A solar cell developed by scientists for the US Department of Energy has set a world record for efficiency.
RIP Paul Newman. The legendary actor died of cancer on Friday at age 83.
Greek is adding a couple of characters next year: Jesse McCartney (who I've never heard of) and Ken Marino (who played one of the demons next door on Reaper and Vinnie Van Lowe on Veronica Mars).
DVRs for tonight:
8pm Chuck (NBC)
8pm Big Bang Theory (CBS)
8pm Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)
830 How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
9pm Heroes (NBC)
9pm 2.5 Men (CBS)
10pm Life (NBC)
Showing posts with label solar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar. Show all posts
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
8-21-08
Stargate Atlantis will end with this season (5th) and continue as movies.
Hayao Miyazaki (Howl's Moving Castle, Princesss Mononoke, Spirited Away, etc.) has a new movie, "Ponyo on the Cliff," which is getting raves in Japan. It sounds like a variation on The Little Mermaid. I wonder when we'll get a chance to see it here.
The Australian Museum Eureka Prize for scientific research has been awarded to a PhD student who found a way to make solar cells cheaply in a pizza oven.
Dave Langford has published his Top 20 SF books (although he cheated and also included other "Top" lists in boxes).
F&SF has a discussion about online short fiction.
InfoWorld has an article claiming that the standardization of JavaScript was a mistake. I'm not sure if I agree, but it was interesting.
DVRs for tonight:
Burn Notice
Olympics
Hayao Miyazaki (Howl's Moving Castle, Princesss Mononoke, Spirited Away, etc.) has a new movie, "Ponyo on the Cliff," which is getting raves in Japan. It sounds like a variation on The Little Mermaid. I wonder when we'll get a chance to see it here.
The Australian Museum Eureka Prize for scientific research has been awarded to a PhD student who found a way to make solar cells cheaply in a pizza oven.
Dave Langford has published his Top 20 SF books (although he cheated and also included other "Top" lists in boxes).
F&SF has a discussion about online short fiction.
InfoWorld has an article claiming that the standardization of JavaScript was a mistake. I'm not sure if I agree, but it was interesting.
DVRs for tonight:
Burn Notice
Olympics
Monday, May 19, 2008
5-19-08
Solar cells covered in microscopic nanowire hairs could greatly improve the efficiency of photovoltaic panels.
Neil Gaiman mentioned today that he wrote a short story on a postcard as part of an auction for charity. He and 12 other authors (including JK Rowling) will have their cards auctioned on June 10th, and the next day the stories will be available for everyone to read at Waterstones. The stories will also eventually be published along with 3 contest winners from the general public (2 adults and 1 child).
Researchers have discovered that some plants can change the weather.
A new vaccine is now available for people over 60 who have had chicken pox. It should prevent them from developing shingles.
SciFi Wire has an article about cast changes in the upcoming season of Stargate Atlantis. Robert Picardo (Woolsey) and Jewel Staite (Dr. Keller) move from recurring to regular cast. Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett) will be back for 5 episodes. Contrary to some earlier reports, Dr. Weir won't make an appearance, and this may be the final season for Ronon.
There's a rumor that the CW is considering picking up Moonlight. This is just a chance, but I'll watch for details and let you know what happens.
SF Signal has reviewed all the Hugo short fiction nominees. Have you read them yet? Do you agree with them? Just a reminder that we have until July 7th to read all these and vote.
SF Universe has longer descriptions of Fringe and Dollhouse (the new genre shows coming from Fox) if you are curious. io9 also has a trailer for Dollhouse.
Do you want to see a preview for the new US version of Life on Mars? From this it looks like a pretty straight translation. Hard to tell if it will be good or bad, but I'll give it a shot.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid769343686/bctid1556072271
DVRs for tonight:
5pm Greek
8pm Big Bang Theory & Bones (season finales)
830 How I Met Your Mother (season finale)
9pm 2.5 Men & House (season finales)
Neil Gaiman mentioned today that he wrote a short story on a postcard as part of an auction for charity. He and 12 other authors (including JK Rowling) will have their cards auctioned on June 10th, and the next day the stories will be available for everyone to read at Waterstones. The stories will also eventually be published along with 3 contest winners from the general public (2 adults and 1 child).
Researchers have discovered that some plants can change the weather.
A new vaccine is now available for people over 60 who have had chicken pox. It should prevent them from developing shingles.
SciFi Wire has an article about cast changes in the upcoming season of Stargate Atlantis. Robert Picardo (Woolsey) and Jewel Staite (Dr. Keller) move from recurring to regular cast. Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett) will be back for 5 episodes. Contrary to some earlier reports, Dr. Weir won't make an appearance, and this may be the final season for Ronon.
There's a rumor that the CW is considering picking up Moonlight. This is just a chance, but I'll watch for details and let you know what happens.
SF Signal has reviewed all the Hugo short fiction nominees. Have you read them yet? Do you agree with them? Just a reminder that we have until July 7th to read all these and vote.
SF Universe has longer descriptions of Fringe and Dollhouse (the new genre shows coming from Fox) if you are curious. io9 also has a trailer for Dollhouse.
Do you want to see a preview for the new US version of Life on Mars? From this it looks like a pretty straight translation. Hard to tell if it will be good or bad, but I'll give it a shot.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid769343686/bctid1556072271
DVRs for tonight:
5pm Greek
8pm Big Bang Theory & Bones (season finales)
830 How I Met Your Mother (season finale)
9pm 2.5 Men & House (season finales)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
12-11-07 Science/Tech/etc.
Britain plans to install 7,000 offshore wind turbines as part of a goal of having 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Solar thermal power development in California is stalled while waiting to see if a property tax exemption will be extended.
Fark.com filed for a trademark for the phrase NSFW (not safe for work). Even if the trademark were granted, I don't see how it could possibly be enforced.
Life is listing the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2007: stem cell breakthroughs, DNA mapping, brightest supernova recorded, hundreds of new species identified, building a human heart valve from stem cells, "hot Jupiters" discovered, large birdlike dinosaurs found, evidence of the time period early man migrated out of Africa, the world's oldest animal (a 405 year old clam) was found, and a mineral with the chemical makeup imagined for kryptonite was found in Serbia (unfortunately they can't name it kryptonite because of krypton gas).
Somebody else discusses the trials and tribulations of cataloging their personal library. Unlike us, they only had to deal with about 3,500 books, but it is nice to occasionally see someone else going through some of the same issues.
JPL has an interesting article on the discovery of a silica patch by the Mars rover Spirit as it prepares to find a safe spot for the winter.
Hubble has observed its first extra-solar sunset, as a Jupiter-like planet passed in front of its star, giving hints as to the atmosphere.
Umbilical cord blood is saving the lives of babies born with metabolic disorders at Duke University.
The House has voted to make the Do Not Call registry permanent, so we wouldn't have to re-register every 5 years. The Senate still has to approve it.
A new genus and species of dinosaur has been found in Antarctica. It is a massive plant-eating primitive sauropodomorph (like Apatosaurus) from the early Jurassic. There is a brief article here, or the full scientific paper can be read here in PDF.
Scientists think they have found the energy source for the northern lights.
Solar thermal power development in California is stalled while waiting to see if a property tax exemption will be extended.
Fark.com filed for a trademark for the phrase NSFW (not safe for work). Even if the trademark were granted, I don't see how it could possibly be enforced.
Life is listing the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2007: stem cell breakthroughs, DNA mapping, brightest supernova recorded, hundreds of new species identified, building a human heart valve from stem cells, "hot Jupiters" discovered, large birdlike dinosaurs found, evidence of the time period early man migrated out of Africa, the world's oldest animal (a 405 year old clam) was found, and a mineral with the chemical makeup imagined for kryptonite was found in Serbia (unfortunately they can't name it kryptonite because of krypton gas).
Somebody else discusses the trials and tribulations of cataloging their personal library. Unlike us, they only had to deal with about 3,500 books, but it is nice to occasionally see someone else going through some of the same issues.
JPL has an interesting article on the discovery of a silica patch by the Mars rover Spirit as it prepares to find a safe spot for the winter.
Hubble has observed its first extra-solar sunset, as a Jupiter-like planet passed in front of its star, giving hints as to the atmosphere.
Umbilical cord blood is saving the lives of babies born with metabolic disorders at Duke University.
The House has voted to make the Do Not Call registry permanent, so we wouldn't have to re-register every 5 years. The Senate still has to approve it.
A new genus and species of dinosaur has been found in Antarctica. It is a massive plant-eating primitive sauropodomorph (like Apatosaurus) from the early Jurassic. There is a brief article here, or the full scientific paper can be read here in PDF.
Scientists think they have found the energy source for the northern lights.
Friday, October 12, 2007
10-12-07
Happy Birthday to my Mom & Sis!
DVRs for tonight:
6pm Flash Gordon
7pm Stargate Atlantis
8pm Ghost Whisperer & Blood Ties (Lifetime)
9pm Moonlight & Women's Murder Club (ABC - I'll try a pilot)
10pm Numb3rs & Men in Trees (ABC)
Nobel prize news:
Al Gore (along with a UN panel) has won the peace prize.
For the first time, a former Worldcon guest of honor (1987) has won the literature prize. Doris Lessing has apparently said that she didn't suppose this was for her earlier Science Fiction novels which people didn't consider proper 'literature', though she thought they were amongst her best work.
Sulu and Scotty have been cast for the new Star Trek movie. John Cho will be Sulu. I love John Cho, but I really don't see him as Sulu. This will either be weird or show a totally different side to his acting. Simon Pegg (Shaun in Shaun of the Dead) has been cast as Scotty. I was actually hoping that Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett from Atlantis) would get the role, since I knew he was trying for it.
Fisher Stevens will have a recurring role on Lost this season.
5 hard drive companies are being investigated by the International Trade Commission for possible copyright infringement. They have 45 days to complete the investigation or come to agreements with the copyright holders or hard drives by Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell could be banned from the US. Can you imagine that? Talk about shutting down all PC sales in the US.
Scary article about bad information ("cascades of error") leading to fad diets in the US.
CNet has a photo gallery of "dinosaurs" today - computers from the 70s. Interesting.
New technique for making solar panels - from a liquid crystal solution. They think they can cut the costs too. If they can, there may be applications for LCD screens as well as solar panels.
New material designed for aircraft combines layers of aluminum and glass fibers in a lightweight crack-resistant composite.
DVRs for tonight:
6pm Flash Gordon
7pm Stargate Atlantis
8pm Ghost Whisperer & Blood Ties (Lifetime)
9pm Moonlight & Women's Murder Club (ABC - I'll try a pilot)
10pm Numb3rs & Men in Trees (ABC)
Nobel prize news:
Al Gore (along with a UN panel) has won the peace prize.
For the first time, a former Worldcon guest of honor (1987) has won the literature prize. Doris Lessing has apparently said that she didn't suppose this was for her earlier Science Fiction novels which people didn't consider proper 'literature', though she thought they were amongst her best work.
Sulu and Scotty have been cast for the new Star Trek movie. John Cho will be Sulu. I love John Cho, but I really don't see him as Sulu. This will either be weird or show a totally different side to his acting. Simon Pegg (Shaun in Shaun of the Dead) has been cast as Scotty. I was actually hoping that Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett from Atlantis) would get the role, since I knew he was trying for it.
Fisher Stevens will have a recurring role on Lost this season.
5 hard drive companies are being investigated by the International Trade Commission for possible copyright infringement. They have 45 days to complete the investigation or come to agreements with the copyright holders or hard drives by Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell could be banned from the US. Can you imagine that? Talk about shutting down all PC sales in the US.
Scary article about bad information ("cascades of error") leading to fad diets in the US.
CNet has a photo gallery of "dinosaurs" today - computers from the 70s. Interesting.
New technique for making solar panels - from a liquid crystal solution. They think they can cut the costs too. If they can, there may be applications for LCD screens as well as solar panels.
New material designed for aircraft combines layers of aluminum and glass fibers in a lightweight crack-resistant composite.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
10-9-07
DVRs for tonight:
8pm Bones
9pm House
Reaper
Pixar has started researching their 2012 movie, an animated version of Burrough's John Carter of Mars.
MSNBC has listed 10 businesses they think will be gone in 10 years. Sadly, one on the list is used book stores. I can see their point, but I hope they're wrong.
Space has an interesting article on next generation telescopes and what scientists hope to use them to find.
Bittorrent is offering its technology to other companies to make their video streaming and downloading more affordable.
Denvention (the Denver Worldcon next year) is planning to have a Critter Crunch event, the original robot battle competition created by the Denver Area Mad Scientists. They are starting to pull together details for the convention. It should be fun. Anyone who wants to join should do so before Progress Report 2 in January, because that will have the Hugo nomination ballot and hotel reservation information.
George Harrison's solo work is now available from iTunes. This was the last holdout, so now all their songs are available. The Beatles' songs are still being remastered and should appear by early next year.
Just because it's weird: Play-Doh bunnies in New York (it's an ad for Sony, but a cute one).
Transparent solar panels as windows. They are working on it now. I hope they get it functional.
Scientists have designed a mostly self-sufficient space habitat. This could (far too many years from now) allow for a station on the moon or Mars that doesn't require so many costly re-supply missions. The technology will also help with sustainable farming and recycling applications here on Earth. Cool.
Check out the Nissan electric concept car. It has 3 wheels and a rotating cabin, so you can turn around and start driving at a 90 degree angle from where you were looking. It is funny looking, yet cute in a strange (my designers probably spent too much time looking at Hello Kitty) sort of way.
CNet has a slideshow today of Home Appliances of the Future (from a Japanese technology center that demos everything from the really weird to the somewhat cool).
8pm Bones
9pm House
Reaper
Pixar has started researching their 2012 movie, an animated version of Burrough's John Carter of Mars.
MSNBC has listed 10 businesses they think will be gone in 10 years. Sadly, one on the list is used book stores. I can see their point, but I hope they're wrong.
Space has an interesting article on next generation telescopes and what scientists hope to use them to find.
Bittorrent is offering its technology to other companies to make their video streaming and downloading more affordable.
Denvention (the Denver Worldcon next year) is planning to have a Critter Crunch event, the original robot battle competition created by the Denver Area Mad Scientists. They are starting to pull together details for the convention. It should be fun. Anyone who wants to join should do so before Progress Report 2 in January, because that will have the Hugo nomination ballot and hotel reservation information.
George Harrison's solo work is now available from iTunes. This was the last holdout, so now all their songs are available. The Beatles' songs are still being remastered and should appear by early next year.
Just because it's weird: Play-Doh bunnies in New York (it's an ad for Sony, but a cute one).
Transparent solar panels as windows. They are working on it now. I hope they get it functional.
Scientists have designed a mostly self-sufficient space habitat. This could (far too many years from now) allow for a station on the moon or Mars that doesn't require so many costly re-supply missions. The technology will also help with sustainable farming and recycling applications here on Earth. Cool.
Check out the Nissan electric concept car. It has 3 wheels and a rotating cabin, so you can turn around and start driving at a 90 degree angle from where you were looking. It is funny looking, yet cute in a strange (my designers probably spent too much time looking at Hello Kitty) sort of way.
CNet has a slideshow today of Home Appliances of the Future (from a Japanese technology center that demos everything from the really weird to the somewhat cool).
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Roundup for 9-26-07
DVRs for tonight:
9pm Bionic Woman (NBC) and Private Practice (ABC) - worth pilots
10pm CSI:NY (CBS)
Mercedes McNab (Harmony on Buffy) is going to guest star as another vampire on Supernatural in November. Charisma Carpenter is joining the cast of Big Shots. (Why does a cast and crew I like so much have to be for a show that sounds dreadful? I'll probably end up giving it a pilot.)
Why is it that people still think colorizing classic films is a good idea? Now Ray Harryhausen gets colored over.
Cool science for the day: First zero-gravity surgery robot demonstrates vascular surgery in underwater lab.
Planned projects would increase California's solar power production to 65x current levels.
Slideshow for converting analog TVs to digital.
Slideshow of low cost tech for 3rd world needs. Interesting.
New comet detected that reappears every 4 years.
Like TorrentSpy last month, IsoHunt is going to stop allowing US computers to download torrent trackers from their site. This is caused by pressure from the Motion Picture industry, but I don't see them stopping downloads of movies only. :(
Dawn will rise in the west this week as the spacecraft Dawn is launched to study the asteroid belt.
New studies show stem cell therapies will slow down liver damage to give the liver a chance to repair itself or give the patient time for a new liver to be found.
Massive underwater kelp forests have been found beneath the coral reefs in the tropical areas of the Pacific (where they never thought to look for them before).
9pm Bionic Woman (NBC) and Private Practice (ABC) - worth pilots
10pm CSI:NY (CBS)
Mercedes McNab (Harmony on Buffy) is going to guest star as another vampire on Supernatural in November. Charisma Carpenter is joining the cast of Big Shots. (Why does a cast and crew I like so much have to be for a show that sounds dreadful? I'll probably end up giving it a pilot.)
Why is it that people still think colorizing classic films is a good idea? Now Ray Harryhausen gets colored over.
Cool science for the day: First zero-gravity surgery robot demonstrates vascular surgery in underwater lab.
Planned projects would increase California's solar power production to 65x current levels.
Slideshow for converting analog TVs to digital.
Slideshow of low cost tech for 3rd world needs. Interesting.
New comet detected that reappears every 4 years.
Like TorrentSpy last month, IsoHunt is going to stop allowing US computers to download torrent trackers from their site. This is caused by pressure from the Motion Picture industry, but I don't see them stopping downloads of movies only. :(
Dawn will rise in the west this week as the spacecraft Dawn is launched to study the asteroid belt.
New studies show stem cell therapies will slow down liver damage to give the liver a chance to repair itself or give the patient time for a new liver to be found.
Massive underwater kelp forests have been found beneath the coral reefs in the tropical areas of the Pacific (where they never thought to look for them before).
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Roundup for 9-25-07
DVR settings for tonight:
6pm Eureka (SCIFI)
8pm Bones (FOX)
9pm House (FOX) - Really far behind on this show - may or may not watch.
Reaper (CW) - We saw a sneak preview of this and it is GOOD!
Mathematical evidence for the parallel universe theory.
Michael Shanks talks about filming the episode of Eureka that airs tonight.
Interesting new tripod robot design - the STriDER flips while walking.
Roof tiles with built-in solar cells. I wonder how efficient they are, but it is interesting to see a solar paneled roof that looks like a normal terracotta tile roof.
Interesting pictures of caves and water evidence on Mars.
EchoStar (parent company for DishNetwork) just bought Sling Media. I look forward to seeing a DVR with built-in sling-box so you can view your recordings on your laptop, PDA or maybe just a non-DVR satellite box in the same house without buying a separate device and going through another setup.
6pm Eureka (SCIFI)
8pm Bones (FOX)
9pm House (FOX) - Really far behind on this show - may or may not watch.
Reaper (CW) - We saw a sneak preview of this and it is GOOD!
Mathematical evidence for the parallel universe theory.
Michael Shanks talks about filming the episode of Eureka that airs tonight.
Interesting new tripod robot design - the STriDER flips while walking.
Roof tiles with built-in solar cells. I wonder how efficient they are, but it is interesting to see a solar paneled roof that looks like a normal terracotta tile roof.
Interesting pictures of caves and water evidence on Mars.
EchoStar (parent company for DishNetwork) just bought Sling Media. I look forward to seeing a DVR with built-in sling-box so you can view your recordings on your laptop, PDA or maybe just a non-DVR satellite box in the same house without buying a separate device and going through another setup.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Roundup for 9-24-07
TV for tonight:
DVR1:
Chuck (geek gets download of spy knowledge - sounds like Jake 2.0 - worth a pilot)
Heroes (finally back!!!!!)
Journeyman (time travel - worth a pilot)
DVR2:
How I Met Your Mother
Big Bang Theory (giving this a pilot basically because it comes between 2 shows I'll watch although I doubt it will be worth a second episode)
2.5 Men
More writer/directors named for Heroes: Origins. Eli Roth ("Hostel") and Michael Dougherty ("Superman Returns") join Kevin Smith ("Clerks", etc.).
TVShowsonDVD is taking a REALLY in depth look at the new Young Indy dvd sets. I would like to rewatch some of these, but it might seem a bit strange to see Sean Patrick Flannery play a good guy. ;) Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Cute story of geeks meant for each other: Marriage proposal in a crossword puzzle.
RIP Marcel Marceau (the most famous mime ever) and Alice Ghostley (Esmerelda from Bewitched, etc.).
Article about all the geeks on TV this fall (or shows aimed for geeks).
Article listing the best geek TV of our generation (#1 is Buffy). As usual with any list, I have problems with the order and omissions, but it is better than some.
New version of Gmail being tested according to ZDNet.
Wikipedia is making changes to become more trustworthy.
Really fascinating article on the top 10 transhumanist technologies (basically future technologies to change the way we live approached from a "we will definitely get this and this is why and how" sort of approach).
Article on Heroes (not to be read until tomorrow because it warns of spoilers).
Cord blood transfusions from siblings cures sickle cell disease and Thalassemiain in 90% of cases.
Low cost, high-efficiency solar panels nearing mass production.
Astronomers have modeled 14 planet types to help them spot an Earth-like planet elsewhere.
New studies show that the Amazon rainforest recovers better from drought than previous models suggested. I guess that gives us some hope.
Arthur C. Clarke comments on the Google X Prize award.
DVR1:
Chuck (geek gets download of spy knowledge - sounds like Jake 2.0 - worth a pilot)
Heroes (finally back!!!!!)
Journeyman (time travel - worth a pilot)
DVR2:
How I Met Your Mother
Big Bang Theory (giving this a pilot basically because it comes between 2 shows I'll watch although I doubt it will be worth a second episode)
2.5 Men
More writer/directors named for Heroes: Origins. Eli Roth ("Hostel") and Michael Dougherty ("Superman Returns") join Kevin Smith ("Clerks", etc.).
TVShowsonDVD is taking a REALLY in depth look at the new Young Indy dvd sets. I would like to rewatch some of these, but it might seem a bit strange to see Sean Patrick Flannery play a good guy. ;) Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Cute story of geeks meant for each other: Marriage proposal in a crossword puzzle.
RIP Marcel Marceau (the most famous mime ever) and Alice Ghostley (Esmerelda from Bewitched, etc.).
Article about all the geeks on TV this fall (or shows aimed for geeks).
Article listing the best geek TV of our generation (#1 is Buffy). As usual with any list, I have problems with the order and omissions, but it is better than some.
New version of Gmail being tested according to ZDNet.
Wikipedia is making changes to become more trustworthy.
Really fascinating article on the top 10 transhumanist technologies (basically future technologies to change the way we live approached from a "we will definitely get this and this is why and how" sort of approach).
Article on Heroes (not to be read until tomorrow because it warns of spoilers).
Cord blood transfusions from siblings cures sickle cell disease and Thalassemiain in 90% of cases.
Low cost, high-efficiency solar panels nearing mass production.
Astronomers have modeled 14 planet types to help them spot an Earth-like planet elsewhere.
New studies show that the Amazon rainforest recovers better from drought than previous models suggested. I guess that gives us some hope.
Arthur C. Clarke comments on the Google X Prize award.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Roundup for 9-17-07
Somebody has created a list of 50 intelligent SF movies. They've broken it up by theme and left out a few I like (ex. Enemy Mine), but overall it is a very good list. There are some I've never seen that I might actually track down.
Microsoft lost its appeal in the European antitrust lawsuit = $613 million fine. They have 2 months to decide if they will appeal again.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/financial/f063656D71.DTL&feed=rss.technology
RIP Robert Jordan. In March 2006 he announced his illness, reporting that the median life expectancy was 1 to 4 years, depending on treatment. I am sorry to say that,despite the treatment, he only lived 1.5 years more. He died yesterday. According to this, it looks like he left good notes, so hopefully the Wheel of Time series will one day be completed. He spent 17 years writing it, and I'd hate for it to remain unfinished, and (selfishly) I'd like to know how it ends.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005652.html
http://www.tarvalon.net/news.asp?article=501
Jay Mohr will be a regular on Ghost Whisperer this season. I guess that means that his pilot (I don't remember what it was) didn't get picked up.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=44151
I didn't watch the Emmy awards, but it looks like the only major-category win for genre shows was Terry O'Quinn getting Best Supporting Actor for Lost.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=44152
Mars is going to keep 100% cocoa butter in all its chocolate products. The industry is trying to save money by saying that 5% vegetable oil is still chocolate. That just sounds wrong, and I'm glad that Mars (who makes M&M, Dove, Twix, etc.) is standing up to the pressure.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/national/a105023D61.DTL&feed=rss.news
Nebraska Senator sues God (to make a statement that lawsuits where you can sue anyone for anything have become ridiculous).
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/national/a155624D13.DTL&feed=rss.news
A group of MIT alumni have made a low-cost solar generator to bring refrigeration to developing nations.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9779928-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Microsoft lost its appeal in the European antitrust lawsuit = $613 million fine. They have 2 months to decide if they will appeal again.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/financial/f063656D71.DTL&feed=rss.technology
RIP Robert Jordan. In March 2006 he announced his illness, reporting that the median life expectancy was 1 to 4 years, depending on treatment. I am sorry to say that,despite the treatment, he only lived 1.5 years more. He died yesterday. According to this, it looks like he left good notes, so hopefully the Wheel of Time series will one day be completed. He spent 17 years writing it, and I'd hate for it to remain unfinished, and (selfishly) I'd like to know how it ends.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005652.html
http://www.tarvalon.net/news.asp?article=501
Jay Mohr will be a regular on Ghost Whisperer this season. I guess that means that his pilot (I don't remember what it was) didn't get picked up.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=44151
I didn't watch the Emmy awards, but it looks like the only major-category win for genre shows was Terry O'Quinn getting Best Supporting Actor for Lost.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=44152
Mars is going to keep 100% cocoa butter in all its chocolate products. The industry is trying to save money by saying that 5% vegetable oil is still chocolate. That just sounds wrong, and I'm glad that Mars (who makes M&M, Dove, Twix, etc.) is standing up to the pressure.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/national/a105023D61.DTL&feed=rss.news
Nebraska Senator sues God (to make a statement that lawsuits where you can sue anyone for anything have become ridiculous).
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/17/national/a155624D13.DTL&feed=rss.news
A group of MIT alumni have made a low-cost solar generator to bring refrigeration to developing nations.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9779928-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Roundup for 9-13-07 part 1
Morgan Fairchild will play herself in an upcoming episode of Men in Trees.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Men-Trees/800022149?rssDate=12345678
Jon Stewart will host the Oscars again next year.
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070912abc01
Google is co-sponsoring a $20 million grand prize (with $10 million in other prizes) for an unmanned moon landing by a private industry group.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070913/wr_nm/space_prize_dc_1
http://www.space.com/news/070913_google_xprize.html
By analyzing the orbit of Mars, they think it has had 40 ice ages in the past 50 million years (approx. every 120,000 years), with the wobble causing the sun to either dry out the soil or cause ice sheets to form right under it, alternating in location. Wow, makes life seem pretty much impossible anywhere remotely near the surface.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_mars_ice.html
Not all red giant stars act the same way. And some planets could survive the death of their suns. Could Earth? Doubtful, but it allows for some interesting speculation, and none of us will be around to know for sure.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_rgiant_planet.html
Vampire star found = article about a star that siphons gas from another star close by.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_neutron_object.html
For $1.3 million a year and the loan of their planes for research missions, Google founders will get to park their planes at Moffet Field. I think it sounds like a great deal for all involved (Moffet gets more funds to stay open and active in research, and Google gets airport access right next to their headquarters), but there is concern over just how many flights will be allowed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/technology/13google.html?em&ex=1189742400&en=d65a97aea29c0825&ei=5087%0A
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/12/BUDJS3IOT.DTL&feed=rss.technology
New water bottle filters anything under 15 nanometers (viruses are 25), so it can purify the grossest water imaginable without chemicals and can go at least 4,000 liters before changing the filter. Military agencies bought up his entire supply within 4 hours, but I'm sure he'll be making more soon (he designed it for disaster relief).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=3R3S1NAZ1X2NVQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/09/12/nwater112.xml
Solar aircraft sets records
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/10/1917254&from=rss
A stinky weed with an oily seed may be your next source of auto fuel. It is apparently really easy to turn into biodiesel.
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/10/1734254&from=rss
Student film version of Rama. (I still need to check out.)
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005624.html
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Men-Trees/800022149?rssDate=12345678
Jon Stewart will host the Oscars again next year.
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070912abc01
Google is co-sponsoring a $20 million grand prize (with $10 million in other prizes) for an unmanned moon landing by a private industry group.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070913/wr_nm/space_prize_dc_1
http://www.space.com/news/070913_google_xprize.html
By analyzing the orbit of Mars, they think it has had 40 ice ages in the past 50 million years (approx. every 120,000 years), with the wobble causing the sun to either dry out the soil or cause ice sheets to form right under it, alternating in location. Wow, makes life seem pretty much impossible anywhere remotely near the surface.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_mars_ice.html
Not all red giant stars act the same way. And some planets could survive the death of their suns. Could Earth? Doubtful, but it allows for some interesting speculation, and none of us will be around to know for sure.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_rgiant_planet.html
Vampire star found = article about a star that siphons gas from another star close by.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070912_neutron_object.html
For $1.3 million a year and the loan of their planes for research missions, Google founders will get to park their planes at Moffet Field. I think it sounds like a great deal for all involved (Moffet gets more funds to stay open and active in research, and Google gets airport access right next to their headquarters), but there is concern over just how many flights will be allowed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/technology/13google.html?em&ex=1189742400&en=d65a97aea29c0825&ei=5087%0A
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/12/BUDJS3IOT.DTL&feed=rss.technology
New water bottle filters anything under 15 nanometers (viruses are 25), so it can purify the grossest water imaginable without chemicals and can go at least 4,000 liters before changing the filter. Military agencies bought up his entire supply within 4 hours, but I'm sure he'll be making more soon (he designed it for disaster relief).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=3R3S1NAZ1X2NVQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/09/12/nwater112.xml
Solar aircraft sets records
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/10/1917254&from=rss
A stinky weed with an oily seed may be your next source of auto fuel. It is apparently really easy to turn into biodiesel.
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/10/1734254&from=rss
Student film version of Rama. (I still need to check out.)
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005624.html
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Roundup for 9-6-07
RIP Pavarotti. I remember listening to him sing so many times when I was a kid with Dad.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070906/ap_on_en_mu/pavarotti;_ylt=Av2JwfkqH0dHr2C14DzJtkKs0NUE
Alyssa Milano will be joining the cast of My Name is Earl.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Earl-Charmed/800021729?rssDate=12345678
NBC is going to encore several of its shows on other channels it owns: Bionic Woman on SciFi, pilots on USA & Bravo. Heroes may encore on NBC itself on Saturdays, but unlike last season, there are no plans for any other network to show it.
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7450
Two telescopes have confirmed the sighting of tiny building block galaxies.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070906_toy_galaxies.html
Weird but true: Some eels have an extra set of teeth in their throat that reach up and pull food down.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6807532
Designed to run for 3 months, the Mars rovers have been running for 3 years. (I'm used to things that work the other way round.) They just started up again after the end of dust storms that were blocking their solar panels.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1211831261;fp;16;fpid;1
They've traced the origin of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Who would have thought there'd still be enough evidence after 160 million years?
http://www.physorg.com/news108218928.html
Australia is considering storing stem cells from their athletes to use to help them heal faster from injuries.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/stem-cell-bank-to-help-players-heal-quickly/2007/09/05/1188783320031.html
Rapid diagnostics using nanoparticles to detect viruses and cancers.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19343/
Using lasers to kill viruses.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070905/139/6kddc.html
Networks are considering all sorts of weird strategies, including bringing cable shows to the networks, to fill the gap expected because of the potential writers strike in October.
http://www.afterellen.com/blog/roc/tv-writers-may-strike?comment=394509
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971074.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Dianne Wiest will be joining Amy Sherman-Palladino's (Gilmore Girls creator) new show at midseason.
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-wiestjezeljamescasting,0,5682511.story?track=rss
Oregon is testing ocean wave power generators. I like the potential for more power in less space than solar or wind without the bird endangerment of the windmills.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9772850-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Biomass fuel just took another step closer to becoming a reality.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9772651-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070906/ap_on_en_mu/pavarotti;_ylt=Av2JwfkqH0dHr2C14DzJtkKs0NUE
Alyssa Milano will be joining the cast of My Name is Earl.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Earl-Charmed/800021729?rssDate=12345678
NBC is going to encore several of its shows on other channels it owns: Bionic Woman on SciFi, pilots on USA & Bravo. Heroes may encore on NBC itself on Saturdays, but unlike last season, there are no plans for any other network to show it.
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7450
Two telescopes have confirmed the sighting of tiny building block galaxies.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070906_toy_galaxies.html
Weird but true: Some eels have an extra set of teeth in their throat that reach up and pull food down.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6807532
Designed to run for 3 months, the Mars rovers have been running for 3 years. (I'm used to things that work the other way round.) They just started up again after the end of dust storms that were blocking their solar panels.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1211831261;fp;16;fpid;1
They've traced the origin of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Who would have thought there'd still be enough evidence after 160 million years?
http://www.physorg.com/news108218928.html
Australia is considering storing stem cells from their athletes to use to help them heal faster from injuries.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/stem-cell-bank-to-help-players-heal-quickly/2007/09/05/1188783320031.html
Rapid diagnostics using nanoparticles to detect viruses and cancers.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19343/
Using lasers to kill viruses.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070905/139/6kddc.html
Networks are considering all sorts of weird strategies, including bringing cable shows to the networks, to fill the gap expected because of the potential writers strike in October.
http://www.afterellen.com/blog/roc/tv-writers-may-strike?comment=394509
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971074.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Dianne Wiest will be joining Amy Sherman-Palladino's (Gilmore Girls creator) new show at midseason.
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-wiestjezeljamescasting,0,5682511.story?track=rss
Oregon is testing ocean wave power generators. I like the potential for more power in less space than solar or wind without the bird endangerment of the windmills.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9772850-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Biomass fuel just took another step closer to becoming a reality.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9772651-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
8-21-07
Cool slideshow: Space.com's top 10 views of Earth.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/top10_views_of_earth.html
Interview with Kristen Bell about Heroes, etc. Her "arc" will be at least 13 episodes. Sounds like a series regular to me.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Kristen-Bells/800020731?rssDate=12345678
Rumors are that Doctor Who is going to have a multi-Doctor episode in the 4th season (Peter Davison will appear).
http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EElZVVZVpVFCFEHLuq&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle
They will start a Doctor Who comic, based on David Tennant's doctor, next year.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11338
According to SFTV.org:
SciFi looks to be planning to repurpose NBC's Journeyman, Bionic Woman
and Chuck, but do not appear to have Heroes on their schedule. The last
week of September shows Journeyman airing at 7 pm on Thursday with
The Bionic Woman at 7 pm on Friday. On Sunday night, they have Chuck
scheduled at 11 pm with Journeyman at 12 midnight. Once Doctor Who
ends its run in the 8 pm Friday time slot, it may be that one of the
NBC shows will take over that time slot on Oct 11th.
They have cast James McAvoy as Scotty in the new Star Trek movie. (I've seen him in 4 roles, but strangely remember him best as the faun in Chronicles of Narnia).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/
Interview with Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge:
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw16718.html
They've made a term for the stuff clogging my mailboxes that I'll get around to looking at eventually: bacn. It isn't actually spam, it may be something you want, but you don't really want to read it.
http://news.com.com/8301-13577_3-9763146-36.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Great article on using nanotechnology to make solar panels more efficient.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=669
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/top10_views_of_earth.html
Interview with Kristen Bell about Heroes, etc. Her "arc" will be at least 13 episodes. Sounds like a series regular to me.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Kristen-Bells/800020731?rssDate=12345678
Rumors are that Doctor Who is going to have a multi-Doctor episode in the 4th season (Peter Davison will appear).
http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EElZVVZVpVFCFEHLuq&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle
They will start a Doctor Who comic, based on David Tennant's doctor, next year.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11338
According to SFTV.org:
SciFi looks to be planning to repurpose NBC's Journeyman, Bionic Woman
and Chuck, but do not appear to have Heroes on their schedule. The last
week of September shows Journeyman airing at 7 pm on Thursday with
The Bionic Woman at 7 pm on Friday. On Sunday night, they have Chuck
scheduled at 11 pm with Journeyman at 12 midnight. Once Doctor Who
ends its run in the 8 pm Friday time slot, it may be that one of the
NBC shows will take over that time slot on Oct 11th.
They have cast James McAvoy as Scotty in the new Star Trek movie. (I've seen him in 4 roles, but strangely remember him best as the faun in Chronicles of Narnia).
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/
Interview with Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge:
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw16718.html
They've made a term for the stuff clogging my mailboxes that I'll get around to looking at eventually: bacn. It isn't actually spam, it may be something you want, but you don't really want to read it.
http://news.com.com/8301-13577_3-9763146-36.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Great article on using nanotechnology to make solar panels more efficient.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=669
Friday, August 10, 2007
8-10-07
They released info on the Jericho dvd set, and although the extras are pretty decent, it is the latest to fall to the "music has been changed" problem. You'd think they'd negotiate dvd rights along with broadcast rights when they picked the songs these days. :(
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7818
I thought this was already done, but HBO announced they have officially picked up the show True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire (aka Sookie Stackhouse) books. Airdates still TBD.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=43190
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-story-trueblookpickup,0,1915877.story?track=rss
Greg Grunberg is going to host NBC's special about their fall shows airing just about everywhere (every channel affiliated with them and online) over the next month. It might be worth checking out. The new NBC shows I currently consider worth a pilot are: Chuck, Journeyman, and Bionic Woman. Then there are their current shows I'm waiting for: Heroes, My Name is Earl, and Scrubs.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=43191
The complete classic Doctor Who in 5 minutes on a YouTube clip. It amounts to about 2 seconds per episode, but it points out how few I've actually seen. They may be cheesy, but I want to watch more.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005460.html
Live Science (of all strange places) has ranked the top 10 immortals. I'm not sure how they determined ranking, and I would have a hard time coming up with any they missed, but the list is kind of cute.
http://www.livescience.com/health/top10_immortals-1.html
There might actually be a space hotel by 2012. Cool.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070810/tc_nm/space_hotel_dc_3
On the cool technology front, CNet has photos of the MIT solar house construction competition.
http://news.com.com/2300-11392_3-6201572-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg
http://news.com.com/Energy+geeks+compete+for+coolest+solar+home/2100-11392_3-6201743.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7818
I thought this was already done, but HBO announced they have officially picked up the show True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire (aka Sookie Stackhouse) books. Airdates still TBD.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=43190
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-story-trueblookpickup,0,1915877.story?track=rss
Greg Grunberg is going to host NBC's special about their fall shows airing just about everywhere (every channel affiliated with them and online) over the next month. It might be worth checking out. The new NBC shows I currently consider worth a pilot are: Chuck, Journeyman, and Bionic Woman. Then there are their current shows I'm waiting for: Heroes, My Name is Earl, and Scrubs.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=43191
The complete classic Doctor Who in 5 minutes on a YouTube clip. It amounts to about 2 seconds per episode, but it points out how few I've actually seen. They may be cheesy, but I want to watch more.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/005460.html
Live Science (of all strange places) has ranked the top 10 immortals. I'm not sure how they determined ranking, and I would have a hard time coming up with any they missed, but the list is kind of cute.
http://www.livescience.com/health/top10_immortals-1.html
There might actually be a space hotel by 2012. Cool.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070810/tc_nm/space_hotel_dc_3
On the cool technology front, CNet has photos of the MIT solar house construction competition.
http://news.com.com/2300-11392_3-6201572-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg
http://news.com.com/Energy+geeks+compete+for+coolest+solar+home/2100-11392_3-6201743.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news
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