Child of the protest
"The recent protests in Egypt began with a Facebook event invite that brought thousands to the streets - and in tribute to the successes born from that social media state, a young man has reportedly named his firstborn daughter 'Facebook'" Haaretz.com reports. "… According to a report carried by TechCrunch, quoting the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, the baby's full name is Facebook Jamal Ibrahim (the father's name)."
Don't pay attention, class
"We live in a time that worships attention," The Wall Street Journal says. "… In recent years, however, scientists have begun to outline the surprising benefits of not paying attention. Sometimes, too much focus can backfire; all that caffeine gets in the way. For instance, researchers have found a surprising link between daydreaming and creativity - people who daydream more are also better at generating new ideas. Other studies have found that employees are more productive when they're allowed to engage in 'Internet leisure browsing' and that people unable to concentrate due to severe brain damage actually score above average on various problem-solving tasks."
Too clever to show it?
"Sheep are widely regarded as some of the most dim-witted creatures in the animal kingdom, but new research has revealed they are far more intelligent than they have previously been given credit for," The Daily Telegraph reports. "… Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that the creatures have the brainpower to equal rodents, monkeys and, in some tests, even humans. The results suggest that sheep have relatively advanced learning capabilities, are adaptable, can map out their surroundings mentally and may even be able to plan ahead." Cambridge neuroscientist Jenny Morton said: "They are quite intelligent animals - they seem to be able to recognize people and even respond when you call their name."
Hide in plain sight
"A con man has finally been arrested in Romania after a decade on the run - after getting a job as a TV show anchorman," Orange.co.uk reports. "Viorel Plescan, 35, went on the run in 2001 and managed to escape capture by getting married abroad and then adopting his wife's name to become Viorel Andrei. He was arrested when Romanian police investigating a minor traffic offence linked Viorel Andrei to the on-the-run Viorel Plescan - and discovered to their amazement he was the anchorman on a prime-time TV program. He was wanted by police in Galati over cheque fraud. … He must now serve eight years in jail for the conviction he got in 2001. In addition, police are now investigating him for using a false identity."
A little bird told me
"A pocket-size drone dubbed the Nano Hummingbird for the way it flaps its tiny robotic wings has been developed for the Pentagon by a Monrovia [Calif.] company as a mini-spy plane capable of manoeuvring on the battlefield and in urban areas," the Los Angeles Times reports. "The battery-powered drone was built by AeroVironment Inc. for the Pentagon's research arm as part of a series of experiments in nanotechnology. The little flying machine is built to look like a bird for potential use in spy missions. … Equipped with a camera, the drone can fly at speeds of up to 11 miles [17 kilometres]an hour, AeroVironment said. It can hover and fly sideways, backward and forward, as well as go clockwise and counterclockwise, by remote control for about eight minutes. The quick flight meets the goals set forth by the government to build a flying 'hummingbird-like' aircraft. It also demonstrates the promise of fielding mini-spy planes. Industry insiders see the technology eventually being capable of flying through open windows or sitting on power lines, capturing audio and video while enemies would be none the wiser."
21st century hooky
"A technology company says a pilot program using the Global Positioning System to monitor truants in southern California isn't a punishment," United Press International reports. "The Anaheim Union High School District is issuing kids who are chronically late for school a handheld GPS device that requires them to check in at regular intervals and ensures they are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. 'The idea is for this not to feel like a punishment, but an intervention to help them develop better habits and get to school,' Miller Sylvan of Aim Truancy Solutions told The Orange County Register. The GPS device is being field-tested on middle-school kids with four or more unexcused absences in lieu of detention or other traditional remedies. … the user [must]check in when leaving for school in the morning and then four more times into the early evening. As an added incentive to get to school on time, each kid gets a morning wake-up call telling them to hit the deck and get to class."
Thought du jour
"A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes."
- Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-95), English biologist