The Daily Prophet It Ain't...

But we do have our first leading magazine printed with e-Ink technology.

e-Ink (eletronic ink) uses small spheres containing granules of two different colored inks. The spheres are mounted in a substrate that keeps them in a rigid pattern, just like the dots on a TV. When the current is turned on under a sphere, one type of ink is attracted (pulled down) to the electronic grid behind it, while the other is repelled and moves to the top of the sphere, becoming visible. Reverse the current, and the other color ink moves to the top. Once the electricity is turned off, the ink remains in it's current position; so it only requires the electric current when changing to a new display.

e-Ink isn't new - it's been around since the 90s - but applications are just appearing. Originally just black and white, the tiny balls can now include colors. The 'paper' includes an on-board battery to power the display, and some electronics to control it.

This month, Esquire magazine ran a cover and an ad using some e-Ink inserts. It was a limited run of 100,000, and I'm sure they are all gone now. Here's a video of the (rather boring) e-Ink components in the Esquire issue. Not quite the moving pictures of Harry Potter fame, but we're getting there!

Going down.

Last week I started weight watchers (again). I previously lost 27 pounds on weight watchers, then watched as I put the weight back on over a two year period!

This time, I'm planning to keep it off for three years (you have to set REALISTIC goals :-)

Monday's is weigh day, and I'm down six pounds. Only 24 more to go!

Overheard at the market...

OK - I shouldn't make snap judgements based on clothing, looks etc... I'm not exactly the height of sartorial elegance myself... but lets just say the generally scruffy look, bad teeth, and (on the guy) the several-days old stubble told me the couple across from me in the produce isle were probably at the low end of the income ladder. They were joined by a similar looking woman, and after greeting each other, the conversation went something like this:

"So did you see that Sarah woman on TV?"
"Yes I did - and that lovely baby!"
"I know, the baby was such a cutie and she seemed like such a loving mother - that settled it for us, we're going to vote for her".

Suddenly, I'm very depressed.