tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29348315702565105212024-03-12T20:19:26.045-05:00FerriumA Blog on Alternative Energies, Efficiency, and ConservationMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-8434385517466842222007-05-02T20:31:00.000-05:002007-05-02T20:33:16.429-05:00Quantum Dot Recipe May Lead To Cheaper Solar PanelsFrom <a href="http://science.slashdot.org/science/07/05/02/216204.shtml">Slashdot</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote> Science Daily is reporting that scientists have developed a new method for cost-effectively producing <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502143631.htm">four-armed quantum dots</a> that have previously been shown to be particularly effective at converting sunlight into electrical energy. The discovery could clear the way for better, cheaper solar energy panels.</blockquote><br />Cheaper and better are always good, right?Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-46807547757876730822007-04-22T09:56:00.000-05:002008-12-12T01:46:28.814-05:00Ahh...PhotoshopThis post is a little out of the ordinary; it's for an AP Biology project. I have other close-ups that I can run through filters if there are requests.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vIBmpmYiFZ0UvMc2rBeK76R-uv8eVYouw193R-VjxTsc8l_UTp2KMokNuhC6AVYA5GuBv3nFf1X3_JKyP2hXPui1S26PzpXtxFRpgrE-DAsgGffTk7DWOOuTTrB06fhafit0Kw2-lldv/s1600-h/IMG_0670.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vIBmpmYiFZ0UvMc2rBeK76R-uv8eVYouw193R-VjxTsc8l_UTp2KMokNuhC6AVYA5GuBv3nFf1X3_JKyP2hXPui1S26PzpXtxFRpgrE-DAsgGffTk7DWOOuTTrB06fhafit0Kw2-lldv/s320/IMG_0670.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056268108127538754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo78PHRj2EDvIzRh-kvMn238msqfWA0oUvl45FOrem-70jyR0BthnGd-chlXSjx1Ff01HSs-o4ZJsCG5Vd1wI3u0Ot5aSrRKpv7oKpJpbmvMDe1V2HRaY76_5Iv6rLe2ZQ2KRPLYYzgYf/s1600-h/IMG_0670_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo78PHRj2EDvIzRh-kvMn238msqfWA0oUvl45FOrem-70jyR0BthnGd-chlXSjx1Ff01HSs-o4ZJsCG5Vd1wI3u0Ot5aSrRKpv7oKpJpbmvMDe1V2HRaY76_5Iv6rLe2ZQ2KRPLYYzgYf/s320/IMG_0670_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056268112422506066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWKr68A8LpOiAeiXd7cAdEUvGd3M3bSWjmJ2xwqnYJ_Y2M5h_IzSiSxyO4nxXhmvjlZHjZEUPknla86Er_Pw2QIEUKcNzjm7gyAMTY6PCcj7a8D-FWcgszvduZ3Y3YFalB7VuKUL5B3YD/s1600-h/IMG_0670_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWKr68A8LpOiAeiXd7cAdEUvGd3M3bSWjmJ2xwqnYJ_Y2M5h_IzSiSxyO4nxXhmvjlZHjZEUPknla86Er_Pw2QIEUKcNzjm7gyAMTY6PCcj7a8D-FWcgszvduZ3Y3YFalB7VuKUL5B3YD/s320/IMG_0670_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056268121012440674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HjhBiTuMradCXBP2bQDeo0YT2m-vG2sqoQaWrjhR2jKNUKWqMIXNKlMJvicMi4J0HwnwZGmYUnTt2AX4Fws4Tf9FPNMqUFOQzQyf4BK4NfDVIW_0HPu6duE_p11jlm2wXiluJ0f5jD_q/s1600-h/IMG_0670_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HjhBiTuMradCXBP2bQDeo0YT2m-vG2sqoQaWrjhR2jKNUKWqMIXNKlMJvicMi4J0HwnwZGmYUnTt2AX4Fws4Tf9FPNMqUFOQzQyf4BK4NfDVIW_0HPu6duE_p11jlm2wXiluJ0f5jD_q/s320/IMG_0670_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056268121012440690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkje9xcoInQ1wRaIII7YdgBuYjBque5uRDTtO9DH7SRZcSo0KRgyqrUesclmiNxPQC7kPQ4lrLQ7PaZyS7kVLl4-sKm_VYaK16iI3nIrFfBevNu-wvmhZ0eyZihxdMJrsDTnDN0e13xT8Z/s1600-h/IMG_0670_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkje9xcoInQ1wRaIII7YdgBuYjBque5uRDTtO9DH7SRZcSo0KRgyqrUesclmiNxPQC7kPQ4lrLQ7PaZyS7kVLl4-sKm_VYaK16iI3nIrFfBevNu-wvmhZ0eyZihxdMJrsDTnDN0e13xT8Z/s320/IMG_0670_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056268125307408002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8aGSTOCUQ7IZLKaLvQLV8LgH6z8qYdbfwGkOUMirr4MSZqK7h-wVuQSThtt7TNLqLs7Y0kdU2UUgJtnWP0eNaG3P8FSblF9Jen1UBQvbKFYgOVLhtSR0Lzjrn04uM6YYwLEzcPUjDbTy/s1600-h/IMG_0670_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8aGSTOCUQ7IZLKaLvQLV8LgH6z8qYdbfwGkOUMirr4MSZqK7h-wVuQSThtt7TNLqLs7Y0kdU2UUgJtnWP0eNaG3P8FSblF9Jen1UBQvbKFYgOVLhtSR0Lzjrn04uM6YYwLEzcPUjDbTy/s320/IMG_0670_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056272785346924178" border="0" /></a>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-9783935482595607562007-03-31T20:30:00.000-05:002008-12-12T01:46:28.971-05:00A Tip for Saving Gas: Reduce Weight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wreOy5AjmvFPmBy-sC6jqjZwdwt78Psczw-ZgOcq4JZE3sETgn6gT8FCNoLumQNER2qs-MDXL2bdBFau1bq-_I8Di6Yry3zi7AmUFkZhyphenhyphenhmh9QpOUul3AzhkovuTDswJGsrMOyVCCuKQ/s1600-h/full_car_jpg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048268308384009186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wreOy5AjmvFPmBy-sC6jqjZwdwt78Psczw-ZgOcq4JZE3sETgn6gT8FCNoLumQNER2qs-MDXL2bdBFau1bq-_I8Di6Yry3zi7AmUFkZhyphenhyphenhmh9QpOUul3AzhkovuTDswJGsrMOyVCCuKQ/s320/full_car_jpg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Weight is an enemy of fuel economy.</strong></span> If you drive a minivan and don't regularly carry 6-7 people, consider removing those unused seats to reduce weight. The same applies for many SUVs with third-row seats. By removing the center row in our van, we get an extra 10+ miles from each tank.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also, if your car looks like a college dorm, remove some of the stuff you don't need! Not only will it save you gas, but it may also improve the driving characteristics of your car.</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-27842504523844250742007-03-19T20:33:00.000-05:002007-03-19T20:58:39.746-05:00The Tata MiniC.A.T. Air Car<div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">"Zero pollution and very low running costs"</span></strong> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.gizmag.com/pictures/hero/7000_19030784601.jpg" border="0" /><br /><blockquote><p>Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air can power a viable "zero pollution" car. Now the first commercial compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with <a href="http://www.tatamotors.com/" target="_blank">Tata</a>, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective mass production are now a distinct possibility. The <a href="http://www.theaircar.com/" target="_blank">MiniC.A.T</a> is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fibreglass. The heart of the electronic and communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle, and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity, GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital entertainment. <a href="http://www.theaircar.com/howitworks.html" target="_blank">The engine is fascinating</a>, as is and the <a href="http://www.theaircar.com/thecar.html" target="_blank">revolutionary electrical system</a> that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control system. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc </p><p><br />There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. </p><p><br />Most importantly, it is incredibly cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than one Euro per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 68 mph.</p><p><br />Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 1.5 Euros (approx. US $2), the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometres.</p><p><br />As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours.</p><p><br />Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000 Km.</p><p><br />The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0 - 15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.</p><p><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/go/7000/">http://www.gizmag.com/go/7000/</a></p></blockquote>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-48840752261198886482007-03-11T22:53:00.000-05:002007-03-11T22:56:49.927-05:00Hyundai QarmaQ’s Plastic Skin: Reduces Weight, Saves Gas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/qarmaq_concept/qarmaq_4b_l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/qarmaq_concept/qarmaq_4b_l.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote><p>Any concept vehicle with a name derived from the word the Inuit’s use for their dwellings made of Earth, whalebone, and animal skins is bound to be interesting. <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/hyundai/">Hyundai</a> Europe's Design and Technical Center in Russelsheim, Germany partnered with GE Plastics in the Netherlands to create the QarmaQ – a quirky looking Crossover Coupé concept. </p> <p>One of the QarmaQ’s key features is its innovative use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to create a large portion of the vehicle’s skin. GE says the use of plastics, instead of more traditional metal and glass, gives the vehicle a 130-pound weight savings. That weight loss equates to 20 gallons a year savings in gas, not to mention fewer plastic bottles clogging up the local landfill. These numbers are nothing to scoff when you think of all the cars on the road. </p></blockquote><br /><a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/geneva_auto_show_2007/73/hyundai-qarmaqs-plastic-skin-reduces-weight-saves-gas">Full Article At Yahoo! Autos</a><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-39499490990935139322007-02-26T20:18:00.000-05:002007-02-26T20:23:52.284-05:00Child-Safety Experts Call For Restrictions On Childhood Imagination<div class="onion_embed headline"><a class="img" href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/child_safety_experts_call_for?utm_source=Distributed&utm_medium=Embedded%2BHTML&utm_campaign=Widgets" target="theonion"><img alt="Child-Safety Experts Call For Restrictions On Childhood Imagination" src="http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Child-Safety-thumb.frontpage_thumbnail_small.jpg.jpg" /></a> <h2><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content?utm_source=Distributed&utm_medium=Embedded%2BHTML&utm_campaign=Widgets" target="theonion"><img height="12" alt="The Onion" src="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/onion/assets/logos/onion_super_tiny.png" width="92" /></a></h2><h3><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/child_safety_experts_call_for?utm_source=Distributed&utm_medium=Embedded%2BHTML&utm_campaign=Widgets" target="theonion">Child-Safety Experts Call For Restrictions On Childhood Imagination</a></h3><p class="embed_teaser">WASHINGTON, DC—"By constantly reminding kids that they're human children with no magical skills, you ensure that they will live a prolonged life," child-safety expert Kenneth McMillan said.</p></div><style type="text/css">.onion_embed {background: rgb(256, 256, 256) !important;border: 4px solid rgb(65, 160, 65);border-width: 4px 0 1px 0;margin: 10px 30px !important;padding: 5px;overflow: hidden !important;zoom: 1;}.onion_embed img {border: 0 !important;}.onion_embed a {display: inline;}.onion_embed a.img {float: left !important;margin: 0 5px 0 0 !important;width: 66px;display: block;overflow: hidden !important;}.onion_embed a.img img {border: 1px solid #222 !important;;width: 64px;;padding: 0 !important;;}.onion_embed h2 {line-height: 2px;;clear: none;;margin: 0 !important;padding: 0 !important;}.onion_embed h3 {line-height: 16px;font: bold 16px arial, sans-serif !important;margin: 3px 0 0 0 !important;padding: 0 !important;}.onion_embed h3 a {line-height: 16px !important;;color: rgb(0, 51, 102) !important;font: bold 16px arial, sans-serif !important;text-decoration: none !important;display: inline !important;;float: none !important;;text-transform: capitalize !important;}.onion_embed h3 a:hover {text-decoration: underline !important;color: rgb(204, 51, 51) !important;}.onion_embed p {color: #000 !important;;font: normal 11px/ 11px arial, sans-serif !important;;margin: 2px 0 0 0 !important;;padding: 0 !important;}.onion_embed a {display: inline !important;;float: none !important;}</style><img style="DISPLAY: none" height="1" src="http://statistics.theonion.com/b/ss/theonionprod/1/H.6--NS/1234567?pe=lnk_d&pev2=Child-Safety%20Experts%20Call%20For%20Restrictions%20On%20Childhood%20Imagination&pev1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Fnews%2Fchild_safety_experts_call_for%3Futm_source%3DDistributed%26utm_medium%3DEmbedded%252BHTML%26utm_campaign%3DWidgets" width="1" /><br /><br /><blockquote><p>WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Health and Human Services issued a series of guidelines Monday designed to help parents curtail their children's boundless<br />imaginations, which child-safety advocates say have the potential to rival motor<br />vehicle accidents and congenital diseases as a leading cause of disability and<br />death among youths ages 3 to 14.<br />...</p><p>"Remember, if you see a single sparkle of excitement in their eyes, you haven't done enough."</p></blockquote>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-35898317345260232182007-02-24T20:30:00.000-05:002007-02-24T20:32:47.298-05:00What Windows Vista is Really Like<blockquote>She gets out of bed and stretches, perfect curves sliding under silky lingerie and momentarily making me forget about breakfast, meatloaf, and whoever it was I was married to before last night. She seems to know this, and smiles at me again, but apparently she's serious about making breakfast. She turns and strides confidently from the room. As she does, I see for the first time the large Microsoft logo splayed across her back. My stomach lurches as I suddenly remember everything.<br /><br />Windows Vista. I bought a new computer yesterday... and it came with Windows Vista.</blockquote><a href="http://chalain.livejournal.com/43015.html"><br />http://chalain.livejournal.com/43015.html</a><br /><br />*Almost* makes me want to take the Vista plungeMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-34269213850787528762007-02-15T16:26:00.000-05:002007-02-15T16:31:22.308-05:00Picking A Masterlock No.3<p>Masterlock No. 3's are everywhere, but they're not very secure. This is one of the first locks I learned to open.</p><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KzwkS9qgEk"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KzwkS9qgEk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-60519959915295009582007-02-14T19:34:00.000-05:002007-02-15T16:32:46.421-05:00How A Turbine Is Raised<p>Pretty neat time-lapse video of a turbine being assembled on-site. Isn't it amazing how humans can build things many times their size? </p><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ui0WlzRE_i4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ui0WlzRE_i4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-23171834783375445872007-02-14T18:06:00.000-05:002007-02-14T18:15:01.077-05:00Happy Valentines DayForget the red roses, gimme one of these:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gothamdreamcars.com/images/rent-a-ferrarispider-rental.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.gothamdreamcars.com/images/rent-a-ferrarispider-rental.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Oops, so much for conservation.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-46915919447713931422007-02-06T17:42:00.000-05:002008-12-12T01:46:29.183-05:00Out With The College Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMxaHjEWf4U5N_S0ACzNy5VFtFCCdR6iLkFEZ-h8gx1HDNZWEmkSGE375WV-aKL1BfmzAK4pfWdpfaNwDM23EBItbTnFCFslBmH4HTnKn44gD8r3nrqZX2124sJ34e4KGcydGhrAIxHl5/s1600-h/IMG_0339_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMxaHjEWf4U5N_S0ACzNy5VFtFCCdR6iLkFEZ-h8gx1HDNZWEmkSGE375WV-aKL1BfmzAK4pfWdpfaNwDM23EBItbTnFCFslBmH4HTnKn44gD8r3nrqZX2124sJ34e4KGcydGhrAIxHl5/s320/IMG_0339_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028646614216071810" border="0" /></a><br />With the college application process pretty much winded down, I thought it was about time I went through my college mail (and clean my room in the process). It turned out to be quite an undertaking, because of the sheer volume of a year's worth of college mailbox spamming. But the reason it took three hours was because I had to sort through the mail, decide which letters to keep, and "gut" the envelopes to recycle the paper. Hey, every bit of green helps!<br /><br />"Gutting" an envelope involves ripping out those pesky plastic windows that allow the address to peek through, throwing out the plastic (heck, recycle those if you want to, but I don't think the mixture of plastic film, glue, and residual paper is good for the recycling centers) and recycling paper part of the envelope. You can also reuse the letters inside the envelopes as scrap paper (a stack seen on the bottom of the picture).<br /><br />In the end, the stack of college mail made a pile about 2 feet high and warranted its own recycling box. Now, some acceptance letters would be nice...Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-42664483716742066172007-01-30T18:14:00.000-05:002007-01-30T18:21:07.000-05:00World Wide WebAn interesting thought I came across on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-letter_acronym">Wikipedia</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"The World Wide Web is the only thing I know of whose shortened form takes three times longer to say than what it's short for."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> – Douglas Adams, The Independent on Sunday, 1999</span></blockquote>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-78576594807002314362007-01-15T14:20:00.000-05:002008-12-12T01:46:34.258-05:00MIT Mystery Hunt 2007<div style="text-align: left;">Here are some of my pictures from that weekend-long sleep-deprivation event known as the MIT Mystery Hunt.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Arriving early at ESP<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-1sU0niH6jh74pKFDW_oLS0JzzRevottWYiOi00UdBAxIsJLYIJYOFJQQrJMtU3LzIxd10CIraq9fTGhtHaGO_LKgVq_aV86yTIBTAHkl6tc82fgiLkliVbUtzFJAqusSbyyJg2n3XP8/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-1sU0niH6jh74pKFDW_oLS0JzzRevottWYiOi00UdBAxIsJLYIJYOFJQQrJMtU3LzIxd10CIraq9fTGhtHaGO_LKgVq_aV86yTIBTAHkl6tc82fgiLkliVbUtzFJAqusSbyyJg2n3XP8/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020343790087883938" border="0" /></a>Andrew eating a clementine<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKF0k9GeK8g6MHn8GQIM8uINg55lViiK-v0xjheEInJ_5jEIO9XPPfH6aXp_03g2V4UbETOS1PIjvFQtmX64C_S1dtNUbckb4necvrUiP3xj3-pYbWKCHbaXUhuppP7OPPRXOu01Pq92F/s1600-h/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKF0k9GeK8g6MHn8GQIM8uINg55lViiK-v0xjheEInJ_5jEIO9XPPfH6aXp_03g2V4UbETOS1PIjvFQtmX64C_S1dtNUbckb4necvrUiP3xj3-pYbWKCHbaXUhuppP7OPPRXOu01Pq92F/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020343811562720434" border="0" /></a> Teams gather in Lobby 7<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxVwMxFlJITXHgF04ZJzYu-7v7BAdZj2MZFlUg8RKwmAKkFlF1xLSjlkqqKZ4VzqH5h25gBUj4IuxAvM9AM5mI1Dk6yU8eT7XHVMXWLq8YiSwb1IhJsDNGGfN4xG_g4NLz4KxMbwdPNkT/s1600-h/IMG_0092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxVwMxFlJITXHgF04ZJzYu-7v7BAdZj2MZFlUg8RKwmAKkFlF1xLSjlkqqKZ4VzqH5h25gBUj4IuxAvM9AM5mI1Dk6yU8eT7XHVMXWLq8YiSwb1IhJsDNGGfN4xG_g4NLz4KxMbwdPNkT/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020343811562720450" border="0" /></a>Kickoff<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB2Uusk2Wumg54xKJCK4LX0KlmSCAdOSYFOQBvPOGFRjGf5sMljn-1KjA4HByQt-WaWEHQODe44KVbsseVhfn6X2Vd-tnKCQ6CHGa9lUAqmBc9A7YaOpCPglurzNEoGCd27HymJecwmkg/s1600-h/IMG_0097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB2Uusk2Wumg54xKJCK4LX0KlmSCAdOSYFOQBvPOGFRjGf5sMljn-1KjA4HByQt-WaWEHQODe44KVbsseVhfn6X2Vd-tnKCQ6CHGa9lUAqmBc9A7YaOpCPglurzNEoGCd27HymJecwmkg/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020343815857687762" border="0" /></a>So we're supposed to be Really, Really Awesome<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mp3Rr23DHL5PvZbBBPYjMaGABgkdH7B8azuydUErG-B19kCqqeF2GCvLFsK_hGJalbUEfhuhobS7CDgcmxLyvtMUdn7iXLuFvK2PfWbABsK-s6oM_zv9AdZTE5krQsoMq27NQC89Hnc5/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mp3Rr23DHL5PvZbBBPYjMaGABgkdH7B8azuydUErG-B19kCqqeF2GCvLFsK_hGJalbUEfhuhobS7CDgcmxLyvtMUdn7iXLuFvK2PfWbABsK-s6oM_zv9AdZTE5krQsoMq27NQC89Hnc5/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020343820152655074" border="0" /></a>The puzzling begins<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGoSkfHuqTRn_0MAGyKMdAt-26NdtqsdEFicIvnbZiWwZS_vutbPCBaJl5V2YqhFIdMNyr7cC3PEQpHGmASWZ_Vc1_Ye9PbTqepmWEYZDBfy2S13wq3K1W7FdZH5S-7OhhBeBmGjHAmu9/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGoSkfHuqTRn_0MAGyKMdAt-26NdtqsdEFicIvnbZiWwZS_vutbPCBaJl5V2YqhFIdMNyr7cC3PEQpHGmASWZ_Vc1_Ye9PbTqepmWEYZDBfy2S13wq3K1W7FdZH5S-7OhhBeBmGjHAmu9/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020345374930816242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuN9HE2RCs_Oh11uPsWFbSJ1uJPRaeqxT5L85PtVGAxTyEJ5x2qBpbkEOWK1Vx7aPLRiS2JKzFeszEhnavNxckuBXVtDUe5a7CU37-I8Xy1APXdSgU50RpVUVGJGeYuQdDXK-9rV7yyU-/s1600-h/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuN9HE2RCs_Oh11uPsWFbSJ1uJPRaeqxT5L85PtVGAxTyEJ5x2qBpbkEOWK1Vx7aPLRiS2JKzFeszEhnavNxckuBXVtDUe5a7CU37-I8Xy1APXdSgU50RpVUVGJGeYuQdDXK-9rV7yyU-/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020345379225783554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtloe50JU11ZCEv2KM4vWEyFFyTNqj9VvSGSMz6KqWZ-lcoivmwRLfhl54zBBHvhQ94WElDQaVwr-ckHBNuUqMeQB93fxWSrX4TBK1nDlilEPvaUNhN59BdvrJdq_XAnCkMJ7vi9IRIm-/s1600-h/IMG_0102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtloe50JU11ZCEv2KM4vWEyFFyTNqj9VvSGSMz6KqWZ-lcoivmwRLfhl54zBBHvhQ94WElDQaVwr-ckHBNuUqMeQB93fxWSrX4TBK1nDlilEPvaUNhN59BdvrJdq_XAnCkMJ7vi9IRIm-/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020345383520750866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrmj5IFsL40gxt5zmqX7wK1w1sxf8SN6OX0WbYV1SU5QQl1KF_YTIZ4VIShO9AO7j6PIB4ip4Hhyphenhyphen8kox9YWfCN0Us6EAc2iyHutQ9p2RDaws-JkTYOP87XYl_sJZMhvsRZVuTbiJmuDhd/s1600-h/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrmj5IFsL40gxt5zmqX7wK1w1sxf8SN6OX0WbYV1SU5QQl1KF_YTIZ4VIShO9AO7j6PIB4ip4Hhyphenhyphen8kox9YWfCN0Us6EAc2iyHutQ9p2RDaws-JkTYOP87XYl_sJZMhvsRZVuTbiJmuDhd/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020345383520750882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n_wXE4_O28q1yMpe2GxYiRGrnZxLVmaZABRFcsdUoBeDlrdUHQSuBmhiJpEiCX08Le9dlO8PURAY2tnYoEytyKlumMBGryajoqQY9mrYmU79sCajdwJqkikefZakc2PJ7U4R-QvYJLW0/s1600-h/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n_wXE4_O28q1yMpe2GxYiRGrnZxLVmaZABRFcsdUoBeDlrdUHQSuBmhiJpEiCX08Le9dlO8PURAY2tnYoEytyKlumMBGryajoqQY9mrYmU79sCajdwJqkikefZakc2PJ7U4R-QvYJLW0/s320/IMG_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020345387815718194" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TWk1Q-Wx9hUikSOBSYdqUTY7xDWOsqE_36Pj6wwqwM40K6av65YmkLIAxCAjaRopjcn48927tqzZL-uJOkOOMl32SbDUr_PkIS_KtvJdFgL9NQV2d32IbS-_nT-REu05J-sGMR_d62GG/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TWk1Q-Wx9hUikSOBSYdqUTY7xDWOsqE_36Pj6wwqwM40K6av65YmkLIAxCAjaRopjcn48927tqzZL-uJOkOOMl32SbDUr_PkIS_KtvJdFgL9NQV2d32IbS-_nT-REu05J-sGMR_d62GG/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020346899644206402" border="0" /></a>We're close to the "run-around"<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31O8yN9CU3Qg2cz6m0nGcFSoivsPquR5Eh2XdkhyphenhyphenHSgADBZgSe12nP16duuUaZqRQewjvtdD5flj74GElCF1NMiaeAriKzdZ6x9-ZIYz9QDvU2K3mALmRL7jGD4z6-kngW0TXemkg4eoU/s1600-h/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31O8yN9CU3Qg2cz6m0nGcFSoivsPquR5Eh2XdkhyphenhyphenHSgADBZgSe12nP16duuUaZqRQewjvtdD5flj74GElCF1NMiaeAriKzdZ6x9-ZIYz9QDvU2K3mALmRL7jGD4z6-kngW0TXemkg4eoU/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020346903939173714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsamUMqt8besYI39asSkp7S_nvFQZxeSC595KhqbE_drPS_s2eBtTd-bT1hM5k_umyDxcANOU5oEuy4ZAkw_T8jzSJ38lBKsdQ9mdktq7O_pRj16_uvUfoqprzdeutudLcEQcpHA29U_xh/s1600-h/IMG_0110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsamUMqt8besYI39asSkp7S_nvFQZxeSC595KhqbE_drPS_s2eBtTd-bT1hM5k_umyDxcANOU5oEuy4ZAkw_T8jzSJ38lBKsdQ9mdktq7O_pRj16_uvUfoqprzdeutudLcEQcpHA29U_xh/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020346908234141026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5hg9EWlATGSVnvzQw_KPwbjXsprD7Mi_0GP1g2CvsA5oAr_VticJrAr8OtzKWX94TEVbqTwhOJfstIIiwl43saMT8HJmF-iKMPNcxZLfbhyD2snoIPM2kLRJEJ2QUgLiuos1vyibrGCc/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5hg9EWlATGSVnvzQw_KPwbjXsprD7Mi_0GP1g2CvsA5oAr_VticJrAr8OtzKWX94TEVbqTwhOJfstIIiwl43saMT8HJmF-iKMPNcxZLfbhyD2snoIPM2kLRJEJ2QUgLiuos1vyibrGCc/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020346912529108338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f3orSrXwYYSFes-mnQLsL0bNdJf80mOucQw-LpUX0ds6rgQx3mI7yy3-fRGg0OznmLg5a2lVRMb29qW-PIoT94HTwPLSlq08dpLX2eJBibnhdcTurZnSh9lxxwrub6HfkuvxuigwGLxi/s1600-h/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f3orSrXwYYSFes-mnQLsL0bNdJf80mOucQw-LpUX0ds6rgQx3mI7yy3-fRGg0OznmLg5a2lVRMb29qW-PIoT94HTwPLSlq08dpLX2eJBibnhdcTurZnSh9lxxwrub6HfkuvxuigwGLxi/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020346912529108354" border="0" /></a>After the hunt. Rich brought a Wii and a Bomberman-fest ensues<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86WLs2RvJGcaZiQVJiP5WXFvHWbEeQa5Pm71qjLvPkCz8KLX9XG5M0eUS011Ib1RjqqbzzhbVQZj8j4xkMEVOlFmRHYQVI2euJLXBte9EkHIWZrVwgXvIJYRj8ZeRjmSp-3zjgXgP7YxW/s1600-h/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86WLs2RvJGcaZiQVJiP5WXFvHWbEeQa5Pm71qjLvPkCz8KLX9XG5M0eUS011Ib1RjqqbzzhbVQZj8j4xkMEVOlFmRHYQVI2euJLXBte9EkHIWZrVwgXvIJYRj8ZeRjmSp-3zjgXgP7YxW/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020348286918643090" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAte4iJKJkivPPovyc51n07H7n505_MJbF_wCgWwdCufR5bjSfpJ9ZGE9BP5D_7o19YdWY80G94cbVJo9O-6TIEJ-0tmnnbDQNA7xsZWxpmRNXahRJayfFm0gZVgvdWp-W6GLCFKhaKLB/s1600-h/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAte4iJKJkivPPovyc51n07H7n505_MJbF_wCgWwdCufR5bjSfpJ9ZGE9BP5D_7o19YdWY80G94cbVJo9O-6TIEJ-0tmnnbDQNA7xsZWxpmRNXahRJayfFm0gZVgvdWp-W6GLCFKhaKLB/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020348291213610402" border="0" /></a>Big Dome and Little Dome<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-1fInSSgZ6CfolZIZuKGZ4DFaOfzJtUl4KeVjX58H6SDzT8EWk1FkMMVK3sgRTJw94NEqlqAF_0nTY3j8YJp_K9FaTrXskTnoFHuIi7mUIsORvbKFpvV7t1mU-jUIc1WA_6Qck6FEhTN/s1600-h/IMG_0122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-1fInSSgZ6CfolZIZuKGZ4DFaOfzJtUl4KeVjX58H6SDzT8EWk1FkMMVK3sgRTJw94NEqlqAF_0nTY3j8YJp_K9FaTrXskTnoFHuIi7mUIsORvbKFpvV7t1mU-jUIc1WA_6Qck6FEhTN/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020348291213610418" border="0" /></a>I didn't know they made books that fat =D<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH4BxLE3edzYwQSoXzeZNbme3SZ9EUC2V4zZkgOX0MOIo9p3g5ShTWwvfZrBFgfXuO0LS1OGvkCY5GEdxvFSwvUW75c5ZDQBwFLnQJyCO6Eyj9nvdf2JLi-HpIyS2YmNyKIE2r52y22lZ/s1600-h/IMG_0124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH4BxLE3edzYwQSoXzeZNbme3SZ9EUC2V4zZkgOX0MOIo9p3g5ShTWwvfZrBFgfXuO0LS1OGvkCY5GEdxvFSwvUW75c5ZDQBwFLnQJyCO6Eyj9nvdf2JLi-HpIyS2YmNyKIE2r52y22lZ/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020348295508577730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzf9taa9QZNV4AU04pfEVxkZOi5csXwRX95Hg3ao_2wWoireS5dkkSzitIJv-2ESBj9Kg1f9XY-p45ACVDQVxZSQxdWYAyov_bfathsVFQq8Hi3-zOxgu5lhIQ_Ow7a9KSPPosvlGFvzSs/s1600-h/IMG_0128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzf9taa9QZNV4AU04pfEVxkZOi5csXwRX95Hg3ao_2wWoireS5dkkSzitIJv-2ESBj9Kg1f9XY-p45ACVDQVxZSQxdWYAyov_bfathsVFQq8Hi3-zOxgu5lhIQ_Ow7a9KSPPosvlGFvzSs/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020348299803545042" border="0" /></a><br />Russian Scrabble<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj486qf8EC4gmv2WhMo7hxCt208P21gSqAhIzUuTAnPKiuS4BdK2Vnh7vPQUmN5TgeZnFZpsoWLrOtO6tdsn025sxalYSGpnaRsxR_zwoB1Ph2rqMBD0OAsFOB6ziEiXZ9_pjz3bjSfpiu/s1600-h/IMG_0129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj486qf8EC4gmv2WhMo7hxCt208P21gSqAhIzUuTAnPKiuS4BdK2Vnh7vPQUmN5TgeZnFZpsoWLrOtO6tdsn025sxalYSGpnaRsxR_zwoB1Ph2rqMBD0OAsFOB6ziEiXZ9_pjz3bjSfpiu/s320/IMG_0129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020349579703799266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3D3-akLgdGYi1H8YUvhpcH-8Dx_-9e-Ffmd_J9GN4djZ8pmtA0wZJYklXAA0Yt-fuvgkYnhLXd42-g1zuvKcLTYFg0ef-OKz60ft5vav0BTHUcJ3s9qlJL2kDafxMJdHNnepmyne6K2I/s1600-h/IMG_0130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3D3-akLgdGYi1H8YUvhpcH-8Dx_-9e-Ffmd_J9GN4djZ8pmtA0wZJYklXAA0Yt-fuvgkYnhLXd42-g1zuvKcLTYFg0ef-OKz60ft5vav0BTHUcJ3s9qlJL2kDafxMJdHNnepmyne6K2I/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020349579703799282" border="0" /></a>Katya and Andrew<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8iRUxHj-gi52dhzbQgt142Nk0LSgAVCTwXJghe1EoxJNuLcByfiguwfjf9bdq5O6cR8U1X1ddP5qC7e0DQ1Au6f-ShNaZGOLJT3ICzk7Bj5qAUtCTYn5DrZSCj99cHTPJYONdq165usF/s1600-h/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8iRUxHj-gi52dhzbQgt142Nk0LSgAVCTwXJghe1EoxJNuLcByfiguwfjf9bdq5O6cR8U1X1ddP5qC7e0DQ1Au6f-ShNaZGOLJT3ICzk7Bj5qAUtCTYn5DrZSCj99cHTPJYONdq165usF/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020349583998766594" border="0" /></a>So we made this pile of futons and sat on it...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwePJb_TQN6EjKh8CWv-nBiCjXPGLtCzrscoP28ctMe32omqIS2cMtxpPVZAp73hUTzHnytutebSf9SgmXHRy0u6DgofkowVzaiYS1OQxvxVcyTFMHfzBZZ6E78-g6ZHhoRdWfG-SHfTk4/s1600-h/IMG_0134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwePJb_TQN6EjKh8CWv-nBiCjXPGLtCzrscoP28ctMe32omqIS2cMtxpPVZAp73hUTzHnytutebSf9SgmXHRy0u6DgofkowVzaiYS1OQxvxVcyTFMHfzBZZ6E78-g6ZHhoRdWfG-SHfTk4/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020349588293733906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjH9ghCAz2Anr3iHNOnW09YZnJRxoBY1qyVuhcjuIJ2V52wC988vsDES3fW2C77M7cXzRVO7DeesQS5uN3Nwh0_xCE90dB1dPXsDwDXAAWMOKy5Zr39gFFnd0k66qFQ3gCvswQVjk7o81/s1600-h/IMG_0136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjH9ghCAz2Anr3iHNOnW09YZnJRxoBY1qyVuhcjuIJ2V52wC988vsDES3fW2C77M7cXzRVO7DeesQS5uN3Nwh0_xCE90dB1dPXsDwDXAAWMOKy5Zr39gFFnd0k66qFQ3gCvswQVjk7o81/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020349665603145250" border="0" /></a>...and applauded the next person to step out of the elevator<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPWvL8rrmDUf2BvCDqqct4qUxuQmZuu7nAt4rZBq9oj-ufRMNAfkBrQWZBnSIfPFNm2v2QRQpmIy3wsIKvxn7A2LDwY-LuGdSV1x_-pSwxgsdd_vEhvHDQg4Eiu3YwlfEd2_XFys9SZxz/s1600-h/IMG_0139.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPWvL8rrmDUf2BvCDqqct4qUxuQmZuu7nAt4rZBq9oj-ufRMNAfkBrQWZBnSIfPFNm2v2QRQpmIy3wsIKvxn7A2LDwY-LuGdSV1x_-pSwxgsdd_vEhvHDQg4Eiu3YwlfEd2_XFys9SZxz/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020351400769932850" border="0" /></a>Tim's a pimp<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWRc7Mb0Y8oZVK7nbEX83yRLTOHCKW6ILJV1g2BfYCZht0Uo-7k9CY4u21jXyAcyfEZNdtmuPu0kVOGkfJiHcLqT2qJNrSGo7Y0uSlntlkbP_q5_0NBg9IRIDXqCXOv75jP3I4Hfj_xjv/s1600-h/IMG_0140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWRc7Mb0Y8oZVK7nbEX83yRLTOHCKW6ILJV1g2BfYCZht0Uo-7k9CY4u21jXyAcyfEZNdtmuPu0kVOGkfJiHcLqT2qJNrSGo7Y0uSlntlkbP_q5_0NBg9IRIDXqCXOv75jP3I4Hfj_xjv/s320/IMG_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020351400769932866" border="0" /></a>Manic Sages came in a respectable third place, behind Palindrome and Codex. See you all next year!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-24681688042035798832007-01-08T21:15:00.000-05:002008-12-12T01:46:34.420-05:00The Lotus Elise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-nfQCH0VGEIdWA8aFSeAHVgOr_RfG2s7kThiYS1rvbChwguH9-uHjKWBav7EssszKrzSKhr8qAbroboF9Nfi5XmPQRBS68ZXugqq1JDr_ddnjmD7OatP2Oe58_JIGCdDjP-TNTZ33tf4/s1600-h/Lotus_Elise.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-nfQCH0VGEIdWA8aFSeAHVgOr_RfG2s7kThiYS1rvbChwguH9-uHjKWBav7EssszKrzSKhr8qAbroboF9Nfi5XmPQRBS68ZXugqq1JDr_ddnjmD7OatP2Oe58_JIGCdDjP-TNTZ33tf4/s320/Lotus_Elise.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017480657519769282" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, the <a href="http://www.lotuscars.com/">Lotus Elise</a> isn't exactly a new car; in fact, it was announced back in 2000. And it's not particularly efficient either, with an EPA fuel economy of 24/29 (city/highway). Plus, it was built to be a race car. So what is it doing here?<br /><br />First, let's take a closer look at the Elise. At its heart lies a four-cylinder Toyota <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_ZZ_engine#2ZZ-GE">2ZZ-GE</a> engine producing 190 hp @ 7600 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque at 6800 rpm. It is the same engine used in several Toyota Corollas, Matrix (Matricies?), and Celicas, and propels the Elise from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The mid-mounted engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. But the Elise's trump card is its anemic weight of 1930 lbs, resulting in a power to weight ratio rivaling Ferraris and Lamborghinis. With less mass to scoot around corners, the Elise's handling is superb (lateral acceleration of 0.97 g).<br /><br />The idea behind the Lotus Elise is very simple: the lower the weight, the less power you need to propel it. With cars gaining weight as fast as Americans are gaining weight, this principle can and should be applied to making fuel-efficient cars. What if, for example, someone replaced the Toyota engine with a less-powerful but more efficient engine? It'd probably run with Toyota Camry-performance, but use much less fuel. What if that someone forwent gasoline and put in an electric motor? Well, it'd look awfully similar to the <a href="http://ferrium.blogspot.com/2007/01/tesla-motors.html">Tesla Roadster</a>.<br /><br />Granted, the only incentive to pay more for a car with a spartan interior (minimal upholstering & carpeting, passenger seats are unadjustable, minimal sound dampening material) is for its incredible performance and handling characteristics. An Elise with 70 hp will probably appeal to an extremely small number of people. The Lotus Elise, though, is undeniably a weight-saving engineering masterpiece.<br /><br />Read how the Elise works at <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/lotus-elise.htm">HowStuffWorks</a>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-38207097097853246522007-01-05T23:05:00.000-05:002007-01-07T21:19:50.597-05:00Tesla Motors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/Tesla_roadster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/Tesla_roadster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Tesla Motors recently unveiled its <a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1">Tesla Roadster</a>. All-electric, 0-60mph in about 4 seconds, and a 250 mile range. It was designed by the British car company Lotus, and the styling cues are evident when you look at a <a href="http://www.lotuscars.com/">Lotus Elise</a>. The great thing about <a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm">electric motors</a> is that they produce maximum torque (thus, maximum acceleration) at 0 rpm, meaning there is nearly no lag for the engine to spin up to its power band. This is my kind of car.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oi4wILg3V-Y"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oi4wILg3V-Y" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hOl_1S10jTk"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hOl_1S10jTk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-38176322681761576972007-01-01T20:47:00.000-05:002007-01-01T20:48:03.219-05:00Freecycle - "Changing the world, one gift at a time"From the <a href="http://freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a> website (in case you haven't noticed, a combination of "free" and "recycle"):<br /><br /><blockquote>The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure!</blockquote><br />Running through Yahoo! Groups, Freecycle allows people in a local area to give items no longer of use to them to other people who might be able to put it to use. It is, in essence, recycling. All transactions are gifts and must be free.<br /><br />Freecycle simply provides a place for people to post up wanted ads or to offer items. The rest of the logistics are up to the two parties; they agree upon a pickup time and location (usually the offerer's home). Because it's a gift, the offerer can give it to anyone who inquires (I usually just give it to the first person, since that's the quickest way to move my crap). It's a great way to clean your room and get rid of things you'll never use again.<br /><br />What are you waiting for? <a href="http://www.freecyclefinder.org/">Find</a> the nearest Freecycle community, or <a href="http://freecycle.org/startagroup/">start</a> your own!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-77985792080834360892007-01-01T20:05:00.000-05:002007-01-01T20:06:58.340-05:00Here We Come 2007Happy New Years everyone!<br /><br />I finally submitted the bulk of my applications yesterday, so I can now relax. For a day.<br /><br />I'm still formulating my new year's resolutions, but they will probably involve college, updating this blog more regularly, keeping my grades up (senioritis is quite contagious), and working on my science projects. It's kind of scary to think about it, but this next time year, I will probably be in college - yikes!<br /><br />What do you have for new years resolutions?Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-55937426306141410862006-12-24T22:55:00.000-05:002006-12-24T22:59:22.050-05:00Happy Holidays!Happy Holidays everyone!<br /><br />Okay, so I'm about an hour early, but I really ought to get more sleep. I hope to get some more posts up in the coming vacation days.<br /><br />Enjoy yourselvesMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-8260866232637061922006-12-22T20:25:00.001-05:002006-12-22T20:25:37.281-05:00Solar Cells Break 40% Efficiency Barrier<a href="http://www.energy.gov/news/4503.htm">Article</a> at the Department of Energy<br /><br />Yes, this was posted on <a href="http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/06/027228&from=rss">Slashdot</a> a few weeks ago, but it is nonetheless exciting news. Traditional solar panels just capture white light straight up. The idea behind these new panels are the many layers sandwiched in the panel, each capturing a color in the spectrum. This technology, however, is not new. It has been around for decades, but scientists are constantly looking for ways to improve them.<br /><br />One of the factors holding back solar panels is that they don't produce enough electricity (and therefore save you enough money) to justify the costs of installing the solar panels and the equipment to regulate the electricity generated. As solar panel efficiency improves, however, they will become a more competitive source of electricity. No pollution, little maintenance, basically free electricity - what more could you ask for?<br /><br />Admittedly, there are some troubles with solar power. Obviously, electricity can only be generated when there is sunlight. Also, power companies may like the fact that they could set up fields of these panels to soak up sunlight, but may not be too thrilled when private individuals start installing them on their roofs to produce their own electricity.<br /><br />Any thoughts?Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-90512283974149089572006-12-22T11:20:00.000-05:002006-12-22T12:04:11.084-05:00Mission StatementAfter a full 12 hours of contemplation, I've decided to turn this blog into a source of Alternative Energy news, tips on energy conservation and efficiency, and occasionally neat things I encounter while roaming the Internet (or the real world).<br /><br />But first, I must say I really like the Blogger.com interface; it's really easy set up a spiffy-looking page and start spilling my guts to the entire world.<br /><br />Stay tuned for posts that actually have real content.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2934831570256510521.post-38135665912108150732006-12-21T23:26:00.000-05:002006-12-22T12:04:24.998-05:00This is exciting!This is exciting! My very own blog. I will now commence wasting time on the Internet when I should be doing real work.<br /><br />I suppose I should come up with a topic for this blog. I'll formulate a plan within the next few days...probably something along the lines of alternative energies, random tech bits, and some insight into my utterly dry and boring life. Stay tuned.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03795020656298694046noreply@blogger.com1