Test-tube burgers

Click on this link to read an abstract of a New Yorker article about research to grow meat-based foods in the laboratory. Is this the solution to eliminating farm animal cruelty?  Or is it yet another ominous step away from eating "natural" foods?

U.S. military develops toy-like small weapons

Click on this link to read an L.A. Times article (5-30-11) about mini-sized weaponry being developed by the U.S. military to cut costs and increase effectiveness.  What will the proliferation and increased use of such weapons mean for future forms of warfare (and, potentially, terrorism)?

Text your order to the waiter

Click on this link to read a Parade magazine article (5-1-11) about the new practice of texting one's order to waiter while sitting at a restaurant table.  Is this an advance in obtaining speedy service, or a further step towards the dehumanizing of a traditionally interpersonal experience?

Electric Cars Too Quiet?

This link is to a story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune yesterday about making electric cars noisier.  Apparently there is a concern that they run too quiet and pedestrians will cross the street in front of them.  Should the cars be made noisier (chimes, whirs) or is it the pedestrian's responsibility to look before crossing the street?

Football player takes heat for Tweeting booing fans

This is a link to a Washington Post article about a rookie football player who blasted Washington Redskins fans for booing the team (despite the fact that they won the game, 9-7). He's now taking the heat from fans, fellow players, and the media. There has been a lot of controversy lately about athletes tweeting during games, businessmen and women tweeting during board meetings, students tweeting during classes, etc. Do you think there are boundaries for when it is appropriate to be reporting your activities and feelings on social media or is it good that this be like the Wild West where anything goes at any time?

Dangerous toy helicopter stunt

extreme pogo sticking

This is a link to a manufacturer's site (see their video) about new forms of pogo sticks (remember those?) that apparently enable some pretty intense stunts. I may try to obtain one of these for a future edition of our Dangerous Ideas class!