Wed, 16 May 2007 02:20:03 GMT

Interesting sounds

Here's a chance for all of you to start getting involved with Interesting2007, due to the generosity of Simon and Curtis James. Simon and Curtis run a couple of really interesting sound-related caudemos and simonsound. (They do fantastic stuff but my absolute favourite thing is the Sleeping Steam Machines project which you can findsimonsound).

They're going to be recording stuff at the conference, not just all the talks but talking to people, collecting ambient sound, all sorts of stuff and they're going to make a sound montage of the event afterwards which I'm really looking forward to. More details on all of that later, but this is the bit where you come in:

Simon and Curtis are also going to make an audio identity for the conference, something we can use on the podcasts and video and stuff, and maybe play at the beginning of the conference. But in the spirit of what The Design Conspiracy have donsimonsound they don't just want to create something new, they want to build it out of stuff you send in.

So we want you to send us sounds. You can email them to me as digital files, or you can call this skypein number and leave them on the voicemail there - +44 (0)20 7871 1267. You can send anything you like. Anything you think is interesting. You can just say 'interesting' into the voicemail, you can  tell us what you think is interesting, you can record yourself practising the tuba. But the more interesting you make it, the more interesting it'll be.

Does that make sense? I hope so. Please get your contributions in. Posted by: Russell      Read more     Source

Wed, 16 May 2007 02:18:44 GMT

NHS: Invisible Killer

This anti-smoking integrated advertisement campaign was launched by the British National Health Service. The campaign was launched with a view to highlight health reasons behind the new law to make workplaces and other public places smoke free. In addition to it, the campaign also underlines the fact that up to 85 percent of secondhand smoke is invisible and odorless, and just as harmful as the smoke you can see. The advertisements are showing how smoking affecting people around smokers and reflects how dangerous second hand smoke could be.

The campaign also aimed at making people aware that after 1 July, 2007 smoking in all enclosed workplaces will be considered against the law. In the meanwhile, eyebrows were raised on the television advertisement of the campaign. The Advertising Standards Authority has so far received 26 complaints that alleged that the ad was scaremongering, would cause undue fear to non-smokers and challenged whether there is a proven link between second-hand smoke and a raised risk of contracting specific diseases.

The ASA however, is expected to ask the Department of Health to substantiate claims made about the dangers of passive smoking.

Via Hout Lust Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Wed, 16 May 2007 02:16:32 GMT

Is Digg Burying Content Internally?

Neil Patel at Pronet Advertising wrote an exposeDigg is Censoring Content by Burying Stories Internally. The expose delved on how Digg is using unseen and unamed moderators to bury content. The real problem is they are "blaming" it on their users, which unfortunately for Digg, doesn't corroborate with the data they are publishing Digg is Censoring Content by Burying Stories Internally.

Patel wrote:
We all know that the main reason why stories don't hit the Digg homepage is because they get buried. Some say the buries are caused by specific Digg users who have it out for us while others just blame it on the content saying it wasn't Digg worthy. Well last week we did a test on Pronet Advertising that shows Digg might be burying stories internally.

You probably think users buried the story, but it actually was one of the Digg employees who buried it or an algorithm that is targeting specific content topics/sites. If you don't believe me,document that contains 10,000 buries from that day and none of them seem to be buries for the I'm in like with You story.

If you are to conduct your own investigation, you would also yield same findings.... Posted by: noel      Read more     Source

Wed, 16 May 2007 01:14:42 GMT

Industry Bigwigs Stay Away from Oil Auction in Nigeria

Several of the big names in the oil industry failed to turn up at the auction of oil blocks that the Nigerian government undertook yesterday. The outgoing Nigerian government put up for auction nearly 45 oil exploration licenses on Friday, but managed to attract only the small companies and that too for approximately half the total number of blocks.

Despite having been courted in advance, several Western oil corporations decided to stay away from the bid, deterpolitical uncertainty and rampant violence in the country. The current government is to vacate office in the favor of a new government, which will step in on 29 May. The investors were worried by the fact that the contracts might not stand in the long term.

The timing of the auction is surprising indeed, given that the government will vacate its offices in three weeks. A Nigerian court hadrampant violence, a day before, asking the government not to sell two of the oil exploration sites and the fact that government has gone ahead is bound to raise some concerns.

Majority of the bids were submitted by domestic oil companies. The few foreign bidders were virtual unknowns. Amongst the 11 deep offshore blocks, only two were bought by Yorkshire Energy World a small UK firm. Of the 11 blocks on the continental shelf, seven were claimed. 11 inland blocks, in areas that are not considered very prospective, received no bids at all.

The process also suffered from lack of transparency. Ten investors, mostly belonging to China and India, were granted preferential rights on 20 blocks in return for a promise to invest in the Nigerian infrastructure. These firms include: CNOOC (China), CNPC (China), ONGC Mittal (India), KNOC (Korea), Repsol (Spain) and Centrica (Britain). Analysts say that the decision to grant priority rights to some companies undermined the whole reason of auction and compelled many Western companies to stay away from the entire process. Another reason for lack of foreign interest could be the violence that grips rampant violence and shows no signs of abating. This month alone, nearly 30 foreigners have been abducted for ransom in the region.

Even though there was an evident lack of interest, analysts believe that it could have been worse. Now it only remains to be seen whether President Olusegun Obasanjo, pushes ahead and finalises the deals with successful bidders. This would give him only 18 days to finalize the deals which were six to nine months in the making.rampant violence

Read Posted by: Gagan      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 19:30:31 GMT

To Rise From the Grave in Tulsarama Celebrations

The folks in Tulsa, Oklahoma are really getting workeJune 15's Tulsarama resurrection of a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere that was buried, brand new, 50 years ago. It was placed into a sealed vault along with other memorabilia as part of 1957's Golden Jubilee Week, celebrating Oklahoma's semi-centennial. The vault is under the sidewalk in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse and after being lifted out will be moved to the Convention Center Arena for a public unveiling.

According to Tulsarama organisers "The car was seen as a method of acquainting twenty-first century citizens with a suitable representation of 1957 civilization.... the Plymouth was chosen because it was 'an advanced product of American industrial ingenuity with the kind of lasting appeal that will still be in style 50 years from now'." It certainly is in style at classic car auctions! But who gets the Belvedere?

"As part of the "Tulsarama!" festivities, citizens of Tulsa were asked to guess what the population of Tulsa would be in the year 2007. The guesses were then recorded on microfilm and sealed in a steel container buried with the car. When the car and artifacts are excavated, the person whose guess is closest to Tulsa's 2007 population is to be awarded the Belvedere." Is that person still alive? And will the car still be like new? We'll keep you posted. Posted by: Philip Powell      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 11:54:08 GMT

Singer Sheryl Crow Adopts a Baby Boy

Singer and songwriter, Sheryl Crow, has picked up the perfect timing of mothers day for adopting a baby boy. The infant has been named Wyatt Steven. Babys first name is drawn from Crows father, and the second name, Steven, has come from Crows little brother.

The adoption news has been confirmed at Sheryls website and even her representative confirmed the same.

A source close to Sheryl said: Shes super happy. He was born two weeks ago, and shes just over the moon.

The 45-year-old singer was earlier engaged to Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong but their romance could not last long and they called it off in last February and currently Crow is single.

Both, baby and mother, believe to be enjoying some very private family time and all we can say is happy mothers day Sheryl Crow.

Source: Usmagazine Posted by: Fineblog      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 May 2007 09:40:43 GMT

Lindsay to Pose with a Gun for Radar

Lindsay Lohan has been reportedly spotted with a gun in her hand, but the pose was certainly not for any forthcoming movie. The 20-year-old damsel will be seen hitting a hot and provoking pose on the cover of the June issue of Radar.

Lindsay, for the shot, will be brandishing a blaze-tosser, a Glock and a Thompson submachine gun. But I was wondering why on earth an actress like she will stand for such a pose! And here came the answer from Maer Roshan, the magazines editor-in-chief,

Lindsay wants to send a serious message to the snappers.

The actress yearns to get attention from the lot and apparently, thats the main reason mouthed by Lohan for such a stimulating and antagonistic photo shoot.

Via - news Posted by: Anuchanchal      Read more     Source

Sun, 13 May 2007 18:03:49 GMT

What leads to success?

Richard St. John compacts seven years of research on [500] successful people into an unmissable 3-minute slide show on the real secrets of success. This comes TedTalks that Richard delivered it December 14 in three minutes flat (normally takes him two hours).

Here is my summary of his presentation:

• Passion: "I am driven by passion." Freeman Thomas, car designer, Daimler Chrysler
• Work: "It's all hard work. Nothing comes easily. But I have fun." Rupert Murdoch
• Focus: "I think it all has to do with focusing yourself on one thing." Norman Jewison, filmmaker
• Persist: "Persistence is the number one reason for our success." Joe Kraus, co-founder, Excite. You have to persist through failure and CRAP which means Criticism, Rejection, Assholes, Pressure.
• Ideas: "I had an idea - founding the first micro-computer software company...." Bill Gates, software guy. Listen. Observe. Be Curious. Ask Questions. Problem Solve. Make Connections.
• Good: "To be successful put your nose down in something and get damn good at it." Alex Garden, Game Developer. There's no magic, Practice, Practice, Practice.
• Push: "Push yourself. Physically, mentally, you gotta push, push, push." David Gallo, marine scientist. Push through shyness and self doubt. "I always had self doubts. I wasn;t good enough, easn;t smart enough. I didn't think I'd make it." Goldie Hawn, actress. It is not always easy to push yourself and that is why they created Motherhood. "My mother pushed me." Frank Gehry, architect
• Serve: "It was a privilege to serve as a doctor." Sherwin Nuland, professor of surgery, Yale. Millionaires serve others something of value.

Download File

Want more like thiDownload File or mDownload File. Posted by: Greg Balanko-Dickson      Read more     Source

Sun, 13 May 2007 15:35:28 GMT

Rosa 'Ausmas'

Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel

Thank you to Lorraine E. of Chicago, Illinois for submitting today's photograph – much appreciated!

The Kemper Center for Home Gardening has an excellent factsheet for Rosa 'Ausmas'. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source