‘She was experimenting with tiny liquid-filled channels in hopes of devising chip-based diagnostic tests, a discipline called microfluidics. The trouble was, the specialized equipment that she previously used to make microfluidic chips cost more than $100,000.’ ‘Racking her brain for a quick-and-dirty way to make microfluidic devices, Khine remembered her favorite childhood toy: Shrinky Dinks, large sheets of thin plastic that can be colored with paint or ink and then shrunk in a hot oven. “I thought if I could print out the [designs] at a certain resolution and then make them shrink, I could make channels the right size for microfluidics,” she says.’ ‘At the same time, she faced considerable skepticism. How on earth, critics wondered, could you use a toy to make a sophisticated device that’s normally forged from high-grade silicon? “People either love it or they laugh at me,” Khine says.’ (Via BoingBoing.)
— Locus Online Perspectives: Cory Doctorow: Teen Sex
What if Guy Fawkes had succeeded? ‘As the Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury said the other day: “Let us all enjoy our fireworks, and the burning of effigies of Luther and other heretics, this November 5th - especially the kiddies. But let as many of us as possible go to Mass as well, to remind ourselves what the day really is: the Commemoration of St Guido Fawkes, who saved England for Holy Mother Church.” ‘
‘Nutt said that if the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was not given more autonomy in future he would consider setting up an alternative committee to provide independent advice on drugs. “Unless this issue is resolved properly, you’re going to have to have an independent group. I know several members of the council will join me if things aren’t resolved next Tuesday,” he said. “It’s obvious the politicians are out of step, that the rest of the world has a more mature view about drugs than politicians.” ‘
Transcript of an interview on New Zealand television between Judith Collins, the police minister, and Paul Holmes. (To my untrained eye, it would appear that we already have something like this act in the UK.) ‘PAUL Yeah but the truth is, under the Criminal Proceeds Act, the Police can take your property if they suspect you’re dodgy. JUDITH But you’ve got the right to get it back, you’ve got the right to claim it, and the Police &. PAUL Yeah but then you’ve got a whole matter of procedure to go through because the cops have decided they suspect you got the property criminally. JUDITH Well actually Police would lose all credibility if they went round doing that unnecessarily. They’ve got a lot of leads, they know exactly who they’re after, and they will be after them. PAUL Search and Surveillance Bill - new powers for all enforcement officers, like Meat Board Inspectors, like the Overseas Investment Office, like the Civil Aviation Inspector, like the Pork Industry Board Inspector, like the Reserve Bank Inspector, the Dog Control Officer. When it comes to surveillance all of those people have the same powers now as the Police? JUDITH It really is a terrible sounding list isn’t it Paul, and what is even more terrible is to know that those powers are already in legislation but they’re interested in a whole lot of different legislation, this bill has come in because of the work of the Law Commission looking at all the various powers and trying to put some rules around them. PAUL The powers are extended. Look there’s two and a bit pages, I’ll read you a few. Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Inspector - Animal Products Inspector - Animal Welfare Inspector - Antarctic Marine Living Resources Inspector - Children Young Persons and their Families Inspector - the Extradition Act Inspector - Marine Mammals Protection Inspector. All of these people have the power to come into your premises, to command your IT provider to provide them with all their computer records, to detain you, to use reasonable force, to rub you down, pat you, search you - the Pork Industry Board Inspector.’ (Via On Our Radar.)
Cory’s take on this is that it would be the end of the internet as we know it.
The local council have apparently ordered this gym to replace its windows with ones more in keeping with the neighbourhood. ’ “Before the glass was frosted we had all sorts of people trying to look into the shop, and cars would stop in the road to see in,” she said. “I’m worried it could cause a serious accident if we have to take it down - some of my girls could stop traffic.” ‘ ’ “Pole dancing is great exercise for the upper body and the lower body and a lot of my pupils get confidence from doing it.” ‘
‘Mr Starmer QC says that “Human rights are universal, inalienable and perpetual,” but they have evolved over time, and I would like to propose a new one: the qualified right to clarity and simplicity from the state.’ It’s well worth reading the whole thing.
