The Fun Theory

Because everyone and their mother seems to be writing about the President Obama-Nobel Peace Prize “scandal,” I thought I’d post something more creative today.  Of course, this isn’t my creativity, but the creativity of a Swedish initiative funded by Volkswagon called “Rolig Hets Teorin,” or “The Fun Theory.”  Their main goal is to demonstrate that [...]

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Techno Beat

The Technology Quarterly issue of The Economist came out last week, and as usual it amazes and dazzles.  I encourage you to check it out as usual.  A favorite of mine from this issue has to do with 3-D printing.  As the name implies it is possible to “print” out 3-D objects now, such as [...]

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Nuclear On KCRW

Heard a great report on KCRW’s, Which Way, LA?, on Monday night about a nuclear meltdown that occurred 50 years ago right here in LA.  Maybe you are like me and had never heard of this, so you may find that alone an interesting component of the show.
However the program went on to have a [...]

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Amazing

In other news that I cribbed from Drudge, a volcano erupting near Japan was caught on camera by the International Space Station conveniently passing by overhead.  For more pictures and info, head over to The Daily Mail.

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Aloha Future

An all digital election in Honolulu did not go as planned apparently.  They had an 83% drop in voters!  The neighborhood board election drew 44,000 voters last year, but this year rang up only 7,300.  This was the United States’ first all-digital election, where people could vote by internet or phone.  Conventional wisdom would hold [...]

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Trucking Charrette

Just wanted to draw your attention to a conference, or “charrette” (an intense design period), that is taking place in Colorado right now for the trucking industry and is focusing on fuel efficiency.  The Rocky Mountain Institute is putting it on, and it’s stated goal is to double efficiency.  As their website says:
…RMI shows that [...]

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Graffiti Crackdown

Thought I’d turn your attention to a bit I heard on NPR last night about new technology that tracks down taggers as they are in the process of vandalism.  I hate graffiti… hate taggers… hate vandalism.  Here’s hoping this technology works and the criminals pay their dues.
–Too bad we can’t have the wall that sprays [...]

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Chocolate Power

A unique report from The Economist.  Testing has been going on in New Hampshire to mix cocoa-bean shells with coal in power plants.  Cocoa-beans apparently burn at a similar value as wood but are otherwise useless and go to waste.  If the tests (which were successful by the power company’s standards) are verified by the [...]

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Weekend Thought Provocation

End The War On Drugs?
Last weeks issue of The Economist had a series on the global drug war and the cost/benefits of ending the prohibition of drugs.  Their conclusion, and one that they have held since 1988, is that “the least bad policy is to legalize drugs”.  Take a look at the article and see [...]

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Weekly (or Quarterly) Wanderings (VII)

It’s been centuries since I’ve posted a Weekly Wandering, and to my two devoted readers I sincerely apologize.  To restate the purpose of my Weekly Wanderings, I scour the Internet for interesting videos/articles/images/etc. regarding just about anything I find interesting enough to share with the fine readers of Criticism As Inspiration.  But I’ve recently been [...]

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