6 Legged Rugby Robot!

     Ok, so the title is probably more than a little sensationalist but the idea is pretty cool.  Unfortunately details on the thing are kind of scarce, but Thales Aerospace have built a scrum simulating robot - see THIS link to Gaea Times for more details.  Anything which helps reduce injuries is a positive, no arguments from me there, but the details seem a little disappointing all the same.
     When I saw a snippet about it, I was thinking more along the lines of something like BigDog but specifically designed to tackle people.  (How neat would that be!)  Given the lack of pictures I can find of the Thales device though, I doubt it's that exciting.
     I was kind of hoping this would be the precursor to some robot vs. robot rugby.  Or even robot vs. drug pumped, genetically modified humans.  Either of those might get me watching more sport.

Cost of Fuel Economy

Wired Autopia Article

Linked article skims over some of the general added vehicle costs to improving fuel economy.  I think one of the most important statements from it is this one:


"Regardless of the level of hybridization, the biggest gains come in vehicles specifically designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and minimize rolling resistance while using the smallest possible gasoline engine, the study states."

Hybrids help in specific use cases - particularly heavily built up areas.  So across Australia, that's mainly the state capitals.  Outside of those areas it's just extra cost weight and complexity to lug around.  As a marketing ploy though, their usefulness seems almost unlimited.

You know, that's not too bad....

     So, I tend to have a little fascination with bad foodstuffs.  Over-processed, wrongly coloured, bad flavour combinations, things like that.  I got a free sample of this "Dilmah Exceptional Peppermint & English Toffee Real Leaf Tea" on a magazine recently.  Looking at that name, I was sure this would be right up my alley.
     Well it is... But only because I drink a lot of tea.  The black tea flavour is pretty mild, the toffee adds a nice sweet flavour and the peppermint leaves a nice fresh feel in the mouth.  I'm not sure I'd drink it everyday, but it has some definite pleasant qualities about it.  I'm almost dissapointed. :)

Really?

Is it wrong that I found the strangest thing about this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10207486.stm that people actually have up to €1000 dollars invested in virtual goods for Habbo hotel.
Honestly, if anybody wants to spend this much money on something they can't hold - send me a new laptop and I'll send 'em back a picture of it.

I bet the Habbo admins haven't just reinstated the "stolen" furniture because they expect these guys will be gullible enough to repurchase it.  *Sigh*

/rant

eBook Gripes

  So, lately I've become quite a fan of reading eBooks rather than physical ones. Yes real books are nice, and much more durable when accidentally dropped in the bath, but the convenience and instant availability of eBooks is a real winner for me. Plus they are cheaper, and cheaper is often a bonus.

  Availability in Australia is a real pain though. I can't wait for the day that there is one common format, and all the books available in print are available electronically. I think that day may be more than a few years off though.
     So far the majority of my eBooking has been on an iPhone via the Kindle app.  I was really excited when Borders made their eReader available.  Ok, so it may only be a Borders branded kobo app, but it does look a lot nicer IMHO.  Besides which, the main benefit of the Borders app was some competition for Kindle.  (The B&N eReader is available in Australia, has been for ages, but the books aren't - interesting marketing you got there B&N.)
     Anyway, I grabbed a sample book (The Night Angel Trilogy if anybody is interested, it's kind of trashy but I chew through a lot of books) and was almost immediately caught up in it.  Great I thought, I'll buy this one - and so much cheaper than I expected, it was a price I would expect to pay for one book of the trilogy as a paperback.  However, it's vanished from the Borders eBookstore, oops!  Probably I got it off the international store because somebody flicked the wrong switch when turning on the backend for the Borders app?
     Now if I want to keep reading I need to buy the books elsewhere, blegh.  I can get them as an eBook from Amazon, which is fine.... Except I need to buy all three individual books, it'll cost me a lot more than the price for the compiled trilogy.  I'll probably still do it but it's frustrating that it's so hard to actually buy something you want.  (I think to get an electronic copy it'd be easier to not buy it judging from the links that popped up when I searched for "Night Angel Trilogy eBook".)
     While I'm grumbling:  Borders, Amazon - you guys really need to get in app purchasing sorted out.  Being bumped out to safari is pretty annoying.  Borders one-ups amazon here by at least letting you browse the store from within the app.