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The London Eye  

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The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

 
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The London Eye  

Rory Llowarch posted a photo:

The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

 
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The London Eye  

Rory Llowarch posted a photo:

The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

 
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The London Eye  

Rory Llowarch posted a photo:

The London Eye from Westminster Bridge

 
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The World (6) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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The World (4) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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The World (10) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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The World (7) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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The World (11) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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The World (13) @ Gallions Reach 08-07-16  

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r0B0t: All they need to know is this is the coolest thing they'll see all year  
This robot stingray is powered by genetically engineered rat heart cells. It has an elastomer body and a stiff gold skeleton. Rat heart cells are grown in a specific pattern on the underside, and are activated by pulses of light -- allowing the robot to be remote controlled as it navigates through a liquid with suspended nutrients that keep the cells alive. More details from Science. Even Popular Mechanics doesn't need to do much sensationalizing to this story. 
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r0B0t: The heartbreaking saga of Mighty No. 9 - Destructoid  

Destructoid

The heartbreaking saga of Mighty No. 9 Destructoid So how about we see what resident decommissioned fighting robot Tony Ponce has to dig up about the story of Beck. ~Strider]. This is an article I was never sure I would write. I've gone back and forth over past last year and half, itching to put my ...

 
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How To Heal The Planet - Become A Conscious Consumer  

I often wonder what it would be like to live in the perfect environmental world - a world where people were conscious enough always to say excuse me, please and thank you. A world where people were transparent and didn't try to cheat you or lie for their betterment. A world where trust was a value that was honored, not a quality easily disregarded. A world where we acted consciously to protect our air, rivers, oceans, and wildlife in order to ensure a promising future for our children.

Imagine There're No Toxins
It's hard to imagine how carefree I would feel if I didn't have to worry about toxins seeping into our skin and poisoning our bodies. If I didn't worry that the air we breathe might be damaging our lungs or whether there was lead or mercury in the water we drink. If I didn't have to worry about fish being overfished until there were none left or worry about whether everyone had access to organic and healthy foods.

It's all hard to imagine. But I can. I can envision an incomprehensibly beautiful life without this kind of daily worry.

My Perfect World
In my perfect world, the injustices of the social anxiety being created by climate change and overpopulation that is creating the fissure splitting our world apart would vanish. A need for "Food Justice" would not exist. Healthcare expenses would drop dramatically as a benefit of a healthier and cleaner diet. In my perfect world, the social anxiety surrounding the damage we are doing to our planet - an anxiety that few want to talk about - would not exist.

But it's not enough to just imagine. Steps have to be taken.

The Trillion-Dollar Question
Who can stop this rising social anxiety around climate change that is decimating our civilization? Who can change this? Who can make my vision of an environmentally perfect world real?

Is it our next President? Is it Congress? Is it Google? Do we need to call in The Terminator? Or is it you and me?

The answer is all of the above. No one person or entity alone can right all the wrongs. But together, as part of a small but growing group of Conscious Consumers (CC) like myself, positive and effective change is possible.

It's about making choices to change habits within a society that sees disposable options as convenient and a good thing and "now" as being more important than a future.

Please don't misunderstand my use of "now." I wholeheartedly believe in being present and living in the moment. But that does not preclude being conscious as to how our actions affect the future of our planet and the health and lives of our children.

How To Become A Conscious Consumer
Think twice before you buy something you don't need. When you buy something new, give away something older to someone who needs it more than you do. Stop before you eat past feeling full. It will allow more food to be given to someone who needs it. Pause before you get in the car by yourself to do just one errand. Carpool when possible. Clustering people and errands will save gas. Read labels. Support eco-friendly companies like those listed on my Greenopia website.

Every little action lightens your carbon footprint and is a step forward towards saving the world for future generations. The side benefit - at least for me - is that it feels good when I am consciously contributing to making a difference in the world.

The Not Impossible Mission
It might seem impossible to save our out of control planet. It might seem like there is no hope and we've gone too far. Or that there is nothing you can personally do to change the direction we're headed. But even in Mission Impossible, when Tom Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt chooses to accept, he alters the course of events.

Beyond Politics And Religion
Whatever your religion, your political persuasion or your spiritual practices are, consciousness is at the core of all of them as is doing good deeds and the idea of paying it forward. You may deny climate change, but you can't deny yourself and others the desire to live a life of health and wellness.

Being a Conscious Consumer is part of being a good citizen of the world. Are you ready to join me? Please visit Greenopia and sign up and join our community and start creating your own green utopia. Your commitment can help alter the course of climate change.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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To Stop "Bomb Trains," I Honeymooned in Jail  
It was a few days after my wedding. I was supposed to be honeymooning at a nearby winery with my newly minted husband, celebrating our unlikely marriage at age 55.

Instead, I was sitting on the railroad tracks in the pouring rain. Along with 20 other brave souls, some weeping, some singing, I was facing down a locomotive in a town -- Vancouver, Washington -- that many fear will be forced to accept the largest oil-by-rail terminal in the country.



Why would anyone do something like that?

Because a few short days before, we'd watched in horror as a mile-long train filled with Bakken crude derailed in Mosier, Oregon and burst into towering flames.

We call these oil trains "bomb trains" because we know, with one tiny loose bolt, they can erupt into an inferno, scorching everything for miles. It happened in Lac-Megantic, Canada in 2013. Forty-seven people were killed in a matter of minutes, the town leveled when a train's brakes failed.

In the aftermath of the Mosier derailment, local fire chief Jim Appleton, who was originally unwilling to condemn oil trains, was beginning to sound more and more like one of us: "I think it's insane" to ship oil by rail, he told a reporter. "Shareholder value doesn't outweigh the lives and happiness of our community."

And yet shareholder value is outweighing the lives and happiness of communities all over the world. I live in the "blast zone" less than a mile from tracks that ply this dangerous cargo here in the Pacific Northwest. And millions of people, most of them on the other side of the world, are already feeling the heat.

More bomb trains, after all, mean more climate change. Rising temperatures mean dangerous weather patterns, like the floods that recently killed hundreds in Pakistan, India and China.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil, whose scientists knew as early as the 1960s that catastrophic climate change would ensue if they didn't change course, has invested in climate denial in order to maximize their shareholder value, counting on us to not connect the dots.

I grew up in India. I can see the faces of friends and loved ones on Facebook enduring record heat and flooding there. So if the trains wouldn't stop coming, I figured, I'd put my body on the line in Vancouver. If I went to jail, I hoped my husband would forgive me for skipping out on our first big date as newlyweds.

The riot police were beginning to gather, and the railroad's private police were issuing their warnings while hundreds chanted nearby. Not wanting to lose valuables in jail, I gave my wallet, cell phone, and wedding ring to a friend.

Then they hauled us off, one by one, in plastic handcuffs like tiny angel's wings behind each protestor's back. They put the 13 women -- as young as 21 and as old as 85 -- in one cell and the eight men in the other.

Seven hours later, as we were released from our windowless cage into the beautiful summer evening, I felt an unspeakable gratitude to my cellmates and those who awaited us outside.

Should we go to trial, many of us will be arguing we did this out of necessity, in order to prevent a far greater looming evil -- of being incinerated in our sleep, of doing nothing to stop this deadly fossil fuel cargo while hundreds of thousands of people die each year from floods, disease, malnutrition, and heat stress due to climate change.

Call me crazy, but we might just win this one. And in so doing, we'll send a very strong message to the oil companies that threaten us all that they must end this madness.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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http://www.npr.org/2016/07/07/485138688/activists-use-video-to-document-police-violence?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=technology  
Activists Use Video To Document Police Violence  

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Arthur Reed, also known as Silky Slim. He is the founder of Stop the Killing Inc., the activist group that released the footage of Alton Sterling's killing in Baton Rouge, La. They discuss the role of videos in the effort to document police violence.

 
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Synthetic Stingray May Lead To A Better Artificial Heart  

Using gold, silicone and heart cells from a rat, scientists have made a tiny artificial stingray. The engineering involved in propelling it could help make a heart that's more than a mechanical pump.

 
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Minnesota Gov. Calls Traffic Stop Shooting 'Absolutely Appalling At All Levels'  

The killing of Philando Castile, 32, in suburban St. Paul, Minn., is the second police shooting of an African-American man to gain national attention this week.

 
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Video Of Baton Rouge Man's Fatal Shooting By Police Sparks Protests, FBI Inquiry  

In the video, Alton Sterling is on the ground when one of the officers kneeling over him yells "He's got a gun!" Then at least one officer draws a weapon from his holster. The FBI is investigating.

 
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r0B0t: fsociety 'hacks' the 'Mr. Robot' Facebook page  
More about Usa Network, Facebook, Mr Robot, Tv, and Entertainment  
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r0B0t: Harvard researchers built a living robot out of rat hearts  
What do you get when you mix the heart cells of a rat with silicone from breast implants and then sprinkle in a bit of gold and genetic engineering? No, not Trump's next trophy wife -- you actually get this incredible "living" robot. Developed by a t...  
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r0B0t: Tiny mutant stingray that is part-machine, part-RAT can swim gracefully - Daily Mail  

Daily Mail

Tiny mutant stingray that is part-machine, part-RAT can swim gracefully Daily Mail When you think of a robot, you may imagine a shiny, metallic machine with a jerky gait. But engineers have created a robotic stingray that mimics the movement of the graceful and efficient marine creature. Stranger still, the robo-ray is powered and ... With gold and rat heart cells, scientists make a robot stingrayLos Angeles Times Synthetic Stingray May Lead To A Better Artificial HeartNPR Flight of fancyThe Economist Gizmodo -The Guardian -Popular Science -Science Magazine all 22 news articles »

 
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r0B0t: Robots rolling in dough - Mountain View Voice  

Mountain View Voice

Robots rolling in dough Mountain View Voice Long answer the company is positioning itself to take advantage of automation, particularly the potential to have a pizza kitchen and delivery system that can essentially run on autopilot. That means a digitized ordering system, a robotic pizza ... and more »

 
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r0B0t: Robot helps study how first land animals moved 360 million years ago  
When early terrestrial animals began moving about on mud and sand 360 million years ago, the powerful tails they used as fish may have been more important than scientists previously realized. That's one conclusion from a new study of African mudskipper fish and a robot modeled on the animal.  
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r0B0t: The Little Mermaid should have kept her tail — it might have helped fish walk  

Studies with robots and mathematical models suggest that tails could have helped propel early landlubbers around.  
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r0B0t: How to catch up on … Mr Robot  

The world of hackers, paranoia and opioid abuse was one of last summer's surprise hits. Here's our guide in Elliot's journey ahead of season two

Spoiler alert: this blog contains the plot from season one of Mr Robot

As a network, USA has traditionally been the home of “blue sky” procedurals where there's no problem that can't be overcome in the span of 60 minutes. That's why Mr Robot was a shock last summer. The gritty story of a hacker with a drug problem and mental health issues trying to take down capitalism by forgiving the world's debt didn't really make sense alongside the likes of the relatively happy-go-lucky Royal Pains and Burn Notice.

Related: Mr Robot: what we know about season two

Continue reading...  
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r0B0t: Today's Best Deals: Better Luggage, Lord of the Rings, Garmin Vivofit  

The extended Lord of the Rings trilogy, highly rated luggage, and a $40 fitness tracker lead off Thursday's best deals.

http://deals.kinja.com/todays-best-li...

Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter to never miss a deal. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more, and don't forget to sign up for our email newsletter.

Top Deals

As we've been saying all week, Prime Day deals are coming a little early this year. Amazon is having a sale on a crazy amount of luggage and luggage accessories for Prime members, including two of the Internet's top five favorite brands: Travelpro and Briggs & Riley. So, if you've been using that duffel bag since college and you have a flight to catch soon, you should get on this one.

http://co-op.kinja.com/these-are-your...

http://lifehacker.com/5704519/make-y...

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Packing cubes can make organizing clothes and toiletries for your next trip a little less hellish, and this highly-rated set of four from eBags is only $20 today. That's $15 less than Amazon's current price, and the best deal we've ever seen.

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If you've been meaning to try Audible, here's the only excuse you need. For a limited time, Prime members can get a three month free trial (up from the usual one month), plus a $10 Amazon credit just for signing up.

During the trial, you'll get one book credit per month to use on any of Audible's 180,000 titles. Even if you cancel your trial later on, those books are yours to keep. And if you do stay a member, you'll be charged $15 per month for a single book credit. But hey, even if you have zero intention of becoming a paying member, or even using your three book credits, this is basically $10 for free.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b00...

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I feel like Oprah right now. You get luggage, and you get luggage, everybody gets luggaaaaaage! Timbuk2's giant, and I mean GIANT, sale is not something you want to miss. Grab one of your top five favorite rolling carry-ons or a new laptop messenger bag. Be sure to let us know what you pick up in the comments.

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They won't count your steps or show you your texts, but these discounted watches look nicer than any smart wearable out there, and you can strap one to your wrist for as little as $41, today only. There are over 70 options to choose from, so be sure to head over to Amazon to see all of the options.

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There are quite a few permutations of the Lord of the Rings films out there on Blu-ray, but the extended editions are the ones you want, and the extended trilogy pack has never been cheaper. In fact, it almost never sells for under $50. Just note that this is a Gold Box deal, so be sure to lock in your order before this price is thrown into Mount Doom.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZQAKHU/...

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$5 LED bulbs are nothing to get excited about these days, except that almost all of them are 60W equivalents. While that's fine for most rooms, if you prefer your lights to be blindingly bright, Amazon will sell you a 4-pack of Philips 100W equivalents for just $20 today.

When you consider that these bulbs only need 14W to produce the same amount of light as 100W incandescents, it's easy to see how they'll pay for themselves in energy savings over time. Plus, many local utility companies offer post-purchase rebates when you send in receipts for LED bulbs, which would allow you to hit that break-even point even faster.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-455717...

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Free money is free money, y'all. Any time you can get a discounted gift card, I think it should be worth mentioning. Get this $100 JCPenney gift card for only $80. That could go a really, really long way.

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Waterpik is an easier (and they would argue more effective) way to “floss” between your teeth, and Amazon is currently taking $10 off the Waterpik Complete Care bundle, which includes an electric toothbrush. Just clip the $10 coupon, and use Subscribe & Save to maximize your savings. Just remember to cancel your subscription after it's delivered.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

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If you don't own a salad spinner, there's really no reason not to get one for $8. Worst case, it'll motivate you to buy and eat more greens.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01173342O?...

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Adobe's Photoshop and Lightroom Creative Cloud photography suite normally costs $10 per month, but Amazon's currently discounting a 12-month plan to just $7.49 per month. Creative Cloud plans don't go on sale often, so if you're a creative professional, or just want to make your own photos look better, this is a great opportunity to save on industry standard software.

https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Creative...

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I know, I know. The Xbox One S is coming soon. But damn, it's hard to resist this $299 deal. That gets you the 1TB Spring Bundle (which includes four games), an extra game, a $50 Microsoft store credit, an extra controller, and a $20 credit to spend at the new Xbox Design Lab.

Even if you you didn't play the bonus game or use the $20 credit, the extra controller and store credit alone are worth about $100, and you're saving $50 on the console, so I feel pretty comfortable calling this the best Xbox One deal I've ever seen.

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It's not a Fitbit, but this $40 Garmin Vivofit has a few enticing tricks up its sleeve, if you're in the market for a fitness tracker.

Of course, the Vivofit will track your steps, your sleep, and your calories burned, but two features set it apart from the field. First, if you're inactive for an hour, it'll shame you with a big red bar on the screen until you get up and move around. And second, it uses a pair of cheap watch batteries for power, which can last for up to a year with zero maintenance. That's one less thing to recharge at night.

Today's $40 deal is about $10 less than usual, but it's only available today, and only for Prime members.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFPOXM4/...

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If you've ever spent more than 5 seconds sorting through your mismatched food containers to find the right lid, it's time to throw them all out and upgrade to this Rubbermaid's Easy Find Lid system.

These containers come in six different sizes, and yet you only have to deal with three different lids, making it much easier to find the right one. The 42 piece set has been on sale for $16 for months now, which is still within $1 of an all-time low. And today, you can also grab an $18 piece set for $8, or roughly $2-$4 less than usual.

https://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Eas...

https://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Con...

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If your phone supports Qi wireless charging, $10 is a great price for a charging pad. I recommend stocking up, and scattering these all around your home and office. Just use promo code V3NGLULB at checkout to get the discount.

If you need a wall charger to plug it into, Samsung's Qi charger includes one in the box, and is still on sale for $12.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XBLT90/...

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Giant plugs that cover up half the outlets on your power strip should be outlawed, but until that day arrives, these short extension cords will have to do.

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Exten...

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Amazon's had several deals recently on the ultra-popular Sport-Brella, but Cabela's just topped them all. The standard Sport-Brella will set you back just $32 today, or you can opt for the XL version for $38 with promo code 16CAVE.

http://gear.kinja.com/bring-your-own...

Unlike a regular umbrella, Sport-Brella leans backwards and attaches to the sand with stakes, creating a kind of semi-private cocoon with enough space for a couple of chairs and a cooler. Best of all, it sets up in about five minutes (once you know what you're doing), and can provide a full day's worth of privacy and sun protection.

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Even if you don't give presentations all that often, for $8, it can't hurt to keep this well-designed PowerPoint remote tucked away in your bag. Powered by a single AAA battery, the remote speaks to any Mac, PC, or Android device via a tiny wireless USB dongle (which docks into the pointer when you aren't using it) from up to 100 meters away. Most importantly though, it includes a built-in laser pointer, so you can use it to play with your cat even when you aren't giving TED talks.

https://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Wirele...

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It's my deeply held belief that it's worth owning a tablet simply to use as a kitchen TV, and this Belkin cabinet mount can hold a 7-10" screen at an ideal viewing angle while you chop your onions. And yes, it's easily removable when you aren't using it.

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Kitchen...

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If it won't bother you too much to see James Bond as an overt racist, several of Ian Fleming's original novels are on sale for just $7 each on paperback today.

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This bathroom scale doesn't have any bells & whistles; just a sleek look, a great price, and tons of five-star reviews. Save a couple bucks with promo code 7RA66ARG.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3J9G1W?...

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Mpow's Armor line of Bluetooth speakers aren't just water and dust resistant; they also include a USB output to charge your phone, and you can save on both the standard and the “Plus” model today.

The standard Armor is your basic, 3W, water resistant Bluetooth speaker. It'd be great to keep your shower, and $24's a solid price. But if you need a lot more...everything, the Plus model features dual 8W drivers, and over 20 hours of battery, which makes it perfect for camping trips, beach outings, or backyard barbecues.

https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Portable-...

https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Portable-...

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You have no shortage of options when it comes to Bluetooth speakers, but the Jawbone Jambox line started the entire trend, and its highly-rated mini model is just $60 today on Amazon.

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Save money, look good, and give back. Everyone's favorite noisemakers bangle bracelet maker, Alex and Ani, is helping out the ASPCA by giving 15% of every clearance purchase to the organization. All clearance is up to 30% off regular prices and there are some hidden gems in there like this awesome luna moth or this geometric cuff.

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For a limited time, Amazon's selling the 20 ounce model of your favorite travel mug, the Contigo Autoseal West Loop, for $16, or the 16 ounce model for $13, both among the best prices we've seen. These mugs are cupholder-friendly, easy to clean, and will maintain a hot beverage hot for up to five hours, or a cold drink for up to 12.

http://co-op.kinja.com/the-best-trave...

Note: The deal is available on multiple colors, so be sure to click around to find your favorite.

https://www.amazon.com/Contigo-Autose...

https://www.amazon.com/Contigo-Autose...

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If you tend to crash and burn when making baked goods, this smartphone-connected scale can walk you through the process step by step. Just connect your phone or tablet to the kitchen scale, pick your recipe from the free app, and start following instructions. The app will tell you what to add, when to add it, and how much you need; all you need to do is pop the results in the oven, and make sure you get it out at the right time.

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Smart-...

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Nearly a decade after release, the venerable Xbox 360 controller is still one of the best PC gamepads you can buy, and the wireless model is down to just $21 today on eBay, the best price we've seen.

Note: This doesn't include the Windows wireless adapter, but you could still plug it in with an inexpensive USB connector cable.

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Today only, Groupon is taking an extra 20% off all local offers with promo code SUMMER20, up to a maximum $50 discount. That includes everything from restaurants to oil changes in the city of your choice.

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You can't control these semi-smart power outlet switches with your phone, or automate them with IFTTT recipes like you can with Belkin's WeMo line, but you can control them from across your house with a remote control, and they're incredibly affordable today.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQELHBS?...

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If the perfect chambray shirt existed...wait no, it definitely does. The Slim Fit Chambray from J.Crew Factory is everything you want and need in a chambray. Cotton, lightweight, washable, not too-blue. And when it's on sale (with an extra 50% off using the code CLEARIT), you buy a few of them just in case.

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Whether your devices use USB-C or microUSB, today's a great day to stock up on charging cables.

https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Quick-Ch...

https://www.amazon.com/Aukey-USB-C-Ca...

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I'm not surprised Anker made a flashlight. I am surprised it uses three AAA batteries (or a single, rechargeable 18650 battery) instead of a built-in rechargeable battery pack. But if that doesn't turn you off, it does include CREE LED bulbs, three lighting modes, and IP65 water and dust resistance. Not bad for $10.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G8E3T4K?...

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Summer isn't kind to your wiper blades, so if you've been struggling to see the road through streaks on your windshield, Amazon's offering up a pair of Bosch Insight Blades for just $22 right now. Just pick the two you need, add them to your cart, and the discount should appear automatically. The deal even allows you to mix and match sizes, so you can almost certainly find a combination that will work for your car.

Note: The discount will only work on blades shipped and sold by Amazon directly. No third party sellers.

Tech

Storage

• Sony 2-Pack of 64GB USB 3.0 / MicroUSB Flash Drives | $30 | Buydig
• SanDisk Pixtor 32GB microSDHC Class 10 Memory Card | $15 | Best Buy
• SanDisk Pixtor 64GB microSDXC Class 10 Memory Card | $24 | Best Buy

Power

• CyberPower AVR CP1500AVRT 1500 VA 900 Watts 8 Outlets | $130 | Newegg
• Etekcity 10 Pack Power Extension Cord Cable Strip | $14 | Amazon | Use code AXIEKT42
• RAVPower Mini Qi Wireless Charging Pad | $10 | Amazon | Use code V3NGLULB

Audio

• Jawbone Mini Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker | $60 | Amazon
• Monoprice 109564 Coiled 3-Feet 3.5mm Male to 3.5mm Male Stereo Audio Cable | $2 | Amazon
• Mpow Armor Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker Waterproof with 5200mah Power Bank | $64 | Amazon | Use code 94CLLGOA
• Mpow Armor Portable Bluetooth Speakers Shockproof with Extra 1000 mAh Emergency Power Bank | $24 | Amazon | Use code GMKWXDF9
• Mpow Bluetooth Receiver | $9 | Amazon | Use code OFQACECW
• RockBirds Sport Bluetooth 4.0 Headphones with Mic for Cellphone | $11 | Amazon | Use code FRY4L8PF

Home Theater

• Panasonic TC-55CX420U 55-Inch 4K ULTRA HD 2160p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV | $500 | Walmart
• RCA 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV/DVD Combo with ROKU Streaming | $330 | Walmart

Computers & Accessories

• Lenovo Ideapad 300 15.6-Inch Laptop (Core i3, 6 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, Windows 10) | $337 | Amazon
• LG 34UM57 - 34" UltraWide 21:9 IPS WFHD (2560x1080) LED Computer Gaming Monitor | $319 | Buydig | Use code HDVIEW
• Inateck 2.4GHz Wireless Presenter PowerPoint Clicker Presenter Remote Control 100m support hyperlink | $8 | Amazon | Use code ZOY2MEYG
• Acer 19.5" LED HD Monitor | $50 | Best Buy
• Sceptre 20" LED Monitor | $70 | Walmart
• Sceptre 24" LED Full HD 1080p Monitor | $100 | Walmart
• AOC 28-Inch MVA LED-Lit Monitor | $160 | Amazon
• ASUS USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 External 12X Blu-Ray Writer | $48 | Newegg | After $20 rebate
• SwissGear SA6639 Neon Green Computer Backpack - Fits Most 15 Inch Laptops and Tablets | $12 | Amazon

PC Parts

• PNY - CS1311 240GB Internal SATA III SSD | $45 | eBay
• G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory | $59 | Newegg
• PNY Anarchy 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory | $54 | Newegg

Mobile Devices

• 6-Pack of 22AWG Premium MicroUSB Cables | $4 | Amazon | Use Code MICROJLY
• Verizon Wireless Prepaid Samsung Galaxy J3 4G LTE w/ 8GB Mem Prepaid Cell Phone | $60 | eBay
• Verizon Wireless Prepaid Samsung Galaxy J1 4G LTE w/ 8GB Mem Prepaid Cell Phone | $30 | eBay

Photography

• Sunpak PlatinumPlus GoPro Compatible Action Camera Accessory Mount Kit | $10 | Best Buy
• DBPOWER Waterproof Action Camera 12MP 1080P HD with 2 Batteries and Free Accessories Kit | $43 | Amazon | Use Code PNIQP7SW

Home

• Newhouse Lighting Solar Flickering LED Tiki Torches, Bamboo Finish, 4-Pack | $38 | Amazon
• Speco Technologies VIP2C1P 2MP Mini Cube Network Camera | $40 | B&H
• Samsung SNH-1011 Wireless IP Camera | $49 | Amazon
• Neato Robotics Botvac D Series D75 Robot Vacuum Cleaner | $300 | Amazon
• Lasko Wind Curve 42 in. Oscillating Tower Fan with Fresh Air Ionizer | $43 | Home Depot
• Expandable Flexible Garden Water Hose w/ Spray Nozzle | $10 | eBay

Kitchen

• Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid Food Storage Container, BPA-Free Plastic, 18-Piece Set | $8 | Amazon
• Hamilton Beach 0.7 cu ft Microwave Oven | $35 | Walmart
• Ouddy 15 Inch Magnetic Knife Bar | $10 | Amazon | Use code SAXV4AAI
• X-Chef Space Saving Salad Containers High Quality Large Vegetable Dryer | $8 | Amazon | Use code DX69NZIL
• Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Tablet Mount | $20 | Amazon

Tools & Auto

• 300A Peak 8000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter / Power Bank w/ Built-in LED Flashlight | $25 | Amazon | Use Code 888DJS40
• RIDGID 15 Amp 10 in. Compact Table Saw-R4516 | $199 | Home Depot
• DBPOWER Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit | $16 | Amazon | Use code SU9B6JQK
• RIDGID 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill Kit | $99 | Home Depot

Lifestyle

Apparel

• Columbia Thimbleberry Rain Jacket - Women's | $50 | REI

Camping & Outdoors

• Aerobie Skylighter Disc | $10 | Amazon
• MSR Groundhog Tent / Canopy Stake Kit | $12 | Amazon
• Work Smart Resin 3-Piece Folding Bench and Table Set, 2 Benches and 6 x 2.5-Feet Table | $114 | Amazon
• Homebunny Military Folding Shovel and Pick with Carrying Pouch | $8 | Amazon
• OxyLED MH20 LED Headlamp with Motion Sensor | $11 | Amazon

Fitness

• Double Edge Safety Razor, Oak Leaf Butterfly Open Long Handled Men's Shaving Razor with 3 Premium Blades | $8 | amazon | Use code JTH8LYRO
• Etekcity Digital Body Weight Scale with Step-On Technology, 400 Pounds | $14 | Amazon | Use code 7RA66ARG

Media

• FREE Michael Bublé: To Be Loved | Google

Movies & TV

• FREE Dragon Ball Z Season 1 | Microsoft
• The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Editions) | $27 | Amazon
• Legend of Korra: Books One, Two, Three & Four | $50 | Best Buy
• Tiger & Bunny The Movie - The Rising Combo Pack | $10 | Amazon
• Tiger & Bunny, Set 1 | $15 | Amazon
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day / Total Recall (Two-Pack) | $8 | Amazon
• Stuck in Love | $6 | Amazon
• A Million Ways to Die in the West Unrated | $5 | Amazon

Books

• The Green Ember Audiobook | $2 | Amazon
• The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers Kindle | $3 | Amazon

Apps

• FREE Knots 3D | iOS | Normally $2
• FREE Remote Media Manager Pro | iOS | Normally $4
• Timepage by Moleskine | $3 | iOS | Normally $5
• Tersus - Icon Pack | $1 | Anrdoid | Normally $2
• Versicolor - Icon Pack | $1 | Android | Normally $2
• Abs Workout PRO | $1 | Android | Normally $2

Gaming

Peripherals

• Azio 3500dpi USB Gaming Mouse | $15 | eBay

PC

• The Ship: Remasted | $7 | Steam
• Surgeon Simulator: Anniversary Edition | $2 | Green Man Gaming | Promo code JULY20
• I Am Bread | $3 | Green Man Gaming | Promo code JULY20

PlayStation 4

• MLB The Show 16 | $40 | Amazon
• Transformers Devastation | $29 | Amazon
• FIFA 16 | $16 | PSN

Xbox One

• Microsoft Xbox LIVE 12 Month Gold Membership | $40 | eBay
• Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition | $8 | Xbox Live Gold
• Xbox One 1TB Spring Bundle + Free Select Game + Free Extra Controller + $50 Microsoft Store Gift Code + $20 Design Lab Credit | $299 | Microsoft

Xbox 360

• Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller | $21 | eBay

Vita

• Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational | $5 | Amazon

3DS

• Mario Tennis Open | $21 | Amazon

Toys

• LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter | $140 | Walmart

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Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more, and don't forget to sign up for our email newsletter. We want your feedback.

 
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California's Agriculture Chief: Why Can't We All Get Along?  

Irrigated crops in California's Salinas Valley.

Among Nebraska's best farm exports may be one of the country's most important agriculture officials, California's Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross. Raised on a Nebraska farm, Ross knows her way around fields and barns, but has spent much of her adult life focused on farm policy, including stints working for a US Senator and the current US Secretary of Agriculture before accepting her current post.

With water such an essential part of every farmer's life and well-being, and with water wars being waged in drought-ravaged California, calm, even-handed Ross is in a perfect place to ensure that farmers get what they need today while water resources are marshalled and preserved for the future.

I first met Ross at an all-day seminar earlier this year hosted by former Secretary of State George Shultz at the Hoover Institution on Stanford University's campus. The seminar was focused on Israeli solutions to the California water crisis. Ross and I were both presenters.

More recently, I invited her to be a guest on my Let There Be Water Podcast. She was a delightful interview, with our conversation ranging over California's agriculture, her philosophy on water, the challenged state of her adoptive state's aquifers, and the unfortunate demonization of farmers, in general, and almond growers, in particular.


California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross

Now in the fourth year of a drought, California faces the problem that water is not where it is needed most. The north of the state has two-thirds of the state's water resources, while the southern part of the state is where two-thirds of the water is needed for cities and, even more so, for agriculture.

California not only produces $54 billion in agricultural products, but those products also include specialty crops of the kind best grown in California, like wine and table grapes, tree nuts, leafy greens - and even about 90% of the tomatoes processed in the US for the tomato sauce found on pizzas.

With water supplies pinched, environmentalists, city dwellers and farmers have gotten into a pushing match. But Ross points out that "it takes a lot of water to grow everything that we eat" and notes that nearly 80% of the water used in California is used for agriculture.

"Farmers grow food for people," Ross says in the podcast. "The ultimate user of all of that water is the person who eats the food grown by the farmer. We are all in this together."

One of the stakeholders of interest to Ross is generations not yet born. Ross looks at the over-taxing of aquifers and notes that the status quo can't endure for long. Because of the drought and because of restrictions on surface water preserved for the environment, farmers have been pushed to pump ever deeper into aquifers, with 60% of the water that farmers now using coming from groundwater supplies.

Clearly, such over-use of aquifers isn't sustainable. "If we don't do something today," Ross says, "every year we continue to pump so much, we are putting ourselves into an ever greater deficit [of groundwater], and that isn't a wise thing to do for the generations that will follow us."

Ross and state officials have some hard decisions to make. If the preservation of the delta smelt, an endangered species, continues to keep large amounts of river water off limits to farmers, if over-pumping of aquifers isn't sustainable, and if we want California agriculture to continue to grow, the only solution is in lots of new technology. This includes more drip irrigation to more use of treated wastewater to the development of desalination plants dotting the state. Is there the appetite for an investment in all of that?

To hear Karen Ross discuss all of this, listen to her on the Let There Be Water Podcast. Click here to listen.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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New DNA 'hard drive' could keep files intact for millions of years  

Microsoft and genetics boffins predict genetics in the datacenter

Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) and Microsoft have managed to write data directly onto DNA, a format with dramatic storage densities and a very long life.…

 
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Fiery Sky Silhouette  

Climate_Stillz posted a photo:

 
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A Random Rainbow at Sunset  

Climate_Stillz posted a photo:

A random rainbow appeared in the sky after a glorious day at sunset with no rain in sight!

 
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3_CAZ0623  

cazcarrot posted a photo:

Photo 24! 24 hours of photos in the Capital

 
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3_CAZ0597  

cazcarrot posted a photo:

Photo 24! 24 hours of photos in the Capital

 
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Science non-fiction: Newly spotted alien world bathes in glow of three stars  

First planet spotted by SPHERE is a weird one

A newly discovered planet is wedged in-between three stars and experiences triple sunrises and sunsets every day, according to new research published in Science.…

 
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Elected Officials Join the Call to Stop Oil Trains: 2016 #StopOilTrains Week of Action  
This week people gather at 60 events across North America to mark the third anniversary of the Lac Megantic oil train disaster. Stand organizes the Stop Oil Trains Week of Action to help raise the voice of communities who oppose these dangerous, unnecessary trains. In 2016, elected officials joined our call for a stop to oil trains.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Oregon Governor Kate Brown are challenging federal railroad officials on the safety of trains carrying millions of gallons of explosive, toxic crude oil. They join Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley, Washington Senator Cantwell, and New Jersey Senator Booker on a long and growing list of state and local elected officials who understand that the oil trains rolling through American cities and towns are too dangerous for the rails. Or, in the words of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, a year ago, "a reckless gamble that we just can't afford to make."

Concern about these dangerous trains spiked again following the June 3 derailment and explosion in Mosier, Oregon. A rare windless day in the Columbia River Gorge prevented the fire from spreading to nearby homes or a school just a few hundred yards away. But the potential threat, and the inability to contain and control an oil train fire, was not lost on first responders to the inferno of explosive crude in Mosier. "What's at stake?" asked Mosier fire chief Jim Appleton in an interview with the Oregonian:

"Do we want to test the abilities of a small town again to respond to Armageddon? Or just understand, it's not worth the risk. It ain't worth shareholder value. I know the railroad's argument. But we need to tell them: You can't ship that cargo."

July 6 marks the third anniversary of the fatal oil train disaster in Lac Megantic, Quebec, that took the lives of 47 people. In the three years since that 2013 disaster we've seen more than a dozen major oil train derailments and explosions in the US and Canada. Mosier was another close call. In January Christopher A. Hart of the National Transportation Safety Board recognized the threat when he said, "We have been lucky thus far that derailments involving flammable liquids in America have not yet occurred in a populated area... But an American version of Lac-Megantic could happen at any time."

The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters first asked for a ban on oil trains in 2014, and followed up their request in a June 8 letter to Governor Inslee citing the danger from an oil train fire:

"...evidence keeps growing that there is no safe way to transport Bakken crude. A derailment and fire in dry wildfire fuels with high winds could easily overwhelm available personnel and equipment in many parts of our state and grow into a conflagration of immense proportions."

A week after the Mosier derailment and fire Governor Inslee responded to federal railroad officials that he was not "interested in symbolic measures," and called for a halt to oil trains traveling through Washington until railroads meet six specific safety improvements. In a joint letter to the administration Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley requested, "that the FRA place a moratorium on unit trains transporting crude oil and other hazardous materials through the Gorge until the FRA has issued a final investigative report for the Mosier accident."

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown was even more direct, calling for a moratorium on oil trains in the Columbia River Gorge, "until the strongest safety measures are put in place by federal authorities to protect Oregonians."

The railroads and oil industry, meanwhile, have ignored calls for safety improvements or a halt to oil train traffic while investigations move forward. Railroads point to common carrier requirements and federal preemption to ignore requests from fire fighters, local and state, and even federal, elected officials. Railroads like Union Pacific and even more so BNSF, and their owners, like Warren Buffet, cast morality aside and hide behind the thin veil of federal authority to avoid dealing with safety concerns about oil trains.

Imagine oil trains running down the Columbia River Gorge in between the burnt out skeletons of the derailed Mosier oil train cars cast along the sides of the tracks. It actually happened. Oil continues down those same tracks and thousands of miles of other rail lines in our cities and towns without any changes to the inspection system that led to the conflagration in Mosier. The exclusion of safety and fire officials, and all local and state elected officials, in decisions about rail safety leaves the protection of the 25 million Americans living in the blast zone tracks in the hands of the Warren Buffet and the other railroad executives of the world who care more about making even more money than public safety.

On July 6 more than 100 groups and elected officials delivered a letter to President Obama asking him to stop crude oil trains. These deadly trains add nothing to our energy security, but they undermine the safety of millions of Americans who live in the dangerous oil train blast zone. It's time to end this reckless industry before our luck runs out.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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The veil by Romina Dughero  

The veil by Romina Dughero

Romina Dughero: Photos

 
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Sünni by Miro Hofmann  

Sünni by Miro Hofmann

Miro Hofmann: Photos

 
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A new friendship by Piroska Pádár  

A new friendship by Piroska Pádár

Piroska Pádár: Photos

 
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Uncovering the 80 yr old SS Monte Carlo Coronado by Aldryn Estacio  

Uncovering the 80 yr old SS Monte Carlo Coronado by Aldryn Estacio

80 yr old SS Monte Carlo comes back to life after 80 years off of Coronado Beach, CA I was able to be the first to document this hidden gem from above. The shipwreck sits on the shoreline of Coronado Beach California. The ship was launched in 1921 and due to storms in 1937, the ships anchor lost its hold and drifted on the beach. There's believed to still be treasure remaining in wreckage. 
The ship is normally buried below the sand but the recent El Niño storms have now exposed the top layer. Seeing this in person and from above feels surreal and something out of a movie.

Aldryn Estacio: Photos

 
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r0B0t: Robot brews: How AI could flavor your next beer - CNET  

Robotics and Automation News (press release) (registration)

Robot brews: How AI could flavor your next beer CNET The idea is that after trying one of IntelligentX's four beers -- named Amber AI, Black AI, Golden AI and Pale AI -- consumers use a Facebook chat bot to give feedback on what they liked and didn't like about the flavor. The algorithm, named ABI ... Robot bar workers could soon be serving artificially intelligent beer… in a computer-simulated world, of courseRobotics and Automation News (press release) (registration) all 3 news articles »

 
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r0B0t: Artificial Intelligence and robotics high on financial services agenda - Consultancy.uk  

Consultancy.uk

Artificial Intelligence and robotics high on financial services agenda Consultancy.uk As financial services organisations predict and plan for the way consumers will manage their money in the future, artificial intelligence (AI) is high on the business development strategy for 2016 and beyond, says Gideon Hyde from design consultancy ...

 
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Sunset glow 7/7/16  

Nick-Weedon posted a photo:

 
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Asia's Unknown, Ignored And Disappearing Animals  

Often called the most beautiful of the monkeys, the Red-shanked Douc langur of Southeast Asia hasn't benefited much from its good looks. It is barely known to the public or most conservationists and is Endangered. Photo by Art G. on flickr CC BY 2.0

Try to name Asia's most endangered animals, and iconic species such as tigers, orangutans and rhinos likely leap to mind. But pangolins, langurs or saola? Not so much. Most of us haven't heard of these "other" species, and can't even picture them.

Yet these little-known primates and other mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish are no less valuable to their habitats, and to earth's overall biodiversity, than their more famous, more charismatic Asian animal compatriots.

But unfortunately for these lesser-known creatures, they face the same deadly threats as the "top" tier endangered species. They walk the same paths, use the same rainforest trees and mangrove swamps, and drink from the same rivers. They depend on the same ecosystems, and those ecosystems depend on them.

So when habitats are logged, fragmented by roads, polluted, or taken over by oil palm plantations, their survival is just as perilous as for the "big name" species.

Each species' loss slashes yet another thread from the web of life, and threatens to leave that rich weave hanging in tatters. Despite the urgent need, Asia's Almost Famous receive little attention, and even less money for research and conservation.

The leaky umbrella problem

A popular conservation argument runs this way: programs aimed at saving "celebrity" species such as orangutans in the wild also must protect their habitat. This preserved habitat then acts like a giant umbrella, which, in turn, hopefully helps shield all the other minor celebrities and total unknowns who share the same forests, swamps and estuaries over which the big name species roam.


The Sumatran rhino, like the orangutan and tiger, is an example of charismatic megafauna -- a species that gets tremendous media exposure and conservation attention, while many other equally threatened species receive little notice. Photo by wAlanb on Flickr CC BY 2.0

Unfortunately, that "one size fits all" approach presumes a lot. All too often these habitat umbrellas leave many species out in the rain -- living in biodiverse habitats that lack charismatic megafauna. Or the habitat umbrella leaks like a sieve -- with tigers protected, but gibbons still at the top of the bushmeat menu.

The problems for Asia's Almost Famous Animals are many. Often, scientists don't even know how many of a particular species are left in the wild, let alone where and how they live, what they eat and when they breed -- there just isn't enough money to do the needed research.

Because we don't know much about these creatures, conservationists don't know if some critical lifestyle detail is being overlooked -- a detail that may be crucial to long term survival, and whose absence will drop them into the abyss of extinction.

Such gaps in our collective knowledge may present themselves in the same moment a new species is discovered. Often, by the time scientists find a new animal, the species is already gravely threatened and its rescue becomes a race against time, lack of data and lack of funds.

One needn't look far for examples of such dire conservation conundrums: scientists found an astounding trove of new species unknown to science less than four years ago in Southeast Asia's Greater Mekong region -- a discovery that included 28 reptiles, 24 fish, 21 amphibians, three mammals and a bird, 367 new species in all, each with fascinating traits and life histories.


The world's most coveted fish: the Asian Arowana fish (Scleropages formosus). A single adult can sell on the black market for $150,000. Photo by Josh More on flickr.

The list included the "scribbled arowana" (Scleropages inscriptus), a dragon fish from Myanmar with intricate, maze-like markings on every scale; and the Sweet Singing Frog (Gracixalus quangi) from the high-altitude forests of northern Vietnam, whose every song to attract females appears to be a new composition, with improvisational clicks, whistles and chirps instead of repetitive croaks.

Also numbered among the newly discovered was the red-and-white furred Laotian giant flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus laoensis), about which we know little today, except that it was first documented by researchers in a bushmeat market. B. laoensis had barely stepped out onto the global biodiversity stage, when scientists realized that it was under threat from overexploitation and a fast shrinking habitat.

All too often, Almost Famous endangered species share certain fatal characteristics in common: they may taste delicious, make cuddly pets, and/or live in areas coveted by loggers and agribusiness, or by the rapidly growing human population of Asia.

The frightening reality is that many Almost Famous species could disappear before we get to know anything about them -- including that they exist.

The full article includes a brief survey of some of Asia's Almost Famous -- a list of species that runs into the thousands of primates and other mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish -- Asian animals on the brink.

It is the first of 20 Mongabay stories highlighting Almost Famous Asian Animals -- all to be published by the end of 2016. You can find the complete Almost Famous series here.

Note: This is an excerpt of an article published on Mongabay.com and was reposted with permission.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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Welcome To Null Island, The Busiest Place That Doesn't Exist  
In this episode of Minute Earth, Tom Scott explains why Instagram keeps marking everyone on that tiny spot in the ocean you've probably never been to.  
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5 Things You Can Do To Keep The Air Around You Fresh  
It's estimated that the average person breathes in approximately 11,000 litres, or 2,900-plus gallons of air every single day. That's why it's so important to protect our environment and do everything we can as global citizens to keep both Mother Nature and our lungs as clean as possible. Growing up as kids, we've all been drilled with the same message through school to reduce, reuse and recycle and to "litter not", but the fact is that as we grow older and as technology continues to make further advancements, we gain in our intelligence and knowledge and continue to find ways to improve the health of both our minds and bodies.

It's within that spirit of constantly evolving as both global citizens and healthy human beings that I leave you with five things you can do to keep the air around you fresh.

Get An Air Purifier

It's estimated that the average person will spend over 92,000 hours working should they enter the workforce in their teen years and work well into their 60s. That's a lot of time spent potentially spent indoors for those that spend their working life in an office. If you do indeed work inside, one of the best things you can do is invest in a good air purifier, or ask your employer to do so. An industry leading enterprise level supplier like Camfil USA and its City M purifier would be a simple option to consider. The company has been around for 50 years and most large-scale employers wouldn't have a problem investing in a good quality purifier.

Walk, Run, Bike & Commute More, Drive Less

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, motor vehicles often make up the largest component of smog in ground level ozone. That smog can cause problems with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and even permanent lung damage. Walking and cycling more are two clearly more environmentally friendly methods of getting around, not to mention both represent a great excuse for getting physically active and staying in shape. Simply put, walk, run, bike or commute rather than driving. If we all did that, the air around us would be much cleaner.

Don't Smoke, Or Expose Yourself To Second Hand Smoke

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which cause cancer. Add to that the fact an estimated 2.5 million non-smokers have died from second-hand smoke related illnesses since 1964 and it's easy to see why making the decision not to smoke or be around the second hand variety is a good idea. Keeping the air clean both in your home and at work is good for your health, and smoking is simply a bad habit, not a necessity.

Get Your Home's Ventilation System Cleaned Regularly

While some home owners out there may believe that having your home or office's ventilation system cleaned regularly isn't a big deal, the Environmental Protection Agency does recommend having your ducts cleaned if:

• You suspect mold exists in your ducts
• You see a vermin infestation in your home
• You notice insects entering or exiting ductwork
• Black debris or dust is blowing out of your ventilation system or present around it

Wear A Face Mask When Appropriate

I first remember seeing facemasks worn by the general public back when the SARS virus broke out years ago, and years later when swine flu was becoming a global pandemic, governments ordered masks in the millions to try and protect the health of the general public. Masks do work if replaced regularly, but you don't have to wait for a pandemic to benefit from them. Wearing one while painting or renovating your home, or doing anything that might have you breathing in dust or harmful chemicals can help protect your respiratory system.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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A Biological Surprise Attack Slows Gypsy Moth Invasion  
This year's big outbreak of invasive gypsy moth caterpillars has been slightly blunted by an Asian fungus with a mysterious origin story.  
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These Photos of Reptiles and Amphibians Will Transport You to Another World  






YASUNI NATIONAL PARK, Ecuador -- Ecuador is a beautiful country on South America's west coast, and despite its small size, it has an extremely diverse landscape -- including the Amazon rainforest, the Andean highlands and the Galápagos Islands. I recently conducted a research expedition to Ecuador, and it was an unforgettable experience to say the least.

During our travels through the mainland and the Galápagos, we encountered an incredible diversity of frogs, snakes, lizards and salamanders. Without further ado, here are my top 10 favorite amphibian and reptile encounters:

1. Rain Frogs

2. Fringed Leaf Tree Frog

3. Banded Tree Anole

4. Amazon Tree Boa

5. Glass Frogs

6. Tropical Salamander

7. Geckos

8. Galápagos Iguanas

9. Giant Galápagos Tortoise

10. The Rare Pinocchio Lizard

I hope you enjoyed these incredible reptiles and amphibians as much as we did. Special thanks to Lucas Bustamante from Tropical Herping and thanks to TROPIC for hosting us during our visit to the Galápagos. If you want to plan your own trip, visit Destination Ecuador.

For more you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram!

An Ecuadorian, a Californian and a Venezuelan walk into a jungle...My first time in the field with Lucas Bustamante and Alejandro Arteaga, two amazing researchers and photographers who have traveled through the most remote parts of Ecuador's rainforests in search of new frog and reptile species. #Ecuador #TropicalHerping #snake #reptile #amphibian #research #Herpetologist #expedition #explore #discover #herpetology #journey #rainforest #science

A photo posted by Aaron Pomerantz (@nextgenscientist) on Jun 14, 2016 at 5:14pm PDT

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Get Smart Fast: Off-shore Wind Power  
Off-shore wind energy has long been considered an important option for renewable power especially given the focus on finding low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources. Off-shore winds are typically stronger and steadier over the ocean. In addition, off-shore wind farms can be located near densely populated coastal cities.

However, the industry has struggled. There are no operational commercial projects in the United States. Cape Wind - which was expected to be the first - has become a symbol of the difficulties for off-shore wind because it has been plagued with law suits, technical challenges, and local opposition.

Despite the setbacks that Cape Wind has faced, off-shore wind energy is gathering momentum. In recent years, technology has improved, prices have come down, and perhaps most importantly, lessons have been learned about siting.

Other parts of the world have embraced this technology as well with more than 3,000 off-shore wind turbines in Europe. Here at home, federal regulations have been simplified and dozens of projects are now in the planning stages, especially along the eastern seaboard. Several companies have announced investments in off-shore wind technology or manufacturing. Therefore, we should expect U.S. projects to come online in the near future as American business works toward increased use of this natural resource.

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Like humans, lowly cockroach uses a GPS to get around, scientists find  
Rats, men and cockroaches appear to have a similar GPS in their heads that allows them to navigate new surroundings, researchers have discovered.  
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Why We Need Real Environmental Reform, Not "Greenwashing"  
Does the "BPA-free" sticker on your water bottle mean it's safe, or just well-marketed? Is building an athletic field out of recycled tires a green choice, or one that introduces more toxic material into our environment?

These are the dilemmas we face as consumers. We make thousands of choices every day about what to put in, on and near our bodies. Even if we have the critical thinking skills to evaluate the merits of every product we simply don't have the time. We often must rely on others to make decisions that we implicitly trust are in our best interest. But often the toxic materials that make headlines are replaced by well-intentioned but unproven alternatives -- like replacing BPA with the chemically-similar and totally untested substance BPS.

The FDA currently does not have the budget to conduct extensive long-term research on many potentially harmful products. Industry is required to effectively self-regulate. Most consumers are completely unaware of this fact. This Spring my students raised a "Stink!" upon previewing the documentary by Jon Whelan and took incremental steps in a less toxic direction with the Silent Spring Institute's Detox Me App. The rest of us would be wise do the same.

Educators must ensure the STEM workforce be research-empowered to solve today's problems without creating issues for tomorrow. In the interim, consumers can turn to the Skin Deep Database and Think Dirty App, while decision makers must use the best information available.

Recently, Simmons College partnered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to develop Daly Field, a Boston athletic complex with dirt fields that had fallen into disrepair. Hopefully, our stewardship and development choices will protect both our athletes and our community.

Simmons is installing new synthetic fields that save up to a million gallons of water needed to maintain comparable natural grass fields -- and help to eliminate existing erosion and reduce contaminants from fertilizers and pesticides.

Synthetic turf is an easy choice, but Simmons recently made a tougher call. As a result of an ongoing federal investigation into the safety of crumb rubber (made largely from recycled tires) as infill in synthetic fields, Simmons opted for a more expensive all-natural alternative at Daly Field. Geofill consists of 90% crushed coconut husks and 10% cork. It has been in use for more than 10 years. By choosing to install Geofill rather than crumb rubber, Simmons has assured that Daly Field will be the greenest and cleanest public playing field in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Long overdue reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act is headed for President Obama's pen with bipartisan support. Whether the legislation will lead to much-needed consumer protections or future problems remains to be seen. With any luck, the reform will not follow the current trend of replacing a hazard with an alternative that later proves to be worse.

Let's hope that the government looks to the future and funds the study and development of greener alternatives that are better for both our health and the environment. Our STEM students are up to the challenge.

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The Climate Post: Natural Fluctuations Responsible, in Part, for Antarctica Ice Growth  
Natural fluctuations specifically related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) are responsible for the increased growth of Antarctic sea ice, according to a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience. A negative shift in the IPO has caused cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific, allowing Antarctic sea ice to expand since 2000.

"The climate we experience during any given decade is some combination of naturally occurring variability and the planet's response to increasing greenhouse gases," said National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Gerald Meehl, lead author of the study. "It's never all one or the other, but the combination, that is important to understand."

But what's new in the latest study, writes Chris Mooney in The Washington Post, "is the suggestion that this negative IPO phase had consequences that stretched all the way to the Southern Ocean waters surrounding Antarctica--and that this, in turn, explains why most climate models didn't predict the observed growth of Antarctic sea ice."

Study researchers suspect that the IPO began switching to a positive phase in 2014 and that ice in the region may shrink in the next decade.

Study Points to Human Influence on Changes in Earth's Biggest Body of Warm Water

A study in Science Advances has provided the first quantitative attribution of human influences on and natural contributions to warming of the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP), Earth's largest region of warm sea surface temperatures and one "fundamental to global atmospheric circulation and the hydrological cycle."

To "fingerprint" anthropogenic forcings and natural causes of substantial IPWP warming and expansion, researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology and their international colleagues paired observations with multiple climate model simulations integrated with and without human influences. They found that the IPWP had warmed by 0.3 Celsius and increased in size by about a third over the last 60 years primarily due to an increase in human-made greenhouse gases.

About 12 to 18 percent of the warming has been due to natural variability in the ocean, but the remaining portion is due to the greenhouse gas increase, according to study co-author Seung-Ki Min of Pohang University in South Korea.

"We have more energy available from the hotter ocean," said Min. "That means the atmosphere will be enhanced to transport more energy from the tropical ocean to the high latitude zone."

The findings indicate that future ocean warming could increase storm activity over East Asia and strengthen monsoons over South Asia.

"This wasn't entirely surprising. We've long suspected climate change to be behind the changes, but no one had yet proven it," said Evan Weller, lead author, noting that what was surprising is that the western portion of the pool, near India, is expanding more than the eastern part in the Pacific. "We don't really know why. We'll try to figure that out next."

Report: United States Is Oil Reserves Leader

The United States holds the largest share of the world's oil reserves--264 billion barrels to Russia's 256 billion and Saudi Arabia's 212 billion, according to Rystad Energy, a Norwegian industry research group that tracks proved and probable reserves, discoveries and undiscovered fields. More than 50 percent of remaining oil reserves, it claims, are unconventional shale oil. Texas alone holds more than 60 billion barrels of shale oil.

On the basis of a three-year analysis of 60,000 fields worldwide, the group estimates global reserves to be 2,092 billion barrels--roughly 70 times the current production rate of some 30 billion barrels of crude oil per year.

"This data confirms that there is a relatively limited amount of recoverable oil left on the planet," the report says. "With the global car-park possibly doubling from 1 billion to 2 billion cars over the next 30 years, it becomes very clear that oil alone cannot satisfy the growing need for individual transport."

The Climate Post offers a rundown of the week in climate and energy news. It is produced each Thursday by Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

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Rhesus macaques may be preying on bird eggs in Silver Springs  
A new study in Florida is suggesting that that more needs to be learned about animals' habits and impacts so that park staff can make science-based decisions on how to manage non-native monkeys.  
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Tim Profeta: The Climate Post: Natural Fluctuations Responsible, in Part, for Antarctica Ice Growth  
Natural fluctuations specifically related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) are responsible for the increased growth of Antarctic sea ice,...

Read more: Environment, Global Warming, Antarctica, Oil, Texas, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Pollution, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Oceans, Green News

 
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Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.: The Ends Do Not Justify The Means  
In 2014, a federal court found that an American lawyer fabricated evidence, bribed court officials and intimidated judges as part of a lawsuit in Ecua...

Read more: Chevron Ecuador, Chevron, Amazon Watch, Steven Donziger, Environment, Human Rights, Fraud, Business News

 
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Jack Choros: 5 Things You Can Do To Keep The Air Around You Fresh  
It's within that spirit of constantly evolving as both global citizens and healthy human beings that I leave you with five things you can do to keep the air around you fresh.

Read more: Environment, Air Pollution, Fresh Air, Green News

 
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Dying satellite sends scientists one last surprise before vanishing  

To wit: Pics of a burping supermassive black hole

Hitomi, the failed X-ray observatory sent up to space by Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency, peered deep into the heart of a galaxy to reveal hot bubbling plasma before it died.…

 
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The No Man's Land Beneath the Border Wall  

There's a small stretch of soil north of the Rio Grande river that's still part of the United States, but exists below the Mexican border wall. The Atlantic went inside this no-man's land to uncover what life is like in a place that feels not-quite America, but not-quite Mexico.

 
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Have to love an evening sky  

elainedavis189 posted a photo:

 
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The Lebrija 1 Solar Power Plant in Lebrija, Spain is comprised...  

The Lebrija 1 Solar Power Plant in Lebrija, Spain is comprised of approximately 170,000 individual mirrors installed on 6,048 parabolic troughs. If placed next to one another, the troughs would extend for 60 kilometers.

 
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Wolf by Jan Machata  

Wolf by Jan Machata

Jan Machata: Photos

 
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midday by Dasha Pears  

midday by Dasha Pears

Dasha Pears: Photos

 
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Photos of the Day: July 7, 2016  

Explore the news of the day with these images from around the world.  
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Scarface by Lídia Vives  

Scarface by Lídia Vives

if you like my work you can follow me on: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lidiavivesphotography/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lidiavivesphoto/

Lídia Vives: Photos

 
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... by Barbara Florczyk  

... by Barbara Florczyk

photomanipulation 2016 Facebook page model http://fuchsfee-stock.deviantart.com/

Barbara Florczyk: Photos

 
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The Spiral Manoeuvre by Lezanne Gibbs  

The Spiral Manoeuvre by Lezanne Gibbs

Lezanne Gibbs: Photos

 
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Composition by Thomas Thomopoulos  

Composition by Thomas Thomopoulos

Thomas Thomopoulos: Photos

 
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Snowy Toronto nights by Mindz.eye  

Snowy Toronto nights by Mindz.eye

Mindz.eye: Photos

 
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r0B0t: The US Navy Wants Locusts to Sniff Out Bombs - The Fiscal Times  

The Fiscal Times

The US Navy Wants Locusts to Sniff Out Bombs The Fiscal Times Insects engineered to detect explosives sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but they may become a reality for the US military. Last week, the US Office of Naval Research awarded researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis, Missouri ... Can locusts sniff out bombs? The US Navy is trying to find outChristian Science Monitor Engineers to use cyborg insects as biorobotic sensing machinesScienceBlog.com (blog) US Navy Funds Scientists to Develop Locusts as Cyborg Bomb Sniffers of the FutureNature World News National Post -Business Insider -Techworm -ChristianNewsToday.com all 60 news articles »

 
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Synthetic Stingray May Lead To A Better Artificial Heart  

Using gold, silicone, and heart cells from a rat, scientists have made a tiny artificial stingray. The engineering involved in propelling it could help make a heart that's more than a mechanical pump.

 
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Giant planet orbits three stars and enjoys multiple sunsets  
Young gas giant is the smallest planet to be imaged directly  
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These Photos of Reptiles and Amphibians Will Transport You to Another World  






YASUNI NATIONAL PARK, Ecuador -- Ecuador is a beautiful country on South America's west coast, and despite its small size, it has an extremely diverse landscape -- including the Amazon rainforest, the Andean highlands and the Galápagos Islands. I recently conducted a research expedition to Ecuador, and it was an unforgettable experience to say the least.

During our travels through the mainland and the Galápagos, we encountered an incredible diversity of frogs, snakes, lizards and salamanders. Without further ado, here are my top 10 favorite amphibian and reptile encounters:

1. Rain Frogs

2. Fringed Leaf Tree Frog

3. Banded Tree Anole

4. Amazon Tree Boa

5. Glass Frogs

6. Tropical Salamander

7. Geckos

8. Galápagos Iguanas

9. Giant Galápagos Tortoise

10. The Rare Pinocchio Lizard

I hope you enjoyed these incredible reptiles and amphibians as much as we did. Special thanks to Lucas Bustamante from Tropical Herping and thanks to TROPIC for hosting us during our visit to the Galápagos. If you want to plan your own trip, visit Destination Ecuador.

For more you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram!

An Ecuadorian, a Californian and a Venezuelan walk into a jungle...My first time in the field with Lucas Bustamante and Alejandro Arteaga, two amazing researchers and photographers who have traveled through the most remote parts of Ecuador's rainforests in search of new frog and reptile species. #Ecuador #TropicalHerping #snake #reptile #amphibian #research #Herpetologist #expedition #explore #discover #herpetology #journey #rainforest #science

A photo posted by Aaron Pomerantz (@nextgenscientist) on Jun 14, 2016 at 5:14pm PDT

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

 
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Pathway to Planet Nine  
Konstantin Batygin explains what led him and astronomer Mike Brown to propose the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system  
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Pathway to Planet Nine  
Konstantin Batygin explains what led him and astronomer Mike Brown to propose the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system  
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Biggest ever die-off of ocean forests triggered by warming seas  
Kelp forests crucial to marine life are disappearing fast in Australia as rapidly warming oceans transform the ecosystems  
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Memories of favourite locations have a special place in brain  
The hippocampus is a brain area important for general navigation, and now it seems that mice use a specific part of it to store significant locations  
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Butterflies' wing patterns change with the seasons  
Tropical butterflies adapt to their environment to improve their chances of survival. The changes are triggered by hormone signals that transmit information about temperature to the butterflies' tissues. A biologist shows how a complex combination of environment, physiology and genetics steers the development of young butterflies.  
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Expedition 48 Crew Launches to the International Space Station  
The Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with Expedition 48-49 crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) onboard, Thursday, July 7, 2016, Kazakh time (July 6 Eastern time), Baikonur, Kazakhstan.  
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Sex and the Senior Center  

Why is aging so often equated with asexuality? In this episode of If Our Bodies Could Talk, James Hamblin explores how Americans are leaving a massive segment of the population out of conversations around sex.

 
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Your Next Netflix Binge-Watch...From India  
An indie directing star is crossing borders, bringing with him a raunchy comedy that manages to criticize inequality, too.  
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Grey sunrise with hot pink lips  

Sculptor Lil posted a photo:

 
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Big Ben a Gull and the sunset  

trevorhicks posted a photo:

 
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Did you know the Hai  

Did you know the Hainan gibbon is the world's rarest ape? www.zsl.org/science/research/hainan-gibbon-conservation

 
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Did you know Adélie  

Did you know Adélie penguins are the smallest of the Antarctic #penguins?

 
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We recently released  

We recently released 19 rare dormice into the wild. Habitat loss is threatening dormouse populations but reintroduction programmes are helping to bolster the population and conserve the species. The captive-bred dormice were quarantined and health-checked by ZSL scientists before release to help ensure a healthy and successful reintroduction. http://www.zsl.org/blogs/wild-science/bringing-the-dormouse-back-to-uk-woodlands

 
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Take the ‪#‎OneLess‬  

Take the ‪#‎OneLess‬ pledge to ditch single-use plastic water bottles and use refillable bottles instead. Help us reduce plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans. www.zsl.org/oneless

 
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Mite (Fuscozetes sp.  

Mite (Fuscozetes sp.) collected in Forillon National Park, Quebec, Canada, and photographed at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (sample ID: BIOUG10353-B10; specimen record: http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_RecordView?processid=CNFNE2672-14; BIN: http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_BarcodeCluster?clusteruri=BOLD:AAH6648)

 
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“Horses of Saint Mar  
“Horses of Saint Mark.” Bronze. Attributed to the Greek sculptor Lysippos, 4th century BCE. Venice, Basilica of St. Mark.  
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“Horses of Saint Mar  
“Horses of Saint Mark.” Bronze. Attributed to the Greek sculptor Lysippos, 4th century BCE. Venice, Basilica of St. Mark.  
pin-art  

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheDailyGalaxyNewsFromPlanetEarthBeyond/~3/yy1tMtQDpd4/ancient-galaxies-of-the-universe-formed-a-single-supermassive-star-at-their-center-discovery-a-cosmi.html  
Ancient Galaxies of the Universe Formed a Single Supermassive Star at Their Center --"Discovery a Cosmic Miracle"  
 
astronomy  

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NASA's Hubble Captures the Beating Heart of the Crab Nebula  

NASA Goddard Photo and Video posted a photo:

Peering deep into the core of the Crab Nebula, this close-up image reveals the beating heart of one of the most historic and intensively studied remnants of a supernova, an exploding star. The inner region sends out clock-like pulses of radiation and tsunamis of charged particles embedded in magnetic fields.

The neutron star at the very center of the Crab Nebula has about the same mass as the sun but compressed into an incredibly dense sphere that is only a few miles across. Spinning 30 times a second, the neutron star shoots out detectable beams of energy that make it look like it's pulsating.

The NASA Hubble Space Telescope snapshot is centered on the region around the neutron star (the rightmost of the two bright stars near the center of this image) and the expanding, tattered, filamentary debris surrounding it. Hubble's sharp view captures the intricate details of glowing gas, shown in red, that forms a swirling medley of cavities and filaments. Inside this shell is a ghostly blue glow that is radiation given off by electrons spiraling at nearly the speed of light in the powerful magnetic field around the crushed stellar core.

The neutron star is a showcase for extreme physical processes and unimaginable cosmic violence. Bright wisps are moving outward from the neutron star at half the speed of light to form an expanding ring. It is thought that these wisps originate from a shock wave that turns the high-speed wind from the neutron star into extremely energetic particles.

When this "heartbeat" radiation signature was first discovered in 1968, astronomers realized they had discovered a new type of astronomical object. Now astronomers know it's the archetype of a class of supernova remnants called pulsars - or rapidly spinning neutron stars. These interstellar "lighthouse beacons" are invaluable for doing observational experiments on a variety of astronomical phenomena, including measuring gravity waves.

Observations of the Crab supernova were recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054 A.D. The nebula, bright enough to be visible in amateur telescopes, is located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

Credits: NASA and ESA, Acknowledgment: J. Hester (ASU) and M. Weisskopf (NASA/MSFC)

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA's mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA's accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency's mission.

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheDailyGalaxyNewsFromPlanetEarthBeyond/~3/V83wU5jWLrg/saturns-titan-offers-a-blueprint-for-life-outside-the-box.html  
Saturn's Titan --"Offers a Blueprint for Life Outside the Box"  
 
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The Aurora Borealis.  
The Aurora Borealis...FROM SPACE!  
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Deep Space Signal Detected From Most Powerful Explosion Since the Big Bang --"Reveals the Unknown Dark Universe" (Today's Most Popular)  
 
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160707083309.htm  
Astronomers find evidence for ‘direct collapse' black hole  
Astronomers have discovered evidence for an unusual kind of black hole born extremely early in the universe. They showed that a recently discovered unusual source of intense radiation is likely powered by a "direct-collapse black hole," a type of object predicted by theorists more than a decade ago.  
astronomy  

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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160707083111.htm  
Accelerating research into dark energy  
A quick method for making accurate, virtual universes to help understand the effects of dark matter and dark energy has been developed by scientists. Making up 95 percent of our universe, these substances have profound effects on the birth and lives of galaxies and stars and yet almost nothing is known about their physical nature.  
astronomy  

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/28045326232/  
July on comet 67P  

europeanspaceagency posted a photo:

Comet 67P cruising through space with Rosetta tagging along at distance of 15 km. Image taken by OSIRIS camera on board.

More info here.

Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

 
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Coldest Known Object Beyond Our Solar System --"Harbors Water Clouds"  
 
astronomy  

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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706151851.htm  
Astronomers find evidence of water clouds in first spectrum of coldest brown dwarf  
Since its detection in 2014, the brown dwarf known as WISE 0855 has fascinated astronomers. Only 7.2 light-years from Earth, it is the coldest known object outside of our solar system. Astronomers have now obtained an infrared spectrum of the brown dwarf using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. Among the findings is strong evidence for the existence of clouds of water or water ice, the first such clouds detected outside of our solar system.  
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"Thermostats of the Universe" --Supermassive Black Holes Found to Regulate Growth of Galaxies  
 
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706135933.htm  
A new look at the galaxy-shaping power of black holes  
Data from a now-defunct satellite is providing new insights into the complex tug-of-war between galaxies, the hot plasma that surrounds them, and the giant black holes that lurk in their centers. The Japanese space agency Hitomi X-ray Observatory functioned for just over a month before contact was lost and the craft disintegrated. But data obtained during those few weeks was enough to paint a startling new picture of the dynamic forces at work within galaxies.  
astronomy  

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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706091731.htm  
Earth-size telescope tracks the aftermath of a star being swallowed by a supermassive black hole  
Radio astronomers have used a radio telescope network the size of the Earth to zoom in on a unique phenomenon in a distant galaxy: a jet activated by a star being consumed by a supermassive black hole. The record-sharp observations reveal a compact and surprisingly slowly moving source of radio waves.  
astronomy  

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Untime Loader [gif]  
 
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Stay High  
Stay High  
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DMT  
DMT  
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Daily Dozen — Photos  
Daily Dozen — Photos -- National Geographic Your Shot  
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http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2016/07/07/facebook-open-sourcing-platform-deliver-internet-access-areas-low-connectivity/  
Facebook is open sourcing a hardware platform to deliver internet access to remote areas  

Over the past few years, Facebook has been working on novel ways to connect the world to the Web from delivering internet services using drones and lasers to offering free access to select sites via a controversial platform in developing countries. Its next foray in this endeavor is OpenCellular, a wireless access platform that supports a wide range of network platforms, including 2G, LTE and Wi-Fi access points. The idea is that its open source hardware and firmware can be deployed at a significantly lower cost than traditional network infrastructure, so that remote areas can be brought online more…

This story continues at The Next Web  
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312  

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https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-july-2016/designers-tell-us-favourite-political-posters-time/  
Designers tell us about their favourite political posters of all time  

“I'm probably not alone in my irrational hatred of the Keep Calm poster thanks to all the naff parodies, so I'll probably hang on to my £20,000 a bit longer. I'd have to choose from two great war-inspired pieces from two different eras.

Abram Games' Grow Your Own Food (1942) masterfully fuses a spade and a ship in support of Britain's Dig for Victory campaign, but arguably it's more advisory than political.

So I'm going for Noma Bar's debut Saddam Hussein image (1991), because it makes a statement so powerfully without using a single word (and it's topical).”

---

“When I visit the London headquarters of our client Amnesty International, I'm always struck by the iconic posters hanging in the meeting rooms.

Posters like Football Yes, Torture No, which encouraged a revolt against the Argentina Junta in 1976; Pablo Picasso's iconicLa Colombe et le Prisonnier image; or Israeli designer Yossi Lemel's Reach image encapsulate a time in history and inspired people to engage with a problem.

You can ignore words but it's so much harder to stop the power of an iconic image. I'm intrigued by how these examples convey powerful ideology and create empathy.”

---

“This is such a tough question as political posters, and in fact poster design in general, was my first love in terms of graphic design.

There is a long list of designers that I have been inspired by, such as Emory Douglas, Shigeo Fukuda, Milton Glaser and Herb Lubalin, whose works could easily top this list several times over.

But the one I am going to choose for the fact that it was one of the first posters that had a real impact on me, and of course for its utter brilliance, simplicity, potency and playfulness is Black Power, White Power, designed by the one and only, Tomi Ungerer in 1967.”

---

“I know this is an obvious choice, but the Obama Hope Poster designed and printed by Shepard Fairey speaks volumes. I like the fact that it transcends politics and stands alone as a statement of achieving the seemingly impossible.

I also like the fact that it wasn't designed by a traditional advertising agency. It felt very back street when it was originally produced, and the poster I have framed on our wall in the studio is an original silk screen you can still smell the ink.

For me, everything about this poster represents the biggest challenge for designers to do better. It will forever be a modern classic.”

---

“There's no way I could pick a favourite! Political propaganda and an agenda of social welfare has been a rich source of inspiration for so many amazing designers.

Tom Eckersley and Abram Games are two of my favourite masters of poster design, working in Britain during and after the Second World War.

An inspiring designer continuing that tradition is Alejandro Magallanes, based in Mexico City. Alejandro is a founding member of several activist poster groups.

His arresting, provocative and often humorous work is as comfortable promoting human rights and peace as it is illustrating a children's book.”

The post Designers tell us about their favourite political posters of all time appeared first on Design Week.

 
design  

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https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-july-2016/5-important-things-happened-design-week-3-4/  
5 important things that happened in design this week  

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar rolled out its new packaging

Coke Zero revealed a £10 million ad campaign this week, alongside a new name which aims to encourage consumers to consume less sugar.

Now Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, the brand has also revamped its packaging, taking on the company's recognisable “red disc” emblem in a move to unify the flavour with other products in the portfolio.

This same can and bottle design has been applied to Coca-Cola Original, Light and Life, ascribing different colours to each flavour.

Although it has been rolled out this week, the new design was first revealed in April. We spoke to Coca-Cola's vice president of global design James Sommerville about how the new packaging aims to “be bold” but “preserve simplicity”.

MPs debated the EBacc GCSE qualification

Following a petition, MPs took to Westminster this week to debate the fate of GCSE students across the country.

The EBacc English Baccalaureate includes English, maths, science, a humanity and a language, and is soon to be compulsory for 90% of GCSE students from “mainstream schools”.

The qualification has been subject to scrutiny by some MPs and many people within the creative industries for excluding art and design subjects from this compulsory list, the key argument being that it creates a learning environment where artistic subjects are not valued.

Other arguments included that the EBacc has already caused creative students, teachers and resources to decline which has a knock-on effect on industries, and that it puts children from less affluent backgrounds at a disadvantage.

The minister for education Nick Gibb retorted that including more subjects within the compulsory qualification would restrict rather than empower students, and that the Government had already secured £460 million for arts and music education programmes to help children from all backgrounds.

There has been no immediate action following the debate on 4 July, and the compulsory EBacc is still planned to come into force in September. You can read an extensive run-down of the key arguments voiced here.

It was announced that small businesses could lose significant future funding

This last week, it was announced that small businesses could lose significant financial support from the European Union's bank.

UK-based lender Funding Circle had secured £100 million funding from the European Investment Bank for small businesses the week before the EU referendum vote.

While this funding will still be distributed in the form of £50,000 loans this was meant to be the start of a much wider programme, which is now “unlikely to happen”, says the lender.

“The deal with the EIB was a start to create a multi-billion pound programme for getting more funds into UK business,” co-founder at Funding Circle James Meekings said. “The programme is at risk.”

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) include businesses with less than 250 members of staff and a turnover of less than €50 million (£42 million), which includes the majority of UK design consultancies.

Dyson revealed its first ever UK “store”

Consumer goods brand Dyson open its first ever retail space this week…but whatever you do, don't call it a “store”.

Named the Dyson Demo, the company is very keen to market the two-floor space as a teaching and trial space for consumers rather than a traditional shop, where they can chat to “Dyson experts” about products and try to suck up 64 types of debris from four different floor surfaces using a Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner.

The first floor even includes a hair styling salon, where consumers can experience the effects of the Supersonic hair dryer first hand.

Once visitors are done chatting, vacuuming and hair-drying, they can, of course, buy the products though, in a similar style to Apple stores, there are no tills.

The Dyson Demo concept was first launched in 1999 in Paris, France, followed by spaces in Tokyo, Japan, Jakarta, Indonesia and now London, U.K. The Dyson team says the expansion will continue, hopefully moving on to the U.S. next.

Earphones designed to control background noise are revealed

Working in busy cafés and personalising music at festivals just got a lot easier, with these new earphones from Doppler Labs revealed this week.

New sound-customising earphones Hear Active Listening enable wearers to turn down background noises, such as people chatting, sirens wailing and babies crying.

As well as blocking out noise, they can also layer and blend sounds coming from the headphones with sounds from the outside world, helping to create immersive experiences.

Background noises can also be turned up if the user wishes, allowing them to customise sound settings, for example at gigs and festivals where they might want to hear less guitar and more bass.

But at $299 (£228), the cost of sound control isn't cheap. The headphones will go on sale from November.

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https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-july-2016/va-wins-art-fund-museum-year-prize/  
V&A wins Art Fund Museum of the Year prize  

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has won this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year award, pledging to support smaller museums and galleries all over the UK with the prize money.

The ceremony, which took place at the Natural History Museum, saw the art and design museum awarded the £100,000 prize by The Duchess of Cambridge last night.

Judges included Gus Casely-Hayford, curator and art historian; Will Gompertz, BBC Arts editor; Ludmilla Jordanova, professor of history and visual culture, Durham University; Cornelia Parker, artist; and Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund.

Imagination, innovation and achievement

They were tasked with selecting the museum or gallery that has shown exceptional imagination, innovation and achievement over the past 12 months.

The V&A beat five other UK based finalists to become the overall winner, including Arolfini in Bristol; Bethlem Musem of the Mind, London; Jupiter Artland, West Lothian and York Art Gallery, Yorkshire.

Stephen Deuchar, Art Fund director and chair of the judges, says: “The V&A experience is an unforgettable one. Its recent exhibitions, from Alexander McQueen to The Fabric of India, and the opening of its new Europe 16001815 galleries, were all exceptional accomplishments at once entertaining and challenging, rooted in contemporary scholarship, and designed to reach and affect the lives of a large and diverse national audience.”

“One of the best museums in the world”

“It was already one of the best-loved museums in the country. This year it has indisputably become one of the best museums in the world,” he says.

During his acceptance speech, Martin Roth, director at the V&A, pledged to use the prize money to re-establish a department that was first set up in the 1970s, but later axed due to budget cuts, in order to support and collaborate with museums and galleries across the country.

Roth says: “This award not only allows us to celebrate our achievements over the past year, but it will progress our ambitions…to transform our building and make our…collections of art and design accessible to the widest possible audiences in the UK and overseas.

3.9 million visitors in 2015

“We will ‘re-circulate' our collections, taking them beyond our usual metropolitan partners and engaging in a more intimate way with the communities we reach so that we can…be both a national museum for a local audience and a local museum for a national audience.”

The award comes after an exceptionally good year for the V&A in 2015, during which it attracted nearly 3.9 million visitors to its sites, 14.5 million visitors online and 90,000 V&A Members, the highest in its 164-year history.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty also became the museum's most-visited exhibition, attracting a record breaking 493,043 visitors from 87 countries.

The post V&A wins Art Fund Museum of the Year prize appeared first on Design Week.

 
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https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/4-10-july-2016/gcse-ebacc-qualification-devalues-art-design-subjects-mps-debate-parliament/  
MPs “urge Government to think again” over GCSE EBacc excluding art and design  

MPs debated over the English Baccalaureate a GCSE qualification that excludes art and design this week, with some claiming that it devalues creative subjects and makes them inaccessible for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The EBacc was first introduced in 2010, but will be made compulsory in September this year for 90% of GCSE students, requiring them to take English, maths, science, a language and a humanity.

Parliamentary debate sparked by petition

A petition called “Include expressive arts subjects in the EBacc” was started in retaliation to the ruling and was signed by more than 100,000 people, stating that “the exclusion of art, music, drama and other expressive subjects is limiting, short sighted and cruel”.

The petition defines “expressive arts” as art, music, drama and “other expressive subjects”.

In response to the petition, a three-hour parliamentary debate took place in Westminster this week, where MPs who are opposed to the EBacc guidelines were able to put their points of view across to those in favour of them.

“Only EBacc subjects will count”

One of the arguments cited by MPs opposed to the EBacc, who were predominately Labour, was that the qualification devalues and reduces funding to art subjects because schools use the EBacc to measure performance.

Fiona Mactaggart, Labour MP for Slough, said: “We all know that what counts in public policy is what is measured and if what is measured is only EBacc subjects, only they will count.” She added there should be “an emphasis on both science and creative subjects”.

Research from the National Society for Education in Art and Design showed 44% of teachers of Key Stage 3 students (ages 11-14) found that time allocated to art and design had decreased over the last five years.

“Other GCSE subject slots can be filled by art qualifications”

Nick Gibb, Conservative MP and minister of state for the Department of Education, said in response that the EBacc is just “one of several measures against which school performance is judged”, stating that the newly-introduced Progress 8 measure looks at performance across eight subjects English, maths, three EBacc subjects and three other qualifications of the student's choice.

“It has been suggested today that arts are not valued in the school accountability system that is not the case,” he said. “Those other slots can be filled by arts qualifications, if a pupil wishes.”

Discriminatory towards disadvantaged students

Another argument against the EBacc was that it discriminates against students from disadvantaged backgrounds because their accessibility to arts and culture is comparatively limited compared to those from affluent backgrounds. According to research from the Cultural Learning Alliance, research shows that schools with a high proportion of free school meals were more than twice as likely to withdraw art subjects from the curriculum compared to more affluent schools.

“An EBacc that fails to make room for the arts can only entrench this inequality,” said David Warburton, Conservative MP for Somerton and Frome.

Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, added that trips to theatres, cultural sites and museums had become increasingly difficult for reasons such as safeguarding and costs. “Such trips will be lacking from some of the children's daily lives, weekends and holidays, so it is important that the shortfall is made up for in school,” she said.

Fewer students taking art and design subjects

MPs added that the introduction of the EBacc has resulted in the decline of students taking up art and design subjects. Official exam figures released this year showed that five times less students picked art and design subjects at GCSE this year compared to 2015, with design and technology taking the biggest hit at 19,000 fewer students.

A survey conducted for this year's New Designers exhibition also showed that 85% of this year's crop of design graduates studied an art or design subject at GCSE level.

Catherine McKinnell, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, said: “Although it is possible to take up jobs in our sector without exam results in creative subjects, it is much harder and potentially more expensive to do so, which obviously further diminishes the chance for young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds.”

“£460 million towards arts education programmes”

Education minister Gibb argued that since 2012, the Government has provided creative opportunities and improved access for students from all backgrounds and all over the country through £460 million of investment into a “diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes”.

He also said the GCSE entry figures for art and design have increased from 162,000 to 176,000 between 2011 and 2015, though Labour MPs stated these figures were “flawed” because they “omit BTEC qualifications, include early entry AS-levels and neglect design and technology”.

English, maths and science “fundamental” subjects

While those opposed to the EBacc said that the qualification was reducing choices for students, those in favour said it was actually providing more flexibility. Gibb said that including more subjects such as art within the EBacc would restrict rather than expand student choice, by making more subjects compulsory. Fellow Conservative MP for Chippenham, Michelle Donelan added this would “dilute” the EBacc qualification “until it was dissolved”.

Gibb also spoke about the importance of language and essay-writing skills for young people, stating that 77% of employers have said they needed more employees with foreign languages.

“Every child deserves to leave school fully literate and numerate, with an understanding of the history, geography and science of the world they inhabit, and a grasp of a language other than their own,” he said.

Graham Stuart, Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, added that maths, the sciences and English are “fundamental” subjects which “help people to get on in life”.

Art subjects “improve health and wellbeing”

But MPs opposed to the EBacc stated the importance of abilities beyond academia, such as emotional development and communication skills. Labour MP McKinnell said the EBacc “sends a clear message about the value the Government places on subjects that help to create expressive, communicative, self-confident and well-rounded human beings”.

Jonathan Reynolds, Labour MP For Stalybridge and Hyde, added that the “health benefits” of creative subjects need to be considered. “Investment in the arts is known to improve wellbeing,” he said. “Studying creative subjects boosts self-esteem, improves emotional intelligence, and reduces depression and anxiety.”

Labour MP McKinnell concluded the discussion by saying: “The drastic reduction in the take-up of arts subjects seems to be a movement in completely the wrong direction. On behalf of everyone who cares about the issue, I urge the Government to think again.”

No changes as of yet following debate

Richard Green, chief executive at the D&T Association, said following the debate that design, technology and other creative subjects “contribute to profitable sectors” and have been “marginalised” by the enforcement of the qualification, resulting in staff and student shortages.

“If we are to move forward confidently into a post-Brexit future where access to talent may be more challenging, it is imperative that our educational system recognises and meets the needs of individual pupils and industry,” he said.

No decision or change has yet to be made following the parliamentary debate on 4 July. The compulsory EBacc is currently still set to come into force for 90% of GCSE school children in September, with the Government stating that it will be mandatory in “mainstream secondary schools”, with a “small minority for whom taking the EBacc is not appropriate” to be excluded from the rule.

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Lorna Allan: “It's important to make sure young, female designers are encouraged”  

Design Week: What is Hidden Women of Design?

Lorna Allan: Hidden Women of Design was a response to a research question I was set: “Who are those that sit in the blind spots of design and have transformed design paradigms over the years?” The more research I did, the more I realised that perhaps the majority of those people may be women.

DW: How many people are involved in the project and how did you start it?

LA: The project started as a hashtag campaign (#HWODesign) to raise awareness of work by female designers of the past and looking forward, to ensure female designers would receive the same exposure as their male peers in design history books. After holding a focus group to discuss the project's future, it was suggested that a series of talks by practising female designers might be the next step. Some very helpful friends in social media (Alice G.Turner) and design (Jesse Prior) have joined me along the way to refine and develop the idea.

DW: Why did you start the project?

LA: It started as a college project, which I have handed in now but have continued, purely because of the interest and encouragement I have received on the subject. I really have been blown away by the response and support by the female design community. Even big designers like Ellen Lupton and Alice Rawsthorn took the time to reply to me and the support from Kathleen and Tori from the Women of Graphic Design website has given me the confidence to keep pushing it forward.

DW: What do you hope will come from the project? How long do you hope it will run for?

LA: At this stage, I don't know I do know that the interest has been high and through asking around after each event, the general vibe is that the talks are of real interest and a great opportunity to get to meet and have discussions with other designers.

DW: Which designers have you managed to involve so far?

LA: The first week we had: freelance designer Chauntelle Lewis, social policy designer Cat Drew and Jocelyn Bailey at Uscreates, which creates designs for health and wellbeing. The second week we had: Spike Spondike at Dalton Maag, Lubna Keawpanna, director of consultancy Smack, Sian Cook, co-founder at WD+RU and senior lecturer at London College of Communication. Next week we have: freelance designer Rejane Dal Bello, Emily Wood at REG_Design and graphic artist and design educator Dr Cathy Gale. Nine amazing ladies!

DW: In an ideal world, which female designers would you love to see involved in the project?

LA: I think have been very lucky with the caliber of women I have had for these talks- they have all been informative and inspiring.

DW: What are themes of the talks?

LA: The structure of the evening is similar to a Pecha Kucha where each designer has 20 mins and 20 slides to talk about their professional practice and how they evolved as a designer. We had three ladies each night.

DW: Beyond talks, what else is on the agenda for Hidden Women in Design? How could it expand in the future?

LA: After each talk so far we have been talking to the attendees and there's definitely a want to see more of this type of event. There are a lot of women's design groups happening and I think HWOD would like to focus on university leavers or designers new to the industry as this is a crucial stage which determines whether they stay in the design world or leave it. It's important to make sure they can get encouragement and inspiration when they find themselves out on their own.

DW: How do you feel about women's representation in the design industry at the moment?

LA: On the first evening of talks I was approached by a couple of American female design students who were in London doing studio visits they had been disheartened as every studio they went to was fronted by a man. They Googled “Women in Design” and found our talks and were very happy to meet and speak with other female designers and potentially arrange other studio visits. This is really at the heart of what the project is about. Mostly through research I have found that typographic design still has more men than women that's why I was so thrilled to have Spike Spondike at Dalton Maag talk about her practice.

DW: How do you think this can be improved?

LA: I think we need to keep talking about the subject. It still attracts attention so it is still an issue and to have groups of female designers promoting and supporting each other can make a difference.

---

The next Hidden Women of Design talk will take place on 13 July at 7pm at the Peckham Pelican, 92 Peckham Road, SE15 5PY.

The post Lorna Allan: “It's important to make sure young, female designers are encouraged” appeared first on Design Week.

 
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BlackBerry ditches traditional keyboard as it discontinues Classic handset  

Mobile phone company BlackBerry has discontinued the traditional QWERTY keyboard it became known for over a decade ago, with the announcement that it will no longer manufacture its Classic model.

The Classic handset was first introduced in 2014 as a follow on from its BlackBerry OS predecessors, in an attempt to appeal to people who still prefer to use plastic keys and track pads rather than completely touchscreen devices.

“Sometimes it can be very tough to let go,” writes chief operating officer and general manager for devices, Ralph Pini, in a company blog post announcing BlackBerry's decision.

Replaced by two mid-range Android devices

“For BlackBerry, and more importantly for our customers, the hardest part in letting go is accepting that change makes way for new and better experiences.”

To replace the handset, BlackBerry is set to release two new mid-range Android devices next February. The news comes as the company announced a quarterly loss of $670 (£520m) million last month.

BlackBerry has also recently announced that it will no longer make phones featuring its own operating system.

“workhorse device”

“[The Classic] has been an incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations,” says Pini.

“But, [it] has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today's market. We are ready for this change so we can give our customers something better.

Manufacturing of the Classic has been suspended from now, but the handset will still be available online while stocks last.

The post BlackBerry ditches traditional keyboard as it discontinues Classic handset appeared first on Design Week.

 
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Top 5 picks from this year's D&AD New Blood Festival  

James Crossley, BA Graphic Design, Edinburgh College of Art

Open Shut

James Crossley's monochrome poster project explores the idea that mainstream media oversimplifies complex issues such as the recent EU referendum into binary choices.

Crossley makes the point that this can often lead to misunderstanding and division, which he couples with the increasing prevalence of borders in our society.

Each of the three posters is based around a striking grid structure, with facts relating to the topic separated into boxes on either side of the “binary”.

The Edinburgh College of Art graduate plans to develop the research side of his project later this month when he will be cycling across Europe visiting and writing about design studio projects in cities stretching from The Hague to Budapest.

---

Elisha Chaplin, BA Graphic Design, University Centre Southend

Napolina Porzioni

Graphic design student, Elisha Chaplin's rebrand project gives Italian cooking brand Napolina a bold, modern update.

The rebrand focuses on promoting convenience by introducing a new range called Porzioni, which means portions in Italian. Packets are divided up into a set number of portions, allowing the right amount of pasta to be cooked more easily.

While keeping the original logo, Chaplin has opted to use a mixture of serif and sans serif fonts on the bright orange, black and white packets, which also feature roughly drawn illustrations of various pasta shapes including spaghetti.

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Bronwyn Stubbs, BA Animation, Huddersfield University

Anime Iddio

 

This ingenious interactive installation uses conductive paint to bring Bronwyn Stubbs' cartoonlike illustrations to life.

While often included in wireless circuits, Stubbs decided to make up her own conductive paint from graphite powder and black acrylic. Painted on top of a conductor, it acts as a touch sensor which then lights up a cardboard illustrated lamp and animated window display.

The BA Animation student has also used conductive paint technology in other university projects, including a window display concept for John Lewis that makes bubbles seemingly appear from the top of a cardboard washing machine, and makes a cardboard vacuum cleaner move backwards and forwards.

---

Faye Rowbottom and Rebecca Parrish, BA Advertising, University of Central Lancashire

Alzheimer's Society Ad Campaign

 

These two advertising students' ad campaign for the Alzheimer's Society has been designed to raise awareness about the symptoms of the disease.

For the D&AD Festival, Rowbottom and Parrish have printed the image of an older person with Alzheimer's onto two 2000-piece jigsaw puzzles one that is already complete on the stand, and another that will come together over the course of the three-day festival.

All visitors have to do is donate 50p to the Alzheimer's Society festival and help piece together the puzzle, while a GoPro camera will capture its transformation by the end of the festival.

As the second jigsaw comes together, pieces from the original will be taken away, representing the gradual deterioration that the disease can result in.

---

Jordan Robertson, BA Graphic Design, Northumbria University

Everybody

 

Jordan Robertson describes his bold cosmetics brand concept, Everybody, as “an honest idea of beauty for everybody”.

Featuring simple orange packaging with black sans serif text, the branding recognises the importance of gender fluidity as a choice when it comes to cosmetics.

The rotating lid of the deodorant can be twisted to read either “his”, “her” or “every” body sweats, shaves (shaving cream) and wrinkles (moisturiser).

---

D&AD New Blood Festival branding

Consultancy Afterhours has also been commissioned to design the identity for this year's D&AD New Blood Festival, which spans everything from social media to exhibition graphics and is built around the strapline: “It all starts with a pencil”.

Afterhours' concept is centred around the phrase: “Just as every great creative piece begins with putting pencil to paper, so a creative career is launched by winning a D&AD pencil”.

Each window at the Truman Brewery site features giant pencil drawn posters that reflect various stages of the creative process, culminating in a giant pencil rendered hand holding a yellow pencil that points the visitor to the entrance of the festival.

The post Top 5 picks from this year's D&AD New Blood Festival appeared first on Design Week.

 
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The Orchid, Singapore  

The Orchid, Singapore

 
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Tobias Frere-Jones: Break Things Deliberately  

As one of the world's leading typeface designers, and this year's 99U Alva Award winner, Tobias Frere-Jones believes that the best way to learn a new skill is to “break things down deliberately” to understand how it's really done.   

In this talk, we learn to see the beauty in taking risks. Frere-Jones explains that in order to do our best creative work, we must not just permit moments of confusion, but actually go chase them. “When trying to figure out a problem, pause for minute, and see if you can make it worse,” he says. “A structure can really describe itself as it falls apart.”

Over the past 25 years, Tobias Frere-Jones has created some of the most widely-used typefaces, including Interstate, Poynter Oldstyle, Whitney, Gotham, Surveyor, Tungsten, and Retina.

Tobias received a BFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1992. He joined the faculty of the Yale University School of Art in 1996 and has lectured throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. His work is in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2006, The Royal Academy of Visual Arts in The Hague awarded him the Gerrit Noordzij Prijs for his contributions to typographic design, writing, and education. In 2013 he received the AIGA Medal in recognition of exceptional achievements in the field of design.

Frere-Jones Type

@frerejones

 

 
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Steve Bell's If ... on Chilco the Hott's whitewash for Sith Lord Blair  
Continue reading...  
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https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jul/07/picasso-exhibition-friendship-boy-antony-penrose-jerwood-gallery  
Picasso, by the boy who bit him  

Antony Penrose, whose parents Lee Miller and Roland Penrose were friends with the Spanish artist, remembers their playfights as a new exhibition opens

The small blue and white ceramic by Pablo Picasso that now sits in a museum display case at the Jerwood Gallery in Hastings has a very different place in the childhood memories of Antony Penrose, the boy who bit one of the most famous artists of the 20th century and was promptly bitten back.

His father was Roland Penrose, the surrealist painter, critic, curator and founder of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, and his mother was Lee Miller, the photographer, model, muse and famously eccentric cook whose artistic blue chicken was never forgotten by dinner guests.

Related: Tony Penrose: My childhood with Pablo Picasso, Lee Miller and Man Ray | Interview

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Ron Arad's twisting aluminium sculpture unveiled at St Pancras  

Giant work is intended to have calming effect on the millions of passengers who pass through London station each year

A giant, twisted, rotating blade of aluminium has been unveiled in London's St Pancras station to welcome visitors and perhaps even calm them down.

The monumental artwork by Ron Arad will hang above the Eurostar platforms until January, part of an annual partnership between the station's owners HS1 and the Royal Academy of Arts (RA).

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https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jul/07/stanley-kubrick-and-me-designing-clockwork-orange-poster  
Stanley Kubrick and me: designing the poster for A Clockwork Orange  

Philip Castle's airbrushed art features on album covers for David Bowie and Pulp but his lurid imagery for A Clockwork Orange remains his most infamous work he remembers his friendship with the director

Philip Castle shows me into his front room to see the naked woman on her knees next to the family piano. The plaster sculpture is battered and fragile and turning yellow with time, but I would recognise those nipples anywhere. This is one of the nude statues that serve as furniture and serve up drinks from their breasts in the sinister, darkly funny opening scenes of Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange. “There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening.”

In Kubrick's pessimistic parody of British youth culture, Malcolm McDowell's futuristic ultraviolent mod antihero sets the scene in voiceover as the camera pans back from him and his bowler-hatted, white-codpieced droogs, taking in one obscene statue after another, just like this one I viddied with my own eyes, O my brothers, in Castle's house.

Kubrick sent people to the cinemas where A Clockwork Orange was showing to make sure the screens were clean

Related: Tune in, freak out: take Latin mass with Stanley Kubrick and 114 radios

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lagrima captures sheikh lotfollah mosque in iran in a kaleidoscopic fashion  

the artist blurs and distorts different architectural elements of the mosque using various photographic techniques.

The post lagrima captures sheikh lotfollah mosque in iran in a kaleidoscopic fashion appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

 
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Vanessa Bell to break free from Bloomsbury group in Dulwich show  

The sister of Virginia Woolf and lover of Duncan Grant is long overdue recognition as pioneer of modern art, say curators

The first major solo exhibition presenting Vanessa Bell as a pioneering 20th-century artist rather than a player in the tangled affairs of the Bloomsbury group of writers and artists will be shown at the Dulwich picture gallery next year.

She might have been better off, even better known, if she hadn't been part of the group

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Why It's So Hard To Find, Let Alone Save, The World's Cutest Porpoise  
The tiny mammal is facing eminent extinct ion after only being discovered in 1987.  
gaia  

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George Graham Scientist of the Day George Graham, an English...  

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George Graham Scientist of the Day

George Graham, an English clock- and instrument-maker, was born July 7, 1673.

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A statement from Steven P Bong concerning alleged CV inaccuracies  

Published at the polite request of his lawyers

EMBARGO 15:00 7 JULY 2016…

 
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Mongolia's "Unbreakable Flower" (17 photos)  

Soronzonboldyn Battsetseg, who's name translates to “unbreakable flower” is determined to win gold in Rio. The female wrestler won bronze in London in 2012 and is training twice a day in with both men and women to prepare for next month's Olympics. “From ancient times we have been a wrestling country,” her coach, Sukhbataar, said to Reuters. “Mongolian women are like warriors.”

 
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r0B0t: Anti-robot project explores human relationship with technology in AI future - The Globe and Mail  

The Globe and Mail

Anti-robot project explores human relationship with technology in AI future The Globe and Mail The wearable machine is the antithesis of the kind of robots that leading scientists have warned against as they worry about an arms race in artificial intelligence. Scientist Stephen Hawking and Tesla founder Elon Musk were among hundreds of ... and more »

 
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Wallaby wearable tech probes how light pollution affects sleep  
The animals inhabit either side of a Western Australian island, half of which has dark nights and the other half light pollution. How does this affect sleep?  
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New railway threatens Nairobi's unique urban wildlife park  
Kenyan conservationists are battling a plan to route a rail line through Nairobi National Park another case of development whittling away at nature reserves  
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Bornean orangutan declared ‘critically endangered' as forests shrink  

Mongabay: New IUCN assessment shows hunting and habitat loss are the biggest drivers, with experts warning ‘conservation is failing'

The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is now critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This change means that both species of orangutan now face an “extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.”

“This is full acknowledgement of what has been clear for a long time: orangutan conservation is failing,” Andrew Marshall, one of the authors of the assessment, told Mongabay. Regardless of any positive outcomes of past conservation efforts, they have not achieved the only meaningful goal: a stable or increasing population.

Related: Sumatran orangutan numbers double but fires destroy habitat

Continue reading...  
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Too cute to lose: Saving the rarest mammal from extinction  
How can we ensure that future generations will still hear the haunting dawn song of the gorgeous Hainan gibbon? Sam Turvey has a plan  
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The Great Brain Scan Scandal: It isn't just boffins who should be ashamed  

It's the luvvies who went mad for fMRI neurobabble

Special Report If the fMRI brain-scanning fad is well and truly over, then many fashionable intellectual ideas look like collateral damage, too.…

 
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Scientists want you to know how to have sex with a hyper-long dong  

Beetle boffins chop up horny insects to discover secrets of their giant penises

An international team of researchers have discovered how beetles with hyper-long penises make the beast insect with two backs.…

 
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Empty  

Olly Denton posted a photo:

While it is horrible to have to get at 4am for work, the streets are empty and there is a lovely light.

 
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r0B0t: China: Human memory whizz Wang Yuheng beats Alipay's AI robot in facial recognition contest - International Business Times UK  

International Business Times UK

China: Human memory whizz Wang Yuheng beats Alipay's AI robot in facial recognition contest International Business Times UK The first two rounds of the competition required Wang and Mark to identify a large number of celebrities in the studio that were livestreaming on iPhones from between 150 and 300 photographs listed on an electronic board, and the AI robot was neck and ... and more »

 
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UK will struggle to meet climate target if fracking goes ahead  
Delayed report says fracking will not necessarily bust the UK's carbon budget but the strict conditions it sets out effectively rule out a fracking boom  
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Loose wrists shake chips: Your wrist-job could be a PIN-snitch  

Smart watch, dumb botch: sensor sensitivity equals insecurity say boffins

Chinese scientists have brewed a way to steal -- with 80 percent accuracy -- automatic teller machine PINs by infecting wearable devices.…

 
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Fractals help solve 'wiggly' problems  

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The idea of a platform between two whole numbers might seem impossible to imagine. However, for someone working with fractals in math, the challenge is not so different. Fractals are used to measure things between dimensions, as in something that's more than 2-D, but not quite 3-D. A National Science Foundation mathematician created this fractal to better understand how wind would move oceanographic sensors in an eddy. This is just a snapshot in time, but wind would push the sensors back and forth, making it uncertain where they might go. Because of the stochastic nature -- a kind of organized randomness -- this fractal helps visualize the scenario and come up with an optimal control so sensors use as little battery as possible and minimize displacement.

Image credit: Lora Billings

 
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Scientists isolate, culture elusive Yellowstone microbe  

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A microbial partnership thriving in an acidic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park has surrendered some of its lifestyle secrets to researchers. The team isolated the archaeon Nanopusillus acidilobi and cultured these tiny microbes just 100 to 300 billionths of a meter in size and can now study how they interact with their host, another archaeon (Acidilobus). The relationships between these two organisms can serve as a valuable model to study the evolution and mechanisms of more complex systems.

Image credit: Mircea Podar

 
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