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This ellipse shows a region of sky where a galaxy made of dark matter is thought to exist. |
Space.com: Cosmic Mystery Solved? Possible Dark Matter Signal Spotted, Mike Wall Eureka Alert: Researchers detect possible signal from dark matter
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This ellipse shows a region of sky where a galaxy made of dark matter is thought to exist. |
Space.com: Cosmic Mystery Solved? Possible Dark Matter Signal Spotted, Mike Wall Eureka Alert: Researchers detect possible signal from dark matter
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Source: Link below |
Spacenews.com:
NASA To Weigh Several Factors in Decision on Asteroid Mission Option, Jeff Foust
Hey everyone,
I'm plugging for fellow BSFS member Chris Crawley and his 'Let's Restore the Store' campaign on Indie Gogo. Chris is working to restore the 100 year old bookstore that launched the writing career of author 'John Grisham' (Pelican Brief, The Firm) and many others myself included. A donation of $5, 10, 25 or more will go a long way to help keep one of the most 'Author Friendly' bookstores in the country alive and well! Former President Bill Clinton called the store known officially as 'That Bookstore in Blytheville' "One of his favorite bookstores on earth!" Check out the indie gogo campaign and if not for yourself for a future book signing, then for other authors who may one day do their first signing there only to blow up later.
Here's the link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/that-bookstore-in-blytheville-restoration-project/x/9154575
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Image source: Forbes |
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Source: Radio Nessebar |
MIT Technology Review: A Feminist Critique of Silicon Valley, Jason Pontin
Tomorrow: The Bauer Mythos
"The Tyrian female he was mating with cooed and groaned. While in the back of her mind she wondered about the light she’d seen. It hadn’t come from her planet." From the mind of Valjeanne Jeffers comes a tale that is truly out of this world. Born of the short stories Colony and Probe, the long awaited full novel Colony: Ascension has landed! The Earth is dying. Populations have been segregated into worthless and valuable populations. Wages buy only food and shelter, while the rich live like kings. Earth looks to the black abyss of space to save them. And the abyss looks back. Other species have their eyes on Earth, each with their own plans. Cover art and design by Quinton Veal.
Available at www.vjeffersandqveal.com and Amazon
My first PC was the Sinclair 1000 in 1982. If you got it to work you tapped in basic code, recorded your work on cassette tape and watched the blocky results on B/W TV. Never got an Atari or a Commodore. My first "real" PC was a 286 DOS machine. Today I have two older laptops and an Android Tablet. Take a breather............30 years ago we were pushing chunky pixels playing "Pong" today we are trying to build holodecks so we can have virtual reality at home.
The home holodeck, what kind of computer would that take? Suppose you bought the Robin Hood story library and you wanted to immerse into it and either you forgot your part or wanted to freelance a little. How would the computer check your stuff? Maybe you get arrested by the sheriff and get zapped in a torture chamber. It's not in the script but maybe the computer decides to do a little creative freelancing of it's own. So, that will learn ya.
I know you are all suckers for realism but keep the chunky pixels so that you can tell reality from computer generated. Many many have gotten the hacked versions of reality games. They get shot in cyber wars, have the wounded mind but no wounds on their physical body. Do you realize how hard it is to treat mind wounds? They look fine but they are messed up. I used my digital cam to take their picture and retouch them digitally. I've had good results, but I'm not an cosmetic artist.
The absolute funny part is when they come back for a touch up and the system resolution has improved. I still got the old equipment. Some of these folks have two or three resolution formats in their persons. Next year new technology will combine a pixel and a nano so that repairs can be flawless. Until then I have to send folks through a transmutation device. It is not great but you have to swear off "computer realism" till your cyber wounds heal. Parents rejoice it's OK to pull the plug every now the then.
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Source: Link below |
The "Dead Sea Scrolls of Physics" online: Princeton Einstein Papers
#P4TC: Einstein
Interesting twist on an exciting and chilling species. :D
Onto wrapping up the next book
http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/11/now-scheduling-two-week-tour-for_25.html
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Source: Link below |
MIT Technology Review:
Artificial Skin That Senses, and Stretches, Like the Real Thing, David Talbot
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A nanobud consists of a tube of carbon atoms with a bud-like appendage. |
MIT Technology Review:
“Nanobuds” Could Turn Almost Any Surface Into a Touch Sensor, Kevin Bullis
Phys.org:
Unusual electronic state found in new class of unconventional superconductors
Casual games like Candy Crush Saga and Angry Birds may look simple, but underneath those bright colours, calming sounds and flashing messages, there's a lot of deep thinking going on.
In the era of omnipresent smartphones and tablets, these sacharrine treats are nigh-on inescapable, and as breakthrough hits are guaranteed millions of dollars in revenue (Candy Crush Saga alone generated $1.5bn last year), it's no wonder developers are employing increasingly clever psychological tricks to give their creations a crucial edge.
To find out some of the hidden rules of casual game design, we spoke to Steve Stopps, Nic Williams and Jonathan Evans of Lumo Developments, whose first game, Lumo Deliveries Inc, is being specifically designed for a “distracted” audience – people who want to play for short sequences during busy days. We also talk to Dr Simon Moore, a psychologist specialising in games.
Here are six of the key compulsion tactics to look out for the next time you're browsing the app stores.
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Figure 1: Nano-objects with varying curvatures, Nature |
Argonne National Laboratories:
1. Atomic 'mismatch' creates nano 'dumbbells', Jared Sagoff
2. Powerful new technique simultaneously determines nanomaterials' chemical makeup, topography, Angela Hardin
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Map by WillowRaven |
In a world where the evil dragon sorceress rules supreme, the warrior maiden and dragon slayer come together in an epic journey destined to fulfill the 100 year old Prophesy of Drakon, returning balance and goodness to the land.
Join sixteen year old cousins, Kali and Drake, and their best friends, Ferrah and Harold, in their search for the hidden Pool of Life where the great sword - 'Omar - lies waiting to fulfill it's duty. Tremble, scream out, and laugh along as they encounter all manner of crazy obstacles in their quest to return peace to their world by infiltrating the dragon sorceresses impregnable stronghold, Infinitas, and ending the battle begun by their ancestors 100 years ago.
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Cover Art: Angeline Janeiro |
Onto wrapping up the next book
2015 Humanities Conference
Call for Papers: “Speculative Humanities: Steampunk to Afrofuturism”
On March 11-12, 2015, the Humanities Division at Essex County College will host its Spring 2015 Conference, “Speculative Humanities: Steampunk to Afrofuturism.” This two-day conference offers space for writers, musicians, artists, and academicians to explore, expand upon, and rethink the implications of speculative humanities. This year's conference will feature a special emphasis on the life, work, and influence of Octavia E. Butler.
Speculative humanities encompasses a diverse array of works, from the 18th century mysticism of Swedenborg to the 20th century spiritual teachings of Gurdjieff, along with the 19th century texts of authors such as Mary Shelley, Samuel Butler, and Jules Verne to the 20th and 21st century works of H.G. Wells, Octavia E. Butler, Margaret Atwood, Samuel Delany, Cormac McCarthy, and L.A. Banks. The revolutionary wave sweeping across Europe during the 19th century along with the publication of texts such as The Communist Manifesto influenced generations of writers to produce works featuring both urban utopias and dystopian metropolises.
Historical and fictional texts include post-apocalyptic narratives, steampunk, Afrofuturism, fantasy, fan fiction, fabulist, anime, horror, and what was once categorized as science fiction.
Open to all humanities disciplines--literature, music, history, religion, philosophy, art, architecture, theater, dance, and media--we invite papers, panel presentations, screenings, and performances of works that can be included in the admittedly broad category of “speculative humanities.” We welcome interactive, unorthodox panels, screenings, exhibits, musical performances, and other presentations related to our central theme. Papers on the works of Octavia E. Butler are especially encouraged for submission.
Please email (abstracts of 250-300 words) for panels and individual presentations to both of the conference co-chairs: Prof. Jennifer Wager (jwager@essex.edu) and Prof. Rebecca Williams (wrebecca@essex.edu) by Sunday, January 16, 2015.
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Image Source: Interesting Engineering |
Then, we gave voice to a warped skepticism; a clear evidence of the abhorred vacuum of nature being filled by the inexperienced, the uneducated: the loud, obnoxious nincompoops with a microphone and an audience of willfully ignorant malcontents that sadly: vote. In return for this political Baal worship, they are rewarded with policies against their, and the country's long term best interests.