Thursday, April 11, 2013

Genius.box wants to put a different experiment on your doorstep every month

Geniusbox wants to put a different experiment on your doorstep every month

There are a lot of things you can have delivered to your home on a monthly basis: magazines, hot sauces, underwear and beer are just a few. The second place winner at the Husky Startup Challenge, genius.box, takes that basic concept but replaces the Fruit of the Looms with simple to perform science experiments. Aimed at children between the ages of eight and 12, the projects inside each package teach a basic lesson in science, technology, engineering or math through a hands-on experience. All of the materials needed for each experiment are included, along with a lesson plan, instructions and "factoid" cards with tidbits of interesting trivia, such as the number of elements on the periodic scale.

The two boxes trotted out for demo day by creators Kate Pipa and Shivangi Shah covered the science and technology portions of the STEM equation. One was a kitchen chemistry set for growing crystals and the other a simple electronics kit, based partially around parts of a Snap Circuits set, that has kids building an electromagnet and lighting up an LED. This isn't exactly a return to hardcore chemistry sets of the past (you'll find no radioactive materials or poisons in here), but it's certainly a step in the right direction for an America whose love affair with science is on the rocks. Every four weeks a child would get a whole new educational playset for the target price of $20 a month. Which is quite a bit cheaper than your standard chemistry set or electronics kit. To be kept in the loop as genius.box works to get off the ground, sign up at the more coverage link.

Gallery: genius.box

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/lqQIj4ZJbPI/

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Senators to add high-tech visas, dispute details

FILE Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., argues with National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre as supporters and opponents of stricter gun control measures face off at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Jan. 30, 2013 file photo. Senators writing a massive immigration bill plan to greatly increase the number of visas going to high-tech workers. But a dispute has arisen because Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is pushing for higher wages and trying to crack down on companies that use the visas to train workers in the U.S., then send them back overseas. Aides worked into the evening Monday April 8, 2013 on the high-tech visa issue, and senators were to resume meeting in person Tuesday after returning to Washington from a two-week spring recess. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., argues with National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre as supporters and opponents of stricter gun control measures face off at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Jan. 30, 2013 file photo. Senators writing a massive immigration bill plan to greatly increase the number of visas going to high-tech workers. But a dispute has arisen because Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is pushing for higher wages and trying to crack down on companies that use the visas to train workers in the U.S., then send them back overseas. Aides worked into the evening Monday April 8, 2013 on the high-tech visa issue, and senators were to resume meeting in person Tuesday after returning to Washington from a two-week spring recess. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(AP) ? Senators finalizing a massive immigration bill are arguing over plans to boost visas for high-tech workers, Senate aides and industry officials say, with disputes flaring over how best to punish companies that train workers here only to ship them overseas.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who's taken the lead in pushing to crack down on outsourcing firms, also is seeking higher wages for workers brought in on the H-1B visas that go to specially skilled foreigners, aides and officials say. High-tech industry officials say his efforts risk punishing companies not involved in the abuses he's trying to target, and lawmakers including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., are taking the other side.

The dispute comes as aides to four Democratic and four Republican senators have been racing to put the finishing touches on sweeping immigration legislation that would secure the border and grant eventual citizenship to 11 million people here illegally, while also allowing tens of thousands more high- and low-skilled workers into the country on new visa programs.

Aides worked into the evening Monday on the high-tech visa issue, and senators were to resume meeting in person Tuesday after returning to Washington from a two-week spring recess. They were hoping to complete their legislation this week, though next week may be looking more likely. The high-tech visa question loomed as one of a few remaining unsettled matters.

At issue is overwhelming demand from companies like Microsoft, Apple and Google for the H-1B visas, which are now capped at 65,000 annually, plus 20,000 more that are reserved for foreign workers who have earned an advanced degree from a U.S. university. On Friday, the Homeland Security Department announced that after less than a week of accepting applications, it already had received more requests than visas available for the 2014 budget year.

Faced with that demand, senators have contemplated lifting the cap to around 100,000, with the ability to go as high as 150,000, aides and officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing, and they stressed the numbers remained in flux and no final decisions had been made.

Such an increase would be a win for the tech industry, which has boosted its lobbying muscle in Washington in recent years. On a related issue, the legislation also is likely to allow permanent U.S. residency to unlimited numbers of people who get advanced degrees in science, technology or math from U.S. universities.

But the proposal to increase H-1B visas is focusing attention on problems with the current system.

Daniel Costa, immigration policy analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, said the top 10 companies with the most H-1B visas last year were all firms that bring workers here to work at lower cost than Americans would, then send them back home. Many are technology companies based in India.

"There need to be some major reforms before expansion happens," Costa said.

Senate negotiators have discussed fees and other penalties for companies that use large numbers of H-1B workers, including requiring those with more than 30 percent of their workforce made up of H-1B workers to pay higher wages than others, and those with more than 50 percent of H-1B workers to pay higher wages still. There would potentially be a prohibition against a company hiring more than 75 percent of its workers on H-1B visas. No such limit exists in current law.

But Durbin has been pushing to block companies from hiring any more than 50 percent of their workers on H-1B visas, aides and officials said. More problematically for U.S. firms, he also is pushing for higher wages, which industry officials contend could result in H-1B workers getting paid more than their American counterparts. And he's sought to push companies to make greater efforts to hire American workers first.

"Sen. Durbin has advocated for meaningful reforms of the H-1B visa program for years, and that hasn't changed in these negotiations," Durbin spokesman Max Gleischman said late Monday. "Any discussion of raising H-1B caps must also include protections for American workers and safeguards to ensure American jobs aren't being shipped overseas."

Scott Corley, executive director of Compete America, which represents high-tech companies including Google, Intel and Microsoft, said companies that are not heavily dependent on the H-1B visas shouldn't be subject to some of the new restrictions Durbin has advocated.

"If you believe these visas are somehow being exploited, who is more likely to exploit them?" Corley said. "There are tons and tons of people who apply for one or two of these visas every year, so you have to step back and say do we want to do this in a judicious way."

___

Follow Erica Werner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericawerner

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-09-Immigration-High-Tech/id-2fdcabd9316945aa962936aaba4bf110

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Acne treatment: the pros and cons | Mexico Health Insurance

Often people that suffer from severe nodular acne are directed to take Accutane by their doctor or healthcare professional and this is because this medication is known to be highly effective in the treatment of this condition. Many people who suffer from this sort of acne may have tried one treatment after another with little or no success but many go on to find the success that they have been hoping for when they start using Accutane. This treatment is far more potent than many other treatments that may be used by acne sufferers and therefore can be far more effective for those that have severe acne.

If you are planning to use Accutane it is important that you are aware of both the good points and the bad points about this medication. You will then be far better prepared when it comes to knowing what to expect from this treatment and you can make a far more informed choice about whether Accutane is the right treatment for you. Some of the pros of Accutane

Accutane has many good points, which is why it has become a popular form of treatment for sufferers of severe nodular acne. Some of the pros of this medication include:

The ability radically improve the appearance of skin lesions and reduce the severity of the acne Reducing the amount of oil that is secreted by the sebaceous glands, which is what can make the condition worse for acne sufferers Helping to kill off bacteria deep down in the skin, which is one of the things that can also make acne worse and can result in recurrent bouts of the condition Reducing the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads Improving the self confidence of acne sufferers through the improvement of the skin?s appearance Easy and convenient to use Some of the cons of Accutane

It is also important to take into consideration the downside of taking Accutane, as you will then be able to weigh up the pros and cons in order to determine the suitability of the treatment for your needs. Some of the cons of Accutane include:

There are various restrictions on its use due to its potency and its potential side effects, which means that it may not be suitable for everyone to use There are a number of different side effects that may accompany this treatment. Some of these may be mild side effects and other may be serious ones Most people who use Accutane in order to address their acne find that it is a highly effective treatment that can provide relief from the discomfort, pain and physical appearance of this condition. This in turn can help to hugely improve the quality of life of sufferers.

Source: http://www.nmfbihop.com/acne-treatment-the-pros-and-cons

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Tt eSports Competition Gaming Glove


When you're spending an hour or more focused on an intense PC game, your physical comfort becomes an important issue. Little things, like the feel of the mouse in your hand or the texture of a mousepad can become the very details that prevent you from getting in the zone, the distractions that cost you a match. So why buy a glove for your mouse hand? Perhaps you like your mousepad?like the Roccat Hiro?because it glides smoothly and offers more consistent sensor response, but hate the feel of the pebbled texture surface under your wrist. Or if your own pet peeves include wrist strain or sweaty palms, then you might want to consider the Tt eSports Competition Gaming Glove. Coming from the gaming division of ThermalTake, the Gaming Glove will only be worthwhile for a slim segment of the gaming community?but it will be a boon to those who need it.

Design
The Gaming Glove is a right-handed glove, designed to increase your overall comfort while mousing. It does this in two ways: First, the glove itself prevents any uncomfortable sweat build-up between your hand and the mouse. Second, the glove has some ergonomic features built in, providing not only short term comfort, but long term protection for your wrist.

The red and black glove has an unusual looking design. It's fingerless, but combines the first and second fingers into one. The result is that your fingers have no material between them when clicking and scrolling, preventing any sort of irritation. Also, between the second and third fingers and third and fourth fingers are two attached loops, which let you remove the glove quickly by pulling on them with your other hand.

The glove is made of several different materials?a red stretchable Lycra back, which provides a snug fit, but is also meant to allow hands large and small to fit into the glove. The fabric is also very thin, which helps keep things cool. On the palm side of the hand, the glove uses a matching red neoprene material, which cushions the hand. While this could get pretty warm, the fingerless design is augmented with perforated ventilation, so it's not much of an issue. Connecting the two sides are two types of black mesh; a light stretchy mesh between the fingers, and a heavier mesh around the wrist fabric providing structure and support.

Around the wrist of the glove is a black neoprene wrist strap with a Velcro enclosure, providing wrist support, much like a wrist brace. On the palm of the glove are two gel pads which both cushion the palm and provide further support to the hand when using a mouse.

Sizing on the glove is a little weird. Available for right-hand only, the glove is only available in one size. Tt eSports describes it thus "Circumference of the Hand is 22.86 cm (or 9 inches), suitable for most sizes." According to the tag inside the glove, that size is medium. On my own hand, the glove was snug, but not uncomfortably so, and it still lets my hand flex and move enough for all of my mousing and typing needs.

Performance
Though I went in with fairly low expectations, the gaming glove does do a few things right. For starters, the neoprene and Velcro wrist strap provides surprisingly good wrist support. The padded palm also makes it much more comfortable to rest your hand on your desk or mouse pad. Overall, my wrist did feel less overall fatigue after a long gaming session.

Though the goofy combined-finger design looks and feels strange at first, removing the fabric from between the first and second fingers does provide a bit more comfort when using the mouse. Unfortunately, this benefit is highlighted by the fact that the other separate fingers are a tad irritating?stitching irritates the skin, and the attached quick-removal loops exacerbate the problem. In the same vein, the tag for the gloves is attached just inside the wrist strap, and it tended to bunch and irritate my wrist.

The Tt eSports Gaming Glove initially struck me as one of those "competitive gaming" products that are more hype than substance, but after using it for a week and a half, I must admit, there is some benefit to be gained. If wrist strain or sweaty palms are concerns for you, then the Gaming Glove will help on both counts, and your win/loss ratio will likely improve because of it. On the other hand (pun not intended) unless you're noticeably uncomfortable mousing with your bare hand, it's not worth the money, or the hassling you'll get from the fashion police.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/rkCXKFv5caM/0,2817,2417478,00.asp

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Halle Berry Confirms Pregnancy, Feels "Fantastic"

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/halle-berry-confirms-pregnancy-feels-fantastic/

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Taylor Swift Not Afraid Of Being 'Single Forever'

After years of living life in the fast lane of love, the singer says she's slowing down in the latest issue of Wonderland.
By Emily Blake


Taylor Swift
Photo: Getty Images/ Paul A. Hebert

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705246/taylor-swift-single-forever.jhtml

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

G-Technology shows off a Thunderbolt-powered dock with dual hard drive bays

G-Technology shows off a Thunderbolt-powered dock with dual hard drive bays

We have a feeling 4K is going to be a major theme at this year's NAB, which also means we'll be seeing a good deal of hardware that can actually handle such high-res content. Mostly, we're talking pro cameras and the like, but at least one company will be showing off some professional-grade hard drives -- after all, you're gonna need a solid storage solution to process those supersize files, right? G-Technology just introduced the "Evolution" family of products, the centerpiece of which is the G-Dock ev, a mini-tower with two hard drive modules and dual Thunderbolt connections. What you put in those hard drive slots is up to you: the company is offering both a 9.5mm 7,200RPM drive (rated for 136 MB/s transfers) and a beefier 15mm cartridge promising 250 MB/s. Once you choose your drives, you can arrange them in a RAID 1 configuration if redundancy is important, or RAID 0 for maximum speed.

What's more, each of the drives has a USB 3.0 socket on board, so if you needed to you could hand it to someone else in your office and let them grab whatever data they needed off the HDD. In any case, the dock will come standard with two 1GB, 9.5mm drives -- look for it next month, priced at $750 for the bundle. If you later need some additional cartridges, the 9.3mm G-Drive ev will cost either $150 or $200, depending on whether you want 500 gigs or a full terabyte. The bigger 15mm G-Drive ev Plus will go for $350 (it'll be sold with 1TB only). Lastly, G-Technology also announced the G-Drive Pro with a Thunderbolt port and claimed transfer speeds of 480 MB/s. That'll ship this summer for either $700 or $850, depending on whether you want 2TB or 4GB of storage. All that's in the PR after the break, along with an endorsement from Vincent Laforet himself. Must be good, right?

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/R79LSsPR6aA/

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