Propeller.com Stories submitted by wil

eBook: Lewis Shiner's Snowbirds

Wil — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:16:00 EDT

Originally published in Analog in 1982, this chilling short story brings visitors from the future into the present . . . but who are they and why are they here?

Channel: Books Tags: Authors eBooks Lewis Shiner Science Fiction Climate Change Analog SciFi

Cory Doctorow goes to Bletchley Park

Wil — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:14:06 EDT

Cory says, "The site is just as I'd imagined it -- a rotting, lovely old mansion surrounded by modest, slope-shouldered sheds with a variety of exhibits staffed by knowledgeable, friendly geeks who clearly find it all every bit as exciting as I do." Tons of awesome pics, too.

Channel: Travel Tags: Bletchley Park Cryptography History Cory Doctorow Britain Turing Enigma Code Breaking

Pocket Enigma Machine in a CD jewel case

Wil — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:14:02 EDT

Bletchley Park, the "home of the codebreakers" -- where Alan Turing and co cracked the Nazi Enigma machine -- sells "Pocket Enigma Machines" made from a clever cardboard disc inserted into a CD jewel case. This is so totally awesome!

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Enigma Cryptography Bletchley Park Awesome Geeks Cyphers

It's a brand new day for Dr. Horrible ... in LEGO!

Wil — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:49:58 EDT

Seems like a passion for the works of the Whedon, and for LEGO, go together. Andrew at The Brothers Brick has already recreated one fun scene from the web-series in LEGO. [via geekdad]

Channel: Do-It-Yourself Tags: Dr Horrible LEGO Brothers Brick Geeks Awesome

Serious Proselytizing at Air Force Base

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:41:54 EDT

The Jewish Observer reports on new accusations of unconstitutional religious activities at Wright Patterson Air Base in Ohio. The report is based on work done by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which has received 100 complaints from people who've worked at that air base over proselytization and worse going on by military officers.

Channel: Religion Tags: Ohio Evangelicals Church and State Military Wright Patterson Air Force Constitution

Twitspam aims to eradicate Twitter Spammers

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:25:41 EDT

Twitspam is "A site dedicated to blocking social networking spammers who think that they can inundate us with their spammy messages."

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Twitter Spammers Twitspam Social Networking

'Portal: Still Alive' Explained

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:22:42 EDT

There is much confusion over what exactly Portal: Still Alive, an upcoming Xbox Live Arcade release of Valve's excellent platformer-thing, is. After all, it was announced amazingly vaguely during Microsoft's E3 press conference, and there was little followup. So I asked Valve's Doug Lombardi, and he explained it to me.

Channel: Video Games Tags: Portal Valve Doug Lombardi Interviews E3 Xbox Live Arcade

Game Controllers Driving Drones, Nukes

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:20:46 EDT

War really is getting more like a video game, as hardware and software from the gaming industry is increasingly being adopted for military use. At the Farnborough air show this week, where arms-maker Raytheon showed off its new Universal Control System for robotic aicraft. It's based on the same technology that drives Halo and Splinter Cell.

Channel: Video Games Tags: Raytheon Weapons War Halo

Watchmen Creator Ignores Movie

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:17:22 EDT

While geeks everywhere are excited about the trailer for Zach Snyder's version of Watchmen, one man is more than cynical about the whole exercise. In fact, he thinks that any comic book adaptation is suspect, and he should know, having survived the experience three times already. The man in question? Watchmen writer, Alan Moore.

Channel: Movies Tags: Books Comics Watchmen Alan Moore Zach Snyder

Make a Backyard Movie Theater

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:25:03 EDT

With a projector, DVD player, a bed sheet, and an extension cord, Wired's How-To Wiki runs down how to make a movie theater in your backyard this summer. [via lifehacker]

Channel: Do-It-Yourself Tags: Movies DVD Summer Projects Backyard Movie Theaters HOWTO

A Building Of Bubbles in Beijing

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:00:22 EDT

The National Aquatics Center in Beijing, newly built for the Olympics, is a glowing cube of bubbles. The mathematics behind it are built around Lord Kelvin's tetrakaidecahedra and the physics of foam. [via reddit]

Channel: Art & Design Tags: Olympics Swimming National Aquatics Center Beijing Mathematics Math Lord Kelvin Awesome Fascinating Science

Email Reveals Nvidia and ATI May Have Colluded to Inflate Prices

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:56:49 EDT

An email Nvidia sent by Nvidia senior VP of marketing, Dan Vivoli, to ATI's president and COO, Dave Orton made public by the judge in an ongoing anti-trust suit against the two companies reveals that they both see eye-to-eye on prices. Namely, that they should be higher.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Graphics Cards ATI Nvidia Vivoli Dave Orton Price Fixing

Protecting against Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID data attacks

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:55:48 EDT

Using a laptop, cell phone headset, building access badge, credit cards, or even a passport can make you a walking target for data thieves and other criminals, a security expert warned at the Last HOPE hacker conference here late Friday. It explained how most people are at risk and don't even know it.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Bluetooth WiFi RFID HOPE Renderman Hackers Security

Mega Impacts: The Earth Bashers

Wil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:31:15 EDT

A new photo essay in National Geographic by Stephen Alvarez tells the story of planetary impacts like Meteor Crater in Arizona, and others on planet Earth. [via io9].

Channel: Science Tags: Photography Craters National Geographic Stephen Alvarez

California voters' disapproval rating on Bush highest since 1961

Wil — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:51:18 EDT

President Bush's disapproval rating in California has reached the highest mark for a president since the Field Poll began tracking White House numbers in 1961, according to its latest survey released Friday. 24% of California voters said they approve of Bush's job performance, compared with 71% who said they disapprove.

Channel: Politics Tags: Polling California Bush Nixon Worst President Ever Approval Ratings

Universal Says DMCA Takedown Notices Need Not Consider 'Fair Use'

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:57:52 EDT

Universal Music told a federal judge here Friday that takedown notices requiring online video-sharing sites to automatically remove content need not consider whether videos are protected by the "fair use" doctrine. The doctrine permits a limited use of copyrighted materials without the owner's permission.

Channel: Music Tags: RIAA UMG Fair Use Universal Music Group Copyright Lawsuits

L.A. County unemployment jumps to 7 percent

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:54:49 EDT

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Los Angeles County jumped to 7 percent in June, state officials reported today. The June unemployment rate was up from the 6.7 percent rate in May, and above the 5 percent rate in June 2007, according to the Employment Development Department.

Channel: Money Tags: Unemployment Los Angeles County Economy Recession Jobless

Harry Harrison named Grand Master by SFWA

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:47:46 EDT

Harry Harrison, creator of The Stainless Steel Rat and author of the novel that inspired the movie Soylent Green, will be honored as the next Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America during the 2009 Nebula Award Weekend in Los Angeles, Calif.

Channel: Books Tags: Harry Harrison SFWA Nebula Awards Los Angeles Damon Knight Grand Master Authors

REVIEW: Northwest of Earth by C. L. Moore

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:46:16 EDT

A delightful blend of classic science fiction, wonderful settings and some of the most memorable monsters you've never encountered.

Channel: Books Tags: Fantasy Science Fiction Reviews Classics CL Moore

Ridley Scott Deserves an Oscar, Even If It's an Honorary One

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:45:37 EDT

John Scalzi says: "[Ridley] Scott's critical contributions to the science fiction genre are just one facet of a film career that genuinely deserves praise and note -- and just one piece of the puzzle for his consideration for an honorary Oscar. Let's look at some of the other reasons."

Channel: Movies Tags: Directors Science Fiction John Scalzi Academy Awards Awards Ridley Scott

Dark Knight Superfan Jokerizes Ads, Herself, Friends

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:14:41 EDT

Although Whisenand's work is similar to earlier viral campaigns sporting a "jokerized" look, she insists she's just a fan. "I'm not being commissioned for any of my Batman work," said Whisenand in an e-mail exchange. "It's all motivated by my own nerdy passion and excitement for The Dark Knight."

Channel: Movies Tags: Advertising Art Batman Dark Knight April Wsisenand Geeks

Review: Joker Plays the Wild Card in Dazzling Dark Knight

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:13:03 EDT

Dark Knight's themes of urban corruption, misplaced ambition and vigilante justice lend it heft...It doesn't even attempt the humorous edge that propelled Iron Man or any of the 20th-century Batman movies. This is serious stuff, astutely dramatized by sturdy supporting players including...Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

Channel: Movies Tags: Batman Dark Knight Reviews Geeks Comic Book Movies DC Comics

GOP Threatens CafePress Over Shirts, Stickers and Logos

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:06:37 EDT

The Republican National Committee is threatening to sue CafePress for hosting an online venue for vendors to hawk GOP-related regalia like T-shirts, stickers and portrayals of elephants.

Channel: Politics Tags: Republicans Cafepress Lawsuits Tshirts GOP RNC

Disgruntled Techies Have Wreaked Worse Havoc Than San Francisco Tech

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:59:56 EDT

The purported takeover of the San Francisco government's new fiber optic network by an employee who locked out all the other administrators sounds extreme, but disgruntled or fired employees have long used computers to get a dose of revenge.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: San Francisco Extortion Fiber Optics

Why You're Better Off Avoiding the iPhone

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:47:06 EDT

If you're a free software lover who's concerned about your privacy and the limitations of DRM, you don't want an iPhone. Amidst Apple's iPhone advertising blitz helped along by positively bubbly media coverage, the Free Software Foundation calls out the dark sides of the new iPhone.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: iPhone DRM Apple Free Software Foundation

Joystiq interviews Rock Band 2's Dan Teasdale

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:34:19 EDT

Joystiq sez: "In the madness of E3, we got 10 minutes with Rock Band 2's Senior Designer Dan Teasdale. We rattled off a bunch of questions and jotted down his basic answers."

Channel: Video Games Tags: Rockband 2 Harmonix Interviews Dan Teasdale E3

Fantastic Contraption Artist: Viktor Koen

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:33:10 EDT

Viktor Koen is a Greek-born artist specializing in digital illustration. He's a professor at Parsons in New York and has his work regularly published in Time, Newsweek, Esquire, Money and Forbes among others.

Channel: Art & Design Tags: Steampunk Viktor Koen Coilhouse

Weird and wonderful recreations of Stonehenge

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:26:34 EDT

Humans have recreated Stonehenge using quite a number of giant building materials, as you can see in this post-industrial stone-age collection, including cars, boats, and refrigerators.

Channel: Art & Design Tags: Photography Stonehenge Boathenge Awesome io9

Warren Ellis talks GI JOE: RESOLUTE

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:23:28 EDT

Writer Warren Ellis gives up details on GI Joe: Resolute. "It went like this. Sam Register phoned me up and said, we'd really like you to write a GI JOE animation, at a PG-13 rating, aimed at an older viewer. I said, I've never seen a GI JOE cartoon in my life...Excellent, Sam said. Just the guy we need."

Channel: Television Tags: Authors Warren Ellis GI Joe Hasbro Animation

Top 10 Computer Annoyances and How to Fix Them

Wil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:45:16 EDT

From the irritating "Access Denied" message when you can't remember your 147th password, to all the useless email that clutters your inbox, to IT lockdown restrictions that keep you from getting your job done, let's take a look at 10 of the more common gripes amongst computer users and our humble suggestions for fixing them.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: HOWTO Lifehacks Windows Mac OS Computers Computer Annoyances Lifehacker Windows Computers Mac OS

Fox TV Boss Previews Sci-Fi Roster

Wil — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:36:35 EDT

With superheroes blitzing Hollywood and Battlestar Galactica ratings finally living up to the series' critical acclaim, sci-fi shows are looking like a good bet to Fox Television. Fox Broadcasting President Kevin Reilly offered his take on the network's new crop of sci-fi shows on Monday.

Channel: Television Tags: Fringe Dollhouse Science Fiction SciFi Fall Television Fox Kevin Reilly

Particles Retain Weight for Billions of Years

Wil — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:07:35 EDT

Unlike most of us, subatomic particles don't gain weight as they get older. The mass of these tiny bits of matter has remained constant over the last 6 billion years, recent astronomical observations indicate.

Channel: Science Tags: Particle Physics Astronomy Space Subatomic Particles

Bush, Consultant Go Back 20 Years

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:26:48 EDT

The White House today tried to distance Bush from a former lobbyist who was caught on tape by the Times of London offering to arrange meetings with high-level U.S. officials in exchange for large payments to the future Bush presidential library fund. But the president and the Houston-based consultant have known each other for at least 20 years.

Channel: Politics Tags: Corruption Culture of Corruption Bush White House Stephen Payne Times of London

All the E3 news you need, in one place

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:15:53 EDT

e3Feed automatically collects all E3-related stories from all of the web's top news sources and puts them in one place so you don't have to hunt for them.

Channel: Video Games Tags: E3 Aggregators Gaming News Awesome

Officials recall little of what they knew of Tillman death

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:45:35 EDT

The House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform said its efforts to determine whether Bush administration officials tried to hide the details of Pat Tillman's death and Jessica Lynch's rescue was thwarted by what it called "a near universal lack of recall."

Channel: Politics Tags: Bush Pat Tillman Jessica Lynch Lies Iraq Afghanistan Propaganda Congres

6 Stupid Gas Saving Schemes (People Are Actually Trying)

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:14:30 EDT

With gas prices skyrocketing and 65 payments left on the Escalade, America is looking for ways to cut back. In these desperate times we'll do whatever is necessary, as long as it doesn't involve driving less. Fortunately there are a number of fuel-saving alternatives that are easy, inexpensive and completely idiotic.

Channel: Autos Tags: Fuel Gas Scams Humor Cracked Fuel Scams Gas Prices

Six reasons you should be watching The Middleman

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:50:18 EDT

Two or three years from now, you'll be thrusting the DVDs of trainee-superhero show The Middleman at your friends and telling them they must check out this awesome show. It has everything: wit, subversiveness, charm, audacious scifi concepts, and the perfect blend of the spy, superhero and X-Files-y genres.

Channel: Television Tags: Science Fiction The Middleman SciFi ABC Family ABC

Geekly Reader - "Red Planet" by Robert A. Heinlein

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:57:03 EDT

Red Planet is a great example of Golden Age Science Fiction and is a very well told adventure story. I believe it is an excellent book to share with your kids, especially young boys. It can also be the catalyst for a teaching moment, illustrating how far we have come in planetary science in the last six decades.

Channel: Books Tags: Reviews Geeks Young Adult Science Fiction SciFi Heinlein

Class D Amplifiers Are Shrinking and Greening Your Electronics

Wil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:41:52 EDT

Technology has democratized the music industry in many obvious ways -- notice how every band, regardless of stature, has a MySpace page? But one of technology's more subtle effects has been to make our sound systems smaller, lighter and greener. The special sauce: Class D amplifiers, the first real advance in speaker design in decades.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Amplifiers Music Musicians Class D Amplifiers

Cooler weather helping firefighters contain Butte County fires

Wil — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:15:55 EDT

Firefighting crews say cooler weather has allowed them to gain the upper hand on the Butte County wildfires, although they're not yet ready to declare the fight won. Large areas of the burned region remain evacuated as a precaution, but the fire is now 65 percent contained and no additional homes have burned.

Channel: News Tags: Butte County Fires California Wildfires Propeller Eco News