OS preview vids, RFID-enabled bar, robot Pope, marijuana tea…

• 1 – Watch videos of operating systems in action
  Fancy a change of OS, but nervous about jumping ship into unknown waters? Why not take a good long look at the features to help make your mind up?
  (tags: advice consumer OS resource Linux Windows videos computer system operating)
• 2 – Vegas Hotel-Casino Uses Tags to Keep Tabs on Liquor
  Expensive RFID system may eventually recoup its own cost in over-measured drinks poured by disgruntled bar workers. I love the smell of overkill in the morning. Link via Engadget.
  (tags: overkill technology inventory tracking measures alcohol bar casino arphid RFIF)
• 3 – An uplifting evening with James Hughes
  Debating the ethics of animal uplift.
  (tags: biology technology modification genetic intelligence futurism animals uplift transhumanism)
• 4 – The Robot Pope
  Robot Pope or human Pope? The Ferrett weighs the options. Link via Torque Control.
  (tags: humour church catholicism religion pope robot)
• 5 – Great SF Novels of the ’90s Tabulated
  Interesting line-up; I’ve not read as many of them as I should have done, to be honest. Link via Torque Control.
  (tags: literature writing novels scifi SF popular best great 90s fiction science books)
• 6 – Tau Zero Foundation Announced
  Centauri Dreams discusses a new futurism foundation in the offing, named for a classic science fiction novel.
  (tags: space futurism education technology science Foundation Zero Tau)
• 7 – Web 2.0 is Not a Bubble Waiting to Burst – it’s a Gold Rush
  Thoughts on the new internet boom.
  (tags: investment technology innovation economy bubble boom dotcom web2.0)
• 8 – Male sexuality may be decided in the womb
  ‘If you are male, having more older brothers makes it more likely you will be gay – and a new study suggests the basis of this is biological rather than environmental.’ This is going to annoy the homophobia lobby no end. Good.
  (tags: environmental basis biological male homosexuality gender sexuality science)
• 9 – Turnover: E-reader by Timothy Yeoh
  This e-reader concept looks rather funky – turnable pages and touchscreen interaction. Someone give this guy a development position! Link via TechEBlog.
  (tags: pages paper electronic futurism design concept technology ebook ereader)
• 10 – Umberto Eco: IBM vs. Mac
  Twelve years ago, Italian philosopher Eco weighed in on the PC/Mac debate. His take on the issue? Macs are catholic, PCs are Protestant. High-minded silliness, well worth a read.
  (tags: humour comparison computer philosophy religion IBM PC Mac Eco Umberto)
• 11 – Iced marijuana tea to debut in British health food shops
  Low THC content means it passes all relevent restrictions. Kinda misses the point, doesn’t it?
  (tags: launch UK food health tea iced pot marijuana weed)
• 12 – Mini Black Holes Might Reveal 5th Dimension
  Multi-dimensional universes? My brane [sic] hurts…call Rudy Rucker immediately!
  (tags: astronomy hole black embedded dimensions theory braneworld brane universe cosmology physics space)
• 13 – Stealth radar system sees through trees, walls — undetected
  Stealth, stealth, stealh…it’s all about the stealth these days. This particular idea sounds like it could have some good non-military applications too, though.
  (tags: victims disaster detection signal random noise bandwidth wide stealth radar technology military)
• 14 – Coming soon — mind-reading computers
  A system that can ascertain your mood from reading cues in your facial expression. Could save a few dented case-panels after caffeine-fueled gaming/blogging sessions.
  (tags: recognition futurism interaction expression facial analysis emotion technology system computer)
• 15 – FON’s $5 Social Router
  This will either be a hideously successful business idea, or an ignominious flop. I’d love to see it work, but the cynic in me tells me not to be a fool.
  (tags: internet Spain startup business sharing bandwidth broadband network social router wifi FON)