35283729
submission
Master Moose writes:
Since IQ testing began a century ago, women have been as much as five points behind, leading psychologists to suggest embedded genetic differences.
But that gap has been narrowing in recent years and this year, women have moved ahead, according to James Flynn, a world-renowned authority on IQ tests.
'In the last 100 years the IQ scores of both men and women have risen but women's have risen faster,' said Mr Flynn.
'This is a consequence of modernity. The complexity of the modern world is making our brains adapt and raising our IQ.'
But can they open Jars?
35115181
submission
Master Moose writes:
Brisbane-based entrepreneur John Lambie currently has in beta an alternative to what he calls the "dysfunctional" QWERTY keyboard.
Given the way the world is abandoning their keyboards for smartphones he sees now as the perfect time to introduce a new layout.
He calls his new keyboard Dextr and believes it is the natural progression from using a number pad to enter text — This is especially so in developing countries where users have not grown up with QWERTYs on thier phones.
While he is not the first to ever propose an alternate or alphabetical keyboard — Are we locked into QWERTY for familiarities sake, or as we shift to smaller, more mobile and new devices, is Mr Lambie's project coming at the right time?
35111337
submission
Master Moose writes:
Kim Dotcom claims the United States criminal case against him is collapsing but he is offering to go there without extradition provided federal authorities unfreeze his millions of dollars.
In a now hallmark style, he made the offer on Twitter.
"Hey DOJ, we will go to the US," he tweeted, "No need for extradition. We want bail, funds unfrozen for lawyers & living expenses."
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Dotcom says the department knows it does not have a case.
"If they are forced to provide discovery, then there will be no extradition. That's why they don't want to provide discovery. If they had a case, they would not need to hide what they have."
33470961
submission
Master Moose writes:
When Apple's next iPhone hits store shelves, Technicolor's engineers will rush to get the handset — not to make calls or play games, but to rip it apart.
Technicolor, an unprofitable French company that invented the process for colour movies used in The Wizard of Oz and countless other classics, plans to cash in on its 40,000 video, audio and optics patents to turn its fortunes around.
Although Technicolor signed its first licensing deal in the 1950s, de Russe (executive vice-president of intellectual property at Technicolor) said, "it feels like the rest of the world has just woken up to why patents are interesting".
Patent licensing is the most profitable business of the company.
32060963
submission
Master Moose writes:
The criminal charges against Kim Dotcom in the United States may never get to trial, the judge overseeing the case has told the FBI.
United States district court judge Liam O'Grady said he didn't know if "we are ever going to have a trial in this matter" after being told Dotcom's file-sharing company had never been formally served with criminal papers by the US.
The comment has been seized on by Dotcom's lawyers, who say it could lead to the extradition case in New Zealand being tossed out.
30739911
submission
Master Moose writes:
Movie studios are about to push the New Zealand Government to lower the fees they have to pay internet providers to out copyright pirates under the so-called "Skynet" law that took effect last year.
The Economic Development Ministry has kicked off a promised review of the $25 fee that rights holders must pay internet providers to send infringement notices to customers accused of piracy under the "three strikes regime"
New Zealand seems to be building a history of bending to US the mostly US based recording and Movie industry. See Kim Dotcom and Warner Brothers filming of the Hobbit as recent examples.
Would the reduction of this fee lead to abuses where infringements are spammed to "suspects" as seen around the world, or with less of their cost being covered, are the ISPs less likely to co-operate?
After getting such controversial bills passed, is this further proof that these industries will never be satisfied?
30385379
submission
Master Moose writes:
British actor Stephen Fry says he is ''ashamed'' of the film industry following news a popular English pub called The Hobbit is being threatened with legal action.
Fry, who is in Wellington, New Zealand filming Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, this morning tweeted: "Honestly, @savethehobbit, sometimes I'm ashamed of the business I'm in. What pointless, self-defeating bullying".
The popular Southampton music venue has traded with the name for more than 20 years, the Mail Online reported.
30034071
submission
Master Moose writes:
A man who never played higher than the Portugese third division (soccer) is suing the Baptist church for $NZ19 million — claiming it ruined his chances of playing for Manchester United.
Nganga spent 19 years as a 'fervent evangelist' .
He is now suing the leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britian, who, he says "conspired to defraud me of my finances, time and my life".
Another take on the story is listed here
27354112
submission
Master Moose writes:
Once a year a document called The Black List is released.
It is a list of what several hundred executives, assistants and other industry professionals collectively consider to be the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood.
An informal list that has taken on slightly formal connotations, it is a fascinating insight into the vast world of speculative screenwriting and script development, where the best ideas in the world can end up gathering dust for a variety of reasons.
http://blcklst.com/
27105088
submission
Master Moose writes:
George Takei has called for Star Wars and Star Trek fans to unite against the mutual threat to all science fiction: Twilight.
"Gone is any sense of heroism, camaraderie, or epic battle. In its place, we have vampires that sparkle, and moan, and go to high school".
"Now I am not above mixing in a little sex appeal to spice up the fantasy," he added, his words accompanied by the appearance of images of a topless young Mr Sulu and Robert Pattinson, the star of Twilight.
"But sci-fi fans be warned. There are no great stories, characters or profound life lessons to be had in Twilight. No, in Twilight, the only message that rings through loud and clear is 'Does my boyfriend like me?'"
25925490
submission
Master Moose writes:
We've all walked into a room only to find that the reason for doing so has suddenly and entirely vanished from our mind.
Psychologists have discovered the so-called 'senior moments' that can leave us utterly bemused and retracing our steps may actually be caused by the way the brain processes information as the body leaves one room and enters another.
25222046
submission
Master Moose writes:
New Zealand's Largest ISPs confirmed yesterday that they had received their first notices under the Government's new copyright regime, which came into effect on September 1.
All the notices received so far appear to be from the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (Rianz).
Telecom received 42 notices — 35 for alleged download of songs by R&B star Rihanna, six for Lady Gaga tunes and one for British recording artist Taio Cruz.
Curiously the music rather than the movie industry has fired the first shot as it was believed the Motion Picture Association was keen to go after copyright infringers.
20153332
submission
Master Moose writes:
When you've paid $200,000 for a seat on a galactic flight, the last thing you want is to be served a dud beer.
Queensland University of Technology researchers have teamed up with Sydney's 4-Pines brewery to develop a beer suitable for consumption in space.
19766962
submission
Master Moose writes:
Pepsi unveiled a new bottle yesterday made entirely of plant material.
The bottle is made from switch grass, pine bark, corn husks and other materials. Ultimately, Pepsi plans to also use orange peels, oat hulls, potato scraps and other leftovers from its food business.
"This is the beginning of the end of petroleum-based plastics," said Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defence Council and director of its waste management project. "When you have a company of this size making a commitment to a plant-based plastic, the market is going to respond."
19386276
submission
Master Moose writes:
Guinness World Records has announced its top 50 video game characters of all time.
Over 13,000 gaming fans voted to help compile the list, with Guinness proclaiming that "Mario bounced over Solid Snake, Pac-Man chewed up Kratos and Lara Croft barrelled through Donkey Kong".
Nintendo ruled the line-up with an impressive 11 characters featuring on the list, followed by Sony with six and Capcom with five.
There are obvious glaring omissions, but what do you think?
