Slow Burn

I’m interested to see how this turns out.  There is a rumor that a future iPhone, maybe around 2012, will have wireless charging capabilities.  The thing is, I have a Panasonic shaver that is at least 15 years old that has inductive charging.  Who wants to place a bet on whether the fanbois will be all about how “cutting edge” or “kewl” it is that their JesusPhone can charge without a cable?  How about placing bets on how the media reacts?  They’re all about Apple, too – brings in the readers which brings in the moolah.

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It would be so cool to find some sort of primitive life on one of those planets.  How amazing would it be if we are not the only planet with life?  I do not believe that we are, but to find another place with even the simplest of life forms… wow.  I can only fantasize that it would change us all.  Make us forget about all the petty crap we dwell on and bitch about to each other every day.

Do you know who Dean Kamen is?  You probably know one of his inventions, the Segway “scooter.”  Well, did you know that he (or better, his company DEKA) has also created much more important things?  DEKA has also created a very advanced wheelchair (although it doesn’t seem fair to call it that considering what it can do).   It was invented quite some time ago, prior to the Segway (which uses technology developed for the wheelchair).  They have also created a prosthetic arm, one that is so advanced it probably falls just a little short of the fictional one that Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) received.  Below are two links for the wheelchair and the arm, respectively.  Mr. Kamen has my utmost respect for developing things which return basic human functionality to those who have lost it!  Unfortunately, the wheelchair is no longer sold, due to poor sales and inability to get reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.  Yea!  Let’s hear it for government controlled health care!

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Link 2

Although I don’t generally agree with the “hidden” agendas of the ACLU or what it has become, I will give a tip of the hat to one of their latest efforts.  A company has patents on two human genes and the ACLU is challenging the patents.  I agree these patents should be revoked, and no other patents should be issued for any other genes.  I do realize that the company that found these patents put their hard work and (probably) their own money into the research.  However, morality should be put above profit and egos in this case.  These two patents mean that only the company that discovered (coded?) them can use them for the research that these two genes are related to (in this case, certain hereditary ovarian and breast cancers).  The potential for advances in treatment and prevention (or even a cure) could be huge if the research is not only done by this single company.

Just wanted to inform everyone of another way that someone is out to shaft you, in case you haven’t heard.  Many Internet Service Providers are looking at implementing metered billing, meaning there would no longer be a flat fee of say, $39.99 for your tier of access.  They are spinning it to make it look like it isn’t just another way to stuff their pockets with your hard earned dollar.

They want to start charging exactly per what you use, like how you pay for electricity.  Just keep in mind that given the same amount of usage on your behalf, they will be working on ways to get more $$$ from you in a metered plan.  Some ISP mouthpieces are saying that it would result in a lower bill for most people, that its intended target is the userbase that consumes a lot of bandwidth (filesharing, P2P, etc).  Yeah, and I’m on the next train to Australia.

If you hear your ISP is thinking about switching to metered plans, call and tell them you’ll dump them for another provider with flat rates.  While you’re at it, ask them why they don’t do metered billing with with cable TV channels – you pay for all of them but you probably only watch 10% of them.  Huh…