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+ - Is Wikipedia a super organism?->

Submitted by leonbenjamin
leonbenjamin writes "A single ant or bee isn't smart, but their colonies are; so called super organisms. The Sante Fe Institute has published research about the cooperative nature of Wikipedia and how critical it is for its high level of accuracy and usefulness. The study found that Wikipedia is the product of an extremely cooperative human social system, which has proven as accurate as traditional encyclopaedias. So what's possible when human beings collaborate to create societies rather than a single publishing ecosystem with extremely high levels of cooperation?"
Link to Original Source

+ - Manifold Clock: Telling time in 3D 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes "A wall mounted clock, that tells time in 3D. The hour and minute hands are connected with a flexible sheet, creating an ever-changing form that moves in space. This unique time-piece is a combination of simple mechanics and modern design. It's based on mathematical notion of Riemann surfaces, derived from the log(z) function.
Currently on the verge of mass-production, needs to raise initial funding on kickstarter
http://kck.st/zDLbT1"

Comment: Re:don't forget the cult leader (Score 1) 18

by socz (#38796341) Attached to: Out Of Touch

The only person I know who is for Ron Paul and who has tried to "help me see his ways" as the way forward, was a person who owed a lot of taxes, who filed for sovereignty in a state that's a Republic and who now has no more personal tax liability. This is also a person who has a business in the same state and is having issues with his business - he is being sued for damage to something he transported (he's a transporter). So, instead of dealing with the lawsuit as a responsible individual/business, he let his domain and email expire and is starting again under a different name. Can't go into more detail, but that's basically the situation.

While I understand that he has a problem with taxes, I have a problem with him not understanding that if he, like most all of us, doesn't pay at least some taxes "into the system," he wouldn't be able to even have a transport business because no one is going to personally venture to set up the massive infrastructure he uses everyday to make money. And even if someone was willing to do so, I couldn't even imagine what the cost would be to use it.

I've been fortunate to have been able to travel abroad quite a bit and have found the option of "free road" vs toll road." Free always takes longer, is more exciting (dangerous), and might have the benefit of experiencing new things. Toll will get you to where you want to go faster and safer, but at a cost. And during a long journey, it adds up.

Movies

Star Wars Uncut Project Complete 175

Posted by Soulskill
from the she's-got-it-where-it-counts dept.
An anonymous reader writes "In 2009 we discussed the Star Wars Uncut Project, a crowd-sourced effort to re-create the entirety of Episode IV as series of 15-second clips filmed and submitted by fans. Well, it's done at last, and CmdrTaco has written his review of the two-hour film. He says, 'A great number of shots demonstrate technology well beyond what was available when the original Star Wars was made. Other shots are stylishly animated in CG. Others are rotoscoped in mediums from chalk to pencil to marker. There’s also a plethora of stop motion, claymation, and even some puppetry to go around. [A] few shots are only slightly modified from the originals, but those are the rarity, and generally done to pull off a specific joke. ... It's a glorious achievement.'"

Comment: Almost human? (Score 1) 195

by socz (#37837264) Attached to: Robot Walks Like a Human, Requires No Power

They can only "walk like humans" if they can't walk in a straight line! They just tested out that 'myth' on mythbuster of humans not walking straight unless they can see where they're going. It was really interesting to see, even the swimming portion. If you haven't seen it, check it out:

WALK A STRAIGHT LINE
Premiere: Oct. 12, 2011

Is it impossible for humans (without a point of reference) to walk in a straight line, such as when they're blindfolded? Will binary explosives, well, explode in the case of a fender bender? The MythBusters are on the case.

dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-walk-a-straight-line/

Comment: Re:There is Always More Work to Do (Score 1) 990

by socz (#37834806) Attached to: The Real Job Threat

Although there is always more work to do, that doesn't mean there's always people who want to do it. Interestingly enough, I think part of the reason for advancement in technology (on farms) was not only for greater profit, but also to replace the hard to find work. Sure, "anyone" could work the farm, but that doesn't mean they were any good at it OR they wanted to do it. Having read books about migrant workers, they were very poorly treated and extremely underpaid - both because they were "undocumented workers."

  Now adays you can't get "documented" workers to break their backs on farms, so technology plays a great role in that sense. Unfortunately the same people who don't want to break their backs, I would argue, probably don't want to take the time learn anything demanding because in the end, the people who are willing to break their backs, we could say are willing to do anything for work including learning things for better opportunities in life.

WHERE CAN THE MATTER BE Oh, dear, where can the matter be When it's converted to energy? There is a slight loss of parity. Johnny's so long at the fair.

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