Free Software Foundation drives fundraising effort for "fully free" Replicant Android fork

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/27/free-software-foundation-replicant-fundraising/ / Android variant variants various guises some liberating entirely free any kind of licensing issues Replicant example project 2010 new fundraising initiative Free Software Foundation vital boost key difference many other Android spin offs spin-offs doesn't rely on proprietary software play nice vendor hardware most of Android is free hardware interface level more complex FSF driving investment towards Replicant more hardware supported turn opening the OS up to even more users user source support /

What the media hype is not reporting: 3D printers are bad for human health

Ventilation would be a big help.

http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_fabrication/what_the_media_hype_is_not_reporting_3d_printers_are_bad_for_human_health--but_so_is_cooking_with_an_electric_frying_pan_25275.asp / research paper Illinois Institute of Technology little-examined little examined side 3D printing dangerous to human health Assistant Professor Brent Stephens heads up Built Environment Research Group Department of Civil Architectural and Environmental Engineering team grad students ultrafine particles UFP UFPs given off plastic melted extruded through commercially available desktop 3D printers brand names provided media outlets feverishly picking up story comparing 3D printing cigarette smoking health effects researchers found 3D printing gives off UFPs significant enough significant-enough amounts printers characterized high emitters offending particles particularly relevant health perspective they deposit efficiently pulmonary alveolar regions lung dead head airways deposition head airways lead translocation brain via olfactory nerve high surface areas associated UFPs also lead to high concentrations adsorbed condensed compounds epidemiological studies elevated UFP number concentrations associated adverse health effects cardio-respiratory mortality hospital admissions for stroke asthma symptoms certainly sounds disturbing research paper recent studies reported size resolved size-resolved total UFP emission rates other consumer devices appliances activities laser printers candles cigarettes irons radiators cooking on gas and electric stoves previous study reported total UFP emission rates same size range measured during various cooking activities comparison estimate total UFP emission rate single PLA based PLA-based 3D printer similar reported during cooking electric frying pan 3D printer utilizing higher temperature ABS feedstock emission rate estimate similar reported during grilling food gas electric stove stoves low power approximately order of magnitude lower than gas electric stoves operating high power Regardless, the desktop 3D printers measured classified high emitters study revealed emission rates UFPs approximately order of magnitude higher 3D printers utilizing ABS thermoplastic feedstock relative PLA feedstock higher temperatures required to extrude ABS chemical composition material itself that makes worse PLA given a choice between materials study reveal potential dangers to human health 3D printing surprising dangers cooking with conventional utensils shares of 3D printers research paper publicity commercially available commercially-available 3D printers exhaust ventilation filtration accessories inadequately ventilated unfiltered indoor environments controlled experiments particle emissions desktop 3D printers /

SanDisk introduces wireless flash storage drives

Credit: SanDisk/ The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/07/25/sandisk-introduces-wireless-flash-storage-drives/

http://techland.time.com/2013/07/26/sandisk-connect-pocketable-wireless-storage/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/07/fetish-sandisk-connect/ / Flash drives USB WiFi key wireless storage devices SanDisk fun ultra-portable ultra portable attractive USB drive SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drives 16GB 32GB option larger cube-shaped cube shaped SanDisk Connect Media drives include 32GB 64GB versions, sharing your stored photos documents movies music wirelessly amongst your mobile devices even easily expand this storage space further flash drive microSD slot media drive includes a handy standard SDHC card slot goal save us need locate cables cords USB plug socket transfer files other mobile devices necessary nor is Internet connection access transfer files wirelessly SanDisk Android iOS Web app available App Store Google play Amazon access WiFi password protected password-protected wireless range 150 ft foot feet 50 metres meters battery life flash drive four hours media drive eight hour hours devices offer eight simultaneous device connections flash drive allows three HD media streams media drive offers five popular travel location photography anyone beam files wirelessly SanDisk pricing Flash drive $49.99 16GB $59.99 32GB version larger Connect Media Drive price $79.99 32GB $99.00 64GB version available right preorder Amazon Newegg Micro Center centre /

Samsung Galaxy S4 Qi Wireless Charging Pad & cover

Credit: AnandTech

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7134/a-look-at-samsungs-galaxy-s-4-qi-wireless-charging-pad-review / wireless charging cell mobile smart smartphone phone phones includes support Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 S4 S3 S III SGS4 review unit Samsung wireless charging accessory kit Qi compatible wireless charging pad battery back wireless charging accessory simple remove stock battery back, snap new one plug wireless charging pad into Samsung charger originally shipped with phone wireless charging pad requires 2 Amp charger Samsung supplies SGS4 charging charger includes 1.2 V Volt signaling across D+ D- pins which signals 2 amp tablet-class tablet class compatible charging Samsung devices charging pad normal BC 1.2 compatible charger won’t work specification stipulates 1.5 amp delivery on its dedicated charging port charging pad SGS4 Qi compliant variety of wireless charging pads implement standard charge device test testing tester tested Energizer dual position Qi charger wireless charging back worked as expected downside with the wireless charging back add noticeably thickness SGS4 calipers measured an increase thickness just over 1.7 mm wireless charging back attached instead stock standard Battery Cover Stock Battery Cover SGS4 Wireless Charging Battery Cover huge difference noticeable added thickness front vertex of the camera thickest part of the SGS4 adds a bit of protection S 4 /

For pity's sake: DON'T MOVE to the COUNTRY if you want to live

Although you are more likely to be murdered in the city, the rate of accidental death in the country makes it more dangerous.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/24/for_pitys_sake_dont_move_to_the_country_if_you_want_to_live/ / big city dangerous place worry they might get murdered being killed on purpose more likely in town according to new research researcher study rare compared die dying in an accident more likely die unexpectedly countryside United States of America US USA U.S. U.S.A. cars guns firearms fire arms drugs causing majority injury deaths US Dr Sage Myers University of Pennsylvania risk of homicide higher big cities risk unintentional injury death 40 percent higher most rural areas most urban overall rate unintentional injury dwarfs risk homicide rate unintentional injury more than 15 times homicide among the entire population results massive study directed most common causes of injury death motor vehicle crashes leading to 27.61 deaths per 100,000 people in most rural areas and 10.58 per 100,000 in most urban areas risk firearm related firearm-related death difference across rural urban rural-urban spectrum entire population whole age subgroups studied firearm-related deaths found significantly higher rural areas children people 45 years and older people 20 to 44 risk firearm-related death significantly lower rural areas mean streets not so mean risk being run over wrapping your motor around tree telegraph pole mean compared open road country possibility probability likely get shot countryside too accident suicide opposed person most likely to shoot an American is himself more most likely die in a car crash fall accidental poisoning intentionally kill himself awful dangers posed computer equipment fearful engine of death the hot tub Annals of Emergency Medicine /

Wine judges fail the taste test (stream or podcast)

Turns out that "professional" wine tasters are no better at differentiating expensive wine from the cheapest plonk than anyone else.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/wine-blind-taste-testing/4835208 / study Great Britain England United Kingdom has found wine judges no better than general drinker picking most expensive wine lind taste test Oxford University psychologists finding research study found wine experts can judge faults quality maybe vintage year wine was made not always select top price top-priced bottle Professor Charles Spence Britain's top wine writers judges taste champagnes champagne turned out they had no idea what grape composition was which sounds shocking couldn't pick price their preferences were just flat 400 pounds $600-$700 tasted no better than 15-pound ($30) champagne alcohol /

Fukushima is leaking radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean after all

Credit: Gizmodo

Nuclear industry — broken promises — surprised?

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/07/fukushima-is-leaking-radioactive-water-into-the-ocean-after-all/ / operator Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated ground water likely been flowing into sea acknowledging leakage first time Tokyo Electric Power Co Tepco came under fire Monday revelation number plant workers thyroid radiation exposure times exceeding threshold levels increased cancer risks ten times number released previously deep apology causing grave worries for many people Masayuki Ono Fukushima plant general manager Tepco repeatedly blamed overlooking early signs covering delaying disclosure problems mishaps head Japan's new Nuclear Regulation Authority created since March 2011 earthquake tsunami wrecked Fukushima contamination sea had been continuing since the accident admission came company general manager Masayuki Ono told news conference plant officials come believe that radioactive water leaked from wrecked reactors likely seeped into the underground water system escaped into sea atomic nuclear officials experts suspected leak Fukushima Dai-ichi earl crisis Tepco previously failed to confirm ground water leakage more than two years offer our deep apology causing grave worries for many people, especially for people in Fukushima soaring radiation Tepco based water sample tests any impact of the leakage appeared to be contained by silt fences erected near the devastated reactors utility is already injecting the chemical sodium silicate into part of the seawall separating the ocean from the plant site to prevent ground water from seeping through March 2011 earthquake tsunami knocked out cooling systems Fukushima plant triggering fuel rod meltdowns causing radiation leakage food contamination mass evacuations Tepco this month acknowledged levels radiation groundwater had soared suggesting highly toxic materials from the plant were getting closer to the Pacific uranium /