John Cox

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Interesting

the Guardian

tracking my girlfriend via her cell phone

This article demonstrates how easily anyone with brief physical access to a mobile phone can install location-tracking software that works invisibly—the phone shows no alerts or traces of the tracking, yet the tracker can pinpoint the device's location within 150 yards and monitor movements continuously. The author, a journalist, installed such tracking on his girlfriend's phone (with her permission "in principle") by simply registering her phone on a commercial GSM tracking website, paying £5, and deleting the warning text messages that appeared on her phone. The piece serves as a warning that mobile phone companies could monetize location data through these services, and anyone—not just authorities—might already be secretly tracking you if they've had five minutes alone with your phone.

Permalink technologyprivacysecurityinternet

incompetech.com

eugeneciurana.com

Sushi Eating HOWTO

This guide teaches Western sushi novices proper etiquette and ordering conventions for enjoying authentic sushi at a Japanese sushi bar (sushiya). It emphasizes that sushi is fundamentally fast food meant to be eaten at the bar in conversation with the chef and other patrons, ordering one or two pieces at a time and eating methodically to appreciate subtle flavors and textures. The author also covers how to identify quality establishments (small bars with fresh fish displays and Japanese clientele), what types of sushi to order and in what sequence, proper techniques for eating and using condiments, and the medicinal properties of wasabi and similar ingredients.

Permalink foodcultureinternetdining

www.to-done.com

Tips for getting to sleep faster & sleeping better

Josh describes his lifelong struggle with racing thoughts that keep him awake for hours despite not having clinical insomnia, then offers six practical remedies he's collected and tested. The advice ranges from avoiding screens thirty minutes before bed (because their light mimics daylight) to drinking milk for its tryptophan content, going to bed only when genuinely tired, reserving the bed primarily for sleep, practicing meditation or progressive muscle relaxation, and exercising during daytime rather than evening.

Permalink healthwellnesssleepadvice

news.com.com

Markmonitor

37signals.com

Heckling Adaptive Path - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals)

Adaptive Path distinguishes between "Foundation Attributes" (technologies like user-generated content and real-time data that emerged in the mid-1990s but weren't sufficient on their own) and "Experience Attributes" (newer elements that create compelling user experiences), arguing that Web 2.0's real competitive advantage comes from combining both types. The piece suggests that Experience Attributes—which blur traditional lines between suppliers, vendors, and customers—are what actually drive the fast growth and innovation associated with Web 2.0 companies, rather than any single technical feature.

Permalink technologydesignbusinessinternet

SB Nation

Damn Interesting

Damn Interesting » Blog Archive » The Phantom Time Hypothesis

German scholars have proposed that roughly 297 years were fictitiously inserted into our calendar during the early Middle Ages—meaning it's actually 1708, not 2005—based on inconsistencies like the Gregorian calendar's correction being smaller than it should be and mysterious gaps in historical construction records. While the proponents point to evidence of medieval document forgeries and historical discontinuities, their conclusions rest on circumstantial evidence at best, and their proposed motives for such a vast conspiracy (like Otto III wanting his reign to include the year 1000) strain credulity. The hypothesis, though intellectually intriguing for raising legitimate questions about historical dating, ultimately reflects an unscientific leap from ambiguous data to an extraordinary claim.

Permalink philosophyhistoryscienceclassics

www.paperzone.com

My Science Project Answers Your Questions

NING

Ning | Home: Front Page

NING is a platform for creating customized social networks and online communities without requiring coding skills, offering features like social media integration, analytics, custom design options, and built-in monetization through an e-commerce module. The service provides 24/7 support and includes tools for blogs, forums, photos, videos, and groups, with special pricing available for nonprofit organizations. Thousands of communities across various industries—from credit unions to fan clubs to spiritual organizations—use NING to build engagement and generate revenue from their audiences.

Permalink social mediacommunitybusinessinternet

pocketmod.com

kadaitcha.cx

www.cs.usfca.edu

someonewhocares.org

Using a Hosts File To Make The Internet Not Suck (as much)

This is a comprehensive hosts file designed to block known tracking, advertising, malware, and spyware domains by redirecting them to your local machine (127.0.0.1), preventing your browser from connecting to those servers. It includes categories for hijackers, analytics trackers, ad networks, phishing sites, and crypto-mining operations, with over thousands of domain entries maintained and updated by Dan Pollock to improve online privacy and security.

Permalink performanceprivacysecurityinternet