Let me get this straight...

I recently discovered Hulu, a joint venture by NBC Universal and News Corp to provide video content online. Hulu is an effort by two of the big media outlets to compete with Apple and itunes. So far I have been impressed by what they have available.

High-def versions of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report? Where have you been all my life?

But then I noticed something kind of interesting. On Wednesday's Colbert Report, Stephen has Naz on as his guest. Naz has been in a bit of a dispute with Bill O'Reilly and Fox News. So here I am watching Naz in beautiful hi-def video, streaming on my computer FOR FREE as he takes Bill O'Reilly, Rupert Murdoch, Fox News, and News Corp. to task. It seems unlikely that the content providers are aware of, no less condone, the content they are providing me, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the show any.

Al Gore's challenge to have 100% carbon-free electricity in the United States within a decade

Googlehead

Radiohead created a video for House of Cards using "two scanning technologies to capture 3D images. Geometric Informatics scanning systems produced structured light to capture 3D images at close proximity, while a Velodyne LIDAR system that uses multiple lasers was used to capture large environments such as landscapes. In the video, 64 lasers rotating and shooting in a 360 degree radius 900 times per minute produced all the exterior scenes."



Google partnered with the band to provide more info about the technology.

Check it out.

G8 science ministers to expand low carbon R&D

According to Cordis News, the G8 plus several G20 countries have agreed to increase government support for low carbon research and development:

Science ministers from the G8 countries have agreed to increase funding for research and development to create a low–carbon economy.

The ministers, along with representatives from Brazil, China, India, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa, met at the first G8 Science and Technology Ministers' meeting in Okinawa, Japan, this week (15 June).

Participants agreed to cooperate on research into energy technologies, including carbon capture and storage and the development of biofuels from non-food plant material.

They also expressed a commitment to the commercialisation of such technology through government funding and measures to encourage investment by the private sector.

Recognising the role of science and technology capacity building in developing countries, the group suggested that developing-country scientists should be able to work more closely with institutions in G8 countries — provided mechanisms were in place to encourage them to return home and thus avoid brain drain.

'Brain circulation', where G8 countries receive and send researchers to developing countries was also discussed.

There are plans for a workshop to discuss science and technology cooperation between G8 and developing countries in October.

scidev.net has a ton of content on this and other related issues.