D G

submitted by jerseyants [link] [540 comments]

submitted by Avarielle [link] [208 comments]

submitted by MrPachrick
[link] [1254 comments]

If you’re going camping this summer, or just want a cheap emergency lantern powered by a pair of AA batteries, you probably can’t do much better than [rimstar]‘s Joule thief compact florescent lantern.

The circuit for [rimstar]‘s battery powered CFL bulb is a Joule thief. While these circuits are usually used as a demonstration to get every last bit of energy out of a battery with a LED, [rimstar] upgraded everything with a better transformer and a power transistor to light up a CFL bulb.

What’s really interesting about this build is it provides a use for blown compact fluorescent bulbs. The normal failure mode of these light bulbs is usually the electronics going bad, not the tube. By replacing the electronics with a homemade circuit, it’s an easy way to reuse these broken bulbs.

Video below.

Filed under: classic hacks

Hitting the revenue streams of infringing sites has been a recurring theme in recent months.

Companies like PayPal have refused to do business with certain kinds of file-sharing sites, while payment processors and credit card companies have agreed to make life more difficult for controversial domains.

A key source of revenue for many sites is advertising and critics have been swift to attack companies that place ads on torrent, file-hosting and other similar sites for allegedly funding copyright infringement.

As such there has been pressure mounting for companies to be more choosy over where they try to attract business, and for advertising networks such as those run by Google to take better care over who they accept work from. Behind the scenes the voices have been heard.

Just a few moments ago David Jacobs SVP at AOL Networks revealed that together with Yahoo, Microsoft, Google, 24/7 Media, Adtegrity, Condé Nast and SpotXchange, his company has established a set of self-regulating best practices to address known infringing sites in their respective ad networks.

However, they also make a number of things abundantly clear from the start.

“Ad Networks do not control the content on third-party websites and are not able to remove websites from the Internet. Nor can Ad Networks engage in extensive or definitive fact finding to determine a particular party’s intellectual property rights,” the best practices document reads.

“Nevertheless, we believe it is useful for Ad Networks to maintain policies intended to discourage or prevent, to the extent possible, websites that are principally dedicated to selling counterfeit goods or engaging in copyright piracy and have no substantial non-infringing uses from participating in the Ad Network. The signatories to this Statement have individually decided to adopt these voluntary best practices in furtherance of that goal.”

The document says that signatories will implement procedures consistent with applicable laws, and will be mindful to balance copyright interests, including fair use, privacy and fair process. To this end, dialogue with content creators, rights holders, consumer organizations, and free speech advocates will be maintained.

The companies acknowledge that rightsholders are best placed to assess infringements of their own intellectual property rights but also note that if their word is to be acted upon, high standards of reporting are required.

“Accordingly, intellectual property holders are expected to be accurate in demonstrating infringement of their copyrights and trademark rights and to target only infringing conduct,” they explain.

Rightsholders will be expected to file correctly formatted complaints with the ad networks that show evidence that the allegedly infringing sites are indeed engaging in illegal activity.

In addition to identifying specific URLs where unauthorized activity is taking place, evidence must also include time-and-date-stamped screenshots and other technical information which shows that advertising from the ad network appears alongside the infringing activity.

In common with DMCA notices, the complaints must be accompanied by a statement that the person submitting the notice “has a good faith belief that the Illegitimate Activity is not authorized by the rights holder.” Whether that will encourage rightsholders to improve their accuracy and not misuse these new tools remains to be seen.

Valid notices will trigger an investigation and sites targeted by the infringement notices may well be asked to cease and desist from their infringing activity.

“An Ad Network may take steps including but not limited to requesting that the website no longer sell counterfeit goods or engage in copyright piracy, ceasing to place advertisements on that website (or pages within that website) until it is verified that the website (or pages within the website) is no longer selling counterfeit goods or engaging in copyright piracy, or removing the website from the Ad Network,” the agreement reads.

Websites affected by complaints will have a chance to appeal complaints via the filing of a counter-notice.

The advertising companies conclude by making it clear that aside from trying to deter infringing sites from advertising in the first instance, this is not a proactive arrangement.

“This Statement is not intended to impose a duty on any Ad Network to monitor its network to identify such websites,” the companies note.

“Similarly, it is understood that the voluntary best practices reflected in this Statement should not, and cannot, be used in any way as the basis for any legal liability or the loss of any applicable immunity or ‘safe harbor’ from such liability,” they sensibly conclude.

Source: Tech Giants Sign Deal to Ban Advertising on “Pirate” Websites

This Scottish farmer walks into the neighborhood pub, and orders a whiskey.

"Ye see that fence over there?" he says to the bartender. "Ah built it with me own two hands! Dug up the holes with me shovel, chopped doon the trees for the posts by me ownself, laid every last rail! But do they call me 'McGregor the Fence-Builder?' No..."

He gulps down the whiskey and orders another. "Ye see that pier on the loch?" He continues, "Ah built it me ownself, too. Swam oot into the loch to lay the foondations, laid doon every single board! But do they call me 'McGregor the Pier-Builder?' No."

"But ye fuck ONE sheep ..."

Last week a teen was freed from jail after being arrested for something offensive he wrote on Facebook. Over the weekend, another teen was arrested for something he wrote on Twitter.

A 15-year-old Chicago high school sophomore with the twitter handle @Mark12394995 tweeted about the Zimmerman trial before a verdict had been reached. 

“If Zimmmerman free imma shoot everybody in Zion causing a mass homicide, and ill get away wit it just like Zimmerman [all sic],” he wrote.

Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during Neighborhood Watch duty a few years ago; in a controversial decision, the jury just found him not guilty of murder.

Although "Mark," the high school student, quickly deleted his tweet, others came after him with screenshots asking him to explain his action.

"Why you taking it serious" he asked one of the questioners. He went on to defend himself when followers informed him they had notified authorities (see below). 

The Zion Police Department brought "Mark" into the station, The News-Sun reports.

But the police say they found "no credibility" to the threat. "He has no weapons and no access to weapons," an official told The News-Sun. The teen was soon let go with a Class 4 felony, disorderly conduct. 

Indeed, his Twitter bio reads harmless enough: "God first, Then my future girl then Soccer :D lol Imma Sophmore at Zion Benton High School, follow meeeeeeee? :) Follow me if your real [all sic]."

"I'm no killer," the teen's last tweet, written the day he was arrested, read.

SEE ALSO: When A Teen's 'Sarcastic' Facebook Message Goes Terribly Wrong

SEE ALSO: 7 Facebook Messages That Got People Arrested

Join the conversation about this story »

George Zimmerman is ready to go back to court.

After being acquitted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman and his legal team are ready to pursue legal action against NBC News for airing an edited and out-of-context 911 call. The call was edited to make it seem that Zimmerman immediately identified the suspect as black.

This is the section in full:

Zimmerman: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.

Dispatcher: OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?

Zimmerman: He looks black.

NBC News had already apologized for the call, also firing a reporter and producer responsible.

George Zimmerman had announced in December that he was planning to sue the network for defamation, but the legal proceedings were put on hold during his criminal trial.

“We’re going to start in earnest asap,” said Zimmerman attorney James Beasley.

NBC News could have ended legal proceedings of Zimmerman had been convicted. The network noted:

“[I]f Zimmerman is convicted, that fact alone will constitute substantial evidence that the destruction of his reputation is the result of his own criminal conduct, and not of the broadcasts at issue which, like countless other news reports disseminated by media entities throughout the country, reported on the underlying events.”

George Zimmerman could face further legal action himself as well. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called on the Justice Department to review the case, setting the stage for a possible civil rights violation charge or review of the Stand Your Ground law in Florida.

“I’ll accept the verdict and take a look at the law that they have in Florida that was so unusual… I think that’s up to the state, I think they should revisit that,” Reid said.

George Zimmerman is expected to renew his defamation lawsuit against NBC News as soon as the last legal stay is lifted.

George Zimmerman Plans To Resume Defamation Lawsuit Against NBC is a post from: The Inquisitr

submitted by 7Redacted [link] [192 comments]

It's been five days since Sharknado aired on Syfy and created a feeding frenzy on Twitter. The film, written by Thunder Levin and produced by Los Angeles-based studio Asylum, has capitalized on social buzz every step of the way.

The plot of Sharknado is pretty true to its name: Tornadoes pull a slew of hungry sharks from the ocean, which proceed to attack people when the tornadoes hit land. Levin, the same writer behind Mutant Vampire Zombies From the 'Hood!, AE: Apocalypse Earth and military thriller American Warships, credits the film's Internet fame to its title and the "cheesy" nature of the writing. Read more...

More about Movies, Film, Entertainment, Twitter, and Conversations

________________________________________

Zero gravity is all fine and well — but not being able to grab a cup of joe in the morning would be a huge dealbreaker for many prospective astronauts. Thankfully, NASA has a solution to the problem.

Read more...

Thanks Mike (from Spain)

 

I think I posted this a while back, but it’s really interesting.

Thanks Jacques

 

Thanks Mike (from Spain)

 

Video camera technology has improved immensely in recent years, allowing scientists like lightning physicist Vladislav Mazur and meteorologist Tom Warner to analyze high speed footage of these captivating bolts of electricity in the sky.

In this video, Incredible Slow Motion Lightning Strike, via sagansense, we see just 1 second of lightning slowed down into 3 minutes. Yes, 1 sec = 3 mins.

One more to watch: a downward lightning negative ground flash captured at 7,207 images per second. 

The Apple iWatch could soon become a reality as the company’s HR department is said to be aggressively hiring engineers for the project.

According to a recent report by the Financial Times the new Apple smartwatch division is looking for employees who can help the device connect and interact with iOS devices.

The new report confirms a previous rumor which puts the iWatch preparing for a 2014 launch.

While the aggressive hiring practice makes it seen like a sure thing it is likely the result of Apple attempting to solve some “hard engineering problems” which requires dozens of new employees.

Apple is specifically hiring iWatch workers who have years of experience working with mobile device development and connectivity.

The aggressive hiring practice is likely Apple’s attempt at catching up with market leaders which now include Pebble and Sony. The latter has already released a 2nd generation of its Google Android smartwatch and is promising to continue with that development.

Unlike its competitors Apple appears to want an iWatch device that can operate with the same capabilities as its iOS platform, while at the same time running for days without the need for a battery charge.

Another rumor that has surfaced on several occasions in the inclusion of a flexible display that would give the iWatch a contoured design.

As is always the case with Apple the company’s workers are remaining tight-lipped about the iWatch’s capabilities and in fact if it even exists. To date no photos or confirmed specs have been reported for the potential new wearable tech from Apple, Inc.

Do you think the Apple iWatch and other wearable tech pieces are going to be huge hits or a waste of time?

Apple iWatch Employee Hiring Goes Full Speed Ahead is a post from: The Inquisitr

Thanks TPR

 

An anonymous reader writes "A Swedish professor of sociology has nominated Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Giving him the prize would also 'save the Nobel Peace Prize from the disrepute that incurred by the hasty and ill-conceived decision to award U.S. President Barack Obama' the prize, according to professor Stefan Svallfors. He notes ultimately that at great personal cost, 'Edward Snowden has helped to make the world a little bit better and safer.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The world’s oldest calendar has been discovered, and British archaeology experts believe it could provide insight into when humans first created the concept of time.

The calendar dates back to 8,000 BC and was excavated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland by the National Trust for Scotland in 2004.

Years later, a team at the University of Birmingham has declared the Mesolithic calendar to be the oldest in the world.

Before the discovery of the oldest calendar, previous versions dated to the Mesopotamia period, which goes back 5,000 years. The previous calendar is pictured above.

The newly discovered calendar, which dates back approximately 10,000 years ago, appears to mimic the phases of the moon in order to track lunar months over the course of a year.

The groups findings have been published in the journal Internet Archaeology.

According to researchers, the calendar even includes a midwinter sunrise alignment that provides for an annual astronomic correction in order to maintain a proper timeline.

Project leader Vince Gaffney, Professor of Landscape Archaeology at the University of Birmingham, say of the finding:

“The evidence suggests that hunter gatherer societies in Scotland had both the need and sophistication to track time across the years, to correct for seasonal drift of the lunar year and that this occurred nearly 5,000 years before the first formal calendars known in the Near East… In doing so, this illustrates one important step towards the formal construction of time and therefore history itself.’

The artifact was discovered at the Warren Field site which the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) first spotted 40 years ago after observing strange crop marks during aerial photography.

The world’s oldest calendar was just one of many artifacts that were excavated from the Warren Field pit alignment from 2004 through 2006.

World’s Oldest Calendar Discovered, Might Show When Humans Created Time is a post from: The Inquisitr

There’s been an abundance of intriguing news about the tools and applications of VR faceset Oculus Rift. Which is great, if you’re an owner of the $300 developer kit. For everyone else, it’s like watching the cool kids play with their fancy View-Master, flicking between pictures of dinosaurs, while you’re left listlessly browsing a picture book about chaffinches.

As yet, we don’t even know how the Rift will be officially released to the public, let alone when. But in an interview with Edge at last week’s Develop conference, Oculus VR CEO Brendan Iribe suggested that their eventual hope is to find a business model that will let interested players pick one up for free.

“The lower the price point, the wider the audience,” Iribe said. “We have all kinds of fantasy ideas. We’d love it to be free one day, so how do we get it as close to free as possible? Obviously it won’t be that in the beginning. We’re targeting the $300 price point right now but there’s the potential that it could get much less expensive with a few different relationships and strategies.”

“You can imagine if Microsoft and Sony can go out and subsidise consoles because there’s enough money to be made on software and other areas, then there’s the potential that this, in partnership, could get subsidised. Let’s say there was some game you played in VR that everybody loved and everybody played and we made $100 a month – or even $10 a month – at some point the hardware’s cheap enough and we’re making enough that we could be giving away the headset.”

“We’re not there yet,” he finished, “but we’re sitting there thinking all the time, how can we make this free? You want everybody to play it and the cheaper it is, the more people are going to go out and buy it. Today it’s a $300 dev kit but we’re thinking about how to get it out to as many people as possible.”

It’s a sensible attitude. Seemingly everyone who tries the Rift comes back with broadly positive stories of exciting tech, slight queasiness and being [censored] out of a [censored]. Which means the biggest hurdle is persuading people that it’s not just a rehash of ropey ’80s tech. And the best way to do that is getting it out into people’s hands and faces.

The post Oculus Rift team want to release consumer version of the headset for free appeared first on PC Gamer.