Archive for December, 2009
This is a very cool conceptual video that demonstrates how digital magazines of the future might look on a full-color touch tablet. There is a demo version of of PopSci as well as the thinking around it, known as “Mag+”: From the video’s description: Bonnier Research & Development shows with the company Berg from London [...]
Florida’s Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has a long name — and an even longer list of Florida wildlife in residence. Meet the many animals who call the park home — including one you might not expect — in this episode.
As soon as Scott and Ben realized they’d spent a month without any racing podcasts, they buckled down and took a look at the fascinating world of rally cars. Listen in and learn more about rally cars in this listener-inspired episode.
The Mayon volcano in the Phillipines could erupt any day now
by Marshall Brain | December 21, 2009
There is large-scale scientific concern that the Mayon volcano in the Phillipines could erupt any day now. 45,000 people have been evacuated so far: Philippines’ Mayon Volcano to explode ‘within days’ The government is trying to enforce a “no man’s land” rule in the designated danger zone, with military and police instructed to double the [...]
More than any other film on our list, “Lethal Weapon” hits upon an unfortunate holiday truism: The season can be depressing for reasons that have nothing to do with beefing relatives, flight delays and that elbow you took to the eye at the Apple store. In fact, until recently, many assumed that suicide rates skyrocketed in late December as the holiday spirit drove some lonely and depressed people over the edge. Despite the fallacy of this idea, Richard Donner’s 1987 blockbuster did its best to drive the point home.
As it turns out, you’re not the only one who’s upset about Facebook changing its privacy settings. Earlier today, Ars Technica’s Jacqui Cheng wrote about the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s problems with the 360-million-member social networking site. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is among 10 groups which asked the FTC to take action against Facebook for its recent change in its privacy policy.
The problem with changing the settings over from Facebook’s previous version was the tool used to make the switch, Cheng said. When users logged into their accounts after the new policy went into effect, they were told about the change and offered a simple three-step process to adopt the new privacy rules. And step one was reading about the new privacy policy. But as Cheng points out, Facebook asks you simply whether you want to change settings or leave them the way they were, without going into any detail on what your previous settings were.
If you’re like me, you’re not finished with your Christmas shopping yet. So that means our third suggestion isn’t coming too late for you. It might even be time to throw the budget out the window and just get the shopping done at any cost. Either way, we have another idea for you, and it should tuck nicely into your scientist’s stocking.
Americans suck at saving money. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that last October consumers saved a whopping 4.4 percent of our disposable income. I’m not being facetious; that really is a whopping number. Back in June 2005, we saved exactly 0.0 percent of our disposable income.
This article points out that, by buying food at a warehouse club like BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club, you can cut your food bill in half compared to a normal grocery store: Warehouse club vs. grocery store At BJ’s Wholesale Club in Cary, sugar, brown sugar, flour, butter, vanilla, eggs, chocolate chips, walnuts and pecan [...]
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Vacation Deprivation: Who’s got it?
- Have a Coke and a Smile
- The Latest in Frugal Lodging: Camping in Somebody Else’s Backyard
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Space Music: DJ Food and ‘The Search Engine’
- Stuff to Blow Your Mind: Hug it Out
- Space Music: Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Film Music Video in Orbit
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
- Tips for Using Bluetooth in the Car
How-to Stuff
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
- How to Know When It’s Time for a New Pet
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 36: Now Available in 3-D
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 35: Let’s do brunch!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 34: Play it again, Sam
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics

