OpenStreetMap, an alternative to Google map data, has had a lot of success but can't agree on what direction to go next, say those in the know. An odd problem for people who make maps, right?But at least they are having fun trying. When I was young, the only sort-of controversy in maps was 'fairness' to third world countries. We didn't say 'developing nations' back then, we said 'third...
read moreIt's a modern technology world. If you were running for president in 2008, you could just forgo public financing of your campaign and stick your opponent with a hard cap of half as much advertising money as you have - then you could spend as much money yourself as both candidates combined spent in 2004.But in 2012 everyone has unlimited money so outspending the other guy with campaign ads won't...
read moreIt used to be you had to rely on human science journalists to get concepts properly framed for you and enjoy the shot of dopamine confirmation bias provides. It still happens, just a lot less. Popular Science just went on an anti-religion rant - and you know it is bad when your own subscribers ask you to stop trolling them - and Scientific American has long been basically an unregistered...
read moreDon't like Paul Ryan? You're not alone. When he was an outsider, Democrats gushed over how rational and amazing he was but now that he is a Republican Vice-Presidential contender, all they can talk about is how poorly he dresses. read...
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read moreWhile any number of cultural mullahs tries to re-stoke a controversy over guns (is Switzerland safe? Males are required to own guns there) and doesn’t seem to understand that calling everything ‘an assault rifle’ just makes them look uninformed, the US Army wants to create a real assault rife. Except smaller. And semi-automatic. Sniper rifles are behemoths and, if you are not...
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