At Cult of Mac, Pete Mortensen hints at the possibilities of the iPad beyond what you've probably thought about (and suggests why I can't wait to get my hands on one).

If Telefónica (TEF) has its way, your knee will one day call your doctor. In partnership with Barcelona's Hospital de la Esperanza, Telefónica has developed a knee brace embedded with motion sensors that enable physicians to monitor patients' rehabilitation remotely after they've been discharged from the hospital. As they exercise, patients—and there are 200 testing the device right now—watch their movements simulated via a 3D avatar on a computer, which wirelessly sends the data to the doctor for view on a PC or cell phone. Telefónica aims to sell the brace to hospitals worldwide when trials are completed by next year.

Last time I visited my rehab doctor he told me about a National Geographic article about bionic assistive devices; today I found this article in Business Week. Click through to read about even more amazing applications to look forward to. Really reminds me of Eric Dishman's video about home-centered health care. My doctor had an interesting reaction though: "What happens when you turn the wrong way in bed at 4:00 in the morning? Does an ambulance crew wake you up?"

This cook from Montreal reminds me of a vacation I still want to take. Much as Faita visits a market in Montreal every day, I've long wanted to spend a week or more in Pittsburgh and visit the Strip District every day (check some of the posts in the Pittsburgh tag to get a feel for the Strip). I'd buy the seafood and produce that looked freshest, most tempting, or most exciting; then go back to home base, probably my mother-in-law's kitchen, and cook up a storm. Maybe someday. And maybe then or sometime in between I'll try Faita's version of chicken cacciatore, which looks great.

All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone. Blaise Pascal

I've got myself into more trouble just wanting to sit quietly than I care to remember.

A remarkable video showing a 1974 speech in which Carter challenged the legal establishment, Carter's recollection of the speech years later, and the effect of the speech on Hunter Thompson (and the nation). Carter made really effective use of a Bob Dylan lyric to make his point, and shows us how to challenge an audience and make a point.