WTC, NY, USA, Planet Zog

The illusion of the mind to create the effect of space and objects in front of us is profound and almost impossible to move away from. However, assuming the model perceived by my senses is some way an accurate reflection of "reality". And assuming that "New York" exists as recalled by from previous mental models of that environment. And that my memory retains two previous states of that environment: One with the twin towers and one without. Then I have to ponder exactly what changed the model from one state to another?

My experience with the substance known as "Steel" is passive. It appears to be immensively strong and not known to spontaneously collapse and melt (melting point of steel is 1800 degrees C) even when hit very hard or heated to 600 degrees C (max temperature of an open fire which is less than the temperature of a gas hob). Yet apparently on certain planets, for example on "Planet Zog", steel is all wibbly-wobbly and spontaneously melts when hit very sharply with a Boeing 767.

Mac or PC Rap

I have been a Mac fan since 1991. Way before Apple became cool. The reason was simple: with a Mac, I was productive. In comparison, with a PC I felt like a klutz. The difference between the 2 machines in terms of usability has narrowed somewhat since 1991 (and 1997) but there are still the packaged apps: iLife. I'm sure there are probably individual programs on the PC that are as good as the iLife programs but who has the time to work it all out.

If you like I'm a Mac and I'm a PC adverts then this video is a must-see: "The Mac or Pc Rap"

And yet another plug for my favorite art program Robert Covington's Compositor - Mac users: check it out! :-)

The =Ultimate= Driving Machine

Does anybody else get a queasy feeling in their stomachs when you see those old TV cigarette adverts: an overly macho man offering an overly flirtatious female a white stick of death... The advert always stress the social interaction and not the ash fag-ends etc. And of course, not what =ultimately= would happen to the man or woman in 20 years time: the coughing, cancer and slow lingering deaths.

I am starting to get the same feeling with car adverts... yes, they do look nice. Very cute too. Happy Kids driving cars; people dancing in the streets; hey even cars spinning around acrobat style. Click that link and see that cute advert with kids driving an SUV again and think: those kids may never actually be able to drive that SUV. Ever. Even if we do overt the very worst excesses of the world's economy's dependence on oil, the price of oil is a one way bet: it is going to rise and driving in an SUV in say 10 years time will seem like Nero fiddling while Rome burns!

Meanwhile we hand out models of the Hummer H1 SUVs with MacDonalds. I feel queasy again: it feels just like giving kids sweet cigarettes to me. Who does that any more?

Consider: BMW's slogan "The =Ultimate= Driving Machine". They might be right. After the oil runs dry, imagine some post-civilization scenario, somewhere in Saudi Arabia, a goat-herder drives the last working vehicle over the desert. Yep, it could be a BMW.

Solartaxi - Around the World

3rd July 2007: An intrepid team of adventurers start a round the world tour travelling by a solar-powered Electric Vehicle. Hopefully this will stop jokes about needing a 24000 mile extension lead. Forget Hydrogen-powered cars, even Hybrids, Electric Vechiles are our best hope for transportation once the oil price goes completely out of control... my estimate: 2014! This gives us very limited time to transfer to a cheaper, cleaner, quieter, greener transportation system. Solar-power may not be the best option for the UK (Having just had our wettest June ever recorded) but grid electricity... hook it up to wind power or tidal... is the easily the best, or possibly the least-worst, fuel option.

Good luck, Team Solartaxi!