yesterdays extras

The new citreon coup:
Citroen's spectacular C-Metisse Concept
(link to this article)

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September 6, 2006 Citroen seems to save its best concept cars for its
home Paris Show and this year it has unveiled a beauty. The C-Métisse
Concept will be seen in the flesh for the first time at the 2006
Paris Motor Show. With its elegant proportions, flamboyant bodywork
and spectacular door design, the C-Métisse is an elegant 4-seater 4-
door coupe reminiscent of the most prestigious Grand Touring
vehicles. The car has a high-performance diesel hybrid drivetrain,
excellent aerodynamics and a weight of just 1400 kilograms complete
with batteries. C-Métisse is based on the same future-oriented
solution as the C4 HDi hybrid demonstration vehicle apart from one
key difference: the electric motors are installed in the rear wheels.
Looking at C-Métisse is a visual shock in itself. Long (4.74 m), wide
(2 m) and low (1.24 m), the car is sculptural and almost intimidating.

http://tinyurl.com/zmera

Ultra-Efficient GeoThermal Heating From WaterFurnace

September 7, 2006 09:29 AM - John Laumer, Philadelphia


At first glance WaterFurnace looked like any other geothermal HVAC
fabricator-installer. Then we saw how they integrated natural lakes
(per the Ontario dealer install photo above) or stormwater detention
or retention ponds into the design, routing fluid exchange tubes
through walkways entroute to the surface water, so averting the need
to salt and sand, and we realized that there was some serious green
design genius in play. Using the zoning code-mandated stormwater
systems for energy storage, their cost for incremental HVAC gains are
very low. Now that's piggybacking at its best. From the website:
"FORT WAYNE, IN— WaterFurnace International, Inc. one of the
nation’s leading manufacturers of geothermal and water source heat
pumps, announced today the unveiling of its new EnvisionTM Series
product line, now available through its dealer network. The new
Envision product holds the distinction of having the highest heating
& cooling efficiency of any product certified by the Air Conditioning
& Refrigeration Institute in category 13256-1 (GLHP)".

Because WaterFurnace offers multiple configurations for several
markets, understanding this fully takes some study. We suggest you
try a Google Image Search

Via: Sustainable Industries Journal (Subscription Only).

Stormwater may be held on-site in three basic configurations:

A "detention" basin fills up during the storm and lets out the water
slowly thereafter, draining contents completely, via outlet
structures and via infiltration, within a few hours or days. This
would not be useful for WaterFurnace application.

A "retention" basin keeps the storm water in for longer periods:
losses are through evapo-transpiration and groundwater infiltration.
Would work for WaterFurnace where year round precipitation/runoff
balances, but attracts nuisance geese, may support algae blooms, and
must be fenced to keep kids out.

A hybrid Detain/Retain approach is a possible compromise. Ask the
dealer.

Covered cistern type retention basins are increasingly used for on-
lot residential applications. This solves the nuisance problems and
might work for WaterFurnace as well. Ask the dealer.

Natural waterway use would require permits and justifiably so.

Septic systems? Maybe, depending on zoning and permitting requirements.

http://tinyurl.com/efs4u

WORHT READING, ESSENTIALLY A TITLE ONLY LIST OF A YEARS WORTH OF POSTS:

Lifehack.org with Aloha: A Year in Review

http://tinyurl.com/j9gql

If you get a chance, look at this pic:

http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

The winning ways of 'Warcraft' In a rare public appearance, Blizzard
Entertainment's head designer explains what made the online game a
hit. By Daniel Terdiman Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published:
September 6, 2006, 5:38 PM PDT AUSTIN, Texas--If there was one piece
of noteworthy news that came out of the first day of the annual
Austin Game Conference here Wednesday, it was that "World of
Warcraft" publisher Blizzard Entertainment provided keynote
entertainment.

Since the 2004 launch of the smash hit--which is now approaching 7
million paying subscribers and $1 billion in annual sales--Blizzard
has been hard to find at the plethora of video game industry events,
a rarity among major publishers. And while Rob Pardo, vice president
of game design, didn't reveal any news in his morning speech, he did
pull back the curtain on what Blizzard sees as the keys to the
company's runaway success with "WoW."

http://tinyurl.com/h23zj