Fatbob

It could be a M.A.D. agent plot, Uncle Gadget... 'Nonsense, Penny. It will be great fun'

The next generation of fanbois will walk down the street speaking into their wristwatches, Tim Cook has suggested.…

Click to enlarge.

via

 

(973): Guess who just bought an ounce of pot via Paypal, and paid for it with my airline Visa card to earn miles?
(414): Congratulations. That business degree is finally worth every penny it cost you.

Scotch has been referred to as "the water of life," and to many who know its allure today, they can understand why. Yet the chronicle of this sometimes, smoky, often nutty, occasionally fruity elixir is poorly known, and in fact, its precise origin is lost to the mists of time (or more likely, drinking Scotch).

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The 4th of July is tomorrow, and we all know what that means: The casual and festive use of explosives. Well, that is if you live in (or near?) one of the 42 states where that sort of thing is allowed. If you're unsure whether you live in party town or under a wet blanket, this map can help you out.

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Wii Fit Trainer fits right in, though, as a human and not some monstrous approximation of such.

I feel like character customization quickly became the best part of wrestling games when it was introduced. Probably because the games themselves weren't always that great, but they allowed you to go wild. Maybe that was a bad idea, taken to this horrible extreme.  

Mark Kerger now has the perfect conversation starter. He's a walking arcade console, thanks to this shirt that he built with an Arduino controller, 128 LEDs, and 4 AA batteries.

Hopefully this kind of platform can be developed into something even more capable, such as a shirt that can play Grand Theft Auto V. 

(Video Link)

-via Kotaku

Some of the soft drinks we know today originally started as patent medicines in the late 19th century — including Coca-Cola, which infamously contained cocaine. But when Caleb Bradham invented a drink in 1893 he set out to make it free of stimulants. It didn't even contain caffeine. He originally called it Brad's Drink, but by 1898 it would be trademarked using the name we call it today: Pepsi.

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The Foie-ck A Duck, ladies and gentlemen: "Sous vide duck breast, encrusted in a smattering of peppercorns, smothered in a foie gras cognac cream sauce, and feathered with freshly sliced summer truffle." I'm drooling so much right now—really, actual drool just came out of my mouth. I want this so badly.

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If you like a tree's fruit and want more of it, your best option may be grafting. This is the only way to guarantee the fruit will come out the same. There are various ways to graft, but with practice and these instructions, you can master the technique that's best for you.

Steps

T-Budding

1. Choose your cultivar and your rootstock. In order for your budding to be successful, you must cut a scion (small piece for grafting) from a healthy, disease-free cultivar (origin tree) as well as a suitable growing tree (rootstock). For T-budding, the bark of both trees must be "slipping." This means the bark is easily peeled off and the green layer underneath is moist, which usually occurs in the spring. Try irrigating them well to help them along.
   
   
   
   • T-Budding is typically used for fruit tree propagation.
2. Cut a scion. For T-budding, you must cut into the branch 1/2 inch below the bud to 3/4 inch beyond the bud. Make the cut as deep as needed to include the soft, green layer beneath the bark but not any deeper. This green material must be exposed on your scion for a successful graft. If you must store your scion bud, wrap it in a damp paper towel, place it in a polyethylene bag, and store it in a refrigerator.^[1]
   
   
   
3. Make a T-cut on your rootstock. Choose a space on a branch or sapling that is 1/4 inch to 1 inch in diameter. The space must be free of any buds, ideally far from any buds. Make a vertical slice in the bark about 1 inch long and deep enough to expose that green layer. Make a horizontal slice of the same depth that is about one third the distance around the rootstock. Twist the knife in the juncture of the slices to create flaps of the bark, making the green layer visible.
   
   
   
4. Introduce the scion. Slip the scion containing the bud under the flaps you've just created on the rootstock, taking care not to introduce any dirt or germs. If part of the scion's bark sticks out above the T-cut, slice it off so that everything fits together snugly.
   
   
   
5. Tie the scion to the rootstock. Wrap a stretchy rubber material such as grafting rubber around the rootstock to hold the scion in place. Be careful not to jostle or cover the bud.
   
   
   
6. Remove the tie. In about a month, the rubber you wrapped around the rootstock may loosen and fall off. If it doesn't, gently remove it yourself so that the area will not be constricted.
   
   
   
7. Follow up on your bud. If the bud looks plump and healthy, it is probably alive. If it looks shriveled, then it has died and you'll have to start again.
   
   
   
8. Remove other material. The next spring, once the bud has begun to sprout leaves, make a sloped cut 1/2 inch above the successful bud. Remove all other side shoots below the bud. This will promote growth of the grafted bud since it will be the only thing bing nourished by the rootstock.
   
   
   

Chip Budding

1. Choose your cultivar and your rootstock. In order for your budding to be successful, you must cut a scion (small piece for grafting) from a healthy, disease-free cultivar (origin tree) as well as a suitable growing tree (rootstock). In chip budding, the diameters of the scion and the rootstock should be the same diameter. If they're not, you'll have to cut them differently so that the green layers match up when combined.
   
   
   
   • Chip Budding is one of the easiest ways to graft, and is particularly good for fruit, citrus, and trees in the rose family such as apple.
2. Cut a slice from your rootstock. Make a small angled cut about 1/5 to 1/4 the rootstock's diameter into the rootstock. Slice your knife downward at this depth for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches. Remove your knife without severing the bark. Move the knife upward a small amount and then cut back in and downward to meet the end of the initial slice to create a small notch. Remove the chunk of bark from the rootstock.
   
   
   
3. Cut a scion from your cultivar. Use the chunk cut from your rootstock as the model for your scion, using the scion bud as the center point of the new cutting. You want the scion to fit into the space made in the rootstock as neatly as possible.
   
   
   
4. Introduce the scion to the rootstock. Slip the scion down into the notch at the bottom of the rootstock cut. Make sure that the green layers of the scion and rootstock are touching all the way around the edges. If they are not, the graft will fail.
   
   
   
5. Secure the scion. Wrap a stretchy rubber material around the rootstock to hold the scion in place. Polyethylene tape is preferable. Be careful not to jostle or cover the bud.
   
   
   
6. Remove the tie. In about a month, the rubber you wrapped around the rootstock may loosen and fall off. If it doesn't, gently remove it yourself so that the area will not be constricted.
   
   
   
7. Follow up on your bud. If the bud looks plump and healthy, it is probably alive. If it looks shriveled, then it has died and you'll have to start again.
   
   
   
8. Remove other material. The next spring, once the bud has begun to sprout leaves, make a sloped cut 1/2 inch above the successful bud. Remove all other growth below the bud to promote growth through the grafted bud.
   
   
   

Whip Grafting

1. Choose your cultivar and your rootstock. In order for your budding to be successful, you must cut a scion (small piece for grafting) from a healthy, disease-free cultivar (origin tree) as well as a suitable growing tree (rootstock).
   
   
   
   • Whip grafting can only be used to join rootstock and scions that are the same diameter, ideally between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in diameter.
   • The graft must be made after the threat of cold but before the bark of the stock begins slipping (peels off easily).
   • The scion must be dormant (not sprouting) at this time, and should be a twig about a foot long containing three to five buds.
2. Prepare the scion. Remove the terminal end of the scion. At the base of the scion, make a sloping cut to remove that end.
   
   
   
3. Prepare the rootstock. Make a sloping cut across the chosen branch that mirrors the one you made on the scion. They should fit together precisely.
   
   
   
4. Cut tongues. Make matching slices down into both the rootstock and the scion in such a way that they can hook into each other.
   
   
   
5. Introduce the scion. Place the scion slightly offset from the rootstock and slide it down so that the tongues overlap. Make sure that the layer of green wood beneath the bark of both parties aligns or the graft will not take.
   
   
   
6. Secure the scion. Wrap a stretchy rubber material around the graft site to hold the scion in place. Grafting tape works well. If using a different material, be sure to remove it in about a month.
   
   
   
7. Look after the graft. Keep removing all growth below the graft except for leaf spurs, which may be left on so that nutrients keep flowing up the tree until the graft is successful.
   
   
   

Bark Grafting

1. Choose your cultivar and your rootstock. In order for your budding to be successful, you must cut a scion (small piece for grafting) from a healthy, disease-free cultivar (origin tree) as well as a suitable growing tree (rootstock).
   
   
   
   • Scions should be up to three dormant, or not currently sprouting, twigs of about a foot long containing three to five buds.
   • Rootstock should be straight, smooth, vertical branches 1-2 inches in diameter.
   • Bark grafts should be performed once the rootstock bark has begun slipping (when the bark is easily peeled off in spring).
   • This graft is usually used for instances in which the rootstock is too big for whip grafting.
2. Amputate the rootstock. Above a crotch out of which several branches grow, cut straight across one branch with a very sharp saw so as not to crack or rip the bark or wood of the branch. Make sure you leave a branch nearby to keep nutrients moving up the tree.
   
   
   
3. Prepare the scions. Cut the scions down to around 5 inches in length while still retaining about 5 buds per scion. Around three inches from the base of the scion, make a sloping cut inward until you reach the base.
   
   
   
4. Prepare the rootstock. Hold each scion up against the rootstock so that about 1/8 inch of the cut surface of the scion shows above the rootstock. With a sharp knife, outline each scion on the rootstock. Remove the scions and finish cutting away this bark so that each will fit snugly into its space.
   
   
   
5. Introduce the scions. Place each scion in its space on the rootstock, taking special care to ensure the green wood of both parties aligns exactly. Once in place, hammer two wire nails into each scion to hold them into the tree.
   
   
   
6. Seal the graft. Pour grafting wax or asphalt water emulsion over the area to seal all cut surfaces from drying and bacteria. Check the seal again the next day to make sure no holes have formed.
   
   
   
7. Look after the graft. Keep removing all growth below the graft. Once one scion shows more promise than the other(s), leave that one as is while pruning the less successful graft(s). Two summers after grafting, remove all but the strongest scion.
   
   
   

Cleft Grafting

1. Choose your cultivar and your rootstock. In order for your budding to be successful, you must cut a scion (small piece for grafting) from a healthy, disease-free cultivar (origin tree) as well as a suitable growing tree (rootstock).
   
   
   
   • Scions should be two dormant, or not currently sprouting, twig of about a foot long containing three to five buds.
   • Rootstock should be straight, smooth, vertical branches 1-2 inches in diameter.
   • Cleft grafts should be performed right before the bark of the rootstock starts slipping (being easily peeled off) in spring.
   • This graft is usually used for top working (changing the type of fruit) of a mature tree by being performed on a number of branches.
2. Amputate your rootstock. Choose a point below which the branch is straight and blemish-free for six inches and then make a clean perpendicular cut, removing the rest of the branch. Be careful not to tear or split the branch or bark. Be sure to leave a branch that has sprouted nearby to keep nutrients moving up the tree.
   
   
   
3. Cleave your rootstock. Use a cleft-graft knife or a hatchet to split the branch straight down the center for about 6 inches.
   
   
   
4. Prepare the scions. Remove the tip and the base of the scion. Beginning just below the bottom bud, make a sloping cut on either side of the scion that reaches all the way to the bottom.
   
   
   
5. Insert the scions into the rootstock. Using a large screwdriver or small chisel to hold open the cleft in the rootstock, insert a scion into either side of the cleft. Make sure once again that the green layer of the wood, not the bark, is aligned. No cut surface on the scion should be visible above the top of the rootstock.
   
   
   
6. Seal the graft. Pour grafting wax or asphalt water emulsion over the area to seal all cut surfaces from drying and germs. Check the seal again the next day to make sure no holes have become exposed.
   
   
   
7. Look after the graft. Keep removing all growth below the graft. Once one scion shows more promise than the other, leave that one as is while pruning the less successful graft. Two summers after grafting, remove all but the strongest scion.
   
   
   

Video

Tips

• Use aluminum labels to mark the variety, or cultivar, you grafted. This is especially useful if you graft more than one variety onto a tree.
• Use very sharp tools to make a clean cut and clean them with rubbing alcohol to remove germs before use.
• T-budding is the easiest and most common method of budding, but inverted T-budding (completing the process entirely upside-down) produces stronger results. Chip budding is the most difficult, but produces the best grafts.
• Graft fruit, nut and avocado trees in temperate climates in the spring, from budding until blossoming. You can also graft citrus in the fall.^[2]
• A nursery can give advice on how to graft a particular tree and supply the tools and materials you'll need.
• Protect the grafting site from sun as much as possible.

Warnings

• Be sure your trees are all able to survive in your climate.
• You must pay the propagation fee at a nursery that holds the license of a patented cultivar to avoid legal action by the Nursery Licensing Association. These fees are usually small.^[3]

Things You'll Need

• Sharp cutting instrument
• Rootstock
• Scions
• Tying material such as budding rubber or polyethylene tape
• Sealant such as grafting wax or asphalt water emulsion
• Cleaving instruments such as a hatchet and large screwdriver

Related wikiHows

• How to Grow Citrus Fruits
• How to Plant a Tree
• How to Graft Roses
• How to Plant Fruit Trees

Sources and Citations

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This is, without a doubt, one of the coolest tricks of the professional chef. And, let's be honest, we have all tried it at some point with different—sometimes disastrous—results. The guys at Serious Eats explain how to do it properly.

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All the biggest product brands in the world are owned by a handful of corporation. Food, cleaning products, banks, airlines, cars, media companies... everything is in the hands of these megacorporations. These graphics show how everything is connected.

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There’s a newly-revived Linux parental control utility that controls the access to the computer account itself, not just Internet access. If you want your kid to stay off the computer when you tell them to, you need Timekpr. Historically, parental controls for Linux were sometimes pretty lackluster, and even the better ones often only restricted access to the Internet such as Linux Mint’s Domain Blocker. Even parental controls for Windows tend to just focus on restricting Internet access. About Timekpr Timekpr is a parental control application which directly controls access to your child’s computer account. While I find that parental...

Read the full article: Ubuntu Timekpr Controls Computer Access For Kids, Not Just Internet Access

Today, I overheard my mother talking to her friend, and using me as an example of how it's sometimes best to swallow. FML

Nintendo's weird-named, probably money printing toys, Amiibo, exist. Speaking to IGN, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime differentiated the line from Skylanders and Disney Infinity and explained their 'crossover' use.

"What we communicated in the Nintendo Digital Event was that Infinity and Skylanders enjoy significant share on our platforms. For both of those products, more than 50% of the volume is represented on Nintendo platforms. What is not going to happen is cross usage play of amiibo onto those platforms. And that’s because the amiibo platform is completely different. Its different in that it’s NFC-based, so that’s why we’re able to utilize the technology built right into the GamePad. Their platforms are different.

"You will see cross-platform play between the characters introduced for Smash Bros. And then be able to use these figures on other games. And we touched on that. You’ll be able to use the figures on Mario Kart. You’ll be able to use the figures on Captain Toad, Mario Party, as well as Yoshi’s Wooly World. So that’s the cross-platform play that we were trying to communicate."

Reggie also explained how Nintendo has leaned on second party development, as well as third party, to spell the Wii U between first-party releases. 

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Following months of idle threats, actress Lindsay Lohan has officially filed a lawsuit against Rockstar Games, alleging that the Grand Theft Auto 5 creators borrowed her likeness for the character of Lacey Jonas. According to the suit, Lohan's...

Prominent industries in a state can say a lot about an area. Is there a lot of farming? Is there a big technology market? Couple the jobs with salary, and you also see where the money's at. You see a state's priorities.

For example, look at California. You see an increased prominence of farmworkers and laborers, whereas the farming, fishing, and forestry sector is nearly nonexistent in many other parts of the country. I expected a lot more in the midwest states, but relative to the other occupations in those states, the farming sector doesn't seem that big from an employee perspective.

For a drastic change, switch to Washington, D.C., where people who work in the legal and business sectors are much more common. I realize it's a comparison between a city and states, but whoa, that's a lot of lawyers packed in one place.

Move the median salary up a bit, and you get a sense of overall salaries (and a correlating cost of living, kind of) as you check out different states.

Anyway, it's an interesting first look at employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I'll have to poke more.

Smart homes sound awesome. The idea sounded awesome 15 years ago, when Microsoft teased some of their ideas in a concept video , and it sounded awesome when Apple announced HomeKit last month. But do you know anybody that actually lives in a smart home and reaps all that awesomeness? Probably not. And Quirky wants to change that.

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Remember how putting an 'i' in front of everything was en vogue after the iPod became popular? That trend continues today with the term 'smart'. We've got smartphones, smartcars, smartwatches, and now even Smart Bedding, which uses a clever trick to ensure your sheets don't end up in a twisted knot by morning.

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An "Ultra" version of Super Time Force will time travel to Steam this summer, developer Capybara Games announced today. The Steam version of the time-shifting game will include some "very cool (but presently very secret) stuff." The difficult,...

Two Nature papers describing a startlingly simple way to create embryonic-like stem cells have been officially retracted