Monday, January 13, 2014

Ask LH: Should I Buy Expensive HDMI Cables?

Dear Lifehacker, I am thinking about a UHD TV as my next TV. But the big name stores all tell me I need to throw away any HDMI cable I have now that is more than two years old because the technology has moved so rapidly. In my experience, they work or they don’t. Do I need new cables now? Should I wait until I get the TV? Thanks, Cable Cynic
Ask LH: Should I Buy Expensive HDMI Cables?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Drinking Up To Four Cups Of Coffee Won't Dehydrate You At All

The received wisdom is that coffee dehydrates you. Fact. Period. No arguments. But a new study shows that, actually, in moderation, coffee is no less hydrating than water.
Drinking Up To Four Cups Of Coffee Won't Dehydrate You At All

Giant Ice Balls In Lake Michigan Look Like Dirty Alien Eggs Hatching

It’s cold out there, guys. So cold that lakes are so frozen that they look like they’re from the moon. So cold that freaking grounds explode. But now that it’s a little less cold, the ice is melting from our frigid Earth and forming giant ice balls in our lakes.
Giant Ice Balls In Lake Michigan Look Like Dirty Alien Eggs Hatching

The Physics Behind Why Sausages Split Lengthwise

I like sausages. I like grilled sausages. I like fried sausages. I like beef, pork and chicken sausages. I even like vegetarian sausages. Sometimes when you cook sausages, they burst. This occasionally happens if you try and cook them too fast. It can also happen if the brand of sausage you are cooking is overly generous with their filling.
The Physics Behind Why Sausages Split Lengthwise

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

How to Wash a Vehicle with Micro Fiber Cloths: 7 Steps

Micro fiber cloths appeared for non-commercial use about four years ago. They are sold mostly for automobile care, but can be used for house cleaning and other maintenance needs. This article will focus on cleaning a vehicle.
How to Wash a Vehicle with Micro Fiber Cloths: 7 Steps

Iced Out: America's Polar Vortex in 10 Chilling Photos

Wind chill in Minnesota reached -50 degrees Fahrenheit — that's cold enough for exposed skin to get frostbite in 5 minutes. Plenty of other places saw sub-zero weather, temperatures so cold that many officials shut down schools, highways and tourist attractions as a means to try to keep people inside. Here are few spine-shivering photos.
Iced Out: America's Polar Vortex in 10 Chilling Photos

Saturday, January 04, 2014

The Interesting Mistakes That Surround Us Every Day

Whether it is spelling versus pronunciation of words, incorrect scientific knowledge from years gone by, production errors in popular music, and more, our history is full of interesting mistakes, formerly lost knowledge, and mind boggling coincidences that some would classify as missed opportunities.
The Interesting Mistakes That Surround Us Every Day

The Wackiest Weather Bloopers of 2013 [VIDEO]

In this thunderingly funny compilation, we see some of the wackiest, oddest and most insane weather bloopers of last year — from hiccup fits to broken green screens to rapping reporters.
The Wackiest Weather Bloopers of 2013 [VIDEO]

Thursday, January 02, 2014

Chrome vs. Firefox: where Firefox beats the Google browser

If you look at desktop computers, you will notice that there are three core Internet browsers left for those systems. There are also forks of two of those browsers available that increase the number of programs that you can download and use, but in the end, it all comes down to those three browsers.
There is Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chromium. If you compare Firefox and Google Chrome -- the most popular Chromium-based browser, with each other, you will notice many similarities, but also differences.
Chrome vs. Firefox: where Firefox beats the Google browser

Scientists' Favourite Jokes

The Observer has a great collection of scientists' favourite jokes, along with anecdotes and background about each joke.
Scientists' favourite jokes

A Guide on Self-Destructing Emails, SMS, Facebook Photos, Tweets and More

The internet is written in ink and not pencil. That’s what Erica Albright told Mark Zuckerberg in the movie The Social Network. If you follow the timeline of that movie, she almost got all her facts right. But things have changed since, as with most of the medicines, a lot of things you share on the interweb too come or could come with an expiry date.
A Guide on Self-Destructing Emails, SMS, Facebook Photos, Tweets and More

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Watch One Woman's Face Morph Into Many Different Faces With Lighting

Your eyes might tell you differently, your brain might make you believe something else and that gut of yours will say you’re right but you’re not. There is only one person in this video. You will only see one woman’s face. It may look like a different person, but it’s not. The magic is in the lighting. Simple lighting changes can change a person’s face so much that they look like different people.
Watch One Woman's Face Morph Into Many Different Faces With Lighting

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Three Great Scientific Discoveries of 2013

2013 has been a terrific year in the field of science with so much having been accomplished, but what are the biggest discoveries of the year? YouTube channel SciShow looks at three very big scientific discoveries that changed how we look at physics, Mars, and our ourselves!
Three Great Scientific Discoveries of 2013

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Most Cringe-Worthy News Fails of 2013 [VIDEO]

Just because you're responsible for reporting the news doesn't mean you can't be the news. News anchors and reporters alike made plenty of headlines this year for their gaffes, hot mic snafus and awkward on-camera moments.
The Most Cringe-Worthy News Fails of 2013 [VIDEO]

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Fire Ready Kit - Country Fire Authority

The Fire Ready Kit has been designed to help you plan for survival, beginning with the basics of preparing before the fire season, through to planning what to do if fire is in your area and you cannot leave.
Fire Ready Kit - Country Fire Authority

Friday, December 20, 2013

Insane Bike Trick Seems To Murder The Laws Of Physics

We no longer live on Earth, my friends. We’re in some weird world where people can do the impossible. Do you want to fly? You should try. Do you want to spin in the air in both directions? I think you can. Because this insane Superman double backflip bicycle trick destroys everything that should be humanly possible. The rider does a full back flip while fully extended in a Superman pose, somehow re-gathers himself onto the bike and then does another full back flip. All in one jump. Sweet.
Insane Bike Trick Seems To Murder The Laws Of Physics

Free-range Scanning

The other day my desktop printer/scanner decided it would no longer scan. I may be the last person in the world to make this discovery, but just in case you were equally unaware: your cell phone and your tablet are scanners too.
Free-range Scanning

Thursday, December 19, 2013

50 Stunning Sports Photos From 2013

Some are silly. Some are poignant. Some are action-packed, others reflective and still others defy any simple description. Some show iconic athletes and seminal sports moments. Others show athletes you've never heard of and never will again.
50 Stunning Sports Photos From 2013

Sports! YouTube! 2013's 10 Hottest Videos

Sports and YouTube are a match made in heaven. Here above are the 10 most popular sports videos of 2013, according to — you guessed it — YouTube.
Sports! YouTube! 2013's 10 Hottest Videos

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Five Surprising Things That Will Happen In The Next Five Years

IBM Research’s 5 in 5 list — five things that will happen in the next five years — is here. Some are quite surprising and awesome. The bad news: no flying cars and/or realistic sex robots yet. The good news: doctors routinely using your DNA information to heal you effectively.
Five Surprising Things That Will Happen In The Next Five Years

Monday, December 16, 2013

9 Fun Facts That Are Total Lies

Everybody loves fun facts. But sometimes these little nuggets of trivia can be more fun than they are fact. And sometimes, they’re outright lies. Like these!
9 Fun Facts That Are Total Lies

Rat trapped on an escalator

This poor rat got stuck on the escalator at the Civic Center BART Station, and there's something infinitely poignant about its treadmill race.
Rat trapped on an escalator

Sunday, December 15, 2013

China's on the Moon

A little after 8:00 am Eastern Time today, China's Chang'e 3 became the first object to make a soft landing on the surface of the Moon since 1976. That's a shot of the Moon's surface above, taken by the lander after it made touchdown.
China's on the Moon

Saturday, December 14, 2013

How to block Gmail from displaying images in emails by default

Most email providers and programs nowadays do not display images and other data linked to third party servers by default when you open emails on their websites or in email clients. Google announced a change to the way images are handled on Gmail. Starting with today, images are automatically displayed in emails thanks to a new proxy technology that it has implemented on the site.
How to block Gmail from displaying images in emails by default

Friday, December 13, 2013

12 Web Acronyms You've Never Heard Of

Ever heard of FTFY? How about GOMB, DIAF or GLHF? If these new Internetisms don't seem worth your time, you can just FGDAI (Fuhgedaboudit).
12 Web Acronyms You've Never Heard Of

Thursday, December 12, 2013

New Video Shows Asiana Plane Flipping in the Air Before Crash

On July 6, a Boeing 777 operated by Asiana Airlines crashed while landing in San Francisco. The reasons for the crash are still unclear, which is why the National Transportation Safety Board called an 11-hour marathon hearing Wednesday.
New Video Shows Asiana Plane Flipping in the Air Before Crash

'60-Year-Old-Girl' Meme Is Funny Enough to Give You Hot Flashes

Benjamin Button, meet your match. The "60-year-old Girl" meme hit Reddit on Wednesday and the jokes haven't aged yet. The memes, which poke fun at a little girl who resembles an older woman, stem from an image posted on Reddit one day earlier.
'60-Year-Old-Girl' Meme Is Funny Enough to Give You Hot Flashes

Pope Francis Is Time's Person of the Year

Pope Francis is TIME magazine's person of the year. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the current Pope of the Catholic Church was elected on March 13, 2013. In his nine months of office, he shunned many of the perks of his position (papal Mercedes included), and opted for a much more modest appearance than his predecessor, Pope Benedict, capturing the sympathies of many.
Pope Francis Is Time's Person of the Year

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

It's official: the coldest place on Earth

The coldest place on Earth is a high ridge on the East Antarctic Plateau where temperatures plunged to a record minus 93.2°C on 10 August 2010, according to NASA.
It's official: the coldest place on Earth

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Shanghai's Disappearing Skyline: 21 Images of Record Pollution

Shanghai's iconic skyline has been slowly disappearing all week, cloaked by a thick acrid haze of smog. Reports of heavy pollution have circulated since Monday, but levels hit a new high on Friday.
Shanghai's Disappearing Skyline: 21 Images of Record Pollution

Friday, December 06, 2013

Air travel in the 50s and 60s sucked

Smoke, vomit, boredom, segregation and death: and you paid about five times as much for the privilege.
Air travel in the 50s and 60s sucked

Thursday, December 05, 2013

How-To Geek’s Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Toys for Geeks of All Ages

One of the best things about geek culture is that you’re never too old to play with toys big and small. Read on as we highlight great picks from the toy aisle for geeks of all ages on your holiday gift list.
How-To Geek’s Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Toys for Geeks of All Ages

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Dramatic Footage Shows Survivor of Sunken Ship's Unlikely Rescue [VIDEO]

In a remarkable story of survival that made headlines last June, a Nigerian chef miraculously lived through three days trapped at the bottom of the sea in an air pocket of a sunken ship. Six months later, newly-released footage shows the survivor's dramatic and unlikely rescue.
Dramatic Footage Shows Survivor of Sunken Ship's Unlikely Rescue [VIDEO]

The 25 Best Films of 2013 in 11 Minutes

Ain't nobody got time to go to the movies. So it's a good thing David Ehrlich has you covered. This 11-minute montage for Film.com counts down the 25 best films of 2013. This year's roundup includes blockbusters like The Bling Ring and The Great Gatsby, Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine and even films yet to be released like Wolf of Wall Street.
The 25 Best Films of 2013 in 11 Minutes

NORAD's Santa Tracker Is Back With A Touch-Friendly Website

The holidays are all about traditions, and once again NORAD is back with an updated version of its Santa tracker, letting kids keep tabs on Saint Nick as Christmas Eve creeps closer and closer. In addition to updated apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices, the NORAD Tracks Santa website has also been spiffied up with a new design that makes it a little easier to use on touch-friendly devices.
NORAD's Santa Tracker Is Back With A Touch-Friendly Website

Friday, November 29, 2013

First-Person Videos Of Pilots Ejecting Will Make You Hyperventilate

I’ve seen pilots ejecting from fighter planes in extreme situations. It looks scary, but it’s nothing compared to listening to the minutes prior to the ejection. That’s when you start to hyperventilate just by watching them.
First-Person Videos Of Pilots Ejecting Will Make You Hyperventilate

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Ad Recall: Why That Ad Wasn't as Awesome as You Thought

Creating an ad that both entertains and deftly makes a product pitch is, of course, not an easy task. If it were, then there would be no reason for ad agencies. (Some insist that there still isn't.) Fortunately, measuring recall is a fairly simple process. All you need to do is ask consumers if they remember an ad.
Ad Recall: Why That Ad Wasn't as Awesome as You Thought

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

How to Convert Email Messages to PDF through Email Itself

Google Chrome has a built-in PDF writer so you can easily convert any email message into a PDF file within the browser itself but if you are reading your emails on a mobile phone or a tablet, you would need some sort of a PDF conversion app.
How to Convert Email Messages to PDF through Email Itself

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Listen To 100 White Albums Played At Once

Rutherford Chang is a vinyl collector with a singular focus: The White Album. The New York-based artist has built up an impressive catalogue of almost 700 (!) numbered copies of the 1968 double album. Taken together, his findings have become a kind of beautiful exhibition, but Chang has also recorded audio from 100 pressings, and overlaid them into a single track. And it is incredible.
Listen To 100 White Albums Played At Once

20 Secret Santa Gifts Under $20

Finding the perfect Secret Santa present is a true challenge. The item has to show you know a little something about what makes your giftee an individual and ideally inject a little good-natured humor into the gift-giving process. It's not always an easy ask, especially when you're working with a set budget.
20 Secret Santa Gifts Under $20

Saturday, November 23, 2013

​8 Basic Life-Saving Skills Everyone Should Know

We’ve featured a lot of survival tips over the years that can help you get out of trouble, but what if you’re next to someone else who’s having a medical emergency? Don’t just stand there as the person chokes or faints! Know what to do in these life-or-death situations.
​8 Basic Life-Saving Skills Everyone Should Know

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 12/2013

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on Beyond The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 12/2013 - November 24, 2013:

How to record any streaming video on the Internet

Sometimes it may not be enough to just watch a streaming video while it is broadcasted. Maybe you are in a webcam session with your colleagues or better-half and want to record it for safe keeping, or maybe, you are watching a presentation or live gaming session and want to save it to your local system so that you can re-watch it at any time and without Internet connection.
How to record any streaming video on the Internet

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Elephant isn't very good at playing piano, but rather enjoys it

In this clip from the Music for Elephants series, Peter the elephant joins in on a rollicking 12-bar blues performed on a outdoor piano in Thailand.
Elephant isn't very good at playing piano, but rather enjoys it

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Gripping Photos Capture Tornadoes' Destruction in U.S. Midwest

A series of large, fast-moving tornadoes tore through the U.S. midwest on Sunday, leaving carnage in their wake. Tornado watches are in effect for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. The tornadoes have produced large hail and damaging winds.
Gripping Photos Capture Tornadoes' Destruction in U.S. Midwest

Terrifying Typhoon Haiyan Footage Continues To Emerge

Typhoon Haiyan was the most powerful storm ever recorded in our history on this planet, and it came to bear on the Philippines with terrifying force. This eyewitness footage shows off just how deadly the resulting storm surge was.
Terrifying Typhoon Haiyan Footage Continues To Emerge

Sunday, November 17, 2013

This Is What The Hottest Place On Earth Looks Like

You’re looking at a satellite image of the Dasht-e Lut salt desert in southeast Iran. If you think it looks a bit weird, that’ because it is: it’s widely regarded as the hottest place on Earth.
This Is What The Hottest Place On Earth Looks Like

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Silly U.S. Laws Come Alive in This Photo Series

If you ever feel compelled to put a coin in your ear while in Hawaii, hold back — it's illegal. Photographer Olivia Locher was inspired to photograph the coin ban and other outdated and otherwise ridiculous laws in place throughout the United States.
Silly U.S. Laws Come Alive in This Photo Series

What Hand Signals Should I Avoid When Traveling Abroad?

When you’re trotting the globe, it’s important to know when to keep your hands to yourself.
What Hand Signals Should I Avoid When Traveling Abroad?

The 20 Most Popular Passwords Stolen From Adobe

It's no secret that people choose dumb passwords. But when a large database of passwords gets hacked and exposed, it can still be shocking that users still go with such easy-to-guess passwords. But that's exactly what many Adobe customers did. As it turns out, according to one password cracker, the three most popular passwords among Adobe users, whose account details were stolen by hackers, are: "123456," "123456789," and "password."
The 20 Most Popular Passwords Stolen From Adobe

9 Ways to Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines on Friday, causing a 20-foot rise in sea waters and packing winds of up to 147 miles per hour. Authorities are calling it one the country's worst natural disasters on record.
9 Ways to Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

These Domino Tricks Will Knock You Down With Amazement

Dominoes is a complex game involving foresight, planning and strategy — but really, they're for building intricate chain reactions of miniature destruction. Nobody understands this better than Hevesh5 and MillionDollarBoy, who spent three months organizing more than 20,000 dominoes into the masterpiece of clicks and clatters you can watch below.
These Domino Tricks Will Knock You Down With Amazement

Telstra Offering Free Calls To The Philippines During Typhoon Crisis

Super-Typhoon Haiyan has torn through the Philippines in the last few days. In one area alone, up to 10,000 people are feared dead. If you have family in the area and are on Telstra, you’ll be able to call or text them free of charge.
Telstra Offering Free Calls To The Philippines During Typhoon Crisis

Typhoon Haiyan Even Looks Terrifying From 35,400 Kilometres Away

Haiyan was probably the strongest recorded typhoon to ever make landfall when it crashed through the Philippines on November 8 — and it looks just as intimidating from 35,400km away.
Typhoon Haiyan Even Looks Terrifying From 35,400 Kilometres Away

Google Sets Up Person Finder and Relief Map for Typhoon Haiyan

Google launched several crisis tools for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever, which has ravaged towns and villages across central Philippines, leaving a suspected 10,000 people dead in just one city and more than 600,000 displaced. Over the weekend, it weakened to a severe tropical storm and hit northern Vietnam.
Google Sets Up Person Finder and Relief Map for Typhoon Haiyan

Sunday, November 10, 2013

How to Use An Antivirus Boot Disc or USB Drive to Ensure Your Computer is Clean

If your computer is infected with malware, running an antivirus within Windows may not be enough to remove it. If your computer has a rootkit, the malware may be able to hide itself from your antivirus software.
This is where bootable antivirus solutions come in. They can clean malware from outside the infected Windows system, so the malware won’t be running and interfering with the clean-up process.
How to Use An Antivirus Boot Disc or USB Drive to Ensure Your Computer is Clean

"Huh" is the universal word

"Is 'Huh?' a universal word? Conversational infrastructure and the convergent evolution of linguistic items is a new paper in PLoS One by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The authors propose that "Huh" is a word, and that convergent evolution has driven multiple, unrelated languages to produce it.
"Huh" is the universal word

Friday, November 08, 2013

Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) slams Philippines, may be most powerful typhoon to ever hit land

The typhoon known as Super Typhoon Haiyan (or Super Typhoon Yolanda, as it is referred to within the Philippines) hit the central islands of the Philippines on Friday, with wind speeds at almost 200 miles an hour. For comparison, a commercial airplane takes off at speeds in the range of 160mph.
Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) slams Philippines, may be most powerful typhoon to ever hit land

11 Free Google Helpouts To Get Expert Tips For Your Everyday Problems

Google Helpouts is a new service that connects you to real experts who can help you with a variety of problems. Whether it’s a household plumbing problem, a tricky tech problem or how to stick to your diet, there’s someone on Helpouts who can assist. Here’s a look at some of the best and most useful Helpouts we could find.
11 Free Google Helpouts To Get Expert Tips For Your Everyday Problems

The Scientifically Best Time To Drink Coffee

Ever wonder what the best time is to drink your coffee? You probably know it is not a good idea to drink part of your daily dose of caffeine in the afternoon. Especially for those who have problems sleeping. But, do you ever drink your coffee and feel like it just didn’t work?
The Scientifically Best Time To Drink Coffee

Super Typhoon Haiyan Barrels Toward the Philippines

One of the most powerful cyclones ever observed is on track to cross over the Philippines on Friday morning Eastern time.
Super Typhoon Haiyan Barrels Toward the Philippines

In the news: 2013 – The Year of Solar Flare

Are science fiction literature authors correct when they write about solar flares causing Earth’s communications to fail and causing catastrophes worldwide or is this simply a convenient plot device? The year 2013 has seen the most solar flares since 2003 because the Sun’s magnetic field cycle is reversing polarization, as it does every 11 years. This reversal causes larger and more frequent solar flares, which explains why this year has seen a large number of these impressive solar weather occurrences in many years.
In the news: 2013 – The Year of Solar Flare

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Deaths, Australia, 2012

This release contains statistics for deaths and mortality in Australia.
Deaths, Australia, 2012

Monday, November 04, 2013

Not All “Viruses” Are Viruses: 10 Malware Terms Explained

Most people seem to call every type of malware a “virus”, but that isn’t technically accurate. You’ve probably heard of many more terms beyond virus: malware, worm, Trojan, rootkit, keylogger, spyware, and more. But what do all these terms mean?
Not All “Viruses” Are Viruses: 10 Malware Terms Explained

Saturday, November 02, 2013

Blowing Up A Building In Slo-Mo Is A Great Way To Start The Month

Is there a better way to ring in November than watching a controlled explosion? Sure there is, if said explosion was captured by a Phantom Flex high-speed camera at 2500 fps. The Slow Mo Guys are back and after playing around with a couple of grenades (please don’t try that at home) they set their sites — or viewfinder — on their largest explosion yet.
Blowing Up A Building In Slo-Mo Is A Great Way To Start The Month

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Earth's Hellish 'Twin Sister' Discovered

Two studies of an Earth-sized planet circling the sun-like star Kepler-78 show it has Earth-like amounts of iron and rock, the first world of its size that scientists have been able to calculate both density and diameter.
Earth's Hellish 'Twin Sister' Discovered

10 Surprisingly Inspirational Quotes From Evil People

Just because you’re a horrible human being it doesn’t mean that you don’t have something insightful to say. In fact, several of history’s worst people have said some truly inspiring things. Here are some that we’ve found especially perceptive.
10 Surprisingly Inspirational Quotes From Evil People

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

New Wolfram Problem Generator: Practice and Learn

We are proud to announce Wolfram Problem Generator, a website where students decide which topic they want to practice and we provide the questions and solutions. This is an exciting new way to help students with their classes: previously, students provided their own practice questions and Wolfram|Alpha helped them find answers with Step-by-step solutions. Students can now ask Wolfram|Alpha for help with practice and homework questions and can do practice problems with Wolfram Problem Generator.
New Wolfram Problem Generator: Practice and Learn

Five Ancient Cannons Rescued From Blackbeard's Sunken Ship

Looking like something straight off Davy Jones’s ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean, five cannons saw air for the very first time in almost 300 years yesterday as they were lifted from what’s believed to be legendary pirate Blackbeard’s sunken ship.
Five Ancient Cannons Rescued From Blackbeard's Sunken Ship

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

How to burn 20 hours of video on a single long-play DVD

Creating your own video DVDs has really become easy in recent time. Most programs ship with all required components so that you only need to use a single one to convert all video files in the appropriate format before the converted data is burned on a disc.
How to burn 20 hours of video on a single long-play DVD

Long-form YouTube: videos of entire long-distance train journeys

YouTube has been an existence-proof of forms of video that were lurking in potentia, unable to come into existence due to limitations of the distribution channel. The two-to-three-minute video has now been firmly established as a genre (with the six-second video hot on its heels), but there's plenty of room at the long end of the scale. Case in point: subculture of YouTubers who post full-length train journeys, hours and hours' worth -- and if that's not long-form enough, how about 134-hour sea crossings?
Long-form YouTube: videos of entire long-distance train journeys

Star Wars bloopers

Unexpectedly hilarious! Sound kicks in at 0:45s.
Star Wars bloopers

Monday, October 28, 2013

Five Best Travel Routers

you’re hitting the road and taking your gadgets with you, a good travel router will help you share the Wi-Fi in your hotel, office or anywhere else. The best ones do it with no hassle, easy setup, and small form-factors that slip nicely into a carry-on bag. Some even keep your gadgets charged while they’re connected.
Five Best Travel Routers

10 Things You Didn't Know About 'The Simpsons'

For over 20 years, The Simpsons have been the most famous animated family in the world. YouTube channel Alltime10s dug deep to find some facts that even super fans might be surprised to learn.
10 Things You Didn't Know About 'The Simpsons'

Thursday, October 24, 2013

The 20 Scariest Google Street View Sightings

Google's Street View technology does more than capture mundane shots of city streets. As the platform has evolved, Google has offered striking images from exotic places like the Galápagos Islands, Mount Fuji and the Eiffel Tower. You can even take a look inside CERN's Large Hadron Collider. But Street View has also revealed unintentional surprises, from murder and mayhem to people's most embarrassing moments, and it has the potential to capture terrifying images, too.
The 20 Scariest Google Street View Sightings

Watch All Six Apollo Moon Landings In One Glorious Video

NASA successfully landed six moon missions from 1969 to 1972 — and had one legendary failure. It was a monumental era for NASA, and thanks to bonkers YouTube user lunarmodule5, now you can ride along on a space video mashup of all six heart-pounding landings at once. It’s breathtaking.
Watch All Six Apollo Moon Landings In One Glorious Video

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Five Tricky Job Interview Questions (And The Right Answers)

No matter how much interview preparation you do, there’s always that moment when the unexpected question shows up. Here are five particularly sneaky examples, why they get asked, and how you should respond.
Five Tricky Job Interview Questions (And The Right Answers)

Monday, October 21, 2013

How to Identify Which Hardware Component is Failing in Your Computer

Concluding that your computer has a hardware problem is just the first step. If you’re dealing with a hardware issue and not a software issue, the next step is determining what hardware problem you’re actually dealing with.
How to Identify Which Hardware Component is Failing in Your Computer

Saturday, October 19, 2013

15+ Best Smart Gardening Tools and Gadgets

Passionate about gardening and plants, no matter where you are? Then you need to stop for a moment and have a look at all these awesome gardening gadgets and tools that we’ve gathered here. No matter if you live in a small flat or maybe you have a huge garden, these are all devices that will help you take better care of your plants and transform your garden into a true smart greenhouse of the twenty-first century.
15+ Best Smart Gardening Tools and Gadgets

Friday, October 18, 2013

50 Educational Podcasts You Should Check Out

Maybe you don’t have time to sit down and sift through the latest education blogs for ideas and inspiration. If the thought of trying to carve out more hours in your day leaves you feeling overwhelmed, this list is for you.
50 Educational Podcasts You Should Check Out

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Stay Updated On The NSW Fires: Google Crisis Map, Frightening Twitter Photos

Google Australia has set up a mirror to the NSW Rural Fire Services’ fire alert map, meaning that this link will get you to all the latest emergency warnings for the fires now burning out of control around the state. We’ve also embedded an auto-refreshing Twitter stream to help you keep up-to-date.
Stay Updated On The NSW Fires: Google Crisis Map, Frightening Twitter Photos

Viral Video Recap: Must-Watch Memes of the Week

In this week's Viral Video Recap, cats get their turn in the "Wrecking Ball" spotlight. The clip features two cats batting a wrecking ball made of yarn and crashing into walls of toilet paper rolls.
Viral Video Recap: Must-Watch Memes of the Week

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

The Complete Guide to Twitter Etiquette

Forget distinguishing the salad fork from the dinner fork. Today's lessons in etiquette are all about looking good on social media. And Twitter, as the microblogging platform of choice for more than 200 million users, is one of the most influential platforms.
The Complete Guide to Twitter Etiquette

Sunday, October 13, 2013

10 Windows Tweaking Myths Debunked

Windows is big, complicated, and misunderstood. You’ll still stumble across bad advice from time to time when browsing the web. These Windows tweaking, performance, and system maintenance tips are mostly just useless, but some are actively harmful.
10 Windows Tweaking Myths Debunked

Saturday, October 12, 2013

This Video Puts 30 Popular Life Hacks To The Test

If you’ve seen some of the tips and hacks we’ve posted and wondered if they actually work, check out this video from Mental Floss. John Green put 30 different life hacks to the test with some surprising results.
This Video Puts 30 Popular Life Hacks To The Test

Exploding Toilet Sends Brooklyn Man To The Hospital

Bad things often happen in mysterious, inexplicable ways. Michel Pierre of Brooklyn experienced this first hand this week when he pulled the handle of his toilet, and the whole thing exploded in his face. The blast knocked him out and sent him to the hospital where he got 30 stitches.
Exploding Toilet Sends Brooklyn Man To The Hospital

Long Lost 'Doctor Who' Episodes Uncovered in Nigeria are Now on iTunes

Here's a treat for Doctor Who fans: Nine episodes from the 1960s that were missing from the BBC's archives were found in Nigeria and are now exclusively available for download on iTunes.
Long Lost 'Doctor Who' Episodes Uncovered in Nigeria are Now on iTunes

Friday, October 11, 2013

4 New Google Maps Features That Make Travel Easier

Even as Apple has been trying to rework its maps efforts — with a radical new redesign for iOS 7 and Hopstop acquisition — Google has been consistently adding features in its Google Maps app after it came back on iOS in December 2012 and quickly surpassed 10 million downloads. Google has since rolled out update after update, like live traffic alerts and transit updates in major cities. It bought traffic navigation app Waze in June.
4 New Google Maps Features That Make Travel Easier

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Yahoo! Mail Plus turns into Yahoo! Ad Free Mail: all relevant changes explained

If you have followed the news today or opened your Yahoo! email inbox on your computer or in a mobile application, you may have noticed that things have changed quite a bit, and mostly for the better.
Yahoo! Mail Plus turns into Yahoo! Ad Free Mail: all relevant changes explained

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Internet Activity, Australia, June 2013 (ABS)

Contains details of internet activity supplied by all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Australia. It includes information on internet subscribers and their type of connection, the type of user (business/household), the volume of data downloaded, the speed of the internet connection and the location of the subscriber (by state or territory).
Internet Activity, Australia, June 2013

Sunday, October 06, 2013

10 Common Tech Questions (And Their High-Tech Explanations)

There are certain problems we all deal with every day, but don’t know why. Why do I need to keep resetting my router? Do I have a virus? What happens when a site I use gets “hacked?” Whether you’re the tech-savvy friend that’s always answering these questions or the friend doing the asking, here are the answers to the most common conundrums.
10 Common Tech Questions (And Their High-Tech Explanations)

Make Your Embarrassing Old Facebook Posts Unsearchable With This Quick Tweak

It seems like every few months Facebook changes its privacy settings and unlocks a bunch of your previously hidden (or semi-hidden) information. This week, Facebook is tweaking Graph Search so that it can search posts, photos, check-ins, and comments. Basically, any word you’ve written on Facebook.com is now searchable.
Make Your Embarrassing Old Facebook Posts Unsearchable With This Quick Tweak

Saturday, October 05, 2013

ScriptBlock for Chrome blocks scripts from running automatically on websites

One of the core reasons that I'm using Firefox as my main web browser is the NoScript extension for it. It blocks all scripts from running automatically on websites, ships with options to enable scripts temporarily or permanently, and offers a wide area of additional security features that protect the browser well from many threats on today's Internet.
ScriptBlock for Chrome blocks scripts from running automatically on websites

Friday, October 04, 2013

Adobe Treating Australians As Lesser Beings Even After Details Of 2.9 Million Accounts Were Stolen

Oh, Adobe. Not content with overcharging Australians and trying to dodge questions about it, now we’re getting second-rate treatment even when you’re attacked by hackers. Sigh.
Adobe Treating Australians As Lesser Beings Even After Details Of 2.9 Million Accounts Were Stolen

Fukushima Leaks Radioactive Water Into The Pacific Ocean (Again)

Officials from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have announced that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been leaking radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean again.
Fukushima Leaks Radioactive Water Into The Pacific Ocean (Again)

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Why (And How) You Should Regularly Calibrate Your Laptop's Battery

You may already know your battery is best served by shallow discharges, but calibrating your battery occasionally is important too. If you don’t, the display that shows you how much charge is remaining can be wildly inaccurate.
Why (And How) You Should Regularly Calibrate Your Laptop's Battery

Awesome Pictures Of Australia's Phone Network Being Built 50 Years Ago

Today in Sydney, Telstra is hosting a reunion of workers who helped build the first coaxial cable connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. These days we’re busy arguing over the benefits of fibre and copper for the NBN, but one thing hasn’t changed: laying those cables is some seriously hard slog, as you can see in these pictures of the network being built.
Awesome Pictures Of Australia's Phone Network Being Built 50 Years Ago

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Why We Get Jet Lag (And How To Avoid It)

It’s four in the morning and you’re stuck in your hotel room, bored out of your skull but wide awake. Thanks jet lag! That’s the price you pay for changing so many time zones in a single aeroplane ride. Here’s why it happens, and how you can prevent it from ruining your trip.
Why We Get Jet Lag (And How To Avoid It)