UK Defends Miranda Airport Detention

Yes, obviously:

UK Home Office says 'government and police have a duty to protect the public', in wake of row over airport detention

But they need to explain how detaining the partner of a journalist under extreme anti-terrorist legislation achieves this.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23769324

Ubuntu sets crowdfund pledge record for Edge smartphone

I really like the idea of the Ubuntu Edge smartphone, although I wouldn't actually buy one myself. I don't think they're like to reach their funding goal but I hope the project proceeds - the basic premise sounds great.

The London-based developer, Canonical, has generated $10,288,472 (about £6.6m) in pledges, passing the record set by Pebble smartwatches last year. But with six days of its campaign left the company is far from reaching its funding goal of $32m.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23714549

Email service used by Snowden shuts itself down

Secret courts and anti-constitutional behaviour. Deeply disturbing.

This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States."

I use GMail, Google Drive, Apple's iCloud, DropBox and various other US-based or US-connected services to store or manage my private data. Migrating away from these services would be painful and difficult but if the US continues its drive toward a police state then maybe it will be necessary. We can only hope that they are able to get a grip on their security services and rein in their paranoia. 

The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/09/lavabit-shutdown-snowden-silicon-valley

Skyscraper Fail

Oops:

The Intempo skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain—standing proud in this image—was designed to be a striking symbol of hope and prosperity, to signal to the rest of the world that the city was escaping the financial crisis. Sadly, the builders forgot to include a working elevator.

Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/the-builders-of-this-spanish-skyscraper-forgot-the-elev-1065152844 

Gauss Gun

An interesting application of the technology but not an enormously dangerous weapon.

A full-auto Gauss gun probably won't hurt much
http://hackaday.com/2013/08/07/a-full-auto-gauss-gun-probably-wont-hurt-much/

Sandbanks

Sounds great:

Sandbanks seemed to be a place where people came to obliterate reality with drink, money and heat, floating on a weird, isolated semi-island that's slowly sinking into the sea.

A Big Day Out with... Britain's Drunk Nouveau Riche!
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/sandbanks-beach-polo-posh-britain

Elitistreview's eighth anniversary dinner at The Bangkok Brasserie

Learn about paranoid schizophrenia (I certainly hadn't understood the nature of the symptoms until I read Elitist Review) and where to buy Thai food in Winchester.

For a couple of weeks now I have been seeing mouths open up in the pavement and road, with teeth trying to bite me and snake like tongues I could feel lick at my ankles.

Source: http://elitistreview.com/2013/08/01/bangkok-brasserie-psychosis/

Dear Daily Mail - Amanda Palmer

Great stuff. I'm not a fan of the Daily Mail.

Dear Daily Mail

O2 4G mobile network launch

The launch date is August 29th but for reasons known only to O2 they aren't supporting the iPhone:

He also confirmed that unlike EE, O2's 4G network would not be compatible with Apple's iPhone 5, but said he "would be frankly gobsmacked if their roadmap didn't address that issue".

Strange decision, and extremely annoying for those of us with iPhones.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23521211