Eco Factor: Zero-emission scooter powered by lithium cobalt batteries.
French auto manufacturer has announced plans to launch its first all-electric two wheeler by 2011. Dubbed the E-Vivacity, the scooter is powered by lithium cobalt batteries that offer a range of about 60 miles while cruising at a top speed of 28mph.
Eco Factor: Solar power plant capable of generating green electricity even after dark.
Keahole Solar Power has installed an array of micro-scale concentrating solar power concentrators at the Holaniku Solar Farm on Hawaii’s Big Island, which will be able to generate renewable energy even after sunset, overcoming the biggest hurdle in global solar adoption.
Luke Timmerman wrote:
Every day in 2009, I got out of bed and thought about how to create excellent, original stories for Xconomy Seattle. So did my brother-in-arms, editor Greg Huang.
We want Xconomy to be a source of original, in-depth, engaging content for you. We are always looking to dig up things about the local tech, biotech, and cleantech communities that you won’t find anywhere else. We know Xconomy is not your only source of news and information, but we want it to be your favorite source, on all kinds of innovation happening here in the Northwest. Every day of the work week.
So while Greg and I certainly do keep score on our unique visitors and page views, and we are proud of the growth in readership, that’s not what we think will set us apart over time. We will keep looking for excellent stories; unique stories; ones like the editor’s picks that I’m listing below. We hope you enjoy them, and maybe you’ll even turn us on to a few more exciting ideas and entrepreneurs in 2010.
The top seven technology stories:
“The Rise of Seattle’s High-Tech Cluster, As Told by Madrona’s Tom Alberg“
“From MIT Blackjack Team to Amazon Acquisition: The Lexcycle Story“
“A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs“
“Cray’s Comeback: CEO Peter Ungaro on Clouds, Exaflops, and the Future of Supercomputing“
“New Microsoft Board Member Maria Klawe on Bill Gates, College Students, & Seattle Innovation“
“Data Domain Founder, Kai Li, on EMC Acquisition and the Future of Data Storage“
“UW Computer Scientist Oren Etzioni on Startups, Venture Capital, and the Future of Web Search“
The top seven biotech stories:
“Dendreon Saga Heads Toward Climax as Cancer Drug Aims to Prove It Prolongs Lives“
“Born a Creationist, Merck’s Schadt Leads Open Source Effort to Unravel Genome“
“UW’s Protein Guru, David Baker, Eyes Alternative Biofuels, Vaccines in New 3-D Structures“
“Cell Therapeutics Teeters on the Brink as Cash Runs Out on Promising Cancer Drugs“
“Vertex Drug Could be ‘Man on the Moon’ for Cystic Fibrosis, Says UW Researcher Bonnie Ramsey“
“Clarisonic Skin Cleanser Cracks $40M in Sales on Kudos from Oprah and YouTube Beauty Queen“
“PATH, Fueled by Bill Gates’ Fortune, Builds Global Health Hothouse in Seattle“
The top four cleantech stories:
“Will Solar Ever Live Up to the Hype? Paul Allen, Vinod Khosla Bet on Infinia’s Sun Engines“
“The Washington Cleantech Cluster: The A-to-Z List of Alternative Energy Players“
“With Cash From Siemens and ArcelorMittal, Powerit Looks to Expand, Tap the Smart Grid“
“Green Car Company Rides Wave of Plug-In Hybrids, Battery Technology“
The Goodbye, 9 to 5 TV show and website is to relaunch after Christmas, production company Serious Leisure TV said today.
“We like the Goodbye, 9 to 5 format very much,” said producer Chris Gosling, “and it seems that many viewers like the show, too – we’ve had an encouraging amount of feedback from TV viewers.”
The show’s first batch of programmes, 16 in all, have given SLTV some experience in producing a weekly programme, as well as the fortnightly shows which have made their name in the leisure industry – The Caravan Channel and UK Boating.
The Caravan Channel is probably the UK’s longest-running continuously produced satellite programme, with over 80 half-hour shows broadcast over the past 3 years on Information TV, Sky channel 166 and Freesat 402.
Article Tags: Copenhagen Conference, Front Page News, Public Polls
GORDON Brown was yesterday accused of signing a £500billion death warrant for Britain’s economy in his desperate quest for a climate change deal.
The Prime Minister has offered a dramatic 42 per cent cut to 1990 levels of carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2020.
His pledge – the biggest reduction proposed by any western industrialised nation – was made despite a continuing debate about whether mankind is to blame for climate change.
Daily Express readers showed their distrust of Mr Brown’s sweeping plans this week, with an overwhelming 98 per cent of those taking part in a phone vote agreeing that the nation was being conned over global warming.
Click source to read FULL report by John Ingham.
Source: express.co.uk
Although Ford will debut the Fiesta in the United States as its smallest vehicle in the country, the company is willing to use the same model in order to enter the premium small car sector as well. Basically, the US-based manufacturer thinks that some new car buyers would opt for the advantages of such a small vehicle while benefiting from premium options such as Bluetooth and Sync technology.
Pricing of such a premium Fiesta would go around $23,000, leftlanenews.com reported.
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Being told that you have cancer can be one of the most frightening moments in anyone’s life. Those who are diagnosed with a malignant tumour wonder if this news is a death sentence at worst, or a debilitating condition which may change their life forever. But those diagnosed with cancer must remember that some types of malignant tumours respond very well to treatment and when caught early, most forms of cancer are curable. Some of the most common forms of cancer are also very curable, thanks to impressive advances in technology over the decade. It is very important not to generalize about the curability of various forms of cancer. For example, while the five year survival rate for lung cancer is quite low, the prognosis for those diagnosed with breast, prostate, testicular and most skin cancers is actually very good. For women, the most curable form of the disease is breast cancer, while the prognosis is often excellent for men diagnosed with prostate or testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer most often strikes young men, between the age of 16 and 35. Of course, only a minority of men are ever diagnosed with testicular cancer. The most recent American statistics suggest that only 1 out of every
250 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer at some point in their life. The reassuring news, however, is that 95 percent of people who are diagnosed end up surviving, as long as the cancer is detected in its early stages. This very high survival rate makes testicular cancer the most curable form of the disease among men. Yet American physicians estimate that 400 people die from testicular cancer each year in the United States, mainly because people do not look out for warning signs and fail to get an early diagnosis.
Testicular cancer, however, is not a silent killer, like lung or cervical cancer, since there are usually very obvious signs that something is wrong. The most common sign of testicular cancer is a small, hard and painless lump on the side of one testicle. In some cases, obvious swelling of one testicle can be a sign of cancer too, and doctors also ask men in the high-risk age range to look out for any changes in the texture of either testicle. Pain in the scrotum or abdomen is a less common symptom of testicular cancer. If you discover any of these symptoms, it is very important not to panic. A long list of other, less serious conditions can cause any of these warning signs, including epididymitis and testicular torsion. But you should always make an appointment with your family doctor if you detect a lump in your testicle.
All forms of cancer are most curable if detected early. In order to detect testicular cancer, men should perform a testicular exam once a month. The best time to do this is right after having taken a shower. Simply check all sides of both testicles with your fingers, in order to detect any lumps, hardening, swelling or tenderness. Always keep in mind that testicular cancer does not normally cause pain and the hard lump that might appear is also painless.
Treatment for testicular cancer depends on the stage of diagnosis, but it usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Doctors will remove the affected testicle, and may suggest both radiation and chemotherapy, if the cancer has spread. Men who must go through this treatment should not worry about losing fertility, as they can maintain this even with a single testicle.
While testicular cancer is the most curable form of the disease among young men, breast cancer can affect women at any age, but can be treated very effectively. The key with breast cancer is to detect it as soon as possible. Fortunately, many governments will actively encourage early detection by reminding women to get a regular mammogram. In fact, in Canada, the Province of Québec’s government sends out letters to women over 50 years of age each year, reminding them to make an appointment for a mammogram. These exams are completely free of charge, as they are covered by Canada’s socialized health care system.
While mammograms are helpful in detecting breast cancer in the earliest stage, women are encouraged to perform self-exams on a regular basis, in order to detect any changes. Breast cancer usually appears as a firm lump in one breast, or in the armpits. The reason that it can appear as far away as in the armpit is because the breast tissue actually extends all the way from thecollarbone to the centre of the chest area. In most cases, this lump does not cause any pain. Women may also detect a change in the size of one or both breasts, swelling or redness or even scaling of the nipple. It is very important to remember that discovering a lump does not automatically mean that you have cancer, but it certainly should convince you to make an appointment with your family doctor who will also examine it, and may decide to register you for a mammogram or an ultrasound.
Breast cancer most often strikes women who are over 50 years of age and this is when it is especially important to have a mammogram at least once every two years. Younger women, however, should perform monthly self-exams at home, starting from the age of puberty. Some women also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, including those who gave birth to their first child after age 30 and those who never had children. A family history of ovarian cancer may also increase one’s risk of developing breast cancer.
Treatment for breast cancer detected at an early age is usually very effective. The five year survival rate now stands at around 86 percent. This simply means that almost 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with breast cancer will be alive five years after they first receive the news from their doctor. There are many different types of treatment, depending on the stage and location of the tumour. Surgery is common, and this can involve a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. A lumpectomy means that the surgeon will only remove the tumour and surrounding tissue, but not the entire breast. A mastectomy, on the other hand, involves removing the affected breast and—in rare cases—the muscles underneath the breast. Doctors may also recommend chemotherapy, following surgery, and this is usually done if there is a belief that the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes. Radiation therapy is used to treat breast cancer and is usually very effective in ensuring that there is no recurrence of the disease in 70 percent of the patients.
While testicular cancer usually affects young men and while women at all ages should be on the look out for symptoms of breast cancer, prostate cancer is most common among men over 60 years of age. The survival rate for men diagnosed with Stage I and Stage II prostate cancers—the earliest form of the disease—is approximately 90 percent, thus making it highly curable. At Stage III, curability decreases to 50 percent.
The best way to detect prostate cancer as early as possible is through a digital rectal exam. All men—regardless of age—should visit their doctor on a regular basis. But those over 60 years of age may also undergo a digital rectal exam, during their annual check-up. This exam is never very pleasant, but it is very important in detecting prostate cancer, as there are often no obvious symptoms during the earliest stages. During the exam, the doctor will use a glove and will place his finger into the patient’s rectum, to check the state of the prostate gland. The most obvious signs of cancer are lumps on the prostate gland and can be easily detected through this exam.
Skin cancer can strike both men and women, and at any age. The most obvious risk factor includes regular exposure to UV rays, by sunbathing between 10:00am and 2:00pm. There are several types of skin cancers, but basal cell carcinomas are both the most common and most easily treatable. In fact, these form 75 percent of all skin cancers diagnosed in the United States. What makes basal cell carcinomas so curable is that they do not usually metastasize. These cancerous growths appear on the head or neck, in 8 out of 10 patients. In the majority of cases, doctors will surgically remove the cancerous nodule, or growth, which usually has a pearly appearance and can be white, pink or brown in colour. In a minority of cases, doctors may treat basal cell carcinomas with radiation therapy and sometimes even with topical chemotherapy, which is generally applied directly to the skin, rather than taken orally.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is always frightening for the patient. But it is important to keep in mind that some of the most common cancers—including breast, prostate, testicular and skin cancer—respond very well to treatment and are seen as highly curable. The key in all cases is early detection.
While we’re still waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on the Bilski case, which may or may not directly impact the question of software patents, JJ points out that the Patent Office has released some new rules on patentability, based on the appeals court ruling in Bilski (technically, the Patent Office issued a ruling, back in August, but just recently declared that ruling “precedential”). The full ruling can be found here (pdf). The key bit:
For a claimed machine (or article of manufacture) involving a mathematical algorithm,1. Is the claim limited to a tangible practical application, in which the mathematical algorithm is applied, that results in a real-world use (e.g., “not a mere field-of-use label having no significance”)?
2. Is the claim limited so as to not encompass substantially all practical applications of the mathematical algorithm either “in all fields” of use of the algorithm or even in “only one field?”If the machine (or article of manufacture) claim fails either prong of the two-part inquiry, then the claim is not directed to patent eligible subject matter.
As many are noting, this remains incredibly vague, though the Patent Office is limited by what the courts have said. One would hope that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bilski might lend some clarity, but the oral arguments suggested that the court might try to steer the decision away from anything having to do with software patents entirely. So, we may still have something of a mess for quite some time.
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Do you have the ability to accept the things you can change and the things you cannot change? Do you have the ability to accept that other people are opt to change them, rather than you changing them? Do you accept that you are who you are, regardless of what others think? Can you accept the many changes that take place in your life?
If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then you are off to the start of improving your personal life. If you are willing to accept, you have the ability to laugh, even when something is not funny. For instance, if someone pushed you, you could stand back and laugh. The push is only a threat to your emotion, which you will see, accept and find a way to gain control of the situation.
When you can accept things in life, including you and others you find a way to take control. When you are in control, it helps you to see how you can improve your personal life. When you learn to accept you will learn to discover you.
Individuality is personal, which philosophers over generalize this subject. Many people in the world believe that when we act the same way at all times, we have established our identity. Politically incorrect! We have emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and have been plagued by a world of influences both good and bad. Each day we will feel something new, which causes our personality to reflect on these changes. Therefore, when you see someone laughing one minute and crying the next, you are seeing a shift in emotions, which is a normal pattern of identity for this person. Unless the persons eyes change, behaviors change dramatically, friends change regularly, etc, and you are seeing common behaviors.
We live in a world that desensitizes us. We are surrounding by billions of influences on television, in the media, on radio, in house-holds, government, schools and so forth. Each to their own, but everyone is judging someone at some time, which is something we have to accept. We cannot change these peoples behaviors and way of thinking, but we can change ours. This is a part of learning and accepting. The best way around the world is become your own influence and allow other influences to make someone else’s life miserable. Only rely on sources that prove truthful with their actions, behaviors and words. Positive reflections are the key to living happier.
Once you learn to accept you will be eager to laugh. For instance, if someone makes you mad you will see the humor in his or her actions. You may see the humor in your actions if you make a mistake and feed into their stupidity.
Once you start to see the humor in life, you will feel better inside. We are involved in a unruly world filled with greedy people, envious souls, lusty tigers, and so on. We have to learn how to work around these people, accept us and move on. Once you learn to change to better you, other people may follow. Good conduct has proven far more effective than words to encourage others to change.
As you grow you will feel a new hunger, and that hunger will guide you to discover new ways to better you. In time as you start to feel better, you will see a need to exercise, eat right, and hang out with positive influences and so on. Once you feel this hunger, you will feel inspired to labor to achieve your goals.
Barnes & Noble Will Ship Around 60,000 Nooks This Year
The next logical step for both bacon and popcorn is bacon-flavored popcorn
PyramidTalk: Seiko updates their cult clocks from the 1980s
Family of Balloon Child hit with $42K fine
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By Joe Wilcox, Chronicler of Technology, Culture and Stupidity
Just about everyone who is anyone has asked “Is Google evil?” some time during 2009. I did, in an early November post. Google’s (GOOG) growing dominance is reason enough to wonder.
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By John Rath, Contributor, Data Center Knowledge
It takes a lot of data center horsepower to create the stunning visual effects behind blockbuster movies such as King Kong, X-Men, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and most recently, James Cameron’s $230 million Avatar. Tucked away in Wellington, New Zealand are the facilities where visual effects company Weta Digital renders the imaginary landscapes of Middle Earth and Pandora at a campus of studios, production facilities, soundstages and a purpose-built data center.
The 10,000 square foot server farm manages thousands of work orders and a serious amount of data.
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By Dan Macsai, Assistant Editor, Fast Company
As Facebook roars past the 350 million usermark, it’s become so ubiquitous that literally everybody I know has a profile. And even though I’ve accepted precisely 1,252 of their friend requests over the years–not that I’m counting or anything–here’s the truth: We’re entering a new year, a new decade, and I’m ready to purge.
So imagine my excitement when I stumbled across Seppukoo, a site that helps you deactivate your Facebook profile, then creates a tongue-in-cheek memorial page and sends it to all of your Facebook friends.
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By Larry Downes, Contributor, The Hill
“With all that programming under its control, Comcast (CMCSA) will have every incentive to take its shows off of the Internet and force consumers to buy a cable subscription to get online access to that programming.”
So said Public Knowledge’s Gigi Sohn, railing against the recently announced deal to merge cable giant Comcast with GE’s (GE) NBC/Universal. The parties are already expecting a long regulatory battle, with either the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission taking the lead, backed by the Federal Communications Commission.
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By Mercedes Bunz, Media Reporter, Guardian
Some people take technical malfunctions with good humour. One of them is Desi, a black man, whose YouTube film about Hewlett-Packard’s (HPQ) new MediaSmart webcam became viral after it showed that the camera can track users’ face – except when they’re black.
In the entertaining video Desi and his white co-worker demonstrate the face-tracking software on Hewlett-Packard’s MediaSmart computer.
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You buy yourself a huge solar module for your home, and you still run out of electricity due to a lack of back-up systems. A solution to this problem has been devised by Panasonic with their newly partnered company, Sanyo. The fact that the cleaner options to energy like solar power, wind and reclaimed heat aren’t available all the time act as a
huge hurdle when it comes to complete dependence on them. Hence backup storage systems are required to help sustain the energy requirement. The two companies have designed this storage battery especially for use at home. The battery is a lithium-ion cell and can power up a home for an entire week. A system will enable the user to monitor the usage of the battery on a T.V. The company plans to roll out this device which will be available by the year 2011. This lithium-ion battery will excel the existing fuel cells which are considered as efficient power storage for home use.
[Engadget]
Can you “lose weight” in a restaurant? Women’s Health offers some smart strategies for sticking with your diet goals and avoiding deceptive menus tricks while eating out in their article, 5 Ways to Lose Weight at a Restaurant.
You’re likely watching more TV than usual during Christmas vacation. Is that horrible? SEED magazine explores whether TV is really totally evil for your health. Sure, you need exercise, but how does TV fit into the equation? Is some TV good for us? See what SEED thinks in their article, TV’s Unintended Consequences.
Are you looking forward to Christmas so much you might experience disappointment on December 26? Call it the “let down effect.” Psychology Today offers some tips on avoiding the let down effect and potential sickness after the holidays in their article, When the Good Times Make Us Sick.
Is that “healthy food” really healthy? Maybe low-fat dressing isn’t the best choice. And perhaps egg yolks aren’t the horrible things we think they are. Experience Life magazine encourages you to reconsider some of your seemingly wholesome dietary choices in their article, 6 “Healthy” Eating Choices to Rethink.
Maybe you don’t have time for a full hour of yoga during the holidays, but you can still get in a few poses that count! Yoga Journal gives you some practical tips on four quick poses to fit into your busy day in their article, Every Move You Make. Yes, you do have time for a pose or two, especially one called “happy baby pose.”
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree
O Natal está aí e não podíamos deixar de desejar a todos os nossos leitores e familiares um feliz Natal com tudo do bom e melhor.
Esta é a época do ano em que a família toda se reúne e portanto já vale a pena festejar essa união.
O WebTuga não se esqueceu de si este Natal, tendo para tal decidido lançar um Passatempo de Natal onde poderá ganhar um plano de Alojamento. Quem sabe deste passatempo não saia um projecto com sucesso em 2010!
Boas Festas!
WebTuga – WebTuga deseja-lhe um Bom Natal
My buddy Karl over at AskTheAdmin.com once wrote an article about running a script from Outlook when a particular email comes in. It got me to thinking if there was a way to remotely wipe a hard drive when an email comes in. I couldn’t find a program that could be scripted to remotely wipe a drive, but I once wrote about a program called HDD Wipe that can at least wipe a drive while Windows was running.
So all that was left was a way to automate HDD Wipe. Well, HDD Wipe is GUI only, so that got me thinking about another program I wrote about called Autoit that lets you automate GUI programs. I decided to write my own program that automates HDD Wipe to wipe out a hard drive remotely. Here is a teaser video of me wiping a drive using an email. I will get more into that in Episode 18, but in the meantime here is a teaser, and below is the link to my Autoit program RemoteWipe!
Download RemoteWipe here: (RemoteWipe.exe)
To use it drop it in the HDDGURU FreeWipe Tool programs file directory, and run it via script, double click, PSExec or however you feel you need to run it!
Do you know of a better way to remotely wipe a drive in windows? If so, let me know. Preferably a scriptable program please. If you have something better, I will use it in Episode 18 of Bauer-Power and I will give you full credit for the tip!
