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Thread ID: 79127	2007-05-09 00:50:00	Let's Feed The Rumor Mill	SurferJoe46 (51)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
548497	2007-05-09 07:30:00	I'm gonna let this one play a while..at least consider the unions of GM and Toyota...some of the hybrid cars with a small "h" there that signifies they are melded unions of two or more manufacturers. Together they produced a lot of cars with different namebadges on them that don't seem to be recognizable as either GM OR Toyota, but were a combination of both. Hybrid with a big "H" is the new wave stuff of getting manically more mileage on gasoline and batteries of butterflys etc. Somehow the sleeping arrangements of the big corps goes unnoticed until it's too late. I am a firm believer in the troika-lateral conspiracy theory. I tried to encrypt that word troika as the guys who banged on my doors a while back are still sitting in black FORDs outside my house. :pGive them some parts to fix their car and they'll go away. ;)	R2x1 (4628)
548498	2007-05-09 09:41:00	Some of those engineers (up to 400,000 a year according to Thomas Friedman) should spend time on improving public transport and make it easier to travel using bicycles and walking. Almost certainly costs less than the research on hybrid cars, less pollution and a healthier populace. When I was in China a few years ago, places such as Shanghai and Beijing were choked with bicycles. Imagine that with cars - hybrid or straight - it is going to be ugly and inefficient.	vinref (6194)
548499	2007-05-09 11:53:00	the guys who banged on my doors a while back are still sitting in black FORDs outside my house. :p They're probably waiting for you to buy a Watchtower. LOL, or you could give them some of your Watchtower's Joe, then they'll realise what a complete nutter you are and leave you alone. Failing that you could just get them to read a few of your posts on here.	Mackin_NZ (6958)
548500	2007-05-09 12:24:00	LOL.. I'm sorry to hear all that.. makes me feel better about my ford being made in Australia... Sorta sounds like a J-Lo and Ben ?? trying to promote gigi or whateva the flop movie was, maybe the rival car companies are tryin to get people to stop buyin the popular car and get a hybrid?	Narmie (12196)
548501	2007-05-09 16:34:00	Some of those engineers (up to 400,000 a year according to Thomas Friedman) should spend time on improving public transport and make it easier to travel using bicycles and walking . Almost certainly costs less than the research on hybrid cars, less pollution and a healthier populace . When I was in China a few years ago, places such as Shanghai and Beijing were choked with bicycles . Imagine that with cars - hybrid or straight - it is going to be ugly and inefficient . Don't think that isn't being done . The Chinese have been very innovative for a lot longer than the West has thought . Automobiles are very high on their list of planned accomplishments . Devotion to technology and engineering with a green mindset are all at the very top of their list of "got-to-do" things . . . if not for the world, then for their own existence . I don't suspect such noble ideals as cleaning the whole world . . . just that they see the absolute need to become the force with which to contend in the very near future . If that means they need to have a new attitude on cars and buildings and earth-man interaction, then so be it . I saw a very interesting show on PBS about the new highly techno-buildings in China . . . the newest requirement is that they not be on the power grid . . . in other words they must be self-sustaining so they have zero effect on the environment . If a building does not meet the standards, they are denied occupancy of that building . Right now, there is little control on what's built . . . the real control is on what's allowed to be occupied after it's built . Allowing a non-bridled attitude (in China) on engineering is unique in the world . . where attitudes of non-conformity are shunned and looked upon with reproach . China is different that way . . they let things roll . It's all for the good as they then see and learn valuable ideals . Roofs on these new buildings are built as a park-like environment with gardens and crops that utilize the grey water generated by the building by irrigation and then allow it to drain to solar stills where it is purified and reused as drinking water . Black water is processed in geo-thermal heated tanks and then sent to outdoor pools to be purified via sunshine and oxygenation, and then sent to be re-heated, flash boiled and condensed and sterilized for potable supplies . Semi-solid wastes are used as fertilizer for the gardens . Light and shade are all computer controlled to maximize the heating or cooling of the facility as external temperatures demand . Heated water from underground geothermal "pipes" are used to generate electricity, driving ammonia-expansion turbines and generators for times of darkness or overcast days when the solar arrays cannot generate enough power . The heated liquid is then used to heat the cold side of the building, re-condensing the ammonia for reheating in the energy provided by the earth . Ammonia is a very efficient liquid for heat exchange, it's also very dangerous if it should leak . The footprint of the building, since it has then removed x-number of acres of arable ground must replace lost biological diversity with a like amount of area for such plants on flat areas in or on the building somewhere, making a bio-zone that supports diversity of those lifeforms . Utilizing more footprint for this requirement is not allowed . . . hence the building itself must have the areas incorporated inside it's own walls . Lakes and ponds proliferate on the grounds and running water is evident in waterfalls, which also regulate the heat of the pools by a process of evaporation . Lighting by sunshine is accomplished by solar tubes and fiber optics that collect and transport light to internal areas lacking sufficient light . Reflective panels are all computer controlled to point and direct light and infrared heat to internal areas too . Windows darken or lighten by cold-cathode process to control solar invasion as necessary . What the Chinese are finding out however, is that the bicycle, as popular and numerous as it is, is not sufficient for transportation to/from work at these buildings from villages that are now miles away . Mass transportation is an absolute must as they now see, and they are working feverishly on that dilemma . The "village mentality" that used to exist is now being fractured by the need to hire from outside of the local talent pool that has existed for centuries . With buildings housing 1,000's of employees and not drawing electricity or fuel from the grid, this promises to be a long-awaited move in the right direction of green power . Some buildings are so well designed and energy conservative, that they can actually send excess power and heat back into the grid for others to purchase . Foods grown in the gardens are served in the cafeterias . Reusable utensils and plates replace the disposable types that add to landfills and pollute the environment . The wash water is also recycled in the same building . It's a different economy there . . . devotion to things "state" are tantamount to a religious experience and therefor things just get done without too much dissidence . China knows that it's vast coal supplies are not conducive to a healthy environment . . but right now, that's all they really have . Since they are a growing . . . er . . . corporation of engineers and need to have that investment in technology protected, new ideas are readily allowed to proliferate . Thus, the creative "bubble" is being protected and allowed to free wheel for a while until the most viable successes are shown to be the right path upon which to travel . The situation in China is unique as they are building in pretty much virgin areas . . . there are not too many older buildings in the way . . . . etc . So, construction is not hampered by demolition and therefor contamination via lead, asbestos, old concrete to demo and the like . I am not talking about these buildings being constructed in the crowded cities . . . yet! With the devotion to the State, I believe that it could be possible that when sufficient buildings are complete and running, the main cities could be vacated and entire populations moved to new grounds, as it were, until the "old city" could be demo'd and rebuilt with the newer designed buildings and such . . . allowing the original people to return if they so desired . . . or not! Working around a populous that is also trying to live and work in the same area of reconstruction is very hard . . . ask Metla . . he knows about signs and detours and traffic control that gets in the way of the demolition and re-building work . This is the WHY as to WHERE the Chinese are currently expending much of their resources and building expertise . I personally expect to see China as THE POWER . . . both economically and technologically, with which we all must emulate very soon .	SurferJoe46 (51)
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