Signs Stating the Obvious

Campaigners for the English language have attacked a growing tendency for "obvious" public information posters, such as a police sign urging people: "Don't Commit Crime."
Other examples highlighted by the Plain English Campaign, which fights for the effective use of English, include "Warning: Platform ends here" on the end of rail station platforms, and "May cause drowsiness" on sleeping pills.
Language defenders take aim at signs stating the obvious

Luna 2, first spacecraft to Moon’s surface, launched 48 years ago

On September 13, 1959 (September 12, Moscow time, at 06:39:42 UTC), the Soviet Union’s Luna 2 was launched to the Moon. Thirty-three-and-one-half hours later, it impacted the Moon, the first spacecraft to reach the lunar surface.
Luna 2, first spacecraft to Moon’s surface, launched 48 years ago

Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

Can the high C of a trained soprano quiver glass into dissolution?
Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

Roundup of Federal Election websites

The Australian's Media section had an interesting roundup of the websites which are springing up to cover (and cash in on) the upcoming federal election. It says that Google is going to launch its own election website tomorrow, replete with "video footage, user-generated content and customised information feeds."
Roundup of Federal Election websites

Rock the Podium

Wired's How to Wiki has some tips for public speaking by blogger, writer and Boing Boing editor Cory Doctorow.
Rock the Podium

Russian 'sex day' to boost Births

The governor of Ulyanovsk region in Russia is offering prizes to couples who have babies in exactly nine months - on Russia's national day on 12 June. Sergei Morozov wants couples to take the day off work to have sex. If a baby is born on national day, they will receive cars, TVs or other prizes.
Russian 'sex day' to boost births

GeoHive: Global Statistics

GeoHive is a site with geopolitical data, statistics on the human population, Earth and more. The main kind of data you can find here is population statistics of regions, countries, provinces and cities. Next to that there are some statistics on economic factors like wealth, infrastructure; statistics on natural phenomena.
GeoHive: Global Statistics

Oxford English Dictionary Adds New Words

Two categories:
1) Words in the fully revised range: proter-purposive
2) New words from across the alphabet
Oxford English Dictionary Adds New Words

Endangered Species List is more bad News

More than one in three species assessed by the World Conservation Union is threatened with extinction, according to the group's latest "Red List" of endangered species.
Endangered Species List is more bad News

Viva Las Vegas TV Documentary Promo Video

View the promo video for the' Viva Las Vegas' TV documentary to screen on ABC in the USA on September 18.
Viva Las Vegas TV documentary Promo Video

Terrorist Organization Logos

Terrorist groups, like any organization, need brand identities. With so many groups claiming credit for terrorist acts, and so many videotapes being put out featuring men in ski masks, it’s hard to keep track of which group committed what violent act. So terrorist organizations have logos.
Terrorist Organization Logos

Not a Word

It was an old tradition in encyclopedias to put in a fake entry to protect copyright. So when word leaked out that the second edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary contained a made-up word that starts with the letter “e,” an independent investigator set himself the task of sifting through NOAD’s thirty-one hundred and twenty-eight “e” entries in search of the phony.
Not a Word

Microsoft Office Tips Roundup

Helpful tips to do some of those tricky, pesky things.
Microsoft Office Tips Roundup

The World According to Americans

With all due apologies to my American friends...but is this one of the new maps Miss North Carolina(?) was talking about? This was posted by a kangaroo...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Whitepaper

This white paper presents an overview of Windows Vista SP1 and the improvements it contains.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Whitepaper

The World’s Most Shark-Infested Beaches

Planning a vacation?
The World’s Most Shark-Infested Beaches

14 Great Programs You Didn't Even Know You Needed

It's the little things that frustrate. No need to endure the same tiresome annoyances and petty, repetitious tasks because you don't know that something better lies just over the next download. Don't assume that what you have is as good as it gets.
14 Great Programs You Didn't Even Know You Needed

Coping with the Common Cold

These five suggestions are intended to help you cope with the common cold. They will provide some comfort, and they may reduce the lengthy time the common cold usually takes to run its course.
Coping with the Common Cold

Filter By File Type in Windows Explorer with QT ToolBar

Windows only: Freeware application QT ToolBar adds quite a few file manipulation and filtering techniques to Windows Explorer. With QT ToolBar you can enter a specific file extension and select all similar files in bulk.
Filter By File Type in Windows Explorer with QT ToolBar

Polar bears feel heat of climate change

The world's polar bear population could be reduced by two-thirds within 50 years if predictions of melting sea ice hold true, a new report says.
Polar bears feel heat of climate change