Category: Google Plus Archive

Hazards of April Fools by email: I started reading the latest EFFector newsletter, not realizing it had arrived on April 1, and the first story was almost believable:

Hazards of April Fools by email: I started reading the latest EFFector newsletter, not realizing it had arrived on April 1, and the first story was almost believable:

MPAA Announces Kickstarter Campaign for Film Decrying Internet’s Impact on Creative Works

In a statement posted on its WordPress blog this week, the MPAA announced that it will respond to the Internet’s “destructive” effect on creative works with a new PSA, to be funded on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. “Rampant content theft — or as we call it, creativity murder — makes it impossible to promote ideas online,” according to a Tweet from MPAA chairman Chris Dodd. “For a pledge of $50, backers will receive an exclusive DVD copy of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’ in 3D.

The rest of them were a little more obvious.

I had an enjoyable day at WonderCon today, though my shoulders felt like they were going to fall off…

I had an enjoyable day at WonderCon today, though my shoulders felt like they were going to fall off since I was carrying around some rather large books. It was a good balance of autograph hunt, bargain hunt, sightseeing, costume spotting and events, with a lot going on but not too many people to move.

First batch of photos is up on Flickr.

Captain America and Bucky

Why Venus looks so much brighter than Jupiter.

Why Venus looks so much brighter than Jupiter. (This is something I don’t usually think about, but over the past month, with the two planets in the same area of the sky, I’ve really noticed it.)

Originally shared by Philip Plait (The Bad Astronomer):

Venus still blazes Jupiter, but 10 times as bright

Venus and Jupiter are still near each other in the sky, and will be for the next few days. Just go outside after sunset and face west; you can hardly miss them!

Venus is the brighter of the two by a long shot. That might seem weird; after all, Venus is about the same size as Earth, but Jupiter is over 11 times wider (and 140 times the area)! So why is Venus brighter?

Math! At least, math + geometry + science. Let me show you…

Jupiter and Venus still blaze in the west

[Image credit: Robert Blasius at fotografie.robert-blasius.de as part of Astronomers Without Borders]

Photo of last night’s closest approach between Jupiter and Venus.

Photo of last night’s closest approach between Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter is bright, but as you can see here, Venus is a lot brighter.

Edit: Apparently tonight is the closet approach. I could swear I’d read that it was Monday. Looks like I’ll be taking another photo tonight.

If you have a clear view of the western sky after sunset, go out and look sometime this weekend. Venus and Jupiter are getting really close (visually), and will reach their closest alignment on Monday.

If you have a clear view of the western sky after sunset, go out and look sometime this weekend. Venus and Jupiter are getting really close (visually), and will reach their closest alignment on Monday.

Vaccination saves lives

Stop Antivaxxers Now – Phil Plait

Vaccination saves lives. Not just the lives of those who get vaccinated, but those around them who can’t because they’re too young, immunocompromised, or have other medical reasons that they can’t.

(If you’re wondering why this is on an astronomy site, it’s because the author makes a point of promoting science education and fighting against pseudoscience across the board.)

Originally shared by Vineet KewalRamani

Vaccination as altruism

There are people in society (the immunocompromised, newborns, elderly) vulnerable to deadly viral infections that the rest of us can easily prevent through vaccination.

But if 75 percent to 95 percent of the population around us is vaccinated for a particular disease, the rest are protected through what is called herd immunity. In other words, your measles vaccine protects me [the immunocompromised NY Times Op-Ed writer] against the measles.

Obviously people will first act in their own interests, but if there are no scientifically credible data showing harm by particular vaccination, and benefits are clear to the vaccinated and also to society at large, why not do it to help protect another?

For the Herd’s Sake, Vaccinate

I’ve been debating whether to move an expiring domain name over to GoDaddy

I’ve been debating whether to move an expiring domain name over to GoDaddy, where I have several others, or renew it where it is.

This answers that question.

Go Daddy’s Position on SOPA | Go Daddy Blog | Go Daddy Support

Comments on Google+:

Wayne: I love how “Comments are closed.” at the bottom. lol

Me: There are some great logical fallacies, too, like “something must be done, therefore we must do this.”

Opposition to SOPA is not all pro-piracy

Opposition to SOPA is not all pro-piracy, no matter what the bill’s sponsors claim. Even the pro-copyright Heritage Foundation, which liked the idea of suing P2P users, is opposed to SOPA because of its unintended consequences.

At least we hope they’re unintended.

Pro-copyright group takes SOPA to task

When defending intellectual property rights, the influential Heritage Foundation often sounds like it’s channeling Hollywood lobbyists. But not when it comes to the Stop Online Piracy Act. Read this…