Quickhit

[A map of Australia like the ones in the front of the Lord of the Rings books](http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/204-one-ring-to-rule-them-all-mate/). I take slight exception to the 'Witch Realm of Canbrar' bit,…

[A new electronic book reader from Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=cm_taf_title_featured?ie=UTF8&tag=tellafriend-20). Kinda interesting. But not available in Australia. And probably won't be for some time, given the reliance on EV-DO. I do…

[TV networks want to ensure you can't fast forward adverts too quickly](http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/networks-want-to-nobble-fast-forward/2007/11/19/1195321672583.html?s_cid=rss_news). If fast forward is outlawed, only outlaws will have fast forward buttons! Actually, the big problem…

[CEO facts](http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2007/09/facts-about-ceo.html), including the fact that if their wife dies their company's value falls by fifteen per cent. It's easy to look at the salaries of some CEOs…

[One US company has improved productivity by banning email on Fridays](http://lifehacker.com/software/email/companies-limit-email-use-to-boost-productivity-294026.php). About one-fifth of the actual solution, I think.

[New research shows that richer countries *are* happier](http://andrewleigh.com/?p=1584). I'd always suspected the answer to the Easterlin paradox was that we just couldn't measure happiness well enough, but this…

[Teach yourself some stupid pen tricks](http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/stupid_yet_cool_pen_trick.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890). You'll probably need some dexterity, of course.

[The typical Web2.0 meeting](http://valleywag.com/tech/clips/collegehumor-reenacts-pretty-much-every-meeting-in-the-dot+com-industry-292342.php). By now, every time I hear 'Web 2.0' I run the other way. It's become one of those dangerous buzzwords that largely mean 'I…

[A box that unwinds wings to land like a helicopter when dropped from a plane](http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/copterbox_spin_cargo.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890). Clever. And potentially a lot of use when delivering more delicate humanitarian aid.

[Brian the Brain looks like he may well try to conquer the earth in his spare time](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/brainiac-buddy/brian-the-brain-possibly-blams-brain-in-toy-form-295814.php). Either that, or he'll turn out to be misunderstood and really…