http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFDqcu8oJ4

There's a mechanic in Indiana who, about 10 yrs ago, converted a Chevette to a compair system he designed. It uses dual tank systems and used air gets collected by wheel-driven compressors into the 'off' tank; then a pressure switch auto-changes the air feed so (barring air leaks) the system is completely self-contained. Sounds like a sewing machine going down the road. Downside? Seats 2 & tops out at about 40mph. Apparently, no one wants to put it into production...

I've never driven a smart car, so I can only pass on what an owner said to me... "I love the car, it's the perfect size for me since I live alone, but what they told me about mileage doesn't hold up. had the car for 4 months and never got more than 35mi/gal." Now, this lady was a somewhat cynical person so she may have been padding the numbers, but I would suggest talking to some owners before buying if mileage is your deciding factor.

This would be fun in the back yard...

Good grief, even without a watch I can measure time just tracking the sun much more accurately than that. I think maybe the folks in the Bahamas are just making a sport of ignoring 'tourist time' ::grinning::

I guess I should have stated miniaturization of power systems. Since creating Fusion reactions requires immense heat and pressure (using Fission to do that) laser systems in the future, plus a powersupply capable of doing so in the size of a delivery truck will allow ICBM's that in effect will allow for the destruction of Large sections of a city with only a brief intense flash of radiation, then an occupying army can move in with little long term exposure to the troops. Now the fires with all the industrial stuff burning would be a different matter.

Working NI, I was privy to some serious projects that were underway and Aviation Leak and Space Technology had a great article on the progression of Power Systems and one key feature they mentioned was that a home would be able to supply it's own power with a power plant the size of a backyard shed. So the containment would there and the ability to have the heat and pressure needed to create such a reaction.

The only saving grace to Big Oil is that they try to kill these types of projects since their power base is threatened.

Dude..... that is FREAKIN' PRICELESS!

Definitely MMD!

Hey folks, I just discovered that I got a Popular Mechanics last month *puts stack of junk back where it was* ... Anyway, it has a pretty good 'state of affairs' sort of article on energy technology. You all should check it out.

Deepwater Horizon - looks like a long history of cutting corners, with narrow escapes from disaster.

As I said before, let them burn.

The Auld Grump

does anyone else suspect that BP's failure is indirectly making the economic woes of Spain and Greece worse. I.e. The british Economy is well tied to B.P., and with it's troubles that's putting Britian on shaky ground making their propping up effort more precarious?

I kind of doubt that. Even if BP can't deliver oil... someone else will.

Its only one company and if it looses money or goes completely, its not the end of the world.

Canada lost its biggest telecom R&D firm, Northern Telecom. It was one of the biggest drivers of our stock market, but really if they aren't there any more, so what.

Perhaps Europe should copy Canada's banking laws and not go bankrupt in the first place. Problem solved.