| Gadgets Scientists Devise Brighter LEDs via Nano-imprint Lithography
The LED, or Light Emitting Diode, has been around since the late 60's but only over the last few years have LEDs made headway into commercial mainstream use. Some new vehicles now use LED's in headlights and taillights. The benefits of this are brighter light and much improved life span for the bulbs. Some stop lights also use LEDs to combat against the hazard of a stop light burning out. Of more interest to technophiles is the advent of LEDs for use as backlighting in our notebook computers, such as the recently announced Dell Latitude XT tablet PC, and other personal electronic devices. LEDs promise less power consumption in out notebooks thereby increasing battery life. LEDs are also slowly making their way into our flat panel TVs such as the Samsung 31-inch OLED panel DailyTech reported on last week.
La-La Land of the Giants
I should have listened to my wife. She told me to wash my car. But I'd been on the road just about every weekend for three months, covering NFL games, and a carwash didn't register on my list of priorities.
So the other day I wheezed up to the Beverly Hills Hotel in my one-headlight Volvo that's covered in dust and bird droppings, and filled with old newspapers, water bottles, my son's basketball, and -- disturbingly -- my daughter's collection of stripped-bare Barbie dolls.
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Jeff Thelen's Blog
Hi everybody. I'm back from really slacking off from the blog over the holidays. This week, it's just a few random thoughts. How many people are sick at your home, office or school? Seems like everyone in this newsroom is fighting some sort of bug right now. My symptoms are a sore throat, tiredness and aches and pains. I have no congestion, but my nose only runs at night. Wierd, isn't it? Alison Struve blows her nose so much she sounds like a foghorn. Stephanie Luisier and chief photographer Randy Bise both have that "sick sound" when they talk. Was it just me or did the Badgers seem a little unfocused and unprepared for their bowl game? Perhaps it's the long layoff between their last regular season game and the contest on January 1. It was a sort of a fun game to watch, even if it was rather sloppily played.
Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
Another in our series of special Election 2008 editions of our popular Around The Sphere link-fest where we offer readers links to weblogs of differing viewpoints — and give you our comments on some of the political issues raised. This version will only contain election-related links. It will appear several times a week until Election Day. The Great Confederate Flag Controversy Surfaces In South Carolina (Again) and lo and behold it's again being used against Arizona Senator John McCain who's losing ground to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who — coincidentally — is coming out in favor of it waving there (apparently forever). Booker Rising, a site that bills itself as a "news site for black moderates and black conservatives' but must be required reading for everyone, writes this: However, I'll take on Mr.
Show the games in high definition
While watching the snowy playoff game at Lambeau Field last Saturday I remarked to my fellow football fans how much fun it would be to see and hear the game in HDTV.On Monday, local media were reporting an increase in the sale of television receivers and attributed it in part to excitement over the Packers appearing in the NFC Championship game today. That underscores my lament of no HDTV from our local Fox affiliate.
While this is no fault of the local staff, the station ownership needs to know how much the 7 Rivers Region wants to enjoy our Packers games in the high definition video and exciting audio that the majority of the country receives.Once you watch football in HDTV, you'll see what I mean. Please join me in writing and calling WLAX-TV so your wishes are passed on to their ownership group.
NEWS IN BRIEF
PASSPORTS: No final word yet on when U.S. citizens will need a passport or an as-yet-to-be-created alternative for land and sea border crossings involving Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. But the State Department is preparing now.
As early as next month, department officials will begin accepting applications for a "passport card" that is cheaper and smaller than a passport and good only in the circumstances noted above. The limited-use card, which lasts 10 years, will cost $45 for adults ($25 of that will be waived if you already have a passport, including one up for renewal). Children 16 and younger pay $35 for a five-year card.
And, a reminder: As of Jan. 31, to cross the U.S. border by land or sea into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean (except for Puerto Rico and the U.S.
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