Patterned by Nature: it's big, blocky and earth-approved (video)

Quick quiz: which consumes more power, an "energy-efficient" 55-inch LED TV, or the 90-foot "Patterned by Nature" video installation at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences? It's actually a trick question, because the sculpture does eat less power -- just 75 watts -- but then it only has a fraction of the TV's pixels. Each of its 3600 "dots" is in fact a 6-inch glass pane which can vary its transparency, a decidedly more lo-fi approach than similar tech we've seen before, but no less arresting as a result. As the video shows, it combines an eight channel soundtrack with twenty Mario-like animations on its serpentine skin -- ranging from bacteria to flocking geese -- to bring mother nature to the viewer without sapping her energy.

Patterned by Nature: it's big, blocky and earth-approved (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London Olympics To Visitors: Don?t Share What You See

Don't copy that pole vault! According to the London 2012 Olympic "conditions for ticket holders," you are not allowed to take pictures or video of the events nor are you allowed to "exploit" any video on social networks.

Images, video and sound recordings of the Games taken by a Ticket Holder cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic purposes and a Ticket Holder may not license, broadcast or publish video and/or sound recordings, including on social networking websites and the internet more generally, and may not exploit images, video and/or sound recordings for commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise, or make them available to third parties for commercial purposes.

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Can You Die If Someone Squeezes Your Testicles Hard Enough? [Science]

Today it was reported that a woman killed a man by squeezing his testicles. My immediate question was: can you die if someone squeezes your testicles hard enough? I asked Dr. Irwin Goldstein, urologist and San Diego Sexual Medicine's director. Here's the answer: More »

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Google?s Latest TV Ad: How Chrome Can Help You Get Your Ex Back

Do you hate how things ended between you and your ex and are you trying to get him/her back? Google apparently knows what that feels like and wants you to use Chrome to set things right. At least, that's what it looks like judging from Google's latest TV commercial for Chrome, which debuted last night. In this latest ad, Mark (markpotter7@gmail.com) is trying hard to get his ex Jen to go out for coffee with him because he still hates "how things ended" (why they broke up, the ad sadly never tells us). To woo his ex back (or at least convince her to go out for coffee with him), Mark then uses a steady stream of Google Docs spreadsheets, Picasa photos and YouTube videos to make his point.

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EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)

A joint venture of Canadian carriers Rogers, Bell and Telus called EnStream is in final talks with the country's leading banks (likely CIBC, TD, RBC, Scotiabank and BMO) to bring a mobile wallet solution to the Great White North within six months. The system, which was demoed at the CWTA Wireless Showcase last September, enables mobile payments by storing a user's financial credentials on the SIM located inside their NFC-capable phone. It aims to replace credit and debit cards at first -- perhaps even driver's licenses and loyalty programs down the road. Carriers plan to charge banks a flat rate instead of a per-transaction fee.

According to Almis Ledas, EnStream's COO, "banking machines will become the payphones of the future". While we command this attempt to standardize mobile payments in Canada, the time frame seems rather optimistic in light of the slow progress AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have made with Isis in the US so far. Different countries, different rules of course -- still, we think it's going to take quite a while to make loonies obsolete. Maybe this is the perfect window of opportunity for Google Wallet and Square to jump across the border, eh? Time will tell. Check out EnStream's mobile wallet in action on video after the break.

Continue reading EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video)

EnStream to bring mobile wallet to Canadians, make loonies obsolete (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ke$ha Goes Pee-Pee In The Street (Photo)

Ke$ha Goes Pee-Pee In The Street (Photo)

Ke$ha must be hard-up for attention and has posted a photo on Twitter of herself urinating right on the street. The flamboyant singer showed her [...]

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UFC 146 set after Roy Nelson vs. Gabriel Gonzaga added

The UFC 146 dominoes have finally stopped falling, as the all-heavyweight main card is set. Roy Nelson will face Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Del Rosario will fight Stipe Miocic.

The shake-up started on Friday, when Alistair Overeem withdrew from the title bout with Junior dos Santos after a pre-fight test showed elevated levels of testosterone. Overeem said he wanted time to resolve the issue with the Nevada Athletic Commission, but that left dos Santos without an opponent and UFC 146 without a main event.

Frank Mir stepped into the title fight, Antonio Silva was given the bout with Cain Velasquez, Nelson got Gonzaga, and Miocic, who was not originally on the card, stepped up to fight Del Rosario.

What do you think of the updates to the card? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

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'Amazing Spider-Man' Sequel 'Holy Grail' For Writing Duo

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are set to rewrite the script for yet-untitled sequel.
By Kara Warner

Andrew Garfield in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Photo: Marvel / Columbia Pictures

Although we still have several months to wait before we see Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker in "The Amazing Spider-Man," the ball is already rolling behind plans for the film's sequel and its May 2, 2014, release date.

The first film's screenwriter, James Vanderbilt, penned the first draft of the sequel's script, but it was announced Tuesday (April 24) that Sony has hired the prolific writing duo of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to rewrite the script.

"We grew up as huge Spider-Man fans so, to us, the opportunity to work on this film is akin to being handed the Holy Grail," Kurtzman and Orci said in a statement. "We love the direction Sony and the filmmakers are taking the Peter Parker/Spider-Man mythology and we couldn't be more excited to be a part of this legendary franchise."

Kurtzman and Orci are no strangers to penning blockbusters: They wrote "Star Trek" and its yet-untitled sequel (along with Damon Lindelof) for director J.J. Abrams, "Transformers," "Cowboys and Aliens" and "Mission: Impossible III."

"Alex and Bob have a unique ability to write great character and spectacular action that makes them pitch perfect for Spider-Man," producer Matt Tolmach said in a statement. "They've been friends of ours for a long time, and they have an exciting take on the franchise — we're thrilled to have them join the Spider-Man family."

"It's a thrill to have Alex and Bob put their stamp on this franchise that we all love so well," producer Avi Arad added. "They have an innate understanding of what makes Peter Parker not just a superhero, but a hero for all of us."

When they're not busy writing blockbuster films, Kurtzman and Orci serve as executive producers on the upcoming sci-fi fantasy "Ender's Game," "Now You See Me" and "Hawaii Five-O." They also wrote the upcoming drama "People Like Us," which is Kurtzman's feature directorial debut.

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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• 'The Amazing Spider-Man'

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Katie Holmes Reportedly Pregnant

Katie Holmes is reportedly pregnant again! The actress has faced these rumors before though so there is no telling for sure until a few months from now. Whenever a celebrity gains a pound, hides their belly in a mysterious way (as Katie does in the photo above), or sneezes wrong the press assumes they are knocked up. The cover of Star magazine is once again announcing that Katie is pregnant with child number two and of course, Tom is thrilled. Her reps are denying that the actress is indeed knocked up and judging from recent pictures, it doesn?t look like it to me. However sources insist, ?She?s struggling to contain the news. She can?t wait to be a mom again, and the sooner she can tell the world about it, the happier she?ll be.? Six-year-old Suri Cruise was overheard asking her mom, 33, during a New York City visit to Newsies on Broadway, ?if her baby sister was in Katie?s tummy!? ?Katie laughed and whispered something in Suri?s ear,? the source says. Do you think Katie told her to keep it a secret? Well, that perhaps makes it a bit more convincing, but I wont believe it until I see [...]

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Madonna Nude Photo to Be Auctioned

A literally smoking-hot photograph of a nude Madonna lying seductively on a bed almost two decades ago is set to go to auction in New York next month, MTV reports.

The pic in question was taken by fashion photographer Steven Meisel for her controversial 1992 book Sex, but for whatever reason was never included in it.

Featuring a bleach-blonde Madge, the picture shows the queen of pop wearing nothing but a strategically-placed sheet and holding a cigarette to her lips.

Judith Eurich from the auction house selling the photo suggested that the cigarette was merely for dramatic purposes, telling the UK's Daily Mail:

"Madonna is, by all accounts, a very healthy person and I'd have to imagine the cigarette is just a prop to make her look sexy and sultry."

Indeed, Madonna recently blasted accusations of hypocrisy over her daughter Lourdes' smoking habit and insisted she doesn't even partake.

The latest photo of Madonna nude is expected to fetch more than £5,000 ($7,500 US) when it goes to auction at Bonhams on May 8. Sweet.

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Vinny Guadagnino on Pregnant Snooki: She's Super-Human!

Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino admits Snooki's pregnancy is not something he saw coming ... and he was shocked ... but hey, he's not about to bash the girl.

“I didn’t expect it. But, obviously, I’m not going to hate. This is real-life stuff,” he said.

Vinny, who is busy promoting his new book, Control The Crazy: My Plan to Stop Stressing, Avoid Drama and Maintain Inner Cool, also praised his 24-year-old roommate’s “super-human” ability to anything ... or anyone. Just kidding.

In all honestly, she thinks Snooki will be a great mom.

“She can do extraordinary things,” he said. “In a partying way, she can drink more than anyone I’ve ever met; she can stay up for longer periods of time. She’s super-human. If she applies that to her parenting, she’ll actually be a good mom.”

“She’s like a human I’ve never encountered before,” he added.

That's high praise ... mostly. We think.

Meanwhile, Vinny is also opening up about his battle with chronic anxiety and depression, which caused him to briefly leave Jersey Shore during Season 5.

“I have generalized anxiety disorder,” he told Celebuzz. “It can be a panic attack. But what really bothers me, like you saw on the TV show, is, it can put me in a funk. It kind of disconnects me from everything around me."

"It’s just like a general depressed feeling.”

Exacerbating those feelings, Vinny Guadagnino says, was the Jersey Shore house’s party atmosphere, which he defends as more stressful than one thinks.

“People who might say, ‘Oh, all you do is party and have fun; how can that make you anxious?’ don’t get it,” he said. “We’re kind of stuck in a little bubble."

"You don’t want to be stuck when you have anxiety. You want to have your friends and family around. You don’t want to be on camera 24 hours a day.”

“You start to feel inadequate,” he continued. “Everybody else is having a good time and you’re like, ‘Damn. What’s wrong with me?’ It makes it worse."

"I made it through four seasons fine, so I was more upset with myself.”

Vin, of course, wasn’t the only cast member to battle personal issues. The Situation was in rehab for prescription drugs - which Vin never saw coming.

“He was just being Mike,” he said. “I had no idea - honestly. That’s his personality. I never say anything bad about him.”

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T-Mobile CEO argues to FCC against Verizon's AWS license acquisition

Well, wouldn't you know it, but T-Mobile -- the only nationwide AWS service provider in the US -- objects to Verizon's purchase of additional AWS spectrum. The company's CEO, Philipp Humm, recently took his concerns to the chief of the FCC's wireless bureau, Rick Kaplan, where he argued that Verizon's proposal to shed Blocks A and B of the 700MHz spectrum simply wouldn't be fair shake. According to Humm, Verizon is merely looking to offload its less desirable assets (as Blocks A and B are more prone to interference). While T-Mobile's leader presents a valid point in that Verizon has merely squatted on its current AWS licenses, we can't help but think that Humm would relish in the opportunity for T-Mobile to bid on these licenses. Further, if Verizon were effectively prevented from establishing a nationwide AWS network, it'd certainly reduce competition in the auction house, and therefore bring cheaper licenses to T-Mobile's doorstep. Given that everything in question here is not corporate property, but rather a public resource, what do you think is the best way forward?

[Tower photo via Shutterstock]

T-Mobile CEO argues to FCC against Verizon's AWS license acquisition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's New SkyDrive Apps Include a Preview for Mac OS X Lion [Microsoft]

Microsoft is launching a couple of new SkyDrive apps making the cloud storage service available to more users on more platforms. Starting today, a preview version is available for the desktop, so if you're running Windows Vista, Windows 7, the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and even Windows for Mac (OS X Lion), you can access the service locally. More »

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