Cogito ergo sum.

creamy-vodka-sauce: touchrussia: The Russian English-language...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:00:31 -0430

touchrussia:

The Russian English-language news channel, Russia Today (RT), has become the first in the world to reach one billion views on YouTube. Let’s put it into perspective

Slaaaavvvvvaaaaaaaa

This is…alarming.

Verizon was just the beginning: Fedgov mining data from nine U.S. Internet companies in broad secret program.

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:25 -0430

Verizon was just the beginning: Fedgov mining data from nine U.S. Internet companies in broad secret program.:

hipsterlibertarian:

The National Security Agency and the FBI are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, extracting audio, video, photographs, e-mails, documents and connection logs that enable analysts to track a person’s movements and contacts over time…

The technology companies, which participate knowingly in PRISM operations, include most of the dominant global players of Silicon Valley. They are listed on a roster that bears their logos in order of entry into the program: “Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple.” PalTalk, although much smaller, has hosted significant traffic during the Arab Spring and in the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Dropbox, the cloud storage and synchronization service, is described as “coming soon.”

So if Yahoo’s on that list, and Yahoo owns Tumblr…

Great.

Hacker who outed Steubenville rapists could get more jail time than Steubenville rapists

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:00:20 -0430

Hacker who outed Steubenville rapists could get more jail time than Steubenville rapists:

shortformblog:

matthewkeys:

Meet Deric Lostutter, a 26-year-old cybersecurity consultant who also goes by the moniker “KYAnonymous.” Lostutter obtained and published tweets and Instagram photos in which members of the Steubenville High School football team joked about an incident in which a 16-year-old girl was raped.

Lostutter’s actions inspired a group of people to take justice into their own hands. A hacker called “Bobcat” vandalized the Facebook page of the Steubenville football team. Other hackers took similar action.

It’s unclear if Lostutter participated in any hacking shenanigans, but if he’s indicted and found guilty of any, he faces 10 years in jail. By comparison, the Steubenville rapists received one- and two-year sentences each.

Stark difference.

I can taste the bile. Disgusting.

scienceisbeauty: Poster showing a comparison of images from...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:07:25 -0430

scienceisbeauty:

Poster showing a comparison of images from planetary surfaces ordered by increasing complexity of the surface processes. Image shows the surfaces of Asteroid Itokawa, the Moon, Venus, Mars, Titan, and Earth.

Source: Distant Horizons - Different Surfaces (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:05:45 -0430

“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.”

- Hector Berlioz

(via scienceisbeauty)

shortformblog: ckck: In Focus: The Terrible Beauty of...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:00:26 -0430

shortformblog:

ckck:

In Focus: The Terrible Beauty of California’s Powerhouse Fire.

The harrowing, expansive fire, captured in such shocking fashion above, began as a wildfire sparked last Thursday, near a hydroelectric plant in the Angeles National Forest. The uncontrolled, wind-aided blaze ultimately destroyed six homes in Lake Hughes, California, with yet more damaged, and prompted thousands of evacuations. The above images are as compelling an example of an intersection of artistry and terror as we’ve come across.

dresdencodak: Inspired by Anita Sarkeesian’s Video Game Tropes...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:24 -0430

dresdencodak:

Inspired by Anita Sarkeesian’s Video Game Tropes vs Women, I wanted to pitch a Zelda game where Zelda herself was the hero, rescuing a Prince Link.

Clockwork Empire is set 2,000 years after Twilight Princess, and is not a reboot, but simply another iteration in the Zelda franchise. It just so happens that in this case, Zelda is the protagonist. I’m a very big Zelda fan, and worked hard to draw from key elements in the continuity and mythos.

This concept work is meant to show that Zelda as a game protagonist can be both compelling and true to the franchise, while bringing new and dynamic game elements that go farther than being a simple gender swap.

Hope you like it!

(for more info about this project, check out my FAQ)

quantumaniac: Supreme Court Rules Human Genes Cannot Be...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:42:58 -0430

quantumaniac:

Supreme Court Rules Human Genes Cannot Be Patented

This morning, in a case challenging patents held by the Utah-based Myriad Genetics, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that human genes may not be patented.

Initially, the patents had been challenged by scientists and doctors who said that the patents hindered their ability to help patients.

The decision hewed closely to the position of the Obama administration, which had argued that isolated DNA could not be patented, but that complementary DNA, or cDNA, which is an artificial construct, could. The patentability of cDNA could limit some of the impact on industry from the decision.

The central question for the justices in the case, Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, No. 12-398, was whether isolated genes are “products of nature” that may not be patented or “human-made inventions” eligible for patent protection.

Myriad’s discovery of the precise location and sequence of the genes at issue, BRCA1 and BRCA2, did not qualify, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court. “A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated,” he said. “It is undisputed that Myriad did not create or alter any of the genetic information encoded in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.”

“Groundbreaking, innovative or even brilliant discovery does not by itself satisfy the criteria” for patent eligibility, he said.

But manipulating a gene to create something not found in nature, Justice Thomas added, is an invention eligible for patent protection. He also left the door open for other ways for companies to profit from their research.

They may patent the methods of isolating genes, he said. “But the processes used by Myriad to isolate DNA were well understood by geneticists, ” Justice Thomas wrote. He added that companies may also obtain patents on new applications of knowledge gained from genetic research.

Source: NY Times

Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan to represent himself at trial

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:27 -0430

Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan to represent himself at trial:

shortformblog:

The US army psychiatrist charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage will represent himself at his upcoming murder trial, meaning he will question the more than two dozen soldiers he’s accused of wounding, a military judge ruled Monday.

Major Nidal Hasan’s attorneys will remain on the case but only if he asks for their help, the judge said. Hasan, 42, faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.

After questioning Hasan for about an hour, the judge, Colonel Tara Osborn, ruled that Hasan was mentally competent to represent himself and understands “the disadvantage of self-representation”. She repeatedly urged him to reconsider his request, noting that the lead prosecutor has more than 20 years of experience and that Hasan will be held to the same standards as all attorneys regarding courtroom rules and military law.

While Major Nidal Hasan has opted to represent himself, the judge has ordered all three attorneys from his legal team to remain in the court room, should Major Hasan decide he needs help at any time. Two of the attorneys will sit at the defense table with him, while the third will sit somewhere in the court room in case he’s needed as well. Jury selection is expected to begin on Wednesday.

I’m still racking my brain over this.

literaryjukebox: Let everything happen to you: beauty and...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:36:40 -0430

literaryjukebox:

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going. No feeling is final.

Rainer Maria Rilke in Rilke’s Book of Hours

Song: “One More Time With Feeling” by Regina Spektor

iTunes :: Amazon :: Back to Brain Pickings

Carl Sagan Google Doodle Petition

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:53:00 -0430

Carl Sagan Google Doodle Petition:

physicsphysics:

Not only do we feel Carl Sagan deserves the recognition for his contributions to science, we believe sharing his vision and passion will help others understand the value and importance of science.

YES. YES. YES.

Sign it, folks!

literaryjukebox: Evolution … is the central, enabling process...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:34 -0430

literaryjukebox:

Evolution … is the central, enabling process not only of life but also of knowledge and learning and understanding. If you attempt to make sense of the world of ideas and meanings, free will and morality, art and science and even philosophy itself without a sound and quite detailed knowledge of evolution, you have one hand tied behind your back.

Daniel Dennett in Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking

Song: “How Darwinian” by Dan Mangan

iTunes :: Amazon :: Back to Brain Pickings

exquisitebeast: Exquisite Beast Exquisite Corpse. Hey guys,...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:27 -0430

exquisitebeast:

Exquisite Beast Exquisite Corpse.

Hey guys, it’s Yuko! As mentioned before, there’s a Kickstarter going for the Exquisite Beast book (as well as the collections of Capture Creatures and Midnite Surprise)! For the Kickstarter-only print, Evan and I collaborated on an exquisite corpse. Here are the inks! The final will be full color.

There’s only three days left in the Kickstarter! It’s right down to the wire!

quantumaniac: Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield to Retire Chris...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:12:48 -0430

quantumaniac:

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield to Retire

Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut who captivated the world with his photos and videos on social media from the International Space Station (ISS) and professional badass - is retiring.

Cmdr Chris Hadfield, 53, says he is making good on a promise to his wife to move back to Canada after 30 years - effective July 3rd.

The astronaut was the first Canadian to command the ISS. He returned from his third space mission in May. He has lived in Texas since he became a fighter pilot in the late 1980s and was later assigned to the Nasa Johnson Space Center in Houston by the CSA.

“I’ve had such an interesting career and after 35 years it’s time to step down,” Cmdr Hadfield was quoted as saying by the CBC. “I’m the last astronaut of my class that’s still around.”

“Chris Hadfield has inspired all Canadians, especially our next-generation of scientists and engineers,” Chris Alexander, parliamentary secretary for defence, said in a statement.

“His exceptional career achievements make him a true Canadian hero and icon.”

Source: BBC

He shall be missed by those who watched him.

shortformblog: npr: guardian: Edward Snowden: ‘I do not...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:49:35 -0430

shortformblog:

npr:

guardian:

Edward Snowden: ‘I do not expect to see home again’ The whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations speaks out.

The man who leaked NSA information to the press revealed himself over the weekend. Read and listen to analysis from NPR’s Tom Gjelten on NPR’s The Two-Way.

Edward Snowden is currently holed up in a hotel room in Hong Kong—a move NPR’s Frank Langfitt explores in his Morning Edition story filed from Shanghai.

It appears, by the way, that Snowden made a tactical error by heading to Hong Kong, which has an extradition agreement with the United States. He should’ve traveled to Iceland, where he might have had more of a shot.

EDIT: The Washington Post reports that Snowden checked out of his hotel room.

birpsikologungunlugu: Gel benim minik kedim, arkandayım...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:21 -0430

birpsikologungunlugu:

Gel benim minik kedim, arkandayım ;))

Protestors in Turkey using an excavators to chase away riot police (in those vans).

quantumaniac: the-science-llama: Light at 1-Trillion...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:00:33 -0430

Light at 1-Trillion FPS // TED - Ramesh Raskar // posted by The-Science-Llama

Light at 1-Trillion FPS // TED - Ramesh Raskar // posted by The-Science-Llama

quantumaniac:

the-science-llama:

Light at 1-Trillion Frames/Second

That’s right, you are seeing light in slow motion! At this speed you can study the way light interacts and reflects off of surfaces and, as you can see, when it travels past the tomato onto the wall it seems like a ripple in a pond. This technology will even allow you to see around corners, like into a room or even inside the human body.

The gifs make it seem a little bit faster than the actual video so watch the TED talk video with Ramesh Raskar explaining what he calls “Femto-Photography”.

This is astounding.

climateadaptation: laughingsquid: Little Boy Makes a Strong...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 12:00:29 -0430

climateadaptation:

laughingsquid:

Little Boy Makes a Strong & Touching Argument on Why He Shouldn’t Eat Octopus

This is a sweet moment between mom and son. I think a lot of parents have this same conversation, when their child connects their food to viable creatures. An old friend of mine has 5(!) kids, and I was there when one of them discovered that the chicken on her plate was from a “real chicken.” O’ the horror that ensued… This kid’s mom is quite level-headed, but other parents, unfortunately, have a more forceful “eat your food!” response. Well worth your time, especially if you’ve hung out with kids and witnessed their incredible perceptions.

govtoversight: Double Standard? Not All Disclosures Are Treated...

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:55:31 -0430

govtoversight:

Double Standard? Not All Disclosures Are Treated Equally

Anonymous Just Leaked a Trove of NSA Documents

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:55:30 -0430

Anonymous Just Leaked a Trove of NSA Documents:

antigovernmentextremist:

In the wake of last night’s revelation that everyone in the world has a creepy NSA-shaped stalker, defenders of online liberty and generally angry internet people Anonymous have leaked a treasure trove of NSA documents, including seriously important stuff like the US Department of Defense’s ‘Strategic Vision’ for controlling the internet.

The documents — 13 in total — were posted online, along with an accompanying message full of the normal Anonymous bluster: people won’t be silenced, they have the memory of trivia-master elephants, the governments of the world will fall, your average press release really.

The documents seem to mostly relate to PRISM and supporting operations, and mostly date from around 2008, supposedly not long after PRISM first reared its ugly head. One of the key things Anonymous has highlighted from the documents is the existence of an “intelligence-sharing network” that shares data gleaned from PRISM with “intelligence partners” around the world. Although we’re still in the process of combing through the documents, you can bet your last Bitcoin that ‘intelligence’ has been shared with British security services.

So the federal government is illegally collecting data on your lives and sharing it with other governments. Photos, videos, who you talk to, how often you talk to them, where you go, search histories, emails, facebook messages. All being shared.