firehose

A man in New Jersey found that his E-ZPass, which he obtained for the purpose of paying tolls, was being used to track his car in unexpected places, far away from any toll booths.

Thank God it’s Frida

PayPal recently announced plans to "overhaul" its policies to become more crowdfunding-friendly. This comes after a number of startups had their funds frozen by PayPal after successful crowdfunding initiatives. Examples of such issues include the momentary pause in the release of Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm's funds earned during its Indiegogo campaign, as well as that of Lab Zero Games when it crowdfunded DLC characters for Skullgirls in April.

PayPal VP Risk Management Tomer Barel wrote in an update on PayPal's site that while there are no policy changes to announce today, "in the meantime, we will ensure that each crowdfunding campaign is reviewed by a senior member of my team before any action is taken."

PayPal adjusting policies to be more crowdfunding-friendly originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Sep 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 Reasons Falling For Shameless Click Bait Makes You A Bad Mother

DALLAS—Despite suffering several bruised ribs during last weekend’s 36-31 victory over the New York Giants, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo told reporters Friday that the injury will in no way hinder his performance in an upcoming recital of Pyo...

WASHINGTON—Hailing the achievement as a monumental one for both the space program and humanity as a whole, NASA officials announced Friday that the Voyager 1 probe, first launched in 1977, has entered interstellar space with the remains of la...

The New Yorker

Nerval's Lobster writes "Massachusetts lawmakers have agreed to repeal a six-week-old tax on computer services that generated such outrage that even the governor who proposed the tax in January now opposes it. The 6.25 percent sales tax on 'computer system design services' was proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick in January, but got little notice before it was slipped in mid-July into a $500 million supplementary funding bill meant to pay for improvements in the state's public transportation system. It was passed by the legislature with almost no debate, was signed into law by the governor with little public outrage, and went into effect – theoretically – July 31. IT businesses in the state used social media, business associations and angry letters to both lawmakers and local media to describe problems with the tax and show their opposition. Confusion over what qualifies as a 'computer system design service' and how to actually implement the tax – which was supposed to generate $161 million in revenue for the state – has been such a challenge to implement that the state has yet to collect a dime. The main logistical problem is figuring out what is covered and what isn't: data access, data processing and 'information services,' for example, are not taxed, which exempts most hosting, cloud, outsourcing and remote-access monitoring or security services. Democratic leaders announced Sept. 12 they would support repeal of the tax, which could be completed within weeks. 'It is now evident that the impact of the tax is broader than any of us ever anticipated or intended,' according to Mass. Senate President Therese Murray at a press conference Sept. 12."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

assgod:

YOU CAN TELL HE’S SO PROUD OF HIMSELF AND SO AM I

Kid Disses Shaq (by Akie Davis)

Yesterday, the lineup was posted for the second annual All Jane No Dick all-female comedy festival, held at at Curious Comedy in October. The first installment of the festival was great, and really nicely curated; the second one looks to be more of the same.

I'm not familiar with headliner Bonnie McFarlane, but I'm thrilled to see Cameron Esposito on the bill—I managed to almost entirely miss her at Bridgetown, so I'm glad she's coming back. Are all of you clued into just how great Esposito is? Here, read this article she wrote for Vice, "The Kindest Thing Jay Leno Ever Did for Me." She's hands-down my favorite of the younger comics I've seen recently. (Though David Hunstberger, of Professor Blastoff fame, is a close second—he's performing at Mississippi Studios tomorrow night.) I'm also intrigued by all the improv on the bill.

Here's a related note, for the three of you who care about this sort of thing: Next week, Helium is holding open auditions for hosts. This is one of the few regular, paying comedy gigs in town. There has long been grumbling about how Helium doesn't hire enough female comics; I guarantee you that you'll see some of Portland's best trying to change that next week.

Lineup after the jump!

Here it is! We are happy to announce the 2013 All Jane No Dick Comedy Festival Lineup. We are super excited about the talent coming to Portland this year!!

BONNIE MCFARLANE (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Show with David Letterman, Last Comic Standing)

CAMERON ESPOSITO (“Put Your Hands Together,” TBS’s Just for Laughs Chicago festival, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, SXSW, RIOT LA, and the The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson)

WILD HORSES IMPROV with LAUREN LAPKUS(Orange Is the New Black) . STEPHANIE ALLYNNE (The Mindy Project, Comedy Bang! Bang!), ERIN WHITEHEAD (UCB, Scrubs) and MARY HOLLAND (UCB, Comedy Bang! Bang!)

SWITCHBOARD IMPROV with JEAN VILLEPIQUE (Up All Night, Modern Family, The Office) and REBECCA SOHN (Second City Touring Company).

CALISE HAWKINS (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Russell Simmons Presents Stand Up at the El Rey, Last Comic Standing)

JANINE BRITO and APARNA NANCHERLA (writers for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell)

PHOEBE ROBINSON (“Stand Up for Diversity”,Bridgetown Comedy Festival)

Plus
SUSAN RICE
LEZ STAND UP with KRISTEN KUPPENBENDER, JES REGA, and DIANE GASPERIN
MAGGIE MAYE
KRISTIN CLIFFORD
BRANDIE POSEY
KYLE MIZONO
WHITNEY STREED
VIRGINIA JONES
AMY MILLER
BARBARA HOLM
ELICIA SANCHEZ
JOANN SCHINDERLE
DANIELLE RADFORD
BRI PRUETT
ANDIE MAIN
BETSY KAUFFMAN
TEGAN AND SARAH IMPROV TROUPE

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Tomorrow afternoon starting at 1 at the Portland area's hardest-core gym*, the Warrior Room, there will be beer flowing, food vending, and a bunch of tough broads arm wrasslin' for charity. If you live anywhere near Milwaukie, you should know about this place. Did I mention it's hard core? It's kettle bell oriented, Tabata-informed circuit training in a funny, supportive, wallet-friendly, and pretty freaking festive atmosphere—how many gyms have you attended that have a beer tap? Cuz this one does. I wish I lived closer, because I haven't gone nearly enough to feel prepared for tomorrow's "Honey Badgers & Cobras" all-female arm wrestling tournament, being held to benefit Northwest Housing Alternatives.

I'll be among the women competing in tomorrow's all-female tournament—who also include apparel designers Alicia Wood and Michelle Lesniak, and radio personality Daria, and while I'm fairly certain I'll have my ass beat, I'll be a totally good sport about it, and a little training from trophy-holding arm wrestling champion Wm Steven Humphrey has hopefully ensured that I won't completely embarrass myself. But no matter: it's all in good fun, and this is a work-hard, play-hard kind of crowd. A mere five bucks gets you in to spectate, there will be a full bar, a beer garden, and impromptu $1 throwdowns. What else are you gonna do, mow your lawn? Nope.

*I have not tried them all, but I've tried a lot, and the WW wipes me out as much as my first 90-minute round of boxing training, which is to say you'll be feeling it for a week.

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Terraria is available now on the Google Play store, 505 Games announced. The Android version of the sandbox adventure game includes an android robot character for players to find and team up with as well as Facebook-integrated Game Services leaderboards and achievements.

Terraria is free for players to download and try, and the full version costs $4.99 to unlock. The game landed on iOS in late August and will soon launch on the Windows Phone platform.

Continue reading PSA: Terraria grounded on Android

PSA: Terraria grounded on Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Made famous by the book and movie Into the Wild, Chris McCandless was a 24-year-old who hitchhiked out into the Alaskan wilderness, lived off the land, and died of starvation under extremely mysterious circumstances. Now, it seems the mystery of his death may have been solved.

Read more...

Miss Cakehead will soon host her annual Eat Your Heart Out pop-up Halloween cake shop from October 25th-27th, 2013 in London. This year’s event is titled “Feed The Beast” and will feature gory treats like these macabre hand-painted life-sized chocolate hands and feet flavored with Kraken Rum (the event’s sponsor) by the food artists at All Mine Patisserie. She says, “We’re pretty confident in laying down the gauntlet and saying that these will be the best liqueur chocolates you will ever see, plus of course being made with a dark spiced rum means they taste amazing.”

images via Miss Cakehead

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

Cartoonist Kazu Kibuishi spoke with CBR about designing the new "Harry Potter" book covers for Scholastic's 15th anniversary re-issue and how he approaches about the process of illustration vs comics work.

“If your hair is wrong, your entire life is wrong.”

I believe in advertising

The obituary was printed in Tuesday's editions of the Reno Gazette-Journal and appeared on RGJ.com after it was submitted through a self-service online portal. John Maher, president and publisher of the newspaper, said in a "note to readers" that the paper had "removed the online listing of this obituary as we continue our review of the circumstances surrounding its placement."

Language Logic

NPR to offer employee buyouts:

In an effort to stave off a budding financial crisis, NPR will offer buyouts to its employees, with a goal of reducing its staff by about 10 percent, one of the largest reductions in the organization’s history, it said Friday.

The buyout, approved by NPR’s board in a closed meeting Thursday night, comes as the radio and digital news organization faces a widening annual deficit and turnover in its chief executive job. Gary Knell, the current CEO, has announced that he will leave to head the National Geographic Society when his two-year contract expires in November.

The board approved an interim replacement Thursday from outside the organization: Paul G. Haaga Jr., a former lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the retired chairman of the Investment Company Institute and the Capital Research and Management. He has been on NPR’s board since 2011.

NPR said it is projecting an operating deficit of $6.1 million during its upcoming fiscal year, based on revenues of $178.1 million. It said that it was seeking to reduce its staffing levels by about 10 percent through voluntary buyouts. With roughly 840 employees, that would mean a reduction of 80 to 84 people. It laid off 64 employees, or about 8 percent of its staff, in late 2008 and cut two programs in order to save money. The organization receives less than 2 percent of its annual budget directly from federal funds, but relies on dues from member stations that receive an average of about 15 percent of their budgets from federal funds.

"Facebook is considering incorporating most of its 1 billion-plus members’ profile photos into its growing facial recognition database, expanding the scope of the social network’s controversial technology."

Facebook may add your profile photo to facial recognition database - NBC News.com

“Disarm” by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes is a series of robotic musical instruments that are made out of guns confiscated by Mexican authorities. The series is a follow-up to “Imagine,” Reyes’ collection of (non-robotic) musical instruments made out of confiscated guns. For more on Reyes and “Disarm,” see this Creators Project feature.

photos via Pedro Reyes, video via Creators Project

via Creators Project

OnlyMrGodKnowsWhy

buuuurn

The Order Sons of Italy in America, Massachusetts Grand Lodge (OSIAMA), has made a late decision not to march in Boston’s North End 2013 Columbus Day Parade. Citing a changing demographic, the Italian-American organization told the North End organizers that it will instead march in the City of Revere this year.

“They really left us hanging, citing a demographic shift that supposedly shows a greater percentage of Italians in Revere than the North End,” said Louis Strazzullo, President of the North End Columbus Day Celebration Committee. “It doesn’t make sense. Even with the changes in the neighborhood, this is still Boston’s Little Italy,” he added.

Encompassing one of the three divisions of the North End parade, the OSIAMA member lodges have marched in the North End since the early 1990′s, according to Strazzullo. The Grand Lodge makes the decision that directs all its member lodges in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts.

The City of Revere is attempting to restore its Columbus Day parade for the first time since it was discontinued in 2009 due to budget cuts. In Boston, the annual Christopher Columbus Day Parade alternates each year between the North End (odd years) and East Boston (even years).

OSIAMA President Carmelita Bello, reached via phone, offered no comment other than to say “the council voted.” She said that someone in their office would provide more information but no further response has been received. (Ed: 9/12/13 update: Ms. Bello has since responded in the comments section.)

In an letter dated August 28, 2013, the Grand Lodge made its announcement to its lodge leadership, “The annual Columbus Day Parade will be held on Monday, October 14, 2013 in Revere. … We hope that a large contingent from your lodge will join us at this prominent event, which provides the Order Sons of Italy in America with a tremendous opportunity for visibility and recognition throughout the Italian-American community.” The letter did not address why the group’s two decade support for the North End has ceased. Apparently, the group decided not to march in both parades with the North End on Sunday and Revere on Monday.

It is not clear if the Revere parade will continue beyond this year on an annual basis, nor if the OSIAMA will again choose it over the East Boston parade in 2014.

For his part, the North End’s Strazzullo said, “The North End Columbus Day Committee is working hard to make the 2013 Columbus Day Parade the best one ever! We look forward to everyone coming out on Sunday, October 13th at 1:00 pm.”

The North End committee has the support of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and a full contingent of marching bands, military/veteran groups, religious/feast societies as well as various local organizations. Several Italian groups are also expected to participate including the Consul General of Italy.

Complimenting this year’s North End parade will be Stephen’s Run, a 5K charity run to honor Stephen Perez on Sunday morning, starting and ending on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End. In addition, the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park are planning a separate family event on Monday at the namesake park.

Original Source

Jennifer Landa decided to do some investigative journalism at San Diego Comic-Con to sort out this whole "fake geek" issue. And she enlisted help from our good friends Andre Meadows and Dr. Andrea Letamendi! I never recommend reading the comments but I find it hilarious several folks on YouTube missed the satire part of this whole thing. For instance: "Yeah, I hate to break it to you, but most of the female cosplayers aren't any nerdier or geekier than the males you accuse of fake nerdom. I find your video incredibly derisive and insulting." Ah, life. Are you following The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?

The CW, network for all your teen-angst, ripped abs, and model competition needs, is developing a drama about a transgender teen.

Good news! Or bad news—your mileage may vary. But something tells me most of you are going to come down on the "Yes!" side of things. J.J. Abrams has confirmed that he's stepping down from the director's chair for the next Star Trek film. That and other bits of reboot Trek miscellany (Khan almost wasn't in Into Darkness! Abrams talks about his decision to make the villain reveal a secret! Another BS explanation of the Carol Marcus underwear scene!) are behind the jump.