Wednesday, November 13, 2002

Cornell.  Amit Lal gets a prototype of a nuclear micro-generator working.  A generator of this type could power a small device for a decade.  This is some of the most exciting technology in play today. The prototype shown in August was gigantic by comparison with the latest versions, Lal said. An entire device, including a vacuum enclosure, could be made to fit in less than one cubic millimeter, he said. [John Robb's Radio Weblog] I'll bet this will run into obstruction from ecofreaks. "Nuclear" is the Great Satan to that bunch. comment () trackback ()  8:05:45 PM     Pocket PC EverQuest [PDABuzz.com] EverQuest fans beware; coming soon to a Pocket PC near you will be an exclusive single player version of Sony Online Entertainment's popular powerhouse EverQuest role-playing game. What's the point of a single player version of a multiplayer RPG? You might as well just play NetHack! comment () trackback ()  1:41:25 PM     10.2.2: A Quick Journaling Test [MacSlash: A daily dose of Macintosh News and Discussion] The discussion here says that journalling is available in regular OS X 10.2.2, although it needs to be enabled. Hopefully I'll get some time to try it for myself soon. comment () trackback ()  11:48:16 AM     Iraq Accepts U.N. Resolution [AP World News] Does this mean the government will have to find some other excuse to invade? Or will we "discover" that Iraq is deceiving the inspectors at the appropriate time? comment () trackback ()  11:45:43 AM     State Coalition Approves Internet Sales Tax Plan [Slashdot] In a meeting in Chicago, lawmakers and tax officials from 30 states -- including Virginia and the District of Columbia - endorsed a proposal to simplify their tax laws and enter into a voluntary pact to collect online sales taxes. Maryland officials present at the meeting abstained from today's vote. There's no list of which states are involved, but I expect that if they do go through with changing their laws it will give a nice boost to the economies of the other 20 states. comment () trackback ()  9:07:15 AM     The West reconciled religion and freedom. Can Muslims do the same? [OpinionJournal] Both the West and Islam face major challenges that emerge from their ruling principles. When the West reconciled religion and freedom, it did so by making the individual the focus of society, and the price it has paid has been individualism run rampant, in the form of weak marriages, high rates of crime, and alienated personalities. When Islam kept religion at the expense of freedom, it did so by making the individual subordinate to society, and the price it has paid has been autocratic governments, religious intolerance and little personal freedom. I believe that in time Islam will become modern, because without religious freedom, modern government is impossible. I hope that in time the West will reaffirm social contracts, because without them a decent life is impossible. But in the near term, Islam will be on the defensive culturally--which means it will be on the offensive politically. And the West will be on the offensive culturally, which I suspect means it will be on the defensive morally. A refreshing break from the "holy war" rhetoric so popular with conservatives these days. comment () trackback ()  9:03:06 AM     Queen unveils Blair's crime blitz. A crackdown on crime is unveiled at the heart of the Government's plans for the next year outlined in the Queen's Speech to Parliament. [BBC News | Front Page] The article goes on at some length about "anti-social behaviour." It's not really clear what most of it has to do with crime, except for the end of the prohibition against double jeopardy. comment () trackback ()  8:52:52 AM     Apple details File System Journaling [The Macintosh News Network] Apple's documentation makes it clear that journaling is only for OS X Server. comment () trackback ()  8:45:17 AM

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