[olug] from slashdot: Credit Card-Size Hard Drive Can Hold 5GB

[bbrush at unlnotes.unl.edu]

I don't necessarily think this is the proper forum, but I'll go ahead and
throw my opinion in and then I'll keep quiet.

1.  The war with Iraq isn't about oil.  We get the bulk of our imported oil
from Venezuela, which is why we have rising gas prices.  This is about
keeping chem, bio, and nuke weapons out of the hands of terrorists.  No I'm
not talking about Saddam.  However IF Saddam had/has/gets them, it's a
short trip for the real terrorists to get them.  Also, IF a real
democratic, non-theocracry dominated government replaces Saddam that will
be a HUGE force for reform in the region as the best and brightest of the
Arab world will be attracted to the opportunities created by an open and
industrialized economy.  The other countries in the region will either
follow or stagnate and become irrelevant.  In addition to this, a "new"
Iraq may not join OPEC, which would pretty much destroy it's strangle-hold
on the world's oil supply, and send crude prices to the basement.

2.  Electric cars aren't happening fast for several reasons.  Lack of range
(130 miles is about a third of what I would require before I would consider
one),  cost ($20 grand for a car is not what I call affordable),  lack of
infrastructure (where do we charge),  inconvenience (recharging is not
quick without a battery swap, and then you're back to infrastructure).   I
think alternative fuel cars will happen, but right now the car companies
have a vested interest in dino burners as they own stock in the oil
companies so they're in no hurry.  Right now electrics are a niche market,
and they will continue to be so until someone shifts something in a
dramatic way to make the public WANT it.  As someone said, creating a
product doesn't create a market.

Just my opinions, but I have been watching things pretty closely.

Bill
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                      Eric Penne                                                                                                 
                      <epenne at yahoo.com        To:       olug at olug.org                                                           
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                      Sent by:                 Subject:  [olug] from slashdot: Credit Card-Size Hard Drive Can Hold 5GB          
                      olug-admin at olug.o                                                                                          
                      rg                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                      01/21/2003 08:59                                                                                           
                      AM                                                                                                         
                      Please respond to                                                                                          
                      olug                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 





<soapbox opinions (feel free to debate me)>
We are going to have a war with Iraq.  Bush has it in his head, so be
it.  It's mostly for oil but there is a little twinge of world peace at
hand if Saddam is out.

I'm not blasting anybody in particular after this part or I would be a
hypocrit.  We need to curb our use of oil (foreign and domestic).  Too
many cars, not enough pollution prevention.

For under $15 million, a viable (130 mile highway range) battery
electric vehicle could be produced and sold for about $20,000.  One of
the big costs with vehicle production is crash testing so it may take
$20 million.  It costs a lot to crash test a prototype. :)

That same $15 million could be used to fund the changeover for 3 normal
car lines to use hybrid (like the Honda Civic).

BOOM!  Helping the future!  Less War with oil barons.

How many car lines could've been developed with all the money thrown at
hyped up crap during the dot com boom/bust.  Enough to satisfy
everybodies tastes.  Hybrid SUVs, fully battery electric SUVs, hybrid
cars, battery electric sports cars, etc.
</soapbox>