California may use vibrational energy of driving to generate power

When you get into your car, for the daily commute or for a relaxing weekend visit to a friend house you give off energy. Not just the energy from the fossil fuels that you burn, but a different kind of energy, vibrational energy. Most of us do not give that energy a second thought, unless we’re trying to do something that requires fine motor skills, such as putting the lid back onto your slightly deformed cup of scalding hot coffee, but it is there.It is also a potential source of a green, and renewable energy. California Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a democrat from the Burbank district, hopes to help his home state to use it effectively. He has put in motion a legislation proposing that, if it passes, would create a pilot program designed to capture those vibrations.

The system, if implemented, would place sensors under a stretch of California roads. These sensors would be able to collect the vibrations caused by traffic and covert them into power. This system, know as piezoelectric generation, has the potential to add significantly to the power supply, if the system were implemented on a larger scale. A potential test patch, a one mile stretch of a two lane highway, would be able to create enough new electricity to power roughly 500 homes for an entire year, or give juice to 120 electrical vehicles each day. Not to mention the powering of street lights and traffic signals.

The proposal does not divert funds from any areas, since California regularly sets aside funds for these types of projects. It also would not represent any interruption to the flow of traffic in the state, since the sensors would only be placed under the ground during the regular repaving of roads. No word yet on when this bill will go to a vote or when residents of the state of California can expect to see these changes, should the bill pass in the state legislation.

via California may use vibrational energy of driving to generate power.

http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/xifc15

>Freeman Dyson: Heretical Thoughts About Science and Society

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YouTube – Freeman Dyson: Heretical Thoughts About Science and Society.

>Video: Norman Foster Recreates Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Car

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http://vimeo.com/21160399

“I was privileged to collaborate with Bucky for the last 12 years of his life and this had a profound influence on my own work and thinking. Inevitably, I also gained an insight into his philosophy and achievements,” shared Lord Norman Foster.

Recreating the legendary futuristic Dymaxion Car, Foster’s No. 4 version was a lengthy and expensive two year project, but was obviously a labor of love. Buckminster Fuller’s futuristic three wheeled car was brief, with a mere three actually built. Incredibly efficient the streamlined body with long tail-fin averaged 35 miles to the gallon and could achieve 120 mph. The Zeppelin inspired design with a V8 Ford engine was intended to fly as well, Fuller’s vision of revolutionizing how people traveled.

via Video: Norman Foster Recreates Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Car | ArchDaily.

The Dymaxion car was a concept car designed by U.S. inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller in 1933.^[1] The word Dymaxion is a brand name that Fuller gave to several of his inventions, to emphasize that he considered them part of a more general project to improve humanity’s living conditions. The car had a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per US gallon (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg_-imp). It could transport 11 passengers. While Fuller claimed it could reach speeds of 120 miles per hour (190 km/h), the fastest documented speed was 90 miles per hour (140 km/h). – wiki

>YouTube – How the 2011 Japan tsunami happened

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YouTube – How the 2011 Japan tsunami happened.

>Rosie Vela

>Today I got curious about the female singer who is singing with Jeff Lynne in ELO. It turned out to be quite  a story. Roseanne “Rosie” Vela, born in the coastal city of Galveston, Texas,  stayed with her boyfriend Jimmy Roberts, and married him in the hospital before he died of cancer. He sang her a song he wrote on the last night before he slipped into a coma and died. One story says he died in her arms.

Following that tragedy, she landed a modeling job and appeared on the cover of Vogue 14 times before she decided to focus on her music (and a bit of acting).

Her story gives the lyrics to the ELO song “Turn to Stone” (released October 1977)  new meaning.

“Through all I sit here and I wait I TURN TO STONE I TURN TO STONE
You will return again some day TO MY BLUE WORLD”

I had no idea that one of my favorite bands of all times included a red-headed supermodel with heart of gold.

In my band Xenophilia, I had many fun years performing with the super hot and talented Amy Anne, who I’m sure could have been a model if she was so inclined. I believe I took this photo of Amy Anne myself.  I think she’d give Rosie a run for her money, so to speak.  😉

Getting an early start on my 2012 New Year’s Resolutions: After I finish writing and recording my 100 original songs in 2011 — I resolve to find my supermodel musician girlfriend, get a fantastic band together, book a bunch of shows, entertain people and enjoy many years of fun!

I like what Rosie said about playing music until you are 100 years old. Yes, I’d like that.

Who can say how long any of us have, really, but I believe in this dream. It feels like what I am supposed to do.  Do you know the feeling?

This is why I’ve never married.  I’m in love with someone I haven’t met yet. I saw her once in a dream. She was at a party on some steps, wearing an over-sized white men’s dress shirt.  I’ll know her when I see her, or when I hear her sing.

The tragedy–and the comedy–is that I’m one of the most stubborn and idealistic people you’ll ever meet and if I can’t have what I envision, I will just wait and wait. I’ll search forever, passing up so many good things. I already have. Wish me luck.

>Strange Alien Stick-like creatures caught on security camera above Fresno in Yosemite National Park

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YouTube – Strange Alien Stick-like creatures caught on security camera above Fresno in Yosemite National Park.

Puppetry? To me they look like marionettes.

>A cat and a dolphin, buddies

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… At one point the cat appears to be kissing the dolphin while holding the side of its face with the left paw. Two more dolphins show up, but this kitty only has eyes for its new pal.

The location of the video is unclear, but one thing is certain: The feline fine factor of the clip has proved to be a big hit.

It has been watched more than 31,000 times since it was posted last month.

via Some-fin special: A cat and a dolphin become best new buddies | Mail Online.

>Review: Source Code + Official First 5 Minutes [HD]

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YouTube – Source Code – Official First 5 Minutes [HD].

“Source Code” is an ingenious thriller that comes billed as science fiction, although its science is preposterous. Does that matter, as long as everyone treats it with the greatest urgency? After all, space travel beyond the solar system is preposterous, and yet we couldn’t do without “Star Trek.” The “science” in this case is used to prop up an appealing story of a man who tries to change the past.

His name is Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal). That he is sure of. That’s why it’s strange when he finds himself on a Chicago commuter train talking to Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan), a woman he’s never met. It’s even stranger when he goes into the toilet and sees a face in the mirror that doesn’t belong to him. – rogerebert

I enjoyed this movie, but I don’t think anyone needs to see the scene that shows the partial remains of the dead soldier with exposed intestines.  Gratuitously gross.

>Jesse Ventura reveals location of secret underground 2012 base?

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YouTube – Jesse Ventura – Secret Underground 2012 Base at Denver Airport.

>Johannes Heesters, world’s oldest active performing singer at 107

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Johan Marius Nicolaas “Johannes” Heesters (born 5 December 1903) is a Dutch actor, singer and entertainer with a 90-year career, almost exclusively in the German-speaking world. In Germany and Austria, Heesters is mainly known for his acting career. As of 2011, aged 107, Heesters is the oldest performer worldwide who is still active, both on the stage and on television.

YouTube – Johannes Heesters – 107. Geburtstag.

Still singing at 107… and smoking. Hmm.