- A YouTube link was shared to a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diDUOmOERNM) whose content is not described but was presumably relevant to transhumanist or DIY-tech interests.  
- Discussion of FBI scrutiny: kanzure posted a Scientist article warning that bio-researchers may soon be questioned by FBI agents or scientists acting on their behalf, highlighting growing state attention to open-source biology.  
- Open-source definition debate: kanzure circulated a blog post (http://allegegenpadophilie.com/meaning-of-open-source-software-hardware-software.html) exploring the meaning of “open source” across software and hardware domains.  
- Microbiome informatics: microbio.me and its “Denoiser” tool for rapid denoising of pyrosequencing amplicon data were noted; Rob Knight and Jens Reeder were flagged as key researchers to follow.  
- Context-switching tooling: kanzure asked ToyKeeper about objections to rapid-deployment terminal/session managers that let developers instantly spin up or tear down multi-project development environments.  
- Hardware economics & DIY fabrication: fenn observed that 8 GB micro-SD cards remain ~$20 despite falling component costs, and floated the idea of making “bullet-proof” SD/micro-SD card holders bundled with cards for RepRap use.  
- Financial data standards: jrayhawk pointed to Open Financial Exchange (OFX) and GnuCash’s OFX Direct-Connect bank settings as a straightforward route for automated personal-finance data access.  
- RepRap progress: fenn reported that the mini-Mendel variant needs fewer of the parts already fabricated, but still requires some missing parts, framing ongoing work toward a revenue-producing 3-D-printing venture.  
- A four-stroke solenoid motor design was linked from robomo.com as an example of unconventional electromechanical experimentation.