Thursday, April 17, 2008

Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed

A European Space Agency (ESA) computer-generated picture shows a view from space with the planet surrounded by a snowstorm of space debris.
Much of it is junk with telecommunications equipment that once cost millions now past its sell-by date yet still in orbit.
ESA says the number of objects in Earth's atmosphere has risen steadily increasing by 200 per year on average and that there are now 600 working satellites.
Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed

Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008

An at a glance summary of the 14 headline dimensions of Australia's progress. It provides a national summary of the most important areas of progress, presenting them in a way which can be quickly understood by all Australians. It informs and stimulates public debate and encourages all Australians to assess the bigger picture when contemplating progress.
Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008

Is life in Australia getting better?

The ABS has just released new information to help Australians assess how our society, economy and environment are developing. Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators gives a snapshot of national progress over the last decade, using key measures. The publication also includes an article on the relationships between society, economy and the environment.
Is life in Australia getting better?

Procrastination Can Be Your Ally

If you’re a procrastinator, please raise your hand - when you get around to it. You know the drill: you tinker with your calendar and move tasks to a later due date, you find yourself cramming the day before deadlines, or your answers to the questions “What am I doing now?” and “What should I be doing now?” don’t match.
Procrastination Can Be Your Ally

Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad

Ah, meetings. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Being happy at work is important, of course. Being with other people generally boosts mood, and ideally, meetings should be a source of energy, ideas, and collegiality. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Meetings are also a place where people jockey for position, work out disagreements (nicely or not-so-nicely), and hurt each other’s feelings.
Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview

A great interview question reveals the nature of the person you’re hiring - honesty, reliability, ability to communicate intelligently and quickly, and so on.
25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview

Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair

On a cool Saturday afternoon at the überhot Garren hair salon in New York City a few masters of fashion were debating something many would call obvious: Which is more likely to tangle—curly hair or straight hair?
Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair

Top 10 Ways to Sleep Smarter and Better

Nothing kills your ability to get things done faster than a bad night's sleep.
Top 10 Ways to Sleep Smarter and Better

Video of dog who won't go through screenless screen door

Funny video shows a dog who won't go through a screenless screen door.
Video of dog who won't go through screenless screen door

Awkward Signs from Around the World

Ever been in a foreign hotel and seen a sign that directed you to "Slip carefully"?
We've been there. English is a tricky language, and translating it can be just about impossible.
Lost in Translation: Awkward Signs from Around the World

13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” - Jim Ryun
13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Be Aware of What Data You Expose

A recent study shows that most taxpayers are painfully unaware that when they make a photocopy on a digital photo copier the machine makes an image and stores it on its hard drive. Information being photocopied can be utilized by hackers for identity theft purposes. The same threat can also be true for faxes that are sent on a digital fax machine.
Be Aware of What Data You Expose

Monday, April 14, 2008

First High Definition Moon Map Released

Selene, Japan's lunar spacecraft and HD peeping Tom, keeps sending stunningly-detailed information from our crystal clear Moon to trashed Mother Earth. These first-ever high definition global topographic maps of the Moon were created using 1,127,392 point measurements, taken with its laser altimeter. And they are just preliminary versions.
Space: First High Definition Moon Map Released, Uranium Sites Located

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Concerns Over a Future Google Street View Australia

Google Australia is expected within months to launch an application that will publish highly detailed, street-level photos of much of Australia, in a move that has drawn strong criticism from privacy advocates.
Concerns Over a Future Google Street View Australia

Friday, April 11, 2008

Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's

Caffeine protects against memory loss in aging and in Alzheimer's disease.
Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's

Six Awesome Ways To Learn About Music (While Listening To It)

I’ve accidentally stumbled into several music-related mashups today, and I thought I might share them with you. The thing is, sometimes I’m just into chilling with my favorite tunes, but sometimes I’m in research mode, and I want to find as much as I can about whatever I’m listening to. The six mashups described below are perfect for this purpose.
Six Awesome Ways To Learn About Music (While Listening To It)

Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous

Lightbulbs break all the time. So why would a single broken bulb in a Maine household trigger the state's Department of Environmental Protection to refer the homeowner to a decontaminator?
Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous

Thursday, April 10, 2008

What Every beginning Dictionary Reader Should Know

Ammon Shea recently spent a year of his life reading the OED from start to finish. Over the next few months he will be posting weekly blogs about the insights, gems, and thoughts on language that came from this experience. His book, Reading the OED, will be published by Perigee in July. In the post below Ammon, an expert dictionary reader, shares some advice for beginners.
What Every beginning Dictionary Reader Should Know

11 tips cutting down the number of things you buy

Some people buy too much, some people buy too little. That’s the overbuyer / underbuyer split.
11 tips cutting down the number of things you buy

7 Simple Ways To Burst Out of Bed Each Morning

Way before the sun peeks over the horizon, a few chosen people awaken from their slumber and dive head first into their day. These chosen few accomplish a ton before the rest of us would ever consider rising from our nice warm beds.
7 Simple Ways To Burst Out of Bed Each Morning