The Japanese have a problem. Japan's near-silent hybrid cars have been called dangerous by the vision-impaired and some users, prompting a government review on whether to add a noise-making device, according to an official.
The gas-electric vehicles, which in recent months have become the country's top-selling autos, hum along almost soundlessly when they are switched from fuel to battery mode.
The ministry has launched a panel of scholars, vision-impaired groups, consumers, police and the automobile industry to discuss the matter. They decided to consider introducing a sound-making function" in petrol-electric hybrids when the 13-member panel held its first meeting Thursday, the official said. They have not decided on what kind of sound should be used.
"On the other hand, we should pay attention to residents along roads as hybrids are excellent in reducing noise," the official added. Reduce sound pollution. OK, we reduced it. Now how much should we add back?
Jul 18, 2009
Men vs. Women
Bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers were all invented by women.
3.9% of all women surveyed say they never wear underwear.
80% of American men say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again.
50% of American women say they would marry the same man.
58% of men say they are happier after their divorce or separation.
85% of women say they are happier.
< 3% of mammal species are monogamous, including Dwarf Mongooses, Beavers, otters, foxes, and Prairie Voles (shown above)
Quotable
Let the wife make the husband glad to come home,
and let the husband make her sorry to see him leave.
and let the husband make her sorry to see him leave.
Mattress Facts
A ten year old mattress weighs double what it did when it was new, because of the debris which is absorbed through the years. That debris includes dust mites, their droppings and their decaying bodies, mold, millions of dead skin cells, dandruff, human hair, secretions, excretions, lint, pollen, dust, soil, sand and a lot of perspiration, of which the average person loses a quart per day.
Daily Sex is Good
Scientists studying infertility have determined that daily sex (or ejaculating daily) for seven days improves men’s sperm quality by reducing the amount of sperm DNA damage. The results of the study to determine whether or not men should refrain from sex for a few days before attempting to conceive with their partner were presented June 30 at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.
The results showed 81% of men tested had an average 12% decrease in sperm DNA damage, while 19% had an average increase in damage of nearly 10%. The overall average for the whole group dropped by 8%, which is highly significant. Men have been saying more is better for years, now they have scientific proof.
The results showed 81% of men tested had an average 12% decrease in sperm DNA damage, while 19% had an average increase in damage of nearly 10%. The overall average for the whole group dropped by 8%, which is highly significant. Men have been saying more is better for years, now they have scientific proof.
Go Ask Alice
Here is an interesting site. It is a storeless shopping site where manufacturers display their household items directly. Coupons, if available, are subtracted from purchases and always free shipping. The idea is big savings by factory direct with multiple manufactures, like Tide, etc.
Manufacturers set their own prices and receive all of that revenue. The site makes money by giving the companies spending data, advertising space, and distributing samples for them to targeted customers. It allows price comparisons and just opened in June, so might have a few bugs for a while, but an interesting concept to save money on the mundane items we use everyday. Sorry, not available in Alaska or Hawaii.
Manufacturers set their own prices and receive all of that revenue. The site makes money by giving the companies spending data, advertising space, and distributing samples for them to targeted customers. It allows price comparisons and just opened in June, so might have a few bugs for a while, but an interesting concept to save money on the mundane items we use everyday. Sorry, not available in Alaska or Hawaii.
Virtual Humans
A European project called the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) is designed to foster, harmonize and integrate pan-European research in the field of patient-specific computer models for personalized and predictive healthcare and ICT-based tools for modeling and simulation of human physiology and disease-related processes.
It plans a simulation of human organs and new knowledge extraction, methods. The idea is to end of animal testing and eventually even clinical patient drug trials.
There are 13 institutions involved in the VPH initiative and it will allow a wide range of academic, clinical, and industrial researchers to investigate the human body as a single complex system. They will be able to use the VPH network's expanding database of computer simulation data to develop better diagnosis and treatment methods, including using mathematical modelling to suggest solutions to currently unsolved biomedical problems.
The Virtual Physiological Human is an initiative that's being funded with 72 million Euros ($100 mil) by the EU. It could revolutionize medical science in the 21st century. It's expected that substantial advances in this field will be made during the next ten years in a range of diseases, from cancer to others. Can you imagine what the US could accomplish if we didn't have to spend an additional $1.6 Trillion on political healthcare issues?
It plans a simulation of human organs and new knowledge extraction, methods. The idea is to end of animal testing and eventually even clinical patient drug trials.
There are 13 institutions involved in the VPH initiative and it will allow a wide range of academic, clinical, and industrial researchers to investigate the human body as a single complex system. They will be able to use the VPH network's expanding database of computer simulation data to develop better diagnosis and treatment methods, including using mathematical modelling to suggest solutions to currently unsolved biomedical problems.
The Virtual Physiological Human is an initiative that's being funded with 72 million Euros ($100 mil) by the EU. It could revolutionize medical science in the 21st century. It's expected that substantial advances in this field will be made during the next ten years in a range of diseases, from cancer to others. Can you imagine what the US could accomplish if we didn't have to spend an additional $1.6 Trillion on political healthcare issues?
How Big Is It?
The US is about half the size of Russia, three-tenths the size of Africa, half the size of South America, slightly larger than Brazil, slightly larger than China, and more than twice the size of the European Union. 90% of the continental United States is still open space or farmland.
Computer on a Keyboard
Coming out in August '09, this is an interesting idea from Asus.Everything is self contained under the keyboard and the whole thing weighs 2 pounds. The only problem I see is the measly 5 inch touch screen on the right of the keyboard. Of course, it can be hooked up to any monitor or the TV and it comes either wireless or wired and can run Windows. It comes with a microphone and a set of speakers and will probably cost about $400. Might be a good way to marry your PC and TV and do emails during commercials.
Chicken and Egg Solved
According to Genesis 1:20-22 the chicken came before the egg. "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that hath life. . . It doesn't say, "Let there be eggs."
Juice is Bad for Teeth
Whitening teeth is increasing and Eastman Institute did a study to see if there are negative effects on teeth from using whitening products.
The team determined that the effects of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in professional and over-the-counter whitening products, are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices.
It has long been known that juice and sodas have high acid content, and can negatively affect enamel hardness. The acid in orange juice markedly decreases hardness by 84% and increases roughness of tooth enamel. No significant change in hardness or surface enamel was found from whitening.
People who sip their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more likely to have tooth erosion than those who finish a drink quickly.
Jul 13, 2009
Billy Mays
Many will miss the appearances of pitchman Billy Mays, but of course, there is always more to say.A few months ago, he felt another pitchman ripped him off, Vince Shlomi (Offer) of Shamwow fame. In a radio interview on Feb. 10, 2009, Billy claimed that the popular Shamwow trod on the turf of Zorbeez, a super-absorbent towel he promoted in a separate infomercial two years prior. Mays suggested the two settle the score via a pitch-off. Mays predicted the outcome, "Shampow!"
Popular Mechanics magazine actually conducted its own test and put the rival rags head-to-head in a spill test of some blueberry beer. It also soaked snow puddles and clocked drying times.
The Verdict was Shamwow, by a mile. The Shamwow soaked three paper towels' worth of blueberry beer on a single swipe as Zorbeez pushed the liquid off the edge of the table. After one use, the Zorbeez began shedding fibrous blonde tufts, while the Shamwow retained its rubbery integrity. Sorry Billy, I use Shamwow and agree it works.
PS - Sincere condolences to the Mays family. We will all miss him.
Potato Chips are sooo Good
True - Oklahoma City resident Lahuma Smith, pled no contest to prostitution charges that she traded sex for a box of Frito-Lay potato chips.
According to the police report, undercover officers noticed Smith was flashing her headlights to 'catch' a date. They followed her car and found her with her blouse open and a man in the passenger seat pulling his pants up.
The man told police he was having marital problems and she told police the man said he was looking for company, but he didn’t have any money, so she agreed to be paid with a $30 case of Frito-Lay chips he had in his car. As much as I love potato chips, this one is not right. . . and they weren't even Better Made or Granny Goose potato chips.
According to the police report, undercover officers noticed Smith was flashing her headlights to 'catch' a date. They followed her car and found her with her blouse open and a man in the passenger seat pulling his pants up.
The man told police he was having marital problems and she told police the man said he was looking for company, but he didn’t have any money, so she agreed to be paid with a $30 case of Frito-Lay chips he had in his car. As much as I love potato chips, this one is not right. . . and they weren't even Better Made or Granny Goose potato chips.
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