36.9 million Americans would fail a driving test if taken today.
More than one in five Americans — some 36.9 million — are not fit to drive and would fail a driving test if asked to take one today, according to a new survey of the nation’s drivers.
Continue reading… “1 in 5 Americans Not Fit to Drive”
Being overweight or obese is a well-known risk factor for high blood pressure.
Expanding waistlines and higher body mass index of young adults are causing unexpected problems, including an increase in diabetes, kidney disease and even arthritis say federal health officials.
Continue reading… “Almost 1 in 5 Young Adults in the U.S. Has High Blood Pressure”
A government’s advertisement billboard in support of baby girls in Morena, India.
The practice of aborting female fetuses if they don’t yet have a male child is becoming more common and widespread among couples in India, according to a new study.
Continue reading… “Sex-Selective Abortion Becoming More Common and Widespread in India”
Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg told attendees at a recent summit on innovation in education that, “My philosophy is that for education you need to start at a really, really young age.” A really, really good way to do that, Zuckerberg said, is to let kids ages 13 and under join Facebook.
Continue reading… “Facebook Wants Your Children”
Anti-Piracy measures in New Zealand could change its libraries forever.
Governments around the world are trying to figure out ways of cutting down on piracy. Some governments have already implemented controversial monitoring and three-strike rules. Such rules may look like they solve the issue in theory, but its a very different outcome in practice.
France was one of the first places to attempt to implement the three-strike rule, which sees an Internet connection represented by an IP address monitored through an ISP. If an infringement is identified a strike is given, get three strikes and the connection is terminated and/or you face prosecution or fines. However, it never made it past the French National Assembly…
But that same system has made it into law for New Zealand, and will be turned on come September…
Continue reading… “Anti-Piracy Measures Could See NZ Libraries Switch Off Internet Access”
One in 14 downloads is malicious says Microsoft.
You might want to think twice the next time a website says to download new software to view a movie or fix a problem. There’s a really good chance that the program you download is malicious.
Continue reading… “1 in 14 Downloads by Windows Users is Malicious”
The tragedy of the commons in action.
One of the most perverse tenets of the economic model that most of the globe adheres to is that extracting natural resources or doing damage to ecosystems is “free”. Bottled water companies don’t pay for the water they extract, lumber outfits don’t pay for the trees they chop down, automakers don’t pay for the air pollution they generate, Big Oil doesn’t pay for the oil it extracts, and so on and so forth. This problem, known as the tragedy of the commons, is one that’s been an ugly thorn in capitalism’s side from the get-go. For the most part, we deal with it by imposing restrictions on how much companies can pollute, creating environmental protection agencies to enforce such restrictions, and by designating nature preserves to shield nature from corporate claws. But it’s not working…
Continue reading… “Are We One Step Closer to Pricing Nature?”
Help keep the Busuu language alive.
Busuu is a language that is only spoken by eight people in the world (according to Wikipedia this may be as low as three people as of 2005) in Cameroon. To help save this dying language the folks at Busuu.com have created a music video in the Busuu language.
Continue reading… “Busuu: A Language That Only 8 People Speak”
Health insurers propose double-digit increases in their rates, citing a need for protection against any sudden uptick in demand once people have more money to spend on their health.
Major health insurers in the U.S. are heading into a third year of record profits. Their earnings have been enriched in recent months by a lingering recessionary mind-set among Americans. Many who are postponing or forgoing medical care.
College graduates face a double digit unemployment rate.
Today’s college grads are the new underclass. They have been beaten down by heavy debt and lack of work. Many are struggling to stave off financial ruin.
Continue reading… “85% of Young People Return Home After Graduating From College”
Postal Service reports more that $2 billion in losses.
The U.S. Postal Service is continuing to lose money, reporting a loss Tuesday of more than $2 billion over the first three months of the year and warning it could be forced to default on federal payments.
Continue reading… “Billions in Losses Reported By the Postal Service”
While Sony is busy pointing the finger at the hacker group Anonymous for the on-going PSN and SOE hacks, Anonymous has problems of its own. This weekend AnonOps, an IRC network where some of the members congregate and plan operations, found itself under a denial-of-service attack. That attack finally ended with a number of its IRC servers being taken over.
The culprit: one of their own, a former IRC Operator (IRCop) named “Ryan.” Depending on who you believe, Ryan was power-hungry and wanted control over AnonOps for himself, or he was tired of the autocracy of the few Anonymous members who made up the group’s loose leadership structure…
Continue reading… “Anonymous Infighting”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.