Hsieh Forbes Column: To Improve Telemedicine, Reform Outdated State Medical Licensing Rules

My latest Forbes column is now out: "To Improve Telemedicine, Reform Outdated State Medical Licensing Rules".

I discuss some proposals to make it easier for physicians to practice telemedicine across state lines. I'm glad these ideas are getting more attention in outlets such as The New England Journal Of Medicine.

National Burrito Day

"Where to Get Free and Cheap Burritos for National Burrito Day":

National Burrito Day lands on April Fool’s Day this year, but thankfully restaurants aren’t playing around with their deals. 

Starting [April 1], restaurants like Pollo Loco and Moe’s Southwest Grill are offering buy-one-get-one deals, $5 burritos, and more. Less useful but still good, Chipotle is inviting people to play in an online challenge to crack a code and win a free burrito, plus other prizes all-day on April 1. Here are some deals and freebies to take advantage of on National Burrito Day...

Nuclear Tweet

BBC: "Child tweets gibberish from US nuclear-agency account"

Bach Sword Fight

That time that J.S. Bach called another musician a "Zippelfagottist" and got into a sword fight.

 

Unique Snake Feeding Behavior

"Unique feeding behaviour of Asian kukri snakes gutting frogs and toads":

In September 2020, we reported the first evidence for a newly discovered behaviour in snakes, as we provided extensive photographic documentation, demonstrating a macabre feeding strategy of Asian kukri snakes of the species Oligodon fasciolatus, the Small-banded Kukri Snake: a snake cutting open the abdomen of a toad, inserting its head and pulling out the toad’s organs which are then swallowed.

This is done while the toad is alive and it may take several hours before it dies! We have now provided new evidence that two other species of kukri snakes also exhibit this highly unusual behaviour...

Louvre Online

"The Louvre Puts Its Massive Collection of Art Online":

For the first time ever, the entire Louvre collection is available online, whether works are on display in the museum, on long-term loan in other French institutions, or in storage.

Brains And Fiction

"What happens in your brain when you 'lose yourself' in fiction"

Deep Nostalgia

Deep Nostalgia: Animate your family photos.

Drones Vs. Destroyers

"Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious 'Drones' Off California Over Numerous Nights"

AI-Controlled Fighter Jets

"AI-Controlled F-16s Are Now Working As A Team In DARPA's Virtual Dogfights"

More Working From Home

"Ford Gives 30,000 Employees The Option To Work From Home Permanently"

False Memory Technologies

"Scientists can implant false memories -- and reverse them"

AI Generated Motivational Posters

"This AI Is Supposed To Create Inspiring Images, But The Results Are Hilarious Instead" 

Not Huey, Dewey, and Louie

"Map of the Names of Donald Duck's Nephews in Different Countries"

Light Posting

Admin note: Posting may be lighter than usual this week due to external obligations.

Smart Whales

"Sperm whales in 19th century shared ship attack information"

LEGO Bonsai

LEGO bonsai tree, intended for adults as a mindfullness/relaxation tool.

 

Perfect Numbers

"The Mysterious Math of Perfection"

Optical Antennas

"Optical Antennas Promise 'Unlimited' Data Capacity"

SMS Attack

"A Hacker Got All My Texts for $16"

Fast Cameras

"Ultra-quick Cameras Reveal How to Catch a Light Pulse Mid-Flight". (Via H.R.)

D&D Makers Roll A "20" For 2020

"Dungeons & Dragons had its biggest year ever as Covid forced the game off tables and onto the web"

Measuring Gravity

"Researchers measure the gravity exerted by a 90 milligram object". (Via H.R.)

Antikythera Update

"Scientists solve another piece of the puzzling Antikythera mechanism"

Self-Cleaning Door Handle

"Over-Engineered Door Handle That Wipes Itself Down With Disinfectant After Every Use". (Via H.R.)

Tribute To Ritchie

"Dennis Ritchie is the most influential man you've never heard of. A thread on the life and legacy of the incredible technology pioneer..." (Via R.T.)

Cell To Salamander

"Time Lapse of a Single Cell Growing Into a Salamander"

Update On NDEs

"What do near-death experiences mean, and why do they fascinate us?"

The Queen of Scream

Video: "This Trained Singer Teaches Metal Bands How To Scream"

Family Tree of the Tolkien Legendarium

"Family Tree of the Tolkien Legendarium". Click through to see incredibly detailed chart.

Hidden Apartment

Woman notices unusual draft from behind bathroom mirror, finds previously unknown 3-bedroom hidden apartment: 

"Inside the hair-raising secret space, Hartsoe finds open windows and a heap of trash bags. She also discovers an empty water bottle, which she calls a 'sign of life'."

 

Court Perils In The Zoom Era

"'We May Need to Adjourn': Zoom Assault Hearing Goes Off the Rails After Court Discovers Alleged Abuser in the Same Apartment as Alleged Victim".

Good work by quick-thinking state attorney assistant Deborah Davis to notice that something wasn’t quite right! (Via Ari Armstrong.)

Extended Airport Stays

"How some people can end up living at airports for months -- even years -- at a time"

Dramatic Optical Illusion

BBC: "'Hovering ship' photographed off Cornish coast by walker"

[BBC meteorologist David] Braine said: "Superior mirages occur because of the weather condition known as a temperature inversion, where cold air lies close to the sea with warmer air above it.

"Since cold air is denser than warm air, it bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast, changing how a distant object appears...

 

Better Wifi

"How To Build a Radio That Ignores Its Own Transmissions". (Via H.R.)

Imaginary Numbers May Be Essential

"Imaginary Numbers May Be Essential for Describing Reality"

Reese's All PB Cups

"All peanut butter, all the time: Reese's peanut butter cups without chocolate arriving in April".

Commentary: I like peanut butter. But if I wanted an all peanut butter cup, I could also just go to the store, get a jar of my favorite PB, and enjoy it straight from the jar with spoon. 

Which I confess I've done.

 

Unlocked Letter

"Digitally Reading 17-Century Locked Letters"

Simplified US

Map of US as seen on Sri Lankan news broadcast. Much simpler!

 

Another Reason I Don't Plan On Visiting China Soon

Japan Times: "Japan asks China to stop anal COVID-19 tests on Japanese citizens"

Updated Sign Language

"The COVID Zoom Boom Is Reshaping Sign Language"

Tip For Surgeons

ProTip for surgeons: Do NOT try to attend your traffic court Zoom meeting at the same time your patient is lying on the OR table. 

“So unless I’m mistaken, I’m seeing a defendant that’s in the middle of an operating room appearing to be actively engaged in providing services to a patient. Is that correct, Mr. Green? Or should I say Dr. Green?” Link asked over the sounds of suction and the beep-beep of medical devices...

Artificial Hearts

"How to Build an Artificial Heart"

One Does Not Simply Memorize A Speech About Mordor

"The Story Behind Your Favorite Lord of The Rings Meme Is Actually Funnier Than You Think"

Early Globe

"The Earliest Globe to Show the Americas May Have Been Made by Leonardo da Vinci in 1504"