"Next in Sick Sad World."

I would like to submit, for your amusement, the following news headlines. I'm not even going to explain them, although I will give links for your ultimate satisfaction:

"Capsicum spray empties McDonalds."

"Unwanted granny thrown on garbage dump."

"Cow-eating pigs spark scare."

Now honestly, don't they brighten your day?

(Bonus points if you get the reference in the entry title!)

There really is nothing new under the sun.

And I say "sun" advisedy.

This seems like an eco-utopia SF novel coming true right before your very eyes. It's also a really cool demonstration of just how fantastically the processes of evolution have created powerful, efficient systems that rival or better anything we'd been able to do so far.

A new generation of solar cells will use photosynthystic (I'm truly sorry if that's the wrong word, I believe it's made up) processes instead of the photovoltaic effect.

I've been waiting years for this. I would like to have a moss-covered roof that powers my air-conditioning and stereo system.

Now there's a completely unrelated thought: How about putting a small electricity-generating water turbine in the downpipe from your roof to your water tank, so that you get free water and generate electricity during every downpour?

Surely it's possible to....

Make a credit card with a magnetic strip that lasts the life of the card?