Yesterday I received a MRI for the back pain I've been having.  I am hoping for the best, but in any case that would not have been possible if it were not for Maxwell's Equations.  James Clerk Maxwell came up with equations to describe the interactions of electromagnetic fields, electric charges, and electric current.  Fundamentally a MRI machine is a huge magnet that induces small currents in human cells.  These currents and their associated magnetic fields are read and a 3D picture of the body is created. It's amazing when you think about it.

So, thank you Mr. Maxwell for describing via equation these fundamental forces of the universe.

One thing past experience has taught is that while technology itself advances the networking or interface protocols tend to remain for some time.  Consider ethernet and how long it has been around.  USB, bluetooth, and firewire have all become standard ways for devices to communicate with each other.  So, while these connection technologies may eventually face the same obsolescence as the devices they interconnect, they are likely to remain standards for a long time.

Automobile manufactures could capitalize on this and instead of pre-installing all the bells and whistles they could simply provide, for example, a car-wide USB hub where all devices could interconnect.  One could envision a vehicle with a built-in computer having a touch panel screen.  As "auto ready" devices are plugged in the computer would download the appropriate drivers, buttons, and screens from the device.  So, plug in an auto ready MP3 player and a new button representing that device would automatically show up.  Put a DVD player in your trunk and LCD screens on the back of each seat and the computer would link them together and stream video over USB (or bluetooth or cartooth or whatever protocol).

Having an in-car USB network would be the ultimate car hackers delight.  What if the engine computer provided read-only data on the USB bus.  A car could be customized the way personal computers are now.  You don't like your dash board?  Swap out the dash for a new one.

I, of course, am dreaming here, but the technology already exists to do this sort of thing.

Growing up watching Star Trek I always wanted one of those cool hand held tablets that always seemed to know everything. They could tap into the ship's computer and get at any information they needed. All from a small device they could carry with them. Gee, wouldn't it be cool if someone would make one of those?

Like all things Star Trek I am convinced that it is only a matter of time before they become a reality. Those magic know-it-all tablets are no different. So, when Amazon announced the Kindle I was keenly interested. Kindle is a small device with an LCD screen that is supposed to look like paper. It is also purported to hold something like 90,000 books and magazines. Crazy! The thing I find very cool is that you can purchase and download books over a wireless connection. There is no need to connect to a computer, the book is zapped to you. I guess that makes Amazon similar to the Enterprise computer. Anything you want is beamed directly to your little hand held tablet.

Of course this cool technology comes with a price. The Kindle retails for $399. Ouch! I know that if I read more real paper books instead of Internet blogs and web sites that I would end up saving money. After all, Kindle books are less expensive than their counterpart paper or hard cover books. Aside from that the wow factor is just not enough for me to justify $400 for a portable book reader.

Although it may be a few more years before I finally get my cool tablet with a direct interface into the main ship computer, I am glad to see that someone finally took the eBook to the next level.

This site now allows OpenID logins. I think OpenID is a great idea. All your information and credentials are maintained in one location, which you can give a secure password. On any site that support OpenID you can then log in. The cool thing is that your password is kept safe. The OpenID enabled sites never see your password.

Here's the basic flow: You navigate to a site that is OpenID enabled. You enter your ID and hit login. The site then contacts the OpenID issuer and asks if it is OK to log you in. You must separately log in to your OpenID provider and grant permission to that site. There is some encryption stuff that goes on under the covers to keep your password safe and to ensure that you are who you say you are. Finally, you are logged in without having to create yet another account or memorize another password.

For more information see the official OpenID website. As an OpenID provider I strongly recomend VeriSign. They are a very reputable company and well known for internet security. You can get your own OpenID by visiting their site here.

The average American receives 11 pieces of unsolicited junk mail each week, according to the Center for a New American Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting responsible consumerism. Tallied up, that bulk accounts for 100 million trees lost each year. By reducing the amount of junk mail you receive each year, you personally will save two trees and prevent some 92 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air.

Anyway, I don't really care to pontificate on this any more than I have. What I do want to do is STOP THE MADNESS! Here is how you can significantly reduce the amount of junk mail that you receive. Most of this can be done online.

The Direct Marketing Association maintains a list of people that do not want to be contacted via mail. By registering with them the amount of catalogs, business offers, and other unsolicited mail will be drastically reduced. The DMA charges $1 for this service, but I think it is well worth it.

You are prequalified for a new credit card! Low intro rate! OK, how many of those per week day do you get? From one web site you can tell all of the credit bureau's to stop releasing your information. This will stem the tide of credit card offers that you receive. When you register on their site they will keep you on file for five years. After that time you will have to register again.

If you receive sexually oriented mailings the good old US Post Office can help you out. You need to fill out form 1500 and turn it in to the post office. They will make sure that those types of mailings stop.

For more ideas you can also check out this article by MSNBC or this great web page.

Good luck in your quest to stop the madness.