The science of webcomics| Dean Burnett
Webcomics are increasingly widespread and popular. It could be argued their proliferation is linked to the decline of print comics, in the same way that free news sites and blogging are often blamed for the decline in newspapers. Webcomics don’t get nearly as much mainstream publicity though (at least none that I’ve seen). Even the more popular examples like XKCD seemingly go largely unmentioned in other media formats, despite their considerable success.
Webcomics are interesting from a scientific perspective. They rely on bot [...]
Convicted U.S. killer Arias would join tiny death row group
By Tim Gaynor
PHOENIX |
Tue May 21, 2013 7:02am EDT
PHOENIX (Reuters) – Jodi Arias, convicted of brutally murdering her ex-boyfriend, is expected on Tuesday to address a jury in Arizona tasked with deciding whether she should join the small group of women sitting on death row in the United States.
Arias, 32, was found guilty earlier this month of the murder of Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, shot in the face and [...]
Imran Khan walks again after fall
21 May 2013
Last updated at 06:33 ET
Mr Khan’s party said he was expected to be discharged on Wednesday
Pakistani politician Imran Khan has walked a short distance, two weeks after falling and injuring his spine an election rally, his PTI party says.
Mr Khan was fitted with a brace and was able to stand upright, Shireen Mazari, the party information secretary said. He walked unaided for about 300m.
Ms Mazari told the BBC Mr Khan could be discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
The PTI gained significant ground duri [...]
Jürgen Klopp rallies neutrals to support ‘special’ Borussia Dortmund
An hour after the first of Jürgen Klopp‘s many jokes, interspersed with his worldly insights into football and life, he returns to a more personal memory. It is fitting and evocative because the tumultuous journey that Klopp and Borussia Dortmund have taken to the Champions League final at Wembley, where they play Bayern Munich on Saturday, has been this season’s most memorable story. A passionate club’s exhilarating play and outrageous drama, painful transfer intrigue and riotous joy, validates Klopp’s claim that [...]
Los Angeles mayoral race between two former allies nears climax
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES |
Tue May 21, 2013 7:05am EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Voters head to the polls on Tuesday to choose between two longtime fixtures of Los Angeles politics in a mayoral election shaped by the dire financial outlook of America’s second-largest city and the political clout of its public employee unions.
City Councilman Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel, both Democrats, advanced to the final stretch of their campaign after a flurry of weekend get-out-the-vote appeara [...]
Dish said to bid $2B for Lightsquared spectrum
Dish founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen.
(Credit:
Screenshot by Dan Farber/CNET)
LightSquared’s wireless spectrum could be getting a new owner, according to a new report.
According to Bloomberg, Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen made a $2 billion bid last week for LightSquared’s radio frequencies, which are owned by private investment firm Harbinger Capital Partners.
Bloomberg added, based on unnamed sources said to be familiar with the deal, that LightSquared has until the end of the month to make a decision.
Dish [...]
Rubber bullets fired at SA miners
21 May 2013
Last updated at 07:00 ET
Industrial relations remain volatile in South Africa’s key mining sector
Ten South African miners have been injured after security guards fired rubber bullets at a crowd of striking workers, police say.
Police spokesman Thulani Ngubane said the miners had been taken to hospital.
A spokeswoman for Lanxess, which owns the chrome mine, said the guards had opened fire in self-defence.
Industrial relations remain volatile in South Africa’s key mining sector after police shot dea [...]
Champions League proves the era of super clubs has begun | Jonathan Wilson
There are two German teams in the Champions League final. This has been, fairly obviously, a great season for German football. The national team is packed with bright young talent: Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Mario Götze, Marco Reus, Toni Kroos … the German game has clearly got a lot right, from ticket pricing to youth development. But is this the beginning of an era of German domination of club football? Almost certainly not.
There was no period of Spanish hegemony after Real Madrid had beaten Valencia in the 2000 final, no period of Itali [...]
Home Tweet Home: A House with Its Own Voice on Twitter
At first glance, you’d never guess there’s anything unusual about Tom Coates’s San Francisco home. Nestled at the end of a narrow passageway on a side street, it’s a peaceful, sunny house decorated with modern furniture and bright posters that say things like “Machines help us work” and “Make your own path.”
But take a closer look at, say, the ficus tree in the corner of the living room and you’ll notice something odd: a sensor, sticking out of the dirt, that’s connected to a little box. The sensor monitors the plant’s moisture, and the [...]
‘Bless you for posting’: Facebook group reunites tornado victims with photo...
Glen Adkisson via Facebook
This photo was posted on Facebook by Glen Adkisson after tornadoes struck Oklahoma on Monday. “This was in our yard 5/20/2013…Collinsville,” he wrote.
The photo shows a baby in diapers on a high chair gazing at white cake with one pink candle.
Glen Adkisson of Collinsville, Okla., posted on Facebook that it had been found “in our yard” following Monday’s devastating tornadoes.
The message below reads: ”This photo is of my sisters deceased husband when he was a child. [...]
Afghan policemen killed in blast
21 May 2013
Last updated at 05:41 ET
At least seven policemen have been killed by a roadside bomb in western Afghanistan, officials say.
The policemen were travelling in the Chashti Shareef district of Herat province when their vehicle was hit.
The officers were guarding the Salama Dam, which correspondents say is of great strategic importance.
Policemen guarding the dam have been targeted by militants before. There has been a recent escalation of attacks by Taliban in Afghanistan.
Tuesday’s explosion was so stro [...]
New Widnes deal for winger Ah Van
Winger Patrick Ah Van has signed a new contract that will keep him at Widnes until the end of the 2015 season.
The 25-year-old, who
joined the Vikings from Bradford Bulls,
scored 14 Super League tries in 2012 and a further six during the current campaign.
“We’ve had a pretty decent start to the year and there’s a confidence within the group that we can finish the season strongly,” he told the
club website.
“This club is really on the way up and we’re only going to get better. [...]