IBM pours a shot of methanol for ThinkPads

The methanol-based fuel cell is designed to work with most standard ThinkPad systems and could provide power for up to eight hours, the companies said Monday. The new battery does not require any change in the internal power architecture of the Thinkpad. The fuel cell can be charged by means of an auxiliary docking station, which also provides an alternative power supply. Technology companies are working on fuel cells as a way to enhance the battery life of mobile devices such as notebooks, MP3 players and mobile phones. Unlike traditional batteries, fuel cells usually use alcohol or hydrogen as fuel and can offer five to 10 times the power-per-unit weight as lithium-ion batteries. Fuel cells are also being looked at as power sources for automobiles. "This is quite a new concept that utilizes both micro fuel cells and rechargeable batteries," Mitsuru Homma, group executive of power solutions at Sanyo, said in a statement.
http://news.com.com/IBM+pours+a+shot+of+methanol+for+ThinkPads/2100-1044_3-5662616.html?tag=nefd.top (CNET)

Microchips to guard Peruvian alpacas

The alpaca with their high quality wool are the source of income for the poor Peruvian farmers. So many alpacas with high quality wool are slipping across the border that the genetic pool is being watered down and the wool produced in Peru is becoming less valuable. Authorities and alpaca experts say the most valuable animals have to stay in Peru and they fear that if nothing is done to prevent this, the world's largest alpaca industry could collapse. To counter the threat, Peruvian authorities have brought up-to-the-minute technology - microchips, which they are inserting into the ears of the finest alpacas to help keep track of their whereabouts. "The main problem is contraband and that is directly affecting the producers. This is why we need to put microchips in these animals and this should allow us to control the exit of these animals at the border, and identify those that are registered and not allowed to leave Peru," said Fabiola Munoz, the general secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. However, it might be a challange to convince the individual farmers who live a hand-to-mouth existence, for them reality is very different.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4314237.stm (BBC News)

Millionaire Spam King jailed for nine years

Jeremy Jaynes a 30 year year old American internet spammer who amassed $24 million (£12.7m) from e-mails peddling pornography, fake products and home-working schemes has been handed down a nine-year jail sentence. He sent over 10 million pieces of spam per day from his home in North Carolina, making him one of the most prolific spammers in the world, according to industry watchdog, SpamHaus. The millionaire, who is married, is estimated to have received responses from one in every 30,000 e-mails, in addition to flooding tens of thousands AOL accounts from servers based in Virginia.As a result, Jaynes received between 10,000 and 17,000 credit card orders a month –averaging $40 each, prompting prosecutors to brand him “the modern-day-snake-oil salesman.” Jaynes has since been released from court on bail of $1m, though prosecutors and computer users are rejoicing that he is electronically tagged, and cannot leave his home town of Raleigh.The spammer was convicted alongside his sister, Jessica De Groot, who is credited with playing a lesser criminal role but faces fines of up to $7,500.With the proceeds of their venture, Jaynes bought two homes, a steak restaurant and invested in a chain of gyms. Sentencing Jaynes, Judge Thomas Horne said: “The jury in large measure represents community sentiment” and reflects spamming’s “tremendous societal costs.”He added that the nine-year sentence should act as a “deterrent to stop other people who might send unsolicited mail in this fashion.”
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/002044.html (Contractor UK)