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"Reader is dead," says Mihai Parparita, one of the former Google Reader engineers. You still have 2-3 days to use Google Reader, but the best thing you can do is to export your data.

Google Takeout lets you export some of your Reader data, but not everything: your subscriptions, your notes, starred items, shared items, liked items, the list of followers and the people you were following, the items shared by the people you were following. Mihai Parparita wrote some Python scripts that download everything from your Google Reader accounts, including the entire content of the posts from your subscriptions. You need Python 2.7, some basic command-line skills and a lot of free storage: my backup has more than 5 GB for about 250 feeds (vs 125 MB for the uncompressed Takeout backup).


Here are some tips for running the script in Windows 7/8:

- install Python from here (Python 2.7.5 Windows Installer)
- download Mihai's zip file and extract the files
- open the folder in Windows Explorer and you should see a list of subfolders like "base", "bin", "feed_archive".


- Shift + right-click below the folders and select "open command-line window here".
- copy this code, paste it in the command-line window and press Enter (I assumed that Python's folder is c:\python27):

set PYTHONPATH=%cd%
c:\python27\python reader_archive\reader_archive.py --output=download

- a web page will open in your favorite browser and you'll need to click "Accept", copy the authorization code and paste it in the command-line window.
- wait until the script downloads all the files.

Mihai also started to write a script that lets you browse your archive. It's a work in progress, probably because the script for downloading your data is more important right now.

There's also a script for downloading a feed's archive. "Google Reader has (for the most part) a copy of all blog posts and other feed items published since its launch in late 2005 (assuming that at least one Reader user subscribed to the feed). This makes it an invaluable resource for sites that disappear, can serve as a backup mechanism and enables tools to be created." My post from 2007 provides another way to download the history of a feed. You can also upload your OPML file to this site, which preserves hitorical feed data.

"I don't fault Google for providing only partial data via Takeout. Exporting all 612,599 read items in my account (and a few hundred thousand more from subscriptions, recommendations, etc.) results in almost 4 GB of data. Even if I'm in the 99th percentile for Reader users (I've got the badge to prove it), providing hundreds of megabytes of data per user would not be feasible. I'm actually happy that Takeout support happened at all, since my understanding is that it was all during 20% time," says Mihai Parparita, who spent 5 years working on Google Reader.

If you're curious to know which Reader alternative gets a thumb up from Mihai, his answer is "a toss-up between NewsBlur and Digg Reader."

pictorialpress:

thisinsaneartist:

geoffreytoday:

I hope that’s cleared things up.

Thank you

My Favorite Thing Of All Time? This.

Replacing a plug isn’t abnormally difficult. They’re only a few dollars from the local hardware store. There’s no doubt a factory buried in the depths of China is churning them out by the truckload to profit from the misfortunes of those whose plug appears to have grown legs and wandered away.

However in the coming few years, that factory in China could see its precious plug-making business go down the drain as ordinary people with their own 3D printer put it to the task of producing a replacement plug in a matter of minutes. But in order to do that, they’ll need a blueprint of some sort, especially if they aren’t the best at designing their own.

This scenario raises many questions, with the first being where that plug design originated. It could be brought from an official online store, or it might originate from a professional plug designer, with someone buying the plug and putting it into their 3D scanner to create a file ready to send to their own 3D printer so they can make a couple more for the other sinks in their home. Rather innocent, you would think, until it ends up elsewhere on the internet, namely a BitTorrent site, for others to download and duplicate.

This scenario is a near perfect mirror image of what’s happening today – or so Hollywood would like us to believe. Whether or not Hollywood is telling the truth is a debate that’s been happening worldwide for a number of years, and looks set to continue for some time. Yet there’s no doubt in my mind that Hollywood’s dilemma will be a mere drop in the bucket (or sink) when compared to the potential loss of income that manufacturing worldwide will experience when 3D printing becomes as mainstream as BitTorrent, smartphones, and tablets are today.

When someone torrents a movie, it’s most likely a few multi-billion dollar studios and multi-millionaire actors and actresses that are feeling the pinch, notwithstanding the fact that studios and actors get to make a quick buck at the box office. Last I checked, plug designers don’t get a shot at that sort of fame and fortune on the red carpet when the latest in sink-sealing technology is announced.

The manufacturing and transport companies, materials suppliers, and Bob at the local hardware store, among others, would also feel the pinch with the reduction in supply of plugs to the market. That pinch would translate into tangible changes to the economy at both a local and international level – something Hollywood has not been able to convince many of when they plead their case of lost jobs and profits thanks to piracy.

It’s no secret that our lives are increasingly moving into a more mobile and digital environment, but the vast majority of downloadable content out there is designed for digital consumption such as software, music, movies and TV shows. Illegally downloading this sort of content only hurts a few comparatively small industries, but it’s those industries who legitimate downloaders and pirates alike, blame for their own downfall. High prices, DRM, geoblocking, and outdated business models typically draw the most complaints from consumers.

So, the trillion dollar question for the manufacturing industries will be how they plan to tackle the looming impact 3D printing will have on their livelihood and sustainability. Of course it’s worth noting that only a small portion of the industry will initially bear the brunt of the impact. Examples that come to mind include the humble plug I’ve mentioned, children’s toys, and building materials. I also wouldn’t mind a new protective shell case for my iPhone either. But not everything can be printed, so manufacturers who use materials that cannot be replaced by 3D printing will most likely be spared.

There’s positives and negatives to winning, and there’s positives and negatives to coming second, and the music and film industries have been the winners when it comes to being the first to feel the effects of piracy. It’s been beneficial for the industry and consumers alike, with innovations like iTunes and Netflix appearing to help patch the gaping hole that is revenue flowing out of studios’ coffers. The shift to downloading and streaming has introduced increasingly harsh competition for that market, helping to drive down prices and ease restrictions, giving consumers more options in the process.

So will these new business models come into play when manufacturers begin crying foul over their products being downloaded and printed? One would like to think so. It is a different consumer market that manufacturers will have to cater for, which could see massive job losses worldwide should manufacturing of some products, like plugs, become almost non-existent because people can simply print their own.

Will manufacturers become the new clients of BitTorrent tracking companies in their quest to target pirates downloading their products? Perhaps not plug manufacturers, but don’t count out toy manufacturers who could lose hundreds of dollars to just a couple of parents printing their children’s toys to save some money for extra food on the table.

Just as iTunes and Netflix rose from the soon-to-be smouldering ruins of the industries they cater for, will other such companies offering free, open source, or purchasable printable plugs, take advantage of the possible gap in the market and provide legal solutions to consumers hungry for the latest in sink-sealing science? I’d say the chances are very high, but there’s one vital issue of manufacturing which Hollywood doesn’t have to deal with.

That issue is called DIY. I might need a new plug for my sink, but what if I want it to have a better shaped top which doesn’t get caught on things, causing the plug to come unstuck and the contents of the sink to disappear, and worse, there’s nothing out already there that meets my needs. I might want a new iPhone case, but what if I wanted one that had a much larger, chunkier lip to provide more protection for the screen, or a more rounded edge for easier holding?

Chances are I, and many others, would have a crack at designing and printing the plug or the case myself. I’d have something which met my personal needs. I could also print a few more plugs and cases for my friends, because I’d own the designs. While I’m not stealing anything, I’m also not buying anything either, which directly impacts the manufacturers of the plugs and iPhone cases, and everyone in between them and the store I might have brought them from. Hollywood doesn’t have to worry about this conundrum because no one ever customizes a movie to suit their needs.

The recent headlines regarding the download and printing of firearms is one of what will soon be many examples of the negative applications of 3D printing seeing the light of day in the media. That’s a challenge society will have to deal with, with particular emphasis on the legalities of such items being printed.

However, if Hollywood’s experience is anything to go by, the ongoing legislation battles and relentless website takedowns have had limited success at best, while also damaging consumer relations. Downloading a movie doesn’t cause injury to anyone, but a printed weapon or firearm most certainly could when it falls into the wrong hands.

However 3D printing has the unparalleled opportunity to improve life in isolated communities and developing countries in a multitude of ways, and legislators will have to exercise extreme caution if they come to the conclusion that restrictions on the technology are required because of these benefits. Hopefully those manufacturers who defy the status quo and explore new ways to capitalize on the new technology will set new standards for their competitors to follow. Plus, who knows? Hollywood might learn a thing or two as well.

A fascinating discussion worth having in the future will be how 3D printing influences the relationship China has with the United States, among many countries. China is the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, and whilst many US companies have their products manufactured in China, there is the possibility of certain products made in China for overseas companies returning to their homeland for production thanks to 3D printing. On a side note, China is well known for making fakes and cheap imitations of all sorts of goods, ranging from cars to smartphones, that were developed in many other countries. Could the 3D printer give those companies and countries some revenge? I certainly wouldn’t count that out.

Who would have thought that a simple plug could change the way products are manufactured and sold. While an iceberg will need to melt before it can fit through the drain a plug blocks, it will sit proudly on the summit in the meantime. This discussion really is just the tip of the iceberg, and I believe the misfortunes of Hollywood will be blown out of the water when manufacturers start circling the drain.

Only time will tell.

@JimmyRyanNZ

Source: Plugs and 3D Printing – Hollywood’s Piracy Problems in Perspective

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Yaritza Oliva’s tears of blood have stumped doctors. The 20-year-old Chilean woman began crying tears of blood at the beginning of June. Several suspected causes have been ruled out, including an infection or inflammation of the eye.

Doctors suspect that Oliva may be suffering from a very rare condition called haemolacria. Little is known about the condition, which causes patients to expel blood through the tear ducts. As reported by Medical Daily, a diagnosis of haemolacria is incredibly rare.

There is no known cause or cure for the mysterious condition. Some doctors have opined that it is caused by tumors or blood-related diseases. However, no known cause has ever been confirmed.

Yaritza Oliva’s tears of blood are suspected to be associated with haemolacria, but she has not received an official diagnosis. In addition to the tears, Oliva is experiencing pain in her eyes. She and her family are becoming increasingly frustrated as there is no definitive diagnosis and the woman continues to suffer.

As reported by the Huffington Post, doctors have prescribed eye drops to ease the pain. However, Oliva and her family cannot afford treatment by a specialist. The family is seeking donations to help cover the cost of a specialized examination.

A study published in 1991 suggests that the appearance of blood in the tears may be caused by hormonal factors. Using a chemical response test, the tears of 125 individuals were tested for the presence of blood.

Blood was detected primarily in the tears of fertile women, specifically those who were “in the menstrual phase.” The research concluded that while most cases of haemolacria may be associated with injury or infection, it could also be associated with hormonal fluctuation during the menstrual cycle.

Yaritza Oliva’s tears of blood are still lacking a conclusive diagnosis. She and her family continue to raise funds, which will be used to seek further diagnosis and treatment.

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Yaritza Oliva: Tears Of Blood Stump Doctors [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Anyone can throw an image of the periodic table onto a desktop and call it a background, but the creations in the gallery above combine useful information with strong aesthetic appeal.

What's your favorite site to find desktop backgrounds? Let us know in the comments below

Mashable composite; image courtesy of Simple Desktops, Jack Read more...

More about Features, Education, Wallpaper, Dev Design, and Lifestyle

Like an ever-growing block tower, or more pertinently like an ever-growing money tower, Minecraft continues to sell and sell. After reaching the 10 million milestone in April, the Mojang game took just under three months to hit the 11 million mark on PC.

So with Pocket Edition at 10 million, Minecraft XBLA at 6 million, and the recently-released retail Xbox 360 version doing tastily according to Notch, our stats people tell us that puts the franchise's overall sales approximately in the ka-squillion range.

Oh, and there's the Xbox One version to come out, too.

Minecraft PC hits 11 million sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I don’t like using keyboard covers. The ones I’ve tried feel too squishy and don’t fit perfectly. But I get why people would want Befine’s upcoming line of keyboard covers. Made for the Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and the Apple wireless keyboard, the covers will localize keyboards for people who use other characters aside from the ones in the Latin alphabet.

Some of the keyboard layouts include Japanese, Korean, German, Russian and French. The keyboard comes in two designs, one where the Latin alphabet is larger than the non-Latin characters and one where the character types have the same size.

You can browse the full list of supported languages on Befine’s website. The company also said, “It is possible to print your own language with any color you want on the keyboard skin.” I hope that means that people can create their own custom keyboard layout.

[via AVING]

Looking for a cool new home bar? Bombay Sapphire and design firm, AvroKO have teamed up to craft the limited edition Bombay Sapphire East Gin Wheel.

If you’re a gin lover, you know a thing or two about Bombay Sapphire. However, from the design side, AvroKO is responsible for several high-profile projects including LAVO, Beauty & Essex, Kid Robot, and Saxon & Parole in NYC. The firm uses storytelling as a way to create innovative designs and transformative experiences.

Inspired by the “Lazy Susan” turntable, the new Gin Wheel is handcrafted from exotic walnut. Its base – on which the main body spins on – is a plate made of brushed stainless steel. The Gin Wheel’s design celebrates the classic nature of the Gin & Tonic cocktail (of which it’s meant to celebrate!) while boasting an imaginative and refined aesthetic.

The main body opens to high quality bar tools, glassware, removable cutting boards, coasters and custom made aluminum tongs that double as a locking mechanism. There’s also storage for ice and garnish for your cocktails.

Starting next month you’ll be able to buy one of these from The Future Perfect. Bottoms up!

The hottest game that released this month has got to be The Last of Us, although I’m sure Animal Crossing fans may have to object to that statement. Either way, if you’re a PlayStation 3 owner, you’ve probably been sinking [...]

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying on Monday defended his government's decision to allow former US spy Edward Snowden to leave the city, and said it was normal for him to discuss foreign-policy matters with Beijing.

Leung broke his long silence on the affair to amplify a government statement issued on Sunday when Snowden dramatically flew out of Hong Kong, escaping a US arrest warrant.

The city government's chief executive noted "expressions of displeasure" from some in the United States, but told reporters that "the people of Hong Kong expect Hong Kong to uphold its own laws including the Basic Law".

The Basic Law is capitalist Hong Kong's mini-constitution guiding its "one country, two systems" form of autonomy under the rule of communist China.

Leung did not answer when asked if he had received any special instructions on the Snowden case from Beijing, which retains ultimate control over Hong Kong's foreign and defence policy, and the power to veto extradition requests.

But he said: "Under the one country, two systems, of course we surely need to communicate with the central government and discuss events that are related to foreign affairs."

Snowden, a former contractor at the National Security Agency, is wanted by the United States on theft and espionage charges after he fled to Hong Kong in late May and began leaking details of NSA programmes.

He flew to Moscow on Sunday, reportedly heading to a third country, despite Washington having requested his arrest and eventual extradition from Hong Kong. Leung's government said the US paperwork was deficient and it had no legal basis to prevent Snowden leaving.

That decision provoked fury in Washington and Leung said he "understood" US complaints against Hong Kong. But the city had not received any notification that Snowden's passport had been voided by the US State Department, he said.

Some lawmakers in the Chinese territory are concerned at the possibility of US reprisals, such as a withdrawal of visa-free access to the United States for Hong Kongers.

Leung tried to defuse concerns about fallout on the relationship.

"I personally treasure relations between Hong Kong and the United States on various aspects," he stressed.

"I believe our friends in the United States, including government officials and in the business sector, treasure their relations with Hong Kong."

Leung recently went on a trade-promotion trip to New York, where he repeatedly refused to answer questions about Snowden during an interview with Bloomberg TV on June 12.

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(727): She shit all over my seat. She is not allowed in my car under any circumstances. Not even with drugs. You can't forgive a shit.

UPDATE: As Matthew notes in the first comment below, he wrote a longer post on the capybara this January, and I’ve simply forgotten (the video below is new, though). His post is very good, and you can find it here. My only excuse is that I easily forget things that I’ve written here, much less those written by others.

____________

In case you didn’t know, the world’s largest rodent is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a denizen of South America. They’re about 0.6 m (2 feet) tall at the shoulder when grown, and are semiaquatic herbivores that, according to Wikipedia, weigh between 35-66 kg (77-150 lb.). Visit the Capybara Page for more information.

The one in this video, named Gary, is the only pet capybara I’ve heard of, and lives in Texas.

Well, there’s one exception. When I took the Organization for Tropical Studies course in 1973, the course coordinator, the famous biologist Dan Janzen, was toting a small capybara around with him (his son was there, too). He called it “Tempesquintle,” apparently the Mayan name for the beast. It was, and still is, eten as a delicacy (I’m told that it tastes like chicken, LOL). I hope Dan’s pet didn’t end up in the stewpot.

Here’s its present range:

Victor Kislyi prepares to show the console dinosaurs how free-to-play really works

7, 8 and 10.1-inch Tab 3 variants heading stateside, pre-orders begin tomorrow

Already announced internationally, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 series will be heading to the United States in a couple of weeks. The 10.1, 8 and 7-inch tablets go up for pre-order tomorrow, and begin shipping on July 7. In its latest line-up of Android-powered tablets, the Korean manufacturer has scaled things back a bit, focusing on affordable, thin, light devices for the mass market.

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Google has taken Street View to new heights, sending its cameras to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – the world’s tallest man-made structure – to snap its first ever skyscraper photography. The new images, which mark the latest of Google’s diversions to interesting, difficult-to-reach, or generally off-limits locations, include shots taken from

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In my career as an online journalist, I get to test drive a lot of vehicles. And while I like many of the cars that I drive, it’s rare that I truly love one, and would consider actually buying the model that I’m driving. Well, this is that rare occasion. If I didn’t already own a car that I loved, the 2014 Impala 2LTZ would be at the top of my list.

The 2014 Impala is the 10th generation revamp of Chevy’s long-running full-size ride (which debuted way back in 1957) – and dare I say it, I think it’s the best one yet. Sure, the Impala SS of the 1965-1970 generation was a classic, with its big-block V8 and convertible option, but the 2014 is a decidedly more versatile and comfortable vehicle.

Frankly, I hated the looks of the previous-gen Impala, but the 2014 is a real looker. The best word to describe its strong lines and agressive front and drawn-out rear end is “beefy.” This thing is substantial, and it consistently drew admiration from those that I showed it to. No longer does the Impala have the utilitarian looks that it has recently been associated with. This car means business. The striking blue metallic “Blue Ray” paint on my demo car didn’t hurt its looks either. Those LED running lights at the bottom of the grill are pretty slick too.

Yes, the 2014 Impala is a big car. It’s got a massive 201.3 inch length and rides on a 111.7 inch wheelbase. But all of that size means tremendous comfort and space for both passengers and cargo. The interior comfortably seats five full size adults, and I was even able to fit all six-feet of myself in the back seat with the front seats all the way back – with knee and head room to spare.

The Impala 2LTZ offers plenty of power, as its equipped with a 305 horsepower, 3.6 liter direct-injected V6 engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, offering up 264 lb.-ft. of torque. The Impala is also available with a 2.5L Ecotec 4, but I can’t imagine that engine is nearly as zippy or well matched to this large car as the V6. The V6 is also E85 compatible, which can help reduce environmental concerns about conventional gasoline. And given its size, gas mileage is actually pretty good. I managed to muster about 17mpg in the city, and a 27mpg on the highway. On average, I got about 22 to 23 mpg. And with a large 18.5 gallon tank, that means you should be able to go about 400 miles on a tank. Not too shabby for a car this big.

The interior of the Impala 2LTZ is quite elegant and comfortable, with two-tone leather, six-way adjustable power heated seats with lumbar support for both driver and passenger. While the leather is quite elegant, see if you can go for the grey or black – the large expanse of tan leather on the dash created an annoying glare while the darker areas did not.

One of the things I just loved about the Impala was just how quiet the passenger compartment was. I can’t remember a car in recent memory that was so silent inside – not a rattle, squeak or wind noise. As a matter of fact, in city driving you’ll barely notice the car is running – until you get it on the highway and push the pedal down – then you hear just the right amount of roar from the engine. An active noise cancellation system keep things quiet on the 4-cylinder models, but the insulation and build quality of the cabin seemed to take care of the V6 model just fine. Between the comfort and quiet, I can only imagine the Impala is a great road trip car.

Even though it’s quiet, that V6 offers plenty of power to pull you along the highway, and safely pass other vehicles without hesitation. It may purr like a kitten, but when you push the pedal down, there’s a small lion hiding under the hood. As a matter of fact, it’ll take you from 0-to-60 in just 6.8 seconds. Acceleration and shifting was buttery-smooth, and steering was responsive – though not particularly sporty. I suppose that between the quiet and smoothness, I didn’t feel as connected to the road as in some cars, but I definitely felt in command of this 21st century cruiser. Keep in mind that the Impala is a front-wheel drive vehicle, so you trade off a little bit of sportiness for stability and traction.

Another benefit of the Impala’s size is its substantial 18.8 cu.ft. trunk capacity. With the rear seats in use, you can still fit four sets of golf clubs in the trunk. With the 60/40 split folding seats down, I was able to fit the box from a 50″ flat screen TV with room to spare.

As configured, my car came with the Chevy MyLink radio and entertainment system, which includes a large 8-inch touchscreen, along with a supplemental display that’s mounted directly between the tachometer and speedometer.

This display offers quick access to everything from trip and speed information to music track and artist information, and navigation guidance. The MyLink system provides AM/FM/HD and SiriusXM (subscription) radio, CD player, as well as Bluetooth hands-free audio for both phone calls and music and Pandora integration for either iOS (wired) or Android (wireless). Fingertip controls on the steering wheel provide ready access to the features on the display, as well as changing tracks or volume on the stereo.

One really nifty feature is that the radio has a motorized screen that can lift up, allowing you to hide a media player or other small items behind it. There’s even a USB port behind there for keeping your device charged up and connected.

The Impala 2LTZ I drove is the top-of-the-line configuration, and that gives you many luxurious benefits, including HID headlights, a large power sunroof with a 2nd row skylight, keyless pushbutton ignition, dual exhaust, chrome accents, dual-zone climate control, and adaptive cruise control.

When the lights go down in the evening, the cabin offers slick ice blue ambient lighting throughout.

All 2014 Impalas come with 10 airbags as well as GM’s OnStar system (and 6 months of service) standard, while added safety features on both the 1LTZ and 2LTZ models include a backup camera, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and side-blind zone alerts on the mirrors. The rear camera offers some really nice capabilities, including an overlay that dynamically adjusts based on your trajectory, and cross-traffic alerts to let you know if cars are coming from either the right or left as you back up.

Overall, I just loved this car. It’s comfortable, ably powered for its size, while still getting decent mileage. It’s packed with luxury and safety features, and it’s one of the best looking and most elegant cars Chevrolet has made in years. Other than the glare of the leather dash on the windshield – and the fact that it just barely fit in my garage – I couldn’t find one bad thing to say about the 2014 Impala 2LTZ.

Prices for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala start at $26,725(USD) for the base model, though the Impala 2LTZ reviewed here starts at $35,770. Once equipped with the 20″ aluminum wheels, premium 11-speaker Bose sound system, power tilt/heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, ground illumination, and memory seats and mirrors, and destination charge, the car reviewed here had a sticker price of $39,510. While that doesn’t exactly make it a cheap car, I found the Impala 2LTZ to provide just about everything you’d ever want in a car, for much less than so-called “luxury” models on the market.

If you’re thinking about buying a full-size car, you owe it to yourself to check out the 2014 Impala.

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Disclosure: Chevrolet provided the loan of the car for review in this article. However, all reviews are the unbiased views of our editorial staff, and we will only recommend products or services we have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

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