Philip.paulssonHeh
Big announcement Monday. Maybe the biggest of my life. Hope you geeks like it!
Philip.paulssonNice.
Philip.paulssonI kinda want a Chinese phone like a Huwaei or something that you can't get here in the US... maybe I'll pick one up if I go to visit my brother in Shanghai in the next couple of months.
Chinese selfie app and smartphone company Meitu has unveiled its newest flagship, and it's all about making you look better. The T8 includes a front-facing camera with optical image stabilization and dual-pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF) simila...
Philip.paulssonhaha
ELK RAPIDS, MI—The insight abruptly springing to mind as the bird took flight, a local goose suddenly realized Wednesday that it doesn’t have to honk like an idiot the entire time it’s flapping its wings. “Wow, I guess I don’t need to squawk like a goddamn moron during every single takeoff and landing,” said the Canadian goose, all at once aware that it truly had no reason for screeching like a jackass every time it used its wings in the slightest, let alone merely waddled around on some grass. “I feel pretty stupid for all the years I’ve spent bellowing my lungs out like a real grade-A dope. I saw a duck glide quietly onto a pond the other day, and it made me realize what a fucking racket I must have been making all this time.” At press time, the goose was startled by ...
Philip.paulssonLOL
WASHINGTON—Fearing the information had already fallen into the wrong hands, the FBI was panicking Tuesday after learning encrypted national security communications may have been intercepted by the Trump administration. “We are incredibly troubled to have learned that transmissions vital to homeland security could have been captured and decrypted by President Trump’s staff,” said FBI director James Comey, who said agency servers were rapidly being destroyed as a precaution while an urgent investigation was conducted. “If it turns out that Trump officials have indeed acquired these correspondences, it could mean the entire United States security architecture is compromised. We want to assure the American people, however, that we are doing absolutely everything in our power to determine what, if anything, has been obtained by these volatile and dangerous individuals.” At press time, the FBI’s worst fears had not yet been realized, as the Trump administration did not appear ...
Philip.paulssonHah
Hey! Geeks of London! Come see me, March 25th, at Imperial.
Philip.paulssonLOL
Philip.paulssonDamn that's a sexy car.
Ferrari
The car you're looking at in the gallery above may well represent the end of a 70-year era at Ferrari. It's called the 812 Superfast, and it's almost certainly going to be the last Ferrari powered by just a naturally aspirated engine.
Ferrari plans to reveal the 812 Superfast at next month's Geneva International Motor Show, but it has revealed some of the car's specs a little early. Under that long, vented hood is a 6.5L V12 engine that makes 788hp (588kW, or 800 metric horsepower) at a showy 8,500rpm. Peak torque is 530lb-ft (718Nm) at 7,000rpm, and Ferrari says that 80 percent of that will be available from 3,500rpm.
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Philip.paulssonHah!
CHICAGO—Growing increasingly ashamed as he imagined how many people must have already noticed, local man Matt Quinlan was reportedly humiliated Friday upon discovering ornate embroidery on his jeans’ back pocket. “Oh, God, how did I miss this shit?” said Quinlan, 29, who cringed upon realizing that his shirt was not long enough to cover up the garish decorative stitches that would be in full view for the rest of the day. “Christ, I can’t just walk around with this thing on my pants—everyone can see it. Goddammit. How did I miss this at the store?” At press time, a relieved Quinlan had managed to salvage the pants by cutting off the flashy back pocket with a pair of scissors.
Philip.paulssonLOL so true.
Philip.paulssonHaha
WASHINGTON—Marveling at the outraged, shouting woman’s conditioning, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Tuesday he could not help but be impressed by the infuriated protester who had been keeping up with his running pace for the last nine miles. “She’s extremely irritating, and I absolutely disagree with her political views, but I’ve got to hand it to her for maintaining a consistent seven-minute mile this whole time,” said Ryan during a morning run around the Tidal Basin, adding that the woman’s stamina was particularly impressive considering she had sustained a steady chant of “Do your job!” since she caught up with the Wisconsin Republican alongside the Jefferson Memorial more than an hour earlier. “I honestly thought she would have lost steam on lap three and given up, but her endurance and aerobic capacity are absolutely incredible. She hasn’t lowered her sign even once. I ...
Philip.paulssonLiterally testing the waters.
A Russian Navy intelligence collection ship, the Viktor Leonov, is reportedly "loitering" off the US coast near Montauk Point, Long Island. That just happens to be 30 miles from Naval Submarine Base New London, the home port of the US Navy's attack submarine force near Groton, Connecticut. This is the closest, and the farthest north, that the Russian intelligence ship has ever traveled along the United States' eastern seaboard, according to a statement by a US Navy spokesperson to Fox News.
The Leonov, built in 1988, carries both signals-collection and sonar sensors—including hull-mounted arrays and a "dipping" sonar to get below thermal layers in ocean waters. So its proximity to Groton is likely an effort to collect data on the comings and goings of submarines home-ported there and also to intercept communications to submarines as they enter and leave port to better identify them electronically. The ship's large dome shields a satellite communications antenna for transmitting signals intelligence back to Russia.
The close proximity of the Leonov to Groton (still outside the 12-mile limit of US territorial waters) comes on the heels of Russia's deployment of ground-based cruise missiles within Russia—a violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed in 1987. And last Friday, four Russian military aircraft (three Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-38 surveillance aircraft) flew within 200 yards of USS Porter (DDG-78) while the ship was in international waters in the Black Sea. The aircraft did not respond to radio warnings from the Porter; a spokesperson for the US European Command called the flybys "unsafe and unprofessional." The Porter was in the Black Sea after completing a joint international exercise led by the Romanian Navy, USNI News reported.
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Philip.paulssonThis is salient for me right now.
Enlarge (credit: Getty | Media for Medical )
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people in the US go to the doctor. And treatments can include physical therapy, addictive opioids, and even surgery.
But according to new clinical treatment guidelines published Monday by the American College of Physicians (ACP), the best treatment is time and the continuation of normal routines. If needed, people can try whatever alternative therapies they want—yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, spinal manipulation. If they really want to pop a pill, they should go with ibuprofen, naproxen, or muscle relaxants. (Acetaminophen, like Tylenol, really won’t do anything, though. And opioids should only be used as a last, desperate option.)
“Physicians should reassure their patients that acute and sub-acute low back pain usually improves over time regardless of treatment,” Dr. Nitin Damle, president of the ACP, said in a press release. “Physicians should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and costly and potentially harmful drugs, especially narcotics, for these patients.”
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Philip.paulssonNice.
Enlarge (credit: Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
A federal appeals court late Thursday upheld a lower court's decision blocking the travel ban that was implemented under executive order by President Donald Trump two weeks ago.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals was reviewing a decision by US District Judge James L. Robart, who last week ruled against Trump’s executive order and imposed a nationwide temporary restraining order. In both the hearings before the 9th Circuit earlier this week, as well as before the lower district court, lawyers from the Department of Justice largely argued that the states of Washington and Minnesota had no standing to challenge the executive order and that it was well within the president's right to set immigration policy. The 9th Circuit disagreed on both counts.
"There is no precedent to support this claimed unreviewability, which runs contrary to the fundamental structure of our constitutional democracy," the appeals court concluded.
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Philip.paulssonOooh can't wait til Lauren is back from Seattle so we can get into Season 2 of this!
Enlarge (credit: Rafy/Syfy)
Things are getting complicated in The Expanse. On Earth, political intrigue is afoot. Mars is getting ready for war. Fred Johnson's Outer Planets Alliance is trying to prevent one. And we finally know a bit more about the mysterious protomolecule and the evil scientists responsible. On this week's Decrypted, we're joined by Naren Shankar, The Expanse's showrunner. Naren talks to us about his journey to the show, which started with a PhD in engineering.
Shankar cut his teeth in television working on Star Trek with Ron Moore, whom many will recognize as the man behind the later seasons of Deep Space Nine and Battlestar Galactica. Topics we discuss include the contrast between the utopia of Starfleet and the gritty realism of The Expanse, what drew him to the show, and the ongoing need to balance effective storytelling versus obeying all the laws of physics.
I'll be analyzing, debating, and dissecting The Expanse every week with a different guest, and we'll post the podcast on Fridays throughout the season. New episodes air on Wednesdays in the US, so you have time to watch before we get into major spoilers. Yes, there are spoilers. The Expanse season 2 will air in the UK on Netflix, though an exact premiere date hasn't yet been announced. Listen when you're ready!
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Philip.paulssonNice.
Enlarge / The Humble Freedom Bundle page as it looked just before launch Monday. (credit: Humble Bundle)
[Update (Feb. 15): Humble Bundle has added 14 additional games, an ebook, and a downloadable music album to the Freedom Bundle selection in addition to the 40 games and seven ebooks discussed below. At the same time, certain games like Subnautica and Super Meat Boy have run out of Steam keys to distribute to new bundle purchasers (though Super Meat boy is still available for standalone download).
Just over 48 hours after its launch, the Humble Freedom Bundle has raised nearly $4.2 million dollars for the charities discussed below. The Humble Freedom Bundle will be available until Monday, Feb. 20.]
Original Story
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Philip.paulssonHahahah
WASHINGTON—In an effort to respond to the vast and ever-changing dangers faced by the nation’s commander-in-chief, Secret Service administrators announced Wednesday the creation of an Emotional Protection Division to safeguard President Donald Trump’s psyche.
The new unit’s three dozen agents, who have undergone rigorous training to prepare for their challenging role, will be charged with defending the 45th president’s psychological well-being around the clock, investigating foreign and domestic threats to his self-esteem and quickly intercepting any spoken or written criticisms before they can harm his pride.
“After conducting a full review of the operational procedures available to us, it became clear that adding this new division was the only way to meet President Trump’s emotional security needs,” said Secret Service director Joseph Clancy, noting that the president’s detail is specially trained in assessing risks and minimizing any opportunity for him to feel insecure ...
Philip.paulssonBlack Mirror anyone?
As a species, bumblebees aren't doing well, so sadly, we may have to consider a future with fewer of the endangered insects. Humanity would be in trouble without these active pollinators, so Japanese scientists have created drones that mimic them by...
Philip.paulssonLOL
NEW YORK—Eliciting a loud mix of boos and applause from the stands, Puppy Bowl star Mabel, a 1-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, controversially chose to shit Sunday during the game’s national anthem. “For countless fans, Mabel’s actions will be a source of outrage and disgust, but perhaps just as many will see this as a powerful statement requiring a tremendous amount of courage,” said play-by-play announcer Scott Graham minutes after the star puppy quietly walked in circles while sniffing the ground before stopping to drop her hind legs and shit as the anthem reverberated throughout the stadium. “This was a truly bold move that will draw a lot of criticism. What Mabel did today will certainly have folks talking on Monday.” The incident comes one year after Mabel was fined five chew toys for wearing a neon-colored, non-Animal-Planet-approved collar during Puppy Bowl XII.
Philip.paulssonCool
The Porpoise Galaxy from Hubble Philip.paulssonLOL at the gif
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.
Another day, another Boston Dynamics robot. Also, Tesla made a name change and "shared reality" is a thing.
Philip.paulssonHah!
Philip.paulssonNice.
Milky Way with Airglow Australis
Captured last April
after sunset on a Chilean winter's night
an exceptionally intense airglow flooded this scene.
The panoramic skyscape is also filled with
stars, clusters, and nebulae along the southern Milky Way
including the Large and Small Magellanic clouds.
Originating at an altitude similar to aurorae,
the luminous airglow is
due
to chemiluminescence, the
production of light through chemical excitation.
Commonly recorded with a greenish tinge by sensitive
digital cameras, both red and green airglow emission here
is predominately
from atmospheric
oxygen atoms at extremely low densities and has often been present in
southern hemisphere nights during the last few years.
Like the Milky Way
on that dark night the strong airglow was visible
to the eye, but seen without color.
Mars, Saturn, and bright star Antares in Scorpius
form the celestial triangle anchoring the scene on the left.
The road leads toward the 2,600 meter high mountain Cerro Paranal and
the European Southern Observatory's
Very Large
Telescopes.
Philip.paulssonHaha nice. Love that game!
In Rocket League you slam around a Thunderdome-style pitch in hot rally cars while trying to smash a gigantic "rocket ball" into a goal... Basically, it's the perfect marriage of soccer and demolition derby. Now imagine bringing that into the real wo...
Philip.paulssonHahahah
ITHACA, NY—According to a report released Thursday by experts who knew this would happen from the second you opened your mouth, that was a very stupid thing to say.
It was a stupid, stupid thing to say, the report continued, and everyone heard you say it loud and clear.
“Boy, that was really dumb,” the report read in part, noting that ever since you said that thing, all anyone can think about is how you could have let something so moronic escape your lips. “Basically, you made a huge mistake by saying that out loud, and there’s no way you’ll ever live it down. Never.”
“Jesus Christ, what were you thinking?” the report added.
Experts confirmed that everyone around you is currently thinking about what you said and using that information to rapidly reassess your worth as an individual. And though the conversation has now shifted to ...
Philip.paulssonHopefully the Onion is NOT being prophetic on this one...
WASHINGTON—Praising the federal appellate judge’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, President Trump hailed his Supreme Court justice nominee Neil Gorsuch as a fierce protector of the future amendment that will allow the president to temporarily suspend the right to assemble. “I am confident that Judge Gorsuch will do everything in his power to see that every line of the Constitution, including the forthcoming amendment to grant the executive branch the power to halt all public protests, will be safeguarded as the law of the land,” said Trump, adding that Gorsuch’s strict adherence to the country’s supreme law, both in its present and very near future iterations, was what drew him to the 49-year-old judge in the first place. “If his track record is any indication, Judge Gorsuch will act as a stalwart defender of our nation’s founding legal document, which will soon contain a 28th ...
Philip.paulssonPretty awesome, but I LOLed at this part of the article: "One patient was asked if he would give his blessing for his daughter to marry her boyfriend. He repeatedly responded “no.”"
Enlarge / A female study participant responds to a question. (credit: Wyss Center )
Patients with complete “locked-in syndrome”—conscious, but fully paralyzed and unable to move even their eyes—may soon be able to mentally break out.
Using a new, noninvasive device that measures brain waves and blood flow, four locked-in patients were able to communicate by answering yes or no questions, neuroscientists report this week in PLOS Biology. The four patients, all completely paralyzed by Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), answered geography questions, correctly identified family members’ names, and even said they were happy and glad to be alive.
The study’s lead author, neuroscientist Niels Birbaumer, of the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva, told MIT Technology Review that “the relief was enormous” for the families after hearing the positive responses.
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Philip.paulssonLOL... but Ticket to Ride IS fun!
SCHENECTADY, NY—Repeatedly seeking to ease his friends’ growing skepticism and disinterest, local man Joel Mayhew peppered his explanation of the rules of the board game Pandemic with reassurances that it will be fun, sources confirmed Friday. “I know you’ll really like it once we actually get going,” said Mayhew, flipping through the game’s instructions to clarify the rules while pausing frequently to promise that the game was much less complicated than it seemed. “Okay, so, basically, once you’ve completed the movement part of your turn, one option is to give or take a city card from another player. You’ll get the hang of it, I swear. Although—and don’t worry if you forget this part, because I can just remind you—you can only share a city card with a player who’s already in the same city as you. Seriously, you’re going ...
