How to Make Perfect Coffee

"How to Make Perfect Coffee: The science of what makes coffee great".

Asimov's 1964 Predictions for 2014

Isaac Asimov predicted what life would be like in 2014 in this 1964 New York Times essay. (Via Alex Knapp.)

How Google's Autocomplete Was Created

"How Google's Autocomplete Was ... Created / Invented / Born"

Stabilized Spoon Lets Parkinson's Sufferers Feed Themselves

"Stabilized Spoon Lets Parkinson's Sufferers Feed Themselves". (Via Jared Rhoads.)

[Off topic] Hsieh Forbes OpEd: How Much Will Your Life Be Worth Under Obamacare?

[Off topic] Forbes has published my latest piece, "How Much Will Your Life Be Worth Under Obamacare?"

Here is the opening:

How much will your life be worth to the federal government under ObamaCare? Less than you might think. We can make an educated guess by looking at which medical screening tests the government U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) considers worthwhile...

First Human Brain-to-Brain Interface

CNET: "Scientist controls colleague's hand in first human brain-to-brain interface"

The Growth In Illegal Robocallers

USA Today: "Robocallers doing a number on the Do Not Call list"

Illegal robocall operations are taking advantage of increasingly sophisticated technology that has made it easier and easier to simultaneously send thousands of robocalls costing less than one cent per minute...

Along with being cheap and easy, robocalls can be the hardest to trace, says Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life. Calls often come from foreign centers, and scammers increasingly use technology to "spoof" caller ID to display whatever number they pick, he says.

10 Fascinating Skybridges

10 Fascinating Skybridges

The Signs Are Hilarious At Switzerland's New 'Drive-In Brothel'

"The Signs Are Hilarious At Switzerland's New 'Drive-In Brothel'".  (Via Tyler Cowen.)

From the article:

We've done our best to translate (going right to left then working down):

• No one under the age of eighteen.
• Only cars can use the facility — no motorbikes, people on foot, or bicycles.
• Just one client at a time.
• Use the facilities provided, not the outdoor space.
• Again, do not use the outdoor space.
• Do not go off facility grounds
• Throw away your trash.
• No photography, filming, or recording (or singing, perhaps).

Feds Back Away From Forced Decryption... For Now

Wired: "Feds Back Away From Forced Decryption... For Now".

For the moment, requiring suspects to decrypt data is rare, and has never been squarely addressed by the Supreme Court.

But the legal issue is likely to become more commonplace as the public begins embracing encryption technology that now comes standard on most computer operating systems. What’s more, the public is searching to counter the National Security Agency, whose domestic spying has been thrust into the mainstream press in light of disclosures by NSA leaker Edward Snowden, [Electronic Frontier Foundation staff attorney Hanni] Fakhoury said.

"The one silver lining: I think courts are not buying into the government's theory that encryption is evidence of criminal behavior," Fakhoury said.

As lawyer/blogger Doug Mataconis has written, it depends on what analogy one thinks is more apt:

To make the analogy applicable to the types of cases that helped establish existing law, it boils down to a question of whether a computer password is like a key to locked closet or strongbox, or whether it is like the combination to a safe. Under existing law, someone served with a valid search warrant can be compelled to unlock a locked door or box, but they cannot be compelled to reveal the combination that would unlock a safe. 

To put it simply, Courts have held that the combination to a safe constitutes the constitutes of someone’s mind, and is thus protected by the Fifth Amendment from compelled disclosure while the key is simply a thing and, so long as the search warrant validly allows police to search the item that is locked, then the person whose property is being searched can be compelled to grant access.

This issue will undoubtedly resurface again.  I wouldn't be surprised if this eventually has to be resolved by the US Supreme Court.

Awesomely Bad Samsung Commercial

"Samsung ad featuring possibly the world's worst actors"



Via R.H., who also commented on Facebook: 

Someone claiming to be the korean dude in the glasses, on reddit, explained that this is the nature of Korean adverts, they are asked to be that expressive because (according to him):

(1) Koreans are naturally less expressive, and are often encouraged to be unnaturally expressive in adverts

(2) This is a video made primarily with non-western markets in mind, so they are made to be dubbed over.

Also, according to him, the woman in the ad came in at 7pm and finished some time early morning, hence the glazed over expression.

Two Ancient Roman Techologies

Alex Knapp: "These Two Ancient Roman Techs Could Disrupt Modern Industry"

Existence of New Element Confirmed

"Existence of new element confirmed".

No word yet on what element 115 will be called.

Which Jobs Will Survive the Robot Revolution?

MIT professor David Autor predicts which jobs will survive the next wave of robotic automation.

The key will be jobs that "combine technical skills with interpersonal interaction":

While many middle-skill jobs are susceptible to automation, others demand a mixture of tasks that take advantage of human flexibility. To take one prominent example, medical paraprofessional jobs — radiology technician, phlebotomist, nurse technician — are a rapidly growing category of relatively well-paid, middle-skill occupations. While these paraprofessions do not typically require a four-year college degree, they do demand some postsecondary vocational training.

These middle-skill jobs will persist, and potentially grow, because they involve tasks that cannot readily be unbundled without a substantial drop in quality. Consider, for example, the frustration of calling a software firm for technical support, only to discover that the technician knows nothing more than the standard answers shown on his or her computer screen — that is, the technician is a mouthpiece reading from a script, not a problem-solver. This is not generally a productive form of work organization because it fails to harness the complementarities between technical and interpersonal skills. Simply put, the quality of a service within any occupation will improve when a worker combines routine (technical) and nonroutine (flexible) tasks.

Following this logic, we predict that the middle-skill jobs that survive will combine routine technical tasks with abstract and manual tasks in which workers have a comparative advantage — interpersonal interaction, adaptability and problem-solving. Along with medical paraprofessionals, this category includes numerous jobs for people in the skilled trades and repair: plumbers; builders; electricians; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installers; automotive technicians; customer-service representatives; and even clerical workers who are required to do more than type and file. Indeed, even as formerly middle-skill occupations are being “deskilled,” or stripped of their routine technical tasks (brokering stocks, for example), other formerly high-end occupations are becoming accessible to workers with less esoteric technical mastery (for example, the work of the nurse practitioner, who increasingly diagnoses illness and prescribes drugs in lieu of a physician). Lawrence F. Katz, a labor economist at Harvard, memorably called those who fruitfully combine the foundational skills of a high school education with specific vocational skills the “new artisans.”

Could One Knit A Sweater From Human Navel Lint?

"Could one knit a sweater from human navel lint?"

Maybe You Get Bad Customer Service Because You're a Bad Customer

Matt Walsh: "Maybe You Get Bad Customer Service Because You're a Bad Customer"

Tiny Video Cameras Protect Cops, Suspects

"Tiny video cameras protect cops, suspects".

As @dunstan noted, "Rialto, CA police wear video cameras: use of force ↓60%, complaints ↓88%, Officer-involved shootings ↓60% "

Prison Door Computer Glitch

Sounds like something from a movie:

Florida prison officials are trying to figure out whether a computer glitch may be behind two recent, as yet unexplained incidents where all of the doors at a facility’s maximum-security wing opened simultaneously. In the latest occurrence, on 13 June, guards at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Florida, had to rush to corral prisoners back into their cells after a “group release” button in the computerized system was triggered...

More details here.

DNA Cannot Distinguish Identical Twins On Rape Charge

"DNA tests cannot distinguish identical twins on rape charge".

For now, prosecutors have charged both men.

The Apollo Guidance Computer

A 30-minute documentary from the 1960s on the Apollo Guidance Computer.

Engineer left NASA to make awesome wearable tech Halloween costumes

"Engineer left NASA to make awesome wearable tech Halloween costumes"

X-Rays Reveal the Insane Innards of Space Suits

Wired: "X-Rays Reveal the Insane Innards of Space Suits"

Three Ways Cooking Has Changed Over The Last 300 Years

NPR: "Three Ways Cooking Has Changed Over The Last 300 Years". (Via Alex Knapp.)

The World's Most Precise Clocks

"The World's Most Precise Clocks: 100 Times More Precise Than Cesium Atomic Clocks". (Via Charlie M.)

Behind the Wheel of a Driverless Car

"This Is What It's Like Behind the Wheel of a Driverless Car"

Cops and Cameras

"Watching the watchers: On cops, cameras and privacy"

Near-Drowning in Space

Astronaut Luca Parmitano describes near-drowning in space. (Via @supatrey.)

The Economist's Guide To Drinking While Pregnant

NPR: "The Economist's Guide To Drinking While Pregnant"

(Spoiler: A glass of wine is ok.)

1.86 Stuf Oreos

"Double Stuf Oreos Don't Actually Have Double The Creme".

Instead, it's more like 1.86 x. I smell lawsuit!

World's Oldest Twinkie

"World's oldest Twinkie still looks fresh after 36 years". (Via VAViper.)

Do You Ever Own Your E-Books?

"Do You Ever Own Your E-Books?"

You may lose some e-Books crossing international borders.

Japanese Airport Baggage Carousels Rolling Advertisements

"In Japan, Airport Baggage Carousels Have Rolling Advertisements".  (Via Neatorama.)

1997 'Kids' Guide to the Internet'

Five Myths About Big Data

"Five myths about big data"

Parkour Kitties

Parkour Kitties:

Obama Administration Asks SCOTUS To Allow Warrantless Cellphone Searches

"Obama administration asks Supreme Court to allow warrantless cellphone searches"

How the Coffee Cup Sleeve Was Invented

"How the Coffee Cup Sleeve Was Invented"

How to Build a Time Cloak with Mirrors

"How to Build a Time Cloak with Mirrors"

The Jamming Wars

"Next up: The Jamming Wars"

How Play-Doh Is Made

How Play-Doh is made.

Why Shipwrecks in Antarctica Are Well-Preserved

"How shipwrecks in Antarctica manage to stay so well-preserved"

CSM on Big Data

Christian Science Monitor: "The new age of algorithms: How it affects the way we live".

(Single-page printable version.)

Big Data Meets "Minority Report"

"How Big Data Could Help Identify the Next Felon -- Or Blame the Wrong Guy"

Inside An Arranged Marriage

Inside an arranged marriage.

Bowden On Drones

Mark Bowden (author of Black Hawk Down) has a lengthy new article on the politics and technical aspects of drone warfare.

I haven't read it yet, but definitely will.

New Mammalian Species Discovered

First new carnivorous mammal species discovered in the American continents in 35 years.

Pangea Redrawn With Today’s Political Boundaries

Pangea Redrawn With Today's Political Boundaries

The Evolution of the Zombie

Infographic: The Evolution of the Zombie

Kindly Brontosaurus

Social engineering with the "Kindly Brontosaurus" posture. (Via J.S.)

Images of Atoms Making and Breaking Molecular Bonds

"How researchers captured the first images of atoms making and breaking molecular bonds"

Meet The Dread Pirate Roberts

Forbes: "Meet The Dread Pirate Roberts, The Man Behind Booming Black Market Drug Website Silk Road"

Devices Connect with Borrowed TV Signals, Need No Power Source

"Seemingly impossible" devices connect with borrowed TV signals, need no power source.

Getty Open Content

The Getty Museum is now offering thousands of high-resolution digital images free, as part of their Open Content program.

(They merely request attribution in the form of "Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program.".)

Delving Into the Darknet

"Meet Darknet, the hidden, anonymous underbelly of the searchable Web"

15 Really Strange Beaches

"15 Really Strange Beaches". (Via B.M.)

Chrome Dominance

 Browser war update.

Lavabit Alternatives?

"Encrypted email isn't secure, but if you must use it, here are some Lavabit alternatives"

How Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine

"This Is How Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine".

"Addiction" is such an ugly word. I prefer the term "special relationship".

History of Britain in LEGO

History of Britain in LEGO

Storing Information with Skyrmions

"Twisted Magnetic Fields Tie Information in a Knot: Elusive magnetic vortices called skyrmions have been made in the lab for the first time and could be used to develop more efficient memory chips"

Wikipedia Says No To Censorship

"Wikipedia Co-Founder Refuses to Comply With China's Censorship". Go, Jimmy Wales!

Financial Planning for Egg Freezing

WSJ: "Financial Planning for Egg Freezing"

Well, it is the 21st century.  (As usual, if clicking on the link doesn't work, you can enter the WSJ article title into a Google search box and often get a link that goes to the full piece.)

The Science of the Great Molasses Flood

"The Science of the Great Molasses Flood: In 1919 a wave of syrup swept through the streets of Boston. Fluid dynamics explains why it was even more devastating than a typical tsunami."

Basically, the problem arises because molasses is a non-Newtonian fluid.

Where The Rubber Ducks Landed

"In 1992, around 29000 rubber ducks fell off a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean. This is where they made landfall."

The Type Of People Who Get Suckered By A Twitter Bot

"The Type Of People Who Get Suckered By A Twitter Bot"

Real Vs. Movie Aging of "Back To The Future" Actors

Great image comparing the movie make-up ageing of Back to the Future actors with their actual aging 30 years later.

Scientists Disclose Plans To Make Superflu In Labs

NPR: "Scientists Disclose Plans To Make Superflu In Labs"

How many bad zombie movies started this way?

40 Maps They Didn’t Teach You In School

"40 Maps They Didn't Teach You In School"

Schneier on Trust and Deceptive Wording By Internet Companies

When internet companies use words that are technically true but misleading, they undermine our trust. Overall good essay by Bruce Schneier.

Using Pupils to Communicate with People with Locked-In Syndrome

Clever: "Pupils Used to Communicate with People with Locked-In Syndrome"  

And another slightly unorthodox use of math: "Teacher catches student using phone in class, gives him a math problem to unlock the phone".

Your Luxury Car's Noises May Be Fake

"Your luxury car's noises may be fake"

The Economics of SkyMall

The economics of SkyMall. (Via Gus Van Horn.)

Colonies of Growing Bacteria Make Psychedelic Art

"Colonies of Growing Bacteria Make Psychedelic Art"

Woody Allen's "Wolverine"

Woody Allen's "Wolverine":

Will Chromecast Be a Game Changer?

"Is Chromecast the little dongle that could change things?"

Dating on the Autism Spectrum

"Dating on the Autism Spectrum" (Via Transterrestrial Musings.)

Why Your Cell Phone’s Location Isn’t Protected by the Fourth Amendment

Orin Kerr: "Why Your Cell Phone’s Location Isn’t Protected by the Fourth Amendment"

xkcd Backstory

"Creator of xkcd Reveals Secret Backstory of His Epic 3,099-Panel Comic"

All-New Harry Potter Covers

"Kazu Kibuishi's Official All-New Harry Potter Covers"

SuperTrailer!

"Supercut: Dozens of Sci-Fi Movies Edited Together Into the Most Epic Trailer Ever".



(Via VAViper.)

3D-Printing High Security Keys

"MIT Students Will Release Program To 3D-Print High Security Keys"

World Largest Caliber Rifle

In case .50 BMG is too wimpy for you: "World's Largest Caliber Rifle In Action 905"



Yowza!  (Via J.W.)

Travel Tips for Apple Users

"What to do (and not to do) when traveling overseas with Apple gear"

Sex, Violence, and Autocomplete Algorithms

"Sex, Violence, and Autocomplete Algorithms: What words do Bing and Google censor from their suggestions?"

North Korean Tablet

"North Korea has a tablet. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity, but it comes with Angry Birds"

Fake Charger Will Hide A Trojan In iPhone's Facebook App

"This Fake Charger Will Hide A Trojan In Your iPhone's Facebook App"

Queen Elizabeth's 1983 Speech For WW 3

Queen Elizabeth's 1983 draft speech in case World War 3 broke out. (Via VAViper.)

The Smell Of Chocolate Boosts Book Sales

The smell of chocolate increases in-store book sales. Here's a marketing technique that Amazon will have a hard time duplicating!

The Pressure Cooker Google Search Story

Michele Catalano described how searching for the "wrong" things on Google earned her family a visit from the "Joint Terrorism Task Force".

But it looks like the source of the information was not the NSA, but a former employer of her husband.