Saturday, 16 February 2008
Friday, 15 February 2008
DIY Flash and Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers
DIY Flash and Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers
Predictify, Inc. - Tap Into Collective Wisdom, Make Money by Predicting Future Events
About Predictify
Studies have shown that large groups of regular people are often more accurate than a small group of experts at predicting the outcome of future events. Predictify is a prediction platform that harnesses this collective wisdom.
Predictify provides a simple, fun way to engage in current and future newsworthy topics. You can research, discuss and predict the outcomes of real-world events, challenge your friends to private prediction contests, build a reputation based on your accuracy, and even get paid real money when you're right (tell me more). Best of all, it’s free – no points or bets required. Click on the Predict tab above to get started.
Clinton-Obama Super Tuesday Speech Comparison
Clinton-Obama Super Tuesday Speech Comparison
By: Jeff Clark Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2008
I have taken the remarks made by both Clinton and Obama after the Super Tuesday results were in and constructed a Document Cloud Comparison. A few static images are shown below to give you a flavour but the real fun comes with exploring the interactive application.
Ecotality Life » EcoDevelopments you can use and invest in.
Vertical-Axis Windspire Turbine Ready For Market In Early Spring
By Michael d'Estries
February 8, 2008 – 5:30 pm
windspire.jpgThe Windspire Vertical-Axis turbine is set to become one of the first low-cost, fully-integrated wind systems available to the public. Thanks to a recently passed ETL (safety) certification for the U.S. and Canada, the company is now on the fast-track to releasing the product in early 2008 at a price of $3,995.
Not only will this turbine work in wind conditions that are prevalent through almost 60% of the United States, but it will also be much easier to install than previous wind systems. Windspire features a fully integrated, plug ‘n produce design, including a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, and wireless performance monitor. It incorporates a slow speed giromill rotor for virtually silent operation and improved safety and durability. From the article,
Windspire features a new design that incorporates a tall, slender vertical style rotor that maximizes efficiency to produce strong, reliable performance. It is expected to produce about 1800 kilowatt hours per year in 11 mile per hour average wind speed conditions.It is 30 feet tall with a two foot radius, sized below typical residential zoning restrictions. Guidelines for installation sites are generally half an acre of land and relatively windy locations. It is priced at half to a third the cost of comparable renewable power options, and can be quickly and easily installed by authorized dealers.
Sounds like a great system to me. Savings for the average American home are expected to be about 25% per year. Throw in the quiet operation, limited height requirements, and current tax breaks — and wind is looking like a much more agreeable option for those without consistent access to solar.
The best photos of 2007 MSNBC version (73 photos) | FreakyMartin.com
The best photos of 2007 MSNBC version (73 photos)
Monday, 11 February 2008
Ananova - Mr Men to upset France?
Ananova - Mr Men to upset France?
Mr Men to upset France?
A remake of the Mr Men risks a diplomatic incident over new character Mr Rude who speaks with a French accent.
Mr Rude /PA
The character invites children to pull his finger - and then breaks wind, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Rude features in an internet advert for the new programmes, on Channel Five this month, telling viewers how rude he can be and then blowing a raspberry.
The show's makers, Chorion, claim it is not meant to cause offence but the English view of the French lacking a little politeness is well known.
A Five spokesperson said: "Mr Men is a comedy show for four to seven-year-olds.
"The fact Mr Rude has a French accent is meant to be light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek and no offence to the French people is intended."
A spokesman for the French ambassador refused to comment but a source at the embassy told the Daily Telegraph: "It is obviously meant in a light-hearted way but it won't improve Anglo-French relations."
The series will first go out on February 25 and is expected to be sold to countries around the world.
Ananova - Mr Men to upset France?
Mr Men to upset France?
A remake of the Mr Men risks a diplomatic incident over new character Mr Rude who speaks with a French accent.
Mr Rude /PA
The character invites children to pull his finger - and then breaks wind, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Rude features in an internet advert for the new programmes, on Channel Five this month, telling viewers how rude he can be and then blowing a raspberry.
The show's makers, Chorion, claim it is not meant to cause offence but the English view of the French lacking a little politeness is well known.
A Five spokesperson said: "Mr Men is a comedy show for four to seven-year-olds.
"The fact Mr Rude has a French accent is meant to be light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek and no offence to the French people is intended."
A spokesman for the French ambassador refused to comment but a source at the embassy told the Daily Telegraph: "It is obviously meant in a light-hearted way but it won't improve Anglo-French relations."
The series will first go out on February 25 and is expected to be sold to countries around the world.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
TED | Talks | Alan Russell: Why can't we grow new body parts? (video)
Talks Alan Russell: Why can't we grow new body parts?
About this Talk
Alan Russell studies regenerative medicine -- a breakthrough way of thinking about disease and injury by helping the body to rebuild itself. He shows how engineered tissue that "speaks the body's language" has helped a man regrow his lost fingertip, how stem cells can rebuild damaged heart muscle, and how cell therapy can regenerate the skin of burned soldiers. This new, low-impact medicine comes just in time, Russell says -- our aging population, with its steeply rising medical bills, will otherwise (and soon) cause a crisis in health care systems around the world. Some graphic medical imagery.
TED | Talks | Matthieu Ricard: Habits of happiness (video)
Talks Matthieu Ricard: Habits of happiness
About this Talk
What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Buddhist monk, photographer and author Matthieu Ricard has devoted his life to these questions, and his answer is influenced by his faith as well as by his scientific turn of mind: We can train our minds in habits of happiness. Interwoven with his talk are stunning photographs of the Himalayas and of his spiritual community.
TED | Talks | Steven Pinker: A brief history of violence (video)
Talks Steven Pinker: A brief history of violence
About this Talk
In a preview of his next book, Steven Pinker takes on violence. We live in violent times, an era of heightened warfare, genocide and senseless crime. Or so we've come to believe. Pinker charts a history of violence from Biblical times through the present, and says modern society has a little less to feel guilty about.
TED | Talks | Al Seckel: Your brain is badly wired -- enjoy it! (video)
Talks Al Seckel: Your brain is badly wired -- enjoy it!
About this Talk
Al Seckel, a cognitive neuroscientist and master of visual illusions, explores some of the perceptual illusions that fool our eyes and our brains. Running through example after example of images that buck our expectations, he asks why such tricks make us so happy (The Pursuit of Happiness was the theme of the 2004 TED conference). He even creates some of his own illusions, challenging our notion of what's true.
TED | Talks | Stefan Sagmeister: Yes, design can make you happy (video)
Talks Stefan Sagmeister: Yes, design can make you happy
About this Talk
Analyzing a list of things that have made him happy, graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister realized that almost half of the items were in some way related to design. In this intensely personal talk, he shares the details of some of those moments, and gives props to three artists whose work has had a positive impact on his world. Concluding with some examples of his own work, Sagmeister offers a real insight into his aesthetic and philosophy of work -- and life.
TED | Talks | Dan Dennett: Ants, terrorism, and the awesome power of memes (video)
Talks Dan Dennett: Ants, terrorism, and the awesome power of memes
About this Talk
Here's one of those talks that can change your view of the world forever. Starting with the deceptively simple story of an ant, Dan Dennett unleashes a dazzling sequence of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of "memes" -- a term coined by Richard Dawkins for mental concepts that are literally alive and capable of spreading from brain to brain. On the way, look out for:
+ a powerful one-sentence secret of happiness
+ a compelling insight into terrorists' motivation
+ a chilling view of Islam
And just when you think you know where the talk's heading, it dramatically shifts direction and questions some of western culture's fundamental assumptions.
This. Is. Unmissable.
TED | Talks | Philippe Starck: Why design? (video)
Talks Philippe Starck: Why design?
About this Talk
Legendary designer Philippe Starck -- with no pretty slides behind him -- spends 18 minutes reaching for the very roots of the question "Why design?" Along the way he drops brilliant insights into the human condition; listen carefully for one perfectly crystallized mantra for all of us, genius or not. Yet all this deep thought, he cheerfully admits, is to aid in the design of a better toothbrush.
Cultural Studies & Analysis
Basic Characteristics of Life Development Stages
Infancy
Birth-4 Years Individuality
19-23 Years
Self-awareness
40-43 Years
Reflection
60-65 Years
Infants live in the present in a bonded state of absolute dependence with mother as the provider of all needs. The infant's relationship to its mother will change rapidly as the infant develops mobility, but the mother's relationship as nurturer to the infant will not. The fundamentals of taste in music, clothing, partners, and personal concepts such as what is attractive or sexy are set here. However, just as your personal identity is emerging you take on other social identities: employee, spouse, and/or parent. The value in learning tilts from Experience to Utility. This is a nuanced, experienced, and edited version of the individual at 23. Depending on the degree of change necessary to bring the mature self into alignment, this process can be dramatic or simple. The final shakeout will fall back to more nuanced preferences confirmed at 23. This stage marks the beginning of a search for meaning. A renewed interest in religion of youth or popular philosophy or spirituality is common. Value is found in experiences such as non-utilitarian learning, travel, and personal development. As in childhood, goods are valued for their Affiliation.
Childhood
4-10 years
Alliance
23-30 Years Readjustment
43-50 Years Recognition
65-70 Years
Children are experiential learning machines, gathering and manipulating data until all possibilities are exhausted, then moving on (play.) The nature of play limits long-term brand loyalty. Children look to role models to validate discoveries. Value in consumer goods lies in Affiliation. The learning stage of a long period of conflict and resolution between the individual and overlaying social identities. Shared meals emerge as an important social collaboration for gauging relationships. Value of consumer goods lies in Validation of rapidly evolving social mobility. The learning stage of the maturity period. Products and practices that do not fit are dropped. There is a new openness to new alliances and ideas compatible with examined and refined values. Consistency and reliability are high priority values. The learning stage of the resolution period. Practices and products that do not meet the new standards of core value for cost (money or spiritual) are dropped. Brand loyalty for valued products is fixed unless the product changes or cost increases negate value.
Preadolescence
10-14 Years
Practice
30-35 Years Mastery
50-55 Years Accommodation
70-75 Years
The first nostalgia age as children look to establish lifelong values. Preadolescents work to strike a balance between present and future states, actively seeking new role models while finding security and investing value in the icons of childhood. As life gets more complex, imbalances come to the fore. This period marks the second nostalgia age as icons of childhood reemerge as symbols of value. The core values of nostalgia are reliability, consistency, and security. The third nostalgia age as we reflect on life's path. A period of fine-tuning of alliances and practices. The editing-out process is rapid. As social mobility slows, acquisition of goods also slows. Value is found by a return to a nuanced version of the childhood play stage of Experience. The final fine-tuning period of stripping away what doesn't work and valuing what does. A sense of freedom not experienced since childhood drives us to explore for intrinsic motivation alone. Nostalgia is commonly expressed in unfavorable comparison the present to the past.
Adolescence
14-19 Years Evaluation
35-40 Years Reevaluation
55-60 Years
Acceptance
75+ Years
The emergent identity is driven to sever the dependent relationship with the parent. Validation shifts from parent to peer group. Self-testing and the "trying on" of mediated identities drives both the consumer good and experience markets. A time of identity-driven separation similar to the adolescent stage. A period of reexamination of the web of relationships that comprise the social whole, with a rejection of those that do not fit the individual identity. A third period of reexamination of identity based on the realization that you are now most likely operating at maximum capability in all areas of your life. Value is placed on understanding and security. De-accessioning consumer goods begins.
High speed password cracking on PlayStation 3 - News - heise Security UK
High speed password cracking on PlayStation 3
The Sony PlayStation 3 gaming console has been used to generate high speed MD5 hashes by a New Zealand security consultant. He claimed a rate of over 1.4 billion iterations per second in a presentation at the Kiwicon conference in Auckland. The researcher attributes this performance to both the parallelism available from the multi-core processor and the simplicity of the processor architecture. Generating hashes for the words in a dictionary or simply all valid character combinations and comparing the result to a given hash from a password file is the basic mechanism of password cracking.
Nick Breese, the kiwi penetration tester who performed the experiment, pointed out that the PlayStation's architecture is "very suitable for cryptography", being optimised for high speed repetitive execution of simple processes. The processor uses six cores, each capable of executing four calculations simultaneously due to a Single Instruction, Multiple Data internal architecture. This permits 24 simultaneous calculations on the device as a whole, which runs at a clock rate of 3.2 GHz, implying that an iteration occupies around 50 machine cycles.
Breese claims to have achieved a speed improvement factor of 100 over previous upper limits. In earlier experiments he conducted on a Core 2 Duo processor he apparently attained around eight million iterations per second. It is not clear right now how the performance demonstrated in the PlayStation test compares with that of the GeForce-8 solution recently introduced by Elcomsoft. Nevertheless, at 300 UK pounds or less (half the price of the Elcomsoft software package alone), this demo potentially puts super-fast password hash cracking in the hands of almost any user.
Apparently pure research was not the only motive for this project. Breese is himself a gamer, and this project justified to his bosses the business expense of a PlayStation 3 for his office!
Christian Cenizal, Designer-Developer (Flocking and emergent behavior)
Flocking and emergent behavior
Flocking! It’s one of the simplest implementations of a concept known as emergent behavior, and it is rad as heck.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Triond - How it Works
How it Works
Triond is as simple as 1-2-3:
1. You create interesting content and submit it to us.
2. We publish your content on appropriate websites.
3. You earn royalties.
It's as simple as that.
Creating Content
You may create interesting content on any topic, in any language, and in any media format. You can submit articles you have written, videos and pictures you have shot, and podcasts or original music that you have recorded.
Publishing
Once your content is submitted and approved, we publish it on the websites where we feel it will have the greatest impact – either on our networks or our affiliates' networks. From that moment on, your content starts generating revenue for you.
Getting Paid
As soon as your content is published it will start generating revenue from online advertising that appears on the pages alongside your content.
Each month you will earn 50% of the revenue generated by your content in the previous month. And you'll keep on earning - because your published content will continue to generate royalties every month thereafter.
You will receive your monthly payment by check, Western Union money transfer, or directly to your PayPal account.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
STANFORD Magazine: January/February 2008 > Features > Virtual Reality
Alt text for image
ELECTABLE LIKE ME: The power of digital imaging raises the specter of manipulation. When photos of undecided voters were partially morphed into those of candidates, the voters would prefer a candidate with whom they'd been melded, but could not detect that the photo contained their own face.
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