> Being in neg. equity only matters if you are selling. Repossessions
> are rising here, but interest rates are still low, so (I guess) it's
> those
> folks who are up to their ears in debt who're suffering. Last time we
> had probs, it was because interest rates had shot up to 15%% and
> that was hurting everyone.
> That's an everyday story for England these days.
> I think you'd need rather a lot of energy to create a "Big Bang".
I think so.
Thinking about energy sources, and, with reference to your recent
electricity bill, did you know you could make an energy cell from
decomposing gastric acids? I went to an exhibition at the Museum of
Modern Art in New York City yesterday. (I went in search of famous
paintings, but ended up spending most of the afternoon in their
fascinating temporary exhibition). It was entitled "Design and the
Elastic Mind" and highlighted the interaction of art and technology. One
of the exhibits showed how you could get a little more 'life' out of the
deceased with the "After Life Microbial Fuel Cell". The British
designers, Auger and Loizeau suggest that fuel cells using chemicals
from the bodies could be made to power souvenirs of our loved one.
Displayed with the coffin and its attached energy cell were ideas for
these mementos: a Christmas tree bauble, which lit up intermittently,
with a picture of Grandma smiling on the side, a torch, engraved with
"Shine on" and the name of the deceased, and even a vibrator,
appropriately engraved with: "Love Goes On" (or words to that effect).
Here's a summary of the top ten devices in the exhibition. The device I
referred to is number 8 on the list: I also liked the non-stop shoe,
which collects energy as you walk during the day and then could be used
as a lamp at the end of the day.
http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/moma.php
also in the online catalog:
http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/elasticmind/#/7/:
Jp
