Cool Links

CIA WikiLeaks Task Force: WTF??

CIA WikiLeaks Task Force: WTF??

Dec 23 2010 | comment(s)

Really, no one needs to add anything to the title to make it funnier but the fact that the CIA, with its vast store of intellectual talent, didn't figure its WikiLeaks Task Force and acronym WTF would get chuckles in the Internet age makes it that much more humorous.

The WikiLeaks Task Force is no laughing matter, of course - it was created to ferret out the source of 250,000 leaked U.S. diplomatic cables and determine their impact, and it was also partly created because WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is an annoying prat.
For moonwalking robots, jumping is better

For moonwalking robots, jumping is better

Dec 19 2010 | comment(s)

Atsuo Takanishi from Waseda University in Tokyo says that walking on the moon is harder than running due to the low gravity - and for robots even worse.   

His work simulates robotic movement in low gravity and he has determined the solution to keeping robots like the WABIAN-2R bipedal robot moving may be jumping with 'feet' together rather than leaping from foot to foot.

New Scientist has the story.
Is Cosmic Reincarnation and the idea of a Pre-Big Bang universe dead?

Is Cosmic Reincarnation and the idea of a Pre-Big Bang universe dead?

Dec 19 2010 | comment(s)

A widely publicized report that cosmic microwave background, the glow left over from the explosive start of the universe believed to have occurred 13.7 billion years ago, contains echoes of previous cycles of cosmic birth and death, has been disputed by new analyses.

Three teams state that circular patterns do exist but are entirely consistent with the leading model for the birth of the universe, known as inflation, and do not require an alternative, pre–Big Bang theory. According to inflation, the universe began as a subatomic entity that ballooned in size during the first tiny fraction of a second of its existence.
Good samaritans rescue deer from river, get a fine

Good samaritans rescue deer from river, get a fine

Dec 18 2010 | comment(s)

In the 'government employees become so entrenched in their bureaucracy they lose common sense' department, a group of people who rescued a deer from an icy river were given tickets by a "natural resources" police officer, whatever that is - for not stopping to put on life preservers before doing getting in the boat.
“And he didn’t say anything,” Jim Hart said. “We went in and out of the water numerous times. He didn’t stop us at all.”
Scientists as the Spirits of Climates Past

Scientists as the Spirits of Climates Past

Dec 17 2010 | comment(s)

Although people may not feel particularly overheated after this week’s Midwestern snowstorm, data from NASA show that the 12-month period from November 2009 to November 2010 was the warmest on record since 1880.

Mount Toba - largest volcanic eruption in human history didn't cause a 1,000 year winter

Mount Toba - largest volcanic eruption in human history didn't cause a 1,000 year winter

Dec 17 2010 | comment(s)

The largest known volcanic eruption in human history, 74,000 years ago, was at Mount Toba in northern Sumatra.   Researchers believed this cloud of millions of metric tons of volcanic ash and sulfur set off a volcanic winter which included a thousand years of cold climate and perhaps a human genetic 'bottleneck' which may have reduced our species to just a few thousand mating pairs.

Other hypotheses have believed it may have been other volcanoes and they were even responsible for the demise of neanderthals.   
Like the Internet the way it is? Thank a Republican

Like the Internet the way it is? Thank a Republican

Dec 16 2010 | comment(s)

Science bloggers may regard Republicans as anti-science but it is hard not to see them as pro-technology.   While the FCC, with the support of the Obama administration, has repeatedly attempted to make Internet regulation the domain of government, Republican Senators are standing in the way of the one thing still working in the US economy.

In a letter they write
WikiLeaks irony - Julian Assange asks court not to disclose his address

WikiLeaks irony - Julian Assange asks court not to disclose his address

Dec 15 2010 | comment(s)

Hypocrisy or irony? Attorneys for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have argued his address should not be disclosed because of privacy concern, an odd sentiment from a fellow who argues that 'there is no proof' anyone has been or could be killed because he disclosed their names in sensitive military documents regarding Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's often the case that when the situation is personal, feelings change.

District Judge Howard Riddle of the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court was having none of it, though, and Assange's mansion whereabouts were disclosed to the court.

Here is the pic from the Daily Mail:
Mummified Head Identified As King Henry IV of France

Mummified Head Identified As King Henry IV of France

Dec 15 2010 | comment(s)

Unlike the American Revolution, the French version is best forgotten, especially to those on the short end of it - and it wasn't just the current monarchy that got punished by the philosophy of the day.   In 1793, revolutionaries also desecrated the tombs of previous monarchs, including  assassinated King Henry IV - it had been a hard time to be a Protestant king in France in 1610, it seems, so Henry was murdered, and then 180 years later the French stuck it to him again.   After executing Louis XVI, the current monarch, they went after the old ones.
William Trubridge sets a superhuman diving record

William Trubridge sets a superhuman diving record

Dec 14 2010 | comment(s)

Yesterday, William Trubridge did something we might think is insane and many thought impossible - a dive of 100 meters on a single breath and without assistance at Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas.

That's right, he held his breath and went straight down - no fins, no weights, no airbag back up and a depth of three times what is considered safe.

Madness.   You can't even see the surface at that depth so you are running out of air but you have to know how to get there fast and without creating embolisms in the blood due to rapid decompression.
Hamburglar Robble Robble's McDonald's Database, Steals Tasty Email Addresses

Hamburglar Robble Robble's McDonald's Database, Steals Tasty Email Addresses

Dec 14 2010 | comment(s)

It may be poignant that the "Hamburglar", one of the many characters McDonald's created in the early 1970s to rip off the "H.R. Pufnstuf" children's television show (fear not, McDonald's was sued and lost) is used in Reuters / Fox News headlines about hackers who hack filched data from the McDonald's servers in classic “Robble robble” fashion.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm sales record of 3.3 million in a day is...WOW

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm sales record of 3.3 million in a day is...WOW

Dec 14 2010 | comment(s)

I confess, I haven't played World of Warcraft, though I did enjoy Warcraft and Warcraft II.   Persistent online games can be tough to find time for when you have a career but Blizzard has the best business model ever - they charge you for the game and they charge you to play it and for that they have my respect.   Yayyy capitalism.

Others don't seem to mind having to buy a game you can't play without a monthly fee , since Blizzard is claiming its World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion sold-through more than 3.3 million copies in its first 24 hours of release.
This holiday season, enjoy the Worst Restaurant Meals for your diet

This holiday season, enjoy the Worst Restaurant Meals for your diet

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

If you're like me, you want to binge a little during the ever-increasing Christmas holiday season, which is now 15% of the year and so is well on its way to joining Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall as actual seasons.

What is the most ridiculous food you can eat that is commonly available to most of the US?  In 2010 it is Cheesecake Factory’s Bistro Shrimp Pasta with 2,730 calories, 78 g saturated fat, 919 mg sodium and 141 g carbohydrates.   Not bad if you are an NFL lineman and it's the only meal you eat that day but otherwise not great.
Tiny numbers and letters found in Mona Lisa's eyes

Tiny numbers and letters found in Mona Lisa's eyes

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

Art detectives took a look at the "Mona Lisa" using magnification techniques not available to Leonardo da Vinci himself and say they have found,  hidden in her pupils, tiny letters and numbers.

And they were placed there by da Vinci, they say.

Said Silvano Vinceti, president of Italy’s National Committee for Cultural Heritage
Yelp, WebMD, others claim Google plays favorites

Yelp, WebMD, others claim Google plays favorites

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

When you're number one, you are always a target.  Basically, you can't win when you are the world leader in search but critics are ramping up complaints about Google's search engine placement just the same.   

Google is content and specialized-search sites in hopes of boosting ad revenue and that means search ranking by 'authority' drop.   So rivals are taking it personally.   
OpenLeaks - competitor to WikiLeaks will get back to core mission

OpenLeaks - competitor to WikiLeaks will get back to core mission

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

The downfall of WikiLeaks, aside from the eccentric personality of its leader, is that it lost its way, increasingly focusing on the US and ignoring the 140 actual dictatorships in the world where dissidents are risking their lives to get information out.

Former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg feels there is a place for a disclosure group not bent on attacking one country and so is launching OpenLeaks.    It will also be different in that it isn't about attention for the founder, instead being solely a platform for submitting the data.  The actual publication will be handled by others.
Health care reform mandatory coverage struck down - next stop, Supreme Court

Health care reform mandatory coverage struck down - next stop, Supreme Court

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson has struck down the Obama administration’s mandatory health care coverage provision - essentially forcing people to buy health insurance whether they want it or not, much like we have to pay into social security whether we want a government retirement plan or not - as unconstitutional.  But the fight isn't over, since everyone knew this would end up in the Supreme Court the minute it was signed.
Pres. Obama honors imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo with statement about himself

Pres. Obama honors imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo with statement about himself

Dec 13 2010 | comment(s)

Sure, this isn't science but neither is The Onion and we link to things from there also - hey, the entire concept of a Cool Links section is to link to things outside science without becoming one of the kookier supposed science blogs groups that mainly ridicule religious people and bash Republicans.
30 years later, John Lennon's final interview

30 years later, John Lennon's final interview

Dec 08 2010 | comment(s)

Three days before he was shot, John Lennon talked optimistically about his family and future, saying that he had "plenty of time" to accomplish some of his goals.

Lennon's final interview was released to The Associated Press by Rolling Stone on Wednesday, the 30th anniversary of the musician's death. The issue using the full interview will be on magazine stands Friday. Brief excerpts of Jonathan Cott's interview with Lennon were also released for a 1980 Rolling Stone cover story days after Lennon's death but this is the first time the entire interview has been published.

On his choices:
Save the date - December 20th will be best American view of a lunar eclipse until 2014

Save the date - December 20th will be best American view of a lunar eclipse until 2014

Dec 07 2010 | comment(s)

December's total lunar eclipse is the only total eclipse of the moon of this year and in the Western Hemisphere it will begin on Dec. 21 at 12:29 a.m. EST (9:29 p.m. PST on Dec. 20) as the moon begins to enter Earth's penumbral shadow.    

Skywatchers won't notice any changes in the moon's appearance until about 45 minutes later when shading will become evident on the upper left portion of the moon's disk.   

The 72 minutes of the total lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, northern and western Europe, and northeast Asia, including Korea and much of Japan. Totality will also be visible from the North Island of New Zealand and Hawaii.