These images will affect you!

Look at http://www.onamercyship.com/ to see photographs from a Mercy Ship. All that I can say is that they will affect you! The story of the photographer is at http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1330975.html

Is secure music possible?

Is it possible for music to be secured from unauthorized copying? I posted one idea at
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Secure_20music_20with_20public_2fprivate_20keys but after thinking a while a problem with that was found. Cory Doctorow gave a speech to Microsoft explaining why it isn't possible.

Even if digital copies were somehow prohibited it would be near impossible to prevent analog copies. Just put a microphone in front the speaker and record.

So the question is: Since it won't work is it worth the effort to try it when it also makes it hard for users to do legitimate things?

There are no red or blue states!

There are no states that are red or blue! If 51% of the vote went to the red side that doesn't mean the state is a red state -- it just means that it a little (only 4%) more red than blue. It is a bit extreme to call that state a "red state".

Joseph Pictures

There are pictures of Joseph at http://www.frontiernet.net/~JosephJames/. We will probaby add to what is there.

Joseph James

Joseph James Stauffer was born at 10:25 PM on April 29th. He weighed 7
lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long. Both baby and mother are doing well! Pictures are at http://www.frontiernet.net/~JosephJames/

Running Shoe design

This idea for running shoes is a bit complex but if it would work it would be neat.

Make shoes that use hydraulics and valves to store up energy when the shoe hits the ground and then release it when the shoe is leaving the ground.

First the shoe would have to have an extension on the bottom (assume about 6") that is hydraulically controlled. It would add 6" of height like a platform shoe and the extra 6" could be reduced to 1" by the hydraulics.

When running and a foot hits the ground, the hydraulic fluid is compressed in a small tank in the shoe, which reduces stresses on the body and stores the energy. When it is compressed as much as it will be (maybe a chip to help figure this out), a value closes off the tank so that there isn't much upward force. Then when the runner starts to push off with that foot (I assume the chip could figure this out), the value is opened which releases the energy giving a very useful extra push.

It would also be nice if the chip would flatten the shoe when it was lifted into the air so that the runner wouldn't have to lift his foot much to bring it forward. From talking to runners, short strides are better than long strides because long strides require lifting the foot higher which uses different muscles that get tired sooner. This would reduce that problem and might allow longer strides with less foot raising.

Rule by the minority

One branch of our federal government has decided that they are above the other two branches and above even the consitution. How long can this continue before we are completely, effectively ruled by that branch? Another branch of government could reign in their power if they have the guts to do it.

DVD scripting for clean movies

I have heard of companies that edit movies to make them clean and sell the edited movies as "family friendly." What if someone were to make a DVD player that took "script" files that told it where to skip and when to beep or mute. It could probably also pixelate/block a part of the screen when needed. Then when you want to watch a DVD you would download the script file and watch a clean version of the film.

The DVD player would probably have to start out only working on computers. This could also work well for other uses. If you made a DVD of your child's soccer game you could make a script that is a 5-minute overview of the game but still keep the whole game.

Does this exist? Would it work? Are there licensing/copyright issues with the DVD format owners?

Google Maps suggests scenic route

I really like Google Maps especially because I can make the size of the map quite big and the ease of zooming and panning but sometimes computers come up with interesting routes. If the link below works it shows going through Kansas City and taking an extra 35 mile detour.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from%3A%20Roberts%2C%20WI%20to%3A%20Miami%2C%20OK&ll=39.132324%2C-94.675984&spn=0.475098%2C0.789730&hl=en

The oldest twin was born after the youngest

Daylight savings time could create some interesting situations. Think about a set of twins born on the day that daylight savings time ends (last Sunday in October?). The first twin could be born at 2:50 AM DST and the 2nd twin could be born at 2:10 AM standard time so then it would look like the older twin was born after the younger twin. I understand that the purpose of DST is to move "daylight" toward the end of the day where it is "more useful" but is it really very useful? If people want more daylight at the end of the day they can just get up earlier (and go to bed earlier). What do you think? Is DST useful?