~e; Electromagnetic News & Views #92
From
brian carroll <human@electronetwork.org>
Date
Tue, 16 Mar 2004 20:02:48 -0600
===================================================
Electromagnetic News & Views -- #92
===================================================
00) Electronetwork.org Commentary (3/16/2004)
01) Top Stories of Electromagnetism
02) Electromagnetic health & safety
03) Electromagnetic trash & treasure
04) Electromagnetic security & surveillance
05) Electromagnetic power & energy
06) Electromagnetic current & human affairs
07) Electromagnetic transport & communication
08) Electromagnetic matter & information
09) Electromagnetic trends & inventions
10) Electromagnetic weaponry & warfare
11) Electromagnetic business & economics
12) Electromagnetic artworks & artifacts
===================================================
00) --commentary-- (some notes/thoughts)
Electrical meters seem to be in the news this week, one is
in the 'top story' section related to conservation, others
are in the business section. Thinking about the question of
changing frequencies on transmission lines, and having seen
more about small motors (stepper motors, with many small
magnets that enable certain precision rotational movements),
it seems that a change in frequency would be 'out of step'
with much of the existing hardware which relies upon certain
specific designs to work with alternating current, as the
quote from Networks of Power indicated having to replace a
lot of equipment when moving from 40hz to 50hz, though in
addition that equipment may not work even if power is being
supplied to it because it is specific to frequency, or so
it seems to be this way. If one has a chance, take a look
at the 'battery photograph' in the power section, it is of
note that a company uses styrofoam instead of a battery cell
inside the metal casing. Another thought on having a PDA
that has now died when sent a replacement for battery issues
is that it is wondered why 'circuits' require batteries to
always run power through them if this runs batteries down
over a period of time. A common saying is to take out the
batteries if not using something for a period of time, to
save the equipment and the batteries. Yet, this is a design
issue which could decouple the batteries to save the wasted
energy, as the shelf-life of a battery far exceeds what is
the result of leaving them idle in an electronic circuit.
This seems to be a result of bad design, not bad batteries,
and a standard for conserving the wasted resource could be
figured out and implemented, it is believed, to save a lot
of wasted resources, power, and electronics devices through
some commons sense decisions. Of interest, also, in the
use of electronics language in politics has been that of
'flip-flop' but also 'fuzzy math' as a form of insult. In
reading about wireless sensor networks it would seem that
without flip-flops (other reading) computers would not now
exist as they do, and without fuzzy-logic, and fuzzy-math,
it is assumed, artificial intelligence and other advances
(in thinking, no less) would be available today. So it is
wondered if political talk is actually a masked ludditism,
a fear of the unknown and a demeaning of new core concepts
that change the nature and understanding of reality, such
as allowing for paradox and for changes in 'time' during
a period of decision making, instead of a static vantage
of events, as if the individual human brain were a limit
upon what is possible in a world of 6 billion of these in
various states of consideration, questioning being alive.
===================================================
01) --top stories--
---------------------------------------------------
Iran Allowing Unfettered Nuke Inspections // towards nuclear
diplomacy...
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-japan-iran-
nuclear,0,578846.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
'"It is certain. And it will be without any conditions," Rowhani, who
also heads Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said at a news
conference in Tokyo.'
Ontario blueprint aims to chop electricity use // conservation
strategy...
<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/
20040316/CONSERVE16/TPNational/Canada>
'The Ontario cabinet will be asked soon to approve a sweeping
electricity-conservation strategy that would offer both financial
incentives and penalties to encourage consumers to cut back on the
power they use, according to senior government officials.' .. 'Under
the proposed strategy, all homes would get new "smart" electricity
meters that would monitor and record the amount of power used at
different times of day. The province could pay the cost of
installation, or pass it on to utilities.' ... 'The strategy also could
include providing rebates to those who cut monthly power use by at
least 20 per cent, as was done in California, and the creation of a new
office in the government to promote energy-conservation measures in
government, the private sector and among residential consumers.'
Designing an energy system for the U.S. in 2100.
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS II--PHYS-102
SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE
YEAR 2100 ENERGY PROJECT (2003 version)
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm>
'Premise: The year is 2100. The U.S. now has a population of
500,000,000 people. The energy use per person would have risen to
100,000 kWh/y; however, through CONSERVATION and EFFICIENCY this has
been effectively reduced to 75,000 kWh/y. Greenhouse concerns and the
dwindling supplies of Oil and Natural Gas have effectively eliminated
these fuels from use. Coal is still abundant and being used. In order
to meet the energy demands, a new mix of resources and technologies are
in place.'
WORLD ENERGY SIMULATOR FOR WIN 95/98/ME/NT4.x/2000/XP & POWERMACS
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY.html>
'This is a 'game-style' simulator that puts the student in control of
the Supply and Demand for energy throughout the world. Each of 6
regions must be maintained based on choices of Scenario which include
factors such as population and economic growth rates, undiscovered
resources, efficiency improvements, etc. The goal is to reach a point
in the future where the energy demands can be met totally with
renewable energy resources. Students are rated on whether they can
minimize shortages and environmental damage. Text and animated
tutorials are included along with built in instructions for play.'
// there are links in the snippet below, go to the page to click to
stories.
// when the North-East power outage occured last year, it was possible
it
// was al Qaeda and some security people wrote about computer hacking
being
// a possibility given the sequence of events (rather than a tree
branch as
// the official report concluded, and was repeated here by myself days
ago).
// instead, the same people who claimed bombing in Spain did the same
for
// the earlier power outage, which still may have been a grid hack
attack.
// (the .NL or .DK also had power outages, related to supporting
nations.)
see: 15 March 2004 from Cursor.org // still an open-question...
<http://cursor.org/>
"The Times article notes that the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which
claimed responsibility for the bombings in a statement published in a
London-based Arabic newspaper, also claimed to have been behind last
summer's blackouts in the U.S., Canada and Britain. Plus: 'Spain's
3-11: Basques, bin Laden, or both?"
Beyond the Duck Blind // call for Supreme Court to vote Scalia off VP
case...
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/15/opinion/15MON1.html>
'Supreme Court arguments are only six weeks away in the Sierra Club's
challenge to the secrecy surrounding Vice President Dick Cheney's
energy task force and the formulation of the Bush administration's
energy policy. And Justice Antonin Scalia, Mr. Cheney's duck-hunting
buddy, still stubbornly resists stepping out of the case. To protect
the Supreme Court's integrity and legitimacy — and honor the rule of
law — the final choice can no longer be left to Justice Scalia alone.
Unless he suddenly reverses himself, the Supreme Court as a whole has a
duty to intervene, much as it reviews the recusal decisions of
lower-court judges.'
UN nuclear watchdog wants to return to North Korea
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/75605/1/
.html>
U.N. Official: Libya Disappointed by Nuclear Show // or: don't
politicize peace.
<http://www.reuters.com/
newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4579805§ion=news>
'"It looks like unilateral U.S. disarmament of Libya and Libya wants
it recognized as disarmament under the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty, the NPT, and IAEA auspices," the Vienna-based official added.'
---------------------------------------------------
02-- electromagnetic health & safety
---------------------------------------------------
Ultra-fast shocks scramble cells
Powerful electrical pulses might zap tumours. // more on
nano-firstpulsing
<http://www.nature.com/nsu/040315/040315-2.html>
'Using very short, very powerful electric shocks, researchers are
developing a way to jolt cancer cells into committing suicide, or
healthy cells into healing wounds.' .. 'The technique involves blasting
cells with nanopulses. These are high-power electrical bolts that last
a few billionths of a second. They deliver millions of volts - enough
power to light up a city, but each burst lasts much less than the blink
of an eye.' ... 'Quite how nanopulses trigger cell suicide still leaves
scientists scratching their heads....' ... 'However they work, the
nanopulses are prompting a flurry of ideas for their use....'
// read of a statistic a few years ago-- in schools and workplaces
// a certain (majority) percentage do not wash hands then go to use
// community keyboards which never are cleaned, passing germs, etc.
// may be a good idea to start using cloth gloves on public keyboards.
Toilet seats cleaner than keyboards
<http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/
0,7204,8944539%5E15841%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html>
'The University of Arizona study study recommends that office work
stations be regularly disinfected since they can on average contain 400
times as many germs as a toilet seat, said Charles Gerba, a University
of Arizona microbiologist.'
---------------------------------------------------
03-- electromagnetic trash & treasure
---------------------------------------------------
// + National Nuclear Security Administration judges security for
non-nuke sites
Training for nuclear plant guards reduced // conjures up 'Homer
Simpson'...
<http://salon.com/news/wire/2004/03/16/training/>
'Nuclear weapons plants have eliminated or reduced training for guards
responsible for repelling terrorist attacks, leaving the government
unable to guarantee the plants can be adequately defended, the Energy
Department's internal watchdog said Tuesday.'
Bison have nowhere left to roam
<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994762>
'The migration of America's great mammals is being cut off by
encroaching human habitation and energy plants and pipelines.' ...
'"The number of oil and gas wells going in is so phenomenal that it is
altering an area that was a natural environment and turning it into an
industrial landscape," says the Sierra Club's Kirk Koepsel.'
---------------------------------------------------
04-- electromagnetic security & surveillance
---------------------------------------------------
Two charged with illegally exporting sensitive technology
<http://salon.com/tech/wire/2004/03/16/china/>
'According to the indictment, the two men illegally purchased and
exported to China 24 low-noise amplifier chips that are used in U.S.
military aviation radar systems, including the Army's Hellfire
missile.' .. 'The indictment alleges the two never obtained the
required export license for the chips, which also have civilian uses.
Instead, the indictment says that in shipping declarations filed with
the government the two men listed the chips as "transistors" worth only
$20.'
// on wireless sensors, have been thinking that a series of 'springs'
could
// be used with a piezo-electric plate to generate current from
vibrations
// and the springs could enhance the movements, if winds could be
maintained
// for consistent bending, such as on traffic lights. versus purely
solar.
SensorNet Proposed As System To Protect Millions Nationwide
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/03/040315071533.htm>
'chemical, biological and radiological threats, will allow informed
first responders to be dispatched within minutes of an event.' ..
'Nationally, the system would combine assets from government and
private sectors to provide state-of-the-art sensors and remote
telemetry by strategically locating and connecting remote sensors on or
at existing commercial and government facilities. Critical information
then can be sent simultaneously to incident management centers at the
local, state and national levels within minutes of an event.' .. 'First
responders would know the critical details of the event, including
assessment of the chemical or biological hazards as well as levels of
radiological releases. In addition, emergency management personnel
would know the projected path of the plume in time to take corrective
action. Furthermore, it is possible to rapidly deploy a nationwide
SensorNet system because much of the technology and infrastructure
already exist.'
---------------------------------------------------
05-- electromagnetic power & energy
---------------------------------------------------
ELECTRIC POWER AROUND THE WORLD -- The table below summarizes
information
on the electrical systems in use in most countries of the world.
<http://kropla.com/electric2.htm>
Appliance and Commercial Equipment Standards
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/>
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SIMULATORS // free mac/pc software
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PROJECT: (NEW 3/11/04) U.S.ENERGY 2004:
UNITED STATES ENERGY SIMULATOR FOR WIN 95/98/ME/NT4.x/2000/XP &
POWERMACS
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY.html>
'There are now five simulator packages available. The newest, is an
international version of the Energy Project 2100 project described
below. There is also a new U.S. Energy 2004, which is an updated and
simplified version of the 2001 simulator. Each simulator puts the
student in charge of some aspects of national energy management. In
most cases, the primary control is over the actual resources used to
provide energy. The 2001 U.S. simulator is more detailed but also
requires more time to complete than the new 2004 version. The Energy
Project 2100 package is very detailed in looking moving the energy
resources from the fossil fuels to renewable energies, but because of
the intrinsic 5-year time increments can be completed in a reasonably
short time. The World simulator can be used for either detailed study
of the international picture or in an automated mode to quickly 'see'
what happens as certain key parameters (such as population growth) are
adjusted.'
[and] ENERGY PROJECT 2100:
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY.html>
'This program is a new energy simulation that follows the general
guidelines of my Physics 102 (Energy) class project. See
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm for details
on that project. This new simulator is more compact and plays more
quickly than the two simulators below. It deals more specifically with
the task of replacing oil and natural gas with renewable resources by
having the student decide how many wind generators, photo-voltaic
panels, new dams, new nuclear plants, new geothermal plants, acres of
farmland to dedicate to fuel crops, etc. The cost of all of this is a
major factor and includes both debt service and the replacement costs
of units that wear out. Other factors are considered such as increased
efficiencies and possible conservation steps as well as the need to
store some of the solar and wind energy. By using five-year steps and
the ability to retain most settings, the exercise can be completed
relatively quickly...'
// outstanding idea -- there are large areas of open land alongside
// freeways on embankments (in the .US highway system, at least)...
// a system like this could be used also, to keep traffic systems on
// during power outages, possibly, or other emergency backup systems.
M-WAY barriers create electricity
Solar panels have been installed along a stretch of motorway as part
of a project to find new ways to generate eco-friendly electricity.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/dorset/
3504278.stm>
IRAN, Iraq ink electricity transfer agreement
<http://www.payvand.com/news/04/mar/1094.html>
Mercenaries aimed to topple oil-rich despot -- The inside story of
the ties that bind President Obiang and powerful American interests
<http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=501017>
G.E. Signals a Growing Interest in Solar
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/13/technology/13solar.html>
'General Electric will acquire the major assets of the largest
American-owned maker of solar equipment, in a move the solar power
industry sees as a major vote of confidence in the business.' ... '"It
shows we are a mainstream industry, or moving that way," said Bob
Kenedi, general manager of the solar systems division of Sharp
Electronics, an American subsidiary of the Sharp Corporation of Japan.
Sharp has emerged as the clear market leader in solar power equipment
with a sixfold increase in production since 1999, and it opened its
first American assembly plant, in Memphis, last year.' ... '...
analysts and solar manufacturers figure G.E. is responding to signs
that rising prices for hydrocarbon-based fuels and improvements in
solar products and manufacturing technology have laid the foundation
for large-scale producers to finally start making steady profits - even
as major supporters like the Japanese government and California reduce
subsidies to consumers.'
// this image is in a book I am now reading, and it shows how
// one 9V battery has less cells than others. so have taken
// apart a dead battery here (there is some toxic stuff that
// is all around it, not sure how the ones in the image are so
// clean) -- yet one battery has styrofoam stuffing in it (!!)
// note: also, found this authors book at Microcenter, 4.00
==> Chapter 7: Nine-Volt Batteries // see photographs of
stuffed-battery (url #2)
<http://www.robotroom.com/RBFB.html>
<http://www.linefollowing.com/robotroom/RBFBNineVolt.jpg>
---------------------------------------------------
06-- electromagnetic current & human affairs
---------------------------------------------------
Bomb blasts captured in chilling voice mail message
A radio station Friday broadcast a chilling, 12-second recording
of terrorist bombs exploding on one of the Madrid commuter trains
as an evacuated passenger screams in fright.
<http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/03/12/spain.bomb.voicemail.ap/>
Inventor of Ctrl-Alt-Delete reboots into retirement
Bradley leaves IBM after 281/2 years, plans to still teach
<http://www.courier-journal.com/business/news2004/02/28/biz-4-
ctrlaltdel28-3264.html>
// this is interesting news for the use of recording media and its
// misinterpretation and the speed at which information travels...
GLOBE REPORTER CLAIMS TAPE RECORDED KERRY 'MORE' LEADERS NOT
'FOREIGN' LEADERS; TRANSCRIPTION 'SCREW-UP' // drudgereport.com flash
<http://drudgereport.com/kerrybo.htm>
---------------------------------------------------
07-- electromagnetic transport & communication
---------------------------------------------------
RFID: More Fun Than You Might Think // reading RFIDs with mobile phones
<http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/23358.html>
'... Researchers at PhilipsLatest News about Philips want to make RFID
fun.' .. 'They aim to do this by putting an RFID reader in every mobile
phoneLatest News about mobile phones, so that users could look at the
contents of a tag simply by holding their phone up against it.' ..
'Once the code is extracted, the phone would look it up on the Web and
display the information it had retrieved on the screen.'
// thinking of the huge resources needed for the mars rovers, even after
// landing (there is a long-period before any decision is sent to the
rover
// to check to make sure it is a good decision) - there seems to be a
big
// leap between this fragility (moving about a landscape with a control-
// center behind the robot and tens of people and lots of resources, and
// a group of university-groups and hobbyists able to go great distances
// autonomously. maybe the challenge is even beyond even NASA as of now.
All robots break down in Pentagon race
<http://salon.com/tech/wire/2004/03/13/robots/>
'... Two of the entries covered about seven miles of the roughly
150-mile course while eight failed to make it to the one-mile mark.
Others crashed seconds after starting.'
Brooks: Retired Robots
<http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/retired-robots/>
<http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/genghis/genghis.html>
US government faked Bush news reports // Video-News-Release as tactical
media?
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/
0,13918,1170535,00.html>
'Investigators are examining the film segments, in which actors
pretending to be journalists praise the benefits of the new law passed
last year by President Bush, to see if they could be construed as
propaganda.' ... 'The government also prepared scripts to be used by
news anchors...' ... 'Lawyers from the investigative arm of Congress
discovered the tapes as part of an investigation into federal money
that was used to publicise the new law.'
OVERVIEW: Eight Major Trends
The State of the News Media -- An Annual Report on American Journalism
<http://www.stateofthemedia.org/narrative_overview_eight.asp?media=1>
Web name wait lists 'will hurt the little guy' // WLS
<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994768>
---------------------------------------------------
08-- electromagnetic matter & information
---------------------------------------------------
Stretchy wires form bendy circuits
Rubbery electronics might be possible using gold springs.
<http://www.nature.com/nsu/040308/040308-13.html>
'US researchers have made electronic circuits that can stretch like
rubber. The flexible wires might create wearable electronics or
artificial nerves that can bend inside the body.' ... 'Straight wires
normally break if stretched; but they do bend easily. Turning wire into
a coiled and extendable metal spring exploits that property.'
Robots to Get Boss Upgrades
<http://www.wired.com/news/technology/
0,1282,62622,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6>
'Brooks, whose robot vacuum cleaner, Roomba , picks up after tens of
thousands of bachelors and baby boomers every day, said engineers
should start building robotic assistants for the elderly.' .. '"The big
future applications will be for the aging populations of the United
States, Europe and Japan," said Brooks.' ... 'Robots will substitute
for low-cost, imported elder-care workers in developed countries where
help is becoming scarce, said Brooks. They said technology required for
autonomous home health-care robots may not be ready for 15 years or
more...'
The Animated Chalkboard-2000 // free mac/pc physics software
<http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/CHALK.html>
'5) E&M: This set offers electric field, electric potential, and
electric equi-potential mapping programs, an electric force program
where you can turn charged particles loose in 2 or 3 dimensions and
watch their motion, an animation showing magnetic fields and the
effects of fields on moving charges, and one that 'attempts' to show
something of the creation of E&M waves.'
A Rose by Any Other Name: Intel's New Chip Labels
<http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/23352.html>
'Intel plans to institute a new labeling system for its PCLatest News
about PC chips, focusing on overall performance rather than clock
speed, according to industry sources.'
High-performance, Single-crystal Plastic Transistors Reveal Hidden
Behavior--
Printing circuits on sheets of plastic may offer a low-cost technique
for
manufacturing thin-film transistors for flexible displays, but
maximizing
the performance of such devices will require a detailed, fundamental
understanding of how charge flows through organic semiconductors.
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/03/040312090304.htm>
'The fabrication technique -- developed by researchers from Illinois,
Rutgers University and Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies -- not
only provides a way to study the physics at the heart of charge
transport in these unusual materials, it also has resulted in the
highest mobility recorded in an organic semiconductor. The use of
transistor stamps promises to open up the field of basic study of
organic semiconductors by allowing devices to be fabricated from
pristine organic crystal samples that remain untouched by conventional
chemical or mechanical processing.' ... 'As charges flow through
conventional thin-film polycrystalline materials, they encounter
boundaries between the crystals that disrupt their movement. By
studying single crystals, Rogers and his colleagues can eliminate the
effects of these grain boundaries and examine the intrinsic transport
properties of the crystalline material itself.' ... 'Because the bond
between stamp and crystal is not permanent, the researchers also can
remove the crystal, rotate it, and reattach it to the substrate.
Repositioning the crystal allows the scientists to explore the
dependence of the mobility on the orientation of the transistor channel
relative to the crystal axes.'
---------------------------------------------------
09-- electromagnetic trends & inventions
---------------------------------------------------
Guinness Record for Toshiba's Tiny Hard Disk Drive // via NewsScan...
<http://www.reuters.com/
newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=YX5ZXPK3QKXTUCRBAEZSFEY?type=technologyNews
&storyID=4575033§ion=news>
// flattening coins on railroad tracks is one thing: electromagnets
another...
Coin Shrinking and Can Crushing
Electromagically© Shrunken Heads, Tiny Tails, & Slimmer Cans
<http://205.243.100.155/frames/shrinkergallery.html>
'FIRE! The Shrinker is triggered remotely... you really don't want to
be anywhere near the system when it fires. You can also see the highly
conductive arc inside the trigatron switch (the cylindrical object to
the right of the blast shield) as it switches over 100,000 amps into
the work coil. The resulting magnetic field can erase nearby credit
cards. And yes, it makes a BIG bang!' .. 'A closeup image of a Kennedy
half being shrunk at 6,500 joules. A neutral density filter allows us
to see more detail of the ball of plasma that's created when the work
coil explodes. Any residual system energy is rapidly dissipated by both
the plasma discharge and via a bank of high-power bleeder resistors.
Voltage metering, audio, and LED alarms warn if any dangerous charge
remains on the capacitor bank. The shrunken coin is retrieved after
the high voltage capacitors have been fully discharged.'
[and] More Arcs 'n Sparks! // videos, exploding transformer...
<http://205.243.100.155/frames/longarc.htm>
Goodbye CAD. Goodbye BIM. Hello PEN.
Paul Seletsky, Director of Technology, Davis Brody Bond, LLP
AECbytes Viewpoint #3 March 10, 2004 // via archnewsnow...
<http://www.aecbytes.com/viewpoint/issue_3.htm>
'... Suddenly, ideas that seemed impossible from the architect's or
engineer's perspective would become possible again—because they would
essentially be derived from the same single database repository and
would include: Direct, 'real-time', collaboration within and between
all engineering disciplines, and the owner, and the GC; direct
fabrication of building components; material cost-calculation (as
opposed to mere estimation); construction simulation and
construction-site logistics simulation; electronic radio-frequency
identification (RFID) 'tagging' of all building components, thermal
energy and computational fluid dynamic analysis (both around and within
the building); real-time monitoring of heat-gain within sections of the
building, alongside dynamic cooling systems provided on an 'as needed'
basis; pre-emptive identification of building component failure,
pedestrian traffic analysis, robotic construction techniques; dynamic
structural member sizing; delivery of a digital 'owner's manual' for
facilities management provisioning; the list of services goes on and
on.' ... 'So what can architects or engineers do today? Learn how to
use the PEN tools! Then, explore possible collaborative ventures.
Unfortunately, the AIA and a vast majority of practitioners in the
profession don't understand or appreciate the significance of what's at
stake here, or have not been duly informed. There are limited
educational opportunities, due in large part to the myopic vision of
the educational community in focusing solely on producing the next
generation of star designers and, thus, limiting the pool of available
practitioners fluent in developing new PEN methodologies. Having been
promised for years by various commercial vendors that CAD and
technology would revolutionize their practices, architects have boiled
their technology decisions down to making the right CAD or BIM software
'choice' from a single source—and have paid the price for it in terms
of exorbitant 'subscription' fees. Technology in this scheme of things
becomes a nagging cost drain, taking time and resources away from
effectively producing designs and running a business. Now, similarly to
'The Boy Who Cried Wolf', the real moment of truth has arrived but will
anyone believe the messenger?'
---------------------------------------------------
10-- electromagnetic weaponry & warfare
---------------------------------------------------
Iran Postpones Visit by U.N. Inspectors
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3854541,00.html>
'ran abruptly froze further U.N. inspections of its nuclear program
for six weeks on Friday, throwing into turnmoil international attempts
to verify Tehran's claims that it is developing atomic power and not
weapons.' ... 'One diplomat described the freeze until the end of April
as counterproductive to Iran's stated aim of dispelling suspicions
about more than two decades of secret nuclear activities that included
uranium enrichment and other activities that can be used to make
weapons.'
Missile incident rattles Canada:
'Nuclear fallout knows no border,' lawmaker says
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/164710_missile13.html>
Powell Seeks Answers on Pakistan Nukes
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-
powell,0,5661923.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
---------------------------------------------------
11-- electromagnetic business & economics
---------------------------------------------------
U.S. gasoline prices hit record high // $1.77/gallon
<http://salon.com/tech/wire/2004/03/14/gas_prices/>
// what was that 'irrational' exhuberance thing all about?
(snap-crackle-pop).
// ~ $30/barrel has been stated as an indicator for sustainable oil
pricing...
[and] Gasoline Demand Rising Despite High Prices // SUVs + McMansions +
$$$
<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040315/
ap_on_bi_ge/gasoline_consumption_2>
'Despite near record-high gasoline prices, U.S. motorists continue to
increase consumption and, with supplies tight, that is helping to keep
fuel costs propped up.' ... 'Analysts attribute this increase to
improving economic conditions, rising population and consumers'
preference for gas-guzzling SUVs.' ... 'On Monday, the price of April
oil futures surged $1.25 to $37.44 per barrel on the New York
Mercantile Exchange. It was the highest closing price since March 12,
2003, when Nymex oil futures were $37.83 per barrel.'
China's Economic Engine Needs Power (Lots of It)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/weekinreview/14yard.html>
' Electricity consumption jumped by 15 percent. Domestic coal
production rose by 100 million tons - and still there were shortages.'
.. 'Yet China's appetite today is modest compared with what is
estimated for the future; the country's energy needs are expected to
more than double by 2020. This prospect has the Communist Party
reportedly rolling out plans for at least 100 new power plants,
including nuclear, hydropower and coal-fired ones. It has also raised
concerns that efforts to improve China's polluted environment will be
muted by the demand for power.' ... '...This helps explain why energy
security is an increasingly important issue for Chinese leaders,
particularly regarding oil.'
Oil bounces as Opec sticks to planned cuts
<http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/
FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1078381773432&p=1012571727085>
'"The important factor for oil remains demand and that is holding up
very well, and more people are accepting that China is going to be
stronger than they expected," said the [London-based] oil trader.'
Putin to widen access to gas pipelines
<http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/
FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1078381793517>
'Vladimir Putin has pledged to allow independent gas companies greater
access to the state controlled gas pipeline network as one of several
liberal economic reforms following his landslide re-election in
Russia's presidential race on Sunday.' .. 'On Monday, he ruled out a
rapid move towards "full market conditions" that would substantially
increase the price of domestic gas. But he said commercial producers
should be able fully to use the pipeline controlled by state-backed
giant Gazprom for domestic sales.' ... '... Gazprom controls about
one-third of the world's gas reserves.'
// a version of these new meters has been installed here, an installer
said
// a van drives up the street every so often collecting data by
radiowaves...
Smart meters to transform electricity market // .AU
<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/16/1079199223517.html>
'The introduction of new meters doesn't sound particularly radical or
controversial, but these aren't just new meters but "smart" meters
capable of capturing data on household usage of electricity every half
hour.' ... 'In theory, if customers have better and more timely
information about their usage of electricity and its cost they will
change their behaviour to use it more efficiently.' ... 'The big gains
from more efficient electricity consumption would come in its impact in
moderating demand and prices during peak periods. There would be
potentially huge savings from reduced investment in over-capacity and
network infrastructure and far greater security of supply - fewer
"brown-outs."' ... 'In a smart meter environment, those with the most
to gain - the biggest users - would be the most attractive customers
and have the most negotiating clout.'
[and] No more electricity meter tampering
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/562577.cms>
---------------------------------------------------
12-- electromagnetic artworks & artifacts
---------------------------------------------------
// just visited a surplus computer parts store and saw decapitated
// laptops whose LCD screens were selling for 10-15 USD and wondered
// how these could be turned into picture frames for a gallery, to
// cycle b&w photographic works. here's information for the skilled.
// it would seem possible to do this with a flash card instead of HD,
// it would be ideal if some custom box could drive the display w/out
// a computer needed-- that is, get a box with plugs, add screen, etc.
// have a cheap partially-DIY slideshow kit for artists/experimenters.
// such a device could be designed to multiplex to multiple LCDs, etc.
DIY LCD photo frame: // linux based...
More software options and details on the install. by Paul Wallich April
2004
<http://www.popsci.com/popsci/computers/article/0,12543,600338,00.html>
Lichtenberg Figures are "Captured Lightning TM " // amazing.
<http://205.243.100.155/frames/interesting.html>
[and] Lichtenberg Figures: What are they and how are they made? //
fossils
<http://205.243.100.155/frames/lichtenbergs.html>
'Lichtenberg Figures are branching, often tree or fern-like patterns
that form as the result of a high voltage discharge. The first
Lichtenberg Figures were actually 2-dimensional patterns formed in dust
on the surface of a charged plate in the laboratory of their
discoverer, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799), a German
physicist. He made this observation in the late 1700's, demonstrating
the phenomenon to his physics students and peers. The basic principles
involved in the formation of these electrostatic figures were later
developed into modern xerography. Through the use of powerful electron
beam accelerators, modern day Lichtenberg figures can now be created
and preserved as permanent 3-dimensional figures inside clear
plastic...' .. 'A Lichtenberg Figure (sometimes called a Lichtenberg
Pattern, Lichtenberg Tree, or Electron Tree) is formed when an acrylic
block is penetrated by a high-speed beam of electrons...'
WORLD ELECTRIC GUIDE // images of various e-plugs...
<http://kropla.com/electric.htm>
'This is a guide to some important issues when deciding to use your
electrical appliances in another country. It includes a table
describing electrical systems worldwide , illustrations of electrical
plugs you may run across, advice on using your computer and other
general advice that you may find helpful. Finally, there is a list of
sources for electrical travel accessories.'
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