Saturday, December 27, 2008
Peek Email Device
In this era of cramming everything possible into a phone, it's refreshing to see a device with a singular purpose that it (seemingly) does well.
The Peek is basically a Blackberry minus the phone stuff. It sends and receives email, just like where you spend an hour a day on your PC.
Why's it so good, well...
- don't have to pay for expensive email access from your phone
- you can leave the office and be contactable, without being phone-able!
- anyone that sees it will pause to think
- only costs $99, no contract
Negative: $20/mo for the service is too steep for what it is. They should charge $150 for the device, and $12/mo for the service.
This and the Amazon Kindle are almost enough to make me want to live in the USA. Note to self, find out if they work in Hawaii!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Here Come the Humanzees
Strange but true - currently in the UK there is nothing to legally stop a scientist (or pet owner, really) from inseminating a chimpanzee with human sperm. There is quite the possibility that a half-human, half-chimp could be born. Hybrids between less closely related species already exist. For example you can cross a goat with a sheep, or a lion with a tiger.
The thing about scientists is that for some of them the experiment is important than any legal or moral laws. I find it hard to believe that there isn't at least one scientist who would do this. In fact there might already be a humanzee out there!
Full story at The Scotsman
The thing about scientists is that for some of them the experiment is important than any legal or moral laws. I find it hard to believe that there isn't at least one scientist who would do this. In fact there might already be a humanzee out there!
Full story at The Scotsman
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Bali Tips #1 - Prams
If you have a preschooler who even just sometimes needs a pram (mummy, I'm too tired to walk), you will have problems in Bali unless you stay 24/7 in a resort.
The footpaths are chaotic. Large concrete slabs that with big gaps or rises between them. You'll be tempted to give up and carry the pram and the child. Not fun in 100% humidity.
You will consider, and maybe even try, some quick pram pushes along the road. Don't! The driving is quite crazy, all based seemingly on "just missing" cars and pedestrians. I cannot believe I did not witness a serious accident.
Shops in Kuta are not suited to prams, the aisles tend to be too narrow. But department stores are ok.
Aaaah! Taxis are so cheap, I won't need a pram. This is true, short journeys can be as cheap as $1. However almost all the cabs do not have seatbelts...
The footpaths are chaotic. Large concrete slabs that with big gaps or rises between them. You'll be tempted to give up and carry the pram and the child. Not fun in 100% humidity.
You will consider, and maybe even try, some quick pram pushes along the road. Don't! The driving is quite crazy, all based seemingly on "just missing" cars and pedestrians. I cannot believe I did not witness a serious accident.
Shops in Kuta are not suited to prams, the aisles tend to be too narrow. But department stores are ok.
Aaaah! Taxis are so cheap, I won't need a pram. This is true, short journeys can be as cheap as $1. However almost all the cabs do not have seatbelts...
