firehose
Shared posts
Why A Small California City Could Be Wall Street's Worst Nightmare
After reading what NSA does to bypass cryptography
Instagram Rolls Out Plan For In-Feed Advertisments
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Stylify Me
Enter a URL, get an overview of the site in question’s colour scheme, typography, &c..
A Tale of Two MySQL Bugs
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Texas still seeing attempts to limit evolution in school textbooks
Texas' school board, which has waged an ongoing battle over science education (among other topics), is back at it. In 2009, a bruising battle created science standards that questioned common descent and the age of the universe. Since then, textbook publishers have attempted to craft science texts that implement Texas' standards.
That process has reached the point where the board invited outside experts to critique the textbooks. In keeping with the school board's history, that process has also gone badly astray. Rather than choosing scientific experts and educators, the school board chose two people (Walter Bradley and Raymond Bohlin) who have been involved in the Discovery Institute, the organization that has backed the intelligent design movement. Bradley in particular was involved in crafting the wedge document, which calls for a cultural effort to get rid of science's focus on natural causes in the hope that it would advance theistic views.
Another person asked to review the texts is Ide Trotter, a retired engineer. He's a key figure in a group called Texans for Better Science Education. That group's URL, strengthsandweaknesses.org, echoes language that was specifically removed from the standards because it is used to enable religiously motivated attacks on evolution education. With the exception of two works by Darwin, the group's recommended books are all products of the Discovery Institute. (We reviewed one and found it to be largely unscientific.)
Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments
    
|
Submission: Cross-Stitched New York Subway Map Submitted by...
Submission: Cross-Stitched New York Subway Map
Submitted by Sabina Wolfson, who says:
The cross-stitched “T” map you mentioned reminded me that I have been meaning to submit this for awhile. Cross-sittched NYC subway map from 2010. I took a map and made it into an x-stitch pattern and then my Aunt stitched it for me.
——
Transit Maps says:
Wow! The 45-degree angularity of most transit maps means that they work well with this type of “pixel-based” art, but Sabina must have been thrilled with the finished result. Mostly based off the Vignelli “Weekender” map, by the look of things.
nerfiti: blueiswrongforroses: so what i’m understanding from...
so what i’m understanding from all of this is that Very British people all have acute social anxiety
and hearts
I have done every single one of these.
God, I am British.
chibisayuri: Saw Whet owls are quite possibly the most adorable...
Saw Whet owls are quite possibly the most adorable birds ever.
(Img 3 Source: http://kodasilverwing.deviantart.com/art/Wheatley-the-Saw-Whet-Owl-2-263310152)
India’s government may finally cut its mobile carriers and consumers a break
Chalk it up, in part, to the Indian government’s desperation for cash: The country’s telecom regulator is finally kowtowing to telecom companies’ demands for cheaper spectrum. The regulator has recommended cutting the government’s minimum price for its next round of auctions by up to 60% (pdf), a blessing for telecom companies squeezed by rising costs, and mobile customers suffering through poor voice quality and dropped calls.
Local telecom players with deep pockets have long sparred with foreign companies like Vodafone and Japan’s DoCoMo to dominate India’s 900 million user mobile phone market, driving down the country’s call rates to among the lowest in the world. Meanwhile, the amount of wireless spectrum available to Indian telecom companies has been paltry compared with the growth of mobile phone users. That’s put telecom operators in a tricky spot: Their profit margins have been squeezed by intense bidding wars over limited spectrum, while a crowded market has prevented them from raising customer prices. In 2010, firms shelled out 670 billion rupees ($15 billion at 2010 exchange rates) for 3G spectrum licenses (third generation bandwidth), almost double the 350 billion rupees that the government had budgeted from the auction.
The market tightened even more after India’s national auditor claimed that the exchequer had suffered a loss of 1.76 trillion rupees in allocating 2G spectrum in 2008. In response, the supreme court cancelled 122 licenses last year and slammed the government for selling the licenses on a first-come-first-served basis rather than conducting a transparent public auction.
The government followed that blunder by ratcheting up the price of spectrum in subsequent auctions, which turned telecom companies off of acquiring more spectrum altogether. The government set the minimum price at approximately 10 times that of 2G spectrum auctioned in 2008. Only 101 of the 176 blocks on offer received bids, forcing companies to opt out of lucrative markets like Mumbai and Delhi. The government raised only 23% of its 400 billion rupees revenue target. An auction in March this year was an even bigger flop. Despite a 30% cut in the minimum price set in November, only one bidder showed up.
The regulators seem to have learned the lessons from the March debacle. If the government accepts the latest recommendations, the minimum price for 1,800 megahertz frequency band, which is used for basic mobile services, could drop by as much as 37% to 14.96 billion rupees ($229 million). The reserve price for the more efficient 900 megahertz band, up for grabs in three key cities—Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata—could go down by as much as 60%.
In that case, India’s mobile customers can look forward to fatter companies offering better service, while the government rakes in additional cash (an expected 408 billion rupees) to plug up its gaping deficit.
jack-sploicer submitted: In addition to previous post: Anne...
jack-sploicer submitted:
In addition to previous post: Anne Pogoda did something better.
But it’s okay! He has a reason for this, to camouflage! Instead of, you know, wearing something more practical (at least comfortable)…… or wear actual camouflage.
Virgin Media becomes the first cable operator to embrace Netflix
The UK's Virgin Media is to begin rolling out Netflix to its customers. According to a report from BBC News, Virgin will send out invitations to pilot Netflix to some 40,000 customers before eventually rolling the app out the all users of its TiVo boxes. The move is at odds with others in the industry, who have generally shunned services that are viewed as competitive with their own.Although the Wall Street Journal suggests otherwise, BBC News says Virgin Media may offer Netflix subscriptions to its customers as part of a bundle with its own services.
If you've been following the fate of the US-owned Virgin Media, though, today's news won't come as a huge surprise. Since being bought out by Liberty Global, Virgin Media has been more open to getting streaming companies on board. In March, the company's CEO told Bloomberg Virgin would try to "get hold of every content asset we possibly can" for TiVo, explaining that the industry "has a far greater chance of succeeding if we work together and embrace over-the-top services." Virgin Media already offers access to YouTube through TiVo, and has expressed an interest in bringing the Amazon-owned LoveFilm to the box as well.
Gun rights groups roil politics with Colo. recall win - USA TODAY
U.S. News & World Report |
Gun rights groups roil politics with Colo. recall win USA TODAY SHARE 8 CONNECT 3 TWEET 2 COMMENTEMAILMORE. WASHINGTON — Gun rights advocates on Wednesday celebrated the unprecedented recall of two Colorado senators tossed out by voters for backing some of the nation's strictest gun laws, saying ... Colorado Lawmakers Ousted in Recall Vote Over Gun LawNew York Times A victory for gun rights advocates in ColoradoNBCNews.com The NRA's big win puts gun reform in dangerMSNBC Washington Post -Politico -The Coloradoan all 509 news articles » |
Humberto Has Strengthened to Become 1st Hurricane of Atlantic Season ... - ABC News
Washington Post |
Humberto Has Strengthened to Become 1st Hurricane of Atlantic Season ... ABC News Humberto has strengthened to become 1st hurricane of Atlantic season, remains far from land. Join the Discussion. You are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please click here to upgrade your browser in order to comment. Please enable ... Humberto becomes first hurricane of 2013ABC Action News all 507 news articles » |
Icahn Abandons Bid To Prevent Dell From Going Private
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Syria Accepts Russian Proposal To Surrender Control Of Its Chemical Weapons
Dyson sues Samsung for sucking at original design
Samsung's phones and tablets aren't the only thing under attack for patent infringement. The BBC reports that vacuum maker Dyson has filed a suit accusing Samsung of using its patented vacuum steering system in its own Motion Sync vacuum cleaner, announced at IFA earlier this week. "This looks like a cynical rip-off," said company founder Sir James Dyson. "Samsung has many patent lawyers, so I find it hard not to believe that this is a deliberate or utterly reckless infringement of our patent."
Dyson has a history of patent battles with its rivals. It's periodically gone to court with Hoover, and it won another patent case against Samsung in 2009, when a court ruled that Samsung had infringed on its super-powerful vacuuming mechanism. Now, it's saying that Samsung is stealing ideas from a 2009 patent on a fast-steering system that would let vacuums swivel easily instead of having to make clumsy turns with the wheels. The Motion Sync indeed touts a system that separates the body from the wheels for faster turns. While Dyson hasn't said whether it will seek a licensing fee or a full ban on the product, we expect readers will find this latest swivel in the Samsung patent saga as engrossing as anything that came before.
- Source BBC
- Related Items patent dyson vacuum cleaner ifa ifa 2013 lawsuit uk 18's a fluke Samsung
We Finally Know Who Mark Gatiss Will Play On Game Of Thrones
firehosea bank
The Prophecy Of The Ancient Text ‘Akira’ Comes True; Tokyo Gets...
firehosevia otters: "oh shit"
The Prophecy Of The Ancient Text ‘Akira’ Comes True; Tokyo Gets The 2020 Olympics
Mayor: 'We Need Your Help' To Stop Arsons - Police & Fire - Somerville, MA Patch
OnlyMrGodKnowsWhyI always thought the plural of “arson” was “arson.” Apparently not?
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone called on the public to help with an investigation into four arsons that have struck Somerville this summer.
The mayor said, "We need your help," and he announced the city would pay a $20,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to any individuals who have committed the arsons. The state is also offering a $5,000 reward, making a total reward $25,000 for information about the arsons.
- Is Medford the New Brooklyn?
- Home of the Week: Guess Which House Costs $1.3 Million ...
- Building Facade Collapses on Beacon Street in Somerville
- Local Pub Closes Its Doors
The mayor announced a tip line where people can call with information: (617) 629-1847.
Correction on Behance
firehose"I guess they have to be anonymous because they’re juveniles?"
the state (probably) can't, but the photographer could if he had the names by any lawful means, including asking them
there's also the ethical issues associated with attaching the kids' names with juvenile crime when those records are typically sealed. dude may not want these guys one google search away from parts of their juvie history being online (though these days, faces are pretty damn close to names.)
OnlyMrGodKnowsWhyPhoto series by a a college acquaintance. I guess they have to be anonymous because they’re juveniles?
