Amazon has the Blu-Ray box set of the first six Star Trek movies on sale for an incredibly low $28.49! Click here: Amazon.com. Remember, you can rip those Blu-Rays with MakeMKV, and either leave it as an mkv or convert to other formats using Handbrake (to play on an AppleTV, for example).
John Oliver on Net Neutrality
Hilarious…yet educational…commentary from John Oliver on the subject of Net Neutrality…with a call to action to Internet Trolls to direct their attention to FCC.GOV/COMMENTS to let the government know that we demand net neutrality!
Shimano announces XTR Di2 electronic shifting for mountain bikes
I’m not sure why you’d want or need electronic shifting for a mountain bike, but if you do, you’re in luck! Shimano now makes such a device. I question the reliability of this though…I just can’t imagine this being comparable to a manually operated derailleur. Neat gimmick though. You can read more at gizmag:Shimano announces XTR Di2 electronic shifting for mountain bikes.
World’s Coolest Garage Sells For $1 Million
The garage (and home) that is famous for being used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (remember the Ferrari reversing through the glass wall?) sold for a $1.06 million. Assuming a little more care is taken to storing precious automobiles, the new owner will enjoy one of the most famous garages in the country. Read more at Jalopnik: Home Where 80’s Teen Had Ferrari-Ruining Meltdown Sells For $1 Million.
Mandatory Labeling for Genetically Engineered Salmon Wins Support in Senate Committee
This is mildly encouraging…Congress has taken the first step towards requiring labeling of genetically modified salmon. Will the amendment progress and ultimately become a law? Doubtful…but one can hope! Read more here: Mandatory Labeling for Genetically Engineered Salmon Wins Support in Senate Committee.
Four day work week? Heck yeah!
How does a four day work week sound? Too good to be true? Well, some companies are actually doing this! I hope this trend spreads…read more here: What If Every Weekend Was Three Days Long? At These Companies It Is | Fast Company | Business + Innovation.
Major meteor shower Friday?
Cool…a comet’s orbit was recently (in cosmic terms) diverted, with its new trail crossing our orbit for the first time. The resulting dust trail may…or may not…produce a good meteor shower this Friday night! Midnight Pacific time should be the peak; look north. Click here for the details: Major meteor shower could delight N. America May 23-24.
April 2014: warmest April on record
Yet another temperature record being broken… April 2014: warmest April on record – Boing Boing.
Why climate change scares me
If you want to know why I feel the way I do about climate change, watch this video from a TEDx conference two years ago:
The speaker talks about the path we’re on, where it’s headed, and what that really means for us. He paints a pretty dire picture…and it’s worth noting that this video is two years old. In that time, there’s been no action taken, and no science found to refute these conclusions…yet we remain mired in place, unable to embrace the science and take action.
Melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet
Scientist studying the ice in Antarctica have found that a very large area, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is melting at an accelerating rate, and has already reached a point of instability, where its melting will continue regardless of any actions we take to reduce the effects of global warming. It is past the point of no return, so to speak. The impact of this is expected to be a global rise in seal levels of several feet (up to 10 feet, potentially) over the next couple of centuries. Yes, that makes it a problem that won’t affect us, but we have a moral obligation to future generations to provide them with the same potential for prosperity that we enjoy.
The cause of this melting is deep, warmer water being pulled to the surface by increasingly powerful winds circling the continent (which is generally believed to be caused by global warming). As far back as 1978, scientists were warning that global warming could lead to this…and now it’s happening (unless you’re a Republican with your head in the sand).
Read more at the NYTimes.