Mortimer.CA writes "An interesting article on how cell phones are changing the way people interact and get together in Japan. Some interesting quotations: 'To not have a keitai (cell phone) is to be walking blind, disconnected from just-in-time information on where and when you are in the social networks of time and place.' And the new social faux pas: 'One college student I spoke to described leaving one's phone at home or letting the battery die as "the new taboo."' The article mentions the book Smart Mobs which was mentioned on Slashdot before. I keep thinking how Marshal McLuhan said that our new inventions change the way we view the world. This is 'obvious' now, but was quite a new idea when he thought of it. In the 40s and 50s you "needed" to get a (land line) phone, then it was cars, email, and now cell phones. What's next? Is it simply a matter of keeping up with the Joneses?"

Peer-to-Peer: Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies from O'Reilly, presents p2p as the next great thing on the Internet. Maybe. (Please - jump into this discussion). This book will tell you every technical detail you ever dreamed of knowing about peer-to-peer, but it fails to make the case that this complex, collaborative, subterranean technology will have much impact or appeal beyond the tech elite obsessively engaged in making and touting it. And, of course, keeping free -- some will say stolen -- music alive.(Read more).

A note from Hemos: The following piece came to me as a personal letter from David Brin. David is a prominent scientist and author of best-selling novels like The Postman, who has shared entertaining and provocative views with us in the past. His letter struck us as so biting and timely that we asked permission to post it before the whole Slashdot community, in order to provoke your rambunctious discussion. David graciously agreed, on condition that you all remember, it was written first of all as a private person sharing his "cranky political opinions" with a few friends. "It goes over the top in a few places," he warned. "First draft expressions of outrage tend to be that way." So as friends, let's not get too vexed with him. Above all David is interesting, as usual....

You've all probably heard the great scientific folktale about Einstein's brain, removed mysteriously during the great man's autopsy and hidden away for four decades? It's almost all true, and Michael Paterniti not only tracked the brain down, but drove across country with it (in a Tupperware jar) and the odd octogenarian pathologist who took it. This is a great cosmic road trip. You cannot spend a more entertaining few hours this summer than with this book.

_Chainsaw writes: "The local paper ran this story about a retired engineer who has come up with the concept of nitrogen powered cars. The idea is that the pressure generated when liquid nitrogen is changed into a gas state via a heat exchanger could power a car. What are the pros and cons of this idea versus conventional gas-powered cars and the ideas of battery powered and fuel cell powered cars? Safety issues? In the event of an accident is being flash-frozen better than being burned to death or dissolved by battery acid? What is the environmental impact of letting tons of nitrogen a day escape into the atmosphere?" I wonder how easy it is to keep the nitrogen cold, too. It's interesting to consider what things will look like in 50 or 100 years, though. Will cars still be the dominant form of transport for Americans? Will Nitrogen-fueled trains zip from city to European city?

We did the usual Call for Questions thing Monday. We didn't get quite as many as we've had for some other interview subjects here, but sometimes quality is more important than quantity, and we sent Bruce some beauts. His answers are of similar excellence, and are well worth reading even if you have never read any of his work or even if you despise science fiction. So click below, read, and enjoy!

Dave Gudeman has submitted a feature on the subject of Invasion of Privacy. Specifically its talking about the recent govt plans to allow the govt permission to have backdoors into encryption applications, and in general just do all sorts of stuff that will make your blood boil (or maybe its just me because I'm halfway through Cryptonomicon:Neal you Rock)