Steampunk

Many probably have not heard of steampunk. These gadgets are modern equivalents of old-looking objects, many with practical uses. It is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that denotes works set in an era or world where steam power was still widely used, usually the 19th century, but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, like Jules Verne. Here is a modern working steampunk USB drive.

It is amazing to see how much time some folks dedicate to create these odd contraptions. To see more steampunk pictures, try this site.

Quotable

A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth.

National ID Cards

You have probably read that the new healthcare bill includes a provision for a national ID in the US. Here is a disturbing fact about that kind of technology from the UK. Its National ID Card was hacked In 12 Minutes. I personally don't think anyone can make an unhackable ID card.

UK National ID cards are currently being used by foreign nationals who are working in the UK. The card features a built in microchip which, according to the Government, makes the ID cards ‘unforgeable’, the problem is that a hacker was able to hack the chip in under twelve minutes using just an ordinary laptop and a mobile phone.

He was able to create a cloned card, change the information on the cloned card, and add a message to the card which could be read by police officers when they scan the card, the message read, ‘I am a te**orist – shoot on site’. (my asterisks) I seem to remember that national ID cards started in Germany in the 1930s to identify all good German citizens. I don't remember if cards created a furor, or they were created by a fuhrer or both. . .

Quotable

About the only consolation the average taxpayer has is that you don’t have to pay taxes on the amount you think you’re worth.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

The Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of JFK, died on August 11, 2009. She was born in July, 1921.

As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.

Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.

Quotable

Today’s opportunity: -
To care enough to dry a tear,
To dare enough to volunteer,
To live that others may be blessed,
To give our talents and our best.

Cool Camera Projector

Nikon is introducing the first combined digital camera and built-in projector and it should be available in September 09.

The Coolpix S1000pj has a 12.1 MP high-resolution capacity with a 5x zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD display, wireless remote and a 10 lumens projector that will display 5 to 40-inch images of pictures with sound. The display distance is 10-inches to 6 feet.

The image resolutions include a 4000 x 3000 High setting with a range of settings for PCs, TVs, wide-screen displays and normal displays.

Included in the package is a stand, wireless remote, rechargeable Li-On battery for about 220-shots or 1-hour projector mode, a battery charger, USB cable, audio/video cable, wrist strap and CD-ROM software suite. A SD/SDHC slot is included, but the memory card and AC adapter is optional.

Nikon believes size does matter. It measures 4-inches by 2.5-inches with a depth of 0.9-inches and weighs 5.5-ounces. It is light-weight, highly portable and literally turns on a dime to project images on a screen or wall. Price will be about $500. Want to know what to get me for Christmas?

Quotable

from 260 BC,
Tao bears love;
Love bears restraint;
Restraint bears acceptance;
Acceptance bears the World;
All things begin with love and end with restraint, but it is acceptance that brings harmony.

American Medical Association

As of 2005, latest numbers I could find, the AMA represented 15% of the physicians in the US. (30% of that number are medical school students, residents, or fellows.) Gone are the glory days when it represented the majority of physicians, but for some reason, it still has political clout through its lobbying efforts.

Next time someone tells you the AMA approves, remember that means only 15% of doctors approve.

Quotable

Today’s state-of-the-art medical technology makes it almost impossible for your doctor not to find something wrong.

Firefox Browser

The open-source browser Firefox passed its billionth download on Friday, July 31 ahead of the release of its fourth iteration. The milestone includes downloads of all versions of the web software since its first release in 2004.

Figures suggest that Firefox now has nearly one third of the browser market worldwide, at 31%. Microsoft's Internet Explorer still dominates the field with around 60%, whilst Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Opera are all less than 5%.

Microsoft is currently in talks with the European competition regulators, which ruled in January that pre-bundling Internet Explorer with the company's Windows operating system hurt competition.

The browser, developed by the Mozilla Foundation, has quickly become a favorite with web surfers since its launch in 2004.

Last year, the foundation set a new Guinness world record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours when the third version of Firefox was downloaded more than eight million times.

Mozilla developers are currently working on the fourth iteration of the software, and earlier this week, it showed off screenshots of the next version of the browser, Firefox 4.0. I have been using it almost exclusively since it came out. It is great and offers many free add-ons.

Mouth Gag - (1880s-1910s)

This handy dandy, wooden, screw-shaped mouth gag would be inserted into an anesthetized patient's mouth to keep the airway open.

Quotable

Talk is the activity of the mouth. Listening is the activity of the heart.

Top Ten Movies

Do you know the highest grossing movies of all time? The top four each grossed over a billion dollars - and probably another billion in popcorn.

Title, Gross Dollars (millions), Year Released

1 Titanic $1,842.9 1997

2 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $1,119.1 2003

3 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest $1,066.2 2006

4 The Dark Knight $1,001.9 2008

5 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $974.7 2001

6 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End $961.0 2007

7 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $938.2 2007

8 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers $925.3 2002

9 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace $924.3 1999

10 Shrek 2 $919.8 2004