Read the instructions last or ......

I've been whinging ( that's the Br version of whining ) about the short battery cycle of the e-machine laptop we use.

I went to the e-machines website, searching for info on 'Windows, Starter 7 ' ( the operating system that came w/ the laptop ). However, in the FAQ section, I found out .......

Apparently, letting the battery run right down, shortens battery life. I'm not sure if the 10 or 15 % level is ' right down ' but from what I read , probably not good. There is an automatic warning that pops up at 15 % batt. remaining.
Now, maybe that explains all those people plugged in at Starbucks.

I'm going to try charging after every second use for about 4 times and see if the battery bounces back.
Being plugged in is a pain but not impossible the way we use the laptop..

Oops, right,  read the 'destruction ' manual afterwards, classic.

On ' Starter 7 ' , consensus, its inadequate.
Cons : won't run a DVD ( or does so poorly )
            no colour background or limited background
            does not run games very well

None of these items applies to me. Our machine doesn't even have a DVD / CD slot.

We have a portable typewriter that is internet capable, to quote John Gary, the singer from the '70s
" this is all I ask, This is all I need "

The poor people on the e-machine website's message board.
They sounded as if their first born had been taken away from them.

We're still seeing and marvelling at the damage and loss suffered in the NE U.S. ( and Canada ) via Trop strm Sandy.

Again, the global warming advocates, or agents provocateur are pointing to global warming.

OK. my take on the whole thing. 

Is the earth's atmosphere warming ?  Yes. 

Is the warming due to human influence ? Most likely.

What does this mean? Who knows

The history of the earth shows cyclic warming and cooling.
These trends occur over tens of thousands of years.
If they plot, the current temperature rise on the timeline of the earth's existence, I'm not even sure, it would be a blip.
It could grow to a blip if the temperature rises more or longer.

Reduce, re-use , recycle ?  Of course, its a no brainer. but not b/c you're going to die.

Greener energy ?  Yes, except that usually the components of ' greener ' energy - structures etc are mostly, industrial          ' Titanics ' - requiring massive amounts of energy and material.

Energy input always exceeds energy gain.  So, our real slogan should be ' Lets WASTE our ENERGY, WISELY '

I once asked a contractor about storing rainwater not in a barrel but in undegorund cisterns. his reply " sure but water is so cheap, who would do it ?   

" Aha, not whats good but looks to be good or cheap for now. "

thats the motto of our world