strangely entangled

This is pretty damn cool. A researcher at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France is using a form of X-ray radiography and micro-tomography to image insects caught in ancient blocks of amber. But why stop there? Micro-tomographic imaging allows them to create three dimensional computer models of these insects. The researcher then fed this data into a 3D printer and created larger-than-life 3D physical models of each insect!

Google and Virgin Airlines announced Project Virgle today, a joint-venture to form the first human colony on Mars. I’m sure this has nothing to do with April Fools. Nothing at all. I especially like the Open Source Planet bit.

Just for the heck of it, I filled out their application and submitted a video response. Apparently prizes are to be had.

Update: I’m amazed that someone actually thought I was seriously applying to the “project” (it’s April 1st, of course I’m not taking it seriously)

I just finished reading Douglas Coupland’s jPod, and I have to say that I’m somewhat disappointed. I actually found the television show to be more entertaining, although there are certain plot aspects in the novel than I wish had made it to television.

In my opinion, the characters are portrayed with much more personality and depth on TV than they are in the novel. Aside from Ethan and his parents, the novels characters are two-dimensional and for the most part interchangeable. It’s as though every character was striving for John Doe’s statistical normalcy. I was especially disappointed in Cancer Cowboy’s character – he’s just another programmer in the novel, whereas in the TV show he can only be described as a twisted force of nature.

As it’s Tuesday morning, I actually have some work to do so I should get to it. I’ll have more to say on this later. I will say that it’s a shame that CBC has decided to cancel jPod. If you’d like to see more of the TV show, head over to Save jPod and do your part.