Tag Archives: photo

Quote of the Day: People Sure Use Their Webcams for a Lot of Kinky Stuff

by KarissaRamaciot Posted on February 27, 2014

Mother Jones

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From Britain’s GCHQ, lamenting the images they got when they tapped into Yahoo webcam chats:

It would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person.

Imagine that. On a more serious note, GCHQ was tapping into Yahoo webcam chats:

Britain’s surveillance agency GCHQ, with aid from the US National Security Agency, intercepted and stored the webcam images of millions of internet users not suspected of wrongdoing, secret documents reveal.

GCHQ files dating between 2008 and 2010 explicitly state that a surveillance program codenamed Optic Nerve collected still images of Yahoo webcam chats in bulk and saved them to agency databases, regardless of whether individual users were an intelligence target or not.

In one six-month period in 2008 alone, the agency collected webcam imagery — including substantial quantities of sexually explicit communications — from more than 1.8 million Yahoo user accounts globally.

Unsurprisingly, Yahoo was not amused when it learned about this.

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Quote of the Day: People Sure Use Their Webcams for a Lot of Kinky Stuff

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Do People Really Dislike Jeopardy Champ Arthur Chu Because He Hits the Buzzer Too Hard?

by Bikor11 Posted on February 27, 2014

Mother Jones

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Let’s talk about something completely trivial for a bit: Arthur Chu, the polarizing Jeopardy! champion currently on a 7-game winning streak. Caitlin Dewey explains why so many people don’t like him:

Since time immemorial — read: September 1984 — “Jeopardy!” has followed a simple pattern: Contestants pick a category; they progress through the category from top to bottom; they earn winnings when they, through their hard-earned and admirable intellect, get the questions right.

Chu has turned that protocol upside down … and shaken the change out of its pockets. For one thing, he sometimes plays to tie, not win, thereby guaranteeing he brings a lesser competitor to challenge him the next day. He skips around the board looking for Daily Doubles, gobbling them up before competitors find them, in the process monopolizing all the high-value questions. Most unforgivably to many, Chu tries to squeeze in the most questions per round by pounding the bejesus out of his buzzer and interrupting Alex Trebek.

It’s the bolded comment I’m curious about. I understand why people could be annoyed by Chu skipping around the board so aggressively. Aside from a sense that he might be taking unfair advantage of his experience vs. a pair of newbies, it makes it a little harder to follow the game at home. I also get why some people might not like the idea of playing to tie. Both of these complaints may be overstated—Chu isn’t the first guy to go searching for Daily Doubles, and playing to tie only affects a few seconds of game play—but I understand them.

That said, what’s up with the complaint that he tries to ring in aggressively? That doesn’t even make sense. Everyone tries to ring in aggressively. Being fast on the buzzer is one of the cornerstones of the game. It might even be more important than knowing lots of answers. (Pretty much everyone who makes it onto the show knows lots of answers.)

So where does this come from? Am I missing something?

POSTSCRIPT: I myself initially found Chu a little annoying, though mostly for his affect more than his actual game play. But I’ve warmed to him just because he’s so damn good. He’s a serious buzzsaw at the game, and it’s hard not to admire that. I noticed last night, though, that the other contestants were starting to mimic his strategy. I wonder if that will be his undoing before long?

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Do People Really Dislike Jeopardy Champ Arthur Chu Because He Hits the Buzzer Too Hard?

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Girl Scout Cookie Boxes Take a Green Trial Run

by JohnieRhyne Posted on February 7, 2014

Girl Scouts offer more cookie varieties in low-waste packaging. Photo: Shutterstock

Today marks the start of National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, and we don’t know about you, but we’re pretty stoked. And this year, we have more to look forward to than the cookies.

What could be better than shoveling an entire sleeve of Girl Scout cookies down your pie hole in one fell swoop? Knowing that those cookies came from eco-friendly packaging, of course!

Instead of a paperboard box covering, three cookie varieties will come packaged in a thin film shaped like a box (the little plastic tray that keeps the cookies nice and organized also helps the film hold a box shape). The new packaging cuts 150 tons of paperboard and allows more cookies to fit on a truck, saving fuel.

The Girl Scouts have been tinkering with the new lower-waste design for several years, but this year the packaging will be found on more varieties. The Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot and Cranberry Citrus Crisps will be wrapped in the low-waste packaging.

Also, while not touted as eco-friendly, the Girl Scouts’ Cookie Finder app will help you locate the cookie booth sales closest to you, saving you time and fuel. The app covers all zip codes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Another good thing about Girl Scout cookies? You never have to worry about what to do with leftovers.

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Girl Scout Cookie Boxes Take a Green Trial Run

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We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for February 5, 2014

by AMOGabriele Posted on February 5, 2014

Mother Jones

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HOHENFELS, Germany – A wave of fire crashes against the riot shields of Soldiers from Company C., 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, during a fire phobia training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Jan 22. Fire phobia training tested U.S. and multinational forces on their ability to face their fears of being set on fire. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Cody Barber, 11th Public Affairs Detachment)

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We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for February 5, 2014

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Design Lampshades for Solar Lanterns to Help People in Need

by kastijoo8753 Posted on January 17, 2014

During Panasonic’s Cut Out the Darkness project, visitors to the company’s website can design lampshades for solar lanterns that will be donated to regions without electricity. Photo: Panasonic

Want to light up the life of someone who needs it? Now you can. Panasonic’s Cut Out the Darkness project allows visitors to the company’s website to design lampshades that could be sent along with solar lanterns to those who live in areas without access to electricity.

Worldwide, one in five people lives without electricity. Those people face a number of economic and health problems, according to Panasonic, since they can’t perform basic tasks like studying in the evening or receive medical treatment at night. Additionally, many people in these regions use kerosene lamps, which pose fire risks and cause health issues from the smoke.

Panasonic first became involved with this issue through its 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns initiative, which aims to donate 100,000 solar lanterns to those without electricity by 2018, the company’s 100th anniversary. These solar lanterns charge during the day and provide light at night. They also reduce CO2 emissions, according to a company press release. In 2013, Panasonic kicked off the project by donating 8,000 solar lanterns to nonprofits, humanitarian groups and refugee camps in Asia and Africa.

In 2013, Panasonic donated 8,000 solar LED lanterns throughout Asia and Africa. Photo: Panasonic

Now, to raise awareness about the difficulties faced by residents of regions without electricity and to involve people with the company’s work, Panasonic is asking its website visitors to get creative and design images for lampshades using paper-cut techniques. You don’t necessarily have to be handy with scissors, since the designs are made virtually using a Web application — all folding, drawing and cutting are done with the click of a button.

A Web application allows users to easily make their own cutout designs. Photo: Panasonic

In February, people can vote for their favorite designs, and the top 100 will be turned into lampshades and donated with the solar lanterns. Panasonic plans to transport the donated solar lanterns and shades to recipients in March.

Eleven recognized paper-cut artists from around the world have also contributed designs to support the project — check out their work for inspiration.

To participate by creating a design or voting, visit the Cut Out the Darkness project’s home page.

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Design Lampshades for Solar Lanterns to Help People in Need

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San Jose’s Green Vision: Six Years In

by turystycznypbs700 Posted on December 26, 2013

Sorters work to remove recyclable materials from trash at one of the city’s processing facilities. Photo: City of San Jose

When the city of San Jose, Calif., launched its Green Vision in 2007, new mayor Chuck Reed hoped to create an environmental overhaul as part of his lasting legacy. Today, Reed still is mayor of San Jose, and the Green Vision has become one of his most noteworthy accomplishments.

“He wanted stretch goals that would also be relevant,” says Jo Zientek, deputy director of the environmental services department for the city of San Jose. “He wanted the goals to be both economic and sustainable, and the council worked with business leaders to make sure the plan was achievable.”

The 15-year plan was established to “transform San Jose into the world center of clean technology innovation, promote cutting-edge sustainable practices, and demonstrate that the goals of economic growth, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility are inextricably linked,” according to the city’s website. The plan adopted by the city council established 10 aggressive goals in the areas of jobs, energy, water, waste, trees and transportation.

Less than halfway into the long-term plan, San Jose is well on target to hit its sustainability goals for 2022, and also has become a model for other cities.

Next page: Setting an Example

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San Jose’s Green Vision: Six Years In

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China Is So Smoggy You Can’t Even See Beijing From Space

by turystycznypbs700 Posted on December 10, 2013

Can you find Beijing in this photo? Or anything, really? Photo: NASA Earth Observatory / Jeff Schmaltz / LANCE MODIS Rapid Response

China’s smog problems have been all over the news, with the air pollution to blame for bringing massive cities to a snarl, forcing the shutdown of factories and transportation, and wreaking havoc on people’s health. But a new photo captured by NASA’s Terra satellite really puts China’s smog problems into perspective: the smog over Beijing is so thick that it obscures the view of the city from space.

On December 7th, says NASA’s Earth Observatory, the day this photo was captured, “ground-based sensors at U.S. embassies in Beijing and Shanghai reported PM2.5 measurements as high as 480 and 355 micrograms per cubic meter of air respectively. The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 levels to be safe when they are below 25.”

PM2.5 refers to particles of air pollution that have a diameter below 2.5 micrometers.

“Fine, airborne particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 microns (about one thirtieth the width of a human hair) is considered dangerous because it is small enough to enter the passages of the human lungs. Most PM2.5 aerosol particles come from the burning of fossil fuels and of biomass (wood fires and agricultural burning).”

For reference, here’s what the region is supposed to look like from space, a snap captured by Terra in January of last year. Beijing is the city in the top left, nestled among the mountains. The port city in the bottom right is Tianjin.

A smog-free look at the region, taken January 3, 2013. Photo: NASA Earth Observatory / Jeff Schmaltz / LANCE MODIS Response Team

More from Smithsonian.com:

Most of China’s Infamous Black Carbon Smog Comes From Cars And Cook Fires
Air Pollution Closed Schools in China

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China Is So Smoggy You Can’t Even See Beijing From Space

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Go Green, Win $400 for Holiday Shopping

by HomerSevttp Posted on November 25, 2013

Sign up for Planet Green’s recycling program, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $350 Amazon gift card just in time for holiday shopping. Photo: Amazon

If you’re looking to score some extra cash for holiday shopping, why not try reminding friends to recycle their e-waste?

In an effort to raise awareness for keeping old electronics out of landfills, Planet Green Recycle is running a sweepstakes for anyone to enter and win a $350 Amazon gift card and a $50 Planet Green gift card just in time for the holiday season. When you sign up, you’ll automatically be entered in the sweepstakes.

The Planet Green recycling program, which accepts inkjet cartridges and small electronics like cellphones, iPods, tablets and eBook readers, is run from a unique URL — allowing participants to directly track their impact.

For every box of 20 accepted items each member sends in, Planet Green offers payouts to their charity of choice, including schools, nonprofits, sports teams and Scouts troops.

During the run of the sweepstakes, any current member — or anyone who signs up before Nov. 30 — can share the charitable e-waste recycling solution with friends and supporters. For every friend you refer to the sweepstakes page, you’ll be entered to win $500 for your chosen charity.

The member (which can be an individual, business or community group) with the most unique entries will score the donation.

Ready to get started? Head to the sweepstakes page to sign up for the holiday gift cards. After you sign up, share the opportunity on Facebook and Twitter to gather enough entries to win the $500 charitable donation.

The sweepstakes ends on Nov. 30, so act quickly for your chance to win!

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Go Green, Win $400 for Holiday Shopping

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Tips for a Greener Thanksgiving

by AlfredoMoffet Posted on November 24, 2013

Using reusable utensils and making decorations from fall foliage are just a couple of ways to have a greener Thanksgiving. Photo: Shutterstock

At the first Thanksgiving, pilgrims ate food that was harvested locally and naturally, and you can bet that plastic and Styrofoam didn’t figure into the equation. It’s time to take some sustainability tips from our ancestors by hosting an environmentally friendly Thanksgiving of our own.

Diane MacEachern of Big Green Purse offers 10 great tips for how to have a greener Thanksgiving. Try these for starters:

• Don’t opt for one-occasion-only Thanksgiving decorations. Simply go outside and collect some branches, berries and leaves and make fall foliage creations of your own.

• Instead of using paper, plastic or Styrofoam dinnerware, use reusable dishware and make wash time a family bonding event.

• Rather than wrapping leftovers in plastic or aluminum foil, send them home in inexpensive glass jars (and share the many ways these jars can be reused, like for recipes, crafts, gifts and more).

For more green Thanksgiving tips from MacEachern, visit her blog.

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Tips for a Greener Thanksgiving

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Methane Gas from Landfill Fuels Arts Complex

by Michalak876 Posted on November 15, 2013

The blacksmith shop at Jackson County Green Energy Park in North Carolina is the only one in the world fueled by landfill gas. Photo: Jackson County Green Energy Park

The commissioners of Jackson County in North Carolina knew they needed to do something about the growing levels of methane gas within the nine-acre landfill in Dillsboro. The landfill had closed in 1999, with roughly 750,000 tons of trash enclosed, and the buildup of methane gas had the potential of leaching into the soil and contaminating the water supply.

Although an environmental firm advised them to flare it off, which would allow them to burn off the flammable gas, the commissioners had a different plan.

“The county manager came to me because he knew I had a background in renewable energy,” explains Timm Muth, project director for the Jackson County Green Energy Park. “There was enough [gas] there to [power] a community project, so I suggested they put in art studios and use it to heat buildings.”

Knowing that methane gas can be used for heating in the same way as propane and natural gas, Muth helped create Green Energy Park, which has not only provided an environmentally friendly use for the gas, but has also helped revitalize the entire area.

Although he had moved to Jackson County to retire and become a professional mountain bike guide, Muth knew that his skills would add value to the project — so he re-entered the work force. “This is a tourist-driven economy, and I knew if we could do something that promoted our local artists, we would have a win-win situation,” Muth says. “Methane is more than 20 times worse than CO2 in terms of greenhouse gas effects, and for us it has provided a cost-free fuel.”

Today, the methane gas from the landfill provides power to a blacksmithing shop, a glass studio, a ceramics kiln and an art gallery. The park also is home to greenhouses, which the county uses to grow plants, and a sculpture garden that features works by local artists.

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Methane Gas from Landfill Fuels Arts Complex

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