Google is working on this contact lens that can monitor blood sugar levels based on tears. This would be such a great advance for managing #diabetes. Of course, I can imagine many other uses for such a technology too. Introducing our smart contact lens project ... continue reading

Super article on bitrot, the implication for long term digital storage, & how new filesystem features can ward it off. Bitrot and atomic COWs: Inside “next-gen” filesystems ... continue reading

Remnants from Antarctic exploration, a century ago. Box of cellulose nitrate photographic negatives pulled from the ice and conserved by New Zealand’s Antarctic Heritage Trust. » Lost century-old Antarctic images found and conserved – Blog of the Long Now ... continue reading

One-way to Mars? What a tempting but difficult decision. Seventy-five Canadians make it to second round of selections for one-way mission to Mars ... continue reading

Informative letter “Clearing up misconceptions about librarians” in response to a +Montreal Gazette op-ed. Letter: Clearing up misconceptions about librarians ... continue reading

Thoughtful, clear perspective on drug prohibition and the varying degrees of ending it. Allowing It All ... continue reading

More on the Harper Conservatives’ libricide. The Tyee –“ What’s Driving Chaotic Dismantling of Canada’s Science Libraries? ... continue reading

Yesterday was Public Domain Day. Here is a list of some authors’ with works entering the public domain http://publicdomainreview.org/2013/12/10/class-of-2014/ . Mostly these are countries with life + 70 years but it also covers some with life + 50 years like Canada. The shorter the extension, the better for everyone. Not as much is happening in the US, which has a longer term. http://gigaom.com/2014/01/02/no- ... continue reading

Digging into the Canada Post data a bit, raises questions about the decision to end urban door-to-door delivery. · Canada Post report, data analytics & direct marketers win, and the public loses? ... continue reading

It’s significant how strong the value is that people continue to place on libraries. Americans Still Care About Their Public Libraries ... continue reading

Nobel winner declares boycott of top science journals ... continue reading

From the article: “‘The Four Horses’ is not about trashing the legacy of MacDonald but reminding us that we need to move beyond a false sepia-toned past. We are still living with the impacts of the broken treaties today. Until Canada realizes that its primary relationship is rooted in the promises of those treaties, we will never be the country we were meant to be.” The “Four Horses&# ... continue reading