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2013-05-19 05:35:44 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Well That's Just Stupid

If this was a blogger ripping off Nutella's recipes and reprinting them without permission, I'd be on the company's side.  But this is just ridiculous.  Most brands would be thrilled to have a fan doing this for them!  Someone should be fired for what awful PR this is.  It's mindbogglingly stupid.

Via someone else who shared this earlier and I thought I had it open in another tab for later reading, but now I can't find it...

2013-05-19 05:21:47 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Hey, this is very close to what I've been doing with Born to Do Science. When you're right you're right, right?

2013-05-19 04:49:35 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 9 +1s)

Could be worse, at least he's not with Telstra; their roaming charges are really expensive.
Via +fan tai 
#australia   #telstra   #nbn   #hadfield  

2013-05-19 04:44:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Via +Lionel Lauer but I'm sharing it without the NSFW graphic.  This is hilarious, but again, NSFW, not safe for kids.

Further: http://www.drtatiana.com/ is my favourite non-fiction book ever and covers these sorts of things.  I highly highly recommend it.

2013-05-19 04:40:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Stealth and Venom: +Ed Yong writes about the ultra-black colors of gaboon vipers.

Very cool review, summary, and explanation of how gaboon vipers produce such deep, black colors, and how these black scales break up their outline to make them extra stealthy.  Gaboon vipers hold the record for fang length in venomous snakes.

#venom #scienceeveryday #stealth  

2013-05-18 23:42:38 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Just out of curiosity, how far down am I supposed to read my Notifications tab (as in a full tab, not just the pull-down thingy), including its incessant repeats, before the red box will actually acknowledge that I am reading notifications and reset?

Because I just ploughed through what was supposedly 55 notifications using the Notifications tab - which used to reset the red thingy to zero - but it only kept counting higher as I went.

Very frustrating.  This new UI has not really helped my notifications problems.  Sure, I can now sort by some types but it's still in a broken, illogical chronology with repeats and in no way helps those of us who actually get more than the pull-down thingy will hold (9).

I really hope Google will stop giving us a new and problematic UI every couple of months and start fixing the bigger usability issues.

2013-05-18 23:31:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Trek Wars

I love these Star Wars and Trek mashup cookies :) 

Tribble-Chewbacca is genius! 

via 
http://www.klickitatstreet.com/2013/05/boldly-go-and-may-fourth-be-with-you.html

2013-05-18 23:27:28 (22 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Okay, you know I adore Jackman and I am in complete love with Wolverine.

But this picture...come on.  Mr AngstyAntiHero does NOT put that much product in his hair, even accounting for the side-up do (which is supposed to be naturally feral, not styled).  That's just silly.  It reminds me of "There's Something About Mary".  Yeah, I said it.

Plus they've airbrushed out his eye lines.  I happen to like the eyelines.  They're very fetching.

2013-05-18 23:16:09 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

And the final #safetytipsforladies :
And as it wasn't on any of the lists, my personal favorite:
Hold an aspirin between your knees - that never fails!
#safetytipsforladies  
Via +Ryan Straight & +Lily Alice 

2013-05-18 23:08:43 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Armor made from tires. Pretty cool!

Also some really neat art:

http://thewondrous.com/top-rubber-tire-sculptures/

2013-05-18 05:58:56 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

I think this is the first time I've seen G+ Hangouts get a mention in a comic strip.
#hangouts  

2013-05-17 23:22:37 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

International day against homophobia and transphobia

Every day, I'm happy that I live where I do.  Some days, I'm particularly proud to be part of this community.  One such day is today.  I went out to take care of a few things, and saw BMO helping the +Toronto Police Service set up for the the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.  There's a person there in gorgeous drag, people getting hot dogs and drinks, and a silent auction going on, all sponsored by people from the Church Wellesley Business Community.  There will also be shows after the barbeque.

If you're anywhere near the area, make sure to go by and show your support.

Image, and a brief summary at http://cplc-51division.blogspot.ca/2013/05/toronto-police-services-lgbt-community.html, and an official page for the day at http://www.homophobiaday.org/

Anyhomo... more »

2013-05-17 18:07:32 (13 comments, 3 reshares, 52 +1s)

Stolen from +David Blunt.

Totally worthy.

2013-05-17 08:25:41 (2 comments, 7 reshares, 28 +1s)

George Takei responds to those annoying fundies holding up anti- gay marriage signs.
Via +Andrew Pam & +Matthew Welch 
#gaymarriage   #gayrightsarehumanrights   #georgetakei  

2013-05-17 07:19:08 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

My penis just fell off.

I'm off-dude-y.

I'm rejoining the ranks of the en-boob-ified.

Because I'm pretty sure my point about WH was made...

2013-05-17 07:02:21 (21 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Okay so I've gone back to Accessibility Mode (see your Settings in the sidebar) to make my profile and communities have only one column, because the overlapping two-column thingy was hard to read, distracting, and occasionally moved in ways that makes me motion sick.

But here on my profile (which is where I like to post from so to minimize distraction), now I've got the block of who is in my circles in the way of posts.  I like that being over to the side.

Know what would be good?  Remember how there was a thing for awhile (and may still exist) where you could configure your Google main page with blocks you could move around with various types of content?  Like newsfeeds or whatever?

I want that for G+.  I want to be able to make this suit my screen type and my needs.  I want to set the font, the font size, and what goes where on my screen.  And for those whomiss ... more »

2013-05-17 04:18:49 (10 comments, 7 reshares, 41 +1s)

My wife and I saw this and both of us had a very good, very hearty laugh.

2013-05-17 03:54:26 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Want FREE Lilith Dark Digital Comics?
Take the LD Reader Survey and you can download LD issues 1 & 2!

If it doesn't load below, click here >> bit.ly/110Vy0E 

Hurry!

http://LilithDark.com 

#LilithDark #comics #Zazz  

2013-05-16 18:34:43 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 30 +1s)

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/05/15/charges-dropped-against-florida-teen-over-amateur-science-experiment/

2013-05-16 04:35:38 (31 comments, 5 reshares, 50 +1s)

So now that I'm a dude (see https://plus.google.com/108316670838828910396/posts/CimjeVSVNZM ), this old gem is even more apropos...

I'm going to go get some writing work done so you can all hopefully have that free old backlist of mine soon.  Laterz.

Source: http://cheezburger.com/2661928704

2013-05-16 02:45:23 (34 comments, 0 reshares, 55 +1s)

Not a Brag, a Warning

Okay maybe a little brag.  But really, a warning: do not screw with my kid.  She's studying to mess you up in return.  These are from her test for advanced blue belt in Seido Karate last week.


PS Anyone know how to change which of the photos shows as the main one?  It has a little blue tab in the Organize dialog box but no apparent way to change that and I can't find anything useful in the Help files.

2013-05-16 01:28:22 (15 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

+Kimberly Chapman 

#platitudes   #equalityforwhatshot  

2013-05-16 01:18:46 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

So I looked at the new communities page and then at what was Recommended, and I saw the one below.  First I was amused by the 6666 because a) Palindrome b) Same digit c) Extra Beast Sign.

Then I saw that the number was sitting right over +Scott Lewis's head.  And I have him in 6 circles.

And what could be better than a science community amusing me with numerology?

* runs away and hides while giggling *

2013-05-16 00:54:44 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Not liking the new Google+ font? Is it hard on your eyes?

There are some known issues with the new webfont in use (Roboto), with kerning and rendering on some configurations. Other users have reported general visual problems with the new font, which kerning fixes probably won't address.

Before going further, if you are actually having visual problems reading the new font, hover over the "Home" arrow on the left to get the drop-down menu, then choose "Send feedback" near the bottom to express your concerns. This information is used to help quantify the extent of user [dis]satisfaction with the UI.

So, if you would like to force Google+ to render in Arial (or failing that, your system's "sans-serif" font which is likely an Arial/Helvetica lookalike) by default, install this Stylish script with either the Stylish extension... more »

2013-05-15 22:32:33 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Gilbert and Sullivan in Austin

Peo and I made this video earlier today.  She'd like you all to see it.

Which reminds me...we went to the Musicale preview of "Princess Ida" by the Austin Gilbert and Sullivan Society (http://www.gilbertsullivan.org/) on Sunday and had a great time.  The folks were really awesome with the kids, which means a lot to us and meant a lot to Peo.  They "knighted" the children and sent them on a quest to hand out flowers to all of the mothers there (it was Mothers' Day).

Peo went dressed up as the Pirate King from "Pirates of Penzance".  Unbeknownst to us, the Society concludes each of its events with a group sing-a-long of "Hail Poetry" from that play.  It says in the program that the Pirate King leads it, but I didn't think Peo would actually think that meant her until at the end theysaid... more »

2013-05-15 17:44:02 (19 comments, 3 reshares, 6 +1s)

The interwebs move in mysterious ways.  Because +Ayoub Khote shared a very interesting and hair-pulling post from +Kimberly Chapman I was forced to go look at the What's Hot stream.

When I got there I found a link  http://memeburn.com/2013/05/21-ridiculous-social-media-job-titles/  to a commercial blog and discovered that the art of a friend of ours was being used, minus his name.  Turns out it's being used without permission too...

If any of you have a second, please drop over to the comment section and vote up Hugh MacLeod's comment, they might notice.

I do hope he can get this rectified +Memeburn 

2013-05-15 15:49:21 (275 comments, 193 reshares, 155 +1s)

G+ What's Hot Serves Based On Gender

I heard a rumour this morning that if your profile is set to male, you'll get different What's Hot (Explore) content than if you're set to female.

So I opened a tab with my profile which was set to female, and from that opened a fresh tab with WH.  Then I immediately changed my profile to male and opened another WH tab to compare as closely in time as possible the difference.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

When I'm a girl, I get piles of those graphical platitudes I hate.  I have understood all along why +EcoSnark gets those more than my real profile, because she shares them to her NerdSmacked community to make fun of them (see https://plus.google.com/communities/117382348426379346016 ).  I don't plus them or share them, but they're always there.  I loathe them and it's why I have had theslide... more »

2013-05-15 14:44:52 (32 comments, 24 reshares, 70 +1s)

Superb Explanation of the Merida Issue

For those who don't get why this is a big deal:

http://thedaysarelongandshort.com/post/50220183714/the-brave-and-the-bold

Via +mi hunter 

Oh and more:

http://rebeccahains.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/disney-faces-backlash/ - Disney has pulled the image from its website (via +Cindy Brown)

http://www.marinij.com/ci_23224741 - Merida's creator is disgusted.

2013-05-15 14:26:00 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Honestly this is the best 20 grand that Greenpeace has never had to spend.   I don't think they would have gotten as much advertisement with the Channel 9 deal that they have gotten instead by being National News. =)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/greenpeace-blames-coke-for-channel-9-27choke27/4682548

2013-05-15 14:00:14 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

YES!

Let's see...it's #science , it's got #glowinthedark , it's got potential #environmental  applications, and it makes me squee just at the very thought.

Hell yes I backed this at the seed-getting level!

I mean...I totally got it for Peo.  Yes.  > . >

http://kck.st/ZGyckx


Via +Micha Fire 

2013-05-15 13:26:38 (6 comments, 4 reshares, 36 +1s)

Take That!

I can't help but giggle.  This is so delightfully snarky.  Looks like they should have let the new Merida keep her bow.  :p

http://www.dorktower.com/2013/05/14/princess-makeover-dork-tower-14-05-13/

2013-05-15 05:05:02 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I've been wanting to play with this methodology for awhile, ever since I saw it here back in 2010: http://www.gbakes.com/2010/02/ps-i-cake-you.html

It's nice to see someone running with it!

2013-05-15 02:50:17 (17 comments, 8 reshares, 20 +1s)

Do You Love Super Powers But Hate Super Boring Overused Tropes?

+Charlie Hoover's Geek Question of the Day today is about mainstream super heroes that just don't do it for you (https://plus.google.com/u/0/108821717261017099757/posts/CMPka8UiAGR).  I'm personally no fan of Iron Man movies (he's a misogynist pig and I don't care how heroic he is otherwise because that pisses me off too much to enjoy the rest of the film, even though I'll concede that he does have a few good zingers here and there), and I find Captain America ultra-boring and tedious as a propaganda tool.

Those of you who know me know that I dig Wolverine, especially in movie form, because I love me some mega-angst and surly, pouty, roaring anti-hero goodness.  I just don't go for the rich boy with his toys anti-hero sort of thing.  Yawn.

I recognize that others disagreean... more »

2013-05-14 18:27:05 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Science About Sleep and Parenting

Tons of links to studies pertaining to this all-important issue of parenting.

I'm curious to see how it'll be different with adoption.  On one hand, I'll be sleeping better than I did when I was pregnant.  On the other, I've heard anecdotal evidence about not being hormonally prepared.  On the third hand, that anecdotal evidence has been for adoptive parents who didn't have a biological child, so comparisons may be moot and they won't have had any experience.  On the fourth hand, I may be on hormonal stuff in an attempt to breastfeed.  On the fifth hand, this is evolving beyond a tetrapod and getting really weird.

2013-05-14 18:04:19 (44 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

Oh, great! Brain slugs in Texas :P
Don't touch them with your bare hands!

2013-05-14 17:16:44 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Australian Christian Lobby forgot to renew their domain name...

2013-05-14 08:37:10 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Well I guess my old published novel doesn't entirely suck if I'm having trouble tearing myself away from a quick re-read prior to re-releasing it as free backlist...

Also, I totally did not make myself misty-eyed earlier.  Much.  Shut up.

> . >


But it's bedtime...damn it...

2013-05-14 03:24:09 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

Just to be clear, my kid (who is only seven) will not be seeing Aliens any time soon.  Just the Alien Queen in fondant and facehugger cookies she's seen Mummy make for others... > . >

2013-05-14 02:17:03 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Woot, Biblio Connection is featuring "Finding Gaia" today!

2013-05-14 01:40:56 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

STEM is cool! Young girls need to know that the #STEM  field doesn't always mean white lab coats and goggles, but the potential to create the next Google Glass or life-changing vaccine. #womeninstem   #math   #STEMiscool  

2013-05-14 01:32:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Walking Cephalopods

Baby Flamboyant Cuttlefish at the Aquarium of the Pacific.  A cool feature if you look closely: they use the posterior arms (R4 and L4 for cephalopod workers) to "walk" along the bottom.  You'll see a combination of walking and swimming in the videos. Apparently the walking behavior is most common when they're young, and is more rare as adults.  However, some species of octopus also "walk" using two arms, often using the other six as camouflage (mimicking algae, etc).

#scienceeveryday
#cephalopods  

2013-05-14 01:19:55 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Very last day to get the early bird registration for #scipyconference  !
https://conference.scipy.org/scipy2013/registration.php

2013-05-13 19:23:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

If you're in the Austin area and at all interested in cake decorating or pastry arts, be sure to come to our monthly meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7 pm at Make it Sweet.

Details are here: http://www.meetup.com/cakedecorating-132/events/104168922/

Hope to see you there!

2013-05-13 05:51:39 (21 comments, 3 reshares, 38 +1s)

Surprise Candy in Cake

This is an easy tutorial from Betty Crocker on making a cake that hides a candy surprise inside.  I could see lots of great applications for this for kids' parties.  Basically you make four 8" layers (two box mixes in this case) and put one layer down, frost it, cut 4" holes in the center of the next two layers and frost them, then fill and put the top layer on and frost the whole thing.  Super easy.

I'm personally a bit meh on the gender reveal cakes (and a lot of the gendered stuff that goes along with that in wider societal sense) but if it works for others, that's up to them.  Only mentioning it so folks can concentrate on the fun cake idea and not so much the meh-ness of infant gender issues.  Please don't make me post a troll warning on a cake post!
ht... more »

2013-05-13 04:07:11 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Now we're watching this awesome bit of science via +Corran Webster.  This is a whole lot of science fun.

I assume +Scott Lewis is aware of these Hadfield vids...

2013-05-13 04:01:50 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

Watching this in our RPG hangout now, via +Joseph Gifford.

This is ample amounts of AWESOME.

2013-05-12 18:11:13 (5 comments, 5 reshares, 21 +1s)

Via someone who posted Limited so I won't say who unless they ask to be named.

But...yes.  And this is why Austin's all in a tizzy for Google Fiber.

2013-05-12 17:54:40 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Gummy Stars and Stripes

http://www.eat-the-evidence.com/2013/05/12/gummy-stars-and-stripes/

A step-by-step post illustrating how I made the US flag in gummy and then won a prize for it.

2013-05-12 17:24:11 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013-05-12 17:13:54 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

So, it turns out that sticking googly eyes on random things is an actual Thing that people who are, arguably, saner than me do. Woot!
http://vandaleyes.net/
#vandaleyes   #surrealism   #surrealart   #surrealartsaturday  
+Bonnie Burton +Anne Wheaton