Pahoe area (outside the park) of actively flowing lava are closed and access is theoretically restricted. For a fee, one of the locals will guide you to the flowing lava. Remember this is thick fairly slowly flowing lava, not unlike moving pancake batter. But it is hot and you have to be careful. Shoes can melt and worse...
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Re: Gold Country California: Malakoff Diggins, Ranger Connie in Charge
It does seem a fascinating place! Enjoyed your very lovely historic photos and narrative. I suspect we've all meet a "Ranger Connie" in our lives. Sometimes a little power backfires. I'll need to visit this part of California sometime. What is the altitude of this area? Suppose fall and spring are the best times to visit?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 6, 2014: The Twelve Apostles - Victoria, Australia
Great picture MAD TD. I have visited this place on many occasions and never tire of it (being raised a VICTORIAN I'm a tad biased, of course). It's such a magical place and a joy to photograph. I remember when the "apostle" in the foreground of the first picture collapsed not so long ago. One person that was there said "one second it was there and the next it was gone". The power of nature!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#63)
My first thought was a garden tool - shovel maybe. On the far left is a sign that says in part, Hola..then what? Could be meaningless for our purposes, or not. It does look political in nature and it appears they were on a budget when they installed it, a plain concrete-looking base. Temporary, maybe? Who knows who will be in power next election. Maybe Spain, or that left-leaning France.
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Re: Finding Reiner #2: Chasing Ghosts
Another brilliant post, HistoryDigger! Thanks. I think you've described the situation many young German men were in, and it's a lesson for all of us to fight tyranny at every step and with all we have. It is also a reminder to me how a government that is "a friend of the people" can crush those same people if their power isn't checked. After the Nazis had seized power, there was no tolerance for dissent. You were either with them -- or you were in big big trouble (possibly even fatal...
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Re: Plugged In and Ready to Go?
I use this device from "Anker". Its a rechargeable battery that holds 13,000mAh. Or 13 Amps of power to take on the move with you. Two recharge outlets using your USB charge lead. 1amp per hour or 1.5amp per hour. I've had plenty of use from it and keeps its charge for weeks - with its internal Lithium Ion Battery. Excellent company Anker. Emailed me after my on line purchase. Asked if they could be of any further help just Email them. I bought this for $30 when it was on offer with Amazon.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 16, 2014: Jardin Borda, Cuernavaca
Not surprising in a way... One of our gleanings on our recent trip to Andalucia is that for the first two centuries of Spanish rule in the Americas, most of the Spanish immigrants came from the south, where Seville had a monopoly on trade with the "New World." That certainly accounts for a number of aspects of Latin American Spanish (s rather than Castilian th, etc.) and probably for the persistence of architectural attitudes and details that survived the fall of Moorish power for a long...
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Re: Looking for Historical Landmarks !
Long history of alliance is discussed, but don't think I've ever heard that count before. I used to point out that the Monroe Doctrine was based on an almost unintended alliance. In the wake of Spain's loss of American colonies, Pres. Monroe wanted to warn other European powers, France especially, from attempting to take them over, but lacked the military power to stop any attempts. And, only a short time after the 1812 war, there was still a lot of anti-British sentiment. But Monroe was...
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Re: High Atlas Bride Fair, Imchlil, Morocco
GarryRF raises an interesting point about how our perceptions change and differ on the age of "maturity." In Jewish tradition, a boy at 13 becomes an adult, and in older times could hold property and begin to form a family; today, the ceremony remains, but no one believes the boy has become a man. Louis XIII of France became king at 8; he assumed full power at 15, then the age of majority. His son, Louis XIV, followed the same path; at 15 he returned from exile during the revolt of the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 18, 2015: The Winged Lion of Venice
The winged lion is a symbol you see everywhere in Venice -- palaces, flags, statues -- everywhere. It seemed a somewhat unusual mascot for a seafaring power and made me wonder what the origin to the symbol was. Turns out the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 3, 2013: Brandenburg Gate
Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate is surely one of the world’s most-recognized landmarks, and symbolizes Berlin in the way the Eiffel Tower means Paris and the Parthenon means Athens. It’s been the ceremonial center for marches and...
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The North Cascades: a National Park and Scenic Highway
The North Cascades Highway (Washington SR-20) offers the northern most route across the Cascade range in Washington state, just south of the Canadian border. The eastern (and highest) part of the road is...
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Washington state's Wild Horses Monument & Gingko Petrified Forest
The Columbia River is one of the most interesting and beautiful geographic features of the Inland Northwest, from its headwaters in British Columbia to the dramatic Gorge just east of Portland, Oregon. When...
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Delta upgrades West Coast shuttle with more seats, amenities
Delta's West Coast shuttle that links Los Angeles to San Francisco—Silicon Beach to Silicon Valley—is getting an upgrade with larger planes on most of its flights. Eight of the daily 15 flights will now be on Boeing 717s, with more seats,...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 1st, 2015: Cameron Falls, Waterton
Cameron Falls, Waterton The Cameron Falls are located in the townsite of Waterton Village. This serene cascade is well lit at night for viewers enjoying a peaceful evening stroll. These falls are also the site of the oldest rock in the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 26, 2015: Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-8-4 "Yellowstone" #229, Two Harbors, Minnesota
This behemoth locomotive is the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range (DM&IR) 2-8-8-4 "Yellowstone" which is now preserved at Two Harbors, Minnesota. Eighteen of these powerful coal burning locomotives were built between 1941 and 1943. The 2-8-8-4s were retired between 1958 and 1963 as diesel locomotives took over. Sadly, only three of the 2-8-8-4s still survive...Number 229 pictured above, Number 227 at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota, and Number...
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New aluminum battery could be traveler's best friend
Imagine a smartphone battery that could recharge fully in just over a minute, could be recharged 7500 times, and is lighter than any battery you've ever had. And, oh yes, it can't catch fire as lithium-ion batteries can, and it's easier to recycle....
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Dream big! Designer thinks about huge zero-emission planes
Imagine a triple-decker plane that could carry 800 passengers, made almost no noise, and generated much of its own power in flight. Barcelona designer Oscar Vinals is working on that vision, and while much of it depends on whether technologies just...
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Flying Round-the-World with no fuel!
Two veteran Swiss pilots are at nearly the midpoint of a round-the-world flight on the Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane with a wingspan greater than a 747's. Among other reasons for the huge wingspan is to make possible use of 17,000 solar cells...
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Update: Did complaints force out Frontier CEO?
Dave Siegel, CEO of Frontier Airlines is out; the airline says his resignation was for "personal reasons," but Frontier Barry Biffle told the Denver Post that the changes at the top are meant to help fix the carrier's operational issues. ...
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Sun will disappear Friday...but most won't notice
Is that a teaser headline? Yes, but it has a real basis. There will be a total eclipse of the sun this coming Friday, March 20, 2015, but it will only appear as a total eclipse in a select section of the northern hemisphere: Parts of Norway, the Faroe...
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Historic Route 66 (pt 2) - Needles CA to Flagstaff AZ
Leaving Needles CA, I drove a route that is a MUST DRIVE if you are the kind of person that loves road trips. The main portion of my day was spent on the longest continuous stretch of the original Route 66 that is still in place - From Topock AZ to...