Robot combined with swallowable camera could give docs a better look inside the small intestine

Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have devised a horse-sized pill robot designed navigate and relay images of the intestine. The 3-legged version can deploy it's legs to stay in place, or retract them to go with the flow. Adding 3 more legs on the other end will allow it to "inchworm" back to a previous position in the intestines to look at a troublesome spot.

"A number of problems remain to be solved. For instance, the small intestine is typically collapsed, so maneuvering through it might be difficult for a legged robot. And power already is limited for the capsule cameras; precious little additional power may be available for locomotion."

Though, the robot is attached to a 'swallowable' pill, when used for the Colon, it appears that the pill will be introduced through the anus. This would be far more pleasant than the current colonoscope.

Intestine Robot

PhysOrg.com: Science, Technology Blog

Yahoo will be testing a new PhotoMail service. Key words here are, free, and BETA.PhysOrg.com: Science, Technology Blog

URLex: Comment on the Web-literally

URLex is still in it's infancy, but I think it shows promise. A brief description of the site follows.

"With URLex system you are able to leave a comment regarding any internet link on any site. The comments are available either only to you and your friends, or anyone visiting the site. You now have an opportunity of expressing your thoughts regarding any information placed on the internet. The system enables you to leave notes on the pages and sustain the conversation on a selected topic. You can enter communities, or create your own, exchange links there. You can restrict the access to your comments by creating a closed community and providing access to the information by issuing special invitation."

Once you join, leave a comment on this post if you would like to be added to my community. My group is called "Farrercommons". Big surprise, eh? Let's see what evolves from the use of this tool?

A extension for Mozilla Firefox users is below.

Mozilla Update :: Extensions -- More Info:URLex! - All Releases

P.S. I forgot to mention that this is my 100th post. (counting both my posts on Davis County Watch, and Farrer Commons)

Letter to Hatch:Stop PATRIOT Act Expansion

The EFF is spearheading an effort to urge Senators to not expand PATRIOT to authorize an "administrative subpoena" power. A template, very different from my letter below is available on their website. Please feel free to use, or modify, my letter for your use as well. I differ from the EFF in that I don't oppose the entire PATRIOT act, just this one draft provision.

As a constituent who, largely, supports the USA PATRIOT Act in it's present form. I was disheartened to learn that Section 213 may be revised in order to expand executive powers to include an, unconstitutional, "administrative subpoena" power. I urge you to not affect this change. The 'search and seizure' provisions of PATRIOT must include the requirement to obtain a warrant authorized by a court. These checks and balances are sacrosanct, and must not be altered. I also ask that the Senate Intelligence Committee's mark-up session on Thursday, May 26, be opened to the public.

Your committee's current draft bill endangers my civil liberties and those of every other citizen. I strongly urge you to return your commitee to sanity, and remain true to the Constitution. The Constitution forbids "warrantless" searches, for the protection of the people. I have supported 'delayed notification' provision, under the oversight of the courts, and have suffered derision, and ridicule for my views. I stand by these views, but cannot stand with you on the modification of Section 213.

I strongly urge you to leave intact the language of Section 213, and open your session to the public.

GOP Aides Say New Patriot Act Obliges Bush - Yahoo! News

I've said before that I see no reason to oppose the PATRIOT Act in it's current state, and that is still true. That being said, the AP is reporting, according to an anonymous source, that the Senate Intelligence Commitee is trying to change PATRIOT to allow the FBI to issue subpoena's, without the approval of a judge, "for quickly obtaining records, electronic data or other evidence in terrorism investigations, according to aides for the GOP majority on the committee who briefed reporters Wednesday." This action would be forbidden by the Constitution.

The line that cannot be crossed here is the 'warrantless subpoena'. The Constitution requires that a warrant must be issued in order to justify the search, or seizure. Technically, a warrant cannot be called such, unless a Judge, or Grand Jury oversees the process. Otherwise calling for the search or seizure, could not be called "reasonable". If this modification of the PATRIOT Act, occurs, it would negate the safeguards put in place by the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

GOP Aides Say New Patriot Act Obliges Bush - Yahoo! News

Not all Privacy is equal

I'm not sure why I enjoy talking so much about Privacy issues. My first post on this blog was on Privacy. I guess it's because I hold views that are not widely accepted, although I find arguments in support of them. It's a great soap-box topic. The Beckner-Posner Blog has a posted on the different kinds of privacy that concern us, and proposes reasoning behind assigning value to each of these. Rather than employing the word, privacy, as a war cry, as we often do, we ought to consider the it's implications relative to other values. Richard Posner does well in breaking down the this value.

Posner on Privacy

And what if it did happen? (idleryet.blog-city.com)

Bill Adams, at Idler Yet, has made an interesting point regarding the Newsweek Scandal. Bumper stickers that read, "Newsweek lied, people died" are already in circulation, and the Whitehouse is brisling that the media would even imply such a thing. But, what if such a thing did happen? Would it be just cause for murder? Let's keep our Media organizations responsible, but our citizenry even more so lest we have to eat our own words.

And what if it did happen? (idleryet.blog-city.com)

Marginal Revolution: My Unconscious is Clear

Marginal Revolution points to a test that is freely available to all regardless of creed, race, or gender, to determine whether one has a unconscious bias. How will I rate on this? Anyone is free to weigh in on how you think I did. Just leave me a comment. Also, if you want to take the test yourself then by all means do. I'll give my results, once I get a few good guesses. (By the way, I haven't yet taken the test, so there are no intentional clues to be had in this post.)

Marginal Revolution: My Unconscious is Clear

- The Debates - Profs Take on "Primary Purpose" Test

In an article, recently published, in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, one provision of PATRIOT, "perhaps the most controversial", is posited to need reform. The section has been so controversial because it was intented to break down a barrier between Foreign Intelligence, and Criminal Law, known as "the wall". Prior to PATRIOT, it was the Justice Departments policy to deal with "the wall" by "limiting contact between foreign intelligence agents in the FBI and federal prosecutors". Ironically, a Court of Review found that "the wall" actually didn't exist in the first place, except by the actual passing of the PATRIOT Act, which assumed it's existence. PATRIOT served to build "the wall", albeit a smaller one, than what was misconstrued to have existed previously. (I know. Wrap your mind around that one.) The Professors cover, in 145 pages( Of which I have read 1/4), how the Justice Department may employ a loophole to get over "the wall" today. The authors justify reforming the legislation in order to render any such maneuvering, on the part of the government, unnecessary, and that contact between the various Agencies may be unfettered.
- The Debates - Profs Take on "Primary Purpose" Test

Quickie Google Search Lays Out "Brothels" - Yahoo! News

Quickie Google Search Lays Out "Brothels" - Yahoo! News: "What do the University of Oregon's history department in Eugene, Ore.;
the Happy Ending bar in Manhattan; and the Abstinence Clearinghouse in
Sioux Falls, S.D. have in common?"

Water-use cutbacks hurt Salt Lake coffers

The Deseret News has an article proving that the local Government is not fully commited to water conservation. The boon of rain that we are experiencing in Utah, helping us climb out of a decade of drought, has already cost Public Utilities $400,000.

The article also points out that we may dry out this summer, which means we need to continue our water saving practices despite the rainfall we may receive, and despite what the Public Service Ad's may soon say.

Water-use cutbacks hurt Salt Lake coffers

D.C. Insider: Reid blasts Hatch

Some good discussion is happening at The D.C. Insider, with comments from myself as well. Read the full story here.

La Shawn Barber’s Corner

This post caught my eye regarding hate crimes, and hate crime legislation. An individual has actually been caught faking a hate crime prompting Barber to start a website called fakehate.com. The paragraph below illustrates very concisely, the problems with criminalizing an emotional state.

"For some reason, a couple of readers fail to see the distinction between the element of premeditation or aforethought in a crime such as murder, and crimes based on how you feel or what you think about protected classes of people, such as blacks and homosexuals. So-called hate crimes criminalize thoughts, something that should never be a part of a free society. Hate is not a crime. Killing someone is a crime. The difference in the degrees of murder (first, second, and third), for example, go to the intent of the perpetrator, not his motive for the killing.

The mental state of a perpetrator is an important element in a crime like attempted murder, but the focus is on whether he planned or intended to kill the victim, not what he thinks or feels about the victim. Our “feelings” or opinions about people are not subject to penalty."

La Shawn Barber’s Corner

MAKE: Blog: This to That- Glue Advice

I hate it when I choose the wrong glue. MAKE, has provided a link to a website that will tell you the right glue for the job.MAKE: Blog: This to That- Glue Advice

MAKE: Blog: Life Hacks

Be super-efficient!
MAKE: Blog: Life Hacks

Hatch aims to lower gas prices :: The Daily Herald, Provo Utah

Orrin Hatch announced yesterday his plan to lower gas prices in the longterm by encouraging increased production at oil refineries. I, for one, don't buy his sales pitch. How does giving refineries tax breaks lower the price of gas? We still have to import the crude, and pay whatever OPEC wants for it. We still depend on foreign oil.

"Hatch's plan would focus mostly on encouraging investment in increasing
production at existing refineries, although it doesn't exclude the
building of new plants."

Hatch aims to lower gas prices :: The Daily Herald, Provo Utah

Michelle Malkin: THE HILLARY CLINTON ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT

Take a look at HillCAP.org run by Hillary Clinton's biggest campaign contributor, Peter Paul. Hillary is alleged to have committed fraud in understating the amount Paul contributed to her campaign. More information on the website below.

Michelle Malkin: THE HILLARY CLINTON ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT

SJLPP: Red War, Blue War

The Sutherland Journal of Law and Public Policy has a great piece on how the Left-leaning media have portraid an incorrect picture of the War in Iraq.

I'’m afraid,” said Representative Jim Marshall (D-GA), “the news media are hurting our chances [of success]; they are dwelling upon the mistakes, the ambushes, the soldiers killed…. The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation, and emboldens our enemy.”

Bryce Christensen, Red War, Blue War, 2005 Sutherland J. L. & Pub. Pol’y P24
(PDF)

Spying on the spyware makers

CNET has a nice interview with Spyware guru, Ben Edelman. He spends at least 30 hours a week on Spyware in addition to his studies in Law School. He's gone after giants like Ask Jeeves, Claria, and even Googles' own Blogger.

Spying on the spyware makers | Newsmakers | CNET News.com

Yahoo Mail at 1 Gig

My Yahoo Mail account has just increased to 1 Gigabyte--Not that I needed it.

Yahoo Mail

spiked-science | survey | E=mc2 centenary survey | E=mc2 survey - AtoB

A bunch of scientist were asked the question, "If you could teach the world just one thing..." Here are the responses. There are far too many for one person to view in just one sitting, so what are your favorites?

spiked-science | survey |