[rescue] SCRAPPLE

[James Lockwood]

On Tue, 13 Nov 2001, Dave McGuire wrote:

>   Well, the only way those kinks will get worked out is by exposure to
> a larger installed base.  Perhaps the investors might realize they're
> doing some good for society as a whole and back off on their
> profit-mongering just a little bit this time.  But I know a LOT of
> investors, and I know that's far too much to ask.

I've got no problem with advancing science at all, but when PP announced
what they were doing I knew they wouldn't be able to pull it off in time.
I suspect they were dishonest and overpromoted themselves to raise funding
(gee, like every other tech company in the last few years).  I've been
tracking them since '97 desperately hoping for something good to come out.

>   Electrolux has a fuel-cell-powered vacuum cleaner in late development
> stages now.  That should be fun.  Sargent-Welch sells a "fuel cell
> experimenter's kit" that consists of a small fuel cell, lecture
> bottles of fuel, and a little cd player with speakers, all built into
> a suitcase.

I remember building a fuel cell as a science project as a kid.  Simple,
just a catalyst, ion exchange resin and some electrodes in a chamber.
The sad thing is, now you can't even buy platinum black from a chem
supplier without business ID and the DEA coming by to see what you're up
to.  Being an unauthorized curious experimenter is now officially a crime.

-James