This is so off-topic, but I just ran across this 404 site (you know, the page you land on when the server can’t find the site you clicked on) and had to share. What a crack-up!

This sounds like a bad Mainer joke, but it’s true according to this article: Lobster serves as role model for new x-ray device. From the article:

The lobster is at the forefront of the next new weapon in the war on terror: a handheld device that could help Homeland Security agents see through wood, concrete and steel.

Technology based on the crustacean’s uncanny ability to see through dark, cloudy, deep sea water is guiding scientists funded by the government in the early stages of developing a ray that one day could be used by border agents, airport screeners and the Coast Guard.

Phew. When I first ran across this one, I had a horrible image of TSA agents waving lobster claws to hand-scan air passengers…

From Phil Dourado:

“A Harvard Business School study looked at job satisfaction. Orchestra players came just below prison guards. Chamber musicians came in at number 1. What’s the difference? The presence of a conductor.”
Boston Philharmonic Conductor Ben Zander, speaking at Leaders in London 2007

Something to ponder not just when it comes to leadership, but also to how you conduct your meetings (pun intended&@8212;sorry about that). Satisfaction, not to mention learning, may be coming from something other than great keynoters and well-orchestrated events (oops, did it again). Another argument for open-space meetings?

Thanks to Johnnie Moore for the pointer.

and they’re not all that great. Take this one from CNet News, which starts like this:

The biggest problem with JetBlue’s inaugural “BetaBlue” flight, equipped with Yahoo and BlackBerry e-mail and instant messaging, was the fact that there aren’t power outlets on board the aircraft.

I’m with Jason over at InFlightHQ on this one:

If I were running an airline, I’d be approaching my service offerings by asking myself a question: if someone put me in a room for six hours and allowed me to bring only what I could easily carry on my person, what would I want in that room?

The list is pretty short, and in order of importance:

* A bathroom
* A power outlet
* The internet
* Snacks

You got that, I’m happy.

I’d put snacks above power outlets and the Internet in the hierarchy, and add a book, but that does pretty much nail it. Oh, and getting there safely.

to share a couple of great bits from one of my favorite sites, Indexed: