3G mobile comes to Everest

With all the sniping and griping on social networks, it’s rare that somebody posts to say they are feeling on top of the world. But that’s exactly what climbers at Mount Everest will soon be able to do.

Ncell, a subsidiary of a Swedish phone company, has set up eight 3G phone masts (four powered by solar energy) around and on the mountain, the highest being at 17,000 feet near Gorak Shep, the last stop on the route up to Everest’s base camp. The company has made a video call from the base camp and believes the 3G signal will be accessible from Everest’s 29,029 feet summit, though that’s not yet been tested for real.

Though the coverage may sound like a gimmick, it will be useful for climbers who currently communicate through an unreliable satellite connection. Up to 50 people will be able to use the service at the same time, with a speed of up to 3.6MB a second. That speed could be doubled if there is sufficient demand.

The announcement may earn some criticism about priorities as currently less than a third of people in Nepal have access to any form of telecommunication. However, Ncell’s parent company TeliaSonera says it plans to extend its mobile coverage to cover more than 90 percent of the country’s population.

Appropriately enough, TeliaSonera also claims the lowest 3G station in the world, in a European mine 4,595 feet below sea level.

Zombie Wars: The Living Dead Strike Back [Pic]

Hollywood is dead has many more available. You can check them all out right here.

[Via Buzzfeed | Nextmovie]



The Power of Cartoons: The Internet (And the World!) Through the Eyes of a Cartoonist [Video]

In a series of witty punchlines, Lebanese/Swiss Cartoonist Patrick Chappatte (known simply as Chappatte in his cartoons) makes a poignant case for the power of the humble cartoon. His projects in Lebanon, West Africa and Gaza show how, in the right hands, the pencil can illuminate serious issues and bring the most unlikely people together.

[Source: TED]

Blizzcon 2010 Awesome “Geek Is” Presentation

Here’s Christ Metzen’s awesome “Geek Is” presentation that took place during the Blizzcon 2010 opening ceremony.

Geek is power, geek is identify, geek is our word, friends.

Oh, and if you want to skip to the relevant part, be sure to start the video at 4:30. Enjoy!

Creepy, Last Minute Halloween Recipes: Sweet Spider Eggs and the Bloody Squid

Today, I have for you two recipes of my own devising. One is for your sweet tooth, and the other one will chill you out. Both are super easy and quick. Trends these days in Halloween cuisine tend to go toward the remarkably detailed and complicated. Which is fine. Certainly plenty of folks out there are doing amazing things. But, if you’re like me, you’re still working on your costumes most likely, and you’re far from prepared for this upcoming weekend. (Not to mention having spent the better part of last weekend elbow-deep in fondant for a D&D cake I made for my husband.)

First up: simple spider eggs. The only difficulty with these guys is finding the right ingredient: cotton candy. And not pink or blue, but either white or yellow. I scanned the web with no luck, and only happened upon some at Target the other day.

The inspiration for this was simple. Be it Dragon Age or World of Warcraft, the spider pod is one of those symbols of fantasy RPG games. Originally my intent was to make my own pods out of sugar—but the involvement in something like that is a little over my current capabilities (we have a TINY kitchen) and probably not the safest (considering most of the day I’m accompanied by a four year old with a very Tookish streak).

So: enter cotton candy. I separated the yellowy white from the pink and blue (two bags set me back $2.00). All you’ve got to do is mold the cotton candy into an oval shape. It’s naturally webby and light. Just like real spider eggs. Peel off some fronds for extra effect. Then, use chocolate to make spiders. You can, of course, buy some pre-made spiders and use them, but I like going my own way. The chocolate sticks easily to the cotton candy, and you can arrange them however you like. Use some D&D miniatures (non-edible, you should point out to your guests) to add in the ambiance. But be warned, these are sweet enough to send you to the dentist. Still, they melt in your mouth. Weblicious!

Next, my personal favorite: The Bloody Squid (pictured at the top of the post). I have a thing for cephalopods—in fact, the last novel I wrote featured them prominently. Little, brain-controlling squidlings!

Don’t worry: there is no seafood in this drink. (Although, I bet fried calamari would be a great addition, not to mention some squid stew.)

Anyway, while perusing the clearance aisle in my local grocery store, I came upon a jar of hibiscus flowers in syrup. Inspiration struck, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Turns out, if you cut lengthwise down the hibiscus flower petals, you’ll get a total of ten arms for your squid. They really have a tentacle-like appearance. Add tonic water, liquor of choice (I’d go with Vodka) and slowly pour some grenadine down into the center. The grenadine will pool at the bottom. Bonus: the tonic water will make the drink glow under black light! The best part? The bubbles from the tonic water collect and actually move the arms slightly in the glass. Add an “escaping” squid on the top of the glass, and you’re all set.

Mmm, creepy squid.

Whatever your culinary approach this Halloween, remember that some of the best ideas lurk just under the surface with ingredients you already have. Even if it is last-minute, being a geek means you can hack together some pretty sweet stuff in no time.

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