Skeptics V's Realists View of Global Warming

Response to The Oz statement "there has been no statistically significant warming since 1995"

Quite possibly the best Christmas photo ever taken

 

Yes, alright it's got a cat in it...

Lost Egyptian Pyramids Found?

Two new Egyptian pyramids appear to have been located thousands of years after they were last seen by human eyes.  Images from Google Earth appear to show two long-lost pyramid complexes in Upper Egypt near the city of Abu Sidhum

Lost Egyptian Pyramids Found? : Discovery News

More here: Lost Egyptian pyramids found ... by Google?, Huff Post 

By Royal Appointment....

A bit controversial at the moment...

How The Sound of the TARDIS was Created

All I want for Christmas is a... TARDIS PC!!

Well blow me down, if this isn't the neatest PC I've seen in ages....  A nice, neat and eminently attractive TARDIS PC which actually has decent hardware specs.  They even have the option to buy one without Windows and you have to admire how they've incorporated a Blue Ray Burner. 

I can dream.

From: Scan.co.uk

Christmas Wallpapers

It was inevitable: the obligatory Christmas wallpaper collection.

This is Why They Call it Football...

Hhhehehe...

Watery Blurred Blue Wallpaper

From the "It's So Crazy it Just Might Work" Dept...

It's summer so here come the mozzies (as if they ever really left...).  If you're a prime target of the little buggers here's something to relieve the symptoms: the Therapik Bug Bite Relieving Gadget.  It's a small hand held wand you use to zap bites to make them stop itching.  Amazingly, it works.

“Once in a Civilization” Comet Comming Next Year

The newly discovered comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) appears to be heading on a trajectory that could make for one of the most spectacular night-sky events in living memory.

Astronomers predict that the comet will pass just 1.16 million miles from the Sun as it swings around its perihelion, or closest approach.  The close approach will melt enormous amounts of the comet’s ice, releasing dust and gas and forming what should be a magnificent tail.

After it loops around the Sun and forms this tail, the comet should then pass relatively close to Earth—not near enough to cause any worry, but close enough to put on a great show.

“Once in a Civilization” Comet to Zip past Earth Next Year | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network

Nancy Sinatra - You Only Live Twice

Caterday... Time for Your Daily Wallpapers of Cute

Whenever I Get Into An Argument With A stubborn Person.

Superb TARDIS Wallpaper

Right... No, left... Bugger

Eclipse Calculator

Just in time for the solar eclipse on Wednesday is this Eclipse Calculator.  Just type in your town/city and it'll generate an animation of the eclipse in your area.  Also shows upcoming eclipses.

Spy vs. Spy

Scumbag Gabba

Dalec Plan to Conquer the Universe Hits a Snag

Attack of the 50 foot woman

Maths Time!

http://imgur.com/fduXP

USB Typewriter by usbtypewriter on Etsy

Let's be perfectly serious here, who wouldn't want a USB Typewriter?  There's even a company that sells conversion kits (USB and mechanical) plus a range of converted typewriters.  Could this be the perfect present for the literary types amongst us?

USB Typewriter by usbtypewriter on Etsy

Modern Music Graphs

Unstable Bench

Cost of Electricity

Queing

Surfin'...

25 Years of Storage

The Real Benefits For Asylum Seekers In Australia

As David Koch points out, here's the real benefits for Refugees in Australia (leaving aside the "benefit" of being left in a concentration camp for years...):

• First of all, refugees are not illegal immigrants. It has never been illegal in Australia to arrive on shore without a visa seeking asylum. In fact it’s one of the rights within the UN’s declarations on refugees which Australia helped to write.

• When an asylum seeker arrives in Australia, they do not get any Centrelink benefits. While their status is being processed, and if they meet certain criteria, they can be eligible for financial support from the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme, administered through the Red Cross. This amount is 89% of the basic Centrelink allowance. This means approximately $405.84 per fortnight – over $260 less than a pensioner.

• Once an asylum seeker is recognised as a genuine refugee, after a long and highly scrutinized process, they are given permanent residency and are then entitled to the same Centrelink, schooling and health benefits as anyone else. No more, no less.

• The normal Centrelink welfare payment is $456 per fortnight, for a refugee with permanent residency and an Australian-born person. A pensioner in Australia receives $671.90. Over $200 more each fortnight. Even with family/parenting benefits, a refugee’s benefits would still be less than a pensioner’s income.

• For an asylum seeker to qualify for any payment under the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme, they must have lodged an application for a visa 6 months before, not be in detention, and not get any other payment or benefit.

• To get a permanent residence as a refugee, the person has to prove they are a genuine refugee fleeing persecution, go through character, security and medical tests, and sign an Australian Values Statement.

• ‘Boat people’ are asylum seekers. Refugees are asylum seekers who have been approved and given a visa. None of them are ‘illegal immigrants’.

The Real Benefits For Asylum Seekers In Australia

How to fold a shirt

Wally Remix's Everybodies "Somebodies"

An oldie but a goodie: Wally De Backer decided to do his own cover of every cover of his song "Somebody That I Used to Know" on Youtube.  Worked out nicely...

Watch "Gotye - Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra" on YouTube

Super secret North Korean missile footage

New Comet Discovered—May Become "One of Brightest in History

According to National Geographic, a new comet has been discovered which may become "One of Brightest in History".  If astronomers' early predictions hold true, next year may hold a glowing gift for stargazers: a super bright comet (named: 2012 S1) just discovered streaking near Saturn. 

It's still unclear where the comet came from but its orbit suggests the comet may be a runaway from the Oort cloud, where billions of comets orbit about a hundred thousand times farther from the sun than Earth is.  Because 2012 S1 appears to be fairly large—possibly approaching two miles (three kilometers) wide—and will fly very close to the sun, astronomers have calculated that the comet may shine brighter, though not bigger, than the full moon in the evening sky.

A rare challenge to Abbott's free pass

Something unusual is happening.  Tony Abbott is finally being challenged in the mainstream media about his positions refugees and the Carbon Tax.  Could this be the prelude to a(nother) Liberal leadership challenge?   It's certainly true that Malcolm Turnbull's profile in the media is a lot higher in recent weeks than it has been.

A rare challenge to Abbott's free pass - The Drum - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Need a "Genuine" Credit Card Number?

Need to use a credit card on a dodgey site (you know the ones), how about using one of the credit card numbers on this site?

I hate giving out my credit card number to register in websites, so I made this. Then I thought about programmers and added a little extra.

Rape Prevention Tips

Weed Blaster - Shut Up and Take My Money!

The 1930 Film Noir Inspiration For 'Batman'

Apparently the inspiration for the lattest Batman film came from the 1920's movie "The Bat" an early talkie, this film is the second film version of the 1920 hit Broadway play “The Bat.” The first film version of the play, “The Bat” (1926), was also directed by Roland West. Just as in the play and the first film, people explore an old mansion looking for a hidden treasure while a caped killer picks them off one by one.

Read more: The 1930 Film Noir Inspiration For 'Batman'

You Have Reached Tony Abbott...

Re-Style Your Wireless Router

Got an ugly wireless router contaminating your living room?  How about re-styling it with this handy lifehack?

Re-Style Your Wireless Router (DIY)

Playlist of EVERY rage episode since 1998

How about this for amazing?  Someone has created  a new website that allows you to view EVERY Rage playlist from 1998 onwards.  This is mindbogglingly brilliant and will now redefine how we all watch Rage.

Website that lets you watch EVERY rage episode since 1998

The Bizarre Murder of Roland Opus

iShower: water-resistant Bluetooth speaker

The iShower, a water-resistant music system, is now shipping for $100. The iShower has Bluetooth connectivity with support for up to five paired devices. What's more, you won't need to bust out the tools to install the iShower, as the mounting system's built-in adhesive lets you pretend to be a handyman without doing any real work -- the unit can also be hung over the shower head if you're wary of sticky residue. The music system runs on three AA batteries and provides up to 15 hours of listening time, and there's even a built-in clock. 

iShowert: water-resistant Bluetooth speaker

Hitler's Family Tree

If you look closely (amongst all the bizarre spelling of Hitler, shotgun weddings and illegitimate kiddies) you'll notice that his family was once known as Schicklgruber.

Hitler's Family

Pushing Down Hard on Prices

Six Myths About The NBN You Should Stop Believing Right Now

OK, the NBN, it's a good thing.  Everyone agrees that we need a better, faster and higher capacity communications network than we have now.  But the question remains: Should we spend all that money (in excess of AU$32 Billion) on the NBN or other important things like roads...????

As you can see from this article the question isn't even wrong.  Critically, the spend on the NBN isn't dead money (like spending on roads or politicians salaries) it's actually an investment that will return REAL PROFITS.  How?  Pretty simple: invest in the unified network and reap returns from subscribers.  The equation is pretty simple: borrow money at (about) 3% and get yearly returns in excess of 7%.

Did I mention world class communications that will future proof the country?  Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Six Myths About The NBN You Should Stop Believing Right Now | Lifehacker Australia

God Save the Queen!

Banksy celebrates the Queens' Diamond Jubilee

The Queen as Ziggy Stardust - by Banksy