Technology

Intervention: GMOs, Are We Scared Enough Yet?

If you’ve become worried about our food after watching Food, Inc. or reading Michael Pollan, or our planet after watching An Inconvenient Truth or the natural disaster du jour on the evening news, then like me you might have thought you had your biohazard bases covered. After accounting for these looming issues I was happy to relegate the risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to the dusty corner where I pile up my back issues of National Geographic and Scientific American…

Intervention: Confronting the Real Risks of Genetic Engineering and Life on a Biotech Planet
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Gift Card Idea: Secure Your Online Self with an Ironkey

When I first wrote about my Ironkey secure USB drive I didn't really expect to need its fancy self-destruct feature. But sure enough it got left at the Johannesburg security checkpoint and I didn't realize it until a day later. That one incident paid for the device. Because it is totally secure, both encrypted and physically designed to be impervious to cracking, I didn't have to worry about a thing. Simply get another one. But it does so much more than protecting your data that I wanted to update my review, especially since I'm sure many of you will wind up with Amazon gift cards burning a hole in your pocket after Christmas...

GearGuide: Camera Lenses for Bird Photography

Even more important to excellent bird photography than having the right camera is having the right lens. There is no point in purchasing that dream camera body and crippling yourself with a cheap lens. In the 8 years I've been leading digital photo safaris I've had the chance to use or at least see used just about every likely lens made for Nikon and Canon camera bodies and have plenty of hopefully useful thoughts to share with you:

Why You Should Love Netbooks

Whether you know it or not, netbooks are having a profound effect on your computing life. Until the invention of the netbook ultra-mobility came with an ultra-hefty price tag. Stylish Sony S-Series laptops and the Macbook Air price out at $1500 and upwards. Tiny but boxy UMPC units were often over $1000. Then ASUS introduced the Eee PC... Read more »

Truth in Blogging: Will the new FCC Rule Help?

We've all read reviews that seem to "shill" for the product and wondered whether the author was paid. In theory there are some rules that help govern this behavior in print and broadcast (although IMO they don't work very well or prevent a lot of abuse). Now the FCC is stepping in to create rules for the blogosphere. Bloggers will have to disclose whether they are paid, in cash or in-kind, for writing reviews. If they don't then they and possibly the "advertiser" involved will be liable. Let's look at how this will work... Read more »

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