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Emo to be outlawed in Russia?
Russian emos are socially undesirable, and everything from websites to dressing in emo attire will be prosecuted.
Isn't it oh-so-fun to live in a totalitarian state! Russian emos are socially undesirable, and everything from websites to dressing in emo attire will be prosecuted. ... more -
New girly videogames based on teen movies
Because videogames, let's be honest, have so far mostly appealed to only half the population (the one with doodles), videogame makers have long been racking their brains trying to come up with a way to attract that other half (the ones with hoo-has). It's that eternal dance of nerds trying to woo ladies and failing miserably. But now they've got a new plan that's sure to work! Video games based on girly movies like Mean Girls, Clueless, and Pretty In Pink.
Paramount is developing all of these as so-called "casual titles." We don't really know what that means (maybe our brother site Kotaku does), but we like to guess challenges include fighting all the junior girls in a hallway battle royale, running around the Valley dodging muggers and the sleazy Elton's car, and trying to do the Duckie prom dance while dodging Bolo tie projectiles. Squeeeeallll doesn't it sound fun? So much better than those games where you just indiscriminately kill people. Right?
Because videogames, let's be honest, have so far mostly appealed to only half the population (the one with doodles), videogame makers ... more -
Mystery as dead birds fall from the sky over Western Australia
Dead birds are falling from the sky in Australia for the second time in seven months, raising fears of a possible public health threat.
At least 200 seagulls have been found dead in Perth's popular beachside suburbs of Woodman Point and Henderson this week, baffling local authorities.
Post-mortem examinations have failed to determine the cause of the birds' deaths. Last December 5,000 birds died in the coastal town of Esperance, 500 km south of Perth, after being poisoned by lead carbonate blowing through the town as it was being exported through Esperance Port.
The latest incident of dropping birds has led to a major investigation of local industries but government officials admit they are at a loss to know what is killing the gulls. A Department of Health spokesman admitted they could not rule out a risk to public health until the cause of the birds' deaths had been established.
When the Esperance birds began dying, tests showed that local children and adults had potentially dangerous levels of lead in their blood. A local company, Magellan Metals, escaped prosecution over the way it handled the transportation of lead through the town, but fears remain over the potential threat to humans.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DoEC) believes the latest deaths may have been caused by a chemical or pollutant. The birds were found on Monday and Tuesday near water outfall pipes at Woodman Point, south of Fremantle and at nearby Henderson which has a large boat-building industry. Water and sediment samples have been taken from the area for testing.
Kevin Morrison, from the DoEC, said the birds appeared to die a quick and painless death.
"The birds, when they are showing signs of having been poisoned become a bit wobbly on their feet, they sit down and within 10 to 15 minutes they're dead," he told the Australian Broadcasting Coproration. He said it was particularly puzzling that the deaths were confined to seagulls. In Esperance, wattle birds, yellow throated miners and honey-eaters died.
Although many of the birds were found near the outflow pipes, Mr Morrison said the birds may already have ingested something toxic at a rubbish or landfall site before going there for water as they died.
The beach at Woodman Point, a popular sailing and fishing area, has been closed as a precaution until further notice. Officials do not expect the test results on the birds for a week. Dead birds are falling from the sky in Australia for the second time in seven months, raising fears of a possible public health threat... more -
Heathrow hater glues himself to Gordon Brown
A campaigner against the further expansion of Heathrow Airport attempted to glue his own hand to that of Gordon Brown during a Downing Street reception.
The protester, part of the ingeniously entitled campaign group, 'Plane Stupid' was reportedly about to receive an award when he covered his hand with superglue and reached out for that trusty handshake.
Dan Glass, said he "glued his hand" to Mr Brown's jacket as he shook his hand, but that Brown "was just grinning about it. He didn't seem to take me seriously."
A formal press release from Downing Street said there had been "no stickiness of any significance". A campaigner against the further expansion of Heathrow Airport attempted to glue his own hand to that of Gordon Brown during a Downing... more -
McMorning - news channels sell the right to McDonald's to place products in news s...
Several regional tv outlets in the states have begun to sell rights to McDonalds to place products on news desks whilst anchors read the news. Several regional tv outlets in the states have begun to sell rights to McDonalds to place products on news desks whilst anchors read t... more
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Should we pipe music into the London Underground?
The Victoria line pumps 'masterpieces from the canons of classical music' at its passengers every day, ostensibly to reduce crime and relax irate customers. The Guardian arts blog comments, 'it's the same kind of social engineering that makes Top Shop play dance music at high-volume and high-speed to make you buy faster, quicker, and more; or that lulls you supposedly into an oasis of calm, as Vivaldi's Four Seasons chimes down the phone as you wait to speak to an airline, bank, or credit card company - something that tends to have the opposite effect.' More at the link.
Would you like your public transport to have music pumped into it? And if so, what sort? I think some jazz would go down quite well on the no. 73 to Islington ... The Victoria line pumps 'masterpieces from the canons of classical music' at its passengers every day, ostensibly to reduce crime and ... more -
Chavez set to spend big on Russian weapons
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Moscow Tuesday to discuss a deal to spend billions on Russia weapons.
Chavez will meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian news agency, Interfax, said
The two countries hope to sign an agreement for Venezuela to buy Russian military equipment, said Vyacheslav Davidenko, a spokesman for Rosoboronexport, Russia's government agency in charge of arms exports.
The agreement will allow "quick deliveries of arms and military hardware in the interests of Venezuela's security with the observance of international obligations and the laws of both countries," Davidenko told CNN.
Davidenko wouldn't elaborate on the types of weapons that Venezuela wanted to purchase -- or the cost. Previous military-technical contracts had been worth $4 billion, he said.
Interfax quoted an "informed military expert" as saying Venezuela planned to purchase up to 10 air defense systems, three diesel electric submarines, six more non-nuclear powered submarines and several surface vessels.
Venezuela also planned to discuss the possibility of buying certain aircraft, including combat helicopters, the expert said.
The Associated Press reported the deal could be worth $2 billion.
Venezuela is expected to spend over $30 billion under a program to rearm its armed forces up to 2012, the Interfax source said. According to Russian media reports, Russia could provide a loan of about $800 million to Venezuela to finance the arms deals.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Moscow Tuesday to discuss a deal to spend billions on Russia weapons. ... more -
Drummers are as fit as star football players
A new research suggests that rock drummers must have the same stamina as Premiership footballers. In an hour of performing at a concert, a drummer can burn between 400 - 600 calories.
It is hoped that the results of this study, can be developed into programs for overweight children uninterested in sports.
Clem Burke, the drummer for Blondie has taken part in this study. A new research suggests that rock drummers must have the same stamina as Premiership footballers. In an hour of performing at a concer... more -
Japanese iPhone has setting to protect women from 'upskirt' attacks
The iPhone 3G in Japan has a special feature unique to that country: the camera always makes a conspicuous 'shutter' sound when a picture is taken, even when the phone is set to 'silent' mode.
The loud shutter sound is supposed to deter voyeurs from taking sneaky pictures up women’s’ skirts - or down their tops.
In Japan, upskirt and downblouse shots have become increasingly popular with the advent of high-resolution camera phones.
As a result, all cell phones sold in Japan make a conspicuous shutter sound, or say the word “cheese” when a snap is taken, according to Nobuyuki Hayashi, a tech reporter based in Tokyo. On almost all new cell phones, the camera shutter sound can not be muted, Hayashi says.
“Some manufacturers have even put louder shutter sound,” he reports.
The shutter on the first iPhone sold in Japan could be muted in silent mode; an anomaly that many wondered whether Apple would correct in the iPhone 3G, Hayashi says.
Apple did: The shutter sound cannot be turned off, even in silent mode, Hayashi says.
Is it not a little scary that so-called 'upskirts' are such a phenomenon in Japan (and elsewhere, no doubt) that local phone technology has to find ways to protect women from such abuse?
The iPhone 3G in Japan has a special feature unique to that country: the camera always makes a conspicuous 'shutter' sound when a pict... more -
McDonald's getting flack for supporting "the homosexual agenda"
Let me get this straight, McDonald's knowingly contributes to the obesity epidemic, plays an active role in helping squelch this nation's agriculutre systems, practices substandard beef and food health regulations, bioengineers food with unknown repurcussions, and yet the masses line up en masse to collect a coke, a smile, and a plastic happy meal toy.
Yet they support equal rights for other human beings who happen to be gay or lesbian and suddenly feathers are ruffled enough to get active in protest?
Wow... Let me get this straight, McDonald's knowingly contributes to the obesity epidemic, plays an active role in helping squelch this natio... more -
Second rare white whale spotted in Australia
A white humpback whale has been spotted off the east coast of Australia: The whale was filmed by a TV news helicopter.
It is thought to be the offspring of 'Migaloo' ('White fellow' to the Aboriginies), another white whale which was sighted in the area two years ago: The two sightings off Byron Bay are thought to be the only two examples in the world.
A white humpback whale has been spotted off the east coast of Australia: The whale was filmed by a TV news helicopter. ... more -
Batman released after being arrested, accused of assaulting mother and sister
Batman star Christian Bale has been questioned by police over allegations he assaulted his mother and sister the night before the European premiere of his film, ``The Dark Knight,'' British media reported Tuesday.
Update: Bale has now left the London police station at which he was being questioned. The Sky.com article discusses Bale's demeanour on the night he is alleged to have assaulted his family members - he was interviewed by a reporter after it is said to have happened, who talks to Sky about his conduct that night.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Batman-st...
Batman star Christian Bale has been questioned by police over allegations he assaulted his mother and sister the night before the Euro... more -
Campaign against finger printing in schools
Should we allow finger printing of minors in our schools?
Easier registration, keeping track of library books on loan, saving time in the dinner queue, cashless classrooms preventing bullying - all reasons local education authorities have cited to validate a system for holding biometric data on the country's school children. But how secure is this data, and who ultimately holds control over how it is used?
Concerned parent Pippa King takes up the campaign in defense of our childrens' rights.
Campaign Blog: http://pippaking.blogspot.com/
Should we allow finger printing of minors in our schools? ... more -
Volcanic eruptions wiped out ocean life 93 million years ago
University of Alberta scientists contend they have the answer to mass extinction of animals and plants 93 million years ago. The answer, research has uncovered, has been found at the bottom of the sea floor where lava fountains erupted, altering the chemistry of the sea and possibly of the atmosphere.
Undersea volcanic activity triggered a mass extinction of marine life and buried a thick mat of organic matter on the sea floor about 93 million years ago, which became a major source of oil, according to a new study.
"It certainly caused an extinction of several species in the marine environment," said University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Science researcher Steven Turgeon. "It wasn't as big as what killed off the dinosaurs, but it was what we call an extreme event in the Earth's history, something that doesn't happen very often."
U of A scientists Turgeon and Robert Creaser say the lava fountains that erupted altered the chemistry of the sea and possibly of the atmosphere.
"Of the big five mass extinctions in the Earth's history, most of them were some kind of impact with the planet's surface," said Turgeon. "This one is completely Earth-bound, it's strictly a natural phenomenon."
Turgeon and Creaser found specific isotope levels of the element osmium, an indicator of volcanism in seawater, in black shale-rocks containing high amounts of organic matter-drilled off the coast of South America and in the mountains of central Italy. University of Alberta scientists contend they have the answer to mass extinction of animals and plants 93 million years ago. The answ... more -
Bosnia war crime suspect Karadzic captured!
"(CNN) -- Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been arrested after more than a decade as a fugitive from war crimes charges, the U.N. tribunal that charged him announced Monday.
Karadzic, 63, was the Serb political leader during the 1992-1995 war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia. He is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war.
No details of his arrest were immediately available. But the chief prosecutor for the U.N. tribunal, Serge Brammertz, called it "an important day for the victims" and congratulated Serbian authorities for taking him into custody.
"It is also an important day for international justice, because it clearly demonstrates that nobody is beyond the reach of the law and that sooner or later all fugitives will be brought to justice," Brammertz said.
He said authorities "in due course" will determine when Karadzic is to be transferred to the tribunal at The Hague.
His arrest leaves former Gen. Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb military commander, as the top-ranking war crimes suspect still at large.
Karadzic, a onetime psychiatrist, declared himself president of a Serb republic within Bosnia after the former Yugoslav republic declared its independence in 1992.
Backed by Serb-led Yugoslav troops, the Bosnian Serbs launched a campaign against the country's Muslim and Croat population that introduced the world to the term "ethnic cleansing."
In 1995, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia accused Karadzic and Mladic of leading that campaign, ordering the roundup of thousands of non-Serb civilians into camps where they were killed, tortured or sexually assaulted.
Karadzic is also charged with genocide in connection with the killings of nearly 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica, the worst European massacre since World War II."
"(CNN) -- Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been arrested after more than a decade as a fugitive from war crimes charges, the U... more -
David Goyer says he knows the theme for 'Batman 3'
Whether you agree or not, judging from both fan reaction and near universal critical acclaim, “The Dark Knight” will almost certainly go down as the greatest comic book movie of all-time, with a performance from Heath Ledger that is being hailed as one of the greatest on-screen villains ever.
Now all Christopher Nolan, his brother Jonathan, David Goyer, and an as yet unnamed villain have to do is top it.
“I think that’s the scariest thing – to think, could we come up with a third movie that was as good as the first two? Can we top ourselves?” screenwriter David Goyer asked aloud, almost rhetorically, in a recent conversation with MTV News. “Doing it a third time would be a big proposition.”
Make no mistake about it, though, a third film HAS been discussed, Goyer confessed, revealing that, while nothing is concrete, both a villain and a theme have been bandied about.
“We’ve only talked loosely about it, though, Chris and I,” Goyer said.
Interestingly, it’s the theme, and not the villain, that most interests me, especially given how the latter seems inexorably tied to the former in this new modern Batman universe. (Fear the predominant issue in “Begins” precipitating the introduction of Scarecrow, escalation in “Knight” similarly calling for The Joker.
The fact that Goyer has a theme he wants to keep in mind for a possible “Batman 3″ means he also has a direction, a crisis, and, yes, a villain.
So what is it?
“I have one,” Goyer said laughing. “But I’m not going to tell you. Chris is very particular about that.
“I do think, though, that if there’s not a third film – these two movies stand on their own,” he added. “I think it could go either way.”
Not us. We want a “Batman 3.” So we’ll throw it out to you: Now that you’ve seen “The Dark Knight,” now that you know how it ends, what could be the theme of “Batman 3″? Who could be the villain to fit that theme? Sound off below. Whether you agree or not, judging from both fan reaction and near universal critical acclaim, “The Dark Knight” will almost certainly ... more -
Revolutionary filling-preventing mouthwash could replace the toothbrush in just t...
The dreaded dentist's drill and common toothbrush could become a thing of the past.
Scientists have created a solution that mimics the way the body forms new teeth - allowing natural repairs of holes without the need for drilling and filling.
Oral hygiene experts at Leeds Dental Institute have also made a mouthwash that kills plaque-making bacteria when a light is shone into the mouth.
They believed the new liquid could be available in less than three years - and perform the same job as using a toothbrush.
The mouthwash uses a molecule that is absorbed by bacteria in the mouth and destroys the harmful bug when it is activated by a bright light.
It is deemed safe as the molecule is already used by the food industry and not harmful if accidentally swallowed.
Called photo dynamic therapy, it was developed from a cancer treatment as a way of helping disabled people look after their mouths if they were unable to use a toothbrush.
The institute's research director, Professor Jennifer Kirkham, said the mouthwash could be used to treat gum disease and would only take a hygienist to perform the treatment.
She added: 'We feel confident that this is a major step change for the future.
'It is a safe way of improving oral hygiene for those patients for whom brushing is not feasible or as an adjunct to brushing.
'At the moment we are not saying it is going to take over brushing as the trials have not been done yet.
'We have now to look at how much it is going to cost. At the moment it is very cheap.'
The drilling alternative that uses a protein to naturally repair holes on the tooth's enamel, could be ready for patients within five years.
The compound works by creating a scaffold and attracting minerals that form enamel in the same way as the body creates teeth.
The chemical can be painted on teeth in small holes to prevent them decaying and becoming larger. The same treatment can be used to fill in tiny holes in teeth that cause them to become sensitive to hot and cold food and drinks.
The protein must pass British safety checks, which are currently underway. The institute is hopeful that trials will start early next year, with a view to getting a licence within five years.
Ultrasound could 're-grow' broken teeth in just 12 weeks
In a separate development, scientists revealed recently that teeth broken in an accident could soon be 'regrown' using an ultrasound machine half the size of a thumbnail.
The process could take just 12 weeks. Ultrasound is already used to help heal broken bones, now the technology is being applied to teeth.
Nanotechnology, which can reduce electronic circuitry to one thousandth of the size of a human hair, has enabled scientists to develop an ultrasound device small enough to fit inside the mouth.
A wafer-thin ultrasound chip, which is preprogrammed so that it turns on automatically, can be clipped onto the teeth. When it is on, ultrasound waves massage the gums to stimulate and increase blood flow to produce new tooth tissue.
The treatment takes just 20 minutes a day. The current version of the machine has a small handheld device which tells the patient when it is working.
Dr Tarek El-Bialy, of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, discovered the use of ultrasound to form new dental tissue from his research on rabbit incisors. He then moved on to humans and found similar results. The dreaded dentist's drill and common toothbrush could become a thing of the past. ... more -
London underground Oyster card hack to be unveiled
Instructions for copying the Oyster cards used on London transport, including the underground, are to be allowed to be published, a Dutch judge has ruled.
This decision overturns a previous injunction to suppress the details, won by the card's makers NXP: Now the researchers, who in June demonstrated how to copy the cards and thus travel free on the underground, plan to publish their results in October.
Instructions for copying the Oyster cards used on London transport, including the underground, are to be allowed to be published, a Du... more -
'Inevitable' UK disease pandemic: 75,000 could be killed
Britain faces an "inevitable" disease pandemic which will kill up to 75,000 people, says a powerful Lords Committee. Changes in lifestyle are leading to new infections and providing them with opportunities to spread rapidly, the report warns. An outbreak in Britain will cause "massive" disruption, it concludes.
"Estimates are that the next pandemic will kill between two million and 50 million people worldwide and between 50,000 and 75,000 in the UK. Socio-economic disruption will be massive." The committee says that with three quarters of newly emerging human infections originating from animals, more stringent ways of detecting diseases are needed.
Lord Soley, the chairman of the committee, said: "The last 100 years have seen great advances in public health and disease control through the world, but globalisation and changes in lifestyles are giving rise to new infections and providing opportunities for them to spread rapidly. "We are particularly concerned about the link with animal health."
Peers are calling for new international disease surveillance systems in developing countries, so the West is alerted to the threat. The Government should consider "urgently" how it funds aid projects with developing countries so the money is spent most effectively to help "Britain's own defences" against pandemics.
The last two pandemics – in 1958 and 1968 – were caused by relatively mild strains of influenza. But the report warns that the next one could have more serious consequences, especially if it comes from the H5N1 variety, which is found in birds and poultry, and which has already jumped the species barrier to infect some humans. The report says that bird flu "at some point in the near future" could become capable of "human to human transmission".
(Excerpts / Andrew Porter, Telegraph) Britain faces an "inevitable" disease pandemic which will kill up to 75,000 people, says a powerful Lords Committee. Changes in lifest... more -
Life of Brian - Bid to overturn ban on film
A Welsh town is trying to overturn a 30-year-old ban on this film. Read more ...
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