November 13, 2009
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of November 13, 2009. I remain amazed at the evolution of technology and our growing dependence on it. (Wired) — Google poised to become your phone company. “Google is set to become your new phone company, perhaps reducing your phone bill to zilch in the process … Google has bought Gizmo5, an online phone company that is akin to Skype but based on open protocols and with a lot fewer users … It’s a potent recipe — take Gizmo5’s open standards-based online calling system. Add to it the new ability to route calls on Google’s massive network of cheap fiber. Toss in Google Voice’s free phone number, which will ring your mobile phone, your home phone and your Gizmo5 client on your laptop. Meanwhile you can use Gizmo5 to make ultracheap outgoing calls to domestic and international phone numbers, and free calls to Skype, Google Talk, Yahoo and AIM users. You could make and receive calls that bypass the per-minute billing on your smartphone. Then layer on deluxe phone services like free SMS, voicemail transcription, customized call routing, free conference calls and voicemails sent as recordings to your e-mail account, and you have a phone service that competes with Skype, landlines and the Internet telephone offerings from Vonage and cable companies.” This is called “Cloud Computing“: the down side? What happens if the cloud goes down or is not accessible? How secure is your data in the “cloud”? What if/when they decide to charge for access to your data on the cloud? And most important: how dependent will you become on access to the cloud? (Issues discussed at a couple of SUN Microsystem web seminars I logged on to.) There is a major push by software developers to move consumers to a business model that requires you to use core program software on their servers, after purchasing, of course, an “access license”. An attempt on their part to control software piracy and develop a more profitable business model. I use Google Calender as a conduit, to sync my computers, my T-Mobil “My Touch“ … and Chaos Intellect, (my calender is on MY computer and can be sync’d in-house). I also have Google Voice … but decided not to use it as a business tool. Share with me, why would you use a “Google Voice” number in your ads, when you don’t own the number? Point being, (and I’m not a conspiracy nutcase), there is a movement, on several different fronts, to centralize data and access to data in the name of efficiency. On the business side: “Cloud Computing”, a more effective revenue generating business model. On the gov side, (centralizing and intrigrating all record keeping – for example, medical records). The price? Assuming we become more dependent on digital records, a loss of our individual identities, privacy … and if misused … our freedoms.
Fort Hood, Texas (CNN) – Alleged Fort Hood shooter paralyzed from waist down, lawyer says. “Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the accused Fort Hood gunman, is paralyzed from the waist down, his lawyer said Friday. “It appears he won’t be able to walk in the future,” said Hasan’s civilian attorney, retired Army Col. John Galligan. Hasan also has severe pain in his hands, the attorney said.” Good. They should wet his lips and stick him up against a piece of glass somewhere. Perhaps use him as 3rd base. As for the “severe pain in his hands“? Too bad. I guess he’ll have a hard time scooting around his cell in a wheel chair … and he won’t be fantasizing about the 72 virgins waiting for him in paradise for awhile.
And in the news that has the rabbit world buzzing: BBC NEWS – Penis tissue replaced in the lab. “Tissue created in a laboratory has been used to completely replace the erectile tissue of the penis in animals. The advance raises hopes of being able to restore full function to human penises that have been damaged by injury or disease. Rabbits given the engineered tissue by the scientists from Wake Forest University in North Carolina had normal sexual function and produced offspring.” … and … BBC NEWS – Better penis implants ‘on the way’. “Scientists believe they may have found a safe and more effective way of increasing the size of a man’s penis. It follows experiments by researchers in the United States in which they successfully carried out penis implants on rabbits.” Wow!! I didn’t realize rabbits had these problems … after all, they are RABBITS! I wonder, can an “enhanced” rabbit still hop over a fence safely?
Also: BBC NEWS — Breast ‘regrowth’ trial planned. “Researchers in Australia plan to test a medical “scaffold” designed to stimulate natural breast tissue to regrow following surgery. Doctors from the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne, will test the technique next year in a trial involving six patients. The team say that the permanent fat found in breasts can be grown inside this contoured scaffold. They claim to have successfully tested the device in pigs.” Of course that would work in pigs … after all, you get 8 -12 shots at the apple, (female pigs have 8 - 12 teats). In humans, you only have a 50/50 shot. On the serious side, it would be a Godsend for persons who have had to have a mastectomy. I say “persons”, because men can also suffer from breast cancer: “Male breast cancer is a rare condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, about 1,990 new cases of breast cancer in men will be diagnosed, and that breast cancer will cause approximately 480 deaths in men (in comparison, over 40,000 women die of breast cancer each year)”.
(CNN) – NASA finds ’significant’ water on moon. “NASA said Friday it had discovered water on the moon, opening “a new chapter” that could allow for the development of a lunar space station. The discovery was announced by project scientist Anthony Colaprete at a midday news conference. “Indeed, yes, we found water,” he said … He listed several options as sources for the water, including solar winds, comets, giant molecular clouds or even the moon itself through some kind of internal activity. The Earth also may have a role, Wargo said.” Rumor has it, given the availability of water, Starbucks is negotiating with NASA to open a shop …. and Walmart already has a location leased. Course Walmart has a real problem: it’s “Greeters” may be too old to survive the “G Forces” their bodies would be subjected to during liftoff.
PRAVDA, Moscow – Moscow Police Prevents Massive Invasion of Alien Leeches. “One of Moscow law enforcement agencies discovered an underground laboratory where harmful leeches were grown. According to Yevgeny Gildeev, head of the Information and PR division of the regional Department of Internal Affairs, the leeches were brought from abroad and sold as medicinal ones … The owner of the lab was growing leeches in inhumane conditions, and even the personnel of the �factory� suffered from the brutalized creatures. Harmful leeches were sold both to residents of Moscow and the Moscow region … Dzasokhov is facing two to six years in prison for illegal enterprise. Join Pravda.ru forum to experience freedom of speech.” I wonder what a leech would consider an inhumane condition? Certainly a different culture and values. Here in our America, “leeches” are CEO’s and live in million dollar homes. I wonder, in Russia, do you really have to join “Pravda.ru” to “experience freedom of speech?”
Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the “Editorial Staff” pilled up in one of the dog beds. On the evening news? 5 of the terrorists responsible for 9/11 will be tried in a civilian court in New York by the Justice Department. Federal rules of evidence will apply. So will evidence obtained by “water boarding” be admissible? What about security during the trial? And of course, a correspondingly partisan “Blue Pig”/”Red Pig” response. Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” will be released this coming week … and some excerpts from the book. I like Sarah Palin as a person, but I guess I will be one of the very, very few Americans who will not run right out and buy the book. Think I’ll wait for the movie. On the local news, Bates City Sex crimes: LEXINGTON, Mo. -� 5 men charged with sex crimes against children. “Five members of a family are charged in Missouri with sex crimes against children, including allegations of bestiality and forcing an 11-year-old to have an abortion.” The arrests all triggered by a “repressed/recovered memory“, (interesting link to read.) A sixth family member arrested today. Some horrendous allegations. Time to post these Ramblings. I sold my D300 and ordered a D700: it will arrive Tuesday, so I will spend a quiet evening here at Ft Timmerman reading D700 reviews. Later, I will say a prayer of thanks for having Susan in my life, the 13 murdered men and woman at Ft Hood, and a payer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, there are men and women in uniform that have answered: Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” , so you didn’t have to go, stand watch and when necessary, fight to keep you and I safe. If my post offends, I apologize – that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri … and the Editorial Staff, Willie, Karly, Dinker, my ‘Lil Buddy … and Floyd the copy boy, (Olga, our miniature Daschund sends her regards!))