Chip reads mind of paralysed man
From the Guardian...A severely paralysed man has become the first person to be fitted with a brain implant that allows him to control everyday objects by thought alone...
Mr Nagle has become the first patient in a controversial trial of brain implants which could help disabled people to be more independent by tapping into their brain waves......The scientists, lead by Professor John Donoghue, a world expert in neurotechnology at Brown University in Rhode Island, used a computer to decipher the brain waves picked up by the implant. In early trials, Mr Nagle learned to move a cursor around a computer screen simply by imagining moving his arm.
This is the way technology should be used.
Save The Planet...well money anyway
The
BBC reports that we are wasting electricity by not turning off. I'm going to have to show this to my kids.
Just A Refill
As reported in
The Register Manufacturers are afraid that the refill business will hurt their profits. If they provided a better value option they would have no fear. Their action in trying to stop refillers suggests that they are offering a product that the consumer wants.
Always Wear Clean Underwear
Digital Common Sense has a very funny piece
Always wear clean underwear in public, especially when working under your vehicle… From the Northwest Florida Daily News comes this story of a Crestview couple who drove their car to Wal-Mart, only to have their car break down in the parking lot. The man told his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the car in the lot. The wife returned later to see a small group of people near the car. On closer inspection, she saw a pair of male legs protruding from under the chassis. Although the man was in shorts, his lack of underpants turned private parts into glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the embarrassment, she dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand UP his shorts, and tucked everything back into place. On regaining her feet, she looked across the hood and found herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by. The mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his forehead.
Thanks to
Misanthropyst for the link
About Turn... A First Step
I'm not a great fan of Michael McDowell but must give credit for his
change of mind in the Olunkunle Eluhanla case. It is difficult for a high profile politician to do this and to admit that he was wrong. The attention this case has focused on immigrants and what we need to do is fantastic. We need to grab this opportunity and formulate a humane policy.
The report in today's
Irish Independent reveals what is in effect slavery and underlines the need for a complete review of immigration policy as does
this.
The treatment we look for and expect for our own emigrants is in sharp contrast to how we treat others. It seems that profit is the motive. Sordid. We have an obligation to help these people who have come to our country and where the work permit is held by the employer.
And Still They Steal
The
tax settlements with the Revenue Commissioners continue to astound. It seems that theft from the state i.e. us is allowed to these privileged people. You can see from this report that the efforts of the tax dodgers continue. They got amnesty after amnesty but their greed knows no limits. It seem that the only risk they run is a payment of what they owe and a financial penalty.
The idea of naming and shaming has had only a minimal effect. It's past time that these people were brought before the courts and faced the prospect of going to jail. I agree that we wouldn't have enough space but we could find place if we wanted to and charge them for their keep.
A Nice Choice In Nenagh
Over last weekend my wife and I went on a trip to north Cork from Dublin. The weather was terrific and the traffic was light which made the journey very enjoyable. With the extended daylight kicking in I am really looking forward to many more.
A problem on this journey recently has been nowhere to stop. With all the bypasses that have been opened in recent years its straight through. Last August Tom Doorley writing in the Irish Times Magazine talked about the
Country Choice as a place to go. We were hungry and had plenty of time. so we made a detour into Nenagh. The detour was quite short and boy was it worth it. Just writing about it and I am starting to salivate. This is food like it should be served. Can't wait to find an excuse to go back. And you can see the
daily menu here. The way to go.
The Cost of Broadband
The
register carries a very interesting report on the cost of broadband in Ireland. I recently installed broadband and discovered that because I had Eircom Phonewatch I had no choice. I had to take the Eircom product which was the most expensive and most restrictive of the ones I looked at.
Inequality
What we mean depends on how we define it. A thought provoking post on
Freedom Institute.
Renault Laguna Terror Ordeal
I have a Renault Laguna and was looking forward to a 250 kilometer trip tomorrow, until I saw this report in
The Register.
Mine is more frightening, it's an automatic - no clutch. I'll have to bring an anchor.
Courage
The
courage of Private Johnson Beharry was acknowledged by the award of a VC. This was great bravery carried out instinctively in the heat of battle.
How much more bravery is shown by the family of murdered Belfast man
Robert McCartney? They had time to reflect on the personal consequences of their action and this was reinforced over weeks of comment in the media. Their great bravery continues and remains to be fully acknowledged.
Stickey Tax
The idea was to introduce a tax on chewing gum to help reduce the damage it is doing to the environment. It was a good idea but now
Dick Roche has said
NO.
Big buisness (profit) wins again.
Softwear Patents and the EU
John Naughton has a very interesting piece about softwear patents and his
Observer article is a good read.
Court lifts injunction in AIB case
AIB continues to be in trouble, a lot of it their own making.
RTE Business - Court lifts injunction in AIB case This will be very interesting as it should reveal some of the workings of this organisation They have brought shame on the financial services industry, not that it had a great image anyway.
It started in March 20 years ago with the ICI débâcle. They made a commercial investment and expected to make a nice profit from the deal. In the event they discovered that they had bought a lemon. They frightened the Government into baling them out at the taxpayers expense No proper cost was attached to the largesse of the State and AIB thrived with no senior executives taking the consequences of a bad commercial decision. The arrogance of the coup was staggering.
They went on to the "Dana" affair, the DIRT scam, the Rusnack disaster and then the Foreign Exchange charging scandal and the "Faldor" tax issue.
Through all these disasters their has been no Board resignation's. Have they no shame?
Spanish money-laundering ring smashed
At last
RTE News - Spanish money-laundering ring smashedIt has long been a source of wonder that Irish criminals can live on the Costas and benefit from their activities with impunity. This is a snub to ordinary decent people. Perhaps this signals a welcome change.
The Passing of a Great Talent
Comedian Dave Allen dies aged 68He debunked and punctured the pompous. We need this to keep sane. His talent will be missed.
He Tells It Like It Is
I just need enough to tide me over until I need more -Bill Hoest
Quotes of the Day - The Quotations Page
Pigs Hold Clues to Man-Made Flu
I think I've got a temperature. Best take to the bed .
Wired News: Pigs Hold Clues to Man-Made Flu
A Way Of Life
From
Wired News: Wiki Becomes a Way of LifeThis is dedication taken to a high level.
Time To Shout Stop
We heard nothing about it until the parents spoke out. Then the authorities become all concerned. Why? What are they ashamed of? Their inaction for years? The case is well set out in the
Irish Times Article - Parents of children agree to psychiatric assessmentRichard Devlin asks some very pertinent questions and has a comprehensive take on the background. Essential reading.
More On Software Patents
More views on the infamous softwear directive.
WhoisIreland Review
EU software patents pass in the teeth of decency and democracy
Boing Boing: EU software patents pass in the teeth of decency and democracyThe mighty $ rules. We
all need to make our views known. Politicians respond to pressure from voters.
Tysabri Debacle
The Sunday Independent continues the story
here and
here . They seem more concerned with the financial consequences than the human tragedy.
No. It's Unfair
While no blame can be attached to the bus driver or Dublin Bus the report in the Irish independent where a couple, injured in a freak accident by a Dublin bus, receive no compensation for their injuries is astonishing.The Judge said that the law need changing. To darned right, and quickly.
I thought that compulsory insurance (I know Dublin Bus are allowed to self insure) was to cover innocent parties. Dublin Bus need to make an ex gratia payment.
Ireland of the Welcomes How Are You
The disgraceful treatment of a group foreign workers was was brought to our attention on the RTE Joe Duffy Show Thanks to the decency of one person the immediate problem was brought to the airwaves and solved. But I suspect it is only the tip of the iceberg. A bigger question remains, the treatment of foreign workers. It's is not what I would want if I was abroad and is not the image we have of ourselves. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment need to look into this whole area and provide protection, not get a report.
Tysabri - Disappointing News
The shock news on Tysabri, believed to be a wonder drug offering hope to many of the sufferers from multiple sclerosis, was bad news for shareholders but a disaster for many individuals. I know many who had pinned great hope on the results so far. For me it's not as serious for while I have had MS for years it was unable to help in my case.
Great to see Irish Science involved with this cutting edge work. Don't give up, a lot of people are counting on you!
Newbie
I'm only new to this world after spending the last year or so reading and enjoying blogs. I had made a few trial posts but decided to wait until I got broadband before I made a serious stab at it. I have only just started and find a very interesting discussion started by The Freedom Institute and taken up by Gavin on the whole topic of what makes a blog. Some time ago Diego posted a very friendly guide and I saved it. I'm glad I did. I don't have a blogroll up yet, still in Beta!
