A new Windows-based PC game from Stardock called The Political Machine 2008 lets you be either Barack Obama or John McCain and test your skill at RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. You get to pick your own platform, and choose what your positions are on taxes, school prayer, the war in Iraq and other topics. You also get to build a campaign staff, and make key decisions that determine whether or not you win. The future of Western Democracy is at stake here, folks. My advice: Go negative early.

Original post by Mike

An AMPHIBIOUS PC concept would have us pointing and clicking while bobbing and floating in a pool. With the odd-sounding, Middle Earthish branding, “PC of the Swim-Rings,” the PC grabs onto a foam tube, has a waterproof touch screen and a Web camera. (props to Born Rich)

Original post by Mike

Will knowledge become obsolete? I have no idea. But I do believe we’re going to have to face the problem of how to educate young people in a world in which nearly all knowledge is available to everyone, instantly, ALL THE TIME. (By the way, do you know the phone numbers in your speed dial, or has a gadget let you not have to know?)

Original post by Mike

In ancient times (before the 1980s), there was a clear distinction between official company communication and personal or private communication. Official communication took the form of “memos,” which were intended to be part of the company record. Everything else — phone calls, personal chats, hand-written scribbles — were clearly understood to be unofficial, off-the-record and private. When e-mail and chat came along, we lumped them into the same category as “memos” — fair game for snooping and admissible in court. That was an error. It’s time to BRING BACK THE MEMO, and keep e-mail and chat private.

Original post by Mike

“Leave Britney Alone!” “The Dramatic Chipmunk.” “Don’t Tase me, Bro!” “All Your Base Are Belong to Us.” “Rick Rolling.” “The Star Wars Kid.” “Pwned!” You’ve heard about these “memes” (bits of cultural information that spread like viruses), but where do they come from and when did they first emerge? A new Web 2.0 site called INTERNET MEMES tracks and chronicles them from 1996 through the present. Here’s the condensed version with comments, etc. Here’s the full screen version.

Original post by Mike

A company called Live Luggage plans to start selling Thursday a $1,300 suitcase with TWO MOTORS (one in each wheel) that helps you pull the load. A special handle puts 85% of the weight on the wheels, and the power-assist system senses when you’re pulling and gives you a hand. The motors will go about 1 3/4 miles on a charge.

Original post by Mike

ChinaVasion is selling a $185 wrist watch that appears to do more than any other watch I’ve seen. It’s a CELL PHONE, complete with number pad on the strap. It has a backlit 1.3-inch, 128×160 LCD touch display, complete with pop-out stylus for clicking on the icons. It supports Bluetooth, plays music and videos, takes pictures and videos and even has a SD card slot. It even tells the time. The watch is one of those no-name Chinese products, so buy at your own risk (but if you do buy, drop me a line and tell me about it). (props to The Red Ferret Journal)

Original post by Mike

ChinaVasion is selling a $185 wrist watch that appears to do more than any other watch I’ve seen. It’s a CELL PHONE, complete with number pad on the strap. It has a backlit 1.3-inch, 128×160 LCD touch display, complete with pop-out stylus for clicking on the icons. It supports Bluetooth, plays music and videos, takes pictures and videos and even has a SD card slot. It even tells the time. The watch is one of those no-name Chinese products, so buy at your own risk (but if you do buy, drop me a line and tell me about it). (props to The Red Ferret Journal)

Original post by Mike