Random News not worthy of own thread

[pjknibbs]

She can't do a worse job than the current incumbent, surely?

[Nanook]

Oprah Winfrey actively thinking about running for U.S. President...

Just what we need, another celebrity with absolutely zero government service experience thinking they can run the country.

[Ketraar]

TBF I think its a case of peopel projecting than her being actually up for it. Still its ironic that people instead of learning from past mistakes, decided to double down on it. Maybe THIS time it will be good.

Do you know the definition of insanity (strong language)

MFG

Ketraar

[Morkonan]

She can't do a worse job than the current incumbent, surely?

Uh... Wasn't that the reason people gave for electing the current incumbent?

Isn't that always the reason?

[Usenko]

No, she can't do a worse job than the incumbent. However, I suspect that this is setting the bar incredibly low . . .

[Morkonan]

No, she can't do a worse job than the incumbent. However, I suspect that this is setting the bar incredibly low . . .

Th-th-there's a "bar?"

***

This just in: Kodak moves into the blockchain realm.

This is a bigger deal than one might think. No, I don't think Kodak is going to be issuing Kodakoins.

What they are going to do, however, is to apply blockchain technology to help manage image rights.

You create a funny post and decide you're going to embed an image. You rush out and find a funny picture using Google's image search and embed the link and post your funny junk. The forum software dutifully loads up that image, everyone laughs, and you make Internetz History.

It's free, you're not making any money from it, nobody is paying Egosoft to visit the forums to gander at pics and the picture was just sitting there, in the net, so you used it. That's fine, really.

BUT, then there's the people who make money from other people's work without paying them for that work. They grab a pic off the net and slap it on their website, not thinking that the photographer or creator created that product for sale and consumption, not for free use.

Image searchers have recently incorporated search standards which specifically differentiate between free and commercial pictures. But, they suck. They're unreliable and, to be honest, you never know if the person who is selling the picture actually has the rights to do so.

I use a lot of "textures" in my little 3D hobby. If I make something for someone else, I pay very close attention to usage rights. Strict attention. Why? Those creators deserve to get paid if they wanted to get paid for their work. I do create my own textures and materials, but there are times when I need something quickly. Thank you internetz...

This technology could be used to help manage usage rights for any picture. Or, perhaps, any digital product... Anyone think of that? (I just did... Maybe Kodak did, too?)

Images for sale commonly have watermarks or are presented in a preview version that isn't suitable for professional use. They can also use embedded "watermark" tech, like a digital signature. They can have meta-information and all sorts of crap "inside" them. In fact, digital standards allow for a wide variety of invisible information to be included in digital pictures. The sky is literally only limited by how big you want that image file to be. (Though, there can be "out of range" errors for certain functions. You won't be embedding an entire game in a standard jpg without problems.)

But NONE of it helps to manage usage rights if the person looking at it doesn't care. And, it can all be changed with the appropriate software.

But this... This could be the beginning of the "face of tomorrow" when it comes down to commercial images. Seriously, it's A Big Deal ™ and it has a company with a well-respected name taking up its cause.

Smart people have seen the advantages of this and the stock has shot up 40%. Granted, it probably had some headroom to begin with, but now? Forty-percent is forty-percent and you can spend that. If they handle this smartly, which I think they just might, you could end up seeing Kodak Digital Rights Management symbols on every professional, commercial, digital image.

PS - For the curious, this is a perfect example of how innovation and technology can be used to create new products, even those that lie outside of the original intent of the technology.

[burger1]

It looks like certain roller coasters can be used to pass kidney stones.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Thund ... ney_stones

In the October 2016 Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, a paper entitled "Validation of a Functional Pyelocalyceal Renal Model for the Evaluation of Renal Calculi Passage While Riding a Roller Coaster" was published.[3] The paper's author, Dr. Wartinger, found that patients of his had passed kidney stones after riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World on vacation, including one who passed three stones on three separate occasions. The doctor then tested this result, with the permission of Disney, with a 3D model of a kidney by riding the ride over 20 times. The study found nearly 70% of the time, the kidney stone was passed, with results varying depending on which row they were in.[3][4] The study also found that the Space Mountain and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith failed to cause this result.[5]

[Morkonan]

It looks like certain roller coasters can be used to pass kidney stones.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Thund ... ney_stones ...

I remember reading about this. It's pretty darn cool, considering that some people can have a really hard time with these things. I keep forgetting to tell a friend of mine that has had some issues, from time to time. Thanks for the reminder!

[clakclak]

The new Us ambassador to the Netherlands claimed in 2015 that there are No-Go zones in the Netherlands where Islamists burn dutch politicians alive. When asked about it by the dutch media he refused to answer.....only problem was that the dutch media didn't stop asking. What followed was odd and somewhat funny.

https://twitter.com/RGjournalist/status ... 6325002240 (you may need to turn on the sound, bottom right corner of the video player.)

[Tracker001]

What happens when you get an atheist and a christian together to discuss the teachers of Jesus Christ, where they agree and where they disagree? Stefan Molyneux and Dr Duke Pesta discuss why Christianity promotes free will, compulsion in matters of virtue, the politicization of modern religion, why atheism trends towards collectivism and much much more!

Stefan Molyneux : Stefan Molyneux (born 1966) is an Irish-Canadian political activist, amateur philosopher and and YouTube personality. Since 2005, he is the host of Freedomain Radio, a bastardization of FDR's initials podcast where he discusses philosophy, libertarianism, anarcho-capitalism, atheism, science and relationships.

Dr. Duke Pesta : received his M.A. in Renaissance literature from John Carroll University and his Ph.D. in Shakespeare and Renaissance literature from Purdue University. He is a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh and the Academic Director of Freedom Education Project.

What Jesus Christ Said | Duke Pesta and Stefan Molyneux <>Conversation

Interesting Hour and a quarter .

[Morkonan]

The people of Hawaii in the United States just got warned of an "Incoming Ballistic Missile Threat" through the State's Civil Defense system and its social media, cellphone, network. Every cellphone in Hawaii received the text warning, advising them to immediately seek shelter and that "This is not a test."

It was a false alarm, a mistake in the system during a test. Or, something like that. Events still unfolding.

Edit:Update

It appears it was a false alarm generated during a shift change. According to statements, there is a procedure that takes place at shift change involving instructions on how to activate the system for the arriving shift. Instead of being a test, it was actually "live." It took over half-an-hour for official statements to be made informing the public it was a false alarm. There are around 1.5 million people living in Hawaii and the message was transmitted to all cell-phones capable of receiving a text message...

This will significantly impact public opinion regarding North Korea and its nuclear program, no doubt about it. What that opinion will be as to what course should be taken is anyone's guess, though.

Update: pic

[ external image ]

[Alan Phipps]

... or to put it another way - the unannounced test of the warning system was very successful.

[pjknibbs]

This will significantly impact public opinion regarding North Korea and its nuclear program, no doubt about it. What that opinion will be as to what course should be taken is anyone's guess, though.

Er, why would it do that when it was a false alarm? Was it North Korean interference that caused the false alarm in the first place?

[Grim Lock]

Not news but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAb8KIhgVAI

For your enjoyment, i found it hilarious!

[brucewarren]

This will significantly impact public opinion regarding North Korea and its nuclear program, no doubt about it. What that opinion will be as to what course should be taken is anyone's guess, though.

Er, why would it do that when it was a false alarm? Was it North Korean interference that caused the false alarm in the first place?

I'm not so sure about that. Folks have just had the crud scared out of them. Rational thought may well have just taken a holiday.

[Morkonan]

... or to put it another way - the unannounced test of the warning system was very successful.

You sure you don't write for the Trump administration? That would have been perfect!

Er, why would it do that when it was a false alarm? Was it North Korean interference that caused the false alarm in the first place?

It just took the topic out of the "headlines" and plopped it right in the middle of people's backyards. Now, it's "real." It doesn't matter that this could have happened years in the past or future, it happened "now" during a time of unease with DPRK's constant threats. Our natural tendency to pair associated things will add fuel to the fire of public opinion, even if DPRK had nothing at all to do with this. Keep in mind that 1.5+ million people, plus everyone they called, thinking it was their "last moment" thought for 40 minutes, at the least, that they were going to experience the fires of creation. They ran, men, women, kids, the elderly, whoever, to "shelter." ... lolz. "Shelter." There are few places rated for that, these days. (When I was growing up, the fallout shelter signs were all over the place, if you knew where to look. I had my route planned, just in case.)

DPRK had nothing to do with this. A staffer brought up the wrong window, literally clicked a button, and then clicked "Yes" when the dialogue asked "Are you really sure you want to do this?" The staffer has been "disciplined", but not fired. Probably scrubbing public toilets right now...

But, it won't matter. A+B=C as far as our rat-brains are concerned. It will influence our DPRK policies. KJU would be very, very, smart not to do anything too provocative right now. We're not in the mood...

[clakclak]

Not news but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAb8KIhgVAI

For your enjoyment, i found it hilarious!

That must be one of the weirdest and funniest interviews I have ever seen.

In other news, it has been 114 days since the election and Germany still does not have a new government. The real question right now seems to be: Will we manage to form a government eventually or will the limbo of coalition talks go on till the next election in 2021?

[The Q]

In other news, it has been 114 days since the election and Germany still does not have a new government. The real question right now seems to be: Will we manage to form a government eventually or will the limbo of coalition talks go on till the next election in 2021?

The real question is will we manage to beat Belgium's record of going "541 days without a government"?

[clakclak]

In other news, it has been 114 days since the election and Germany still does not have a new government. The real question right now seems to be: Will we manage to form a government eventually or will the limbo of coalition talks go on till the next election in 2021?

The real question is will we manage to beat Belgium's record of going "541 days without a government"?

If we try really, really hard? Not to sure to be honest. Forming a government seemed like a hard but possiable task, than again there was a time were we said the same about building an airport.

[Morkonan]

Not news but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAb8KIhgVAI

For your enjoyment, i found it hilarious!

That must be one of the weirdest and funniest interviews I have ever seen.

In other news, it has been 114 days since the election and Germany still does not have a new government. The real question right now seems to be: Will we manage to form a government eventually or will the limbo of coalition talks go on till the next election in 2021?

Don't feel bad. The US Federal Budget is due to run out of money on Friday unless Congress agrees on a new budget. Of course, they will, since if they don't they can't get paid... But still, this seems like just a way for them to claim they accomplished something "together" which is friggin stupid. "Congratulate us! We finally managed to agree to pay ourselves!"