Submission + - Why Bite The Google Hand That Feeds You? (asdflkjsadflksadfkljasdfklj.com)
Submission + - Jobs Finally "Happy" with Unannounced Apple tablet (arstechnica.com)
Submission + - Virtual Visits to Doctors Spreading (nytimes.com) 1
tresho writes: For $45, anyone in Texas can use NowClinic, whether or not they are insured, by visiting NowClinic.com. Using video conferencing, they can have 10-minute appointments who doctors who can prescribe, except for controlled substances. The service has encountered resistance in states where it is already available. Texas law requires that before doctors consult with patients or prescribe medicine online or over the phone, they form a relationship through means like a physical examination. After a similar service began in Hawaii last year, lawmakers passed legislation to allow the establishment of online doctor-patient relationships, though the Hawaii Medical Association opposed the bill.
Submission + - Watch This: 70-Minute Video Review of Star Wars: T (slashfilm.com)
ScuttleMonkey writes: "cowmix writes "When TPM came out ten years ago, its utter crappiness shocked me to the core and wounded a entire generation of geeks. My inner child had been abused and betrayed. I moped around, talking to no one, for almost two weeks. I couldn't bring myself to see #2 or #3, whatever they were called. Now, a decade later, comes Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review , the ultimate, seven-part, seventy minute analysis of this mother of all train wrecks. Not only does it nail how the film blows, but tells us why. Time, apparently, does not heal all wounds." Or, if you prefer all 7 parts embedded in one page, you can check out slashfilm's aggregation."
Submission + - Will the Mobile Web Kill Off the App Store? (wired.com)
ScuttleMonkey writes: "Mozilla seems to be throwing more gas on the debate of whether mobile web browsing or native (or even cross-platform) applications will win out in the long run. With the impending release of their new mobile web browser "Fennec", Mozilla hopes to create a streamlined experience with javascript and html that isn't a performance nightmare. "Web proponents such as Mozilla and Google dream that internet standards will enable any app to run on any device, just as Java proponents touted a “write once, run anywhere” vision in the 1990s. Similarly, Adobe’s Flash emerged as a cross-platform environment for creating animations, games and apps for the web. But many consumers and developers have complained that Java and Flash exhibit bugs, performance problems and security vulnerabilities, among other issues. And Java’s promises of universality didn’t quite work out, because different implementations of the Java virtual machine (not to mention wildly varying hardware capabilities) mean that, even today, Java coders need to rework their apps for each target device.""
Submission + - Google in Talks to Buy Yelp (nytimes.com)
ScuttleMonkey writes: "There have been many rumors floating around surrounding a possible buyout of Yelp by Google, but it appears that at least a few details have escaped painting this as a much more serious possibility. Pointing the needle to something north of $500 million, the acquisition would mean a substantial step into localized business for Google. "Google has been showing greater interest in the local business market in the United States. It has expanded its profile pages for local businesses, which include location and hours, maps and reviews from other Web sites. In June, Google gave local businesses the ability to manage what people see on their profile pages, similar to what Yelp does. Google has been reaching out to local businesses with simpler ways to advertise on the search engine. It is also distributing stickers that businesses post in their windows and passers-by can scan with cellphones to get coupons or information about the business. The deal between Google and Yelp could still unravel, one person said, particularly if another acquirer comes forward now that details have leaked.""
Submission + - $25,000 Of Communications Gear In A $500 Car (jalopnik.com) 1
ScuttleMonkey writes: "Ham radio appears to be more of an addiction than a hobby to the seller of this $500 Dodge. Every surface is covered with $25K in communications equipment for every conceivable band (FM/UHF/HF/VHF/SPACEMAN). A gallery of technological affliction below."
Submission + - Man Marries Video Game Character (telegraph.co.uk) 5
BigSes writes: The groom, calling himself SAL9000, married a character from the Nintendo DS game Love Plus. The bride was read her vows as she was displayed to him on the screen of his Nintendo DS. The event itself was broadcase live from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the reception included a disco.
Soon afterwards, the new bride and groom headed off to their honeymoon in Guam. Although the groom feels as though he has reached a "major milestone" in his life, he has yet to inform his parents of the wedding.
Soon afterwards, the new bride and groom headed off to their honeymoon in Guam. Although the groom feels as though he has reached a "major milestone" in his life, he has yet to inform his parents of the wedding.
Submission + - EPIC Takes Fight to Facebook Over Privacy (technewsworld.com)
ScuttleMonkey writes: "Several readers have pointed out the fact that the privacy group "Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)," has taken the fight to Facebook in a recent complaint filed with the FTC. Calling the recent privacy changes to Facebook "unfair" and "deceptive", EPIC's main complaints stem from the fact that personal information has become more available by default, especially to third-party developers. "'Facebook chose to change everyone's privacy settings, and it's clear from users, bloggers, security experts and others that it really was unfair and misleading,' EPIC's Rotenberg said. 'What we found was that through this transition, Facebook had nudged the settings toward further disclosure.' Facebook had said that its transition process would preserve any current settings, 'but they didn't show you what those were,' Rotenberg noted. Furthermore, 'the only option if you changed your current settings was to make information more widely available.' We're not happy about where things are,' he concluded. 'Facebook can't ignore the 100 million U.S. consumers who are generally unhappy with these changes.'""
Submission + - Virtual money for real lobbying (businessinsider.com)
ogaraf writes: Here is an article on how the health-insurance industry group 'Get Health Reform Right' paid Facebook users with virtual currency to be used in Facebook games in exchange for lobbying their Congressional Rep. From the article:
Instead of asking the gamers to try a product the way Netflix would, "Get Health Reform Right" requires gamers to take a survey, which, upon completion, automatically sends the following email to their Congressional Rep:
"I am concerned a new government plan could cause me to lose the employer coverage I have today. More government bureaucracy will only create more problems, not solve the ones we have." "
Instead of asking the gamers to try a product the way Netflix would, "Get Health Reform Right" requires gamers to take a survey, which, upon completion, automatically sends the following email to their Congressional Rep:
"I am concerned a new government plan could cause me to lose the employer coverage I have today. More government bureaucracy will only create more problems, not solve the ones we have." "
Submission + - Science gifts for kids 3
beernutmark writes: I have two science loving kids ages 7 and 9. My yougest knew Niel deGrass Tyson's name at age 4. With the holidays coming up (mine is Saturnalia you insensitive clod) I am looking to get them some quality science related tools. Two items on the list are a quality Microscope (National Optical) and/or a real rockhounding kit.
I am looking for any other gift suggestions for this year or future years (or even for younger kids for other readers) and hints on good sources.
A quirky thing about buying science gifts for kids is that most of the sources seem to be intelligent-design/biblical flood/anti-evolution home schooling sites. You can't really tell for some until you look through their "science" book lists.
I am looking for any other gift suggestions for this year or future years (or even for younger kids for other readers) and hints on good sources.
A quirky thing about buying science gifts for kids is that most of the sources seem to be intelligent-design/biblical flood/anti-evolution home schooling sites. You can't really tell for some until you look through their "science" book lists.
Submission + - What can I expect as an IT Intern? 2
p3np8p3r writes: I'm in college and working towards my Bachelors in Computer Science. Last year I passed both my CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications and now have been offered a full time Internship at a wireless lab of a major laptop manufacturer (via a staffing company). The pay is going to be around $8 an hour full-time but that is not my primary motivator. I'm considering this significant decrease in pay from my previous job (non-IT) to be counter balanced by what valuable knowledge I may attain both in a technical aspect as well as industry insight while I finish school. This field is all new to me and I don't personally know anyone who has worked in it before who will give me their honest opinions on it. Although I know circumstances differ greatly, in general, what can I expect as an IT Intern? What have been your experiences?
Submission + - First flight for solar plan video (bbc.co.uk) 3
mdsolar writes: The BBC has a video of the first flight of the Solar Impulse, the first solar powered piloted airplane. The plan is to circumnavigate the world using the plane eventually. Previous solar powered planes have been robotic.
