Monthly Archives: April 2009

Food, Security

Dominos Bailout

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Someone figured out that Dominos Pizza had a coupon for free food. I say figured it out because it was enabled on their website, but it was not publicized…until this past Monday, when stories like this one appeared on The Cheapskate – CNET News:

Domino’s is offering a free medium one-topping pizza.

The catch, if you can call it that, is that you’ll have to hop in the car; it’s carry-out only. Here’s how to get the deal:

1. Head to the Domino’s Pizza site.
2. Click Order, then type in your address to find stores near you.
3. Choose the store you want, then create your order for a medium one-topping pizza.
4. Use coupon code BAILOUT. Presto: free, free, free!

It seems the promotion worked. Dominos gave away a lot of pizza, true, but they are now a top story. Something tells me the cost of those pizzas was nominal compared to the airtime they are getting right now.

It is possible someone is scratching their head and wondering why or how a hidden coupon was disclosed, but as far as breaches go this is a fairly harmless one. I mean what percentage of people also bought drinks when they picked up their free pizza, for example, since it was carry-out only…

Security

Three Mile Island Disaster Revelations

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The Institute for Southern Studies has posted some new revelations about the Three Mile Island disaster and nuclear plant safety.

“What happened at TMI was a whole lot worse than what has been reported,” [health physics technician] Randall Thompson told Facing South. “Hundreds of times worse.”

Thompson and his wife, Joy, a nuclear health physicist who also worked at TMI in the disaster’s aftermath, claim that what they witnessed there was a public health tragedy. The Thompsons also warn that the government’s failure to acknowledge the full scope of the disaster is leading officials to underestimate the risks posed by a new generation of nuclear power plants.

The story essentially tries again to confirm reports of health effects documented by people living near the plant. It also reveals that the Thompsons have sought “refuge” as clowns for a traveling circus.

Food, History, Security

History of Medicine

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Some people think I could not carrot all about nutrition, but while researching types to plant in my garden I came across this amusing history of medicine

Patient “I am sick”.

Physicians responses:
3500 years ago – “Here eat this root”
2500 year ago – “That root is heathen – say this prayer”
150 years ago – “That is superstition – drink this potion”
50 years ago – “That potion is snake oil – take this pill”
15 years ago – “That pill is no good, take this antibiotic”
Today – “that is not natures way – here eat this root”

Energy, Security

Virus Batteries

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MIT has pioneered a Virus battery.

Researchers constructed a lithium-ion battery, similar to those used in millions of devices, but one which uses genetically engineered viruses to create the negatively charged anode and positively charged cathode.

The virus is a so-called common bacteriophage which infects bacteria and is harmless to humans.

Amazingly it is already marketed as something that can power cars, which says a lot about demand versus the auto industry. Who killed the electric car, indeed!

It also is nice to see viruses get a good name, given all the negative press that we usually see in technology. Go battery virus go.