Thursday, February 24
NASA Space Shuttle Discovery's Last Launch
In Cape Canaveral Florida, Discovery made it's ascent for the last time today. Headed for the International Space Station, the space shuttle had six astronauts aboard, all anxious to be on their way after more than three months of fuel tank repair delays.
the Benefits of Daily Meditation After Just 4 Days
After reading about a study that reported after just 8 weeks of daily meditation, brain matter density in the locations associated with memory, self, empathy and stress regulation had increased.
One blogger has posted 8 changes from just 4 weeks of daily meditation, and started noticing changes after the first day:
Ex-Girlfriend of Jack Weppler Gets Back at Him with Photos on Google Images?
If you google "Jack Weppler" the result is a whole slew of pictures, allegedly of Jack Weppler, with defamatory slogans on them.
The story goes like this Weppler broke up with his girlfriend, who decided to
YouTube to Stream Live NHL & NBA Games?
YouTube's success in streaming the 2010 Cricket Indian Premier League, has led to the Google-owned company to negotiations with the NBA and the NHL to broadcast basketball and hockey games (Bloomberg). The success of last year's IPL cricket matches shows the average time spent on YouTube per user increasing from 15 minutes to 40.
Lego Star Wars III: the Clone Wars PS3 Screens
I've had renewed interest in the Lego series as recently I've been playing through them. Sure, a lot of it is mindless fun. But I've enjoyed playing through them cooperatively, which makes them a little more engaging for me.
Finished the Lego Indiana Jones: the Original Adventures,
"the Gardener", Plantable Comic
Few comics are printed on recycled paper, less use soy-based inks and most are looking into digital distribution. The Gardener and April Showers are actually plantable due to their mixed herb, seed-infused paper. Few comics are printed on recycled paper, less use soy-based inks and most are looking into digital distribution.
(via ComicsAlliance)
Wednesday, February 23
Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novelist Bryan Lee O'Malley Rejects Telltale's Adventure Game Offer
Bryan Lee O'Malley, creator of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series tweeted this recently:
"Telltale wanted to do Scott Pilgrim, but I said no... I couldn't see it as an adventure game. All respect to them, though."
(via Gamespot)
How Far Away is the Moon From the Earth? Surprisingly Far to Many
Check out this YouTube video link about how far away the moon is. Someone asks people on the street to guess using a tennis ball and a basketball. I had no idea:
Tuesday, February 22
L.A. Noire: Background of an Upcoming Great Game
"L.A. Noire takes place during a time of social upheaval, when technological advancements force major changes that deeply affect the criminal underworld.
In Red Dead Redemption, it was the threat of modernization, which turned common outlaws to desperate acts. In Grand Theft Auto IV, technology and societal changes put the screws to organized crime and led rich crooks, feeling immense pressure from the feds, to turn on one another. And in L.A. Noire, once again Rockstar tells the story of a world on the edge of major changes and the effects it has on cops and crooks alike."
Google Street View - Potential Opposition in Israel
A fresh example is in Israel where some government officials are concerned that Google Street View in Israel will arm terrorists with extra information to carry out attacks on public figures.
Some Israeli cabinet members want a safe way for Street View to exist as it will help with tourism.
the Plummeting Cost of DNA Sequencing
Hi "Gattaca"; welcome to 2011.
The graph below represents the plummeting cost of DNA sequencing from mid 2001. The vertical axis is based on a logarithmic scale, meaning the first of the five vertical sections represents 1 million, while the second represents 10 times that amount, rather than 2 million.
Moore's Law expresses the long-term history of computing hardware, and the fact that the amount of transistors that can be cheaply placed on a circuit has DOUBLED every two years consistently for the past 50 years, and is expected to do so until at least 2015. For more information please consult Moore's Law Wikipedia page.
Monday, February 21
CD3WD - 4 DVDs of Technology and Knowledge to Rebuild Society
Firefox, Twitter or Google Sneakers?
Simple Video Explaining the Placebo Effect
Check out thevideo for the explanation of the Placebo Effect on YouTube.
(via MindHacks)
Starless Planets May Support Liquid Water and Thus Life
Saturday, February 19
Brancusi Kiss Included in Today's Google Doodle (Sculptor Constantin Brancusi)
Today's Google Doodle is based on the works of 1800s sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi. The works included in the doodle are Prometheus (1911), Leda, The New Born (1915), Sleeping Muse (1908), Mademoiselle Pogany (1913), Bird in Space (1919), and The Kiss (1908).
Brâncuşi was born in the Romanian village of Hobiţa, Gorj, near the Carpathian mountains. On this day 135 years ago. is interest in sculpting began with his carving of wooden tools as a child. 18-year old Brâncuşi then attended Craiova School of Arts and Crafts, and after, Bucharest School of Fine Arts.
(via Argophilia)
Legal Marijuana Bill in Congress - Massachusetts?
"The bill, titled “The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act,” was drafted by Richard M. Evans, an attorney from Northampton. The bill would legalize the possession, consumption and sale of marijuana for people over 21 and establish a series of licenses requiring annual fees."
"The bill contains a lot of rules concerning cannabis packaging and licensing fees, but that is a good thing. Marijuana laws need to be specific, lest they get lost in the mire of “what ifs.” People want to know exactly what they are voting for.
Besides, the more specific a bill is, the less it can be demonized by lies from its opponents.
Massachusetts is going to be another legalization battleground, and it is a place where we have a good chance of winning. But it is up to us – the marijuana activists – and to those in MA who want to see this bill passed. Share stories and speak out; if you live in MA, contact your representative and let them know you want this bill passed. And let them know that your vote depends on theirs."
Check out the420Times for much more information on legalization of marijuana.
I Would NOT Want To Go Back To Dial-Up: a Tenth of US Has No Broadband Access
Facts revealed by the map:
the Differences Between Batman Comics, Movies and Video Games
In yet another nod to the Bats, check out the differences between the comics, movies, and video games of Batman.
Friday, February 18
Walking Dead Videogame Q4 2011
Back to the Future on PS3
Thursday, February 17
de Blob 2 Slamming a Console Near You
New Sony Gaming Tablet (the S1) Coming in September?
To be honest, I hadn't even considered a PS tablet. It would be pretty sweet gaming on such technology depending on the control mechanism.
Best Science Pictures of 2010
Further to the the top picture of HIV, check out the rest of the Best Science Pictures of 2010 winners.
#3:
(via NationalGeographic)
Mars, the Red Planet, Looking Decidedly Blue
From NewScientist:
"No, your monitor colour settings aren't wrong. This is picture of the red planet of Mars, snapped by NASA's Mars Reconaissance Orbiter.
The image shows blue sand dunes covering part of the Rabe Crater, a 100 kilometre diameter impact site in the planet's southern highlands. The dunes are an accumulation of basalt sands from the crater's floor, shaped by Martian winds. This close view reveals the thumbprint-like texture of the ridges, troughs and ripples formed there."
HIV 3D Video is Incredible!
Science Daily:
HIV apparently looks like a freaky one eyed monster.
The 3D visualization has won first place in the 2010 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge. It really is incredibly what scientists are capable and it will be interesting to see how all this knowledge and innovation will change the face of humanity.
(via NewScientist)
Chalmers University of Technology Produces a Functional LEGO Factory!
"This is the result of a bachelor thesis made by a group of students at Chalmers University of Technology in 2010. The result is a development of “Minifabriken 2009″. The whole factory is programmed in Matlab and it starts just by clicking on the start icon on desktop."
Check out the YouTube video of the Chalmers Functional Lego Factory!
(via Neatorama)
New DLC Trailer for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Da Vinci Disappearance
Not much to say her but to check out the trailer for the Da Vinci Disappearance, the downloadable content for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.
Adrienne Palicki is the Next Wonder Woman
Warner Brothers Television announced that Adrianne Palicki, star of Friday Night Lights and last years Lone Star, will be the new Wonder Woman in the NBC reboot of the amazing comic.
UPDATE: Sony Warns Anyone Pirating a PS3
Sony has warned that anyone using pirate software such as downloading applications or going around PS3 security could have their PSN accounts and/or consoles banned permanently.
A sony rep stated, ""Circumvention devices and game piracy damage our industry and can potentially injure the online experience for you, our loyal PlayStation customers, via hacks and cheats... By identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve."
Full statement:
"Unauthorized circumvention devices for the PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized or pirated software. Use of such devices or software violates the terms of the "System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System" and the "Terms of Services and User Agreement" for the PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system.
In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently. To avoid this, consumers must immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems."
Per Gamespot, the banning has already begun in the US and in Europe. The following screen is seen and an email received:
"Notice: Access to the PlayStation(R)Network and access to Qriocity(TM) services through your PlayStation (R)3 system has been terminated permanently due to the use of unauthorized circumvention devices and unauthorized or pirated software on your PlayStation(R)3 system. This use violates the terms of both the "System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation(R)3 System" and the "Terms of Services and User Agreement" for the PlayStation(R)Network/Qriocity(TM) and its Community Code of Conduct provision."
(via PS3.IGN)
Mark Laita's "Created Equal" - Jarring But Provocative, Surreal
"You’ve probably seen Mark Laita’s commercial photography – the cherry red Mini Cooper, glossy iPad, and ever so drinkable bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue – but you might not guess the same photographer is behind Created Equal, a provocative series of diptychs portraying Americans from all walks of life."
(via TurnstyleNews)
Chevron Ordered to Pay Billions for Pollution in the Amazon
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Sails May 17th, 2011
Wednesday, February 16
NASA Considering Partly Privatizing Manned MIssion to Mars
Upcoming Movie Rumor: Terminator 5?
New Web Series "My Anime Girlfriend" LOL Funny
Check out My Anime Girlfriend, new online episodes on Atom every other Tuesday.
"Sid is getting back in the dating game, and his friend John has the perfect girl for him, Yuruki. She's cute, fun, and extremely animated. If anything, maybe too animated. Featuring Patrick Shepherd and SNL's Abby Elliott."
It definitely made me laugh out loud. "One thousand apologies for my most dishonorable lateness. I left work early but then was attacked by a 30 tentacled laser octopus!"
Natalie Munroe Trashes Teachers and Students in Online Blog
This kind of makes me laugh. While I can understand why people are finding this horrifying, and rightly so, it also seems comical and understandable from the teachers point of view.
The only thing I would say is that she shouldn't have put her picture up there.
I think that the comments are probably relatively accurate and a good statement on how people, specifically in the Western world, are raising their children. (Though, calling it "raising" implies the parents are actually doing something, which seems not often likely.)
"30-year old, Doylestown, Pennsylvania native, Natalie Munroe, a teacher at Central Bucks East High School, doesn't apologize for a blog she created that lashed out against students and teachers in general. Comments such as: "A complete and utter jerk in all ways," "although academically okay your child has no other redeeming qualities," "I hear the trash company is hiring," and "There's no other way to say this, I hate your kid." "Out of contol," and "rude, lazy, disengaged whiners." or "rat-like," "dresses like a streetwalker," and "frightfully dim."
Check out NewsontheEdge for the full article.
2nd Annual Indie Game Challenge Awards 2011
Professional $100,000 Grand Prize and $15,000 EEDAR DesignMetrics Winner: LIMBO
- LIMBO - Playdead, an independent game studio from Copenhagen, Denmark. LIMBO, a 2D sidescroller puzzle-platform video game released on Xbox Live Arcade, is Playdead's first production.
Non-professional $100,000 Grand Prize and $15,000 EEDAR DesignMetrics Winner: Inertia
- Inertia - Team Hermes from Southern Methodist University. Inertia, recently published on Xbox Live Arcade, is a 2D platform arcade game in which an astronaut tries to escape a space station on the verge of collapse, allowing players to manipulate gravity and travel across the galaxy.
Category winners include:
- Kongregate Award: Symon
- Technical Achievement ($2,500): Inertia
- Achievement in Art Direction ($2,500): LIMBO
- Achievement in Gameplay ($2,500): Inertia
- Gamer's Choice Award ($10,000): Inertia
(via ps3.ign)