46714653
submission
Kittenman writes
"Tweaktown are carrying news reported elsewhere; that Apple are under scrutiny for escaping some US$44billion (that's a billion, as per Carl Sagan) of taxes, between 2009 and 2012. CEO Tim Cook appeared/will appear before a Senate investigation on Tuesday.
Apple's testimony states that Apple 'pays all it's required taxes, both in this country and abroad' and that they do no use 'tax gimmicks'.
The case continues..."Link to Original Source
46017923
submission
Kittenman writes
"A Smithsonian recording of the voice of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone had been deemed too fragile to play or try to listen to, for 138 years. Modern technology has caught up, however, and scientists made ultra-high definition images of the disks, allowing the depth and contours of the wiggles and grooves to be accurately measured — and bring the voice back to life, without ever touching the recording physically."Link to Original Source
43822733
submission
Kittenman writes
"The BBC magazine pages have an article on human trust of robots. The article cites a poll (done on facebook so certainly well-sourced) over the 'best face' design for a robot that would be trusted. But we still distrust them — because (tfa states) they look unwell (or like corpses) and do not behave as expected.
So would you trust a robot? How about one with the "trusting face"?"Link to Original Source
42908895
submission
Kittenman writes
"The BBC is reporting that Abbottabad — the place where OBL was found and killed by US Special forces — is to build an amusement park. The new park will not be near the site (now demolished) but will feature mini-golf, water sports and rock cllimbing. Possibly to help time pass for future terrorists otherwise at a loss of how to fill their days?"Link to Original Source
42367093
submission
Kittenman writes
"Rick Champagne, a 56 year old company owner from Arizona has bought the original "Batmobile" (dating back to Burt Ward and the '60s) for US$4.2 million. He's quoted as saying it "was a dream come true".
Holy Investment, Batman!"Link to Original Source
41962227
submission
Kittenman writes
"Andrea Hernandez has lost her appeal to avoid wearing the RFID tag, covered elsewhere on Slashdot. Interestingly, Hernandez cited religious reasons for refusing to wear the device, referring to the item as 'the mark of the beast'. A clever appeal to religious freedom rather than civil liberties, perhaps?"Link to Original Source
40443661
submission
Kittenman writes
"The BBC is covering the ins and outs of Flu vaccines. According to the article, the vaccine is approximately 60% effectice, and it is the World Health Organization (WHO) that decide what strains (to a maximum of 3) are prevalent each year, and recommend that to go into the vaccine. And surprisingly, (or not), the recommendations for each hemisphere of the globe can be different. So are you more likely to get the flu if you fly from London to Sydney after a jab?"Link to Original Source
39160021
submission
Kittenman writes
"After 38 years (1974-> 2012) the BBC's CEEFAX service has ceased transmission. The service gave on-line up-to-date textual information (albeit in condensed form) to TV viewers in the pre-Internet era and afterwards. An British ex-PM (John Major) states ..
"From breaking global news to domestic sports news, Ceefax was speedy, accurate and indispensable. It can be proud of its record.""Link to Original Source
38529511
submission
Kittenman writes
"Maine Republicans have discovered that the Democrat candidate, Colleen Lachowicz, plays an Orc rogue in World of Warcraft. They point out to readers of their website that her liking for back-stabbing and poison may make her 'unfit for office'."Link to Original Source
37107813
submission
Kittenman writes
"NZ's Auckland daily is covering (partly as a TV promotion) the story of a Naturopath (in this case, an iridologist) who was consulted by a woman with a 'cyst' on her skull. After 18 months of 'treatments', the woman died of the 'cyst', which was actually a cancer. The woman left behind a letter stating that the naturopath advised against consulting a doctor — and the naturopath in turn states that she did request the woman to see a doctor.
What's amazing is that the naturopath cannot be 'struck off', as she is exempt from such treatment by being in the 'alternative medicine' field."Link to Original Source
35834601
submission
Kittenman writes
"The BBC reports that the Apollo mission flags are still standing — with one exception. At Apollo 11 blast-off from the luna surface, the flag was knocked over (Buzz Aldrin reported this at the time). It's not known what sort of colours are visible in the flags owing to UV light exposure.
All in all, hopefully a blow to Moon Mission deniers?"Link to Original Source
33385227
submission
Kittenman writes
"The BBC has an article covering the so-far untold story between the 'Star Wars' canon and Wales. Did Chewbacca work in the mines? Was Han Solo in a choir in the Eisteddfod? In this case, the truth is not as strange."Link to Original Source
32114957
submission
Kittenman writes
"India now tops the world in terms of spamming. Sophos advise that about 10% of all SPAM in the world originates from India. The US is in second place, with 8.3% and then South Korea, at 5.7%.
Is this change still more evidence for the US losing the position as a worldwide technology leader?"Link to Original Source
31887721
submission
Kittenman writes
"The NZ Herald (and no doubt many others) are covering the protest of a traveller, John E. Brennan, 49, who feeling disgruntled by the TSA intrusive pat-down, just continued to strip to the point of no return. He was arrested at Portland International Airport, and charged with Disorderly conduct and indecent exposure."Link to Original Source
29998003
submission
Kittenman writes
"Private Eye (an English satirical/political watchdog magazine) have an abbreviated article on-line about HR abuses and investigative work at the Chinese 'Foxconn' plant. Apple picked the Fair Labor Association (FLA) over better-qualified labour review organizations for a critical review of the plant. Private Eye suspects this to be a political move by Apple, as the FLA "tends to like what it sees". Foxconn has seen multiple suicides by workers, a fatal explosion and 'slave-like' conditions — and yet the FLA president has said that the plant is "first class""Link to Original Source
