Print me some sushi
There’s a restaurant in Chicago called Moto where the chef uses a Canon i560 inkjet printer to print images of sushi on pieces of edible paper made of soybeans and cornstarch. The ink is food-based and organic. Neat idea. Here’s
“Canadians in the US” list ends
Those of you who were on my “Canadiansintheus” mailing list will by now have a note in your inbox saying that the list came to an end today. I moderated the list for a few years, but now it’s time
Cool idea for a Valentines present
You and yours can star in your own novel. Check it
Bush speeches like country music
Here’s an interesting take on presidential speeches from one of PRI’s board members, Clark Judge: “Reagan was symphonic: every range of meaning and tone,” Judge said. “Bush 41 was rock ‘n’ roll: simple driving beat. (Bill) Clinton was improvisational jazz:
Virtual property protections in China
This is a fascinating and important ruling on virtual property (thanks to Peter Harter for pointing it out to me). I would have expected something like this to happen in the litigious US first (and maybe it has and I
Are you an intellectual whore?
Read all about it here.
Biometric payment systems
A supermarket chain in Seattle (Thriftway) has been allowing customers to use their fingerprints as an alternative method of payment. Debit and credit cards are connected in a database with customer’s fingerprints. To the surprise of some, this has been
Cancer pill looks effective
This is an interesting piece from Forbes.
PRI hosts West Wing event tonight
Mark Goffman, one of the writers for the TV show the West Wing will be speaking at a PRI event tonight. It will be fun to hear how real world events impact the show. The event is sold out already,
SBC to buy AT&T
In yet another example of how quickly the communications industry is changing, SBC announced it will acquire AT&T for $16 billion. Back in 1997, FCC Chair Reed Hundt said that such a deal was unthinkable, but of course at that
Transforming Humans
William Safire bid farewell to his column at the New York Times this week, but not because he’s retiring. Instead, this Pulitzer Prize-winning, former presidential speech writer is moving on to lead an organization concerned with what some call transhumanism.
The Slippery Slope
I almost can’t believe it, but I just watched a newscast that reported San Francisco has just banned smoking in public parks — that’s *outdoors* folks. Wow — critics of the indoor smoking ban were right that it wouldn’t stop
Unfairenheight 9/11
Well, I finally broke down and watched Fahrenheit 9/11. Ever since watching the obnoxious film “Roger and Me,” I’ve been repulsed by Michael Moore, so I really didn’t want to see his latest. I figured it would just be more
Fox blurs a cartoon butt for fear of censors
While American soldiers risk their lives overseas to protect freedom, broadcasters at home are cowering in the shadows of government censors. Here’s my column on the madness.
Thoughts on Bush’s inauguration speech
I watched the speech and then read it, so here’s my initial reaction. I didn’t think Bush delivered the speech with as much passion as he has at other times. Perhaps he was trying to be more “statesman-like†or something.
An SF homelessness story worth reading
Today I read a sad and touching story on homelessness in San Francisco magazine. The writer, Kevin Berger, described how he set out to produce a story on homelessness, but wound up making a friend. The homeless man that Berger
New Commissioners at the CA PUC
Soon, two new commissioners will take their posts at the California Public Utilities Commission. Here’s a column giving them a heads-up on some of the issues.
Cold Fusion Chill
Will cold fusion ever happen? Not if we don’t try to figure it out. Here’s a column on the problems facing the field.
Done with death
Perhaps someday we can say we really are done with death. Here’s my book review of the Scientific Conquest of Death.
Why broadband shouldn’t be socialized
See my column this week.