Firesaw

You don't need to be a physicist, a PhD student, a geek, or even a member of the Insane Clown Posse to appreciate the awesome capabilities of superconductors and magnets as demonstrated in this video by Tel-Aviv University.

An unidentified member of the university's Superconductivity Group School of Physics and Astronomy shows off the quantum locking, or quantum trapping, effects of a magnet that's been super cooled with liquid nitrogen. Now we've probably all seen demonstrations of super cooled magnets floating above a track before, with promises of them facilitating high-speed trains zigzagging across the country. But this video goes one step further, showing how the position and angle of the magnet can be locked in a magnetic field while it's in motion. The moral of the story is that it makes for an impressive demo, and I better see hoverboards popping up in toy stores by Christmas. [Quantum Levitation via ASTC via Fazed]

via feeds.gawker.com

Love the lede on this Gizmodo post.

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Bag of Crap Woot-off

2011-10-12T18:38:00.001-07:00

I was so close to getting my first BOC from Woot today (does not include the many attempts to get the page to load in between panels).

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Apple iPhone 4S Siri demo - YouTube

2011-10-11T21:53:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

This is what I always wanted out of voice recognition. When I first used Voice Control on 3GS, I thought was amazing, but then after awhile felt it didn't do enough. Siri looks like a better take on the tech, and is a good base to build on. More natural speakers and the ability to call on Siri without explicitly summoning it would be a great place to start.

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I thought I was all cried out...

2011-10-07T20:27:00.001-07:00

...then I see this: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert pay tribute to Steve Jobs (via tuaw.com)

It's strange, and somewhat embarrassing to be affected so by the passing of a stranger. An influential and remarkable individual, that's true, but a stranger nonetheless. I might just be vulnerable to the sentimentality of elegiacs such as these, but then again past reminiscences on the occasion of other note-worthy individuals' deaths never had the effect these and others like these have had on me.

I guess it just seems like a light has gone out, the world is a little bit darker, and we are a little poorer for his loss.

If someone like me who has a very peripheral connection to the man feels this saddened by Steve's departure, I can't imagine how much more profoundly his dear friends and family experience his passing. My thought go out to them at this difficult time.

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The Fruits Of Christianism - The Dish | By Andrew Sullivan - The Daily Beast

2011-10-07T19:49:00.001-07:00

If you turn a political party into a church, as the GOP essentially now is, sectarianism will eventually emerge. In all its ugly, bigoted, negative manifestations.

via andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com

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LA Times gets stupid

2011-10-07T01:22:00.001-07:00

The only way you can characterize the iPhone 4S as a disappointment is if you believed all of the bullshit rumors that have been floating around the Internet for the past few months.

via loopinsight.com

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AppSumo Giving Away 10 Dropbox Pro For Life

2011-10-05T16:51:00.001-07:00

10 Lucky sumos will win 50GB Dropbox pro for life. Enter here.

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Become a character in HP Mallory's Next Dulcie Book, Great Hexpectations

2011-09-28T17:03:00.001-07:00

As has been her custom for several books now, urban fantasy author HP Mallory is holding a contest with the prize being written in as a character in hew upcoming Dulcie book Great Expectations plus a few cool Great Hextras. To join in the fun, read her blog post http://urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com/2011/09/become-character-in-my-next-du...

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#SYTYCD Melanie wins!

2011-08-11T22:16:00.001-07:00

I called it, but I like last season more.

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Transformers 3 Flash Review

2011-07-03T15:31:00.001-07:00

Good, a tad too long, could've used a trim.

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#SYTYCD prediction: Melanie wins

2011-06-29T21:36:00.001-07:00

…can't wait til the finale.

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WWDC Eve

2011-06-05T22:26:00.001-07:00

WWDC will be upon us in a few hours, so I thought I'd share some predictions with regards to iCloud. Word has gone around that iCloud is the new iTunes. What does this mean exactly? Consider that through the years, iTunes has added to its catalog so many things other than music that it's really a misnomer at this point. So it does make sense that a re-branding is in order. But if that was the only reason, then it really doesn't seem like enough to justify the rumor. So there must be more. I think this more might be a loosening of the strictures on media purchases currently enforced by industry fiat. Currently, purchasing music, movies, TV and other studio content is really just purchasing one-time download rights. This is where the cloud metaphor comes in. Instead of a vending machine where you buy each item piecemeal, you get an access anywhere, anytime with your purchase. Think the app store, where buying means unlocking unlimited downloads to licensed devices as often as you need. Of course I think there's more to this iCloud than we know, perhaps ubiquitous backup, or music-locker features, but that sums up my thoughts on the iCloud is the new iTunes meme. Can't wait for tomorrow to be proven wrong (or right as the case may be). Regardless, I'll be waiting for the famous "one more thing..."

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Outside Aperture: fan made epilogue to Portal - Boing Boing

2011-06-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

via boingboing.net

Love it! Almost perfect, what little quibbles I have with it are the title (I'd have preferred After Aperture, as in Life after...), the cake magazine design could've been better, the baking prep could've been more methodical, and the wall doodles could've used a bit more grunge. A favorite.

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Apple Pre-announced WWDC 2011 Keynote

2011-06-02T03:54:00.001-07:00

Unusual for Apple, which set quite a few tongues wagging. What does it mean? Some say Apple is managing expectations, but I'd like to think it's to make the next “One more thing…” even more of a surprise. Whatever the case, we'll find out soon enough. I can't wait.

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HP Mallory, Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Author : Become a Character ...

2011-05-31T22:56:00.001-07:00

Lloyd has sent you a link to a blog:

null

Blog: HP Mallory, Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Author
Post: Become a Character in my next Jolie book Contest!!!!
Link: http://urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com/2011/05/become-character-in-my-next-jo...

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wide_obama3.jpg (655×240)

2011-05-02T12:54:00.001-07:00

via assets.nydailynews.com

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"Doctors" At Gitmo - The Dish | By Andrew Sullivan - The Daily Beast

2011-04-26T23:29:00.001-07:00

Either there is a rule of law or there isn't. Either we are a civilized country or we are not.

via andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com

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5 Bad Ideas Humanity Is Sticking With Out of Habit | Cracked.com

2011-04-23T15:11:00.001-07:00

Cursive was actually reinstated in Florida's school standards in 2006, amidst fears of students becoming too reliant on technology. Perhaps we should also reinstate hunting and gathering, over fears of becoming too reliant on grocery stores.

via cracked.com

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Peter Thiel: We’re in a Bubble and It’s Not the Internet. It’s Higher Education.

2011-04-10T22:02:00.001-07:00

for Thiel, the bubble that has taken the place of housing is the higher education bubble. “A true bubble is when something is over-valued and intensely believed,” he says. “Education may be the only thing people still believe in in the United States. To question education is really dangerous. It is the absolute taboo. It’s like telling the world there’s no Santa Claus.

via techcrunch.com

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Why We're Fasting - NYTimes.com

2011-03-29T21:48:00.001-07:00

Though Beckmann is too kind to say it, he and many other religious leaders believe that true worship can’t take place without joining this struggle: “You can’t have real religion,” he told me, “unless you work for justice for hungry and poor people.”

I don’t think you can have much humanity, either.

Mark Bittman via opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com

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HP Mallory, Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Author: Win an Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate for $100!

2011-03-28T22:44:00.001-07:00

Win an Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate for $100!

via urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com

One of my favorite Fantasy authors is giving away a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Go to her post to find out how she started and how you could win.

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