Not necessarily a comfortable residence, but it looks lightweight and easy to transport - a neat solution, maybe, if you want to travel alone in the wilderness. Not really my thing.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Bill aimed at stopping United Nations takeover of U.S. advances
Paranoid Arizonan legislators are trying to pass a bill to defend their state against a non-existent conspiracy.
The Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that some proponents say is aimed at stopping a United Nations conspiracy to take away the rights of American citizens.
Thanks, Arizona - you've given the rest of the world a good laugh at your expense.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Analytical thinking erodes belief in God
Fascinating piece of research:
Norenzayan and Gervais then asked the students to again rate their supernatural beliefs. The students who had been exposed to analytical priming consistently downgraded their belief in the supernatural, regardless of their previous degree of belief. This was also true of 148 adults tested online.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Amazing Brick Machine Rolls Out Roads Like Carpet
This is brilliant:
As the electric crawler inches forward along a sand base layer, the bricks are automatically packed together by gravity. A small telescoping forklift feeds the hopper, allowing the Tiger-Stone to lay out an impressive 400 square meters of road day, and the span can be adjusted up to six meters wide.
Who wouldn't feel sorry for Donald Trump?
Tycoon Donald Trump has said he was "lured" into building a £1bn golf resort in Scotland with assurances that a nearby wind farm would not go ahead.
via bbc.co.uk
Well, me, for a start. Anyone who doesn't bother to find investigate local planning regulations are before beginning to construction, especially someone with Trump's resources, doesn't really deserve sympathy.
Lancashire leads new British textile manufacturing revival
Bill Collins, originally from Scotland, is a serial textile entrepreneur and is now the owner of Thornber Home and Leisure in Clitheroe, Lancashire. A family business for over a century, Mr Collins bought the company in 2010. It is now one of the largest weavers in Europe, capable of producing 60,000 metres of fabric a week.
"Our order books remain healthy, though profit margins are tight as they are pegged against Turkey and the Chinese," Mr Collins tells Radio 4's In Business programme.
via bbc.co.uk
So it is possible to compete against Chinese manufacturers, even in industries that are labour-intensive. There's hope for us all.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android
Two weeks into its Kickstarter project, and with 23 days to go, the Pebble has been backed to the tune of $6.5m. That's pretty impressive. Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-e-paper-watch-for-iphone... I'm really tempted to pick up one of these things to use when running or travelling.
Original Google Concept Phone
It's horrible, a sort of nasty white Blackberry without the style or sophistication. I can't imagine why they dropped it...
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Oh You Know, Just A Giant Spider Eating A Snake
I don't want to visit a country where plate-sized spiders eat the snakes. It's just wrong.
Story: http://www.geekologie.com/2012/04/oh-you-know-just-a-giant-spider-eating-a.php
Story: http://www.geekologie.com/2012/04/oh-you-know-just-a-giant-spider-eating-a.php
Lord Hurd and the Church's tax bill
Lord Hurd said, in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph:
I think it [application of VAT to alterations of listed buildings] needs to be looked at in the light of the whole scheme of relations between the Church and the state. The Church has, on the whole, a pretty raw deal and this is just one example of it.
We are governed by people who are vaguely sympathetic to the Church and would be horrified if it started to disintegrate, but don't quite understand that in order to keep it all going it needs a bit of effort and a bit of sympathy.
The politicians might be "vaguely sympathetic" to the plight of the Church and may indeed be "horrified if it started to disintegrate" but the majority of the governed, who don't attend church and who, increasingly, identify themselves as non-Christian, probably couldn't care less.
It is unclear why the Church, with it's £5.3b investment portfolio (2010 figure, source), believes the state should continue to grant it tax exemptions of £20m (the Church's estimate, according to the BBC report) a year. It doesn't seem unreasonable for the Church to pay the same taxes as any other business.
BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17803801
8-year-old environmentalist raises $250 in 12 hours after friends’ parents call her ‘stupid’ for caring
Nice story.
Last night, Redditor nervousbreakdown19 wrote that her conscientious daughter Winter had asked for Nature Conservancy donations in lieu of gifts for her 8th birthday, and been mocked to her face by her friends’ jerkhole parents. Instead of crumbling under not-even-peer-pressure, though, Winter decided to set up a fundraising page with the kid-friendly site Earth Rangers, collecting donations for the endangered pine marten. (Earth Rangers gives half the raised money to the Nature Conservancy, and uses half for teaching about conservation in schools.)
I don't understand why adults would mock an 8-year old for this sort of effort - that's pretty shameful - but her response was brilliant.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Buy the damn coal and keep it in the ground
I quite like this idea; it sounds like something that might form part of a long-term strategy:
Harstad’s [solution] is simple: Focus on the supply side instead. Buy up fossil-fuel deposits in nonparticipating countries. Just keep the damn coal in the ground.
Source: http://grist.org/coal/new-climate-strategy-buy-the-damn-coal-and-keep-it-in-the-ground/
Saturday, April 14, 2012
PowerPot Cooks Up Energy—Just Add Heat, Water
Neat.
The PowerPot has a USB output and is available in two sizes, both of which are currently offered via a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
Source: http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/04/powerpot-cooks-up-energy-just-add-heat-water/
Turbine makes fresh water out of thin air in the desert
This is a very neat idea:
Eole’s turbine runs a compressor that condenses water from the air, and the 30 kilowatts of power it simultaneously produces allow it to pump that water to a reservoir.
I wonder if these turbines could be used to water small forest ecosystems in sheltered desert areas? Transforming deserts might have a useful effect on local climate.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
iPhone-Friendly Watch Now On Kickstarter
I'm tempted:
The Pebble lets your iPhone do all the heavy lifting. Its simple e-paper display — much like the original Kindle — is viewable even in direct sunlight, which is pretty necessary for a watch.
It is also releasing its software kit to developers, so they can create their own iPhone app-linking apps. Out of the box, you’ll be able to see incoming emails and calls, track your run and your bike ride via your phone’s GPS, as well as use your watch as a remote for the music app on your phone.
That's a neat set of features. Battery life is claimed to be 7+ days, which could be annoying (do I really want another device I have to remember to charge?) but that's the only downside I can see.
iPhone-Friendly Watch Gets $500,000 Kickstarter Funding in a Day
http://mashable.com/2012/04/11/iphone-watch-pebble-kickstarter/
World's Most Advanced Electronic Cyclewear
Ok, so it might look like a standard hi-vis cycle jacket but actually it's a gadget disguised as a jacket. > Integrated LED lights with one-touch operation offer wearer the ultimate personal protection and convenience. Furthermore Visijax® introduces the concept of active signalling through the revolutionary iMASS(TM) signalling system that intelligently puts on the appropriate flashing amber signal when rider raises arm to indicate turning. Buy it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007CBHA6M
Monday, April 09, 2012
Top 10 Lessons of the Iraq War
The first and most important lesson of Iraq war is that we [the US] didn't win in any meaningful sense of that term.
This is worth reading.
Got the link from Charles Stross on Twitter (https://twitter.com/cstross).>
How To Install Instagram On Your Android Phone In 23 Easy Steps
How To Install Instagram On Your Android Phone In 23 Easy Steps
via buzzfeed.com
The joy of an "open" operating system. I'm sure it's much simpler if you have a modern, supported phone, but this still made me laugh when I read it.
iPad feature request
In fact I have two features to request this morning:
1) Improved text formatting in Mail - support for numbered lists etc.
2) Support for embedded links in Mail (and Pages). Small features, maybe, but useful for the way I use my iPhone and iPad.
1) Improved text formatting in Mail - support for numbered lists etc.
2) Support for embedded links in Mail (and Pages). Small features, maybe, but useful for the way I use my iPhone and iPad.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Sergey Brin Takes Project Glass Out of Google’s Lab
I like Google's Project Glass even though it's not really an original idea (Charles Stross featured a similar technology in his 2007 book Halting State). I see myself as a would-be early adopter for this sort of technology but I have two non-negotiable requirements for this product, over and above the usual concerns about implementation, design and features.
Firstly, it must work seamlessly with my iDevices, preferably an iPad. If it launches as an Android-only product, which may make sense in some respects, I'm out.
Secondly, I want to pay a fair price and, in return, receive a product that is absolutely guaranteed to be working only for me. Any hint that the glasses would be showing adverts or gathering information for Google would force me to steer clear.
My hope is that Apple are working on something similar, partly because I think they're more likely to pass the above tests but mostly because I think Apple would do a much better job with both the hardware and the UI. Interesting times.
Sergey Brin Takes Project Glass Out of Google’s Lab
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/04/sergey-brin-takes-project-glass-out-of-googles-lab/
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Holy Week 2012 | Ycpics.com
It's Easter, when Christians all over the world gather to celebrate the execution by crucifixion of their prophet and pseudo-god, Jesus. If you see them partying don't forget to remind them that their bloke loved them so much he stayed dead for only three days before heading back to heaven for an after-life of luxury. That's dedication for you.
Photos. Holy Week 2012 | Ycpics.com
Friday, April 06, 2012
Could Hydrogen replace oil as a fuel?
If this works then hydrogen's potential to be a sustainable replacement for oil just took a huge leap forwards:
Koepf, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, has designed a novel reactor that employs highly concentrated sunlight and zinc oxide powder to produce solar hydrogen, a truly clean, sustainable fuel with zero emissions.
Novel solar reactor may enable clean fuel derived from sunlight
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-04-solar-reactor-enable-fuel-derived.html
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-04-solar-reactor-enable-fuel-derived.html
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Extra storage space at Dropbox
I wrote a brief post last week about the imminent launch of Google Drive, which has a Dropbox-beating 5Gb of storage. My prediction was that Dropbox would up their game when Google launched but it looks like they've struck already, at least in part, by increasing their referral bonus:
Details here at the Dropbox blog.
Hat-tip to The Loop.
Today, we’re really happy to announce that we’ve doubled the amount of free space you get for inviting friends to Dropbox!
Details here at the Dropbox blog.
Hat-tip to The Loop.
Foreign Office attempts to educate Texan politicians
You've got to admire the FO's ambition; Texan politicians appear immune to education, reason and science:
Rick Perry, the governor of Texas and former Republican presidential candidate, has criticised the UK's Foreign Office for funding an environmental group which aimed to "educate" Texan policymakers about climate science and "move them from a state of denial and inaction to one of acceptance and effective action".
Monday, April 02, 2012
Humans hot, sweaty, natural-born runners
Fascinating stuff.
Modern humans and their immediate ancestors such as Homo erectus sport several adaptations that make humans, instead of some ferocious, furry, or fleet creature, the animal world’s best distance runners.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Creepy, unpleasant data-mining of your Facebook information
If you haven't read this (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/03/not-an-april-fool-1.html) or this (http://www.cultofmac.com/157641/this-creepy-app-isnt-just-stalking-women-with... you really should. Very, very creepy stuff.
Email and web use 'to be monitored' under new laws
Internet firms will be required to give intelligence agency GCHQ access to communications on demand, in real time. The Home Office says the move is key to tackling crime and terrorism, but civil liberties groups have criticised it.
via bbc.co.uk
Doesn't sound like a great idea but at least the Government is outsourcing the work to ISP, which means the technology will probably work and won't cost untold billions (although, without knowing exactly what's being done, it's impossible to be sure).
I don't like this sort of thing. It has unpleasant overtones. The Government should be publish the risk register for this legislation and heed all reasonable feedback; I wouldn't put money on them actually doing this.
Runway In The Sky Lands Planes Downtown
Madness.
Runway In The Sky Lands Planes Downtown
http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/runway-in-the-sky-lands-planes-downtown/
http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/runway-in-the-sky-lands-planes-downtown/
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