firehose

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix star Daniel Radcliffe enjoyed annoying the paparazzi during his recent stint on the London stage - for six months he deliberately wore the same clothes when leaving the theatre so photographs would be worthless. The 17-year-old was greeted by photographers each night outside the Gielgud Theatre during his stint in controversial West End play Equus, where the teenage actor disrobed onstage every night. Radcliffe quickly realized newspaper and magazine editors wouldn't publish photos of him wearing the same outfit night after night, because it would look like the pictures were taken on the same day. He says, "They (the paparazzi) were outside the theatre every single night, but we came up with a cunning ruse. I would wear the same outfit every time - a different T-shirt underneath, but I'd wear the same jacket and zip it up so they couldn't see what I was wearing underneath, and the same hat. So they could take pictures for six months, but it would look like the same day, so they (photos) became unpublishable. Which was hilarious, because there's nothing better than seeing paparazzi getting really frustrated."

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djempirical

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https://twitter.com/morayati/status/479653031038832640

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Courtney shared this story from Super Opinionated.

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In both book and television form, Game of Thrones has left numerous questions unanswered: Who is Jon Snow’s real mother? Will the Starks ever return to Winterfell? Does every conversation longer than a minute have to take place in a whorehouse? But biggest of all, the story asks who should lead. Who, among all Westeros, is not only qualified, but also righteous, just, shrewd, and inspiring enough to reunite the Seven Kingdoms?

While George R. R. Martin is several books and several decades away from providing an answer, the producers of HBO’s adaptation have found theirs: Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s esteemed monarch will visit Thrones’ Northern Ireland set, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, and four thousand Dothraki mounted warriors (that last one is unconfirmed as of press time). Ostensibly, Her Majesty is there to appreciate the economic benefits the show has brought to ...

Score one for science! New clauses added to the funding agreements for schools in the UK have banned creationism from being taught as fact in any schools that accept government funds — even church schools.

The UK ban on creationism being taught as fact isn’t new. That’s been in effect for new publicly-funded free schools since 2012. That ban only covered new free schools, and not academies. What’s changed is the inclusion of academies to the ban as well as free schools established before the 2012 ban. That’s any school in the UK which takes public money.

The clauses in the document “Church of England and Catholic single academy model supplemental agreement” pertaining to creationism read:

23E) The parties acknowledge that clauses 2.43 and 2.44 of the Funding Agreement apply to all academies. They explicitly require that pupils are taught about the theory of evolution, and prevent academy trusts from teaching ‘creationism’ as scientific fact.

23F) ‘Creationism’, for the purposes of clauses 2.43 and 2.44 of the Funding Agreement and clause 23E above, is any doctrine or theory which holds that natural biological processes cannot account for the history, diversity, and complexity of life on earth and therefore rejects the scientific theory of evolution. The parties acknowledge that Creationism, in this sense, is rejected by most mainstream Churches and religious traditions, including the major providers of state funded schools such as the [Anglican] [Catholic] Churches, as well as the scientific community. It does not accord with the scientific consensus or the very large body of established scientific evidence; nor does it accurately and consistently employ the scientific method, and as such it should not be presented to pupils at the Academy as a scientific theory.

23G) The parties recognise that the teaching of creationism is not part of prevailing practice in the English education system, but acknowledge that it is however important that all schools are clear about what is expected in terms of the curriculum which they need to provide. The parties further recognise that the requirement on every academy and free school to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, in any case prevents the teaching of creationism as evidence based theory in any academy or free school.

This also gives an official definition of creationism by the government of the UK which recognizes it’s a fringe belief not based in evidence-based science.

The changes went into effect last week. Maybe it’ll start a trend and some other countries *ahem* America *ahem* will follow suit and start taking science education seriously.

(via io9, image via Alan)

Previously in

• Creationism, climate change denial, and other bad science don’t deserve equal consideration
• This video sets Our Friend Bill Nye’s speech on science over creationism to moving music
• Nye debated Creationist Museum founder Ken Ham on evolution

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There was a rumor that Max Landis was going to write the fresh new "Ghostbusters" script that would save the franchise and revive the plans for a third sequel. That was quickly denied and trashed, but the rumors did give Landis the idea to toy with "Ghostbusters" fans on twitter.

"If you were just a regular person, you turned on the TV, and you saw Eric Cantor talking, I would say — and I'm fine with gay people, that's all right — but my gaydar is 60-70 percent. But he's not, I think, so I don't know. Again, I couldn't care less. I'm accepting."

I guess they have a lot of Clone War crimes to atone for: an international group of Star Wars fans named after Vader’s 501^st Legion have gone from battling Jedi to gender bias. The world’s largest Imperial costuming organization is giving girls literal armor with which to protect themselves from bullies: a pint-sized Stormtrooper outfit built to the exact specifications of the original movies.

In her article Aren’t You A Little Short For A Stormtrooper, blogger Carrie Goldman reveals the freedom of expression that the Legion has given her daughter and other budding Star Wars fans. In 2010 the group of cosplayers (many of whom experienced bullying firsthand during an online incident in 2012) supported Goldman’s daughter Katie when she was taunted for loving a Universe that was “only for boys.” In 2012, the organization rallied together to give Katie a Halloween costume that would know no gender. Writes Goldman on her blog:

The 501^st decided to make Katie her own set of custom Stormtrooper armor, built to the exact specifications from the original Star Wars movies in the ‘70’s. Two years ago, Katie became an unexpected symbol of geek pride and anti-bullying. Her story touched something deep in the core of the 501^st — a desire to always stand up for what you believe in –and based on those strong feelings, the members of the 501^st wanted to make her a Halloween costume that no other child could replicate. Katie would become a Stormtrooper, as if she had stepped onto the set of a LucasFilm movie.

But one does not simply become a Stormtrooper (even if you skip the Jango Fett step). It took six weeks, contributions of parts from fans around the world, and

an extensive list of precise measurements [...] Very precise, as in: Circumference of palm not including thumb; Forearm, inside length from wrist (bent forward) to inside of the elbow; Circumference of thigh just above the kneecap

before the galaxy’s most impressive Halloween costume was presented to Katie at a ceremony attended by a Jawa, a platoon of troopers, and even Vader himself.

However, the trooper suit is the gift that keeps on giving. On Monday Goldman reported that the 501^st and Katie had decided to pass the costume on to Allison, an eleven year-old that was “taunted, ostracized, and even physically attacked by her peers” for bringing a Spider-Man lunchbox to school. (Seriously, peers? You are the worst.)

As Legion member Brian Troyan told Goldman in an email, in its new home the suit will remind Allison “that she shouldn’t ever need to hide who she is.”

• MTV Cribs visits a Stormtrooper’s pad
• Gummy Bears wearing clone trooper helmets=the Internet
• Life-sized Stormtrooper cake

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WASHINGTON—Saying that things are only going to keep getting worse unless it’s willing to step up and make some changes, millions of frustrated Americans wondered this week why the nation’s struggling mental health system couldn’t ...

Spreadsheets are not usually considered very punk. Nonetheless, if you love insane programming concepts and hacks and fancy playing an oldskool-looking RPG game, maybe you should consider trying out ARENA XLSM, a RPG game created by “chartered accountant” Cary Walkin. Arena.Xlsm is a turn-based RPG made entirely in Microsoft Excel using macros. An extensive wiki dedicated to the game is online here. There are some severe system limitations (doesn’t work on modern Macs. Only works on Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010 and 2013. And should you fancy trying out other Excel-based games coded by Mr. Walkin, be sure to visit his website.-LT

Federal prosecutors believe Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, illegally coordinated fundraising with conservative groups as part of a nationwide "criminal scheme" to violate election laws, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

Whoa, Super Dodge Ball on 3DS/Wii U Virtual Console ⊟

The NES version of Super Dodge Ball is on Virtual Console today! Sure, it’s maybe not as amazing as you might remember it being, especially since versions have come out since the NES that aren’t so choppy, but I still like it. And with its world-traveling nation-versus-nation gameplay, it’s a really good way to celebrate the World Cup (an assertion that I think holds up great unless you think about it for more than one second).

Other cool stuff on 3DS today includes a discount on Fractured Soul. For $5.99, it’s a good deal, especially because you won’t ever finish it. Parking Star 3D is half off as well, and I’m thinking about it…

You can find the week’s releases on our Releases page, which Eric is updating again. Thanks, Eric! That’s a lot of work, actually.

BUY Nintendo 2DS & 3DS/XL, upcoming games

scarred - Osman (Mitchell Corporation - arcade - 1996) 

Sometime in the last decade, Indians started consuming whiskey with such gusto that the subcontinent became the world’s biggest market for the spirit, in terms of volume.

Between 2007 and 2012, the country’s whiskey appetite doubled to over 1.4 billion litres, as everything from imported smoky single malts to throat-searing local varieties was swiftly knocked back. It seemed a thirst that couldn’t be quenched.

Until now.

Year-on-year growth of whiskey sales, by volume, has plummeted, according to recent data by International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR).

2013, in particular, was a cheerless year for the broader Indian alcohol industry. Growth in whiskey and brandy consumption, both of which form the greatest share in the market, have dropped—and overall spirits sales in the country reportedly declined by 2%.

Even in the southern state of Kerala, which has the heaviest per capita alcohol consumption in the country, sales have purportedly fallen for the first time in three decades.

Some of it has to do with India’s election cycle, as alcohol sales are closely monitored and controlled. Voting days are dry, and in the recently concluded polls, the Election Commission has been especially watchful.

Moreover, a sluggish economy and high taxes may have played their part in driving middle-class consumers toward cheaper Indian made foreign liquor (abbreviated as IMFL in industry lingo) and indigenous alcoholic beverages.

The last few years have also seen something of a demographic shift. Growing numbers of women and young, wealthier consumers are leading to some diversification in consumption. Sales of beer and especially wine, as a result, grew faster than spirits between 2011 and 2012, according to Euromonitor International.

But as a standalone spirit, nothing came close to whiskey and its sway over India.

The lack of growth hardly means India will cease be a major whiskey market; just that it’s slowing down.

In fact, more spending and organized retail still leave plenty of room for whiskey consumption in the subcontinent to expand, according to Euromonitor International. Finer whiskies will likely do exceptionally well.

So while India’s raging thirst for whiskey may finally be slaked, at least we know one thing: The hangover will last a while.

This article is a part of Quartz India. For more, follow this link.

captainsnoop:

yardovich:

worldsworstgrandpa:

He’s just some guy who randomly showed up one day that became friends with Wario. That makes it even better. Nobody knows where Waluigi came from. He just exists.

whats even better is that Waluigi’s first appearance was in Mario Tennis, meaning that the only reason he showed up in the first place was because he wanted to play tennis with people. nobody had ever heard of him before and he just shows up to play tennis

That’s why Waluigi is never in any of the main games. He only knows Wario and he only wants to play sports. He’s just some guy that met Wario at the tennis court and he hangs with Wario whenever Wario goes out to play sports, and otherwise he minds his own business.

Waluigi probably has his own circle of friends that we’ve never seen. There’s an entire world of Waluigi that we haven’t touched upon simply because he isn’t the adventuring type. Wario phones him up and says “Hey bro, I’m-a gonna go on an adventure to get-a some jewels from a pyramid. You wanna come with?” and Waluigi’s just like “Nah bro, I’m good. Me and my buds are gonna swing by the coffee shop and go to the library today. Hit me up if you wanna go go-karting though!” 

God damn. The mild world of Waluigi. 

crackedstarsshining.tumblr.com


crackedstarsshining.tumblr.com


crackedstarsshining.tumblr.com

Dragons of Portland, Rebecca Flaum

An anonymous reader writes A group of internet industry executives and politicians came together to look back on the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and to do a little crystal-ball gazing about the future of broadband regulation in the United States. Former FCC commissioner Michael Copps was among the presenters, and he had sharp words for the audience about the "insanity" of the current wave of merger mania in the telecom field and the looming threats of losing net neutrality regulation.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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An anonymous reader writes Mark Karpeles doesn't seem to understand how much anger and trouble the $400 million Mt. Gox fiasco caused his customers. According to Wired: "After a long absence, the Mt Gox CEO has returned to Twitter with a bizarre string of tone-deaf tweets that were either written by a Turing test chat bot, or by a man completely oblivious to the economic chaos he has wrought. His first message after losing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bitcoins? 'What would we do without busybox?'—a reference to a slimmed-down Linux operating system used on devices such as routers. He's also Tweeted about a noodle dish called yakisoba and Japanese transportation systems." Andreas Antonopoulos, the CSO with Blockchain says, "He continues to be oblivious about his own failure and the pain he has caused others. He is confirming that he is a self-absorbed narcissist with an inflated sense of self-confidence who has no remorse."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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4. Dunkin’ Donuts Score: 75, down 5 points

At the same time, insurers with the smallest enrollments are proposing to cut rates so they can lure customers as the cheapest plans in their markets.

Robert Morris University in Chicago put out a call recruiting League of Legends players to its first varsity eSports team earlier this month. According to Riot Games, RMU will become the first university to offer a competitive team at the varsity level, and will offer scholarships to players "of up to 50 percent tuition and 50 percent room and board."

Buell was also the first person to copyright a map in the United States.

pansexualityisperfect:

All people should have their cake and the ability to eat it too. 

And yes, I edited the title to include all sexualities. :)

It seems like whenever someone is looking for an easy or obvious way to inject RSS with mass market appeal, the answer is always to be more like social media. 

But that answer is neither obvious or easy. RSS is not social media. RSS will never be a best way to publish your birthday pictures on your wall. It will never pull from your Facebook profile, get you a better Klout score, or get your photos onto Instagram.

But we do believe that the community building and information sharing that happens in social media ought be even more powerful in RSS. The question is how to translate social sharing into the RSS reader world without compromising our core values. 

Last week I talked about why I believe RSS is the best tool for getting the content you want. Of course, there is a catch to that premise. For RSS to work, you already need to know that you want stuff from a particular site. And that obviously doesn’t work if there’s interesting stuff you don’t know exists. 

I also understand that RSS can sometimes deliver too much stuff, and users can drown in information. You can get also create your own echo chamber, never discovering new content or having your horizon broadened. 

Instead of mocking the more inane aspects of social media, let’s take the best parts and run with it. Our goal is to deliver stuff that’s been read, vetted, and recommended by people whose opinions you respect. Or at least people who have good taste.

We’re going to grapple with that issue of how to do that without compromising our core principles. I know there are some strong feelings out there around this issue. Let’s hear it.