Computer reads manual, wins Civ – Edge Magazine Yes is pretty much exactly what you might think. Scientists at MIT have built a computer that is capable of teaching itself to play (and win) a moderately complex computer game. I know plenty of people who can't do that.
An Eye-Opening Adventure in Socialized Medicine | NeuroTribes I don't imagine there's anyone I know reading this who doesn't think that socialised medicine is a basic human right, but just in case I do know anyone who is actually daft enough to believe that the American "system" of health care is better than a British (at least at the moment, before the current pack of jackals have finished chopping it's legs off), then I invite you to read this cheering little narrative. The rest of you should read it just because it'll make you feel good.
The iPhone SLR Mount OK, I quite want this. (As I do half of photojojo's stuff.) If only it were about half the price, I'd buy it like a shot.
Google Ads Preferences If you're currently logged in to Google (or if you log in), this page will tell you what ads Google currently things it should show you based on the sites google knows you have recently visited. And if you prefer that their sinister robots *not* spy on you while you browse the web, there's a handy button to opt out.
US anti-piracy body targets foreign website owners for extradition | Technology | The Guardian Here we go again with my blood pressure spiking. The US is basically saying that it considers it acceptable to attempt to extradite foreign nationals who have never set foot on American soil, who do not own anything in the US,and who have not committed any crime in the country they live in. Basically, it's saying that it believes the world to be subject to it's law. This is exactly why anti-US terrorist movements get traction in other countries, you know.
BBC News – Ed Miliband: ‘These strikes are wrong’ Look just go and watch this, if you haven't seen it by now. And please bear in mind that this is, allegedly, someone who would quite like to run the country. Because I don't know about you, but this reminds me of nothing so much as a lightly concussed goldfish.
Justice: RIP? | Beneath The Wig An absolutely sterling article of the recent trail of Levi Bellfield, in defiance of the recent round of Tabloid mentalism over the fact that Bellfield was, in essence, entitled to as full a defence as the next person. Was it sad, and painful for the parents? Yes, and of course they deserve compassion. Was it also in the best interests of justice? Yes. We should not let shoddy tabloid journalism encourage us to think otherwise.
Vizualize.Me – Visualize your resume in one click Really quite want to play with this. If three of you feel likewise, click the link and sign up, I'll get in the beta that much faster, so if there are any other inforgraphics nerds out there, I'd appreciate the help. Ta!
F.B.I. Seizes Web Servers, Knocking Sites Offline – NYTimes.com Seriously, at some point, someone needs to start running training seminars for law enforcement agencies, explain what technology actually *is*. I have no doubt that they employ many people who know, but it's be useful if the people doing the physical work weren't half bright morons hopped on fake authority. Because while knocking a few sites off the intertubes isn't the end of the world, it still is neither right nor fair that innocent third parties like pinboard.in, or Instapaper should be knocked off the internet, and their paying customers deprived of their service (and therefore their money) by government incompetence just because they happen to be in the same room as a computer someone might have used once to do something wrong. This sort of thing makes me disproportionately angry, not for what it is, but for the principle it represents: that the government can screw people for no reason, any time it likes, and receive no comebacks, not even be required to make an apology. Power and stupidity and no accountability. How do we stop this, exactly?
Adramelech Books Here is where you can order C.J. Lines new short short collection, Cold Mirrors. You should do this, pretty much right now. I routinely describe his previous novel as one of the most gleefully horrible things I've ever read, and if you like horror, and haven't read it, you've missed a treat. This short story collection promises to be superb, so seriously, make with the clicky and the shopping.
WordPress › Passwords Reset The WordPress main repository got hack the other day, and several popular plugins were modified to carry malicious code. Long strong short: if you are running a WordPress blog, and have updated your plugins in the last few days, then you should probably check to see if there are new updates available. Most plugins are unaffected, but a few of those that are are very common. The new updates will fix the problem.