Sunspots 423

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

The Arts: I've missed Garrison Keillor on "The Writer's Almanac." He's on summer hiatus. The replacement is OK, but, for one thing, doesn't do Keillor's great sign-off, which is "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch," with a Keillor-esque pause or two.

Health: (or politics, or science) The opinion of the US Supreme Court in the gene patenting case, delivered, for a unanimous court (!) by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Politics: Many Americans are more loyal to their party than to their church, or their religion, according to NPR.

Science: NPR tells us, with photos, and a video, about some enormous walking stick insects, which were thought to have become extinct, but aren't. Their re-discovery is an amazing story.

I just read about the idea of Pleistocene rewilding. If carried out, species similar to those who have gone extinct in Asia, Europe, and the Americas would be introduced. For example, cheetahs would be introduced to the plains of North America. Some such introductions have already taken place, but only on a small scale.




Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 414

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Ken Schenck continues his readable and concise series on practical theology with thoughts on "God as All-Powerful."

(and Sports) An opinion piece in USA Today says that Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey were both men of deep faith.

Computing: Gizmo's Freeware has an extensive, annotated, up-to-date (almost) list of the best free Android Apps, for phone and tablet.

Gizmo also has eight tips on how to make your smartphone battery last longer.

Science: (and politics) National Public Radio reports on the issues involved in a Supreme Court case, on whether two human genes, involved in breast cancer, are patentable. NPR also reported on what the Supreme Court justices, and advocates, had to say before the Court.


Image source (public domain)

Announcing a great new device for next Christmas

In case you haven't heard, there's a device that might be useful for gardeners. You can stick it in the ground for 24 hours, then plug it into your computer's USB port. You get readings on various soil parameters.

OK. Here's my announcement. I'm establishing priority on patents, licensing, etc., for a USB DNA sequencer. Useful for crime scenes, of course, but why stop there? Just stick it into some sort of biological mess (such as at restaurants or opened cans) that you want to analyze, and plug it into your USB port, and you get a read-out on how much rat is in the soup. You can also rub people's skin, and, then, after plugging in, have an analysis as to how closely they are related to you. Surely you can think of other uses.

That's the concept. I'm not giving away any technical details in this public forum, of course.

Any venture capitalists out there who want to get in on the ground floor of a great investment, please comment on this blog, giving contact information.

Thanks!