Recently I was invited to join a panel discussion at the Electronic Resources and Libraries conference in Austin, TX. Our panel topic was “Identity Management and Federated Authentication for Institutional Administrators” and focused on the issues around the management of electronic subscriptions. We described the consequences (legal, business-process or information system security based) arising from the lack of authoritative...

Sand + Sun = Glass. This project by Markus Kayser is an amazing example of what is possible. The technology is based on sintering – a method used to create objects from powders.  Markus has created a machine that uses the sun’s energy to manufacture 3D objects using sand.  In sintering, powders are heated to just below the melting temperature, at which point the powder diffuses evenly and is bonded together forming a cermic-like...

Normally, I don’t post these kinds of articles, but this footage is amazing!

This weekend, I finally removed my old chimney. We have a small cabinet in the kitchen that is oddly dimensioned and just doesn’t make sense. I pulled out the shelves to see if I could remove this space waster and found what looked like a hearth with a water hookup. It turns out, my oddly shaped shelf was a wood-fired water heater at one time. Hence the chimney. Since I have no use for this chimney and it appears to have been an addition...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee unveiled a short term Continuing Resolution (CR) to provide funds to keep the government operating over the next two weeks until a compromise can be reached on ayear-long funding bill. The CR, which includes $4 billion in spending reductions, will prevent a government-wide shut down that would occur on March 4th – if no agreement between the House, Senate and White House is...

The Californian State Senate passed a bill (SB 2X) this week which will require California utilities to get a third of their power from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources by 2020. The bill was authored by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). Opponents said it would drive up electricity bills for homeowners and manufacturers. In a report two years ago, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) said energy costs would...

I just came across Edmunds’ infographic on vehicle depreciation. If you are curious about your own car’s  depreciation in value, scroll down to the calculator and find out. ; Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player. Source: How Fast Does A New Car Lose...