The Aymara, especially the elderly who didn’t command a grammatically correct Spanish, indicated space behind themselves when speaking of the future – by thumbing or waving over their shoulders – and indicated space in front of themselves when speaking of the past – by sweeping forward with their hands and arms, close to their bodies for now or the near past and farther out, to the full extent of the arm, for ancient times.

This is a very interesting perspective on time.

Backs to the Future

The is one of those rare memes sure to send numerous MemeStreams users into a frenzied state. Javanco was the much loved computer and electronics store in Nashville. When we needed something, we all went there first. The entire staff was awesome. Javanco was one of the heavenly bodies the Nashville hacking scene rotated around. It had quite a history. At one point Sun attempted to sue them when some lawyer searching for trademark abuse saw "Javanco" as "Java n' co", even though it was a family name. At another point, radioactive nuclear waste was found in the basement, after accidently being sold to them with some electronic equipment. Many, many stories. Sadness was felt by all when they closed.

So, the grand news is this.. Jesica has reopened the business as The BotShop, this time selling robot supplies. I could not be more pleased to see this. ROBOTS!

First and foremost...we love robots! We've been selling the OOPic controller for years. And more than anything, we love to hear what our customers are creating with them. It's always something new and exciting, and that's what keeps it fun. Now, on to the company history.

When I went to work for my father in 1996, I began a journey I would have never imagined. The company was started in 1957 by my grandfather, T. Javan Keith, an exceptional company that stood the test of time. The company began as a surplus dealer for a vast array of electronic components and began trading computer products in the 60's.

My father, Javan Keith, opened the computer department in the mid 80's. The company began custom building systems back then. My father stuck to his beliefs that using upgradeable parts to extend the life of the system and avoiding an assembly line created a computer unsurpassed in quality. He also believed that having the most knowledgeable technicians possible kept our level of quality where it should be.

My father was an exceptional man, more concerned with taking care of others' needs than his own. This was reflected in the way he did business. He would never stock anything he wouldn't have himself. Anything sold by us was always something he'd feel comfortable selling to his own family.

In 1999, we sold our long time location at 12th Avenue South in Nashville and moved to Cannery Row. The company discontinued its electronic stock, upgrading itself to "strictly computer." Our in store and on site service departments flourished. We gained notoriety for our exceptional Audio and Video editing systems. We continued to be the place to go for technical expertise and great selection of high quality, low cost cables and adapters.

I became the General Manager and Vice President in January 2001. In September 2001, Dad passed away. I was in the process of doing what was necessary to keep the company in the family. Unfortunately, I was not able to do so. The company was sold in May of 2002. Out of my hands, the company closed shortly thereafter.

As the technology industry is all I know, it only made sense to stay. I'd also been selling robot parts, particularly OOPics for years and just couldn't let it go. Robot stuff is just too much fun.

We hope to provide the quality parts and great pricing for which Grandpa, Dad and the family business were known.

Thank you so much for your support.
Jesica Flowers

The BotShop | Robot Parts and Supplies

Elite special forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.

The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.

Special forces to use strap-on 'Batwings' | the Daily Mail

This webpage has the mosquito ring tones that are theoretically only audible by young people, which were previously discussed on MemeStreams. I can hear up to 17,000hz, but it might be my speakers.

Mosquito Tones

New Scientist has discovered that Pentagon's National Security Agency, which specialises in eavesdropping and code-breaking, is funding research into the mass harvesting of the information that people post about themselves on social networks.

I wonder what their MySpace account is. I wonder if they want to be my friend...

New Scientist Technology - Pentagon sets its sights on social networking websites

Is "Memestreams" any good? In the last few days an experimental approach to diabetes management has been announced that might prevent nerve damage. That's huge news for tens of millions of Americans. It is not mentioned on Memestreams. Memestreams does clue us in to this news: "Student sets simultaneous world ice cream-eating record, worst ever ice cream headache."

Kevin Kelly says of the "Memestreams" site, "There's no better way to watch the hive mind." But the hive mind is for the most part stupid and boring. Why pay attention to it?

This essay and the responses look like very interesting reading. Despite my creative editing here I think after a quick skim we actually address many of the concerns that he has with this kind of system.

Edge; DIGITAL MAOISM: The Hazards of the New Online Collectivism By Jaron Lanier

There is "a need to double surveillance and investigative capability" domestically, the report said, so that authorities can "find ways of broadening coverage to pick up currently unknown terrorist activity or plots."

"Surveillance is absolutely crucial,"

"You can't not do it,"

Lessons From Canada: Snooping Works

It's like, these days, everyone applies for a security clearance.

"Is there something about their lifestyle that we might find questionable or that we might find goes against the core values of our corporation?"

For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Resume

The old idea that the "big four" major professional sports leagues are the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL.... The NHL doesn't belong in this company and hasn't for quite some time. Dramatic evidence was provided this season when the average Nielsen rating of regular-season games... was a stunning 0.2. To come to grips with 0.2, consider that... It means an estimated audience of 117,000 in a nation of more than 290 million.

On a national basis, the NHL would seem to be less "major" than any of NASCAR's three series, the Indy Racing League, the golf and tennis tours for men and women, Major League Soccer, the WNBA, Arena Football, the Westminster Dog Show and televised card games on ESPN, NBC and the Travel Channel.

Apparently Americans don't give a fuck about hockey.

TimesDispatch.com | Sports Focus: Hockey's Demise

Jim Harper left his hotel early Thursday at 5:30 a.m. to give himself more than two hours to clear security at San Francisco International Airport. It wasn't that he was worried the security line would be long, but because he accepted a dare from civil liberties rabble-rouser John Gilmore to test whether he could actually fly without showing identification.

Gilmore issued the challenge at Wednesday's meeting of the Department of Homeland Security's privacy advisory committee in San Francisco.

This is interesting. A member of the DHS privacy advisory committe takes Gilmore's challenge on and sails through SFO. Some of the comments attached are interesting, as well as Edward Hasbrouck's blog post. Apparently if you want to fly without showing ID you just tell them you lost your wallet and they have a process for that. Its when you start yammering about the Constitution that they fuck with you.

Wired News: The Great No-ID Airport Challenge