From New Scientist:

[Microsoft] says that it is hard to properly evaluate the way people interact with computers since questioning them at the time is distracting and asking questions later may not produce reliable answers. "Human beings are often poor reporters of their own actions," the company says.

Instead, Microsoft wants to read the data straight from the user's brain as he or she works away. They plan to do this using electroencephalograms (EEGs) to record electrical signals within the brain.

Of course, first you'll have to download their verification software so they can ensure you're not thinking about bootlegs.

Flag burning?

Niiiice bathos.

Background.

The Boiling Point of a Frog*

Following a trail from Steven Poole to James Fallows to Fast Company.

*this joke stolen from a mate of mine

Surveillance moths

American researchers are breeding moths that can be steered by radio control. Next they may attempt to develop tiny cameras and sensors light enough to be fitted to the bugs.

The purpose? "Urban espionage," says Mandyam Srinivasan, a professor of visual neuroscience at the University of Queensland.

"They would be able to fly inside buildings, entering through windows and doors inconspicuously." Perching on a wall they could "take movies, record sounds" without raising suspicion.

Famous art works, giraffized

Via Drawn!.

For the moment, you can find The Thick of It, Armando Iannucci's withering satire of Blairite politics starring (initially) the hapless Chris Langham, on Youtube. Episode one also here.

Via Lenin's Tomb.

Shipping Container Architecture
Fascinating, Captain!

Optical Illusions and Architecture

Via Goodshit (NSFW).

Bear rescued from underneath high bridge arch.

It almost looks like they already had a procedure for this.

Entoptic Phenomena
Intriguing photographs created by having people jump while covered with a blanket.

Via the boings.

Historic Tale Construction Kit
Using bits of the Bayeaux Tapestry.

A lazy selection via the Boings:

Mustaches of the Nineteenth Century

Chasing Bats Out of One's Home

Birds Can See Magnetic Fields

Secret Apartment Built in Mall

Soviet Watches

Running-A-McDonalds Game

Star Wars Rube Goldberg device

Chuckling's Second Batch of Burning Man Photos

Via his blog.

Edit: There's apparently an embedded script in this page that also plays background music. Short of disabling javascript - which will also disable the slideshow itself, such that you can't see the pics - there is no way to turn this off. Hey, the guy's a good photographer; I never said he was good at web design.

Extreme Rich-Poor Divides

Google Earth reveals unfortunately shaped building

The scheme's architect, John Mock, said this week that while he was aware of the shape as viewed from above, he did not think it a true swastika. "We knew what it was going to look like, but it isn't that. It's four L-shaped buildings … looking at it from the ground or the air, it still is."

The Great Wall of APEC
Now stacked at Darling Harbour, apparently.

The Nardo Ring

From Chuckling, the Burning Man 2007 photo essay.

Drawings by Boris Artzybasheff at the Animation Archive.

Via Monster Brains.

The photography of Martin Klimas

The House on the Rock

Via Brass Goggles.

A collection of Top Tips from Viz

Listaholic

Mr Potatohead stuffed with fish and fed to octopus

Via Improbable Research via Pharyngula.