Adoption fairs, where foster children and prospective parents mingle, are like speed dating
. They’re ineffective and damaging. I would know, as I was adopted by parents I met at one of these fairs. States should instead use ‘arranged marriages’ to match children with well-prepared parents — via redwolf.newsvine.com
A row over who can broadcast football matches in Turkey has led to Google’s Blogger site being blocked — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Scientists have established how the largest bone-cracking carnivore to have ever lived went about its business.
The giant hyena, Pachycrocuta brevirostris, roamed Africa more than 2.5 million years ago.
Using new evidence uncovered from recently unearthed fossils, and a biomechanical analysis of the hyena’s jaws, scientists have worked out what it ate and how — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Westfield patriarch Frank Lowy has announced he will give up his position as executive chairman, and remain on the company’s board as non-executive chairman — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Researchers combing the rainforests of Brazil have uncovered four new species of fungi that turn ants into zombies.
Although it is not the first time the fungi has been seen affecting ants, the discovery of four distinct species in close proximity highlights the level of biodiversity in the Amazon — via redwolf.newsvine.com
More than 50,000 Mazda cars are being recalled across the United States because of possible problems with their fuel tanks, caused by spiders — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Firefighters are occasionally sent out on unusual animal rescues. It is just part of the job. But none may be more unusual than the animal rescue call Yuma firefighters responded to last week.
According to Mike Erfert, spokesman for the Yuma Fire Department, firefighters were sent to the El Encanto Apartments, 2652 S 8th Ave, at about 8 pm on Friday regarding a dog stuck inside a refrigerator — via redwolf.newsvine.com
An ingenious thief swiped $236,000 on a flight in the Caribbean after sneaking into the cash-laden cargo hold via the toilet, police say — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Before a business trip to the US, I wanted a copy of the film Veronica Guerin, a journalistic biopic starring Cate Blanchett, to show my journalism students in my stead. My university library did not carry the film, so I turned to Amazon.com for a digital copy. None available. Netflix, which won’t stream content in most places outside the US, wasn’t an option. I haven’t been able to buy any iTunes content outside the US for several months, so Apple was out, too. I told my research assistant to just show the students All the President’s Men instead.
I teach journalism ethics, so I didn’t download a pirated copy of the 2003 film, but it would be hard to blame another global content seeker for doing so — via sean-easter.newsvine.com
Apple is in negotiations with the major record labels to allow repeat downloads for music purchased through the iTunes Music Store, according to a new report — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Makers of Australian pasties have been assured they can still use the term Cornish
despite a trademark ruling by the European Commission — via redwolf.newsvine.com
America, beware. Robert Soloway is free to e-mail again.
After three years, eight months and 27 days, Soloway — the internet villain dubbed the Spam King
by federal prosecutors — is allowed back online.
In his first interview since release from the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Oregon, Soloway swears his spamming days are over. If I send out spam e-mails, that’s a violation of my probation. End of story,
he says. I’m being very careful. If I send out an e-mail, I’m not even going probably to CC it. I’ll send a unique e-mail to each person
— via redwolf.newsvine.com
Performance of mice in discrimination of liquor odors: behavioral evidence for olfactory attention.
We examined performance of mice in discrimination of liquor odors by Y-maze behavioral assays. Thirsty mice were initially trained to choose the odor of a red wine in the Y-maze. After successful training (>70% concordance for each trained mouse), the individual mice were able to discriminate the learned red wine from other liquors, including white wine, rosé wine, sake, and plum liqueur — via redwolf.newsvine.com
Ministers must do more to stop internet service providers (ISPs) snooping on private e-mails without consent, an ex-cyber security minister has said. Some ISPs have trialled software that intercepts and scans e-mails to target ads.
They are meant to ask permission first – but former Labour minister Lord West says it is too easy to flout the rules — via dungbeetlemania.newsvine.com
Hi! I am a Chambered Nautilus, one of the world’s living fossils!
I am 15 inches long, from the tips of my tentacles to the back of my shell. I am plush and very huggable! I am made from felt and a fuzzy cotton print. I would prefer that you not put me in a washing machine, I will get very sick — via Etsy
Hello! I am a person who is training to become an abortion provider. As you can imagine, it is really fucking weird to be one of me, especially lately! I think maybe you have some questions? — via jender13.newsvine.com
Here’s how you do it well, courtesy of Zappos (of course). Yesterday I tweeted:
I think my wife is having an affair with someone named “Zappos”. He sends her a package at least every third day. I am on to you, Mr Zappos!
Almost immediately, Zappos’ customer service Twitter account replied:
@jkottke I’m sorry sir, but our relationship with your wife is strictly professional.
Great, right? A company that gets the joke and participates meaningfully in an actual conversation with a full awareness of the context — via Source: kottke.org
Make a stitch, take a picture, repeat! A tremendous amount of work must have been involved to bring you this delightful stop-motion construction of an amigurumi friend — via CRAFT
Here’s something that’s guaranteed to make men (and women) of a certain age feel nostalgic for their youth, a 1974 Ford Gran Torino car, which is available to buy via eBay.
Of course, it’s the car made famous by Starsky and Hutch, with this particular model coming complete with the paint job from the TV show, not to mention a flashing red light. It’s a childhood dream come true — via Retro To Go
We are in love with this extremely detailed hand-crafted pair of earrings. Tiny silver tentacles that were hand-cast using parts of a REAL octopus that the artist’s grandmother found and saved, are attached to silver posts with backings.
These earrings were handmade using recycled Sterling Silver and are small enough to be comfy but large enough to make a statement — via Shanalogic
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