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