Harvesting items, newsworthy or not

 
Whither Internet administration? Vox pop or (gasp) world governmental reps? Or maybe monkeys? Here's a nifty idea; a digital camera which does near-simultaneous translation of foreign language signs. In other uses of imagery, anyone ever see your local news (forget the focus on "If it bleeds, it leads" for the moment) and wonder how the sets are constructed? Guess what; they're virtual. Non-virtual art: a new Mayan mural has been found in Guatemala. Now if only the US Congress can find the answer to this burning question: "Who would win a celebrity boxing match between Jeffrey Skilling and Joseph Berardino?"

Here's one to break your heart: an American-built hospital in Afghanistan in the late 1940's into the 1950's, now in disrepair. Fascinating; I'd never heard of this project before. Here's a project we may all hear a lot about: NIH/NIAID released its bioterrorism research agenda today. (Adobe Acrobat required). British Telecom hyperlink patent update: a US judge has ruled it only applies to a single terminal, like a system console controlling a network of dumb terminals. Oh, and are you narcissistic? If so, you may be pretty lousy to work with.

There are times when I think Karl Marx and his colleagues were right: religion is indeed "the opium of the masses." Witness the alleged actions of the Saudi religious police in a fire on Monday. Some of the victims were apparently not wearing an abaya, thus the cops apparently tried to prevent the firemen from rescuing them. Or the (so far) peaceful marching by Hindus in Ayodhya today.
posted by Link Meister at 3:55 PM

 
Ashcroft isn't the first AG to expand his authority to incarcerate without due process. Remember the Palmer raids? In corporate news, Victoria's Secret and A&W are being sold! Yikes, icons of American capitalism changing hands! (They are not, mind you, being purchased by the same suitor; no intimate apparel on sale with the suds).

Ok, baseball fans: spring training is upon us. The burning question is not whether the Yankees can compete for the World Series again (of course!), but rather, how does baseball manage to lose billions (by their own testimony) and yet remain in business? It's downright unpatriotic (and, given their antitrust exemption, possibly illegal) of them not to let the rest of American business in on this secret.

Those of us who worry about carpal tunnel syndrome might be interested in this news; FDA approval for a non-surgical treatment of the malady. Be forewarned, though. The company which got the approval has two (2) employees; this thing is not going to make it to your doctor's office anytime soon. Still, "cold-laser" technology sounds promising. Oh, and here's an update on Mom's surgery; we went to her original doc today, and he says everything is progressing very well, but the prescription glasses she's been wearing will have to be changed; that's hardly a surprise.
posted by Link Meister at 6:06 PM

 
I've been wondering just why ostensibly secular states in the Islamic world still let their education systems be run by state-sponsored religions; here's an op/ed recounting some of the history behind it. And another op/ed, this one from Senator Byrd, explaining his view of why Congress has a duty to review Administration wartime policy; I have had my problems with Senator Byrd's views of what's pork and what's crucial, but he expresses my viewpoint pretty well in this article. There's pork, and there's potential nepotism; here's a startling trend. Some jobs in the Administration seem to be best filled by family members.

Here's an item similar to yesterday's story about the camera as an aid to conservators; digital art through microscopy. Yet more gadgetry: a palmtop which transmits targeting data using multiple information sets. My only concern is that it's Windows-based. More science: what's a dodo? Neurobiology news flash: Brain size may affect intelligence. Um, really? From zoology to botany: this one's from the "life hands you lemons, make lemonade" file: while visiting the eye surgeon last week, we noticed a florist on the ground floor of the doc's office building. Lo and behold, the florist had several cherry blossom branches for sale. We bought a couple (at $6.50/branch), and they are now in our family room, blooming gloriously. Surprisingly to me, though, there doesn't appear to be any aroma from them. Is my nose bad, or do they not smell? Anybody?
posted by Link Meister at 4:55 PM

 
Just heard on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me:" Discussing the Fox boxing idiocy matching Paula Jones vs. Tonya Harding, Charlie Pierce exclaimed, "And in the Paula Jones corner, The Rutherford Foundation!" Ok, maybe you hadda be there. And you certainly hadda be there when British Telecom patented something which is now known as hyperlinking; a preliminary ruling on that patent's validity is expected shortly. Y'all ready for licensing fees on your web sites? Would you like to own a digital camera with 10,000x10,000 pixel capability? That's the size in use to conserve artwork at the UK National Gallery. Oh, and remember kd's story of hooking up her new/used 'puter? Well, here's a guy who did it wirelessly.

Apocalypse ahead? 'with just "eight small, suitcase-size nuclear bombs," the whole problem of Israel could be eliminated.' And in this country, nuclear arms are being re-thought by the Pentagon and the Administration: ' "Nuclear attack options that vary in scale, scope and purpose will complement other military capabilities." ' Surely 49% of US voters did not approve of this when they elected this man. Also, in its never-ending search for enemies, the GOP continues to rely on its old standby, the previous occupant of the White House.

I'll save y'all the annoyance of reading my diatribe (monotribe?) against the NCAA Selection Committee (Women's BB), except to say that money obviously talks. Fifteen teams from two conferences (SEC and Big 12)? One from the WAC, and that one perennial powerhouse La. Tech? As one of the UH players said, "If Louisiana Tech was going to go regardless, why did we even bother to have a tournament?" (For the record, UH lost to La. Tech on Saturday by three points in the title game of the tournament).
posted by Link Meister at 4:53 PM