Month: October 2007

[String theory in two minutes](http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/10/string_theory_in_2_minute.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890). Sadly, two minutes are all also all you need to hear about the experimental confirmations of string theory. Assuming your local string theorist…

*Announcements*: * ALP: [$489m for solar panels in schools](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/26/2071678.htm). * Coalition: [$75m grant program for innovative renewal energy technologies](http://liberal.org.au/info/news/detail/20071026_SupportforInnovativeRenewableEnergy.php). *Polls*: [Morgan](http://www.pollbludger.com/649): ALP 56-44. 29 days to go.

[Might as well face it, you're addicted to Civ](http://skzbrust.livejournal.com/66515.html). This game is one of the few to have encouraged me to play through the night. Something about that…

[Make your own business cards using acid].(http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/how_to_make_your_own_embo.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890). That's the acid ferric chloride, in case your mind took you somewhere else entirely.

[An application to get your contact details out of Facebook](http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/23/with-friendcsv-data-sneaks-out-facebooks-back-door/). My biggest worry about Facebook is the closed system nature - while anyone can write an application, you…

[Plasma and LCD flat panels use a lot of electricity](http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/how-green-is-my-plasma/2007/10/24/1192941120182.html?s_cid=rss_news) Frankly I doubt they'll ever be banned in their current form, as some people suggest. Still, there is…

[Underground coal fires contribute as much to global warming as all the cars in the US](http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/from-bagels-to-coal-fires-an-unorthodox-economist-keeps-pushing-for-change/). One of the real problems in designing the long run policy on…

*Announcements*: * ALP has policies on [petrol for volunteers ($69m)](http://alp.org.au/media/1007/msloo250.php) and talked about its [broadband package](http://alp.org.au/media/1007/mscoit250.php). * The Democrats (remember them?) [propose abolishing HECS contributions](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/25/2070417.htm). * Coalition just…

[GPS receiver in 1985](http://img.engadget.com/common/images/0131583169424672.GIF?0.8677629570302273) [GPS receiver today](http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/19/proportas-freedom-key-ring-gps-receiver-stays-out-of-sight-kee/)

[A powered crescent wrench](http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/24/black-decker-auto-wr.html). I can only think of this as another step towards the eventual robot domination of the world. Good-o.