Monthly Archives: February 2010

Taliban’s top spokesman in UK Moazzam Begg, supported by Amnesty International

Posted on by

Human Rights defender suspended by Amnesty for opposing Terrorist's involvement with group

Gita Sahgal, head of Amnesty International unit for Women's Rights, has been suspended by the group, for opposing the alliance of the group with a top Taliban supporter in the UK Moazzam Begg (photo - right).

From the London Times Online, "Amnesty International damaged by Taliban link" Feb. 7:

Gita Sahgal, head of the gender unit at Amnesty’s international secretariat, believes that collaborating with Moazzam Begg, a former British inmate at Guantanamo Bay, “fundamentally damages” the organisation’s reputation.

In an email sent to Amnesty’s top bosses, she suggests the charity has mistakenly allied itself with Begg and his “jihadi” group, Cageprisoners, out of fear of being branded racist and Islamophobic.

Sahgal describes Begg as “Britain’s most famous supporter of the Taliban”. He has championed the rights of jailed Al-Qaeda members and hate preachers, including Anwar al-Awlaki, the alleged spiritual mentor of the Christmas Day Detroit plane bomber.

Sahgal went public with her disagreements three weeks ago, saying to The Times:

"I believe the campaign fundamentally damages Amnesty International’s integrity and, more importantly, constitutes a threat to human rights. To be appearing on platforms with Britain’s most famous supporter of the Taliban, whom we treat as a human rights defender, is a gross error of judgment."

Now Michael Weiss of the Wall Street Journal reports "Amnesty and the Taliban" Feb. 26:

Now she's suspended from her job and in need of an attorney willing to confront a venerable nongovernmental organization...

What happened? Ms. Sahgal tried to get her Amnesty colleagues to cease their partnership with Moazzam Begg...

Weiss further notes:

The Taliban, Mr. Begg insists in his book, were "better than anything Afghanistan has had in the past twenty-five years." Elsewhere he has cited and sold the works of the "charismatic scholar" Sheikh Abdullah Azzam, erstwhile mentor to Osama bin Laden.

American of India heritage runs as Republican for US Congress: Staunchly opposes Radical Islam

Posted on by

Vijay Kumar is one of 8 Republicans running for US Congress in Tennessee's 5th CD (Nashville.) The seat is currently held by longtime incumbent Democrat Jim Cooper, a Blue Dog, but considered very vulnerable. Tennessee has moved increasingly dark red Republican in recent years, and Cooper is one of the very last Democrat hold-outs.

Kumar ran in the 2008 primaries and received nearly 1/3rd of the vote. He says now:

I am an immigrant from India who has lived in Nashville for twenty-one years... I am running again because Congress has failed to take leadership on the issues of illegal immigration, taxation, English as our official language, our economy, healthcare reform, abortion, and the War on Terror.

Kumar's top issue is opposing Radical Islam, according to IndiaWest:

Radical Islam is “more dangerous than either Nazism or Communism,” because those other ideologies “do not claim to be a religious faith.”

Radical Jihad, he added, “has been around for 1,400 years” and is a pressing threat to the American way of life.

Kumar's solution? Work with allies to stop the spread of radical islamic ideology:

"America is not alone in this struggle. We can accomplish our goals by engaging our allies. Inclusion and diplomacy should be our catchwords. We must strengthen our alliances and develop a strategy of cultural defense for Western Europe, Great Britain, India, and other nations that have been victims of Islamic terrorism..."

Watch a video presenting his views on Islamic Terorism at KumarforCongress.com

A Free Market Marxist? Is that even possible??

Posted on by

Interview with Dr. John C. Drew, former Marxist friend of Obama

Knew Barack Obama in early 1980s, from Occidental University.

"He was a pure Marxist"

From CNBC, Obama speaking to the Business Roundtable yesterday:

"Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, I am an ardent believer in the free market,"

"We have arrived at a juncture in our politics where reasonable efforts to update our regulations, or make basic investments in our future, are too often greeted with cries of 'government takeover' or even 'socialism'," Obama said.

"Getting this balance right has less to do with big government or small government than it does smart government. It's not about being anti-business or pro-government; it's about being pro-growth and pro-jobs," he said.

Does Big Government Lead to Smaller Government?

Posted on by

Greg, a loyal reader,, emails me this query:

I live near Chicago Illinois. It must be one of the least libertarian places in the US. Chicago is famous for its preposterously large (and horrendously run) government. All this government has created very large operating deficits for the city, county and state. The government has gotten so big and burdensome that Chicago has had to think creatively to solve its debt problems.

Here's my dilemma: To solve their budget problems, Chicago has ironically been at the leading edge of some very libertarian-friendly policies.

For example, the city became one of the first municipalities to privatize a major tollway (the Skyway)... and is now trying to privatize a major airport (Midway). Chicago also privatized its parking meter operations. With that privatization, parking rates rose to a more competitive and unsubsidized rate. This deal has been criticized - but now more parking spaces are available and the company that runs the meters has upgraded all the facilities so that now people no longer need 500 quarters to feed the meters... you can pay with cash, credit card, etc.

The obvious paradox is that as government gets worse (and budgets get bigger), the city has resorted to more libertarian-friendly options. So what's the hopeful libertarian to do?

So does this mean that Frankin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama are big time libertarians?

Last Test of FSM-17

Posted on by

The last test of the FSM-17

ATK Launch Systems conducted the last test of the FSM-17.  The FSM-17 is the flight support motor for the space shuttle.

This, the 52nd test conducted for NASA by ATK was the last test of the motor that has seen 129 shuttle flights.  The tests report data over 258 channels looking at 43 design parameters.

Four more shuttle flights to go.

Meanwhile:  Space X has a Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon qualification spacecraft sitting on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral in preparation for static firing to collect data from sensors on and around the vehicle prior to an actual launch.

I don’t want to give anybody the wrong impression so I am going to state right up front I am a fan of and wholeheartedly support private space flight and private space flight initiatives.

My whole issue goes to where this whole country is heading.  The leaders are making everything a “crises” when it really isn’t, just to bully their own objectives though, no matter how poorly thought out.  As far as human space flight goes, oh give it to the private industry.  Give what to them?  Sure the private space industry IS going to get there and I am glad of it, but at the moment they are no where near the level that NASA has achieved and I’m sorry, they are going to be a while getting there.  Shutting down human spaceflight in the meantime is just plain nonsense.  Come on people, sure WHEN the private industry is able then YES by all means do it, but not before.

The same sort of thing is going on in this state:  OMG, we got to get rid of a nuclear power plant.  Fine what are you going to replace it with?  Nothing that’s what, some pipe dream of renewable energy is the mantra.  Sure we can do it but we aren’t ready to do it yet.  When we are, fine shut the plant, but not until.  Keep in mind the very ones that are screaming for renewable energy sing a different tune when the windmills go up, oh yeah, NIMBY.  So they talk the talk and play the bully card but when push comes to shove things are different story.

Yep, instead of thinking things through let’s throw the baby out with the bath water and then try and blame somebody else when things don’t go well.  Common sense seems to be dead in American politics, no I mean pretty much completely.   Pity.

NCBI ROFL: Do your balls hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? | Discoblog

Posted on by

4044289768_16a4018652Swinging high and low: Why do the testes hang at
different levels? A theory on surface area and
thermoregulation.

“Anatomically, one or the other half of the scrotal sac hangs at a lower level than the other. The testes, housed within the sacs are also situated, suspended, one slightly lower than its other counterpart. While many theories on why and how of the testicular levels have been proposed, including those engendered by vascular, functional, embryological or evolutionary influences, none of the proposed scientific reasons are totally convincing. In our view, one additional, yet overlooked cause for the naturally displaced level could be, simply, to expose more surface area of the active organ to cooler environs. While it is an accepted fact that suspension of the scrotum outside the abdominal cavity is paramount to the functional efficiency of testes in a preferred lower temperature – it still does not address the question – why hang at different levels?… In effect, just by suspension at two levels, nearly one entire extra surface is available for thermoregulation and cooling. That is, the surface area available now becomes two lateral, plus two halves of the two medial. This extra area available to the testes, probably is, yet another a significant but overlooked embryonic factor that dictates differential rates of descent and displacement of anatomical levels of twin reproductive male organs.”

uneven_balls

Thanks to Eric for today’s ROFL!

Photo: flickr/brownpau

Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: penis friday.
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: The case of the haunted scrotum.


Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses Yelp of Extortion | Discoblog

Posted on by

yelp_logoYelp, the popular website that offers reviews of local businesses, has just been bitten by Cats and Dogs, a veterinary hospital that is accusing the site of extortion. In a class-action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles this week, the Long Beach pet hospital claims that Yelp tried to get it to cough up $300 a month for a 12-month advertising commitment in exchange for tweaking possible bad reviews of the clinic.

In its complaint, Cats and Dogs alleges that Yelp carried a negative review of the hospital written by a certain “Chris R” that the hospital’s owner, Gregory Perrault, viewed as false and defamatory. He asked Yelp to remove it because the review was based on an office visit that occurred 18 months before the post was written, and Yelp’s guidelines mandate that reviews must be posted within 12 months of an experience. The site took down Chris R’s review.

However another bad review, this time by “Kay K,” popped up five days later. According to Wired, Kay K wrote:

Dr. Perrault is the rudest vet I’ve ever been to . . . probably one of the rudest people I’ve had the displeasure of meeting. I agree with the previous reviews about making you feel like an unfit mom. My pup had been sick and I had a theory on what the problem may have been and he wouldn’t even entertain the idea, but instead, made me feel bad because my dog got sick. And, my poor dog was terrified of him! He made me feel like I was 2 inches tall and repeatedly looked down his nose at me. Oh, and OVER PRICED! OMG! Who does he think he is??? I did not feel welcomed by him nor his staff. I paid you for a service! No need to treat me so bad!

This is when Perrault alleges Yelp started pestering him; he says sales staff called and pressured him to consider an advertising package that would delete negative reviews, and would keep bad reviews from appearing in Google searches. Wired reports that when the doctor refused to bite, Chris R’s review reappeared on the site, along with a new one from Kay K that read in part:

I ran in to him in a neighborhood store right after he saw my poor sick dog at his clinic and he looked right at me, recognized me, rolled his eyes and looked away!!!! Seriously, someone needs to knock this guy down to the size he really is. He needs to drop his Napolean complex and be a professional. After my horrible experience with him, I took my sick dog to Bixby Animal Clinic and I have never had a more pleasant vet experience! Go there instead! My dog loved everyone there!

On being asked to remove this posting, Yelp declined, stating that they were not in a position to verify if all the reviews had been written by the same person. It added that the reviews reflected the personal opinion of the reviewers and that Yelp, adhering to its review guidelines, couldn’t do anything about them. Perrault’s lawyer called this tactic “high-tech extortion.”

This is not the first time Yelp has found itself in hot water. Last year, the Oakland-based East Bay Express found six business owners who had received calls from Yelp sales reps promising to move or remove negative reviews in exchange for an advertising package.

The report said:

In another six instances, positive reviews disappeared — or negative ones appeared — after owners declined to advertise.

A former Yelp employee reportedly confirmed to the paper that several sales reps promised local businesses that bad reviews would be purged in exchange for advertising on the site. While this is legal, the report pointed out that it raised ethical questions about a site that prides itself on “Real People. Real Reviews.”

The San Francisco-based Web site had more than 26 million visitors in December 2009 and has published more than 9 million reviews.

Related Content:
80beats: Some M.D.s Try to Amputate Online Reviews
80beats: Should Advertisers Be Allowed to Track Your Bedroom Habits?
80beats: How Did “Soupnazi” Allegedly Steal 130 Million Credit Card Numbers?
80beats: Researchers Guess Social Security Numbers From Public Data

Image: Yelp


Killer Killer Whale “Tilikum” May Have Been Over-Stressed; Won’t Be Euthanized | 80beats

Posted on by

orcaThere was no “Shamu Show” at SeaWorld today as people at the park mourned the death of Dawn Brancheau, the 40-year-old trainer apparently pulled to her death by Tilikum, one of the multiple killer whales the park uses under the name Shamu. As details continue to surface, park owners must decide what to do with the 12,000-pound aquatic animal.

First off, the public should keep in mind that this incident is highly unusual, says Wayne Perryman of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He studies orcas (another name for killer whales) in the wild and says that they’ve never been known to attack a person as Tilikum has done, pulling Brancheau under water until she drowned. Perryman points out that other captive animals are known to snap and turn on their trainers—not just killer whales. “I think this isn’t really a killer whale issue,” he said. “It’s when you’re dealing with large mammals in a captive situation’” [National Geographic].

Nancy Black of California’s Monterey Bay Whale Watch notes that Tilikum had a more aggressive track record than other orcas, perhaps because of his history. He was captured near Iceland in November 1983, according to Discovery News, and kept in small tanks for most of his life. “I’m sure it was a high stress situation,” says Ms. Black. “Being kept in a small tank like that, especially because he was originally from the wild” [Christian Science Monitor]. And this is the third human death with which the killer whale has been linked. The first was in 1991, when a trainer at Sealand of the Pacific fell into the tank with Tilikum and two other orcas. In 1999, a homeless man sneaked into the whale tank at Sea World in Orlando after hours. The man died of hypothermia, although bruises and bite marks suggest that the orca may have had a role in his death [Christian Science Monitor]. This time, though, a crowd of people was on hand for the tragedy.

SeaWorld has said it will evaluate the orca, but added that it has no plans to euthanize the animal. And Brancheau’s friends say that though they miss her, she knew the danger of her job. Earlier today, Jack Hanna, a well-known animal expert with ties to Central Florida, spoke on national television about the tragedy, saying animal experts such as Brancheau are aware of the risks, as well as the benefits, of working with live animals [Orlando Sentinel].

Related Content:
80beats: West Coast Killer Whales Are Poisoned By Pollution-Tainted Killer Salmon
DISCOVER: Sea Sick, why are killer whales near Seattle dying?
DISCOVER: Wild Ones, some killer whales have switched to eating seals and otters

Image: iStockphoto


Underwater Robot Scientist Can Plan Experiments, Analyze Samples | 80beats

Posted on by

_47367584_auv-under1It’s a robot that could change the way scientists gather data from underwater sources. Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California have developed a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and like other AUVs this sophisticated robot can slip under the waves, sweep the ocean floor, collect data, and perform programmed tasks. But the “Gulper” goes one step further–it doesn’t just follow its program, it can also make decisions on its own, and can plan its own route, avoiding hazardous currents and obstacles [BBC].

Explaining how the robot functions, Kim Fulton-Bennett from MBARI said: “We tell it, ‘here’s the range of tasks that we want you to perform’, and it goes off and assesses what is happening in the ocean, making decisions about how much of the range it will cover to get back the data we want” [BBC]. The ocean-going bot has also been described as “a microbiology laboratory in a can,” because it can analyze some samples in situ. The ‘ecogenomic sensor’, which is packed into a roughly 1-metre-long canister, can test for proteins released by microorganisms and even run DNA tests match DNA to determine which species are present [Nature News]. Findings can instantly be relayed to the shore, saving scientists the cumbersome task of transferring samples from site to lab.

Describing the ocean robot at the Ocean Sciences meeting in Portland, the research team explained that the AUV’s software is similar to that used on NASA’s Mars rovers. The software, called “T rex,” allows the machine to detect and avoid obstacles in its path. However, the scientists noted that unlike the Mars Rovers, the AUV has to function at great depths and in total darkness, so it relies less on visual cues. The researchers also modified the software for maximum flexibility so that the robot could decide how to get the best samples. So if a scientist wanted to study the microorganisms living on each side of a temperature gradient, the AUV would find the boundary, follow it, and pick the best spot to take samples [Nature News].

For now, the scientists hope to use the AUV to detect harmful algal blooms which can shut down beaches and cause a downward spike in seaside businesses. They expect to soon find many more applications for the AUV in deep-ocean research.

Related Content:
DISCOVER: A Thousand Diving Robots
DISCOVER: Oceanography
DISCOVER: Sweeping The Ocean Floor
DISCOVER: 20,000 PROBES UNDER THE SEA

Image:MBARI


From #whitenoise: Batman, Warmongers, and Drunkards [Comments]

Posted on by

OCEntertainment wanted to know why we don't have a Comment of the Week. I don't really have an answer to that, but how about a collection of this week's best #whitenoise comment threads instead?

If you don't like the gallery view, you can click here.

We're proud of our comment system and commenter community. A great display of the sheer insanity and brilliance of the gals and boys who make it so wonderful is our open forum, #whitenoise. From Whitenoise is a regular feature to show the best of the best and the weirdest of the weird.


It's the weekend, so Jux and some pals are getting an early start on #drunkmodo. In their defense though, they're being responsible and keeping track of their BACs.


Oh, Nathan Obbards! Always ready with a new game thread or a Batman-themed photoshop challenge.


jeevesofRKdia wants you to stick a caption on his strange creation.

So far my favorites are WolfCobra13's

I'm the Twitter whale's depressed cousin!

and otko's

I'm blue da ba dee ba da bi

Ok, maybe I'm fibbing about being all that fond of Otko's line—I really hated that song—but I'm just happy he's rejoined us in #whitenoise.


Modest Mouse is giving everyone—including himself—in #whitenoise a pat on the back:

You guys are especially hilarious today, bringing your A-game and whatnot. Good work, you've entertained me... now get back to it.


MagicalTrev is getting serious and needs some advice:

Ok, I could use some advice, or at least some educated opinions. I'll settle for what I can get here, though.

Jabs aside, I have relied on a PDA in some sort or another for the last 10 years. I do not want to spend a monthly fee for the privilege of using a smartphone when I'm not interested in the data features. I need something to keep track of appointments, can store simple notes quickly, and I wouldn't mind if it stored an address book or could play music. Displaying pictures would also be a strong plus, as would syncing with either outlook or google calendar. If I could get these features in a phone without needing to sign up for a data package, that would be ideal as I'm tired of carrying around multiple devices. Thoughts or suggestions?

Picture by Jiri Brozovsky


SmokeyRivers missed most of it, but there was a grand war. The troops of #whitenoisers went off into battle against Lifehacker and Kotaku. Thankfully, General Bill Can't Fart helped keep things organized:

OK, troops. In about 1 hour, we will begin war against Kotaku. This battle will be more challanging. There's a good chance the enemy could retaliate and attack our base. There will be lives lost.

So, battle plans. We'll be attacking Kotaku's #speakup at 11am EST. Let's gather all our contest ideas and games and post them there. If you don't understand what's going on, take a look at what's left of Lifehacker's #openthread ([lifehacker.com]) and the #greatgizwar tag.

Remember guys, we're going over there to have fun. Some of the editors have reminded us to not let things get too out of control. So don't get too crazy, obnoxious, stupid, etc. We're not trolls, we're #whitenoisers. Our goal is to spread our ways to the other Gawker blogs.

REMEMBER! Wear the #greatgizwar hashtag in all of our comments there, this needs to be organized.


Ok, Ok. I'll be honest. I do have a favorite comment thread right now. It was started by a fellow named BobotheTeddy and is a tribute to most of the Gizmodo editors (though I think that Brownski still wants to know what makes me so darn special that I get to hold the great banhammer).


Wednesday is supposed to be #wednesdaybookclub in #whitenoise, and Fractal the Meek and jeevesofRKdia made sure to get some discussions started.

Picture by Ian Wilson


I'm not sure what Kotaku commenter deanbmmv was thinking when he posted this picture in #whitenoise, but it certainly kicked off one heck of a thread.


This week's Fake Rumor Thursday and the fantastic Damage, Splash brought us this silliness:

7. This rumor is sponsored by Windows 7.

7. Further spurred by the current Thread Raids, rumor has it other Giz commenting team is forming plans for counter attack. For instance, lifehacker will either use automated comment attack or use outside third party to handle that, as using actual manpower would really cramp their productivity. io9 is rumored to use cyborgs from outer space, while Japolik will employ bunches of degenerate car lovers.

All sign points to the LEGION invading Gizmodo. Thanks guys, like we really need that.

7. Apple's Mighty/Magic/Hyper Mega Mouse will be replaced by the super sleek G-Spot Mouse. Lines forming as we speak, developing.

7. Kingston, outraged by reports of not so nice memory cards entering their supply chain, purchased several Chinese factories in Shenzen, and introduced new lines, such as Samdisk, SanSunk, and Rexar. Developing.

7. Sony will completely abandon Memory Stick and adopt XD as their primary memory format. Then the XD will be immediately supplemented by XD-HS-PRO-XG-PS3++ and XD-DUO-PRO-PS4+++.

7. Jay Leno will introduce a new sidekick: Conan O'Brien. Andy Richter will be their personal slave for the rest of the term.


It seems that jmcm's friend was really bored while decorating his or her room, but it still looks neat.


Conspiracies! Zmx15 wants to play a game:

This one is called Conspiracy. You just keep relating things to other things and end up with a whole huge conspiracy theory.

ExamplePersonA: January is a Month
ExamplePersonB: January Starts with J
ExamplePersonC: Jesus also starts with J
ExamplePersonQ: Jesus works for Gizmodo

Jason Chen also works for Gizmodo.
Jason just got a bunny.
Bunnies are evil...


Patent Points to Camera-Based Swipe Controls For iPhone [Apple]

Posted on by

With a new iPhone expected to debut this summer, Apple's phone-related patents start to take on added weight. Especially when they're as badass as the one unveiled yesterday that turns the iPhone's camera into a swipe pad.

The technology described in the patent, dug up by the diligent folks at Patently Apple, would allow an iPhone user to fast forward and rewind through voicemails, navigate web pages, or scroll through contact lists and iTunes simply by swiping one finger against the iPhone's camera.

The proposed controls would also be tap sensitive, meaning that you can access different phone or UI functions simply by tapping the camera with your forefinger. Theoretically, all of these controls would also apply to the iPad... should it ever, you know, get a camera.

The patent was originally filed in Q3 of 2008, which may have left just enough time for Apple to have implemented the tech by this summer. Let's hope so... this is one of those patents that actually seems as functional as it does cool. [Patently Apple]


Celsius X VI II and the Mysterious Mechanical Cellphone [Mechanics]

Posted on by

On March 18, at the Baselworld watch show in Switzerland, a vaporous French company called Celsius X-VI-II will unveil the Papillon, a $300,000 mobile phone that is packed with the most advanced micro-mechanics of any gadget ever created.

All of this according to a recent profile in PCMag, one that frankly raises more questions than it answers. In the piece, Celsius co-founder Alejandro Ricart offers a vague picture of his team's ambition, citing high-end Swiss watches as the inspiration for his company's ultra-luxury, mechanical mobile phone.

"We want to take the useful functions of the cell phone and try to re-think them, and re-create them in a mechanical way," he explained. One such suggested mechanism is a kinetic hinge that powers the phone when it's flipped open and closed shut.

Sascha Segan, PCMag's reporter, seems pretty enthralled by the whole business, describing the device as a "hand-made art-watch with more than 600 mechanical components, many of which are visible to the naked eye."

Papillon is French for "butterfly," an insect that apparently inspired the design of the phone and, when you come to think of it, is sort of a strange little creature in its own right. As you can see, a butterfly floats fleetingly through the teaser clip for the phone.

All of this is quite bizarre and potentially very dumb, like something out of a Dan Brown novel*, and it certainly feels like it could all blow away in a cloud of vapor. The x-ray shown above is the only image of the phone available. But in a genre of gadget that is almost categorically uninteresting to us, this ultra high-end device has piqued our curiosity. [Celsius X VI II via PCMag]

*If Celsius's shadowy forces silence me for making all of this public, or for ripping the weird promo video from their site without permission, just FOLLOW THE SIGNS.


V-MODA Remix Remote In-Ear Headphones Will Make Your iPod Look Ugly [Headphones]

Posted on by

V-MODA has made some rather nice in-ear headphones with a pretty reasonable $99 price tag. They're shiny, slender, durable, and capable of controlling your iPod, iPhone, or MacBook with those three little buttons. Oh. and they come in four colors.

V-MODA PRESENTS REMIX REMOTE HEADPHONES: SOPHISTICATED SOUND AND DESIGN OPTIMIZED FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES

Series Offers Music Enthusiasts Unparalleled Audio, Style and Reinforced Durability

HOLLYWOOD (Feb. 22, 2010) – V-MODA, the music lifestyle brand and manufacturer of award-winning headphones, today announced Remix Remote, the latest fashion-forward in-ear headphone featuring unrivaled audio performance partnered with an integrated three-button remote. Created by V-MODA's meticulous acoustics and engineering team, Remix Remote is a completely redesigned version of the company's original in-ear headphones, created to enhance the listening experience and dynamics of today's music while capitalizing on the capabilities of the iPhone, iPod and Mac notebooks.

Designed for ultimate durability, unparalleled audio clarity and absolute affordability, Remix Remote is a testament to V-MODA's passionate dedication to the development of sound and precise construction for even the most discerning listener. From the remastered driver to the redesigned soft silicone fittings developed to enhance ergonomic and audio performance, consumers will enjoy a unique and distinct listening experience with the perfect balance of punchy bass and high-definition audio clarity. The remote and high fidelity microphone allows hands-free access for users to answer calls and control their music library. The all-metal construction, Kevlar®-reinforced cables and commitment to quality is backed by a two-year premium warranty and V-MODA's "No Questions Asked" 50 percent off lifetime headphone replacement guarantee.

"Great in-ear headphones are a result of a fanatical passion for the skill, art and love of music. We've spent years researching and fine-tuning our headphones alongside world-renowned musicians and DJs, and Remix Remote is our best product yet in terms of pure sound, rock solid durability improvements, ergonomics, and value," said Val Kolton, V-MODA CEO and founder, independent DJ and producer. "In our modern lifestyle we listen to our music on headphones more than at home, in the car or at clubs. It is my goal to recreate the sound and sensations of an epic sound system anywhere and anytime, fused with the fashionable design V-MODA is known for."

The V-MODA Remix Remote features:

UNPARALLELED CONTROL AND SOUND
A discreet, in-line three-button remote allows the user to control the music playback, volume, VoiceOver or Voice Control functions with ease. A newly tuned 9mm V-MASQUE neodymium dynamic driver creates the absolute in clarity and the perfect balance in sound, while the BEAT-PORT air flow system delivers a high-definition soundstage, invoking the sense of a live music experience. V-MODA's revered BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone) noise-isolating technology further reduces outside noise and enables deep punchy bass for the ultimate audio experience.

ERGONOMIC STYLE AND DESIGN
Featuring a minimalist and ergonomic design, Remix Remote's solid yet lightweight all-metal construction makes a powerful statement. Its durable features are developed for fashion-conscious, on-the-go lifestyles. The earbuds feature newly designed medical-grade soft silicone fittings with a new shape offering a more comfortable and secure fit while also further enhancing V-MODA's signature soundscape with improved clarity. The detachable sport earhooks feature patent-pending Active Flex technology, allowing the headphones to adjust independently to each ear regardless of the earhook's position.

ROCK SOLID DURABILITY
After years of diligent engineering, Remix Remote is stronger than many headphones sold within the same price range. Each component was dissected and analyzed to create a high-quality headphone that could withstand the extended use by V-MODA's dedicated listeners. With the added function and dual functionality of today's headphones as headsets, it is paramount that the cable and plug are as precisely engineered as the ear buds. Special attention was given to a custom cable construction comprised of a strong Kevlar core to relieve tension and a uniquely braided copper material that is specially designed to flex during use. The durable, PVC-free and tactically pleasing cable is designed to reduce microphonics. The gold-plated plug and stainless steel core feature a 45-degree extended strain relief to withstand stress.

COMPATIBILITY
Remix Remote provides an easy-to-use integrated three-button remote control that works with iPhone 3GS, the second generation iPod touch, fourth and fifth generation iPod nano, third generation iPod shuffle, the 120GB and 160GB iPod classic, MacBook (unibody) and MacBook Pro (unibody).

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Starting today, the Remix Remote will be available through Apple's retail stores as well as at Shop.v-moda.com for a retail price of $99.99. In early March, Remix Remote headphones will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) and later in the year at additional retail channels. To see more information and videos on how V-MODA is dedicated to quality and durability, visit v-moda.com/quality.

ABOUT V-MODA
V-MODA is the music lifestyle brand distinguished by its fashion-forward design, superior sound, and unparalleled quality. Since the debut of its world-renowned product collection, V-MODA has created a world that defines an authentic music culture.

V-MODA is the result of fusing professional DJ and CEO Val Kolton's passion for high fidelity and progressive design. Together with the world's most influential DJs and musicians, V-MODA is defining the remix revolution.


Control 20 Spotlights in Vancouver’s English Bay From Your Web Browser [Interactivity]

Posted on by

I spend all day online, but sometimes I like to pretend that I'm doing something exciting out there in the real world. Vectorial Elevation let me control 20 gigantic spotlights in Vancouver. I almost forget I was in my sweatpants.

The site is one component of a telerobotic art installation that includes twenty spotlights scattered along both sides of Vancouver's English Bay. After you position them in any configuration you please, you can view your handiwork from the feeds of four webcams located at various points nearby.

As the internet is comprised largely of nerds who seek this same illusion, you might have to wait in the queue for a while to take control. But it's worth it: the spotlights are visible for nearly ten miles, so if you're stuck at home tonight it could be your best bet for human interaction. Interaction that doesn't involve chatroulette or your level 60 paladin, anyway. [Vectorial Vancouver via BoingBong]


NCBI ROFL: Eye Tracking of Men’s Preferences for Female Breast Size and Areola Pigmentation. | Discoblog

Posted on by

4099983224_525b89fc06“Sexual selection via male mate choice has often been implicated in the evolution of permanently enlarged breasts in women. While questionnaire studies have shown that men find female breasts visually attractive, there is very little information about how they make such visual judgments. In this study, we used eye-tracking technology to test two hypotheses: (1) that larger breasts should receive the greatest number of visual fixations and longest dwell times, as well as being rated as most attractive; (2) that lightly pigmented areolae, indicative of youth and nubility, should receive most visual attention and be rated as most attractive. Results showed that men rated images with medium-sized or large breasts as significantly more attractive than small breasts. Images with dark and medium areolar pigmentation were rated as more attractive than images with light areolae. However, variations in breast size had no significant effect on eye-tracking measures (initial visual fixations, number of fixations, and dwell times). The majority of initial fixations during eye-tracking tests were on the areolae. However, areolar pigmentation did not affect measures of visual attention. While these results demonstrate that cues indicative of female sexual maturity (large breasts and dark areolae) are more attractive to men, patterns of eye movements did not differ based on breast size or areolar pigmentation. We conclude that areolar pigmentation, as well as breast size, plays a significant role in men’s judgments of female attractiveness. However, fine-grained measures of men’s visual attention to these morphological traits do not correlate, in a simplistic way, with their attractiveness judgments.”

nipple

Photo: flickr/stevendepolo

Related content:
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Bust size and hitchhiking: a field study.
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Perceptions of body hair on white women: effects of labeling.
Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: scientist…or perv?