Zero to 60 in Four Soybeans…

CBS reports that a group of 5 former dropouts have built a soybean-fueled car that goes from zero to sixty in 4 seconds; pretty damn impressive.

They also speculate on why nobody has managed this feat yet:

“We made this work,” says Hauger. “We’re not geniuses. So why aren’t they doing it?”

Kosi thinks he knows why. The answer, he says, is the big oil companies.

“They’re making billions upon billions of dollars,” he says. “And when this car sells, that’ll go down — to low billions upon billions.”

Let’s Talk about Sex(nology)

Technology has been transforming the way we have sex for ages.  In fact, quite a few proponents of new “advacements” promise their ideas will revolutionize the way we have sex.  Sex-related video games, databases of sex offenders, and advancements in fertility have all already impacted sex in the twenty-first century.  Has our advancement from primative contraception to online dating services come at a price?

The Death of Privacy in America…

Everybody’s talking about privacy: the U.S. Government, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and even a handful of nanotechnology firms. And, while privacy advocates would have us believe that it’s already too late to stop our government, some of us are scratching our heads and wondering what to think. Could current trends end privacy as we know it? What does nanotechnology mean for the future of privacy?

A Plethora of Cell Phone Security Threats…

Warnings about the potential threats of cell phones to security have been mounting lately.  Engadget’s recent discussion about the vulnerability of RFID tags to cell phone attacks, much older (though increasingly valid) complaints about Java vulnerabilities in cell phone software, and SMSAnalysis.org’s lengthy discussion of SMS weaknesses are all cause for concern. Enter a cell phone service, TextPayMe, which offers the ability for users to transfer money via cell phone.  Is anyone else envisioning large sums of money being “transfered” right out of an unsuspecting user’s bank account?

Top 3 Ways to Prepare for the Bird Flu

Talk of the bird flu seems to be heating up lately; there’s even a whole blog dedicated to H5N1. After reflecting on the media blitz, I found myself wondering what, if anything, citizens can do to prepare for the bird flu. What follows is a list of the top suggestions that seem to be circulating.

1. Dietitians recommend a combination of herbs and spices, including ginger, onion, garlic, and horseradish, that are powerfully antiviral. A new product containing those ingredients that is specifically marketed for use against the avian flu can be found here.

2. The United States government has released a list of ways to “hold your own against colds and the flu.”

3. Christian Scientists recommend praying for safety from the coming pandemic.

Honestly, given the complete lack of practical advice, I can only conclude we might have a rather large problem on our hands.

Downloaders Play with Their Food

Wired News reports that the United Nations new game, Food Force, has quickly become one of the most popular downloads on the internet.  The game, which unlike most new games features no violence, centers around the operations of the emergency food program.  Certainly an interesting follow up to the likes of Live 8 and One.org. 

Another Poor Defense?

LifeHacker.com reports the Microsoft has released yet another piece of software, dubbed Windows Defender to help defend windows against spyware.  The new piece of software replaces Microsoft’s “Anti-Spyware” program.  Whether the new version will actually succeed in plugging the seemingly unending stream of Windows XP security holes remains to be seen.  For those seeking actual security, this writer recommends a combination of the free virus-scan program avast! and the free, open-source internet browser Firefox.  If you haven’t switched over yet, it’s not too late save your PC, and your pocketbook, with a few full-featured tools.  I recommend checking out Wikipedia’s list of open-source software for free programs that use less system resources and have more features than what M$ and the like are releasing.

The US really needs a good castration…

After the somewhate humorous, somewhat pathetic news that Vice President Dick Cheney shot a man in the face, the New York Times reports quite a bit of strain in the Whitehouse; such a strain is certainly expected, given the fact that the man Cheney shot suffered a heart attack on Tuesday.  The liberal (and one of my favorite’s) blog ThinkProgress.org has a rather extensive ongoing discussion about the events.  What I think many of us would like to know is, if the man does happen to die, will Cheney find himself on trial for manslaughter?  And even if he is found guilty, will such a ruling actually matter?  Surely, President Bush will exercise his power and pardon Cheney anyway.  What this country really needs is a good castration; I, for one, have had quite enough of Dick.

The Final Frontier

MSNBC reports that American tourists may be launched into space as early as 2008. The transportation secretary expects to issue permits for test flights next year. Strong Bad has this to say.

A Little More Energy…

Those interested in new forms of Energy will be wildly excited by startup company GreenFuel, which has begun tests using algae to convert emissions from factories to biofuels. Cary Bullock, CEO of GreenFuel, will be speaking at Tufts University on February 16th as part of the university’s Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation Competition.