Now that is one seriously disgusting keyboard. When was the last time you took your keyboard apart so you could remove all the dust, bread crumbs, and other unspeakable horrors from there?
[Via Obvious Winner]
Last month I wrote about a problem with Chrome 10 failing to display Flash content for some users. While I followed up with a workaround, there’s now something that may be a solution — for some at least!
To recap, the original problem was that since the upgrade to the 10th edition, many users were experiencing inconsistent problems with several features, most notably Flash content. While there didn’t seem to be a consistent explanation or solution, it turned out there were no such problems with Chrome Canary, a special preview edition of in-development editions of Chrome that can be installed alongside a user’s main copy.
The good news is that while Chrome 10 itself is still suffering the problem, Canary is continuing to hold up, which suggests future editions of Chrome should be Flash friendly.
In the meantime, though, a possible culprit has been found in the form of security tool Trusteer Rapport. It’s an application distributed by several major online banks worldwide that works a little like a far-less-annoying version of Windows’ User Account Control. The application works in conjunction with your browser and whenever you are logged into a registered site (such as your online bank) and interacting with a web form, it immediately locks down all other traffic in and out of your computer, including with other open web pages.
In my case, and in that of many others if help forum reports are to be believed, switching off the Rapport application (via the Windows start menu) fixed the problem. Even better — considering that giving up security for the sake of Flash convenience is a poor trade-off — it appears that simply switching off Rapport, restarting the browser and then immediately switching Rapport back on has proven a lasting solution. I only had to do this once and Flash is still working even after several Chrome restarts.
This isn’t the one and only solution, as the Flash problem has affected people who don’t have Rapport installed, but hopefully it’ll do the trick for many users.
Universal Pictures has just released a new extended trailer for Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens, and after watching it, I’m not so sure about how good the movie will be anymore. Check it out:
[Via]
Who has the most Facebook comments in a 24-hour period, ever? That’d be global watchdog, Greenpeace. Their recent campaign to garner comments on the Greenpeace fan page to raise awareness of Facebook’s uncleanliness logged over 50,000 comments in just over 11 hours–a number which is, according to the folks at Guinness Book of World Records, a new high.
The organization is challenging Facebook to replace coal-powered data centers with a better, cleaner energy source. According to a press release issued by Greenpeace, Facebook uses “about 55% coal power while Google uses 34% and Yahoo uses just 12.7%.” Despite Facebook’s recent attempts to clean up their footprint, Greenpeace says it’s simply not enough. Their proposed five-step plan for Facebook?
Five steps for Facebook (PDF):
1. Come clean: Disclosure of energy and carbon footprint
2. Infrastructure siting policy — make it a priority to place data centers where renewable energy is plentiful.
3. Increase the supply of clean energy through power purchase agreements or renewable energy credits; investing in clean energy programs directly; or generating their own clean energy on-site
4. Become clean energy advocates
5. Educate Facebook users about clean energy and how we can all sign up for using clean energy.
Though the plan seems viable, only time will tell if Zuckerberg’s army decides it’s worth the effort.
Have you been down the cereal aisle at the grocery store lately? It’s nothing but whole grain oats, added fiber, protein clusters, and boring old flakes. Gone are the days of cereal with a cartoon or movie tie-in that contain far too much sugar, chocolate, or marshmallows than any human should ever ingest, even spread out over a six-hour Saturday morning cartoon marathon.
But Ian Glaubinger obviously remembers the old days of G.I. Joe Action Stars, C-3PO’s, and Mister T Cereal, because he’s created an excellent homage to the good ol’ days with his own line of movie tie-in cereals.
While, yes, there were real tie-in cereals for both Gremlins and Ghostbusters, they weren’t nearly as cool as Ian’s creations. I mean, the real Ghostbusters cereal didn’t have a game to test if you were psychic!
Check out more of his incredible retro-inspired artwork over at his website.
(via geek-art.net)
Tags: back to the future, breakfast cereal, geek art, Ghostbusters, Goonies, Gremlins
Tweeted by Twitter user @mattmight:
*Not* what you want to see on the fetal monitor when your wife begins to push. Thanks, Microsoft.
[Source]
New guidelines set forth by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television in China take aim at science fiction, supernatural and mythological plot-lines in television and radio programs. Specifically, the government claims to be concerned about upholding the mores of Chinese heritage, which they say discourage “fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking.”
Suggested alternatives, just in time for the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party, include reproductions of the Chinese revolution and historical pieces with emphasis on construction and reform. (One can also assume that martial arts programs are still okay.)
In China, all media is tightly controlled to prevent challenges to political authority. Though the country’s constitution extends the rights of free speech and press, China’s laws regarding state secrets are vaguely-worded and ambiguous–a tactic designed to allow government control of the freedoms of speech and press under the blanket excuse of protecting classified information. In fact, “the definition of state secrets … fails to comply with international human rights standards,” says the nongovernmental advocacy group Human Rights in China.
What do these new guidelines mean for currently-running shows that now defy state mandates on appropriate viewing material? Well, past examples show that detention, harassment, property destruction, and violence aren’t out of the question, since 178 individual cases of such interference were reported in 2008. Stations and newspapers that run controversial content are routinely fined and seized by governing bodies.
So, in short, looks like there won’t be any reruns of “Back to the Future” running on China Central Television.
In yet another thought-controlled technology breakthrough, researchers from the University of California in San Diego have developed a Bluetooth device that allows the wearer to dial a phone by concentrating on the numbers they would normally just input manually.
The days of the old-fashioned “actually touch the phone” method of dialing are not gone, however. It’s not as easy as just thinking “555-5309”: the process involves headgear and electrodes, a screen with flashing numerals, and time. It’s a slow process that exhibits only 70-85% accuracy at this stage, so don’t expect an app for that anytime soon.
The goals of the project are more far-reaching than simply making the oh-so-tedious act of dialing a number less strenuous: researchers are aiming to improve all-over brain computer interface technology, making it more accessible and applicable to everyday gadgets–a development that could potentially improve communications for those with physical limitations.
The full report is available on IOPscience for free.
[source]
While I was browsing geekleetist today (one of my favorite tumblr blog, be sure to check this one out!), I stumbled on a post pointing to Christopher Bennett’s Etsy shop, and boy was I pleased by what I saw in there. Christopher Bennett, aka Mechamonkey on Etsy, is a Glendale, CA-based artist who works full time as an animator, but makes fabulous illustrations during his spare time at night. Three words to decribe his work? Geeky, sexy, and just plain awesome.
Captain William Adama
Six
Executive Officer Saul Tigh
Mech Pilot
Anna from V
I Love Music
All of Christopher’s illustrations are available for purchase in his shop, but they’re available in limited quantity, so if you’re interested in a certain piece, be sure to snatch it up before it’s gone for good! You can also check his Deviantart art gallery right here.
Check out this awesome 60-second re-creation of Shaun of the Dead, animated Scott Pilgrim-style, by Youtube user Pippinopalon.