This might be the wrong way to look at it. The concise list would be to list the ways in which America is better because of the Bush administration. Anyone have an mp3 of crickets chirping?

RE: The Legacy of George W Bush's Presidency

The bumps and ridges on this vase are created from a real human fingerprint. Made with rapid-prototyping tech that "reads" your prints and converts them into a 3D object, the vase is designed by Kris Lovett and called "Embossed." The process for creating it is actually fairly simple, and you can get Lovett to make one out of your own fingerprint too.

Design: Flower Vase Made of Human Fingerprints

NEW YORK A study released by Northwestern University reports that teenagers find online news troubling and a reminder of the world's dangers. Meanwhile, time spent on YouTube or social networking and music downloading sites as a treat.

Memestreams: News without worries.

Report: Teenagers Find Online News Stressful

Social isolation makes people stressed out and forgetful, but soon a drug could cure this problem. Late last year, scientists isolated a brain enzyme that triggers the "loneliness" feelings during periods of solitude. Replenishing that enzyme in the brain could enhance memory and relieve stress when you're spending a lot of time by yourself working (or space traveling).

People don't need people. People need drugs.

I can't wait to see that hallmark.

Mad Science: A Chemical That Improves Memory (and Cures Loneliness)

Presenting the latest in Japanese technology. If you thought that Candy Girls were realistic then you are in for a big surprise.

Cutie Doll is a brand of companion dolls with a difference. While Candy Girls cost about 600,000 yen (5,641 USD), Cutie Dolls cost only 50,000 yen (470 USD) - not bad for an incredibly realistic companion loaded with the latest technology from the land of the rising sun.

Below: Cutie Doll is designed with the fickle master in mind - if you get bored of her face, you can just rip it off and wrap another one over her head.

Cutie Doll

The LAPD bought four of the $2,500 devices, which at first glance look like Palm Pilots on steroids, and stored 35 crowd control and other commands: "You must immediately leave the area," "Get down from the pole" and "This area has been declared an unlawful assembly..."

Why doesn't it surprise my that translation tech like this will first be used to boss people around.

Translation Gizmos for L.A. Cops | Danger Room from Wired.com

Sweden, considered a world leader in gender equality, should ban all advertising that could be considered sexist, according to a government-commissioned report published on Tuesday.

* Swedish advertisers drawn online (20 Jan 08)
* Internet wins advertising battle (28 Nov 07)
* Internet advertising now bigger than TV (7 Nov 07)

In the report, special government rapporteur Eva-Maria Svensson suggested the creation of a law "banning advertising containing sexist content."

Right, because everybody knows repression=equality. If you can't create a world that doesnt think about sex, you can hide it with censorship.

The Local - Sweden mulls ban on sexist ads

"Ed Giorgio, who is working with McConnell on the plan, said that would mean giving the government the authority to examine the content of any e-mail, file transfer or Web search," author Lawrence Wright pens.

“Google has records that could help in a cyber-investigation, he said," Wright adds. "Giorgio warned me, 'We have a saying in this business: ‘Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.'"

This guy needs to be fired.

The Raw Story | US drafting plan to allow government access to any email or Web search

The case for: 'We track cars, so why not people?'

The Government is struggling to keep track of thousands of offenders in the community and is troubled by an overcrowded prison system close to bursting. Internal tagging offers a solution that could impose curfews more effectively than at present, and extend the system by keeping sex offenders out of "forbidden areas". "If we are prepared to track cars, why don't we track people?" said Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

Prisoners 'to be chipped like dogs' - Independent Online Edition - UK Politics

Add thermostats to the list of private property the government would like to regulate as the state of California looks to require that residents install remotely monitored temperature controls in their homes next year.

The government is seeking to limit rolling blackouts and free up electric and natural gas resources by mandating that every new heating and cooling system include a "non-removable" FM receiver. The thermostat is also capable of controlling other appliances in the house, such as electric water heaters, refrigerators, pool pumps, computers and lights in response to signals from utility companies. If contractors and residents refuse to comply with the mandate, their building permits will be denied.

WorldNetDaily: Big Brother to control thermostats in homes?