Internet Scams and Phishing: A Look Inside the Business

eWeek reports: "From the fake IRS e-mails that hit in-boxes during tax season to the phony banking sites that look to trick users into entering sensitive information, phishers are still up to their old tricks. Just how much was underscored recently by a three-month investigation by Panda Security that found scammers are creating 57,000 fake Websites a week to exploit 375 popular brand names, such as eBay and Western Union."

Gymkhana: Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome, France

Shot just south of Paris, France in Linas at l'Autodrome de Linas --Montlhéry, this 1.58 mile oval track, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees, which is more than double the standard incline of most NASCAR ovals. Chosen by Ken for this specific reason, the ramp-like banking proved to be a unique and exciting challenge. The driving physics for the stunts performed were totally unknown until Ken attempted the maneuvers during filming.

Edison 2: Race for the $10 Million X Prize

Edison 2 uses the latest technology to make a fast, lightweight vehicle. Here's a look at the car on the track at the X Prize competition. Learn more about the X Prize and alternative-fuel vehicles on Consumer Reports's website

Superbus First Ride - 17 Sep 2010

Wubbo Ockels , inventor, made the first ride of the Superbus Vehicle designed by Antonia Terzi. Superbus drives 250 km/h on a special track and drives also on hignways and secondary roads. The propulsion is electric. Superbus is and innovative new pubic transport and a project of the Delft University of Technology.

Criminals 'go cloud' with attacks-as-a-service

InfoWorld reports: "Just like legitimate businesses, criminals are turning to the cloud as a way to generate new services and simplify their infrastructure. While some sites offer botnets for lease or sale, and other sites offer aid with cheating on games, the latest crop of criminal enterprises is serving up attacks as a service."

It is interesting to see how "cloud" based technologies are now being used. Everyone seem to be getting into the game, including criminals.

I heard a new acronym today, its called AaaS (Attacks as a Service) in reference to the article above.

Object-Oriented Storage: 14 Things You May Not Know

eWeek reports: "Reducing storage costs is becoming a high agenda item for IT organizations, yet data and efficient access to it is an organization's most valuable asset. Struggling with the performance, scalability and management complexity required to maintain conventional file-based storage systems is a losing battle if data needs to be stored more than 90 days. One way to approach this is to use an object-oriented storage system, which simplifies the process. Object-oriented storage differs from unstructured file storage in that the objects filed are not housed in volumes or attached to a directory. Objects are simply assigned an ID number or name with detailed metadata and can be retrieved at any time."

I wonder if this might be the next generation of mass storage. It sounds like it has several advantages according to the slide-show, but what I would like to know are the disadvantages to this technology. That is what I am trying to research now.

If you want more information on this technology, check out the following resources:

• Caringo's CAStor YouTube Channel - Includes video demos of the technology
• Caringo's web site

TerraPower’s Travelling Wave Reactor – why not use an IFR?

BraveNewClimate reports: "There has been a lot of hype recently about the “Travelling Wave Reactor” (TWR), thanks largely to a very popular TED talk given recently by none other than Microsoft founder and multi-billionaire Bill Gates. In the 20 min talk, he describes the urgent need for cheap, abundant, low-CO2 energy, if we are to successfully mitigate climate change (a problem he takes very seriously). One key focus of Gates’ talk is nuclear power… new nukes."

A very interesting article comparing TWR and IFR (Integral Fast Reactor) technologies.

Bank robber hires decoys on Craigslist, fools cops

CNET News reports: "In an elaborate robbery scheme that's one part The Thomas Crowne Affair and one part Pineapple Express, a crook robbed an armored truck outside a Bank of America branch in Monroe, Wash., by hiring decoys through Craigslist to deter authorities."

The Rockfish

A futurist SCI-FI story about a man and his little buddy fishing for a rockfish on an alien planet.

Oktapodi (Animated Short Film)

Oktapodi from oscardodo on Vimeo.

Epic failures: 11 infamous software bugs

Computerworld reports: "It all began with a log entry from 1947 by Harvard University's Mark II technical team. The now-classic entry features a moth taped to the page, time-stamped 15:45, with the caption 'Relay #70 Panel F (moth) in relay' and the proud boast, 'First actual case of bug being found.'"

It's a really good article, and provides more information then I have seen anyone write on the subject. It's technical, but worth reading.

Next Generation User Interfaces (From Switches to Augmented Reality)

Its interesting how the computer user interface has evolved over the decades. Here is a very brief history: First there was nothing more then switches and light and you had to enter and read information in binary, this evolved to punch cards and tape, later keyboards and printers, and eventually terminals with keyboard and monitors. For decades, the text user interface was the status-quo.

In the 1960s, Doug Engelbart introduced the concept of the mouse and graphical user interface (GUI). In the 1970s - 1980s, Xerox took the concept and made it a reality. In the 1980s Apple popularize the GUI with the Lisa and Macintosh lines of computers. Then again for decades, the graphical user interface was the status-quo.

In the 1980's Jaron Lanier, introduced the 'virtual reality' (VR) concept. The first generation of this technology was crude by today's standards, but advanced drastically since.  I remember seeing some early VR prototypes of future GUI in the 1990s, and being blown away about the concepts.

In 1993, Apple released an early natural speech recognition feature as part of their OS for the Quadra.  Microsoft first included this feature with their release of the Windows Vista OS.

Touch screens are passe, but when this technology is enhanced by advancements like a 'multi-touch gestures' interface.  Then combined with other technology advancements, you get a GUI that begins to become on-par with some of the user interface concepts introduced in the movie 2002 movie Minority report (excerpt of the scenes I am referring to).  Microsoft now includes a 'multi-touch gestures' interface feature as part of the Windows 7 OS.

In 2006, Nintendo introduced the 3D wireless controllers.  In 2007 Apple introduced the iPhone, and popularize the multi-touch gestures interface for this device.  In 2009, Yelp help popularize the augmented reality concept (computer generated information laid over real world video), by introducing an Easter egg on the iPhone called Monocle. 

In 2009 Microsoft introduced Project Natal, now called 'Kinect' (proof of concept video).  In 2009 at TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demoed technology concepts from a company called SixthSense, that shows how they are overlaying computer data on the physical world and making it interactive.  In 2010,  Intel is also working on hard on advancing the user interface, see the following article.

From here you begin to see other emerging technologies, like camspace which is a computer vision platform.  Basically it allows you use a web cam, and just about any real world object as a game controller (or input device).

All the technologies I mentioned above might seem little disjointed in how I presented them, although the all share a few things in common.  All of them are popularized concepts based around advancements in user interface technologies.

As mobile devices become more powerful, and get more features (such as the motion sensor and gyroscope already built into the iPhone 4).  I personally believe that software developers will build on these features and concepts, to bring about next generation user interface enhancements that I believe will include location aware social networking concepts (such as Gowalla and foursquare, and now Facebook Places), augmented reality, object and speech recognition.

From a technological standpoint, I don't see developers limited by hardware anymore. I see greatest the limitation, is the imagination needed to integrate all these technologies together into a killer application that gains mass adaption.  Although, with all these advancements comes greater concern about privacy and security.  I hope these issues will be addressed before they become a problem.

FCC White Space Plan Isn't Exactly WiFi on Steroids

eWeek reports: "The announcement that the Federal Communications Commission was prepared to approve unlicensed digital operations in slices of frequency spectrum occupied by television guard bands is being greeted eagerly by many, including Google and Microsoft."

One of the best articles I have read on the subject. It has a great technical explanation on how the technology works.

Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation

TED's Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation -- a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. But to tap into its power, organizations will need to embrace radical openness.

Resources for Find a New Job

If you're trying to find a job in today's market you have to be as savvy as you can.  You have to do more then post your resume on a few job boards, you have to create a "personal brand" to distinguish yourself from the other available candidates.

There are a lot of free tools and resources out there to help you write a resume, research a company, get interview tips, and a great deal more.  Below are links to videos, articles, web sites and other tools that I have found that can help you in your job search.

• General Tips
• Network with everyone you know and let them know you're looking.
• If you don't know anyone to talk to try finding recruiters in your field.
• Leverage social networking site (Linkedin, and Twitter) tools to help you find a job.
• Use them to build a personal brand and find jobs
• Make sure you're resume is perfect.
• Have several people review it.
• Make sure your resume contains relevant keywords to help it get found.
  
• Post your resume on the job boards (such as: Monster, Dice, etc.)
• Search the job boards for positions, also target specific companies that you want to work for and search their job postings.
• Research a company before you interview.
• Use the Google, and the companies web site.
• Be ready with questions to ask about the company/job that you're applying for.
• Dress appropriately for the job interview.
• Avoid wearing any fragrances (like cologne or perfume).
• Some people may be allergic to them.
• Be to the interview about 10-15 minutes ahead of time
• Plan for traffic and know the route.
• Have a list of references ready.
• Send out a thank you letter after a personal interview.
• Articles
• 10 Tips for an Online Job Search
• Videos
• Using Twitter to Find a Job
• Using Linkedin - Free vs. Premium Service
• Web Sites
• Job Search Engines
• Monster
• General job search engine.
• Indeed
• General job search engine.
• Dice
• Technology professional job search engine
• Craigslist
• Some large and small companies do post jobs here
• USAJobs.gov
• Government job search engine.
• Job Social Network Sites
• Linkedin
• Professional/business social networking site.  Keep your resume up-to-date on this site and join groups.  Also do what you can find to build your network.
• Twitter
• General purpose social networking site. It can be a great resource if leveraged correctly.
• Job Search Resources
• Dice.com's Career News and Advice section
• Monster.com's Career Advice section
• Tools
• JibberJobber.com 
• This site allows you organizer your job search prospects and contacts.
• VisualCV 
• Create professional looking resume that people can view online.  If you don't have you're own web site to help brand yourself, this might be a good solution for you.

Google at 12: 10 IT Lessons the Search Engine Giant Has Taught Us

eWeek reports: "Google is now 12-years-old and over that period, the search engine company has taught the tech space quite a bit about what Google is all about."

Midichlorian Rhapsody

Star Wars themed parody of Bohemian Rhapsody.

The Solo Adventures 3D

This fan film explains the story behind Han Solo ditching the cargo that caused Jabba to put a bounty on him.

Note: 3D glasses are required to view it all of its glory.

JibberJobber.com - Job Search Organizer

Are you looking for a job, and getting overwhelmed with all the contact information from talking to the different people in your job search? JibberJobber.com promotes itself as a Job Search Tool, Personal Relationship Manager, and a Job Search Organizer. Watch the video below to get more information.

Apple TV vs. Google TV: How do they differ?

digitaltrends.com reports: "The smartphone brawl between Apple and Google just crashed through a fence and onto your television set. But is Apple TV vs. Google TV a fair fight? Here’s why Apple TV and Google TV are significantly different approaches to digital entertainment."

10 Tips for an Online Job Search

Baseline magazine reports: "Searching for a job, but don’t know where to begin? Need specific advice for Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter? Check out these ideas from the book The Online Job Search Survival Guide, by Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D., director of communications at The Wharton School, and Paul Borgese, a managing partner at strategy and marketing company EyeCatcher Digital. Noting that 75% of companies expect recruiters to do online research on job candidates, the authors stress the importance of keeping your own online presence clean and current, and of finding ways to make yourself visible and attractive to the right people. A key is what Madia calls “reverse-engineering” the job search. “Rather than sending resumes en masse, social networking enables job seekers to plant content seeds strategically in places where human resources will likely be. Establish yourself as a thought leader, and give your expertise freely.” Using social media effectively also develops and showcases your marketable communication skills and online savvy."

Its a slide show of about 18 slides giving you some basic social networking job tips. It tells you how you can use Twitter, Facebook, and Linkenin to find a new job.

Article: Google TV on Track for Fall, Schmidt Says - Web Services Web 20 and SOA

eWeek reports: "Google TV is an ambitious effort to let users turn their televisions into computers. The service, based on Google's Android operating system, will let users navigate between channels, Websites and Web applications through Google's Chrome Web browser.

Schmidt, speaking at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin Sept. 7, said the service will soak up consumers' time in the evening. He also said the service will launch worldwide in 2011."

Bill Gates: The End of Textbooks as We Know Them

I totally agree with a lot of what Bill Gates has to say in this video about text books. I think having electronic text books that can help you do self-assessments tests to make sure you understand the material is absolutely genius. Most modern ebook readers all they do is take a real world experience and digitize it.

Putting some intelligence in to these ebook, can expand the experience and make it more interactive. That is one way to take this technology to the next level. Personally what I would like to see in the next generation ebooks, is embedded media (i.e.: video, hyperlinks, maybe even flash), self-assessments test, and an open portable standard to move books between reader and platforms.

The fact that there is no open portable standard that allows this I see as a hindrance to mass adaption because most publishers and consumers don't want to lock themselves into a proprietary technology. I also believe that this standard should include some type of open DRM (which is copy-protection) standard to help the publishers to want to adapt it.

Finding a Technology Job (Tip #2): Using Twitter to Find a Job

If you're a technology worker who is looking for employment. You might find that you now have to leverage social networking sites like Twitter as part of your job search.

Although, you may ask yourself "how to do it effectively?" Here is a video with some great tips on how to use Twitter in your job search.



Please note, this blog post is not an endorsement of the business or its services that created the video. The video creator is responsible for all its content. It is being reposted for educational purposes in order to assist people in their job search.

Finding a Technology Job (Tip #1): Using Linkedin - Free vs. Premium Service

If you're a technology worker who is looking for employment. You might find that you now have to leverage social networking sites like Linkedin as part of your job search. Although, you may ask yourself "how to do it effectively?"

Here is a video with some great tips on how to use Linkedin to find a new job. For more information about the person who created this video and some more information on the techniques discussed in it, see the following web site.

Video title: Getting LinkedIn Premium Paid Account for FREE ($600 Value)


Please note, this blog post is not an endorsement of the business or its services that created the video. The video creator is responsible for all its content. It is being reposted for educational purposes in order to assist people in their job search.

Researchers Find Quantum Encryption Hack

eWeek reports: "A team of researchers has uncovered a new way to crack the security of quantum cryptography (using bright light)." Read the rest of the article.

2012 may bring the "perfect storm" - solar flares, systems collapse

The Seattle Examiner reports: "Long scorned as “mysticism” and “parascience,” concern about the year 2012 has now surfaced in a mainstream NASA report on the potential impacts on human society of solar flares anticipated to peak in 2012." Read the rest of the article.

Peter Molyneux demos Milo, the virtual boy

Peter Molyneux demos Milo, a hotly anticipated video game for Microsoft's Kinect controller. Perceptive and impressionable like a real 11-year-old, the virtual boy watches, listens and learns -- recognizing and responding to you.

2 stage cluster water rocket to 810' (246m)

OW2.0:Plastic to Oil Fantastic

From the video description: "The Japanese company Blest has developed one of the smallest and safest oil-to-plastic conversion machines out on the market today. It's founder and CEO, Akinori Ito is passionate about using this machine to change the way people around the world think about their plastic trash. From solving our landfill and garbage disposal issues to reducing our oil dependancy on the Middle East, his machine may one day be in every household across Japan.

While holding up a bag of trash, he states, "It's a waste to throw away, isn't it? This is a treasure.""

Prototype Solar Roadways

The Solar Roadways project is working to pave roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Co-founder Scott Brusaw has made some major steps forward since our first visit back in 2007, so we visited him again earlier this year for an exclusive update on the project, including the first ever video recorded of the Solar Roadways prototype! For more information visit http://www.solarroadways.com . This Solar Roadway project will be featured in the upcoming feature film by YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip. To learn more about YERT, visit http://yert.com.

Super Slow Motion

Filmed using a Photron SA1.1 high-speed camera. This camera is able to record 5,000 fps (frames per second) at high resolution and 650,000 fps in low resolution.

Star Trek: How It Should Have Ended

Space...the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise, and this is how Star Trek should have ended!

Space Saving Transformable Furniture from CLEI (Italy)

Butterflies: Science On The Wing

What do butterflies, fiber optics and gyroids have in common. Its hard to explain, but it has the potential to makes better fiber optics cable. Listen to this except from an NPR podcast.

Toshiba libretto W100

Features of the Toshiba libretto W100:

• Run Windows 7 Home Premium
• Dual 7” diagonal multi-touch screens
• Weighs under two pounds
• Wireless-N and Bluetooth® v2.1
• Webcam

Six Easy Steps to Avert the Collapse of Civilization

Fora.TV Summary"Neuroscientist and fiction writer David Eagleman presents "Six Steps to Avert the Collapse of Civilization." Civilizations always think they're immortal, Eagleman says, but they nearly always perish, leaving "nothing but ruins and scattered genetics." It takes luck and new technology to survive. We may be particularly lucky to have Internet technology to help manage the six requirements of a durable civilization"

Margaret Gould Stewart: How YouTube thinks about copyright

Margaret Gould Stewart, YouTube's head of user experience, talks about how the ubiquitous video site works with copyright holders and creators to foster (at the best of times) a creative ecosystem where everybody wins.

Adam Walden: The Evolution of Gaming

TedTalk: William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?

From TED.com: "William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game."

John Underkoffler points to the future of UI

Minority Report science adviser and inventor John Underkoffler demos g-speak -- the real-life version of the film's eye-popping, tai chi-meets-cyberspace computer interface. Is this how tomorrow's computers will be controlled?

Iron Baby (Iron Man Parody)

AVP Redemption (Fan Film Alien vs. Predator)

AVP:Redemption fan film made by me Alex A. Popov for the purpose of entertaining the fans of both , Alien and Predator franchises, and also to share my vision of what Alien VS Predator film should be. The total budget for this film was about $500 and over 2 years

Tesla Coils - Arc Attack - Doctor Who Theme Song (Makers Faire 2010 - San Mateo)

ArcAttack employs a unique DJ set up of their own creation to generate an 'electrifying' audio visual performance. The HVDJ pumps music through a PA system while two specially designed DRSSTC's (Dual-Resonant Solid State Tesla Coils) act as separate synchronized instruments. These high tech machines produce an electrical arc similar to a continuous lightning bolt and put out a crisply distorted square wave sound reminiscent of the early days of synthesizers

LOST Re-enacted by Cats in 1 Minute.

Fly...

Its a pretty funny video if you like slapstick.

Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh)

About the video: "Social Media Revolution 2 is a refresh of the original video with new and updated social media & mobile statistics that are hard to ignore. Based on the book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman."

This video is nothing more then a social marketing tool itself, and I just another voice that is perpetuating it. Although if I didn't find it interesting, I would not post it. I am pretty sure that the statistics in it are inflated, but overall I still think it makes valid points even if they are sensationalized.

Article: The Geek Alphabet

"As a geek, you definitely know your ABCs, but do you know these? From A to Z, “away team” to “zork,” here is [GAS]’s take on the Geek Alphabet." (article)

This is pretty funny from a geek's prospective.

The Monkey Business Illusion

The Monkey Business Illusion by Daniel Simons. This video was one of the 10 finalists for the Best Illusion of the Year competition in May 2010. It was created as part of an undergraduate seminar course in the spring of 2009.

Only True Networking Geeks Will Get This...

Copy Machines, a Security Risk?

Since 2002 almost every copier now contains a hard drive, which stores a copy of every document the machine scans, prints, copies, or faxes. I don't believe that most people are aware of the significant security risks posed by modern office copiers.

Winscape virtual windows are cheaper than relocating [Video]

SlashGear reports: "Look out of your window: does what you see make you happy? If not, and if you’ve $2,500 to $3,000 to spare, Winscape have the solution. They take two 46-inch Full HD plasma HDTVs, dress them up to look like windows, and then using a hacked Wiimote controller and some nifty software have the on-screen virtual view follow you around as if you really are looking out a real window. Step to the left and you can see more of the vista previously hidden by the frame; step closer and everything gets bigger." (article)

I want one of these.

America's Broadband Policy

On April 12, 2010 Lawrence Lessig gave a talk at SNW 2010 about broadband, cybersecurity, and copyright policy, and the corruption in the policy making process affecting each. Hear/watch the pressenation.

The new $100 Note Unveiling Video

On April 21, 2010 Officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, unveiled the new design for the $100 note. Complete with advanced technology to combat counterfeiting, while still retaining the traditional look of U.S. currency.

Tenth Doctor: The Musical

The Raven

Summary: Chris Black possesses a power that could lead to the destruction of the current regime, and they will stop at nothing to destroy him.

PIXELS by Patrick Jean

New York invasion by 8-bits creatures!

OMG Cat - It's the iPad!

Will It Blend? - iPad

I like these "Will it Blend". They're irreverent towards the product, but fascinating to watch (kind of like an accident on the side of the road).

TRON 1982 Trailer (Updated)

Halo Movie Series - Bollywood Trailer (April Fools)

Trololo Cat

DIY: In-car Entertainment System for $30

I love things that allow you to leverage existing products you already own in new ways. The CradleVue is a device designed to securely suspend your notebook computer between the front seats of your vehicle, positioning it for unobstructed backseat viewing.

Personally I don't see myself spending an extra few thousand bucks to add an in-car entertainment systems to any new car I want to buy. But I have taken a long trip with my son across country and I would have loved to have one of these with me.

Article: Facebook Surpasses Google Search as Most Visited Web Site

Channel Insider reports: "Facebook's new lead over Google search points to the undeniable influence of social networking."

This is pretty amazing to see this happen. I am guessing Google and many other companies are probably very concern for several reasons (marketing, information distribution, and more).

Three Questions for Polly Pearson, VP at EMC

Dice.com reports: "Polly Pearson, vice president of employment brand and strategy engagement at EMC, understands that all too well. She has worked closely with executives there to help build the company's employment brand, and writes extensively on her blog about what you can do to build your own reputation, stay relevant, and make yourself more attractive to employers"

If you're looking for an IT related job, I would suggest watching these videos they contain good information about how to promote yourself. In the past you only had to post your resume, now you have to do a lot more.

(Back to) The Future of Communication

Here is a video I found online recently, it dated back to June 2007. Its amazing how outdated the predictions were off (I know most of these were never serious), but there is an essences of truth in a few of them.

Skinput: Appropriating the Body as an Input Surface

I have been seeing a lot of buzz recently about Skinput (watch the video if you want to understand it), but basically it sensors that listen for acoustic transmission from gestures (i.e.: tapping, snapping, etc.) you can make on your arm. From this information, you can navigate portable electronic devices (such as: smart phone/PDA, MP3 player, etc).

This technology is similar, but totally different from another technology from SixthSense. see the following TED Talk for more information.

SuperNews!: The Memes of Memetasia

Green Power

Since the 70's we have been looking for green power, and I think I can safely say the "future is now". In the last few years I have seen some amazing innovation in this field, more then I have ever seen in the last few decades For example there have been huge leaps in bio-fuels, and power generation (i.e.: solar, wind, nuclear, etc.).

I have to admit one of the area I find most interesting is waste products to fuel/energy conversion. There is some very interesting innovation in this field, from methane capture to converting solid waste material into fuel. So personally I believe if these technologies play out, waste will be the future of energy.

SAMSUNG Flexible AM OLED (Unbreakable Display)

LCDs screens are lighted from the back. An AM OLEDs is created by 3 layers of high-tech films (red, green, and blue), and every pixel is made of light that is emitted from the three layers. Because there is no need to light the pixels on OLEDs from the back you can make the screens thinner and flexible.

Believe it or not: Avatar takes 1 petabyte of storage space, equivalent to a 32 YEAR long MP3.

The The Next Web.com reports: "The entire rendering of Avatar reportedly requires over 1 Petabyte of storage space according to BBC’s Clickbits, which is the equivalent of 500 harddrives of 2TB each. That’s equal to a 32 year long MP3 file(!)."

That is a pretty amazing amount of storage.

Turning Carbon Dioxide into Stone

From ScienceFriday.com: "What if you could take CO2, pump it down a deep hole in the sea floor and turn it into something harmless? New research suggests the idea is not so far-fetched. David Goldberg, Taro Takahashi and Angela Slagle of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory published a study on the subject in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week."

I am not a big fan of this type of technology, but it's interesting.

A Recipe for Slime (DIY)

From: ScienceFriday.com: "Want to make slime? Two chemistry students from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York share their recipe. Also, find out how to make the gooey stuff glow. The presentation took place at the New York Hall of Science in honor of National Chemistry Week. It was sponsored by the New York section of the American Chemical Society."

A note from the site: "In the video, Alex says "1/16th - so 1/8th tsp ZnS" -- that is, 1/16th of the total mass should be ZnS (not 1/16th tsp, as the graphic shows)."

G-Speak - Gesture Computing (Next Generation User Interface?)

It seems like every month, we are getting closer and closer to the gesture computing type concept that were used in the movie Minority Report. Here is a condensed demonstration of Oblong's G-Speak spatial operating environment.

A Brief History of Pretty Much Everything (Animated)

This animated movie took 2100 pages, about 50 jotter books, and roughly 3 weeks work.

Thought of the day: Cliques and Social media web sites

As Americans we tend to isolate ourselves into our little cliques (friends/family). For example, do you know your neighbors (I know a few will say they do)? Also personal technologies (like music player) cause us to isolate even more. Although, social media web sites like Facebook are very fascinating because they enforce/break cliques apart.

I have a fascination with Facebook. Not because any of the technologies of the web site. Its real power comes from its users/community. It has allowed me to connect with long lost friends that I have not seen in a long time, it has also allowed me to connect into social communities that I am interested in.

I was a late comer to this technology mostly because I didn't see it's real power. Although there is part of me wonders if this is nothing but another fad, and/or how long it might last?

An Interactive Video Haiti Earthquake (360 Degree View)

This is an amazing interactive video; you can change the point of view of the camera using the mouse (or zoom using the scroll button) while the video is playing. Footage is of the damage done after the earthquake in Haiti. You can also, pause, forward or rewind the video as it plays.

Note: A fast CPU and broadband internet connection are required to play this video.

Computer Science rap at Stanford (NSFW)

Warning: Contains inappropriate language. So its not safe for work.

Nerdcore rapper Monzy busts rhymes with an accuracy rate of 98.2%.

Filmed on the Campus of Stanford University for the documentary NERDCORE FOR LIFE. Dir: Dan Lamoureux

NOTE: Raw footage of this performance has been on youtube for a while but this is the new, edited version that's free of all the zooms and goofy shaky cam action.

FedEx Super Bowl Commercial

Here is one of my favorite commercial from the 2010 Super Bowl. It is not one of my all-time favorites but its up there.

Anthony Atala: Growing New Organs

Anthony Atala's state-of-the-art lab grows human organs -- from muscles to blood vessels to bladders, and more. At TEDMED, he shows footage of his bio-engineers working with some of its sci-fi gizmos, including an oven-like bioreactor (preheat to 98.6 F) and a machine that "prints" human tissue.

Cars Without Drivers?

LiveScience.com reports "Meet Boss - the car that can drive itself! It has 18 sensors, including a three dimensional laser and onboard computers that connect to GPS and mapping software. When it comes to knowing the rules of the road, Boss rarely makes a mistake."

I have been watching the self-driving cars technology progress for years. The early ones I saw could barely stay on the road, and used enough computers to fill-up a large van. They're only getting better, and the technology used to run them getting smaller, which is expected.

Office 2010: The Movie

Official Trailer to Office 2010 The Movie (www.office2010themovie.com). This trailer is loosely based on 24 and Enemy of the State. Clippy will finally be avenged.

Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology

Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.

Light Blue Optics (Touch Surface Projector)

Here is a device that creates a touch screen that will work on just about any surface? Light Blue Optics' CTO, Dr. Adrian Cable, and co-founder talks about this projector and touch surface computer can do. For more go to http://lightblueoptics.com/

The Most Honest Children's Music Video

This video true, very sad and funny at the same time. I hope it doesn't offend anyone.

Google Shows Off Chrome OS Tablet Mockup - Mobile and Wireless from eWeek

eWeek reports: "Apple's iPad captured the hearts and minds of Apple fans and critics alike Jan. 27. Google, whose Android and Chrome Operating System platforms are intended to run in a variety of form factors, isn't letting Apple and its newfangled machine have all the fun. Pictures of what a tablet computer running Chrome OS looks like have surfaced on Google's Chromium open-source Website."

It will be interesting to play with one, when it ships.

JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure

At her Harvard University commencement speech, "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling offers some powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems "worth more than any qualification I ever earned."

Walmart Clown Commercial

Dancing Inmates - Michael Jackson's This Is It

Filipino, Philippines "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison, were treated to a visit by Michael Jacksons long-time choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to learn performances from THIS IS IT.

Animator vs. Animation

Animator vs. Animation II


Animator vs. Animation (Original)

Star Trek: I Will Survive

Plasma Rocket Engine

From Wikipedia: "A plasma propulsion engine is a type of Ion thruster which uses plasma in some or all parts of the thrust generation process. Though far less powerful than conventional rocket engines, plasma engines are able to operate at higher efficiencies and for longer periods of time. Plasma engines are better suited for long-distance Interplanetary space travel missions.

Plasma propulsion engines were first developed by the Soviet Union during 1963-1965 to propel spacecraft to Mars. In more recent years, many agencies have developed several forms of plasma fueled engines, including the European Space Agency, Iranian Space Agency and Australian National University, which have co-developed a more advanced type described as a double layer thruster.[1][2] However, this form of plasma engine is only one of many types."

Practical Traveler - 10 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs In 2010

NYTimes.com reports: "LAST year was arguably the year of the travel deal, with resorts and airlines practically begging for bookings, and many travelers finding bargain airfares and hotel rooms as a result. But airlines have cut back capacity, meaning there will be fewer seats going unsold, and resorts may not be as quick to cut rates to attract guests, now that the economy looks as if it might be on a slight rebound. So now is the perfect time to review your booking strategy. Here are 10 simple steps you can take to help cut your travel costs in 2010."

Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+

To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. At TEDxTC, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100.

Crazy Nuts (Illusion)

This is a pretty cool optical illusion.

Science tricks for Parties

Prof Richard Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire (UK) shows you how to do 10 simple tricks you can use at parties. All of them are based on basic scientific principles.

Social Media Revolution

Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? This video details out social media facts and figures that are hard to ignore.

The Google Story

Pigeon: Impossible

A rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.

Article: Uncovering Steve Jobs' Presentation Secrets

BusinessWeek reports: "For his new book, communications coach Carmine Gallo watched hours of Jobs' keynotes. Here he identifies the five elements of every presentation by the Apple CEO" This article can help you to create an "insanely great" presentation.