Anti-Piracy Measures Could See NZ Libraries Switch Off Internet Access

library_pcs-580x385

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”

6 Important Tips for First-Time Startup Investors

investing-time 2345

If you are a first-timer these are great tips.

An angel investor used to be defined as someone with a high net worth. They typically have more than $1 million and privately invest money in startup businesses that are seeking capital. The SEC restricts investing in private deals to mostly accredited investors. I say mostly because there are some opportunities for non-accredited investors to participate on a limited basis. The definition of an accredited investor in the U.S. is a person who either has a net worth (excluding a primary residence) of $1 million, an income of $200,000 per year for the last two years, or $300,000 in household income per year for the last two years.

Angel investing has gained a lot of popularity despite anxieties over the bubble bursting. You need to understand what you are getting into before making that first investment. The general rule is that you shouldn’t invest more than 10% of your net worth, since startups can be risky. Investments typically range from $25K to $250K, but with startups needing less capital to launch these days, the amounts are shrinking…

Continue reading… “6 Important Tips for First-Time Startup Investors”

Carbon Nanotube Patch Could Help Heal the Heart

nanopatch

A tiny patch made out of carbon nanotubes may help regenerate heart cells.

According to research from Brown University, a conductive patch of carbon nanotubes can regenerate heart tissue growing in a dish.  The patch, made of tiny chains of carbon atoms that fold in on themselves, forming a tube, conducts electricity and mimics the rough surface of natural tissue. The more nanotubes the Brown researchers added to the patch, the more cells around it were able to regenerate.

 

Continue reading… “Carbon Nanotube Patch Could Help Heal the Heart”

Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood In The Fuel Tank

wogacars1234

What kind of mileage does a wood gas vehicle get?

During the Second World War, almost every motorised vehicle in continental Europe was converted to use firewood. Wood gas cars (also known as producer gas cars) are a not-so-elegant but surprisingly efficient and ecological alternative to their petrol cousins, whilst their range is comparable to that of electric cars…

Continue reading… “Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood In The Fuel Tank”

Scottish Scientists Make ‘Mind-Reading Machine’ Breakthrough

scottish-scientists-make-mind-reading-machine-breakthrough-410x230

Scottish scientists have come a step closer to creating a “mind-reading machine” that can show mental images.

A team from the University of Glasgow have successfully decoded brain signals related to vision.

Six volunteers were shown images of people’s faces displaying different emotions such as happiness, fear and surprise.

In a series of trials, parts of the images were randomly covered so that, for example, only the eyes or mouth were visible. Participants were then asked to identify the emotion being displayed while electrodes attached to the scalp measured the volunteers’ brainwaves.

The scientists were able to show that brainwaves varied greatly according to which part of the face was being looked at…

Continue reading… “Scottish Scientists Make ‘Mind-Reading Machine’ Breakthrough”

Robots Invent Their Own Spoken Language

lingodroid-robots-invent-their-own-spoken-language

Lingodroids learning their language.

When robots talk to each other, they’re not generally using language as we think of it, with words to communicate both concrete and abstract concepts. Now Australian researchers are teaching a pair of robots to communicate linguistically like humans by inventing new spoken words, a lexicon that the roboticists can teach to other robots to generate an entirely new language…

Continue reading… “Robots Invent Their Own Spoken Language”

Worm Regenerates Entire Body from a Single Cell

wormy 111

Asexual fission from one cell?

Planarians, a type of flatworm, reproduce by asexual fission. Cut one in half, and the missing parts will regrow until you have two planarians. Scientists have known for a while that the regeneration took place among a cluster of cells called cNeoblasts. Some wondered if was possible to grow an entire worm from a single such cell, and so performed an experiment…

Continue reading… “Worm Regenerates Entire Body from a Single Cell”

Almost Half Of All Online Orders Now Include Free Shipping

half free ship screen-shot-2011-05-17-at-3-15-01-pm

Online retail spending reached $38 billion this quarter, up 12 percent from a $33.8 billion a year ago according to Comscore. This growth is due to an increase in the number of buyers (7%), transactions per buy (9%) and tempered by a decline in spending per transaction (4%).

According to a ComScore report released today, nearly half of those orders included free shipping, at 47% versus 53% for Q’1 ’11, 49% versus 51% in Q’4 10 (the holiday season) and 41% versus 59% in Q3 ’10.

Continue reading… “Almost Half Of All Online Orders Now Include Free Shipping”

Woman Makes Mummies for Bereaved Pet Owners

Mummified petTTt

Exactly how long do you want your pet to stay around?

Grieving pet owners are turning to a US woman to give their lost loved ones eternal life by making them into mummies. PD Cagliastro is one of few in the US offering animal mummification services based on the ancient Egyptian art It took her 20 years to perfect her formula by studying embalming, consulting with chemistry students and reading the few scraps of ancient Egyptian texts available on the subject.

“It was a sick fascination,” said Ms Cagliastro, who works and lives in her “house of death” with her teenage daughter and her husband, an exterminator…

Continue reading… “Woman Makes Mummies for Bereaved Pet Owners”

Busuu: A Language That Only 8 People Speak

busulanguage1

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”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.