tech

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Who Wants to Write on Glass?

Every now and then, following our blog pays off in nontraditional ways. Sure, we're the place where knowledge junkies get their fix. But we're also the place to score free stuff! Today, we're giving away an unlimited number of invites to a cool Firefox plugin called WriteOnGlass. Here's how it works. Say you're browsing our blog and come across a post you want to share with all your friends. Sure, you could leave the browser and email everyone the link, but why not just leave a note, sort of like an... READ ON

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5 People Who Exploited the Web to Get Hired

My friend and co-blogger here on the _floss, Rob Lammle, had an awesome post a few weeks back: How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job. While I wasn't able to find quite as many people who tweeted their way INTO a job, there's at least one in the list below, and a bunch of other cool people who used the Web to their advantage in unusual ways. By all means, if you have a similar story, something personal, share it with us in the comments below. 1. Eugene... READ ON

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This Machine Turns Itself Off

Claude Shannon is famous among geeks; he's considered the "father of information theory." He built one of the earliest chess-playing computer programs, and he worked on early wearable computers, and he made a killing applying his research to gambling. But Shannon was also a bit of a joker; he invented something called the "Ultimate Machine," a machine whose sole purpose was to turn off a switch that had been turned on by its user. Sneaky little bastard. Wikipedia says: One of [Shannon's] more... READ ON

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Video: Salami Sorting Robot

Disorganized salami goes in one end, robotic FlexPicker™ hands go to work, and neatly organized rows of perfect salami exit the machine. A control panel shows salami status at all times (strangely reminiscent of the shipping dock computer seen in season 2 of The Wire). This is all happening, right now, in Ansbach, Germany. Just keep thinking about that all day -- somewhere, robots are sorting your salami.... For more robotics videos, check out the ABB Robotics channel on YouTube. For... READ ON

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Apple's iPad - some observations

I just typed "iPad" into the mental_floss back-end search engine and was amazed to discover that we haven't yet written anything substantial on this possibly game-changing device. There was this post, the interview with Chris Anderson of Wired magazine talking about the future of publishing vis-Ã -vis the iPad, but that was about it. So, here's a post about the iPad because I went to the Apple store yesterday and gave it a whirl after reading this amazing Boing Boing post by... READ ON

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4 Fabulous Online Tools

When you're working online 10 hours a day as I do, you appreciate all the help you can get. Here are four great tools I've discovered over the last six months that make my job a lot easier. Have one of your own I probably don't know about yet? Feel free to enlighten all of us in the comments below. 1. Sliderocket As freemium slideshow tools go, this is the best I've found. Long before my 30-day free trial expired, I was hooked and ponied up for a monthly membership. It's always better to show rather than... READ ON

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Why Are Cell Phones Banned On Flights?

As most people know, cell phones are a big no-no during landing and takeoff. What most people don't know, however, is... READ ON

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What Does it Matter if I'm Allergic to Eggs? (A Flu Shot FAQ)

Since we're right in the middle of flu shot season, here are the answers to a few questions you might be mulling over on your way to get your injection of this year's vaccine cocktail. How long have flu shots been... READ ON

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Scientific Reasons to Believe in Vampires, Werewolves & Zombies

With Halloween just around the corner, let's take a look at some real-world events that may have inspired the creation of vampires, werewolves and zombies. And if you're in the market for Halloween-appropriate clothing, consider our "Vampires Are a Pain in the Neck" shirt (available in men's and women's).... READ ON

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10 Unusual Playgrounds From Around the World

Playgrounds have come a long way since the early days of hot, steel slides and open-backed infant swings. Safety is a big issue on today's playgrounds, but so is imagination and ingenuity. Take a look at some of the many unusually cool designs popping up around the world. And if you have a favorite we left off the list (which could easily have been twice as long), be sure to tell us about it in the comments. 1. Nishi-Rokugo - Tokyo,... READ ON