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GamesArchive for March, 2011
I read a really cool article over at Daily Tech. Harvard researchers presented an interesting idea at the American Chemical Society conference last Sunday. They’ve built a wand that can extinguish fires. No, you don’t wave it around while shouting out mock Latin like Harry Potter. Instead, you use the wand to direct a flow of electricity toward the flames.
In general, women’s hair costs more than men’s, with more expensive haircuts (blowouts and styling included) and pricier haircare products. Even this thrifty nickel has dropped $80 for to-die-for shampoo and conditioner.
But my hair nearly fell out in shock when I ran across this survey finding that Molly and I didn’t mention in the Stuff Mom Never Told You episode on whether it costs more to be a woman.
Why Comparing Japan to New Orleans is Disingenuous
by Josh Clark | March 29, 2011
Much has been made of the zero reports of looting following the Japanese earthquake, the ensuing tsunami that may have ultimately claimed upwards of 100,000 lives, and the still growing nuclear crisis. This point has often been made with an wink toward racism; that is, in comparison to the rampant looting that broke out in the predominantly black, poor sections of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
This fascinating video of a seagull ornithopter appeared on the web this week: If you watch closely, even the head moves to control flight. What is the goal? It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s … a New Seagull-Like Robot Spy Drone! The photo in the article shows you the size of the bird robot. [...]
Nook Color may have hit 3m units, 50% of tablets in US – “Barnes & Noble may have had strong enough sales of the Nook Color to make itself an unintentional iPad rival, suppliers argued on Monday. The company has reportedly shipped three million since it launched the fall, one million of which shipped in [...]
To say that a U.S. President’s farewell address is important is, at the very least, an understatement. During their last opportunity to address the nation as its top elected official, outgoing presidents often recount the milestones of their time in office, offer guidance for the future of the nation and attempt to build a memorable [...]
I’ve highlighted sci-fi legend Ursula K. Le Guin’s fight against Google Books here before, but a New York judge has all but handed Le Guin the win — and she didn’t even have to throw a punch.
‘Four Days at Dragon*Con’ Comes to a Public TV Station Near You
by Tracy V. Wilson | March 28, 2011
If you follow the FanStuff Facebook page, you’ve heard a little about “Four Days at Dragon*Con,” the Telly Award-winning documentary from Atlanta’s PBA30 that covers, well, Dragon*Con. Our own Jonathan Strickland was one of the people interviewed on camera — he gives some background on the convention and insight into fan culture. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I met up with Jack Walsh, the documentary’s director, along with some others, to talk through some ideas before filming. But even without HowStuffWorks’ involvement, I’d still think it’s a pretty cool documentary.
It’s sad that the 32 year anniversary of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island is made more relevant because of the current situation in Japan. If it hadn’t been for the earthquake and tsunami-caused events recently then the passing of the Three Mile Island incident would have probably gone unnoticed by many. But because nuclear power is no suddenly again in the limelight, we’re getting some coverage of the partial meltdown that occurred on March 28, 1979. Believe it or not I actually remember it, at the age of eight. Of course I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew it was something important.
The Internet Loses a Grandfather – Paul Baran Passes Away
by Jonathan Strickland | March 28, 2011
I read an Associated Press report on IndyStar.com about the passing of a man whose work was instrumental in building the Internet: Paul Baran. Baran was one of two people who came up with an intriguing concept in the early 1960s (the other was Donald Davies, both men came up with the idea independently). What if you could send digital information through a series of small packets of data? The receiving computer could read information recorded at the front and back ends of the packets to piece everything back together. It would be like putting together a digital puzzle and could allow for rapid data transmission.
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
- The Latest in Frugal Lodging: Camping in Somebody Else’s Backyard
- The Painted Beauties of Bucovina
- The Cat Passageways and Track Furniture of Gillette Castle
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
