You know those fights where you’re so sick of the other person’s yapping that you don’t even care whether your point gets across anymore? This cat can definitely relate. The feline was hanging out with some of its friends in Kirsanov, Russia, when they were rudely interrupted by a dachshund looking to stir up some drama. And while the pup barked relentlessly to get a reaction, the oddly zen-like kitty couldn’t be less impressed. As the end of this video proves, though, this cat isn’t totally fearless. Sorry, little wiener dog. Maybe next time you’ll find a cat that actually gives a crap. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/unbothered-kitty/
Home plate umpire Gerry Davis ejects New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda after a foreign substance was discovered on his neck in the second inning of the Yankees’ baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, April 23, 2014.Image: Elise Amendola/Associated Press New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was ejected from a Wednesday night game against the Boston Red Sox for having a swath of pine tar on his neck, then suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday. After Pineda’s ejection, many casual followers of the sport had similar reactions: Pine tar? What’s up with that? What is this, 1919? The first step to understanding Pineda’s pine-tar-gate is accepting that baseball, more than any other sport, relies on a set of codified standards that don’t always jive with what you’ll find in the rule book. To wit: Pine tar is illegal for use by pitchers seeking to improve their grip on the ball, but it’s widely acknowledged that pitchers use it on an extremely regular basis. Which is what makes Pineda’s case so interesting — it’s a window into the mysterious and often inexplicable world of baseball decorum. Like stolen bases, hit batters and more, pine tar comes with a whole set of decorum-related associations and assumptions that many outside the baseball world struggle to understand. “A stolen base late in a blowout game doesn’t have to be a message, but it can be — and if that’s the intent, then that intent will be received,” says Jason Turbow, author of The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America’s Pastime Why is baseball so uniquely locked up in these notions and codified procedures? Turbow points to two reasons. For one, as the oldest and most nostalgic of American sports, baseball tradition is a big deal. Secondly, Turbow says, baseball’s relatively slow pace means more time to “imbue meaning,” real or perceived, on things that happen on the field. Now back to Pineda’s pine tar. Pine tar remains illegal for pitchers, under a rule banning them from using “any substance” for enhanced grip on the mound. Batters, however, are allowed to cover the handles of their bats in the stuff to gain a better hold. Pineda’s problem wasn’t so much that he used pine tar, but how he used it — and how that violated baseball’s unstated rules of behavior. Here is why. He was spotted with a glob of pine tar on his hand in a game, also against the Boston Red Sox, on April 10. That sparked some controversy after the fact, but he was not ejected and the Red Sox did not formally complain. Red Sox manager John Farrell, himself a former pitcher, even said before Wednesday’s game that, “I would expect that if it’s used it’s more discreet than the last time.” Not exactly a searing indictment. He used pine tar against the very same opponent in two consecutive starts against them […]
The firing squad execution chamber at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah, taken on June 18, 2010.Image: Trent Nelson/Associated Press A botched execution in the state of Oklahoma on Tuesday has drawn criticism from the White House, infuriated the ACLU and — practically overnight — reignited the death penalty debate in America. Clayton Lockett, convicted of raping and murdering a 19-year-old girl, was due to be executed at the state penitentiary in McAlester, Okla., Tuesday night when things went shockingly awry. It began when Lockett was given a powerful anesthetic at 6:23 p.m. CDT, the New York Times reported, and was pronounced unconscious moments later. After a few minutes, Lockett reportedly tried to sit up in his chair, trembled, shook his foot, said “man, something’s wrong” and gasped, before officials closed the curtains to the execution chamber. Prison officials later said Lockett died of a heart attack about 40 minutes after a doctor administered the initial drug, and stated the botched execution was a result of a “vein failure” that had “burst.” A second execution scheduled for later Tuesday was postponed pending an investigation. Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Press Secretary Jay Carney said, “We have a fundamental standard in this country that even when the death penalty is justified, it must be carried out humanely.” “I think everyone would recognize that this case fell short of that standard.” Gov. Mary Fallin (R.-Okla.) has promised to investigate the state’s lethal injection protocol. The brutal mishap has again put a spotlight on the morality of the death penalty and has called into question the cocktail of secret drugs administered to Lockett. Below, Mashable answers some basic questions about the death penalty and how the process of lethal injection is carried out. Which countries have the death penalty? The United States is one of 58 nations that still practices capital punishment, along with Ethiopia, Afghanistan and North Korea. Japan and India are the only other major democratic nations that carry out this form of punishment. Of the 198 countries recognized by the Death Penalty Information Center, 98 forbid capital punishment. Seven of those countries allow it only in the case of “exceptional crimes,” such as one committed under military law. Thirty-five others allow it for “ordinary” crimes such as murder, but have not carried out an execution in at least 10 years and “are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions,” according to the center’s website. In the map below, click “legend” in the top left corner to see what the colors designate. How many states in the U.S. have the death penalty? Capital punishment is still legal in 32 states. Maryland was the latest to outlaw the death penalty in 2013, though the ruling was not retroactive; the five inmates on death row there are still due to be executed. The same is true for Connecticut and New Mexico, which outlawed the death penalty in 2012 and 2009, respectively. Connecticut’s 11 death row prisoners and New Mexico’s […]
Image: Amazon Amazon drones aren’t taking off anytime soon — at least not until the Federal Aviation Administration says otherwise. On Monday, in a document inviting public comment on drone policy, the FAA clarified that delivering packages using a drone isn’t legal. The agency didn’t mention Amazon in the document specifically. But the FAA seemed to suggest that Amazon — like every other business — falls under its regulations which, they say, already prohibits the commercial use of drones. Amazon, though, was unmoved. This “has no effect on our plans,” said Paul Misener, Vice President of Global Public Policy for Amazon. “This is about hobbyists and model aircrafts, not Amazon.” In its “Notice of Interpretation with Request for Comment,” the FAA included a list of activities that are not permitted under current regulations, including “delivering packages to people for a fee,” as first noted by Ars Technica. In a footnote, the FAA clarified that even if the shipping is free or offered as part of a “purchase or other offer,” it still would be considered a commercial use of drones and thus not allowed. Brendan Schulman, a lawyer who specializes in drones, said the FAA is trying to reassert its authority by reiterating that these kinds of uses are not permitted. The legal status of drones in the U.S. is complicated. According to the FAA, only amateurs and people with a special FAA permission — a so-called Certificate of Authority — are legally permitted to fly drones, though that has been disputed. This spring, a federal Appeals Court judge ruled that FAA drone regulation isn’t valid since the agency didn’t ask for public comment when initially drafting the drone rules, which is a federal requirement. The FAA is appealing the ruling and, in the meantime, insists that no commercial use of drones is allowed. The agency is supposed to publish new rules on drones by 2015, and developers are in a race to be ready with products for what is believed will be a multi-billion dollar market. In the meantime, it has allowed some universities, research organizations and law-enforcement agencies to use drones in a limited way. On June 10, the FAA announced that BP had permission to fly drones, the first time a company was granted permission to fly a drone over American land. BONUS: Drones vs. Government: Who Owns America’s Skies? Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/24/faa-amazon-drones-2/
Imagine not having to work at all, having zero responsibilities, and being able to lie around and sleep whenever you want without feeling guilty about it. Sounds like living the dream, right? Well, that’s something our furry little friends get to enjoy every day. Whether they’re blissfully snoozing or just can’t be bothered to move even an inch, many of our beloved cats, dogs, and other pets share the same trait — they love being lazy. Here’s all the adorable proof you need! 1. If only we could all be like this dog when we call into work and just be able to honestly say, “I’m not sick. I’m just lazy.” Reddit / convictTV 2. “Push-ups? More like stay-downs.” 3. What else are hoomans for if not to carry you when you’re tired of hiking? Reddit / ttw06 <div class="llcust" data-lltype="embed" id="ll_59d1a07108bdf" data-source=" 4. “I could Roomba VS lazy dog <div class="llcust" data-lltype="embed" id="ll_59d1a07108ca8" data-source=" Lazy Cat Fight <div class="llcust" data-lltype="media" id="ll_59d1a07109661" data-source=" 6. This record store employee just got caught sleeping on the job. Reddit / PolarLight <div class="llcust" data-lltype="embed" id="ll_59d1a0710973a" data-source=" Just another lazy day <div class="llcust" data-lltype="media" id="ll_59d1a0710a07a" data-source=" 8. These two adorable critters are the embodiment of lazy Sundays. Reddit / StewPaddasso <div class="llcust" data-lltype="video" id="ll_59d1a0710a20e" data-source=" <div class="llcust" data-lltype="media" id="ll_59d1a0710ab5c" data-source=" 10. Someone’s going straight back to bed after breakfast. Reddit / Wangis Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/lazy-pets/
Is “Gangnam Style” too legit to quit? With more than 766 million views, MC Hammer seems to think so. The rapper joined Korean music sensation Psy on stage at the 2012 American Music Awards on Sunday night. Both performers, donned in Hammer pants, collaborated on a mashup of “Gangnam Style” and “2 Legit 2 Quit.” Cameras caught stars like Justin Bieber, who won “Artist of the Year,” dancing along to the epic performance. You can also purchase the mashup on iTunes. What is the best mashup of Gangnam Style you’ve seen so far? Are you ready for another single from the artist? Let us know in the comments below. Gangnam Style Video Roundup Klingon Style Gangnam Style with Eric Schmidt Gangnam Style at York University Bill Nye the Psyence Guy Kim Jong Style Quad City DJ’s vs PSY Hey, Sexy Sailors! Psy Performs Gangnam Style at the TODAY Show Gangnam Style Sans Music CPDRC Inmates RaOn acoustic cover Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/19/mc-hammer-and-psy/
The AHS Sikorsky Prize is awarded every year to the team that can build the biggest, baddest human-powered helicopter on the planet. And this year’s winner is absolutely stunning to watch. It may only be able to lift the operator 3.3 meters into the air for just over a minute, but its existence really is a feat of human engineering. The machine’s range of motion isn’t too extensive, but the size and scale of it make the viewing experience something you can’t miss. Participants in this competition always blow audiences away, but there’s something really special about this team’s creation. To see more of its record-breaking flight, check out AeroVelo’s Youtube channel. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/human-powered-helicopter/
Nike has developed a special set of glasses that enhance an athlete’s physical reaction time and visual performance. Backed by Duke University research, the SPARQ Sensory Performance system assesses users’ needs and develops a training program to “fine tune” their sensory skills. The method uses a “Sensory Station” to evaluate 10 sport-relevant visual and sensory performance skills. Using data from this assessment and a comparison of their performance against others in the same sport, athletes are given a series of recommended training programs using Nike’s SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear. These glasses use a strobe-like effect to block the wearer’s vision for short periods of time. While training using these classes, the user’s brain learns to anticipate what’s coming when vision is blocked, resulting in improved reaction time, visual acuity and sense of timing. The glasses are fully integrated into customized training programs and have variable strobe speeds. The system is already in use at professional and collegiate athletic programs, with a global rollout of the system is expected soon. In addition to physical performance improvements, a Duke University study found that athletes who had used the SPARQ system had “heightened” visual short-term memory retention. Those who had used it were able to better remember letters quickly flashed on a screen. While it may not help you cram for a final, it seems that this system could have applications beyond sports. It’s another example of the future of performance training being increasingly defined by the use of innovative technology over increased strength and endurance training. This article originally published at PSFK here Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/30/nike-strobe-light-glasses/
Panda cubs are kind of like toddlers… only a lot stronger and more rambunctious. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/this-poor-woman-is-just-trying-to-do-her-job/
