Idea of “mental muscle” gaining ground
Here’s an interesting story from the LA Times. Many of these drugs have been around for a long time, yet the LAT is reporting on them as if they are news. Well, there is some news here — the news
DNA dating arrives
Are you fed up with Match.com? If so, there’s a new service out there that will help you find your “perfect chemistry” mate. The Scientist this week reports that a new site called ScientificMatch.com “uses DNA samples from customers to
Radical Life Extension and Religious Evolution
New data released this week shows that human evolution is speeding up — an interesting development given that many in the scientific community are hopeful that humans can take greater control over the process. At a recent conference in San
Cost of CDN passport: over $1000. Happiness resulting from travel: priceless
For those of you following my blog, you’ll know that I was forced to fly to Vancouver to get a new passport because the Canadian consulates in the US no longer offer that service to Canadians living in the US.
Wide-Open Wireless
Many telecom observers were stunned this week when Verizon announced it would open up its network to “wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company.” This change in policy is good for consumers and worth closer examination, especially
Canadian Consulate disappointment
I haven’t written about Canadian issues in a while because I’ve been super-busy tracking tech stuff, but after my experience at Canada’s San Francisco consulate today, I feel obligated to warn other Canadians in the US who may suffer the
Marriage — should it be the state’s business at all?
This is a very interesting op-ed by history professor Stephanie Coontz. She argues that historically government was not as involved in marriage as it is now and that marriage licenses are “no longer the chief determinant of which obligations a
Considering an Open Future
Presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Texas) became the “Internet” candidate this month when 36,672 people contributed more than US$4 million online to his campaign in a single 24-hour period. This impressive feat demonstrates the power of an open source culture, a
I’m speaking on longevity issues at the Foresight Vision Weekend today
The Foresight Institute is holding its Vision 2007 “unconference” this weekend. I was there yesterday and will be speaking today. So far, the conference has been amazing — talks I attended yesterday included the latest on nanotech and stem cell
Thank Boomers for Buffing Up Brain Market
America’s first baby boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, recently signed up for the Social Security benefits that she will start to collect in January. The new phase of life that she and her generation are entering is creating demand for new industries
A Conversation About Cryonics
Last weekend, 150 people attended the Alcor life extension conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. The main subject was cryonics, the use of technology to cool and preserve the human body with the aim of future revival. The technology, still speculative, raises
Robotics and aging in Japan
Here’s a nice update from Tokyo’s home care and rehabilitation convention. Seniors can use a robot to help them feed themselves and nurses can use robotic exoskeletons to help lift patients etc. Of course, here’s another use for the wearable
I’m at the Alcor life extension conference today
So far the morning has been interesting, learning about how cryopreservation works. One thing that strikes me, however, is how much time we are spending talking about death at this life extension conference. I suppose that it is natural given
More Euro-madness
Looks like Eurocrats want to put price caps on text messaging.
Microsoft launched a new site for health records today
Here’s the NYT piece on it. At first glance, this seems like a pretty cool idea to me.
Bill for HIV screening on Governor’s desk
In California, patients must provide written consent before their blood can be tested for HIV. This is in contrast to other screening tests for cholesterol and diabetes that do not need consent. To change this so that more people get
Growing human eggs in the lab
Looks like fertility treatment is going to advance quite a bit in the next 5 years. According to this article, doctors have unveiled details of a technique that will allow human eggs to be grown in the laboratory from ovarian
Microsoft and Antitrust: Retro-Regulators Threaten Tech Future
At a time when most people agree that Google or Apple have replaced Microsoft as the tech industry’s top player, government regulators on two continents are going retro, pushing old antitrust arguments. This backward-looking thinking threatens innovation for all companies
Wi-Fi Policy Win for PRI
For years, PRI has been warning San Francisco officials that their so-called “free Wi-Fi†idea was guaranteed to be a failure. Finally, they realize it. In late August, Earthlink pulled out of a misguided plan to supply the city with
Girl’s heart regenerates thanks to artifical heart
This is a pretty cool story from my homeland. Doctors implanted an artificial heart in a 15 year old girl while they waited for a replacement human heart to transplant. In the meantime, the girl’s own heart regenerated.