Cyborg Moths? You Bet.

I just wanted to quickly flag a really cool (albeit poorly written) article from the Register on the new cyborg moths being developed by DARPA.

"This is going to happen," said Mr [Rod] Brooks. "It's not science like developing the nuclear bomb, which costs billions of dollars. It can be done relatively cheaply."

"A bunch of experiments have been done over the past couple of years where simple animals, such as rats and cockroaches, have been operated on and driven by joysticks, but this is the first time where the chip has been injected in the pupa stage and 'grown' inside it.

"Once the moth hatches, machine learning is used to control it."

Soft, chewy insect on the outside? Delightfully crunchy robot on the inside? Sounds delicious! Of course, the intelligence-gathering ramifications of this technology can't be overestimated. It's about time we put our six-legged friends to good use.

By the way--DARPA must be the absolute coolest place to work. Ever.

Look At Me!

I'm sure everyone has heard by now of the nifty new feature offered on Google Maps. Basically, it gives you a 360º, street level view of certain areas of the map. Once they expand it to include more cities, it should be awesome.

Of course, this raises privacy concerns among people who don't want the world seeing where they are when the roving Google camera catches them in action.

So I thought I would create a daily feature, "Look At Me," dedicated to these hapless bystanders immortalized in the Google online database.

Today's entry features Toby, who is visiting Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. His backpack is full of chocolate confections he bought for his overbearing aunt, with whom he lives. Don't worry, buddy. She can't keep you under her iron fist forever! And go ahead...sneak one of those chocolates for yourself.

Mitt Romney Signed Photo

mitt romney
Originally uploaded by Senor Velasco

After four months of waiting and eager anticipation, I finally got my Mitt Romney signed photograph! I suppose I've done enough stumping for Mitt here that it's the least he can do for me.

I wonder what the chances are that I can collect signed photos from the other 9+ presidential candidates. Let's find out!

The New Amnesty Bill: A Must Read

If you need to know anything about the "immigration reform" bill being tossed around be the political cowards in Washington, know these 10 provisions. They are 100% condemning. And they amount to a major disaster - not a solution. Truly a must-read.

tacked cherry

tacked cherry
Originally uploaded by Senor Velasco.

I took this picture yesterday, and it turned out quite nicely. What do you think? Log on to flickr and let me know!

Streisand, and What People Will Pay For!

I'll always be the first to say Barbara Streisand is a sorely misguided citizen of leftist Hollywood La-la-land. That's why she'll never see a penny from my pocketbook. Nevertheless, I completely support anyone idiotic enough to pay money to see her sing. Even if the tickets cost over $1,000. Like they do in Italy:

Italian consumer groups want authorities to cancel Barbra Streisand's concert in Rome next month because of excessive ticket prices.

The ticket prices, which range from just under $200 to more than $1,200, are "absurd and shameful," the groups said in a statement Monday.

We're not talking about people going hungry here. It's Barbara Streisand. What business does any consumer group have complaining about the price of concert tickets? And what government that supports a free economy has any authority to dictate otherwise?

If the rest of Europe is anything like Italy, no thanks, you can keep it.

Jobs: Gore for President

Surprise, surprise: yet another reason to dislike Al Gore and Apple. It's like the two entities self-perpetuate their inanity. Basically, the story is:

"We have dug ourselves into a 20-foot hole, and we need somebody who knows how to build a ladder. Al's the guy," Jobs also told Newsweek. "Like many others, I have tried my best to convince him. So far, no luck."

I'm speechless. I am without speech. So I'll let these other comments from readers suffice.

Phil said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

How can a guy as smart as Jobs back a guy as stupid as Al Gore? Al's only claim to fame since he was beat by President Bush, is polluting peoples mind with the human caused global warming scam. Perhaps Al Gore has never heard that Mars is also warming and will lose it's polar icecap. Duh!

Terry Hill said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

I think Jobs has a loose screw in his brain if he thinks "Hoot" Al Gore would be elected President. Al, Hillary, and Barak should all run for president of some Island in the Pacific that only has room for their overstuffed egos.

Former Apple Employee said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

I respect Steve in many ways, but his choice to have Al Gore on Apple's board is NOT one of them. Al Gore is a raving lunatic and should be in a straight jacket. Steve should stay out of politics or resign from Apple -- the two do not mix.

FredP said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

Steve... You're out of your domain.

DJH said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

IS this the same Al Gore who would like to completely devastate the US economy by signing the joke that is Kyoto? Even the former first philanderer wouldn't sign Kyoto, but ol' Al doesn't mind putting 2/3d of the country on unemployment due to business and factory closures as a result of Kyoto.

Or, maybe it's the same Al Gore who fielded a film chock full of inaccuracies, lies and blatant exaggerations to scare the American people into digressing lifestyles back to the stone age while he takes a caravan of 9 SUVs 500 feet from one building to the next. Is Jobs support Michael Moore or Al Gore?

BILL SCHNEIDER said on Wednesday, 23 May 2007

I KNOW NOW ANOTHER REASON NOT TO BUY APPLE PRODUCTS. I CANT IMAGINE AL GORE ON ANY BOARDS I SERVE