Block It Like It's Hot: Tetris Still Entertains At 30

The iconic brick-arranging, brainteasing video game classic Tetris turned 30 this week, yet remains a staple for novice to advanced gaming enthusiasts worldwide. First created by Russian engineer Alexey Pajitnov and eventually sold to Nintendo after a messy international battle over the game's rights (Pajitnov, a student at the time of the game's creation, would not see royalties for another 10 years due to his work technically being property of glorious Mother Russia), the beloved game has crossed oceans, language barriers, and gaming interfaces for over a generation.

Pajitnov's game had fascinating societal implications during the dawn of the personal computing age. As he would later tell the Guardian, "Tetris came along early and had a very important role in breaking down ordinary people's inhibitions in front of computers, which were scary objects to non-professionals used to pen and paper. But the fact that something so simple and beautiful could appear on screen destroyed that barrier."

Over fifty takeoffs of the Tetris empire exist, ranging from the sequel (Tetris 2) to Pajitnov's other endeavors (Hatris...a version with hats!) to the more esoteric (Tetripz.) The game's addictive nature has been explained by some psychologists as a means to offer an endlessly-satiating ability of completing small tasks in a neat manner.

Enjoy 30 fun Tetris facts by Digital Spy.

Alexey Pajitnov's original Tetris design.

3D-Printed Rock Gear Rolls Out For UK Band Klaxons

Klaxons, a band from the UK, plan to embark on the world's first "3D printed tour." Using guitars, amps, and lights created by 3-D printing software, the band are innovating possibilities for new types of sound and new opportunities for equipment creation.

Crafted by Chelmsford company SJA 3D printing, the attempt was a challenge, though one they took to with great results thus far. Klaxons' Jamie Reynolds told NME, "We're going to do something nobody has ever done before. Something big, something fresh. Why not?"

The band plans to take their futuristic gear on a 9-date tour of the UK, beginning at the Norwich Waterfront on October 25th.

One example of a 3D-printed guitar, by Olaf Diegel of New Zealand

Computer Program Passes Turing Test; Judged As Plausible 13-Year-Old Boy

Like a technological Pinocchio, a computer program called "Eugene Goostman" has convinced researchers that "he" is a real boy.

Ostensibly a 13-year-old boy from the Ukraine, the program was able to pass the Turing Test, which states that a computer could be considered to be "thinking" if it could fool 30 percent of researchers during a five-minute text conversation. First dictated in 1950 by computer pioneer Alan Turing, the test is considered the preeminent benchmark for computational philosophy and artificial intelligence. The Russian-made program, tested by the Royal Society in England, fooled 33 percent of its interrogators.

As reported by the Independent UK, in regards to his success Mr. Goostman stated, “I feel about beating the turing test in quite convenient way. Nothing original."

The success of the test brings about many questions, including many regarding the safety of computer users when dealing with possible cybercriminals. Fortunately the Goostman program has not evolved to a stage of teenage mischief...yet.

UPDATE:  The validity of this article has been proven wrong.  My apologies, that's what I get for trusting the corporate media and their wannabe-robot minds.

Fired Up: Renewable Energy Sources Produce 20% Of Global Power

Renewable energy sources, including solar power, hydro power, geothermal energy, biofuels and wind, have been steadily contributing to energy requirements worldwide. Up from a mere 8% in 2012, the accrued fuel sources range in location from the U.S. to developing nations, with humans across the globe realizing the potential of the myriad new sustainable energy systems.

According to www.cleantech.com, "With developing world’s policy support, global renewable energy generation capacity jumped to a record level; 95 emerging economies now nurture renewable energy growth through supportive policies, up six-fold from just 15 countries in 2005."

China made a stunning leap this year by using more renewable sources than nuclear and fossil fuels combined. Although the U.S. has been relatively slow to catch on to widespread use of new energy sources, smaller nations like Scotland and Tuvalu plan to be 100% powered by renewable sources by 2020.

NASA Budget Bill Passes House GOP With Surprising Reinstated Funds

The White House, having made several deleterious cuts to major NASA initiatives, may have inadvertently led their foes in the GOP to maintain their adversity towards Obama by (gasp) aiding the greater quest for science.

According to the 2015 NASA budgetary report, passed this week by the House, $100 million has been set aside for the preliminary efforts at exploring the Martian moon of Europa, which is a target of interest due to its watery composition beneath an icy surface.

The report also maintains that the SOFIA infrared telescope continues to produce "good science" and will not be defunded, claiming, "Instead, the recommendation provides $70,000,000 for SOFIA, which should be sufficient to support the aircraft’s fixed costs (flight crews, required maintenance, etc.) as well as a base level of scientific observations."

While still requiring compromises and a vote of approval from the Senate and the White House, the bill maintains a startling level of scientific care, atypical to the GOP's usual platforms. An additional $15 million (previously slashed by the White House) has been proposed for education and public outreach, a crucial component of inspiring the engineers, astronauts, and adventurers who will carry out these projects in the coming decades.

Read more about the 2015 NASA Budget here.

Surprise, Surprise: Vodafone Reveals Secret Government Wiretaps

From The Telegraph:

Government agencies are able to listen to phone conversations live and even track the location of citizens without warrants using secret cables connected directly to network equipment, admits Vodafone today.

The company said that secret wires have been connected to its network and those belonging to competitors, giving government agencies the ability to tap in to phone and broadband traffic. In many countries this is mandatory for all telecoms companies, it said.

Vodafone is today publishing its first Law Enforcement Disclosure Report which will describe exactly how the governments it deals with are eavesdropping on citizens. It is calling for an end to the use of “direct access” eavesdropping and transparency on the number of warrants issued giving access to private data.

Of course, anyone who has been paying attention knows that this is not really news, since it has been known for years that governments have been secretly tapping the telephony  backbone.  What is new in the present instance is that the company itself has revealed the illegal wiretaps rather than continue to engage in a conspiracy against its own users aided and abetted by criminal governments.  If this is news to you, you might consider looking into AT&T Room 641A.

Download Cat Videos In The Middle Of Nowhere, Thanks To Google's New Satellite Fleet

Hundreds of millions of prospective internet users may soon be granted access thanks to a new satellite fleet being developed by Google. According to the Wall Street Journal, Google has noted that "nearly two-thirds of the world's citizens have no access to the Internet at all", and they seek to remedy that via a combination of small satellites and drones.


The satellites, which are being developed for Google by O3B Networks (whose title refers to the "other three billion" people sans internet access) weigh in at a significantly small 250 pounds, and travel around 5,000 miles above the Earth's surface. Four satellites are currently in use, with four more slated to launch next month.


Read more about Google and O3B's project here.