20,000 Leagues Above the Clouds

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

Looks like Sid Meiers Pirates – in the sky!

Science Has Finally Figured Out How to Win Rock-Paper-Scissors

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

“if a player wins over her opponent in one play, her probability of repeating the same action in the next play is considerably higher than her probabilities of shifting actions.”

On the other hand, if a player loses two or more times in a row, he or she will not play the same sign, but will instead play whichever sign would have beaten the one that had just allowed his or her opponent to win

Science Has Finally Figured Out How to Win Rock-Paper-Scissors.

Sunlight to jet fuel: European collaboration SOLAR-JET for the first time demonstrates the entire production path of “solar” kerosene

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

With the first ever production of synthesized “solar” jet fuel, the EU-funded SOLAR-JET project has successfully demonstrated the entire production chain for renewable kerosene obtained directly from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide (CO2), therein potentially revolutionizing the future of aviation. This process has also the potential to produce any other type of fuel for transport applications, such as diesel, gasoline or pure hydrogen in a more sustainable way.

via SOLAR-JET – News & Events.

Amazon granted patent for taking photos against a white background

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

Amazon granted patent for taking photos against a white background – seriously • The Register.

Russia Quietly Tightens Reins on Web With ‘Bloggers Law’ – NYTimes.com

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

If you have over 3000 daily visits, you have to register. You remove anonymity and you have to keep all your data in Russia for at least 6 months.
This after a few laws that ban 4 words from being used in the arts and allow the state to shut down websites – promptly used to silence state critics.

Well done freedom!

Russia Quietly Tightens Reins on Web With ‘Bloggers Law’ – NYTimes.com.

Dutch courts kill ease of use: Gaspedaal illegal. Google next?

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Robin Edgar

The Dutch courts have decided that re-using publically available data is illegal in accordance with the database laws. This means that Gaspedaal, a website that aggregates second hand car data from a number of other websites (and is therefore the most used car searching site!) is no longer allowed to aggregate the data from sites that tell it not to.

Goes to show you how out of touch from reality judges really are.

Gaspedaal mag geen advertenties meer doorplaatsen – Emerce.