Random Patterns: AMC Ruins Mad Men, Electric Leaves,

AMC Ruins Mad Men

AMC has announced Mad Men is taking a year off and won't return until early 2012. The network has been negotiating with creator Matthew Wiener and wants to cut two minutes from each episode in order to sell more commercials, and fire two cast members to save money.

UPDATE: AMC wants to fire six cast members over 3 years, and increase in-show product placement as well as cut 2 minutes off each episode.

Artificial Electric Leaves May Power Homes

A scientist at MIT has created an artificial electric leaf that can generate enough power for an entire home in a developing nation. The leaf sits in a bucket of water in sunlight and uses artificial photosynthesis to separate hydrogen and oxygen, which is stored in a small fuel cell, which can be converted to electricity at any time, even at night. True solar power at night. Best of all, the electric leaves are said to be inexpensive to make and the scientist has already signed a deal to bring them to market. Sources say they should become available in three to five years after some fine tuning.

This Is How You Treat Your Best Customers

The Chicago Fire is a Major League Soccer team. Today they announced they will host world famous UK powerhouse Manchester United in July, with the game at Soldier Field instead of the Fire's regular home stadium because the larger Soldier Field offers the opportunity to sell more tickets. However the Fire also announced that all of their full-season ticket holders will receive free tickets to the game. I'm not a Fire season ticket holder, in fact I've never been to a game, but that's an amazing move by a team that is often lost in the battle for media coverage among Chicago's larger and more well known pro teams.