Adding photos to your screensaver and desktop.

I like having web access to my favorite pictures from vacations etc, and the same access to friends photo feeds.  But I never look at them.  So I wanted to find a way to integrate them into my computing a little more (life of a grad student = constance computer use) I’m sure there are several ways to do this and feel free to comment if you have a better suggestion.

I downloaded Wallpaper Juggler to rotate my desktop wallpaper. You can customize how often it will change the picture, and it appears to lack annoying flashy transitions, just changes the picture (I like that).  It will also pseudo-intelligently download new images from WallpaperStock; by intelligent I mean it will get the correct size for your monitor; by pseudo- I mean if you delete an already downloaded image, it will re-download it the next time you tell it to connect.  You can add your own directories to the rotation (obviously) but so far I think they have to be images on your local machine.  I don’t see a way to add photostreams from Flickr or PicassaWeb yet, but I’m sure that can’t be to difficult to do since I also started using Google Photos Screensaver to bring personalized photos to my screensaver.  GPS lets you add photos from your local hard drive, Picasa, Flickr, and any other RSS photofeeds you want. This lets you stay up on your friends photoalbums without having to log in to Facebook (which I also like).

Howto remove annoying Facebook ads.

I nearly gave up on Facebook due to all the sponsored links and advertisements cluttering the site.  Then I found the Stylish Firefox extension.  Excellent little addon, but in the interest of brevity I’m just going to tell you what to do.  If you’re not using Firefox (or Flock for Beto) you’re SOL:

1.)  Get Stylish Firefox Addon.

2.) Get the following Stylish scripts for Facebook from UserStyles.

- Remove All Facebook Sponsors

- Facebook Ad Remover Compilation

3.) Installing the scripts couldn’t be easier. Scroll down to “Install Options” and click the button to load the script into Stylish.

You’re done.  Enjoy Facebook without all the crap, well at least the adds.  Maybe someone will make a script that removes invitations to join Pirates v. Ninjas.

Enjoy!

Innovate or Die!

If you’re reading this blog you probably don’t have a big need for this innovation by Team Aquaduct which won them the grand prize at the first Innovate or Die Pedal Powered Machine Contest. Then again, it wasn’t invented for you. Check out the rest of the entrants here.

Of course they can.

This article is from Times, read the original here:

Can Atheists Be Parents

After six years of childless marriage, John and Cynthia Burke of Newark decided to adopt a baby boy through a state agency. Since the Burkes were young, scandal-free and solvent, they had no trouble with the New Jersey Bureau of Children’s Services—until investigators came to the line on the application that asked for the couple’s religious affiliation.

John Burke, an atheist, and his wife, a pantheist, had left the line blank. As a result, the bureau denied the Burkes’ application. After the couple began court action, however, the bureau changed its regulations, and the couple was able to adopt a baby boy from the Children’s Aid and Adoption Society in East Orange.

Last year the Burkes presented their adopted son, David, now 31, with a baby sister, Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired from the same East Orange agency. Since the agency endorsed the adoption, the required final approval by a judge was expected to be pro forma. Instead, Superior Court Judge William Camarata raised the religious issue.

Inestimable Privilege. In an extraordinary decision, Judge Camarata denied the Burkes’ right to the child because of their lack of belief in a Supreme Being. Despite the Burkes’ “high moral and ethical standards,” he said, the New Jersey state constitution declares that “no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience.” Despite Eleanor Katherine’s tender years, he continued, “the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being.”

The Burkes are now living in Carterville, Ill., near Southern Illinois University, where John Burke has worked for the past year as a speech pathologist. Nevertheless, Judge Camarata ordered the parents to send David’s sister back to the New Jersey adoption agency. Two weeks ago, aided by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Burkes appealed directly to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case. If they fail in their appeal, Eleanor Katherine may have to leave the only family she has ever known and await adoption by another couple whose religious convictions satisfy the State of New Jersey.

Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA)

Check out CARMA, this is a description from the site:

At its core, Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA) is a massive database containing information on the carbon emissions of over 50,000 power plants and 4,000 power companies worldwide. Power generation accounts for 40% of all carbon emissions in the United States and about one-quarter of global emissions. CARMA is the first global inventory of a major, emissions-producing sector of the economy.

The database is very searchable, sortable, and exportable. Take a look at how much CO2 your local coal power plant is belching into the air, then compare that to how much is coming from your local nuclear plant! [shameless career plug]

UN declares tasers a form of torture.

I doubt this will amount to anything in the U.S. Good luck getting the police to give up their favorite toy. I haven’t found an official press release from the U.N. but there are several news articles on the net.

Finally…

It’s about damn time someone did this.

Best Commercial Ever…

Those of you that know me (like anyone else would be reading this blog) will understand why I feel this is the best commercial ever.

500 MILES LATER!!!

So I officially logged 500 miles on the road bike with this morning’s ride!  In all fairness I crossed this milestone quite a while ago because I don’t include the 15 miles/week back and forth to campus nor did I include any of the numerous 10-15 mile rides I did before I had a cyclometer and while fine-tuning the bike.  So in the interest of scientific ethics I can provide hard evidence that I’ve ridden 500+ miles only.  Hopefully the next 500 are just as enjoyable and as the weather in BCS is finally cooling down I think they will be.

A couple things to check out:

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything and I’ll be getting better about that soon. The end of the summer was very busy with qualifying exams and conferences etc… For now, check out Mark Noonan’s blog Battle Porn Politic’s and read an excellent post on Yucca Mountain from a Nevadan’s perspective.

Also, Barack Obama finally outlined his energy policy, you can check it out here. Haven’t had a chance to read the whole thing yet but the main points seem reasonable. His nuclear policy seems a little vague, though I agree with the issues he raises, my research is focused on some of those issues!

More to come!