This Essay Breaks the Law

Michael Crichton explains how ludicrous patents are becoming. It begins to make one wonder if you will have to pay royalties now to a company for discovering your particular affliction, simply because you infringed on their patent by coming down with their sickness. I knew there was a lot of stupid shit going on with patents in the last few years, but I didn't realize the extent to which it has come. It's a bit scary.

Hello Radio

Hello Radio is a site to promote amateur (ham) radio. Amateur radio is responsible for the development of nearly all types of radio communications today. It was even in amateur radio where radio-computer communications got it's start. There are many facets to the hobby ranging from old-fashioned all the way up to cutting edge technology. Take a few minutes to look at it, even if you aren't a geek!

California EPA Report on Environmental Tobacco Smoke

This page has links to a very interesting report by a division of the California EPA. Detailing the list of toxic chemicals present in Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), it explains why it should be identified as a Toxic Air Contaminant. They have studies linking ETS to breast cancer in young women. Makes me wonder how many smokers drive around with those pink ribbons on their cars, all the while, they've been contributing, rather than fighting it. I plan to use this information to get my workplace to consider letting me stop smoking second hand. With all of the information I've gathered, I can find no legal basis to force them to make work non-smoking, but I do have enough to make them look like assholes if they blow me off about it.

Fun with Duct Tape

While these folks are trying to come up with good causes for what they are doing, I think I've found what to do at a party the next time someone passes out. This looks like fun as long as I'm the guy holding the tape. Oh, before you go doing this, have a look at the WARNING page. I'll add one more warning to theirs, which I can't believe they overlooked: Don't tape over any body hair! If any of you do this, send me pics, I'll post them here.