the_harper said...

the_harper at 12:56 PM JST - 25th December

Nobody needs maglev trains. They waste far too much energy. The Japanese Shinkansen is just fine - who needs a train that travels at more than 300 Km/h? And yes, I realise that some of the current Shinkansen already travel at over that speed. Linear drive is similarly hard to…

Posted in JR Tokai to examine introduction cost of linear-motor bullet train at 12:56 PM JST - 25th December
the_harper at 09:45 AM JST - 10th December

All they need now is a vehicle with a battery that is designed to be exchanged. There are other alternatives - for example, exchange the electrolyte instead of the battery.

Posted in Better Place joins Japan electric vehicles project at 09:45 AM JST - 10th December
the_harper at 09:32 AM JST - 10th December

Noborito wrote:

My total was 911 yen. I gave the clerk 1000 yen. She typed it in. I found 11 yen in my pocket and gave it to her after she had typed it in

I have experienced the same thing when providing cash to sales assistants in many countries,…

Posted in Japanese students rank high in global math, science surveys at 09:32 AM JST - 10th December
the_harper at 12:26 PM JST - 19th September

The cost of Maglev is just too high, especially in a world where we are trying to reduce our demands for energy. The world's only commercially operating maglev train is in Shanghai in China. Conventional wheeled trains are far more cost effective. The French have tested a modified TGV on…

Posted in Kawasaki Heavy to develop high-speed train at 12:26 PM JST - 19th September
the_harper at 12:29 PM JST - 16th September

So I should buy a machine to breed superbugs in my home? How safe are the chemicals this device uses? Are they potentially worse than what it supposedly "eliminates"? Where do the pollutants magically go when they are "eliminated"? Will I wake up coated in a layer of precipitated chemicals…

Posted in Mist opportunity at 12:29 PM JST - 16th September
the_harper at 11:03 AM JST - 12th September

The F15 demonstrates one reason why the F35 is not a great option. It's extremely unusual for both engines in an F15 to fail - but the F35 only has one. Having said that, the F35 matches Japan's circumstances reasonably well - BTW not all F35's are VSTOL. The F35…

Posted in Pilot ejects from ASDF F-15 after both engines stall at 11:03 AM JST - 12th September
the_harper at 11:25 AM JST - 5th August

I love the positioning of the "Project Torque" ad with this article. Could anything be less appropriate?

Posted in Nissan cars to push back when drivers floor it at 11:25 AM JST - 5th August