Some countries are pushing a proposal to give the U.N.International Telecommunication Union (“ITU”) more control over the internet. The proposal will receive a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives next week. Currently the internt is “governed” (if you can call it that) by a a collection of non-profit entities. The result has been a [...]
Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Keep The U.N. Away From The Internet
Posted in America, Technology, World, tagged America, computers, Congress, Democrats, International Telecommunications Union, Internet, News, Republicans, Technology, United Nations, World on May 27, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Enter The Dragon
Posted in America, Science, Technology, tagged America, business, Dragon capsule, International Space Station, Science, Space, SpaceX, Technology on May 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has successfully rendevoused with the International Space Station and has been snagged by the space station’s robot arm. The Dragon capsule therefore becomes the first privately owned space vehicle to reach the ISS. This morning the astronauts on the space station opened the capsule and entered it, conducted a quick inspection and found no [...]
The Inventor Who Changed Everything — And His Invention
Posted in America, Family, Humor, Technology, TV, tagged America, Eugene Polley, Family, Humor, Inventions, Patents, Remote Controller, Technology, TV on May 23, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Eugene Polley, 96, died on Sunday. Few Americans recognize his name, although virtually every American uses his invention on a daily — in some cases, hourly, or even more distressingly frequent — basis. Polley held 18 U.S. patents, but his crown jewel was the wireless TV remote controller. In 1955 he invented the Flash-Matic, a [...]
A Glimpse Of The Future Of Space
Posted in America, Science, Technology, tagged America, Dragon capsule, Falcon 9 rocket, NASA, Science, Space, space exploration, SpaceX, Technology on May 22, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Our governments are running out of money. Programs like space exploration — which don’t pander to particular interest groups and aren’t viewed as “essential” — are easy targets for budget cutters. That means that, if we are to advance in space, commercial entities motivated by profits will have to carry the ball forward. Today saw [...]
Canada Loses Its Cents
Posted in America, Humor, Technology, The Economy, World, tagged America, Canada, Canadian Penny, Cash, Coins, Currency, Humor, Money, Pennies, Technology, The Economy, World on May 6, 2012 | 1 Comment »
On Friday, Canada minted its last penny. The rationale for this move is that it costs more to mint the penny ($.016 each) than the penny is worth. In addition, Canada’s Finance Minister concluded that people weren’t using the penny for business. Instead, they were just putting them in jars at home. So, no more [...]
Geek Squad In The ‘Hood
Posted in Growing Up, Humor, Technology, tagged Best Buy, Geek Squad, Growing Up, Humor, Technology on April 29, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday I noticed that there was a Geek Squad truck in the neighborhood. I should have realized that one was nearby, because the very air crackled with geekiness and several people were lying comatose by the roadway after having received needlessly technical explanations from Geek Squad members. I like the Geek Squad idea, and I [...]
Mill, Baby, Mill!
Posted in Ohio, Technology, The Economy, tagged Ohio, Oil and Gas, recession, Steel Mills, Technology, The Economy, Utica Shale Formation on April 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
In Ohio we are getting a first-hand look at the ripple effect in the economy when America’s energy resources are tapped — and it has been a real economic boon. As I’ve mentioned before, eastern Ohio is home to the Utica shale formation, an incredibly deep layer of rock that apparently is a rich repository [...]
Mining The Asteroid Belt
Posted in Science, Technology, tagged Asteroid mining, Asteroids, Capitalism, Science, Science Fiction, Space, space exploration, Technology on April 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Any sci-fi buff has read stories about hardy souls who fly between the asteroids and mine the hurtling chunks of rock for minerals. Usually the heroic asteroid miner-pilot is a gruff, swashbuckling character with a taste for adventure and a heart of gold. Now the concept of mining the asteroid belt seems to have moved [...]
Moving Into A Dim Future
Posted in America, Environment, Technology, tagged America, Candles, Darkness, Dimness, Environment, LED bulbs, Light bulbs, Technology on April 23, 2012 | 1 Comment »
I don’t like the new light bulbs. There, I said it, and I feel better. I know the new bulbs are supposed to be far more energy efficient, but I’m not convinced that will be the case. People like me don’t care for the new bulbs’ milky dimness, and I think many people will try [...]
Another Benefit From Space Exploration
Posted in Humor, Science, Technology, tagged Ardbeg distillery, Humor, International Space Station, Liquor, Science, scotch, Space, space exploration, Technology on April 10, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Proponents of space exploration and development have always argued that there will be lots of benefits from being able to do things in zero gravity. Form perfect spheres. Create chemical and metallurgical compounds that wouldn’t be possible in Earth’s heavy gravity. Experiment with positions undreamed of by the authors of the Kama Sutra. Now there’s [...]
Welcome Advances In Personal Chocolate Technology
Posted in Food, Humor, Technology, tagged Candy, Chocolate, Chocolate Printer, Easter, Food, Humor, Technology, Willy Wonka on April 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
As inventors have pushed the envelope in the areas of computers and cell phones, the field of personal chocolate technology has been sadly neglected. The market would be huge. What home entertainment area is complete without a device that allows you to create your own chocolate concoctions to nosh on as you watch your DVR’d [...]
iKidney
Posted in Humor, Technology, World, tagged Apple, China, Humor, Kidney Sales, Materialism, Technology, World on April 6, 2012 | 2 Comments »
I’ve noted before that I am a big fan of Apple products. I love my iMac and my iPod, and I’ve grown accustomed to my iPhone. But, you have to draw a line somewhere — and I confess that I wouldn’t sell a kidney to buy an iPad. That distinguishes me, evidently, from a teenage [...]
Discovering A Salt Water Moon
Posted in Science, Technology, tagged Cassini, Enceladus, Extraterrestrial Life, NASA, Saturn, Science, Space, space exploration, Technology on April 1, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
America’s unmanned space probes continue to do amazing things — including discovering that one of Saturn’s moon has salt water oceans like those on Earth. The discovery was made by the Cassini spacecraft, which has been flying around the huge gas giant and its famous rings. Cassini reached a point within 46 miles of the [...]