Category: Quickhit

[A clearly mad (or malicious) person sues NASA](http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2007/11/15/nasa-ticks-me-off-sometimes-too-but-cmon/). Lots of great claims. Personally I found the claim that Neil was hanging around with cousin Louis playing Jazz instead of going to the moon to be the best.

[A UK school is using a curriculum based on Harry Potter](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=493455&in_page_id=1770). The most amazing thing is that it seems to be working. I do worry for the students who get assigned to Slytherin house, though.

[Edison’s direct current electricity system will be turned off after 125 years](http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/off-goes-the-power-current-started-by-thomas-edison/). The Tesla v Edison fight is one of the great ones of all time. It’s also a good example of even apparently substantial ‘lock in’ can be overcome if one product is clearly superior. I’m looking at you, Microsoft!

[The lamp from hell](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/lighting/this-is-what-lamps-look-like-in-hell-322402.php). If anyone can find a house this works in, please *don’t* let me know. I wouldn’t want to see it.

[Soon you will not be able to challenge parking tickets in Washington DC](http://www.reason.com/blog/show/123439.html). I wonder if the US really *gets* the rule of law as a concept sometimes.

[The trailer](http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/see-the-first-trailer-for-lego-batman/). Short but sweet.

[$20,000 per household in the case of the US for the Iraq war](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_11/012495.php). That is, it goes without saying, a **lot** of money wasted there.

[A guy who can make a Hummer run 60 miles to a gallon](http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2007/11/12/vroom/). This does set off every ‘rubbish’ sensor I have, it’d be nice to see some proof. But sounds legit.

[A view of an economics text](http://www.economics.com.au/?p=1185) Ah, the wonders of free time.

[Coca Cola is working on drinks that cool themselves](http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/17/coca-cola-readying-self-chilling-soft-drinks/). Really cool. But I can’t help but thinking that it’s a horrible idea from an environmental perspective.