Google just released an RSS reader, web-based of course.

I gave it a quick spin and imported my Bloglines subscriptions and while it seemed to be doing nothing, they came in ok, I think. The only thing I can say is: it’s slooow. It’s so slow I can hardly stand it. It must be getting a thorough thrashing from the RSS crowd.

The one really good thing I can say about it so far is it has keyboard navigation, which rocks. I will keep both running for a while and see which one wins. Betcha these guys aren’t too happy about yet another competitor.

Sorry I geekened momentarily there, I will try to be stronger from now on.

Wired is running a good article about a company that wants to take a huge leap forward in food production technology. The idea is to automate the growth of the plants as much as possible, everything is hydroponic, controlled and measured. In this way you can reduce the waste of energy, water and eliminate the use of pesticides altogether, or in theory anyway. It’s a neat idea, and while the thought of reduced energy to grow food is a smashing idea, the article mentions that they are looking at the “wealthy consumer” market, which is a bit of a miss if you ask me. The kicker with this process is they are going to be able to market the produce as “organic” and therefore be able to charge more for it. I guess that’s the way technology works most often, it starts out expensive at first and then gradually becomes cheaper and cheaper until it actually makes a difference to everyone.

Well, I can see that the farmer stereotype will be changing, it will more likely be trading the farmer’s jack shirts and boots for….. the jack shirts and boots of the computer programmer.

How timely, given my post just a few days ago about a breathing monitor, here’s the next way cool baby related gadgetry.

It’s basically 4 mechanical feet that you put underneath the legs of the baby’s crib. They then rock the crib back and forth for a preset amount of time and “emulates the suspension in a car“. I can almost hear the machine whining under the strain of rocking Cael to sleep. Actually I must say that none of our kids have any trouble getting to sleep (maybe with the exception of Quinn).

Oh man, that sounds sweet. I wonder if they make one for grownups? So, there you go, the perfect gift for young Xavier. Or rather, it’s really a gift for Jim and Ali.

You know those old guys on the beach you see sometimes, the ones with the zinc oxide on their nose, the dangerously tight speedos (difficult to notice under the sunburnt belly), black socks, leather sandals, $2 hawaiian shirt, and straw hat? You know, the ones with the metal detectors, looking for lost watches and stuff on the beach?

Yeah, well laugh it up, sister ’cause one of those guys just struck it rich, in a big way to the tune of $10 billion-with-a-freaking-b. Well, I actually have no idea what these guys look like, and to be honest they didn’t use one of those metal detectors, and it wasn’t at the beach, and they may not have been wearing speedos… but you get the idea here, ok? They really struck it rich.

They used a robot with some ground penetrating radar and other tools to locate this buried treasure on Robinson Crusoe island (didn’t know there was one, did you? neither did I).

Wow.
Man.

Those nerds are really rich.

…before I pluck my own eyes out with my thumbs. This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen, why can’t I win at this dumb game? Actually it’s not that dumb at all, it’s fascinating. I have things worked out so I can get “max”ed out on 7 out of 8 objects, but why won’t the rocks level up? Why? Why?

Yes, I was a little bored at work on Friday.

Are we getting just a little crazy with the surveillance of ourselves? I mean just a little? Quite possibly, but I can’t talk about it here.

Here’s a gadget that may actually have a valid purpose: The Respisense breathing monitor. Basically what you do is put this thing into your infant’s crib and it will monitor the baby’s breathing (or lack of it) and sound an alarm if necessary. It will also vibrate like a cell phone in an effort to stir the baby into breathing again. Pretty neat idea, especially how the SIDS thing seems very common.

I found the link on: the always cool Gizmodo