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Top news on 6 October 2009 |
FBI Investigate Coder for Liberating Paywalled Court Records
When Aaron Swartz, a 22 year-old programmer, decided last fall to help an open government activist amass a public and free copy of millions of federal court records, he did not expect he?d end up with an FBI agent trying to surveil his house. But that?s what happened, as Swartz found out this week the feds mounted a serious investigation...
Improv Everywhere: Invisible Dogs
For our latest mission, over 2,000 people walked ?invisible dogs? down the streets of Brooklyn on a Sunday afternoon. Participants of all ages spread out from Red Hook to Brooklyn Heights, very seriously walking their very silly dogs.
Italian Scientists Claim to Debunk the Shroud of Turin
Scientists have reproduced the Shroud of Turin -- revered as the cloth that covered Jesus in the tomb -- and say the experiment proves the relic was man-made, a group of Italian debunkers claimed Monday. The shroud bears the figure of a crucified man, complete with blood seeping out of nailed hands and feet...
Powerful FSU Trustee Calls for End of Bobby Bowden Era
Jim Smith is calling for Bowden's head, stating that 'enough is enough' when it comes to the 33-year-tenured Seminole coach destroying the program
DotA developer IceFrog joins Valve to lead new project
Defense of the Ancients creator IceFrog has joined Valve Software. "I am now leading a team at Valve! I finally have all the resources needed to do some very exciting stuff that you guys will love. My goal and top priority in the future is to solve the surrounding issues that affect the DotA experience in order to allow it to reach new heights."
10 Most Diabolical Creepy Crawlies On Earth
Evil, diabolical call them what you will, the wingless microscopic or near microscopic critters we?ve gathered together here are a veritable roll-call of the repulsive and the abhorrent. Fleas, lice, ticks, mites and bedbugs make up the minuscule menagerie, and alongside the mug shots we?ve endeavoured to explain what it is each featured pest...
Corals 'could starve in high CO2'
As human activity pumps more and more carbon into the atmosphere, a new threat has emerged to the world's coral reefs - starvation.
For U.S. consumers, America is on sale
There has never been a better time to be a consumer. America is on sale. The Great Recession has caused massive job losses and hardship for millions, but it has also fostered a shoppers' paradise. Anyone who still has the means to spend can find unheard-of deals.
Venezuela to Ban Violent Video Games
Venezuela's National Assembly is on track to prohibit violent video games and toys. The proposed legislation, which received initial approval in September, is expected to get a final vote in the coming weeks.
DJ AM's "Gone Too Far" Addiction Series to Air on MTV
MTV announced today that "Gone Too Far", an eight-episode reality series hosted by the late Adam ?DJ AM? Goldstein about young addicts between ages 20 and 25 struggling with drug problems, will begin airing next Monday, October 12th.
The Top 20 Best Places in The World to Live
The UK has been ranked the 21st best place in the world to live ? flagging behind Ireland and Iceland. The UN list, which saw Norway retain its status as the world?s most desirable place to live, ranks sub-Saharan African states afflicted by war and Aids as the worst.
The demise of the dollar
In the most profound financial change in recent Middle East history, Gulf Arabs are planning; along with China, Russia, Japan and France; to end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, unified currency
Grandmother Fights Bear With Pillow
Vail grandmother Sally Rebehn fought off a bear that broke into her bedroom with a decorative pillow. "I heard the door open to my room and I thought, well it?s gotta be Yoo-Hoo the family dog. And I turn around and here was this big bear. I grabbed one of these pillows and I just slung it at her. And she turned around and she left," said Rebehn.
Pilot Stalks Ex-Girlfriend With His Plane
If any guy (or gal) thinks buzzing an ex-main squeeze's house in an airplane is a way to gain favor, think again. It's most definitely NOT. It is a way to get arrested though. Who can ignore a low flying plane, particularly when the plane continues to fly over the same house, again and again and again and again?
Inside the Google News algorithm
While he didn't give away all his secrets, the creator of Google News, Krishna Bharat, outlined why certain articles get higher placement than others.
15 Best (and Worst) Brother Teams In Hollywood
If history teaches us anything, it won't be long before the Gosselin 8 have a tell-all book or are part of The Hills. Yet, there are examples of siblings who take on the industry together and do it well. The Warner Bros. anyone?
The 5 Best (and 5 Worst) David Tennant Doctor Who Episodes
As David Tennant prepares to exit the TARDIS for the final time, Topless Robot looks back at his finest (and less-than fine) moments.
The Big Surprise of "The Big Bang Theory"
The most vibrant buzz this summer around the Warner Brothers lot focused on the sudden emergence of a series that had been on the air for two seasons.
Apple Joins Nike, Dumps US Chamber Over Climate Change
In what is rapidly becoming the trend of the moment, Apple has joined Nike and become the latest company to leave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the Chamber's opposition to climate change legislation.
Chris Rock To Star In Comedy - Will You Be My Black Friend?
The project stems from a November GQ magazine article written by senior correspondent Devin Friedman, who began a self-conscious search for black friends on Craigslist. The white, married Manhattan journalist then pursued his quixotic quest to expand his social circle, with unexpected results.
The Most Used & Abused Web Design Trends of All Time
Trend isn?t a bad word. In fact, the items on this list inspired an entire generation of web designers. All of these ideas were so huge that they created a mass following. That?s a good thing. The problem comes when we?re happy to create a clone of a great design and let it rest at that.
U.S. Internet Ad Revenues Decline 5.3% In First Half 2009
Search continues to take nearly half of all Internet advertising, with 47% of the total ($5.1 billion). Display ads, classified listings, lead generation and email took 34%, 10%, 7% and 1%, respectively. Search took just 44% of total advertising revenue in the first half of 2008.
Roller Thief: He Came, He Skated, He Got Busted
OK, so you're a thieving former prostitute breaking into a few cars. You smash some windows with your elbows and look for goodies you can flip quickly on the street -- a cell phone, a GPS, whatever.Question: What get-away vehicle do you choose if you want to create the biggest, most flaming parody of Miami and yourself?
The Way We Eat - The Science of Appetite
Nature prefers you fat, but you can take control. New research could explain better approaches to dieting and how to curb your appetite.
10 of the Most Disturbing Books of All Time
Any one of these books is capable of leaving you feeling a little depressed at the least, and permanently scarred at the worst. I?d say enjoy, but that doesn?t really seem appropriate ?
"Last.fm for Movies" Now Public
If you?re looking for something to watch tonight, here?s a smart and slick way to find it.
Flash moves on to smart phones
One of the most common technologies for watching video on a computer will soon be available for smart phones.
6 Natural Disasters That Were Caused by Human Stupidity
This is by no means a final list. The world's still young.
What Does a Beer Taste Like After the Singularity?
When a kooky-sounding technology theory gains enough intellectual momentum to have its own conference, with smart people discussing it and venture capitalists talking about investing in it ? it's worth stopping by to listen. Here's the latest word from the 2009 Singularity Summit.
10 Most Populated Cities in the World
We live in a big world with a lot of people. With global population racing upwards of 6.8 billion and environmental issues taking the lime...
The Polar Bear Who Invited Himself Around For Dinner (PICS)
A group of wildlife enthusiasts were looking forward to their lunch during an expedition to the Arctic island of Svalbard. But they soon discovered a hungry polar bear was also rather keen to try their cauliflower soup.
Conservatives remove liberal passages from the Bible
"The eager young men at Conservapedia are p.o.'d that the Bible might be seen as too liberal. So they've come up with the Wiki-style Conservative Bible Project, to make sure the Lord doesn't go all wobbly on us."
10 useful video sites to teach you new tech skills
Here are 10 video sites that will improve your tech knowledge, starting from amateur tips and tricks at the top, to more advanced techniques and tech skills towards the bottom of the list.
The World's First Image of an Entire Sunspot's Structure
The National Center for Atmospheric Research team created the first view of the activity of a hypothetical 1.9 billion-square-mile, 3,700-mile-deep sunspot.
Britain's new healthy eating guru: Homer Simpson
Forget all the pizza and doughnuts - the British government wants fans of ''The Simpsons'' to ditch junk food and eat more healthily. The Department of Health is spending nearly $1 million to sponsor episodes of the popular series.
Microsoft Bing Slips Against Google,but Search Fight Continu
Microsoft's Bing search engine, after incremental gains in U.S. search engine market share throughout the summer, experienced a slight dip, according to a small number of research firms. Despite that one-month fall in its numbers, Bing has positioned itself for long-term competition with archrival Google, thanks in part to Microsoft?s...
115,000 Albums Released in 2008, Only 115 'Hits'
More than 115,000 albums were released, but only 110 sold more than 250,000 copies, a mere 1,500 topped 10,000 sales, and fewer than 6,000 cracked the 1,000 barrier.
World's Best Countries to Live In
Norway takes the number one spot in the annual United Nations human development index released Monday but China has made the biggest strides in improving the well-being of its citizens.
Glow-in-the-Dark Mushrooms Discovered
Like mushrooms needed to be any more psychedelic, a newly discovered species of mushrooms glow in the dark.
Seven Ways to Fix the U.S. Postal Service
Since the late 19th century, the unofficial slogan of the U.S. Postal Service (it doesn't have an official one) has been guaranteed delivery through rain, sleet, or snow. Nowhere mentioned in that motto is a crippling economy or revenue and budget shortfalls.
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