Via: Online Schools

"This week in New York, the American Museum of Natural History unveiled something never before seen: an 11-by-4-foot tapestry made completely of spider silk."
NPR has a beautiful picture and the interesting article.
The first company or individual that figures out how to do this via machine is going to make a fortune.

This was posted to another list with the request to pass it on. Makes sense to me...

Last night we went to a demoliton derby. After the one heat, 10 clunkers were ALL done in and ready for the crusher. None could run OR move, even if they did run.

All the parts had already been removed with the exception of the engine and the running gear.

Then I got to thinking.

I don't have a clue what it costs to put on a Demo Derby and award trophies as well, but it seems to me that if the government threw $2,000 or $3,000 at EVERY demo derby in the nation all summer long, it would be FAR cheaper than the "Cash For Clunkers" program ever was AND FAR more efficient as well!!

Not to mention the free advertising. SPONSORED BY THE US GOVERNMENT. (Presidential seal here)

Hey, pass this on and let's get something going here to save our tax dollars!!!!!

Not to mention all the entertainment.

--- I just got these in the form of feedback ---

How many vintage cars could have been kept running
or restored over the years with the parts that
were thrown away or destroyed because of the
hundreds if not thousands of demo races that have
been held????

If you think the gov't wants to save the taxpayer
money by reducing it's size and it's involvement
and control of everyone's life, then you live in
a place much different then I do.

Terry

Michigan, home of the US auto industry, the highest
unemployment rate, and addicted to governors who
are allergic to common sense and the truth.

---

Ok, so each person who enters a car that was registered and insured for the last two years in one persons name (not necessarily the driver) will qualify the person who it was registered to for $2000 of government cash automatically to be sent to them at the mailing address on there vehicle registration. (for giving up there clunker) This will weed out the true clunkers. Then the winner (winning driver, and winning vehicle's previous registered owner) of the derby will each get a $4500 cash rebate (redeemable at any dealership) towards the purchase of a new or good used inspected vehicle that is rated for at least 26 mpg on the highway. The rebate checks should be able to be cashed by any licensed auto dealer. That way the person on a fixed income that is stuck with a clunker, and the clunker just needs more than they can afford to keep it roadworthy, can still get in on the action. They had their car off to a demo driver and at least get $2000 and then they can see what they can find in their price range. If they can find a decent used car for 3500, then they only have to swing the payment on a loan for 1500.00 where as they would never be able to swing the payments on 15000.00 And heck, if their driver wins then they have a $4500 rebate check to go shopping with plus 1500 in their pocket so they could either look for a $6000 car or a $5000 car and have the rest for reg and insurance, or whatever.

JP

In response to a question as to why a reader is out of luck if the company that sold them an ebook goes out of business. The DRM will prevent them from transfering the file from a broken reader to their computer.

"We reject the view that copyright owners and their licensees are
required to provide consumers with perpetual access to creative
works. No other product or service providers are held to such
lofty standards. No one expects computers or other electronics
devices to work properly in perpetuity, and there is no reason
that any particular mode of distributing copyrighted works should
be required to do so."

- Steven Metalitz at
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2008/answers/7_10_responses/kasunic-letter-re-questions-re-authentication-servers.pdf
- page 4
- in response to "Questions related to authentication servers" at
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2008/questions/index.html

(via http://boingboing.net/2009/07/29/movierecord-industry.html)

This seems to me to be stating that an ebook it a totally different thing than a paper book. When you purchase a paper book, you can sell, trade or give it away if you wish. It is physically your property. In the case of an ebook, it is like going to the theatre. You pay for one viewing and once you leave the theatre, you must pay again to see the show.

The Ten Most Absurd Time Magazine Covers shows the kind of idiotic scare-mongering that most of the media moguls love. This is well worth reading.

This page has some good, basic financial advice from Yahoo.
For example, change your oil every 5000 to 7500 miles instead of every 3000. That is what most engines are designed for and you will save $60 to $100 a year.

This page has a spreadsheet with the top 500 worst passwords of all times. Make sure you aren't using one of these.

We are somewhat accustomed to thinking of slavery in other countries, but not about it really happening here in our own country. This article chronicles just one instance.

The past few days have been very busy around here. I did want to share some very interesting developments.

3D Rapid Prototyping
http://www.mcortechnologies.com/index.html

Healthy Skinny Pill?
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21635/?nlid=1486

New, Easy to make, Nukes!
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/magazine/16-10/sl_ferguson

Princeton's new library is all about socializing and electronics.

I'll amend this to say this is a great list of 100 things every man and woman should know. And they even include video tutorials.