Monday 31 December 2012

Happy New Year


2012 will go down in history as the Annus Horribilis.


For myself, it saw the breakup of my marriage and months of lurching from crisis to crisis as I fought to right the boat and rebuild my life.  To show how hard a slog it's been, it was only the day before yesterday that I finally managed to get beds for my daughter and myself after sleeping on the floor since August.

As for the world, the loopier fringe of humanity thought it would end on the 21st of December based on when the Mayan calendar ended.  That's a bit like preparing for Judgement Day on 1 January 2100 because that's when the perpetual calendar on your watch runs out.  In my opinion, that doomsday was already passed on election day in the United States when Mr Barack Hussein Obama was re-elected.

I'm not such a political animal that I believe that an election setback means the end of the world.  There's much more to life than what goes on in Washington or Whitehall.  I also don't believe that the Land and the King are One.  However, I do believe that leadership counts and that democracy depends on a virtuous, responsible electorate.  Though there has always been grounds for pessimism since snakes started handing out apples, it wasn't until the election of the One that I started hearing serious talk about the decline of Western civilisation–both with dismay from the Right and smug satisfaction from the Left.  Decline is a choice and last November I saw the Americans choose decline by re-electing a man who has surpassed James Buchanan as the worst president in history.  Buchanan ushered in a mere civil war.  Barry Soetoro may usher out a civilisation.

It isn't any better in Britain.  What are our choices?  Three main parties all banging on about how they should be in office because they're the better Socialists?  A Conservative party that has ceased to be conservative led by a man who has proven himself a traitor and a moral coward?  All ruling (and I do mean rule) over a population that has changed out of all recognition from the British that I grew up with?


I found a load of old BBC and ITV programmes on Youtube last week and I've had a delightful time watching Warship, The Pathfinders and the like.  It was more than nostalgia.  It was the realisation that the people in these dramas seemed so... normal.  And that I find these people are very few and far between in Britain today.  A Britain, mark you, that may cease to exist in a few years, if it hasn't already.  Ah, well.  What can you expect of a nation ruled by a false elite of a permanent political class who see the history of Britain as a land of multi-racial Hobbits who were overrun by evil capitalists until saved by the NHS so the proles could text and bop their way into oblivion to the tune of their iPods?  So saith Danny Boyle.

Meanwhile, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee present is to see the Spithead Review replaced with a rainy small boat regatta on the Thames.  At least my father didn't live to see that.  Unfortunately, I did.

It's not all gloom. I do get rays of sunshine when I see how innovative we still are and the horse laugh that the gun control types in America were met with when they claimed that the way to stop mass murder was to ban tin boxes with springs in them rather than letting teachers apply for carry conceal permits.


On the other hand, the return of Mr Obama to office makes me extremely pessimistic.  I don't mean about his policies.  I mean about democracy.  Britain is already a basket case in that regard and I can't see any way out there short of revolution.  But America always struck me as a place where democracy works and now I'm not so sure.  Not only did a slim majority (and that is all it needs) vote for a Socialist state with all the tyranny and corruption that it implies, but many people I've spoken to have told me that the reason Barry was re-elected is because His opponent had to treat Him with kid gloves because He is black.

The latter is a chilling thought.  If blacks (and by extension, women and minorities) cannot be treated the same as straight, white male candidates; if they are given special electoral privilege and are therefore exempt from criticism, then God help us all because we have just established an aristocracy that makes the old House of Lords look better with every day that passes.

It's this sort of thing that makes me suspect that universal suffrage needs to be scrapped in favour of something where anyone who gets a government subsidy or entitlement is barred (military exempted) from voting.

As to the economy and the ghastliness of the "Arab Spring", I will pass quietly by as I can only list so many slide poles on the way to Hell.

Are we doomed?  Hopefully, and I pray, not.  However, if we get out of this with a whole skin, we will have a very heavy price to pay from the Gods of the Copybook Headings.

Happy New Year


As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.

We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.

We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place,
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.

With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!

The Gods of the Copybook Headings
Rudyard Kipling

Saturday 29 December 2012

New collagen scaffolding technique to benefit tissue engineering

New collagen scaffolding technique to benefit tissue engineering:
The bioskiving process (Image credit: Qiaobing Xu)
Collagen is the main component of connective tissues and the most abundant protein in the human body. Biocompatible and biodegradable, it is an excellent material for making scaffolding for tissue engineering. The trouble is, conventional techniques disrupt the fibrous structure of collagen and weaken the end product. Tufts University researchers are aiming to change this with a new technique for fabricating collagen structures that avoids disruption and retains collagen’s strength... Continue Reading New collagen scaffolding technique to benefit tissue engineering

Section: Research Watch

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Thursday 27 December 2012

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Gerry Anderson (1929 - 2012)


A big influence on my childhood has ended with the passing of Gerry Anderson.

FAB, sir.

"Virtual body technology" lets users walk in someone else's shoes

"Virtual body technology" lets users walk in someone else's shoes:
The Ikei Laboratory's virtual body technology
Despite improvements in telepresence, most virtual “traveling” amounts to little more than staring at a screen and listening to headphones. In an effort to bring the other three sense to bear, the Ikei Laboratory at the Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School of System Design is developing what it calls “virtual body technology.” Unveiled at the Digital Contents Expo 2012 in Tokyo last October, the system claims to use all five senses to provide an immersive virtual experience akin to inhabiting another person’s body... Continue Reading "Virtual body technology" lets users walk in someone else's shoes

Section: Science and Education

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Tuesday 25 December 2012

Happy Christmas



And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.

Monday 24 December 2012

“Biological concrete” promotes vertical gardens

“Biological concrete” promotes vertical gardens:
Biological concrete panels
An ivy covered building is a lovely thing, but ivy roots can rip into brickwork and the vines are a highway for vermin looking for a way inside. Modern vertical gardens try for the same aesthetic effect with some added environmental advantages, but they’re often complicated things full of hydroponics gear and difficult to maintain. An alternative is being developed at the Structural Technology Group, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, where a team led by Antonio Aguado has come up with a “biological concrete” designed to act as a substrate for vertical gardens that is simple, low maintenance and requires little or no attention... Continue Reading “Biological concrete” promotes vertical gardens

Section: Architecture

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Friday 21 December 2012

A brilliant post

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/an-opinion-on-gun-control/

Boeing replaces people with potatoes

Boeing replaces people with potatoes:
Some of the potatoes used by Boeing to test WiFi
There doesn't seem to be anything you can’t do with potatoes. You can boil them, mash them, fry them, roast them and even make pens out of them. Boeing is taking this versatility a step further by using them to replace people. No, this isn't a strange genetic experiment. The plane maker’s engineers at the Boeing Test & Evaluation laboratories have discovered that sacks of potatoes work as a substitute for people, when testing the effect on WiFi of an airline cabin packed with passengers... Continue Reading Boeing replaces people with potatoes

Section: Science and Education

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Rheinmetall's 50kW high-energy laser weapon successfully passes ...

Rheinmetall's 50kW high-energy laser weapon successfully passes <b>...</b>: David Szondy is a freelance writer based in Monroe, Washington. An award-winning playwright, he has contributed to Charged and iQ magazine and is the author of the website Tales of Future Past. All articles by David Szondy. Tags ...
Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

Thursday 20 December 2012

X-47B completes first sea trials

<b>X</b>-<b>47B</b> completes first sea trials: The Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first sea trials aboard aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear powered airc...
Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

Wednesday 19 December 2012

X-47B completes first sea trials

X-47B completes first sea trials:
The Northrop Grumman X-47B aboard the USS Harry S. Truman
The Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first sea trials aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman this week. The unmanned aircraft was shipped aboard the Truman on November 26 and has been subjected to a wide variety of tests to see how the robotic vehicle operates on a warship. .. Continue Reading X-47B completes first sea trials

Section: Aero Gizmo

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Tuesday 18 December 2012

Fraunhofer developing industrial machines with built-in copy protection

Fraunhofer developing industrial machines with built-in copy protection:
Fraunhofer is developing machines with built-in copy protection (Photo: Volker Steger)
Mention counterfeit goods and most people will probably think of knock-off watches or pirated DVDs, but counterfeiting is a much wider problem. Everything from aircraft components to groceries are faked on a regular basis, with a third of industries affected at an estimated worldwide cost of US$650 billion dollars. German machine tools are a favorite target and to help combat this the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Applied and Integrated Security (AISEC) in Garching, Germany, is developing new technologies and techniques to make counterfeiting of these items more difficult... Continue Reading Fraunhofer developing industrial machines with built-in copy protection

Section: Good Thinking

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Sunday 16 December 2012

UCLA smartphone attachment detects food allergens

UCLA smartphone attachment detects food allergens:
The iTube device and app
If you’re the parent of a child with food allergies, you know how terrifying they can be. Such allergies can be life threatening and, despite food labeling laws, it isn't always possible to be certain some potentially deadly ingredient isn't lurking in an item. In an effort to improve on the bulky and complex allergen detectors currently available, researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a device called the iTube that turns a smartphone into an allergen sensor. .. Continue Reading UCLA smartphone attachment detects food allergens

Section: Health and Wellbeing

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Thursday 13 December 2012

Mujjo leather touchscreen gloves add a touch of style

Mujjo leather touchscreen gloves add a touch of style: David Szondy is a freelance writer based in Monroe, Washington. An award-winning playwright, he has contributed to Charged and iQ magazine and is the author of the website Tales of Future Past. All articles by David Szondy. Tags ...
Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

Tuesday 11 December 2012

DARPA foam fights internal bleeding

DARPA foam fights internal bleeding:
Animation still of the DARPA foam being injected
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a foam that can be injected into the body cavities of battlefield wounded to protect them from internal abdominal bleeding. The agency hopes that when perfected, this polyurethane polymer foam will help the wounded to survive the critical minutes needed to transport them to proper surgical facilities for treatment. .. Continue Reading DARPA foam fights internal bleeding

Section: Military

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New Zealand teaching dogs to drive



I'd be more impressed if Carl the Cattle Dog didn't sit in the front seat of the Cruiser with a look on his face saying, "I could drive this car, but I don't feel like it."

Cadillac XTS gets customizable gauge cluster

Cadillac XTS gets customizable gauge cluster:
Cadillac XTS gauge cluster
Drivers of top of the line cars can customize just about everything. At the touch of a button or the turn of a dial they can change the brake settings, the traction control, the suspension and even how far the boot opens. Cadillac is taking this customization up another notch in its XTS luxury sedan by making it possible to alter the arrangement of the digital gauges to suit the driver’s tastes. .. Continue Reading Cadillac XTS gets customizable gauge cluster

Section: Automotive

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Monday 10 December 2012

New type of optical fiber could be used in photovoltaic fabrics

New type of optical fiber could be used in photovoltaic fabrics:
A cross-sectional image of the new silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilitie...
Imagine forgetting to plug in your smartphone, but then not worrying because your clothes could charge it for you. It sounds surreal, but it may one day be reality. An international team of scientists and engineers led by John Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State University, have developed a silicon-based optical fiber that acts like a solar cell and offers the promise of fabric that can generate electricity from light... Continue Reading New type of optical fiber could be used in photovoltaic fabrics

Section: Science and Education

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Sunday 9 December 2012

Saturday 8 December 2012

Golden Spike announces plans for commercial lunar exploration

Golden Spike announces plans for commercial lunar exploration:
Artist's concept of a Golden Spike lunar lander
It was forty years ago this month that Apollo 17 took astronauts to the Moon for the last time. Since then, the satellite has only been visited periodically by unmanned probes, but that may change inside the next ten years. On Thursday, the day before the anniversary of Apollo 17’s launch, a new company called Golden Spike announced at the National Press Club that it would be sending commercial exploration missions to the Moon within a decade with a ticket price of US$750 million... Continue Reading Golden Spike announces plans for commercial lunar exploration

Section: Aero Gizmo

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Friday 7 December 2012

Giving smartphones emotional intelligence

Giving smartphones emotional intelligence: Giving smartphones emotional intelligence. By David Szondy. December 7, 2012. 3 Pictures · Tweet. The app analyzes twelve features of speech such as pitch and volume and uses this to identify one of six emotional states (Photo: Shutterstock) ...
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Thursday 6 December 2012

AliveCor heart monitoring smartphone case cleared by FDA

AliveCor heart monitoring smartphone case cleared by FDA: AliveCor heart monitoring smartphone case cleared by FDA. By David Szondy. December 6, 2012. 4 Pictures · Tweet. The AliveCor Heart Monitor attaches to the back of an iPhone 4 or 4S. Image Gallery (4 images). AliveCor's smartphone Heart Monitor has ...
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Tuesday 4 December 2012

NASA announces new rover mission for Mars

NASA announces new rover mission for Mars:
The new Mars rover will borrow much from the rover Curiosity (Image: NASA)
NASA says that it will be sending another rover to Mars in 2020. The announcement, which was made at the 2012 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco, outlined the space agency’s plans for exploring the Red Planet for the remainder of the decade... Continue Reading NASA announces new rover mission for Mars

Section: Science and Education

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Subaru SHARC takes out 2012 LA Design Challenge

Subaru SHARC takes out 2012 LA Design Challenge:
The Subaru SHARC has taken out the 2012 LA Design Challenge
Subaru’s SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept) has taken out the 2012 LA Design Challenge. The futuristic concept car was chosen by the judges as the best embodiment of the “Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025." .. Continue Reading Subaru SHARC takes out 2012 LA Design Challenge

Section: Automotive

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New technique could make bread last two months

New technique could make bread last two months:
New technology could make moldy bread a much less common sight (Photo: Shutterstock)
Bread may be the staff of life, but it doesn't keep very well. Left to its own devices, a loaf will start to go moldy in a week – a fact that costs consumers and the food industry millions of dollars each year. Now, according to the BBC, a Texas-based company have developed a process that kills spores so that a loaf of bread can stay mold-free for up to 60 days... Continue Reading New technique could make bread last two months

Section: Good Thinking

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Monday 3 December 2012

MIT developing a robotic "Swiss Army knife" that changes shape to suit the job

MIT developing a robotic "Swiss Army knife" that changes shape to suit the job:
The MIT milli-motein
An MIT team is developing a robot that has the potential to become possibly the most versatile machine ever. Referred to by the team as the "robotic equivalent of a Swiss Army knife,” the milli-motein robot is made up of a chain of tiny modules each containing a new type of motor that can be used to form the chain into various shapes. This shape-changing capability could lead to the creation of robots that dynamically change their form to suit the task at hand... Continue Reading MIT developing a robotic "Swiss Army knife" that changes shape to suit the job

Section: Robotics

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Sunday 2 December 2012

Cadbury develops chocolate that won't melt at high temperatures

Cadbury develops chocolate that won't melt at high temperatures:
Cadbury is developing temperature tolerant chocolate for sale in tropical regions (Photo: ...
One of life’s less pleasant surprises is discovering the chocolate bar that you forgot you had in your pocket on a hot day. Two scientists working at Cadbury’s research and development plant in Bourneville, U.K., are fighting that gooey surprise with the invention of chocolate that remains solid even when exposed to temperatures of 40º C (104º F) for more than three hours. .. Continue Reading Cadbury develops chocolate that won't melt at high temperatures

Section: Good Thinking

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