Radio-frequency identification chips compatible with human tissue may be used for pacemakers, defibrillators and artificial joints. How would this be useful?
"If you're a pacemaker user and you're in an accident and in shock, an ambulance attendant could scan the body and retrieve information about the device," Bolton said. 'The chip could provide information about the [pacemaker's] settings, who its manufacturer is and whether you have any medical allergies.'"
Fake euro note found
It didn't take long for someone to start funny business with funny money.
Economics of Intellectual Property
A thought provoking discussion of the conflict that arises when you consider the ownership of intellectual property, and the benefits that society reaps when information can be shared freely. (from Kuro5hin)
Franchise Regulation: Past, Present and Future
An excellent introduction to franchises, the growth of the franchise business model, problems facing franchises, and their regulation.
IRS' Case of the Missing Laptops
These guys crunch a lot of numbers, and you would expect that they've gotten pretty good at it by now. But when an audit revealed that a large amount of equipment appeared to be missing... This is news much in the same way that a "man bites dog" story might make the front page of the newspaper. You hear of the IRS auditing people, but rarely of the IRS being audited.
The Many Futures of Music, Maybe One of Them Real
(NYTimes - free registration required) There are so many directions that musical artists, the recording industry, and the internet can go in that it's difficult to tell which path will be followed. A nice analysis of the possible futures of recorded music, and of some of the artistic, business and government forces shaping that future.
- William Slawski
