A GoPro was attached to ten-month-old Rasmus Futtrup of Copenhagen as he went for a swing. The camera maker set the smiley, drooling footage to the music of US electronic band Insightful and turned it into an ad for its HD HERO3+.
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19 May 18:57
9 Beagles rescued from a lab go outside and run in grass for the very first time
by Abraham
The folks at the Beagle Freedom Project recently took possession of 9 beagles who had been raised in cages in a lab. They had never even been outside, let alone play in a big backyard…
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19 May 18:47
Monday Cute: Panda Conservation Center Has Job Opening; We Are Serious, Quitting
The China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Ya'an, Sichuan province, China, is raising awareness of panda preservation by offering a unique job opportunity. $32k a year, accommodations, meals, and a company car, all to babysit giant pandas. The application is apparently somewhere on this amazing website (autoplay sound).
Previously in Monday Cute
19 May 18:46
Newswire: Jeff Tweedy announces new band, confirms solo album and tour dates
by Josh Modell
A few tour dates from Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy have dribbled out over the past few months, including a headlining slot at Taste Of Chicago. Today, Tweedy announced a full-scale tour—and the existence of a new backing band that includes his 18-year-old son, Spencer, on drums. The band is rounded out by guitarist Jim Elkington (The Zincs, Eleventh Dream Day), bassist Darin Gray (Dazzling Killmen, a whole bunch of experimental stuff), and keyboard player Liam Cunningham. The summer tour will be “loosely staged in two parts,” with the band performing on songs from Tweedy’s long rumored and just now officially confirmed solo album (no release date, no title), and Tweedy performing songs from his vast catalog solo-acoustic. Tour dates and a beautiful solo “ELT” are below.
June 5 Masonic Temple Detroit, MI
June 6 Three Rivers Arts Festival Pittsburgh, PA
June 7 Mountain Jam Hunter Mtn, NY
June ...
19 May 18:44
Dog’s Favorite Thing Is a Bottomless Red Bucket
by Lori Dorn
Charcoal the black lab loves his bottomless red bucket. It appears to be his favorite toy, favorite accessory and even seeming to be his favorite friend, preferring its company to that of another canine in this very cute video posted by cdal233.
via reddit
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19 May 18:33
Threatening to fire workers doesn’t make them more productive
by Max Nisen
One of the biggest ways companies motivate people is the threat of losing their jobs. Some do it explicitly through forced ranking and threats of layoffs. Others create insecurity when managers give infrequent feedback or incomplete information.
But actively encouraging workers to fear for their job doesn’t make them more competitive and productive; it makes them panicked and incautious. Job insecurity hurts health, makes people burn out, and reduces job satisfaction and performance, according to a piece rounding up recent research at the New York Times (paywall).
Studies find that workers who fear being laid off are less safety-conscious, more likely to get injured, and less likely to report injuries. A forthcoming study from researchers at Texas A&M University found that even at a company with relatively few layoffs and a supportive work culture, insecure employees were less likely to seek out support or ask for flex-time or time off.
There’s obvious good reason to be nervous. In many cases, finding a new job after losing one takes months, and gets more and more difficult. A recent Gallup poll finds that almost a third of US workers fear that they’ll be laid off, and even more fear wage and benefit cuts.
Forced or “stack” ranking, where managers rank their employees on a bell curve and censure or fire the worst performers, is frequently criticized for creating excessively competitive cultures and internal politicking. The practice (or variations on it) is less popular than it used to be, but is still fairly common at large American corporations. Even if there aren’t strict quotas or mandatory cuts, many companies still use ranking systems.
But the recent research underlines the other flaw with forced ranking: its basic assumption that pressure will boost productivity. Making people insecure may make them work harder to try and be on the right side of the bell curve, but that will come at the cost of health, happiness, and future performance. Unless companies are confident that they can constantly replace the people that burn out with new employees that are just as good, it looks like a losing formula.
19 May 18:30
Banana Stand's Secret Summertime Shows at Double Dragon
by Ned Lannamann
firehosedat poster, tho: http://www.portlandmercury.com/binary/f5df/1400521439-doudrag-fnl-web-rgb.jpg
Your summer Mondays just got a little more secret.
Banana Stand Media, the folks behind the ongoing series of live albums recorded at their secret underground bunker, have teamed up with SE Division's Double Dragon bar/banh mi palace for a series of special summertime events. Double Dragon is ordinarily closed on Mondays, but starting June 2, they'll open at 6 pm with a late-night menu and low-priced cocktails, and folks are invited to bring their vinyl records down to the restaurant to spin. THEN, as the evening gets in full swing around 8 pm, a secret, unannounced band will take the stage.
These "secret" shows will continue every Monday night through Labor Day, and while I'm not able to announce the bands that are performing, I can say this: If you already like what Banana Stand is up to, and/or if you like the bands covered in the Mercury, you will want to check these shows out. Banana Stand's Aaron Colter tells me, "Some of the bands playing are new to town or just getting started... so the idea is to get people out and be turned on to something new. And some groups that are interested are larger and just want to play a small show without a lot of pomp."
The official press release, which goes out tomorrow, goes on to add, "June 2nd's opening event will be an advance album release from a promising new band who recently relocated to Portland. Further acts in the series will include local favorites and touring groups, plus other surprises."
These shows are totally free, and again, will take place every Monday night at Double Dragon (1235 SE Division) from June 2 to September 1. See you there.
19 May 18:27
Seattle mayor names Kathleen O'Toole, ex-Boston police head, new chief - Los Angeles Times
firehoseeverybody's moving to the west coast
Washington Post |
Seattle mayor names Kathleen O'Toole, ex-Boston police head, new chief Los Angeles Times Former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O'Toole left, speaks after being introduced by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, right, as his nominee to be Seattle's new chief of police on Monday in Seattle. Former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O'Toole left, ... Former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O'Toole named Seattle's new ...seattlepi.com all 85 news articles » |
19 May 18:25
Coming Distractions: Hey girl, here’s the first trailer for Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut
by Caroline Siede
In between starring in critically acclaimed dramas and inspiring Internet memes, Ryan Gosling found some time to write, direct, and produce a film. Lost River (formerly titled How To Catch A Monster) is set to premiere later this week at Cannes, and this short teaser offers a first glimpse.
While Lost River is about a single mother and her teenage son who discover a secret underwater town, this trailer is most about burning bikes and muscles. In press notes, Gosling explains, “I’ve gone between acting in films completely based in reality with Derek Cianfrance to the fevered dreams of Nicolas Winding Refn. I think I’ve vacillated between these two extremes because my own sensibilities as a filmmaker lay somewhere in-between.”
This teaser falls decidedly on the surreal part of the spectrum. Dreamlike images are threaded together to create a tableau of teenage panic and insecurity. Absent from ...
19 May 18:23
Macklemore Dresses Up As Offensive Jewish Caricature, Doesn't Think It's Offensive At All
firehose"A fake witches nose, wig, and beard = random costume. Not my idea of a stereotype of anybody." --some asshole
19 May 18:18
rudeandgingerdoctor: 221cbakerstreet: princessfreakazoid: larry-while-were-young: princessfreakaz...
in the 1940s the word “boner” used to mean “huge mistake” and it still pretty much means that
how the fuck would you know that
because i know things
i read these to my dad and he literally fell off his chair laughing and is now purple in the face
19 May 18:15
The hand-held hypno beam, mark 1.
The hand-held hypno beam, mark 1.
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19 May 18:08
Biden sends corsage to prom inviter - USA TODAY
firehoseJJB
Washington Post |
Biden sends corsage to prom inviter USA TODAY A Connecticut high school student didn't get Joe Biden as a prom date, but did receive a note and a vice presidential corsage. "I am flattered, but my schedule will not permit me to be in Connecticut on Friday evening," Biden said in the note to Newington High ... Joe Biden Turns Down Teen's Prom Invite With Class, CorsageNew York Magazine VP Biden turns down CT prom invite, but sends corsageWFSB Biden turns down prom invitation but sends corsageSan Francisco Chronicle KGNS.tv -WJXT Jacksonville -MSNBC all 105 news articles » |
19 May 18:08
FCC chairman says agency needs to learn from Google Fiber
by Chris Welch
Tom Wheeler says the FCC could learn a thing or two from Google Fiber. In prepared remarks (pdf link) that Wheeler will deliver at a congressional hearing tomorrow, he points to Google's strategic approach to building out its ambitious broadband service as something the commission should take inspiration from. "Google has developed a checklist for cities that want to participate in their Google Fiber project of steps that can be taken to ensure easier access to existing infrastructure and to make construction speedier and more predictable," Wheeler says.
Google revealed that checklist back in February when the company announced it would "explore" bringing Fiber to as many as 34 new cities. It allows communities to help Google survey potential service areas and tap into existing infrastructure (i.e. poles) where it already exists. According to Wheeler, "the FCC should be asking similar questions about our own rules, cutting red tape wherever possible." The commission should "use all the tools at our disposal to encourage competition wherever it is possible."
Last week, the FCC adopted Wheeler's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as it seeks to craft and implement new regulations that could reshape the internet for years to come. "For over a decade, the commission has struggled with the idea of net neutrality," Wheeler admits in his remarks. And like last week, he again floats the possibility of classifying broadband as a utility under Title II, the preferred outcome many net neutrality advocates are hoping to see. "I look forward to a broad and thoughtful debate on the record."
- Source Chairman Tom Wheeler's remarks (PDF)
- Related Items tom wheeler fcc google fiber innovation red tape broadband
19 May 18:07
Well, Well, WELL.
firehosetl;dr: Wonder Woman is getting a digital-only anthology
"To kick off the series, writer Gail Simone will team up with artist Ethan van Sciver. ... Other names slated to work on the series are Lauren Beukes, Cecil Castellucci, Amanda Deibert, Caitlin Kittredge, James Tynion IV, Georges Jeanty, Chris Sprouse, and Cat Staggs."
19 May 17:52
Urine and the bladder are not sterile, contain bacteria
by Casey Johnston
firehosenot sure why this ever was taken for fact
No, urine is not sterile, according to a study presented this week by researchers from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University. Instead, the bodily excretion does contain a diverse array of bacteria that can vary depending on bladder condition. Up until now, the types of bacteria present have been hard to detect because they don't grow in urine cultures.
That urine is not sterile is not actually news; the same medical school reported findings in 2012 suggesting that urine can contain bacteria when drawn directly from the bladder. But the study may surprise many due to the deeply entrenched belief, even in the medical community, that urine is bacteria-free and thus safe to use in a number of activities, from drinking to rinsing wounds in a pinch. A commonly traded rule of thumb is that, while the initial part of a stream of urine contains bacteria washed from the urethra, the "mid-stream" is safely sterile. This is not so, or at least it's not entirely reliable information.
The two studies, from 2013 and 2012, looked only at samples from women. The 2013 study compared samples from women with and without overactive bladder disorder (OAB) and found different types of bacteria in both types of samples, including Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. The authors of the study suggested that the presence of certain types of bacteria in women with OAB could be causing their symptoms, and treating their presence could help with their condition.
Read 2 remaining paragraphs | Comments
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19 May 17:43
TriMet has found a way to bust no-show 'ghost buses' on TransitTracker
firehose'Sometimes, because of traffic jams, breakdowns, emergencies and other situations, a bus trip or part of a trip needs to be canceled. Because of limitations in its software, however, TransitTracker shows the bus still making stops, TriMet said.
"Thanks to a feature in the agency's new bus radio dispatch system, TransitTracker will finally be able to tell riders when a bus is not coming," said Roberta Altstadt, a TriMet spokeswoman.
Beginning Monday, TransitTracker will show when a bus is canceled.'
 |
submitted by salomoncascade [link] [7 comments] |
19 May 17:42
A 19-Year-Old MIT Student Plans to Become the Youngest Person To Fly Around the Globe
by Kelly
MIT freshman, Matt Guthmiller, plans to make a solo flight around the world later this month, which would make him the youngest person ever to do so! The idea behind the mission is to advocate for computer science education. Guthmiller will donate the money raised by the mission to Code.org. via boldride.
Matt Guthmiller, a 19-year-old freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is taking a 28,000-mile solo flight around the world later this month. If he’s successful in his solo effort, he’ll be the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe by himself. Guthmiller read an article last summer about a 21-year-old who set a record as the youngest solo pilot to ever fly around the worlde last spring. “‘Next summer I’ll be 19, and I can do that,’’’ he recalled. Guthmiller, majors in electrical engineering and computer science, is a self-taught software engineer.
He’ll be flying a 1981 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, a 300hp, single-engine, low-wing aircraft with six seats. Four of those seats will be removed to add extra fuel tanks. He’s planning to fly as long as 14 hours at a time when traveling from Hawaii to San Diego, California.
19 May 16:26
'Selfie,' 'Catfish': 10 2014 Merriam-Webster Additions Illustrated with GIFs - People Magazine
firehoseincluding steampunk, cap and trade, fracking, tweep, unfriend, selfie
Chron.com |
'Selfie,' 'Catfish': 10 2014 Merriam-Webster Additions Illustrated with GIFs People Magazine Merriam-Webster has announced the 150 new words that will be added to its collegiate dictionary this year. "So many of these new words show the impact of online connectivity to our lives and livelihoods," Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski said in a press ... Yooper blooper: Dictionary pronounciation omits PWWMT-TV Hashtag, Selfie and Tweep Have Been Accepted Into the DictionaryMashable Hashtag, Selfie, Unfriend: the New Words of 2014Wall Street Journal (blog) Washington Post -WWLP 22News -GlobalPost all 280 news articles » |
19 May 16:23
Twitter accidentally verified fake Morrissey account
by Adrianne Jeffries
Fans got excited last week when a five-year-old Twitter account, @itsmorrissey, woke up and started tweeting. "Hello. Testing, 1, 2, 3. Planet Earth, are you there? One can only hope...," read the first tweet from the account. An official Twitter verified check mark made it appear that it was indeed the former lead singer of The Smiths talking.
Unfortunately, something was off. Two days later, the 54-year-old singer surfaced to distance himself from the account, saying he has no presence on social media and no plans to start one. The singer sent a statement to the fan zine True To You:
I would like to stress that I do not have either a Twitter or a Facebook account. I gather that a Twitter account has been opened in my name - as 'It's Morrissey' - but it is NOT Morrissey. I do not know who has opened this recent Twitter account, but please be aware that it is bogus. That's, of course, if you should remotely care.
Untwitterably yours,
MORRISSEY
Shortly afterward, his label Harvest Records announced it was taking over and retiring the account "to protect it from interlopers." The account has now been deleted.
Twitter did not respond to questions about how the fake account got verified. It's not the first time something like this has happened, however. Rupert Murdoch's third wife Wendi Deng was the victim of a similar situation when Twitter accidentally verified the wrong handle.
There are just over a million verified accounts on Twitter, but the company is still refining its process for verification. Usually Twitter requires a user to link to their Twitter bio from an official website or use a company email address. Twitter has also occasionally verified people in groups and is currently trying to get players from all the World Cup soccer teams on the platform.
- Related Items morrissey twitter brands verified accounts
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19 May 16:20
Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey invent Balcony Beer Toss
by Michael Katz
Two famous actors on adjacent New Orleans balconies, playing catch with a beer. Sports!
Matthew McConaughey, athlete.
Brad Pitt, athlete.
Get ready for sports! Brad tosses his amigo a cold one.
Strong form, good balance, smooth release, A+ use of off-hand for style. That's what? 30, 50 feet? And as we'll see, it's on the money.
Style. Grace. Poise. Brad Pitt has it all.
Brad Pitt Tosses A Beer To Matthew McConaughey Upon Realizing They Are Neighbors http://t.co/liVQKB9US9 pic.twitter.com/dDBlojmkEj
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) May 18, 2014
Matthew snags it. Great sports right here!
The video loses the beer mid-flight, but note the showmanship as McConaughey digs out the catch. This is a classic web gem display. Someone (Matthew McConaughey) clearly watches and enjoys sports.
Then, he remembers to hydrate. Some amateur athletes forget this.
Many athletes prefer Gatorade, but beer's also got what sportspeople need.
Good sports right here. Drew Brees (a professional athlete himself) knows.
Hello Matthew McConaughey & Drew Brees.. Nice to see ya with my own eyes. #NOLA #aaahhhh pic.twitter.com/spkZo9DWRT
— Shayna Lenderman (@shaynalenderman) May 17, 2014
(via BuzzFeed)
bernot and -1 others like this
19 May 16:19
Making Long Shadows in InDesign
by David Blatner
firehoseon the opposite end of the IND hacks spectrum from the "blank rows as transparent borders" trick: some dumb shit that takes way too long and creates ridiculous shapes with thousands of points
man just use Illustrator for this shit
I was watching Justin Seeley’s recent video about making long shadows in Illustrator and I thought, “jeez, why would anyone use Illustrator?!” No, I’m just kidding! I love Illustrator. But I did think, “hey, let’s do it in InDesign!” Here’s how you can make long shadows in InDesign: Here’s what we’re starting with… just text […]
19 May 16:15
bedpartymakeover: 25 year old Chen Yen-hui recreates makeup...
25 year old Chen Yen-hui recreates makeup looks from the Tang dynasty
People gotta signal boost the fuck out of this because you know it won’t get the attention it deserves till a white person copies it
Tertiarymatt, bernot likes this
19 May 15:12
Great Job, Internet!: Hey, everybody, it’s a Mr. Show art exhibit!
by William Hughes
Mr. Show With Bob And David, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’s subversive and influential take on sketch comedy, has been off the air for almost 16 years. But, helped along by DVD releases and the success of former cast members like Paul F. Tompkins and Comedy Bang Bang’s Scott Aukerman, the show’s cult following has only continued to grow. This weekend, that devotion manifested itself in the form of a bunch of artists getting together to show off art immortalizing many of the show’s (often grotesque) characters at an exhibit at L.A.’s Meltdown Comics titled “The Mr. Show Show.”
And so, for instance, we have this image, commemorating metal fan and failed acid bather Adam (played by Cross) from Season 3’s “The Return of the Curse of the Creature’s Ghost:
<img src="">
On the ...
19 May 15:07
100 Pounds of Magnetic Putty Dropped Off a Wall, Chopped With an Ax and Shot With Guns
by Brian Heater
firehose1:45
In order to promote their new Magnetic Thinking Putty, Vat19 has put a big ball of the stuff through its paces, dropping it off a wall (it bounces a bit), chopping it in half with an ax, shooting it with a pair of guns and using it as a basketball. Best of all is the time-lapse footage of 100 pounds of putty engulfing a large magnet.