5:39 PM
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-bk-disney-world-new-ride-101409,0,1658144.story
Caltech scientists created a remote-controlled robot that is able to simulate the "visual" experience of a blind person who has been implanted with a visual prosthesis. The hope is that this amay one day give blind persons the freedom of independent mobility:
http://media.caltech.edu/press_releases/13294
Team of scientists developed the first artificial hand that has feeling. They connect human nerve endings with tiny electronic sensors:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8313037.stm
Fast and reliable technique is being developed to test for explosives in liquids--this could eventually enable people to bring liquids on to planes again:
http://www.iop.org/News/news_37153.html
Afghanistan's President now admits that he didn't win the presidential election and that a run-off will be needed. He initially claimed to have received 54% of the vote, but the election audit found that about 28% of those 3 million votes were not valid:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/world/asia/20afghan.html
The Chinese battery company that Warren Buffet invested in now claims that its 5-person electric car can get 250 miles between charges. It is smart for the Chinese government to have invested more than any other country in green stimulus funding--a huge market that no country is dominant in yet. China also has a big need for green energy with their huge population. The CEO of a major European car company says that China intends to become the leader in battery technology and will succeed in doing so:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8315947.stm
The Netherlands has found an interesting way to combat overcrowding--building neighborhoods of houses on a lake!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iG65mLB6HQpg85eYI8SNaRYkX_Pg
Scientists identify enzyme that could help grow biofuel crops in harsh environments:
http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=997
The "Father of the Internet" says that if he could do things over he'd take away the backslashes ("//") in URLs:
http://www.telecomtv.com/comspace_newsDetail.aspx?n=45645&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10#
The Justice Department has changed its policy under Pres. Obama and will not be prosecuting medical marijuana cases in states that made medical marijuana legal:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101903638.html?nav=hcmoduletmv
Benchmark testing shows that Windows 7 performs better than Vista or XP. What really impresses me is that the same computer running Windows 7 will use 17% less power than if it runs XP or Vista. Given the speed and power tests, I won't mind getting a Windows 7 machine when I need to replace my laptop (which is sadly dying) early next year:
http://www.infoworld.com/d/windows/windows-7-multicore-how-much-faster-325?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2009-10-20
Venture Capital investments were up in the past quarter as compared to the previous two quarters this year, but VC investment was still down 33% over last year:
http://www.physorg.com/news175268739.html
Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones last quarter, the best selling quarter ever for the iPhone. Apple's net profit is up 47% from last year:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/apple-sells-7-4m-iphones-best-quarter-ever/2009-10-19?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
Gartner forecasts that by 2012 Android phones will have 18% of the smartphone marketshare and the iPhone will only have 13.6%:
http://www.fiercedeveloper.com/story/forecasting-os-future/2009-10-19
Motorola's stock went up after Verizon launched its ad campaign for the Android-based Droid smartphone:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/News-Motorola-Verizon-anti-iPhone-ad-102009.aspx
Report that Google plans to offer a Google-branded phone later this year. The low-cost, unlocked (sold through retailers, not through cell phone carriers), touchscreen phone could undercut the Android phones on the market:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10614007/1/exclusive-google-plans-its-own-android-phone.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN
AT&T is trying to get its employees to lobby the FCC against net neutrality:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-urges-employees-lobby-fcc-against-net-neutrality/2009-10-20?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
NBC's experiment with using the Jay Leno show at 10pm is apparently really hurting the ratings for NBC's local news at 11pm:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-nbc-affils19-2009oct19,0,557820,full.story
Interesting film going on about artists and theoretical scientists who quit their careers and left graduate school to become paperfolders--mixing origami, science, art, creativity, and meaning:
http://sfdocfest.bside.com/2009/films/betweenthefolds_sfdocfest2009
Father brought his son 10 minutes late to Pop Warner practice and ended up in the hospital with a shattered eye socket, broken nose, and concussion after an altercation with the coach:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/10/19/wilmington_parent_injured_after_spat_with_pop_warner_coach/
Swiss police arrested an Italian man who had 15 traffic violations in 11 minutes!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33378453/ns/world_news-weird_news/