The title is terrible. Pretend instead it's "A history of the science and politics of vaccines."
I started reading it and ended up staying up late into the night until I finished.
It explains in detail all those things about vaccines that you'd vaguely heard of including things like the "vaccine court." and the vaccine panic in the 1880's is also interesting to read about.
In Oregon, it's currently illegal to talk while driving without a hands-free device.
Despite this, when I'm at the front of the line at a red light, waiting to turn left, I see lots of people on the phone, holding it up to their head. I see people on phones driving (usually speeding) through residential streets. I see people staring down at their phone at a red light after it's just turned green and they're still not moving yet. On the highway I see people driving slower than the speed limit and when I pass them - yup, they're on a phone. I see people in grocery store parking lots doing strange things, blasting through crosswalks and stop signs in front of kids instead of stopping (even with kids of their own in the back of their car). Basically, it's really easy to spot people on phones while they're driving because they're driving badly in an obvious way, and there are a lot of them around, despite it being illegal.
OK, so we get everybody a hands-free device and.....well, actually, no. There's a bunch of research that shows that it's the talking that causes the tunnel-vision and slowness, not the fact that you're holding a phone. So hands-free devices don't actually help, even though the law sort of implies that they do.
Personally, I won't talk on a phone while driving, and if I find myself on the phone with someone who is driving, I politely ask them to call back when they're done driving and hang up.
In theory, talking to passengers is OK because they can stop talking when traffic is tricky, but in practice I've missed exits while talking to passengers (I'm sure you have too).
So that's the baseline on my view of phone use while driving, so you understand where I'm coming from.
When I'm driving and have my phone in my pocket, I get emails and texts and the phone beeps and I ignore it.
When I'm driving and have Glass on my head, I get emails and texts and glass beeps and I ignore it.
When I have Glass on my head, it does slightly block my view of the ceiling of my vehicle, but not anything out any window. If the display somehow ended up between my eye and the road, it's transparent, so I can see through it - but it's not in the way, it's up on the ceiling.
I do have a GPS that sits on on the dash. I find the audio reminders to turn to be very useful, and sometimes the map showing the lanes is useful to glance at to figure out which lane I need to be in. The rest of the time, the moving map actually draws my eye to it instead of the road, and the audio is kind of annoying to non-drivers or kids sleeping in the back of the car.
I've used the GPS in Glass while driving - it is *way less distracting* than my on-dash gps - the dings are very clear, the audio directions are great, and the screen *shuts off entirely* while on the straightaway. You can't view texts or emails while in gps mode, at most you can turn on the map again by tilting your head. When you're near a turn, the screen turns back on, you can glance at which lane you need to be in, just like you'd glance at the GPS on the dash, and you make your turn.
Lately I've also seen a rash of drivers trying to make the exit after they've just missed it - they end up on the left shoulder of the exit, narrowly missing the concrete at the diagonal intersection. I'm not sure what's going on with them (I'd guess they're on the phone, too and are panicking about missing the exit), but a GPS to either warn them that the exit is coming up, or allow them to relax and find their way again after the next exit is way less dangerous than making their own new lane, and Glass is the least intrusive best GPS I've ever used.
I ponied up the money for the 'upgrade' and got my OpenPandora. It's faster (1GHz) and has more RAM that the one I'd originally ordered, and does many things better than my android phone - real hardware controls for games, real keys for typing in a terminal window. I'm quite pleased with it.
I'm especially pleased that I can just run Python apps, or C programs without having to write an Android app.
The first thing I did was update the firmware it when I got it on Sunday so that I could see the "OK Go" video. I never saw the "bsod" requesting that you power off and on again until yesterday when I was playing Ghost: Recon for the first time. I just saw it again today, also while playing Ghost:Recon. The exact wording is "An error has occurred. Hold down the POWER button to turn off the power, then turn it on and try again. For help, visit support.nintendo.com."
I just looked for another update, and there is none.
So the issue still exists with all current patches applied, and seems to show up in Ghost:Recon, at least for me.
Kids could use BASIC or Logo running directly on the iPad, except that Apple forbids interpreted languages. No modern touch-aware reimplementation of HyperCard, either. They kicked out a previously approved Commodore 64 emulated retro-game when it was discovered you could get to a BASIC prompt. I'm not sure if this restriction is targeted directly at Adobe Flash, or just indirectly at all apps that might auto-update themselves via the net to change their own behaviour without App-Store approval. It's pretty big collateral damage no matter the reason.
While I also think it's cool that a 13-year old and his friend have published an app, if they had tried to write something like HyperCard, or Google Voice instead of a simple drawing program, Apple would have shut them down.
The article also mentions that the DS Game - Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars sold poorly, selling only 89,000 copies, way under expectations. This bums me out, since I bought it, bought copies as gifts, and loved it - the DS touch-screen interface is something I find very enjoyable to use. With such low sales, a sequel seems unlikely, in spite of the fact that it received the all-time high score for the DS at metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/games/ds/
The "change your business model" idea suggested for music companies is actually happening for games - Dragon Age: Origins now ships essentially crippled, with magic items to boost stats and useful party-member NPCs held back until you register an EA.com account and use the "free" code contained in a sealed shrink-wrapped game, or pay extra for it as DLC (downloadable content). This then adds all the server-overload fun of an MMO launch to a single-player game. It also required a tedious install reboot install loop on a console. Argh.
I'm not sure what the answer is long-term, other than everything will eventually be network-enabled only, as that's the only way to ensure payment. Standalone games will wither and die. Bummer. (With various exceptions for things like Dwarf Fortress which are free and take donations.)
In the meantime, Wil Wheaton's advice should be extended beyond just playing games, to include publishing and acquiring games - "Don't be a Dick."
"The history, status, and future of audio for Linux systems was the topic of two talks--coming at the theme from two different directions--at the Linux Plumbers Conference (LPC). Ardour and JACK developer Paul Davis looked at audio from mostly the professional audio perspective, while PulseAudio developer Lennart Poettering, unsurprisingly, discussed desktop audio. Davis's talk ranged over the full history of Linux audio and gave a look at where he'd like to see things go, while Poettering focused on the changes since last year's conference and "action items" for the coming year."
I am in no way affiliated with OSU, but recently saw a link to their OSWALD handheld. It's yet another TI OMAP handheld, designed to be hacked on, running Linux.
I have no idea if you can get one as a civilian, but it looks great, and appears to be available now.
You don't need to quit all of Chrome when Flash video stops working, just kill the Flash process. Shift-Esc or bring it up under (Page Icon Menu)-> Developer -> Task Manager. Kill the processs (at the bottom) that says Plug-in: Shockwave Flash. All of your pages with Flash on them will show a broken flash icon. Just reload the page to start up flash again.
I have no clue what's actually causing the issue, since I know little about bees, but the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture of the guy pouring liquid corn syrup into the hive was that maybe the corn syrup was made from Bt corn (genetically modified to kill insects), and that's what's killing the bees.
Maybe somebody has already disproved this wild theory.
I haven't tried these myself, just read an article in the paper, and looked at the web page and put them on my 'to try' list.
Normally NiMH batteries discharge so rapidly when not in use that you pretty much need to remember to charge them the night before you want to use them, which is a pain when taking spare batteries on, say, a backpacking trip.
Rayovac has new 'hybrid' NiMH battery that ships fully charged and is supposed to hold a charge much longer in storage.
Most of my upcoming trips are in Canada.:) On the plus side, a new national monument was just created as a nice sugar coating - http://ww4report.com/node/2110 On the minus side, Vancouver Island now has Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (Red Tide), possibly due to cruise ships from the US, but largely due to warming temperatures - http://www.alaskareport.com/shellfish10026.htm
But yes, I get your point. I'm not giving up the fight on either front (DRM and environment) and am working on it as I can, and have worked on it in the past (with time and/or donations). Part of the point of the folding kayak is that I won't have to drive it everywhere, but can use electric dam-powered (salmon-powered) trains to get around.
It goes on planes, in trains, in your trunk or in its backpack. These things are just incredibly well designed - RF-welded urethane skin (no leaks), internal sponsons, hatches that work like drybags and a seat that's super comfortable. The aluminum frame is beautiful, and has neat tricks like using two of the deck bars as a lever to tighten the other frame pieces before they're put in place.
My girlfriend (who also got one) had previously paddled fiberglass boats and thought that folding kayaks were silly and no good. She said something like "why would anyone want one of those?" When I asked her what specific reasons she had against it, she couldn't come up with anything other than "well, that's what everyone says". We embarked on a kayak-testing plan over a couple of months testing lots of kayaks at various demo days and symposiums and renting/demoing kayaks from local dealers. These were all fiberglass boats. I got her to try a Feathercraft when she was in Seattle for work near Folding Kayak Adventures (http://www.foldingkayak.com - tell them I sent you). Her response after trying two of them in 2-3 foot waves on Lake Washington (and just after trying lots of different fiberglass boats) was "why would anyone ever want a rigid boat?". The sensation of being in it is like being gently cradled in a hammock while floating along. It's fun. Once we had it narrowed down to Feathercraft we spent 2 days at a symposium trying every model they make multiple times to figure out which one to get. With unlimited funds, I would get more than one.:)
If you want one that's more rollable, try the new Wisper. I wanted one with a deployable rudder since they're cool (Feathercraft came up with the first flip rudder that's now used on lots of kayaks) and I also wanted to use it with a downwind sail. The clip-on skeg on the Wisper works, but is less-than elegant (you should be able do all your non-sail turns without a rudder or skeg, anyway). You don't have to put the rudder on the Kahuna on days you don't need it. A Feathercraft employee I spoke with at a symposium (he makes them - they're all made by hand) who has his pick of kayaks to take out and use whenever he wants said that the Kahuna was his previous favorite, but now he uses the Wisper all the time.
I've also test-paddled the Khatsalano. It was even more fun, in a 'oh-my-god-this-is-fast-and-tippy-and-I-can't-stop -grinning' kind of way. I decided that the Kahuna was a better all-around kayak for trips (easier to pack), but that a Khats could be in my future for insanely fun day-trips (or with carefully packed gear in tiny dry bags) once my skills were up to it. We took a class from a local BCU (British Canoe Union) 4-star coach who has a friend with a Khatsalano. His opinion: It's a Real Kayak(tm). Traditional kayaks are skin-on-frame, after all. See http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~walpole/kayaking.html for lots of pictures.
See also Ralph Diaz's book on folding kayaks (The Complete Folding Kayaker), and the web site http://www.foldingkayaks.org/
Comparisons to plastic boats: Plastic boats are cheap. If you bang them into rocks you don't care. But they're cheap and get brittle over time, and are heavy. They also get dents. Aesthetically, they're kind of blah. But cheap. Repairing holes polyethelene is a pain. Roto-molded boats are most common, but companies like Eddyline are making weird plastic/fiberglass hybrids.
Fiberglass boats: Before the 1950's everyone used wooden-framed folding kayaks in trains. After the 1950's, fiberglass took off. They're light and strong. Kevlar is ligher and stronger. A nice boat costs arond US$3000. This is the same price as the Feathercraft Kahuna fully tricked out. You don't want to bang your fiberglass boat into rocks, either. It's pretty easy to repair.
You may be kidding. I'm not. I've got lots of (legally purchased) games, movies, cds, etc. I looked at all the money I could be spending on a new HDTV, PS3, Blue-Ray, HD-DVD player, etc. They're all more hassle (due to DRM, crippled HDMI outputs, not-working-on-Linux, etc.) than fun for me at this point. After the Sony CD rootkit fiasco, I stopped buying Sony products. Even people I know with new Macs (that they like) are starting to complain that they're on machine #4 of 5 for their iTunes limit, and it seems like they didn't really buy any songs after all.
My solution: I bought a skin-on-aluminum frame folding kayak instead. Geek factor - high. DRM factor -low. No monthly upgrades to keep track of. I can do anything I want to modify it without any silly broadcast flags. All fun.
Congratulations media companies - you declared war on your paying customers and I surrendered. I won't buy your products any more, I'll do something else instead.
This is often brought up as an example of ridiculous lawsuits, but was actually quite reasonable. You'd sue, too, if the coffee you bought was so hot that you received third degree burns on your genitals and needed skin grafts.
Slashdot Mirror
https://smile.amazon.com/Deadl...
The title is terrible. Pretend instead it's "A history of the science and politics of vaccines."
I started reading it and ended up staying up late into the night until I finished.
It explains in detail all those things about vaccines that you'd vaguely heard of including things like the "vaccine court." and the vaccine panic in the 1880's is also interesting to read about.
Buy a copy, read it, then pass it to a friend.
In Oregon, it's currently illegal to talk while driving without a hands-free device.
Despite this, when I'm at the front of the line at a red light, waiting to turn left, I see lots of people on the phone, holding it up to their head. I see people on phones driving (usually speeding) through residential streets. I see people staring down at their phone at a red light after it's just turned green and they're still not moving yet. On the highway I see people driving slower than the speed limit and when I pass them - yup, they're on a phone. I see people in grocery store parking lots doing strange things, blasting through crosswalks and stop signs in front of kids instead of stopping (even with kids of their own in the back of their car). Basically, it's really easy to spot people on phones while they're driving because they're driving badly in an obvious way, and there are a lot of them around, despite it being illegal.
OK, so we get everybody a hands-free device and.....well, actually, no. There's a bunch of research that shows that it's the talking that causes the tunnel-vision and slowness, not the fact that you're holding a phone. So hands-free devices don't actually help, even though the law sort of implies that they do.
Personally, I won't talk on a phone while driving, and if I find myself on the phone with someone who is driving, I politely ask them to call back when they're done driving and hang up.
In theory, talking to passengers is OK because they can stop talking when traffic is tricky, but in practice I've missed exits while talking to passengers (I'm sure you have too).
So that's the baseline on my view of phone use while driving, so you understand where I'm coming from.
When I'm driving and have my phone in my pocket, I get emails and texts and the phone beeps and I ignore it.
When I'm driving and have Glass on my head, I get emails and texts and glass beeps and I ignore it.
When I have Glass on my head, it does slightly block my view of the ceiling of my vehicle, but not anything out any window. If the display somehow ended up between my eye and the road, it's transparent, so I can see through it - but it's not in the way, it's up on the ceiling.
I do have a GPS that sits on on the dash. I find the audio reminders to turn to be very useful, and sometimes the map showing the lanes is useful to glance at to figure out which lane I need to be in. The rest of the time, the moving map actually draws my eye to it instead of the road, and the audio is kind of annoying to non-drivers or kids sleeping in the back of the car.
I've used the GPS in Glass while driving - it is *way less distracting* than my on-dash gps - the dings are very clear, the audio directions are great, and the screen *shuts off entirely* while on the straightaway. You can't view texts or emails while in gps mode, at most you can turn on the map again by tilting your head. When you're near a turn, the screen turns back on, you can glance at which lane you need to be in, just like you'd glance at the GPS on the dash, and you make your turn.
Lately I've also seen a rash of drivers trying to make the exit after they've just missed it - they end up on the left shoulder of the exit, narrowly missing the concrete at the diagonal intersection. I'm not sure what's going on with them (I'd guess they're on the phone, too and are panicking about missing the exit), but a GPS to either warn them that the exit is coming up, or allow them to relax and find their way again after the next exit is way less dangerous than making their own new lane, and Glass is the least intrusive best GPS I've ever used.
I ponied up the money for the 'upgrade' and got my OpenPandora. It's faster (1GHz) and has more RAM that the one I'd originally ordered, and does many things better than my android phone - real hardware controls for games, real keys for typing in a terminal window. I'm quite pleased with it.
I'm especially pleased that I can just run Python apps, or C programs without having to write an Android app.
Have you looked at go?
Strong typing, ridiculously fast compiles, garbage collection, python-like maps and slices, and a decent standard library.
http://golang.org/
Yes. For example, Heroku is using it (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/05/google_go/), and you can also use Google App Engine with Go - http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/go/overview.html
The first thing I did was update the firmware it when I got it on Sunday so that I could see the "OK Go" video. I never saw the "bsod" requesting that you power off and on again until yesterday when I was playing Ghost: Recon for the first time. I just saw it again today, also while playing Ghost:Recon. The exact wording is "An error has occurred. Hold down the POWER button to turn off the power, then turn it on and try again. For help, visit support.nintendo.com."
I just looked for another update, and there is none.
So the issue still exists with all current patches applied, and seems to show up in Ghost:Recon, at least for me.
What was the book that you didn't already have?
It's a bit like the Vadem Clio from 1999 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadem_Clio
Two hinges inside a bigger frame should be stronger than one smaller hinge that also rotates.
Kids could use BASIC or Logo running directly on the iPad, except that Apple forbids interpreted languages. No modern touch-aware reimplementation of HyperCard, either. They kicked out a previously approved Commodore 64 emulated retro-game when it was discovered you could get to a BASIC prompt. I'm not sure if this restriction is targeted directly at Adobe Flash, or just indirectly at all apps that might auto-update themselves via the net to change their own behaviour without App-Store approval. It's pretty big collateral damage no matter the reason.
While I also think it's cool that a 13-year old and his friend have published an app, if they had tried to write something like HyperCard, or Google Voice instead of a simple drawing program, Apple would have shut them down.
The article also mentions that the DS Game - Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars sold poorly, selling only 89,000 copies, way under expectations. This bums me out, since I bought it, bought copies as gifts, and loved it - the DS touch-screen interface is something I find very enjoyable to use. With such low sales, a sequel seems unlikely, in spite of the fact that it received the all-time high score for the DS at metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/games/ds/
I have a strong suspicion that the easy availability of ROMs for the game might have had something to do with the low sales (although objective data is hard to come by). By comparison, an iphone game was 80% unpaid copies, 20% paid - http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/developer-claims-80-percent-piracy-rate-for-latest-iphone-releas/
The "change your business model" idea suggested for music companies is actually happening for games - Dragon Age: Origins now ships essentially crippled, with magic items to boost stats and useful party-member NPCs held back until you register an EA.com account and use the "free" code contained in a sealed shrink-wrapped game, or pay extra for it as DLC (downloadable content). This then adds all the server-overload fun of an MMO launch to a single-player game. It also required a tedious install reboot install loop on a console. Argh.
I'm not sure what the answer is long-term, other than everything will eventually be network-enabled only, as that's the only way to ensure payment. Standalone games will wither and die. Bummer. (With various exceptions for things like Dwarf Fortress which are free and take donations.)
In the meantime, Wil Wheaton's advice should be extended beyond just playing games, to include publishing and acquiring games - "Don't be a Dick."
Linux Weekly News has a nice summary of Linux Audio from the Linux Plumber's Conference:
http://lwn.net/Articles/355018/
"The history, status, and future of audio for Linux systems was the topic of two talks--coming at the theme from two different directions--at the Linux Plumbers Conference (LPC). Ardour and JACK developer Paul Davis looked at audio from mostly the professional audio perspective, while PulseAudio developer Lennart Poettering, unsurprisingly, discussed desktop audio. Davis's talk ranged over the full history of Linux audio and gave a look at where he'd like to see things go, while Poettering focused on the changes since last year's conference and "action items" for the coming year."
The slides from the talks are also available as one LWN commenter pointed out - http://linuxplumbersconf.org/2009/program/
I am in no way affiliated with OSU, but recently saw a link to their OSWALD handheld. It's yet another TI OMAP handheld, designed to be hacked on, running Linux. I have no idea if you can get one as a civilian, but it looks great, and appears to be available now.
You don't need to quit all of Chrome when Flash video stops working, just kill the Flash process. Shift-Esc or bring it up under (Page Icon Menu)-> Developer -> Task Manager. Kill the processs (at the bottom) that says Plug-in: Shockwave Flash. All of your pages with Flash on them will show a broken flash icon. Just reload the page to start up flash again.
That's what I did - skipped the HDTV, PS3, 360, Blue-Ray and HD-DVD. I got a kayak instead. Great special effects.
Although I did get a Wii. Those are fun, too.
Maybe somebody has already disproved this wild theory.
Bt corn seems to spread like mad.
I found one study that says that Bt corn pollen is OK to feed to bees, but I that's pollen, not corn syrup.
I haven't tried these myself, just read an article in the paper, and looked at the web page and put them on my 'to try' list.
. shtml
Normally NiMH batteries discharge so rapidly when not in use that you pretty much need to remember to charge them the night before you want to use them, which is a pain when taking spare batteries on, say, a backpacking trip.
Rayovac has new 'hybrid' NiMH battery that ships fully charged and is supposed to hold a charge much longer in storage.
http://www.rayovac.com/recharge/hybrid_technology
Yes, it does run Linux, with a garmin GPS mounted on it. Although technically, it doesn't run it *yet*, but it will:
l /011522.html
http://zgp.org/pipermail/linux-elitists/2006-Apri
Exercise will make your back pain go away. It'll also help your wrists.
But if you're going to be sitting in a chair 12 hours a day, an Aeron is very comfortable, and you can set it to 'no-slouch' mode.
Most of my upcoming trips are in Canada. :) On the plus side, a new national monument was just created as a nice sugar coating - http://ww4report.com/node/2110 On the minus side, Vancouver Island now has Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (Red Tide), possibly due to cruise ships from the US, but largely due to warming temperatures - http://www.alaskareport.com/shellfish10026.htm
But yes, I get your point. I'm not giving up the fight on either front (DRM and environment) and am working on it as I can, and have worked on it in the past (with time and/or donations). Part of the point of the folding kayak is that I won't have to drive it everywhere, but can use electric dam-powered (salmon-powered) trains to get around.
Feathercraft Kahuna. I love it.
:)
http://www.feathercraft.com/
It goes on planes, in trains, in your trunk or in its backpack. These things are just incredibly well designed - RF-welded urethane skin (no leaks), internal sponsons, hatches that work like drybags and a seat that's super comfortable. The aluminum frame is beautiful, and has neat tricks like using two of the deck bars as a lever to tighten the other frame pieces before they're put in place.
My girlfriend (who also got one) had previously paddled fiberglass boats and thought that folding kayaks were silly and no good. She said something like "why would anyone want one of those?" When I asked her what specific reasons she had against it, she couldn't come up with anything other than "well, that's what everyone says". We embarked on a kayak-testing plan over a couple of months testing lots of kayaks at various demo days and symposiums and renting/demoing kayaks from local dealers. These were all fiberglass boats. I got her to try a Feathercraft when she was in Seattle for work near Folding Kayak Adventures (http://www.foldingkayak.com - tell them I sent you). Her response after trying two of them in 2-3 foot waves on Lake Washington (and just after trying lots of different fiberglass boats) was "why would anyone ever want a rigid boat?". The sensation of being in it is like being gently cradled in a hammock while floating along. It's fun. Once we had it narrowed down to Feathercraft we spent 2 days at a symposium trying every model they make multiple times to figure out which one to get. With unlimited funds, I would get more than one.
If you want one that's more rollable, try the new Wisper. I wanted one with a deployable rudder since they're cool (Feathercraft came up with the first flip rudder that's now used on lots of kayaks) and I also wanted to use it with a downwind sail. The clip-on skeg on the Wisper works, but is less-than elegant (you should be able do all your non-sail turns without a rudder or skeg, anyway). You don't have to put the rudder on the Kahuna on days you don't need it. A Feathercraft employee I spoke with at a symposium (he makes them - they're all made by hand) who has his pick of kayaks to take out and use whenever he wants said that the Kahuna was his previous favorite, but now he uses the Wisper all the time.
I've also test-paddled the Khatsalano. It was even more fun, in a 'oh-my-god-this-is-fast-and-tippy-and-I-can't-stop -grinning' kind of way. I decided that the Kahuna was a better all-around kayak for trips (easier to pack), but that a Khats could be in my future for insanely fun day-trips (or with carefully packed gear in tiny dry bags) once my skills were up to it. We took a class from a local BCU (British Canoe Union) 4-star coach who has a friend with a Khatsalano. His opinion: It's a Real Kayak(tm). Traditional kayaks are skin-on-frame, after all. See http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~walpole/kayaking.html for lots of pictures.
See also Ralph Diaz's book on folding kayaks (The Complete Folding Kayaker), and the web site http://www.foldingkayaks.org/
Comparisons to plastic boats: Plastic boats are cheap. If you bang them into rocks you don't care. But they're cheap and get brittle over time, and are heavy. They also get dents. Aesthetically, they're kind of blah. But cheap. Repairing holes polyethelene is a pain. Roto-molded boats are most common, but companies like Eddyline are making weird plastic/fiberglass hybrids.
Fiberglass boats: Before the 1950's everyone used wooden-framed folding kayaks in trains. After the 1950's, fiberglass took off. They're light and strong. Kevlar is ligher and stronger. A nice boat costs arond US$3000. This is the same price as the Feathercraft Kahuna fully tricked out. You don't want to bang your fiberglass boat into rocks, either. It's pretty easy to repair.
You may be kidding. I'm not. I've got lots of (legally purchased) games, movies, cds, etc. I looked at all the money I could be spending on a new HDTV, PS3, Blue-Ray, HD-DVD player, etc. They're all more hassle (due to DRM, crippled HDMI outputs, not-working-on-Linux, etc.) than fun for me at this point. After the Sony CD rootkit fiasco, I stopped buying Sony products. Even people I know with new Macs (that they like) are starting to complain that they're on machine #4 of 5 for their iTunes limit, and it seems like they didn't really buy any songs after all.
My solution: I bought a skin-on-aluminum frame folding kayak instead. Geek factor - high. DRM factor -low. No monthly upgrades to keep track of. I can do anything I want to modify it without any silly broadcast flags. All fun.
Congratulations media companies - you declared war on your paying customers and I surrendered. I won't buy your products any more, I'll do something else instead.
The Hipster PDA
To add some tech to it, use GTDTiddlyWiki and print out the index cards.
There is also a D*I*Y Planner
Make backups with a photocopier, or just type them in again and reprint.
See http://www.citizen.org/congress/civjus/tort/myths/ articles.cfm?ID=785
Woz's Wheels of Zeus is for tracking local objects and pets.
It's still vapor, though - you can't buy any products.
I've had a corn plant for 13 years. I forget to water it for a month sometimes. It's doing fine. It doesn't need much light, either.
With some fertilizer, it decided to bloom and put out spectactularly-scented flowers.
http://www.evergrowing.com/tips/cornplant.htm