It’s been exactly two years since wireless recharging devices last crossed my radar. At that time, two solutions were making the vapor-news rounds: Splashpower and Mobilwise. I heard about both from readers after I wished for a purse that would automatically recharge my mobile devices. There isn’t anything really new to report, but Engadget says that Splashpower is “gearing up to finally release their SplashPad charging mat.” The company site doesn’t have any news, but perhaps PR is revving up for a product launch. A SplashModule is necessary for a mobile device to recharge. Until it’s integrated and off-the-shelf we may not see quick adoption.

I’m extremely late getting into the baseball season this year, but I’m a sucker for the drama of the ongoing BoSox-Yankees rivalry. And the drama has indeed been good with nail-biting extra innings and controversial calls. Since I haven’t been paying attention until now, I notice things that are probably old news. For instance, what is the deal with those nasty, grungy batting helmets many of the Red Sox are sporting? Cabrera’s looks like it was partially burned in some ritualistic bonfire to appease the baseball gods. I found the article: “A dirty job at the top. Filthy hats, helmets preferred by some players.” and one about logo appearance that mentions: “MLB no longer will tolerate the batting helmets of Sox players […] which are smeared with dirt and pine tar, obscuring the ‘B’ logo on the front of the helmets.” It appears MLB has lost out.

Did you notice that the hockey season hasn’t started yet? If you have you probably already know the details. But maybe you’re curious anyway. The best source for details is Canadian media, so here’s the CBC’s guide to the collective bargaining agreement (or lack thereof). There’s also the NHL’s own CBA site and the Player’s Association site which have their own biases.

LEDs have replaced incandescent bulbs in many applications, but despite their efficiency they have the same problem of heat production at high output. Creative solutions are necessary to employ LEDs for bright lighting situations. Manufacturers use heat sinks to dissipate the heat of high wattage, however the size of the heat sink makes the LEDs cumbersome. Lamina Ceramics has a solution with a heat sink made up of layers of metal and ceramic which numerous LEDs can be attached to. Lumileds Lighting has combined LEDs of improved thermal efficiency with a metallic heat sink. Both companies hope to offer LED arrays for high illumination applications. (source: NY Times article)

Peanut butter now comes in a squeeze tube. Tubed foods are joining upside-down plastic squeeze bottles as the new packaging trend in the U.S.

Malcolm Gladwell had a wonderful essay on ketchup in the New Yorker’s food issue. The most intriguing part of the article is not specifically about ketchup at all, but the research of Howard Moskowitz. Remember when extra-chunky spaghetti sauces started appearing in the supermarket? He’s the one behind it. The essence of his discoveries from taste-testing for Pepsi and Prego is that there is “plural perfection.” Not everyone likes the same thing. It seems obvious, but food manufacturers were originally catering to a mainstream taste that they tried to meld together from focus groups and other research methods. Instead, Moskowitz showed that segmentation could uncover new profits, hence the concoction of a new product for extra-chunky sauce lovers. Now there is “very nearly an optimal spaghetti sauce for every man, woman, and child in America.” It remains to be seen whether the “Moskowitz rule” applies to ketchup (and I don’t think purple and blue ketchup count).

As political placards sprout like so many dandelions around our neighborhood, I confess to wanting to do a little judicious weeding. It’s not politically motivated, but rather I am annoyed when someone has decided to post the exact same sign multiple times in the same small area in order to overwhelm their opponent’s sign placement. Thus I’ve been wondering what laws govern these campaign signs. This Seattle Times article answers some of my questions. It is illegal in Washington state to remove a lawfully placed political sign. But, at least in Bellevue, signs must be removed by seven days after an election, so I have a deadline to look forward to.

The landmark TWA terminal at JFK Airport, closed since 2001, reopened to the public as the venue for a modern art exhibit last week and then abruptly closed again after the opening night party got out of hand. The Port Authority revoked the exhibit’s permit after partygoers paid little respect to the building, leaving behind graffiti, vomit, cigarette butts and broken glass. The terminal building will eventually be incorporated into a new terminal being built for JetBlue.

Buried in a NY Times Magazine essay on the Mars’ company investment in chocolate-as-health-food research is this interesting tidbit: “Mars is a huge player in the vending business. Not only is it among the leading providers of electronic components in vending machines, but it is also the top company in vending-machine candy sales. (Mars is second only to Frito-Lay in overall snack-food sales at those machines.)” Who knew that all those M&Ms; packets sit on electronic components from the same parent company? A web search turns up MEI, “one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic bill acceptors, coin mechanisms and other electronic payment systems.” According to their About page, Mars engineers developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s. (Read The Emperors of Chocolate for the corporate view of those yummy treats.)

Architect Michael Graves has a new view on accessibility; sadly the design guru is now paralyzed from the waist down, the result of a spinal infection. Graves modified his “architectural statement” house for wheelchair access with an elegant elevator and large shower room featuring blue-glass tiles. His architecture and design firms are moving full speed ahead with new buildings and products. Graves is also keeping up a busy schedule, despite pain.