YaCy's gunning for Google with free-software bullets

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/yacys-gunning-for-google-with-free-software-bullets/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

Chewing gum makes you smarter – but then you get dumb again

"mastication-induced arousal"?

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/chewing-gum-makes-you-smarter-but-then-you-get-dumb-again/

Busting your delusions about content & piracy

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/busting-your-delusions-about-content-and-piracy/

Samsung tablet ban lifted

http://m.smh.com.au/digital-life/tablets/samsung-tablet-ban-lifted-20111130-1o5rz.html

Judge exercises extreme sarcasm on US bank

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/26/judge-exercises-extreme-sarcas.html

Sports Car Challenge: Volkswagen’s new iOS game lets you drive supercars for free (video)

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/sports-car-challenge-volkswagens-ios-game-lets-drive-supercars-free-video#more-24109

iOS Hacker’s Handbook

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/ios-hackers-handbook

Banishing consciousness: the mystery of anaesthesia

http://www.newscientist.com/mobile/article/mg21228402.300-banishing-consciousness-the-mystery-of-anaesthesia.html

Engineered avian flu could kill half the world’s humans

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/engineered-avian-flu-could-kill-half-the-worlds-humans/#more-496592

Thousands flock to see image of Steve Jobs on French toast

http://scoopertino.com/thousands-flock-to-see-image-of-steve-jobs-on-french-toast/

Army wants grenade ‘bots to fly, spy, then kill

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/army-grenades/

GM offers loan cars to Chevy Volt customers while crash fires are investigated

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1069928_gm-offers-loan-cars-to-chevy-volt-customers-while-crash-fires-are-investigated

"Be a jerk": the worst business lesson from the Steve Jobs biography

http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/be-a-jerk-the-worst-business-lesson-from-the-steve-jobs-biography/249136/

One percenter asks: "Have you ever heard of anybody great that's come out of the 99 percent?"

Abraham Lincoln
Jesus of Nazareth (son of a carpenter)
Steve Jobs
Steve Wozniak
Linus Torvalds


The above is not comprehensive, just a quick list to answer the question raised in the title.

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/28/one-percenter-asks-have-you.html

Toshiba TV uses zero power in standby mode

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/toshiba-eco-chip-tv/

iOS 5.1 beta seeded to developers

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/ios-5-1-beta-seeded-to-developers/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

Ryno electric unicycle – one of a kind

http://inhabitat.com/the-ryno-electric-unicycle-is-a-one-wheeled-muscle-machine/

Fat, sick & nearly dead

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9SGWcZwk7c

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv3vEXy_EwU

Hitachi plans to sell systems that integrate city-wide data in the cloud

https://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222158/Hitachi_plans_to_sell_systems_that_integrate_data_from_cities_in_the_cloud

Pizza Counts as a Vegetable? How the spending bill in Congress could unravel progress on school nutrition

??? 

http://healthyschoolscampaign.typepad.com/healthy_schools_campaign/2011/11/pizza-is-a-vegetable-how-the-spending-bill-in-congress-could-unravel-progress-on-school-nutrition.html

9 reasons Wired readers should wear tinfoil hats

http://m.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/reasons-to-wear-tinfoil-hats/

Fluorescent spray tags cancer cells

http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/11/fluorescent_spray_tags_cancer_1.html

Audi turns iPad’s slide-to-unlock into driving course

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/audi-turns-ipads-slide-to-unlock-into-driving-course/

Legendary tech entrepreneurs: who made the biggest impact on society?

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/11/legendary-tech-entrepreneurs-who-made-the-biggest-impact-on-society/249053/

Top tips for securing your smartphone

http://www.ghacks.net/2011/11/26/top-tips-for-securing-your-smartphone/

Harvesting energy from insects in quest to create tiny cyborg first responders

http://www.gizmag.com/insect-cyborgs/20596/

Watch starfish flee an icy finger of death

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/23/watch-starfish-flee-an-icy-fin.html

New electric vehicles from Mitsubishi & Nissan

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/B6C5E55F0279F2F4CA257952001BF824

Bicycle Library invites Londoners to borrow bikes inside a converted double decker bus

http://inhabitat.com/the-bicycle-library-invites-londoners-to-borrow-bikes-inside-a-converted-double-decker-bus/

& an interview with the founder:

http://inhabitat.com/interview-we-talk-to-bicycle-library-founder-karta-healy/

Add Bluetooth to your non-Bluetooth audio devices with AirBlue

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/26/add-bluetooth-to-your-non-bluetooth-audio-devices-with-airblue/

iControlpad: turn your iPhone into a portable gaming system

http://www.gizmag.com/iphone-lens-dial/20571/

Photonic chips – using light beams instead of electrons to carry out computational tasks

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/mit-slinks-into-a-cafe-orders-a-side-of-photonic-chips-on-silic/

Australian ISPs propose copyright support scheme

Around the world, copyright holders are attempting to make ISPs responsible for copyright material passing through their infrastructure.  Courts are generally finding that ISPs are not responsible, although results have been mixed.  A group of Australian ISPs have proposed an education-based scheme:

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/aussie-isps-propose-copyright-enforcement-scheme/

Recent court findings in Europe:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/court-holds-european-isps-cant-be-forced-to-filter-traffic-use/

ecoSnap iPhone 4/4S case review

Recyclable case with minimal, recyclable packaging.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/25/ecosnap-iphone-44s-case-review/

What to do if an app doesn't work with an Ice Cream Sandwich port

http://www.androidcentral.com/what-do-if-app-doesnt-work-ice-cream-sandwich-port

The life of a photograph: the pepper-spraying policeman

Credit: The Atlantic

http://m.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/11/the-life-of-a-photo-the-pepper-spraying-policeman/249023/

Coal seam gas by the numbers

http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/coal-seam-gas-by-the-numbers/

New nanoparticle electrode could bolster large-scale storage of renewable energy

http://www.gizmag.com/stanford-high-power-electrode/20610/

Mazda announces world first capacitor-based regenerative braking system

http://www.gizmag.com/mazda-i-eloop/20612/

Court holds European ISPs can't be forced to filter traffic, users free to fly the jolly roger

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/court-holds-european-isps-cant-be-forced-to-filter-traffic-use/

23-foot-high Theremin appears in Melbourne, begins to freak out passersby

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/23-foot-high-theremin-appears-in-melbourne-begins-to-freak-out/

Q-Knot multi-purpose re-usable ties review

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/24/q-knot-multi-purpose-reusable-ties-review/

San Diego: Car2Go's choice for first all-electric car share service

Something similar was introduced in Paris recently.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1069811_san-diego-car2gos-choice-for-first-all-electric-car-share-service

New drone sensor could instantly spot any shooter

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/drone-gunfire-detector/

Lens Dial turns your iPhone into a turret-lensed throwback

http://www.gizmag.com/iphone-lens-dial/20571/

Make sure you scroll down to the "related articles" for more add-on lenses for the iPhone.

iPhone settings icons

With iOS 5, shortcuts to settings directly from the home screen have become available to the iPhone.

Settings include Bluetooth, WiFi & screen brightness.  In my testing, brightness works on iPhone 4, but not iPad 1.  It's a bit slow & limited compared to what Android users have had since the first release, but it works, & it's a step forward.

Screen shortcuts to Web sites continue to work as before.

How to:

1. The apps:

• iFavorite app: free & paid versions. Only difference is the number of icons provided.  In my testing, the facility to create icons from user provided images is highly unreliable.  Update 29Nov2011: V1.4 "Photo import error" fixed.

• aHomeIcon app: paid version only. Haven't tested it.

2. Web sites

• Jeff Broderick Web site at: http://brdrck.me/settings/.  Best laid out & so easier to use.  Best looking icons, YMMV. Asks for a donation.

• iPHONEZA Web site: http://iphoneza.co.za/IconSettings/.  More functions than Jeff Broderick.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/these-iphone-settings-icons-work-beautifully/

Scientists develop world's lightest metal, 100x lighter than styrofoam

http://m.inhabitat.com/scientists-develop-worlds-lightest-metal-100x-lighter-than-styrofoam/

The dronecam revolution will be webcast: Interview with Tim Pool of "The Other 99"

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/23/theother99.html

Researchers create spinal cord connectors from human stem cells, heralding breakthrough

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/researchers-create-spinal-cord-connectors-from-human-stem-cells/

Why do police officers use pepper spray? — update

UC Davis police officer Lt. John Pike pepper-spraying UC Davis demonstrators, 18 November 2011¹
Credit: Wikipedia

Pepper spray was hailed as a safe weapon of last resort, but in practice, has proven to be dangerous & sometimes deadly & is too often used as the first resort.

This link no longer works:

http://m.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/pepper-spray-psychology/

but this one does (14 November 2018):

https://www.wired.com/2011/11/pepper-spray-psychology/
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “UC Davis pepper spray incident”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UC_Davis_pepper_spray_incident

Update 14 November 2018: link fixed, image & text added.

/ officers, pepper, pepper-spray, police, spray, pigs /

TunnelBear: access location-restricted Web sites in the US & UK (+ US/UK VPN For iPhone/iPad)

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/tunnelbear-access-locationrestricted-web-sites-uk-usuk-vpn-iphoneipad / access location network private privacy restricted sites TunnelBear UK US virtual private network vpn web /

iPad 3 with high-res display is definitely happening, analyst says

http://m.bgr.com/2011/11/22/ipad-3-with-high-res-display-is-definitely-happening-analyst-says/

Samsung's killer idea: the refrigerator with a smart screen & apps

http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/samsungs-killer-idea-the-refrigerator-with-a-smart-screen-and-apps/248969/

In-depth: Google's Ice Cream Sandwich – a new era for Android

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9222070/In_depth_Google_s_Ice_Cream_Sandwich_a_new_era_for_Android

Anil Dash: Facebook attacks the open Web, becomes a badware site

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/22/anil-dash-facebook-attacks-th.html

Turn your favorite gear bag into a solar charger

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/21/turn-your-favorite-gear-bag-into-a-solar-charger/

Darpa: replace antibiotics with nanotherapeutics

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/darpa-nano-antibiotics/

About Steve Jobs

Alan Deutschman is the author of the 2000 biography "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs", the e-essay "How Steve Jobs Changed Our World" & is currently working on a book entitled, "Why Steve Jobs Matters".

He is interviewed by Andrew Keen:

http://m.techcrunch.com/2011/10/31/keen-on-how-steve-jobs-changed-our-world-tctv/?icid=tc__art&

http://m.techcrunch.com/2011/11/01/keen-on-why-steve-jobs-matters-tctv/?icid=tc__art&search=

FXI Technology Cotton Candy – sweet Android on a stick

USB flash drive size device can run Android on almost anything with USB or HDMI connectivity & a screen.

Also supports Unbuntu or a virtualised client for Windows, Linux or Mac.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/21/fxi-technology-cotton-candy-sweet-android-on-a-stick/#more-81436

Audi A1 e-tron – electric Audi A1 with range extender

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/audis-a1-etron-driven-20111121-1nqic.html

A rotary engine is even less efficient than a piston internal combustion engine, so its use powering the range extending generator is a bit surprising.  But, it's only 254cc.  Very impressive fuel consumption figure of 1.9 litres/100 kilometres is quoted, but as one of the commenters notes, a fuel capacity of 12 litres & a range of 250 km on a tank is 4.8 litres/100km [12/(250/100)] on fuel.

Some very impressive figures were claimed for the Chevrolet Volt, before the official figures of 6.4 l/100km (combined city & highway) on petrol were released.

Having said the above, it must be said that actual fuel use for a range extended vehicle can be very low if it is mainly used for short journeys & charged frequently.

Unlocking the wisdom of the message board ancients

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/unlocking-the-wisdom-of-the-message-board-ancients/

2,400 miles in minutes? No sweat! Hypersonic weapon passes "easy" test

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/2400-miles-in-minutes-hypersonic-weapon-passes-easy-test/

NASA astronaut recruiting (video)

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/15/nasa-now-accepting-application.html

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/16/a-better-astronaut-recruitment.html

Self-healing plastic

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/self-healing-plastic-is-perfect-for-clumsy-people/#more-494652

Honda to show electric supersports RC-E motorcycle at Tokyo Motor Show

http://www.gizmag.com/honda-to-show-electric-supersports-rc-e-motorcycle-at-tokyo-motor-show/20454/

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/625/11535/Motorcycle-Article/Honda-RC-E-Electric-Superbike-First-Look.aspx

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2011/November/nov1011-hondas-incredible-rc-e-tokyo-show-concept/

Volt driver Jay Leno does 16,000km on a tank

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/60289F392B43397ECA25794A0014CF38

How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States)

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/&category=classic&subCategory=featured&icid=eng_featured_art&type=&postPage=

Android Central editors' app picks

http://www.androidcentral.com/android-central-editors-app-picks-nov-19-2011

Alesis iO Dock pro audio dock for iPad & iPad 2

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/19/alesis-io-dock-pro-audio-dock-for-ipad-ipad-2/

Carbon critique: An outsider's view of Australia's climate law

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/carbon-critique-outsiders-view-australias-climate-law

How many neutrinos does it take to screw up Einstein?

In September, an international group of scientists, known as the OPERA collaboration, detected some sub-atomic particles called neutrinos apparently moving faster than the speed of light.  As is their habit, other scientists around the world raised questions about the experiment.  Now, OPERA has repeated the experiment, addressing the objections, & finding that those neutrinos are still going too fast!

Eternally cautious, the international scientific community wants this surprising result repeated by another group (more the better).

http://m.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/neutrinos-screw-einstein/

Favourite single-purpose websites

Connection slow?

Is that site down, or is it just me?

Is it Christmas yet?

These & other questions can be answered by the websites listed in this article at Lifehacker:

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/our-favourite-single-purpose-websites/

Follow your heart: Darpa’s quest to find you by your heartbeat

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/follow-your-heart-darpas-quest-to-find-you-by-your-heartbeat/

Android malware explodes, jumps five-fold since July

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9222015/Android_malware_explodes_jumps_five_fold_since_July

Sustainable Materials: indispensable, impartial popular engineering book on the future of our built & made world

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/17/sustainable-materials.html

Police officer pepper-sprays seated, non-violent students at UC Davis

Credit: Wayne Tilcock of the Davis-Enterprise newspaper/ Bong Bong

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/18/police-pepper-spraying-arrest.html

"Occupy Flash" movement wants Adobe's plug-in dead

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221963/_Occupy_Flash_movement_wants_Adobe_s_plug_in_dead

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221674/Adobe_explains_ditching_Flash_for_mobile

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221710/RIM_stands_by_Flash_mobile_as_it_pursues_HTML5

http://m.blogs.computerworld.com/19239/apples_steve_jobs_vindicated_as_adobe_kills_mobile_flash?mm_ref=http://m.computerworld.com/

Ironic to see this written about Flash: "It's a fossil, left over from the era of closed standards & unilateral corporate control of Web technology." – Occupy Flash web site, Nov 2011

When others see it as vindication of Steve Jobs: "Apple's Steve Jobs vindicated as Adobe kills mobile Flash." – Jonny Evans, ComputerWorld web site,  09 Nov 2011

This is the same Steve Jobs who was the driving force behind the creation of the most closed operating system in the world.  Do I need to explain that I'm talking about iOS here?  Didn't think so.

Ironic too, that it was the closed nature of the platform (including the App Store) that allowed Apple to prevent Flash from being installed on iOS devices.  Jailbreaks excepted, of course.

Turn any external hard drive into a WiFi device

http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/turn-any-hard-d.php

Holden Volt - Holden goes public with 2012 Volt

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/74B86696A70F629BCA25794900083410

How to: get Steve Jobs’ biography for free in audiobook format

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/steve-jobs-biography-free-audiobook-format

Robotic bear pillow stops your snoring by gently mauling your face (video)

:-)

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/robotic-bear-pillow-stops-your-snoring-by-gently-mauling-your-fa/

TP-Link Portable 3G Wireless N Router fits in your pocket, draws power from USB

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/tp-link-portable-3g-wireless-n-router-fits-in-your-pocket-draws/

Dorli Rainey, octogenarian pepper-sprayed by police at Occupy Seattle, on "the importance of activism" (video)

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/16/dorli-rainey-octagenarian-pep.html

Verbatim announces 2nd generation Bluetooth mobile keyboard

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/16/verbatim-annonces-2nd-generation-bluetooth-mobile-keyboard/

Google, Facebook, Twitter & others speak out against the "Stop Online Piracy Act"

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/google-facebook-twitter-and-others-speak-out-against-the-stop/

Google Music Artist Hub allows independent artists full distribution to millions

http://www.androidcentral.com/google-music-artist-hub-allows-independent-artists-full-distribution-millions

Toyota to unveil Prius C, hydrogen & electric hybrid concepts at 2012 Tokyo Motor Show

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/toyota-to-unveil-prius-c-hydrogen-and-electric-hybrid-concepts/

New study links diesel exhaust particulates & heart disease

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/toyota-to-unveil-prius-c-hydrogen-and-electric-hybrid-concepts/

Prius gets a low speed sound for the blind (video & audio)

At parking lot speeds, electric & hybrid cars are almost silent.  A risk to the blind, partially sighted & simply inattentive has been suggested.  Legislation has been mooted.  Toyota is doing something about the silence of the Prius at low speeds:

http://eric3579.videosift.com/video/The-Prius-Gets-a-Low-Speed-Sound-for-the-Blind

To date, there is no suggestion of doing anything about near-silent internal combustion engined cars.

Researchers increase charging rate & capacity of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten

Yet another new battery which promises much.  Reserving judgment for now.

+ 10 x capacity of competition

+ 10 x charge rate

-  Relatively rapid deterioration of charge capacity with use

+ when the capacity has halved after a year of use, it's still five times better than the competition

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/researchers-increase-charging-capacity-speed-of-lithium-ion-bat/

Nokia Lumia 800 Video Review

"Everything pops."

http://www.businessinsider.com/nokia-lumia-800-video-review-2011-11

Steve Jobs wanted iPhone on its own network, carrier-free

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/steve-jobs-iphone-no-carrier/

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-wanted-to-make-apple-a-wi-fi-cell-service-provider-2011-11

Darpa’s robo-ostrich will outrun Usain Bolt (video)

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/darpa-ostrich-robot/#more-63551

What's the big deal about Duqu?

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221817/FAQ_What_s_the_big_deal_about_Duqu_

Siri cracked, theoretically opening it up to other devices (or even Android!)

http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/14/siri-cracked-open-theoretically-opening-it-up-to-other-devices-or-even-android/

Study linking Autism to vaccines is an "elaborate fraud'"

http://m.inhabitots.com/study-linking-autism-to-vaccines-found-to-be-an-elaborate-fraud/

GOLDMAN: Demand for the iPad is fading

http://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-on-ipad-2011-11

BlackBerry London BBX phone leaks

http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-london-bbx-phone-2011-11

More StarWars

http://m.syfy.com/s/18221/26?homePageId=8531729&itemId=tag:blastr.com,2011://29.84357&fullPageUrl=2011/11/lucasfilm-domain-registra.php

Why is China building these gigantic structures In the middle of the desert?

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/china-gigantic/#more-63581

Apple's iPhone 4S battery troubles now joined by new problems

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243656/apples_iphone_4s_battery_troubles_now_joined_by_new_problems.html

The iPhone 5 was real, says a source who played with a prototype

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-iphone-5-was-real-says-a-source-who-played-with-the-prototype-2011-11

Hammacher Schlemmer Bionic Bopper Car – Float like a lawnmower sting like a …

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/13/hammacher-schlemmer-bionic-bopper-car-float-like-a-lawnmower-sting-like-a/

Scientists discover passive virus can destroy breast cancer cells

http://www.inhabitots.com/scientists-discover-passive-virus-can-destroy-breast-cancer-cells/

Ingenious cardboard packaging folds to fit parcels of any shape

http://inhabitat.com/ingenious-cardboard-packaging-folds-to-fit-any-shape/

/ cardboard fit folds packaging /

Has the spam problem been solved?

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221751/Has_the_spam_problem_been_solved_?taxonomyId=84&pageNumber=1

Live near it or sit in it: traffic may cause brain damage

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068407_live-near-it-or-sit-in-it-traffic-may-cause-brain-damage

9 rides truly wired gearheads should love

http://m.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/nine-for-nine/?pid=1369&viewall=true

Chevrolet Volt fire prompts Federal inquiry into EV batteries

http://m.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/nhtsa-battery-inquiry/

iOS 5.0.1 update worsens iPhone battery woes, say users

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221753/iOS_5.0.1_update_worsens_iPhone_battery_woes_say_users

The top Green-IT organizations: Hard-wired to be green

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/359173/The_top_Green_IT_organizations_Hard_wired_to_be_green

Hacking geigers: Safecast crowdsources radiation data in Japan after Fukushima disaster

Advocates of nuclear energy point to the relatively small number of deaths from a nuclear disaster, at the time of the accident.  It serves their purpose to ignore the death & disease caused, not only to those exposed on the day, but to those exposed in the days, months & years following.   In Japan, something is being done about measuring the ongoing danger:

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/10/hacking-geigers-safecast-crow.html

Makoto Hirahara Bright Blind

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/10/makoto-hirahara-bright-blind/

PenGo Creative BrushPen for capacitive screens

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/10/pengo-creative-brushpen-for-capacitive-screens/

Smithsonian exhibits 100 years of electric vehicles

http://www.plugincars.com/smithsonian-national-museum-exhibits-100-years-electric-vehicles-109657.html

6 tools to make your home a wireless wonderland

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/6-tools-to-make-your-home-a-wireless-wonderland/

"Urine power" tests at UWE in Bristol are successful

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-15636544

RIM suffers another BlackBerry outage + Google plans to axe Blackberry Gmail app

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/09/rim_faces_two_new_threats_to_ailing_business.html

Hidden panorama mode discovered in Apple's iOS 5 Camera app

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/07/ios_5_camera_app_contains_hidden_panorama_mode.html

E-volo all-electric, manned copter makes first flight (video)

http://www.greenpacks.org/2011/11/04/e-volo-all-electric-manned-copter-makes-first-flight-video/

Army’s tiny flea-bot can jump 24 feet high

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/sand-flea-robot/

Charlie Millers discovers iOS code signing security flaw – gets kicked out of the developer program (video)

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/charlie-millers-discovers-ios-code-signing-security-flaw-kicked-developer-program-video

Counterfeit chips plague U.S. missile defence

http://m.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/counterfeit-missile-defense/

HP still doesn’t know what to do with WebOS

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/report-hp-still-doesnt-know-what-to-do-with-webos/#more-492114

Phone scammers pretending to be from Australia Post

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/phone-scammers-pretending-to-be-from-australia-post/#more-406278

Airdrop Irrigation System wins 2011 James Dyson Award

This irrigation system takes water directly form the air:

http://inhabitat.com/airdrop-irrigation-system-wins-2011-james-dyson-award-top-prize/2011-james-dyson-winner-2/?extend=1

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/interview-james-dyson-award-winner-ed-linacre/

"News Of The World" placed hacking victim's lawyers & family under surveillance

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15627609

iTwin secure & private Internet file access device review

Interesting approach to remote file access:

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/07/itwin-secure-and-private-internet-file-access-device-review/

Thank hybrids & electric cars for your gasoline car's tech

New technology, pioneered in hybrids & electric vehicles is making its way into internal combustion powered cars.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068164_thank-hybrids-electric-cars-for-your-gasoline-cars-tech

Google’s Eric Schmidt is scared of Siri

"Maybe it's just a bit of false modesty, but chairman Eric Schmidt told a US Senate subcommittee recently that he believes Apple's Siri technology poses a threat to Google in the search market."

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/googles-eric-schmidt-is-scared-of-siri/#more-491456

New silent 'Eco Whisper' wind turbine is more efficient than three blade models

Silent plus more efficient – looking good!

http://inhabitat.com/new-silent-eco-whisper-wind-turbine-is-more-efficient-than-three-blade-models/

Belkin’s iPhone camera remote revealed

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/belkins-iphone-camera-remote-revealed/

Worst cyber-criminals in the world: China & Russia, claims U.S. report

http://techland.time.com/2011/11/03/orst-cyber-criminals-in-the-world-china-and-russia-claims-u-s-report/

Android handsets top hardware failures list

http://www.instapaper.com/m?u=http%3A%2F%2Fm.zdnet.com%2Fblog%2Fhardware%2Fandroid-handsets-top-hardware-failures-list%2F16032

Free service can tell if your email address has been compromised

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9221509/Free_service_can_tell_if_your_email_address_has_been_compromised

Patent wars: Motorola wins injunction against Apple in Germany?

http://www.bgr.com/2011/11/04/motorola-wins-injunction-against-apple-in-germany/

Roam a shopping centre for sweat-free exercise

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/roam-a-shopping-centre-for-sweat-free-exercise/#more-405721

Siri down? Outage apparently hits iPhone 4S virtual assistant

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/siri-down-outage-apparent_n_1074455.html?ref=technology

There is a real-life jet pack school where you can learn to fly

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/there-is-a-real-life-jet-pack-school-where-you-can-learn-to-fly/

Negroponte on One Laptop Per Child future: air drops & hands-off education

http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/02/olpc-airdrop/

Fall of giants: Sony & RIM continue to lose ground

http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/03/the-fall-of-giants-sony-and-rim-continue-to-lose-ground/

Light-coloured cars are up to 2 percent more fuel efficient than dark-coloured ones

No surprise* that a light coloured car will be cooler than a dark coloured one.  Interesting, though, to see it quantified in terms of air conditioning & fuel consumption.

* No surprise to anyone other than Chevrolet – the roof of every Volt is black!!??  In Europe the principle seems to have been understood – the roof of the Ampera (European version of the Volt) is the same colour as the rest of the body.

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/cooler-colored-cars-are-up-to-2-percent-more-fuel-efficient-than/

iPhone 4S: Stephen Fry's review

Not what we normally expect in a review, but an interesting read.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/12/iphone-4s-stephen-fry-review-steve-jobs

October Electric Car Sales: Chevy Volt Outsells Nissan Leaf

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068042_october-electric-car-sales-chevy-volt-outsells-nissan-leaf

Too close for comfort? How does 324,600km sound?

This month, an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will pass the Earth, coming closer than the Moon.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/this-asteroid-is-getting-way-too-close-to-earth/#more-490204

Coming to an interstellar mission near you – Tractor Beams

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/11/02/coming-to-an-interstellar-mission-near-you-tractor-beams/

“Often wrong, but seldom in doubt.”

"Often wrong, but seldom in doubt." – Bob Lutz, former executive at BMW, Ford, Chrysler & most recently, General Motors.

Linked below is an interesting book review, cum history, of Bob Lutz' time at GM, starting in 2001.  This period includes the "death throws" of the old GM & its rebirth, financed by public money, as well as development of the Chevrolet Volt, which Lutz championed.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/08/autos/bob_lutz_book_review.fortune/index.htm?iid=EL

Saving iPhone battery life: 10 tips & tricks for the iPhone 4S & older models

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/saving-iphone-battery-life_n_1068453.html

Solar Sinter Project

Sand + sunlight + very big lens + 3D printer = glass objects in any shape you like

http://vimeo.com/25401444

Introducing the 5-watt server that runs on cell phone chips

http://gigaom.com/cloud/introducing-the-5-watt-server-that-runs-on-cell-phone-chips/

Android 4.0 Icecream Sandwich supports stylus input

http://digitizor.com/2011/10/21/android-4-stylus-input/

With Ice Cream Sandwich, Android is going open source again

http://digitizor.com/2011/10/21/android-ics-open-source/

How technical glitches foiled the Russian sleeper spies

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/russian-spies-glitches/all/1

Edible gold chicken?

Maybe it seems like a better idea after the lobotomy.

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/01/edible-metallic-spray-paint.html

Varley evR450: Aussie electric supercar

Interesting: top speed of 200 kph, 0-100 kph in 3.8s but a range of only 150km on a single charge, although the company is said to be looking at offering a 300km battery version.

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/varley-evr450-revealed-at-australia-electric-vehicle-conference/

The future is now: levitating lamp (video)

Pricey at 1,000 Euros, but very cool:

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2011/11/01/the-future-is-now-this-is-a-levitating-lamp/

Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius & iPhone can become one

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/toyota-introduces-touch-life-smartphone-mirroring-system-your-p