Spotting science mistakes in the movies

Today's movie-watching tech makes it easier to spot flaws, and the Internet makes it easier to share them. But different people notice different kinds of flaws, in different contexts. In a post from 2010, journalist Colin Schultz writes about a study that examined the differences between the kinds of scientific movie mistakes that men noticed, and the kind that women found. Everybody saw the errors, but the context was different.
Spotting science mistakes in the movies

Which Country Has The Fastest Internet, And How Does Australia Compare?

Akamai ranks countries based on their broadband speeds every quarter. In its latest report for Q1 2013, the top-ranking country has an average peak connection speed of 54.1Mb/s. Which country do you think that would be? Hint: Its the third time in a row to be in first place.
Which Country Has The Fastest Internet, And How Does Australia Compare?

The Best Sites Where ELL’s Can Learn About The Super Bowl

Larry Ferlazzo: Friday is one of the days my Intermediate English class spends a period in the computer lab, and I thought it would be a good opportunity for them to spend a few minutes learning about the Super Bowl (which is being played on Sunday). Here are my picks for The Best Sites Where ELL’s Can Learn About The Super Bowl:
The Best Sites Where ELL’s Can Learn About The Super Bowl

These Amazing Optical Illusions Are Simply Beautiful

I love the work of Shintaro Ohata. His canvases are beautiful on their own but, when he mixes painting and sculpture, he creates optical illusions that take his art to a whole new level.
These Amazing Optical Illusions Are Simply Beautiful

Earthereal: A Time Lapse Trip Around the Earth

This stunning video is a combination of dozens of time lapse sequences shot by astronauts aboard the International Space Station, all artfully spliced and set to a musical score.
Earthereal: A Time Lapse Trip Around the Earth

Australian Library Moves All Lance Armstrong Titles to Fiction Section

Following Lance Armstrong's doping confession to Oprah on Thursday, an Australian library has moved all books about the American cyclist from the nonfiction section to the fiction section.
Australian Library Moves All Lance Armstrong Titles to Fiction Section

Foolproof card trick your kids will love

Here's a great self-working card trick to teach your kids. If they are old enough to spell, they will love performing it for their friends.
Foolproof card trick your kids will love

Radio Telescopes and Star Trails: A Time-lapse Video

This beautiful time-lapse video frames Australia’s newest radio telescope array against a backdrop of stars.
Radio Telescopes and Star Trails: A Time-lapse Video

Moon landing not faked

FStoppers has the story and the proof. "Mr. SG Collins makes a pretty compelling argument claiming that neither NASA nor Stanley Kubrick were actually technologically capable of producing a video that could stand up to modern scrutiny.
Moon landing not faked

Take Mensa’s Free Test And Find Out If You’re A Genius

Mensa — the club for people who know they’re smarter than you — is offering its home test for free during the month of January. It’s an IQ test that takes 32 minutes to complete and will tell you whether you’re Mensa material.
Take Mensa’s Free Test And Find Out If You’re A Genius

Useful words with no English equivalent

Surprisingly, they're not all long, Germanic compound words (generally a font of useful no-equivalent words).
Useful words with no English equivalent

Shipment of 18 human heads intercepted at airport

Because the shipment's paperwork was not in order, agents confiscated the heads and sent them to the Cook County Medical Examiner for safekeeping.
Shipment of 18 human heads intercepted at airport

NASA Unveils Last Moon Video by Doomed Spacecraft

A NASA probe recorded a spectacular flyover video of the moon's far side shortly before intentionally slamming into a lunar mountain last month.
NASA Unveils Last Moon Video by Doomed Spacecraft

How To Fix Every Common Zipper Problem

Zippers haven’t changed much since they were first invented, and neither have the problems we all have with them. From stuck zippers to teeth that just won’t clinch, here’s how to fix all of the common problems.
How To Fix Every Common Zipper Problem

10 Commonly Used Expressions and Their Bizarre Origins

Some of them are odd, and some are very funny. Here's a top ten of the most commonly used expressions.
10 Commonly Used Expressions and Their Bizarre Origins

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 1/2013

he latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 1/2013

Watch This Skateboarder's Near-Death Experience

If you're a skateboarder, the YouTube video above shows why you shouldn't bomb down steep hills that lead directly to busy cross streets.
Watch This Skateboarder's Near-Death Experience

Oscars 2013: Here Are the Nominations

Oscars host Seth MacFarlane and actress Emma Stone revealed the nominees for the 85th Academy Awards on Thursday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Oscars 2013: Here Are the Nominations

Fires, warnings & incidents - CFA

There are a range of information sources to help you stay aware of local fire conditions. View the low bandwidth warnings and incidents page, call The Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667, follow CFA on Twitter - twitter.com/CFA_Updates or Facebook - facebook.com/cfavic and listen to ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters.
Fires, warnings & incidents - CFA

Drive Thru Employees Stumped by Hilarious Invisible Driver Prank [VIDEO]

Magician and YouTube prankster Magic of Rahat stumped drive thru workers by pulling up to the window in a suit that camouflages him with the car seat. Watch as employees go through a variety of emotions, ranging from spooked to questioning their mental health.
Drive Thru Employees Stumped by Hilarious Invisible Driver Prank [VIDEO]

Coastal landslide caught on film

When a large crack rang through the air, followed by a rumble, Robert and Chris Wills knew to grab their cameras and start shooting. Chris, a geologist, and his son Robert knew they were in for the show of a life time.
Coastal landslide caught on film

Phrases used by corporate fraudsters

The FBI and Ernst and Young have released a list of top-ten phrases that indicate corporate fraud, based on data-mining evidence from real corporate fraud investigations.
Phrases used by corporate fraudsters

KFC Customer's Disgusting Photo of Chicken Brain — or Kidney — Goes Viral

Demonstrating the power of one disgusted customer, a U.K. teen's photo of either a brain or a kidney within his KFC meal has gone viral and prompted the chain to apologize.
KFC Customer's Disgusting Photo of Chicken Brain — or Kidney — Goes Viral

4 Minutes of Dad Jokes Is Surprisingly Hysterical

Knock knock. Who's there?
Just every dad joke in the world crammed into one video.
Don't even bother shopping for a Father's Day present this year, just send your dad this video and then regret the next 53 days because this guy has found what seems to be every corny, obnoxious or cliché joke around.
4 Minutes of Dad Jokes Is Surprisingly Hysterical

1984 and 1985 – Hawke government – National Archives of Australia

Cabinet records for 1984 and 1985 have been released!
1984 and 1985 – Hawke government – National Archives of Australia

Bushfire Warnings: The Sites And Apps You Need

Bushfire season is in full swing, and knowing the location of potentially risky fires is essential, especially if you live in a rural area. Fire services make full use of technology to keep Australians informed, with all offering online updates and many offering specific apps as well. We’ve rounded them all up to help you keep safe this summer.
Bushfire Warnings: The Sites And Apps You Need

A video featuring "Vomiting Larry"

Larry is used to study the way particles of puke become aerosolized, and how those particles spread and help infect other people. That's important, because it explains one of the ways that viruses spread by vomiting manage to end up in everyday things like, say, frozen raspberries. Aerosolized vomit isn't something you can spot. It doesn't clean up easily. And even just a drop of it can pass on plenty of viruses.
A video featuring "Vomiting Larry"

Top words of 2012 capture 'impending doom'

The Global Language Monitor announced that "apocalypse" is the top, or most influential, word for 2012 in its 13th-annual global survey of the English language.
Top words of 2012 capture 'impending doom'

63 Essential Things To Learn Before You Start 2013

We learned a lot last year — and we shared a lot of it with you. Here’s the complete collection of everything we explained, defined, spelled out and broke down in 2012.
63 Essential Things To Learn Before You Start 2013

50 Most Memorable Tweets of 2012

Twitter now has 200 million monthly active users, up from 100 million in late 2011. As the number of users in Twitter's birdcage grows, so does the number of memorable tweets.
50 Most Memorable Tweets of 2012

Smart mice doing tricks

This guy trains his pet mice to collect coins, fetch a tossed bead, play basketball, ride a tiny skateboard, and more.
Smart mice doing tricks

A toast to physics

You will be pleased to note that multiple physicists are at work on the problem of why a piece of falling toast tends to land with the butter side down.
A toast to physics

Oxford American Dictionary names GIF word of the year

The humble GIF gets a makeover with the advent of GIFing, which is to use this 80s graphic technique to create a meme. Not sure of the meaning of meme? Check the dictionary!
Oxford American Dictionary names GIF word of the year

A Complete History Of US Nuclear Explosions In 90 Seconds

On July 16, 1945, the US Army destroyed a small part of New Mexico by testing the first nuclear bomb in human history, the most powerful weapon of all time. It then proceeded to blow up 1054 more.
A Complete History Of US Nuclear Explosions In 90 Seconds

5 Custom Searches You Should Enable In Your Browser Right Now

Custom search engines are one of the coolest features of any modern browser. With just a few keystrokes, you can search Wikipedia right from your address bar, do a custom Google search for Lifehacker articles, or even get driving directions to a specific location. Here are five searches you should enable right now.
5 Custom Searches You Should Enable In Your Browser Right Now

The Black Stump on Facebook

Don't forget to check us out on Facebook!
The Black Stump on Facebook

Scientific American picks top 5 space stories for 2012

The magazine Scientific American announces its most important space stories for the year 2012, with the discovery of the Higgs Boson topping the list.
Scientific American picks top 5 space stories for 2012

Shopping mall shark-tank ruptures

Shanghai's Orient shopping centre experienced disaster on Dec 18 when a huge aquarium filled with lemon-sharks, turtles and fish ruptured, hurting 16 people and killing three sharks and "dozens of turtles and small fish." The tank's failure was blamed on a combination of cold temperatures and substandard materials.
Shopping mall shark-tank ruptures

These Astounding Satellite Images Are The Best Bird’s-Eye-Views Of 2012

Our daily does of satellite imagery through services like Google Maps have made looking down at Earth seem rather hum-drum at times. But there are still magical and majestic sites to be hold, as seen in this selection from 2012.
These Astounding Satellite Images Are The Best Bird’s-Eye-Views Of 2012

Unpublish old tweets with the Shame Eraser

Now that Twitter's finally made old tweets available, you might be inclined to nuke a few. Developer Benjamin Jackson created a tool that makes it seem easy: the Shame Eraser.
Unpublish old tweets with the Shame Eraser

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2012

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2012

Bye Bye TOPICA

Important note if you subscribe to our site updates via TOPICA Their service stopped working in early November and has still not been fixed.  Their recommendation was to start a new list which I did and quite a number of people signed up again. That new list also does not work. Apologies for apparently wasting your time! Hence, I'm abandoning TOPICA as a mailing list alternative effective immediately. Please refer to the Newsletter Signup page for a number of other options that actually work. Apologies to the TOPICA subscribees and Merry Christmas to you all!

R.I.P.: 10 Products That Were Discontinued in 2012

This year, quite a few products disappeared from the market, as technology inevitably marches on. Whether they got pulled for being faulty or just weren't commercially successful, these 10 examples have virtually expired.
R.I.P.: 10 Products That Were Discontinued in 2012

2012's Biggest Winners and Losers

The end is near. I mean the end of 2012, not the world, as dunderheaded Mayan-acolytes believe. Even without looming global annihilation, it’s been the most manic of annums, with extreme highs and heartbreaking lows.
2012's Biggest Winners and Losers

The Most Amazing Science Stories Of 2012

2012 has been a big year for science: people sank to record depths, a private company made it into space, NASA landed something the size of a car on Mars, and physicists finally found the particle that could unify science once and for all. Here are 12 of the most exciting science stories we’ve covered this year.
The Most Amazing Science Stories Of 2012

Seinfeld Plays Ball in 'Who's on First?' Remake [VIDEO]

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's iconic "Who's on First?" comedy routine from the 1930s just got a refresh from a few of today's funnymen.
Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld as well as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon announcer Steve Higgins and writer A.D. Miles took a crack at the baseball skit in the video below.
Seinfeld Plays Ball in 'Who's on First?' Remake [VIDEO]

What is this bizarre Indian "health gadget" from 1950s Bombay?

Very rare and old Twin Transilluminator in Box from India 1950 in good condition. Its medical Instrument for sinuses and Eye therapy. Its made of steel and backlit. its electrical. on box has some description and photos about how to use this Instrument. Its rare and unique medical Instrument and must for medical instruments collectors. The size of box is 9 inch in length, and its width is 5 inch.
What is this bizarre Indian "health gadget" from 1950s Bombay?

Boeing Creates 360° 'Dream Pass' Video of its 787 Dreamliner

Attention wannabe pilots: Here's your chance to experience the next best thing to flying Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner. The company created the Boeing 787 Dreamliner "Dream Pass," a 360-degree online video that lets you take an immersive virtual ride in the plane's flight deck, and tour its wings and engines.
Boeing Creates 360° 'Dream Pass' Video of its 787 Dreamliner

The Newest Gmail And Google Drive Tricks

Gmail and Google Drive are both popular choices amongst Lifehacker readers. The Google Australia team recently shared a list of some of the changes to those products over 2012 with us, ranging from big additions to small tweaks. Ready for an update? Let’s review.
The Newest Gmail And Google Drive Tricks

Golden eagle snatches kid

One second this eagle is gliding around above a park, majestic, then moments later it swoops down and tries to grab a toddler. It's just so sudden and unexpected: the bird looks small when it's far away, but oh god nope that's one of those Hobbit-carrying guys and little red monkey hat is off to Mordor.
Golden eagle snatches kid

Handy Flowchart Picks a Christmas Film for You

If you’re having trouble picking a holiday film, this handy flowchart can help. Need a film with just the right touch of animation and creepiness? Belief in Santa Claus and swimming pools? The chart has you covered.
Handy Flowchart Picks a Christmas Film for You

These Are The Last Words That Were Said On The Moon

Everyone knows the first words that were said on the moon, but what about the last? 40 years ago yesterday we left the moon for the last time, so now’s as good a time as any to ask. The answer? Well there are a few and you can pick which one you like better.
As Commander Eugene Cernan stood on the moon’s surface before climbing back into the Apollo 17 module and blasting off towards home, he recited a little speech, fitting to be the last words on the body. It went like this:
These Are The Last Words That Were Said On The Moon

What Parents Need to Know About Facebook's New Privacy Controls

Facebook changed its privacy settings on Wednesday and it's important to know what the new changes mean for users, especially your digitally-connected children.
What Parents Need to Know About Facebook's New Privacy Controls

Unusual baby names of 2012

Of all the factors that parents consider in picking a name for their child, one floats consistently to the top: Picking a unique name. (So says our annual baby-naming survey, answered this year by more than 4,000 parents.)
As you can see from the list below, some parents did a bang-up job. Read on to see some of the most unusual, creative names given to babies in 2012.
Unusual baby names of 2012

Handy Hints – avoid high data roaming charges

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has released its quarterly report on complaints about telcos (see separate story). This time the TIO has published some handy hints on how to avoid high global roaming charges.
Handy Hints – avoid high data roaming charges

Watch North Korea State TV Cover Illegal Rocket Launch

North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which reportedly placed a satellite into orbit. The Dec. 12 launch contravened United Nations resolutions forbidding Pyongyang to develop ballistic rocket capacity, angering its neighbors but marking a chance for new leader Kim Jong-Un to claim a victory.
Watch North Korea State TV Cover Illegal Rocket Launch

10 Videos to Help You Survive the Apocalypse

This could be it. It. One of the last posts you or I ever read. The world as we know it, in all its magnificent, wondrous glory, is coming to an end on Dec. 21. Everything we've ever known -- gone, destroyed and vanquished. For good.
At least that's what they say. According to some interpretations of the Mesoamerican Long Count (Mayan) calendar, next Friday will be humanity's very last. You've probably heard about it.
10 Videos to Help You Survive the Apocalypse

The risks of visiting volcanoes

In 1993, Stanley Williams survived a close-encounter with a volcano. A volcanologist, he was standing on the rim of Colombia's Galeras volcano when it erupted with little warning. Six of his scientific colleagues and three tourists were killed. Williams fled down the mountain's slope — until flying rocks and boulders broke both his legs. With a fractured skull, he managed to stay conscious enough to huddle behind some other large boulders and dodge flying debris until the eruption ended and his grad students rescued him.
The risks of visiting volcanoes

Google’s Zeitgeist 2012: A Year In Review

Once a year Google releases their Zeitgeist–an overview of what the world was searching for during the previous year. Check out the year in review video and then browse the entire project.
Google’s Zeitgeist 2012: A Year In Review

The Best (Worst?) Typos, Mistakes, and Correrctions of 2012

Typos! We love them, we love to hate them. They make us laugh, they make us cry. They come in many shapes and sizes. And so do those corrections—not always typo-related—added to many a newspaper article when it turns out things weren't written exactly as they should be.
The Best (Worst?) Typos, Mistakes, and Correrctions of 2012

12 Problems Solved by Tech in 2012

Some of the hottest tech trends of 2012, like mobile apps and solar energy, are changing the world for the better. This year, we saw a variety of inspiring innovations tackle some of the world's greatest challenges.
12 Problems Solved by Tech in 2012

Mount Everest Doesn't Look That Big From Space

At more than 29,000 feet above sea level, Mount Everest's peak reaches the farthest into the sky of any piece of Earth. But when seen from space, even this monster appears just part and parcel with the crust of the planet it is part of. As Russian cosmonaut Valentin Lebedev observed, "How many people dream of conquering Everest, so that they can look down from it, and yet for us from above it was difficult to even locate.
Mount Everest Doesn't Look That Big From Space

I am itchy. You are itchy. We're all itchy together

Some itches are caused by obvious physical triggers (OMG, there's a spider on your arm!). Others, though, have a more complicated source. Watching other people itch can make you feel itchy. In this piece at Scientific American blogs, Scicurious explains the neurobiology behind sympathetic itching.
I am itchy. You are itchy. We're all itchy together

Radio Shack computer catalog from 1983

On the Internet Archive, a hi-rez scan of the 1983 Radio Shack computer catalog, which is a wonderland of jaw-dropping prices for prosumer equipment from my boyhood that doesn't even qualify as a toddler's toy today.
Radio Shack computer catalog from 1983

Top 24 Most Inspiring Photos of 2012

Photos have a way of transporting us to a place that words cannot. What's captured in the fraction of a second it takes to snap a picture can live forever. During 2012, we saw some truly inspiring moments; moments now seared into our minds because of the photography that captured the subtleties of emotion, triumph and grace in the face of adversity.
Top 24 Most Inspiring Photos of 2012

Prisoners in Australia, 2012

Contains national information on prisoners who were in custody on 30 June each year. The statistics are derived from information collected by the ABS from corrective services agencies in each state and territory. Details are provided on the number of people in correctional institutions (including people on remand), imprisonment rates, most serious offence and sentence length. A range of information is also presented on prisoner characteristics (age, sex, Indigenous status) and on the type of prisoner (all prisoners, sentenced prisoners, and unsentenced prisoners (remandees).
Prisoners in Australia, 2012

Amazing, invisible work that goes on when you click an HTTPS link

Jeff Moser has a clear, fascinating enumeration of all the incredible math stuff that happens between a server and your browser when you click on an HTTPS link and open a secure connection to a remote end. It's one of the most important (and least understood) parts of the technical functioning of the Internet.
Amazing, invisible work that goes on when you click an HTTPS link

One Minute of Life Changing Advice From Steve Jobs

Innovator, genius, imitator, businessman, designer, turtleneck lover. Steve Jobs tended to generate opinions from across the spectrum, but being inspirational reamins a steadfast quality in the Apple founder.
One Minute of Life Changing Advice From Steve Jobs

Banned Children’s Toys from Christmases Past

What could possibly go wrong giving a child a nuclear science kit that includes highly poisonous materials inside? Everything of course, which is why that particular toy only lasted a single holiday.
Banned Children’s Toys from Christmases Past

Now You, Too, Can “Follow” Pope Benedict, Get News As It Happens

When you wake up tomorrow morning, the Catholic Church will have taken another bold step into the era of new media.
Now You, Too, Can “Follow” Pope Benedict, Get News As It Happens

Look up medications more quickly and easily on Google

We get a lot of queries for medicine on Google. So to make it quick and easy for you to learn about medications, we’ll start showing key facts -- side effects, related medications, links to in-depth resources, and more -- right on the search results page.
Look up medications more quickly and easily on Google

Watch Five Hours Of Commercial Jet Flyovers Timelapsed Down Into Thirty Crowded Seconds

What?! Is that a squadron of commercial airliners?! Not quite, but through the magic of editing, it sure looks like it. With the help of Adobe Premiere, Cy Kuckenbaker took five hours of plane landings on Black Friday and condensed them down into just 30 seconds using composite and timelapse techniques.
Watch Five Hours Of Commercial Jet Flyovers Timelapsed Down Into Thirty Crowded Seconds

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2012

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2012

What to do on Mt. Everest when you're dead

We all know that people do sometimes die while attempting to climb Mt. Everest. But it's easy to overlook what happens to those people after they've died. You can't bring a body down from the mountain. In fact, many of the people who have died there had to be abandoned before they were dead because they couldn't walk and no one could carry them safely back to a place they could get medical care. And that means Mt. Everest is littered with dead bodies.
What to do on Mt. Everest when you're dead

Planhacker: Every Australian 4G Contract Mobile Phone Deal Compared

Want a super-speedy 4G mobile phone but can’t afford to buy it outright? We’ve rounded up every 4G phone available on contract in Australia so you can compare and make the best choice for your needs.
Planhacker: Every Australian 4G Contract Mobile Phone Deal Compared

North Korea May Launch Rocket, Photo Shows

North Korea may be preparing to attempt another rocket launch in the next few weeks, new satellite imagery suggests.
North Korea May Launch Rocket, Photo Shows

Apollo 11 Moon Rocks Found in Storage Area

When Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins came back to Earth on July 24, 1969, they also brought home 22 kilograms of lunar rocks.
President Nixon gave out many of those rocks as gifts, including a little desktop display and plaque that went to each state. Over the years, some of those rocks were lost. But five of them have just been found — in a storage area belonging to the Minnesota National Guard.
Apollo 11 Moon Rocks Found in Storage Area

The Bing Top Searches of 2012 Report

Believe it or not, it’s already time to look back at 2012 and reflect on the moments that most fascinated Americans this year. From one of the most hotly contested elections in US history, the pageantry of the Olympic Games in London and high profile IPOs to rising stars, reality TV and Gangnam Style, it’s been a pretty exciting twelve months.
The Bing Top Searches of 2012 Report

The Four Leading Electric Novelties of 1897

Scanned and Flickr'd by Captain Geoffrey Spaulding, an ad for Ohio Electric Works, 1897.
The Four Leading Electric Novelties of 1897

How to Pinpoint Food Allergies: 13 steps

If you suspect you have a food allergy, there are several key ways to identify the particular food or foods that are causing problems. Follow these steps to pinpoint your potential food allergies.
How to Pinpoint Food Allergies: 13 steps

Watch This Spectacular Water Spout Lash The Australian Coastline

Sea tornados off the coast of Australia are not new. But this one is particularly striking and huge. It was filmed this Sunday at Batemans Bay, in New South Wales.
Watch This Spectacular Water Spout Lash The Australian Coastline

5 Ways to Protect your Accounts When Shopping Online

As we gear up for the holiday shopping season, it’s important to remain mindful of online identity theft and cybersecurity.
Whether you’re part of the 41% to 45% of consumers concerned about online privacy, computer viruses or identity theft, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of how to make yourself more secure.
Although it’s tempting to find a deal and splurge during the gift-giving time of year, the five tips below encourage you to be extra cautious while serving as a guide to protecting yourself.
5 Ways to Protect your Accounts When Shopping Online

A Map Of Stupid Things People Have Said To US Airport Security Officials

The first rule of air travel in the modern world is to avoid making jokes about bombs at the security checkpoint, but that doesn’t stop people coming out with comments like “I have a torpedo in my brassiere”. We’ve mapped some of the most ridiculous offenders.
A Map Of Stupid Things People Have Said To US Airport Security Officials

Microsoft Skydrive: now with selective synchronization

Microsoft has improved its file hosting and synchronization service Skydrive in wake of the deeper integration into the Windows 8 operating system. Some features are only available to users of the operating system, like the synchronization of account related preferences and customizations, while the bulk of improvements are available for all systems. Microsoft Group Program Manager for SkyDrive apps Mike Torres revealed today that SkyDrive usage has doubled in the past six month period, which does not come as a surprise.
Microsoft Skydrive: now with selective synchronization

The Best Places To Hide Valuables In Your House

There’s more to hiding your valuables than making them hard to find. Whether you’re hiding a money stash from burglars or secret documents from an enemy spy, here are a few tips anyone can use to keep something under wraps.
The Best Places To Hide Valuables In Your House

Teller explains the psychology of magic

Teller had a great piece in last March's Smithsonian magazine, explaining the overarching principles behind all magic tricks. It's a great look at the way that our brains can be enticed to fool themselves.
Teller explains the psychology of magic

Oxford University Press Announces GIF as 2012 Word of the Year

Oxford American Dictionaries announced today that it chose the verb GIF as its 2012 Word of the Year. According to Oxford Dictionaries Online GIF is defined as:
GIF, verb; to create a GIF file of (an image or video sequence, especially relating to an event).
Oxford University Press Announces GIF as 2012 Word of the Year

Power A Laptop With AA Batteries

Laptop batteries are designed to deliver a specific voltage and amperage, and deviating from those can be bad for the device in the long term. However, it is possible to run a laptop off a set of AA batteries, and doing so is a good education in basic electronics.
Power A Laptop With AA Batteries

How To Be Happy

My inbox is often inundated with emails from readers all over the world, most of them have a problem, some have more than one. The issue though is not that they have problems, it is that they are unable to remain happy among such problems. It is therefore a common belief that if my problem disappears, so will my pain and if there is no pain, I will feel happy. That is rarely the case.
How To Be Happy

Australian Mazes: Lifehacker’s Complete List

With the Christmas break fast approaching, visiting a maze is a great way to entertain the family. We’ve gathered together all of Australia’s commercially-operated mazes on a single map so you can get lost in the maze of your choice.
Australian Mazes: Lifehacker’s Complete List

‘A Person Becomes Old When His Mind Is More Occupied By Memories Than Aspirations’

This quotation comes from web designer Navin Kulkarni in a Quora thread about the point in life when a person becomes old.
‘A Person Becomes Old When His Mind Is More Occupied By Memories Than Aspirations’

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 16/2012

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 16/2012

Would You Fly On An Airplane Without Any Seats?

Ryanair absolutely loves to stir up publicity by way of controversy, and it has another idea for its aeroplanes: no seats. As if charging to use the restroom wasn’t enough, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary believes that seatbelts on planes are useless, so therefore it’s a waste to even have seats. Make people stand!
Would You Fly On An Airplane Without Any Seats?

Insane Attempted Plane Theft Ends in Big Crash [VIDEO]

Here’s something you don’t see everyday: a man attempting to steal a plane from the airport and using reverse thrust — typically deployed to slow a plane down after landing — to drive the plane backward, then crashing into a terminal. This all happened at the SkyWest Airlines home base airport in St. George, Utah, back in July, according the news site NYCaviation.com, but the astonishing video of the incident (embedded above) just became available on Thursday.
Insane Attempted Plane Theft Ends in Big Crash [VIDEO]

How to Listen Music Online Legally and for Free

One of our most loved multimedia mediums is music. An art that has been around since the dawn of time and has risen up to become one of the biggest businesses in the world and one of the most influential media of all. This billion dollar industry has sculpted generations upon generations of people and has changed with the times, evolved and has now reached the Internet era. Nowadays, music is widely available on the Internet, be it legally posted by the artists or record companies, or illegally for anyone to download.
How to Listen Music Online Legally and for Free

The Filter Is Dead: Australian Government Dumps Controversial Filtering Project

Almost three years ago now, Senator Stephen Conroy stepped up to the plate to deliver a bold new vision. A vision of a filtered, “safer” internet. The plan was met by hostility from internet rights activists, poiticians, internet users, internet service providers and interest groups alike. Tonight, however, the Labor government’s proposed mandatory internet filter is dead.
The Filter Is Dead: Australian Government Dumps Controversial Filtering Project

Hurricane Sandy: Health-Related Resources

From the NIH:
Hurricane Sandy: Health-Related Resources

The 5 Biggest Myths About Slow PCs

Computers are supposed to make our lives easier, yet sometimes it feels like they exist only to cause us endless amounts of frustration. Popular advice for fixing slow computers includes checking for malware, upgrading your RAM, or even reinstalling Windows from scratch. However, many of these ideas are more myth than reality. We’re busting some of the more pervasive myths, and explained how to actually get your PC running fast again.
The 5 Biggest Myths About Slow PCs

Surviving a plane crash is surprisingly common

A few years ago, I learned that it's actually pretty common to survive a plane crash. Like most people, I'd assumed that the safety in flying came from how seldom accidents happened. Once you were in a crash situation, though, I figured you were probably screwed. But that's not the case.
Surviving a plane crash is surprisingly common

31 Arresting Photos of Hurricane Sandy's Destruction

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, millions of residents from Cuba to Canada continue to deal with unprecedented destruction -- from power outages to flooding and damaged property.
31 Arresting Photos of Hurricane Sandy's Destruction