Saturday, August 21, 2010

Julian Assange Faces Rape Investigation In Sweden — Updated

http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/08/21/1138240/Julian-Assange-Faces-Rape-Investigation-In-Sweden-mdash-Updated
mpawlo was one of many readers who have sent news that a warrant has been issued in Stockholm, Sweden for WikiLeaks founder and spokesman Julian Assange. The investigation apparently involves "one report of rape and one report of harassment." The story was broken by Swedish tabloid Expressen (original in Swedish), and later picked up by more reputable sources like CNN and the BBC, who say the warrant has been confirmed by Swedish authorities. The WikiLeaks Twitter feed has commented three times about the charges so far, first saying they were warned of 'dirty tricks,' then that they hadn't been contacted by Swedish police, and then a statement from Assange saying the charges are without basis.
Update: 08/21 15:58 GMT by S : Multiple sources are now reporting that the warrant for Assange's arrest has been withdrawn. Aftonbladet has coverage in Swedish. Chief prosecutor Eva Finne said, "I don't think there is reason to suspect that he has committed rape."

Debunkings

http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/06/homeopathy.html
http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/05/facts-in-case-of-dr-andrew-wakefield.html

Same guy, more good debunkings.

The Moon Hoax Hoax

http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/07/moon-hoax.html

No one that actually believes in the hoax will be swayed by silly things like facts.  Still, it's an interesting read for rational people.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Calling Shenanigans On Super SATA's Claimed Audio Qualities

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/10/08/19/1916236/Calling-Shenanigans-On-Super-SATAs-Claimed-Audio-Qualities
"Veteran Hi-Fi journalist Malcolm Steward has pushed newfangled Super SATA cables via his blog as a way to improve the sound quality of music, saying: 'My only guess is that the Super SATAs reject interference significantly better than the standard cables and in so doing lower the noise floor revealing greater low-level musical detail and presentational improvements in the soundstage and the "air" around instruments.' If that doesn't sound right to you, you're not alone. As PC Pro blogger Sasha Muller argues: 'How on earth can a SATA cable delivering 0s and 1s to their respective destination have any effect on those 0s and 1s? The answer is, it can't. Unless it's a magical one made of pixie shoes.' So maybe don't invest in Super SATA cables unless you have proof they're magical first."

With digital connections it either works or it doesn't.
See also:
http://consumerist.com/2008/03/do-coat-hangers-sound-as-good-monster-cables.html

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

DIY

http://wondermark.com/649/

It would seem the entire purpose of those shows is to give people unrealistic goals and make them unhappy with what they have.  Upon writing that I guess that's pretty much the purpose of all mainstream media.

Ahead Stop

http://www.xkcd.com/781/

Every single time I read one of those I'm confused for a second and have to remember to read it backwards.

I Never Liked Hey Arnold

http://i.imgur.com/AJ5LL.jpg

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

New Jersey Utility Plans Major Solar Project

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/nyregion/10solar.html?_r=1
The utility expects to spend $773 million on the project, which it said would generate 120 megawatts of electricity, one-third of which should come from the panels on utility poles. That amounts to barely 1 percent of the power consumed in the state, but is about 7 percent of the state’s goal of power generated from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Drunk Driver Mugshots Featured On Facebook

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/08/13/1334228/Drunk-Driver-Mugshots-Featured-On-Facebook
"Get yourself a DUI and your mugshot may get some exposure on Facebook. That is, if you get caught in New Jersey by Evesham Township's police, which have begun posting mugshots of arrested people, convicted or not, on its Facebook page. Now, we know that if you get arrested, your privacy is pretty much limited to the brand of your underpants, but the local police department has started a controversy and may find itself in hot water. How much value does a public mugshot on Facebook have to the public? What privacy rights do you have if you get arrested?"