Wednesday 19 June 2013

BBC spent £28m of licence-fee payers' money gagging 500 staff - Telegraph



via Facebook http://fw.to/ssZLvMX

BBC spent £28m of licence-fee payers' money gagging 500 staff - Telegraph



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Police powers finally kettled by High Court



via Facebook http://netpol.org/2013/06/18/police-powers-finally-kettled-by-high-court/

Police powers finally kettled by High Court



via Facebook http://netpol.org/2013/06/18/police-powers-finally-kettled-by-high-court/

Michael Hastings Dead at 33 | Politics News | Rolling Stone

Jose Antonio Vargas This is beyond tragic--Michael Hastings is an original, necessary, probing, fearless, compassionate, righteous, necessary (yes, using that word twice) journalist. A reporter's reporter who cut through the bullshit. Tragic. Rest in piece, my friend. Your work, and your humanity, will not be forgotten. http://rol.st/13RnZ5W

via Facebook http://rol.st/13RnZ5W

Michael Hastings Dead at 33 | Politics News | Rolling Stone

Jose Antonio Vargas This is beyond tragic--Michael Hastings is an original, necessary, probing, fearless, compassionate, righteous, necessary (yes, using that word twice) journalist. A reporter's reporter who cut through the bullshit. Tragic. Rest in piece, my friend. Your work, and your humanity, will not be forgotten. http://rol.st/13RnZ5W

via Facebook http://rol.st/13RnZ5W

Real Life Spy Drama On U.S. Bound Plane: "I'm Dead Already, They're Gonna Kill Me" *VIDEO REPORT*



via Facebook http://shar.es/x5jmR

Real Life Spy Drama On U.S. Bound Plane: "I'm Dead Already, They're Gonna Kill Me" *VIDEO REPORT*



via Facebook http://shar.es/x5jmR

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Microsoft Makes Speech Recognition Faster and More Accurate on Windows Phone 8


Microsoft Makes Speech Recognition Faster and More Accurate on Windows Phone 8

Thanks to scientists at Microsoft, Bing’s voice search and voice-to-text are now twice as fast and 15 percent more accurate on Windows Phone 8. The Microsoft Research (MSR) team has been working on improvements in speed and accuracy over the past year by using Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) technology.
windows8-windows-phone-82-e1340221393874
The researchers found that DNNs can learn across languages, Microsoft said, which is important since speech recognizers have to trained on huge amounts of example speech data. Transcribing large files can be greatly reduced when data from one language can help improve accuracy for another.
“By coupling MSR’s major research breakthroughs in the use of DNNs with the large datasets provided by Bing’s massive index, the DNNs were able to learn more quickly and help Bing voice capabilities get noticeably closer to the way humans recognize speech,” the company said in a blog post. “We also made a few improvements under the hood that allowed Bing to more easily identify speech patterns and cut through ambient and background noise, cutting down response time by half and improving the word error rate by 15 percent, even in noisy situations.”
“I first realized the effect of the DNN when we successfully achieved significant error-rate reduction on the voice-search data set after implementing the context-dependent deep-neural-network hidden Markov model,” said Dong Yu, senior researcher in the Conversational Systems Research Center at MSR, in a statement. “Our results significantly advanced the state of the art, both in industry and in the academic community. Before our results, deep learning was only tested on small tasks and did not attract wide attention. I believe this is just the first step in advancing the state of the art. Many difficult problems may be attacked under this framework, which might lead to even greater advances.”


Read more from Microsoft Makes Speech Recognition Faster and More Accurate on Windows Phone 8 http://www.speechtechblog.com/2013/06/18/microsoft-makes-speech-recognition-faster-and-more-accurate-on-windows-phone-8#ixzz2WbGBwayJ



Microsoft Makes Speech Recognition Faster and More Accurate on Windows Phone 8


Yahoo reveals US surveillance requests



via Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jun/18/yahoo-reveals-us-surveillance-requests-nsa

Yahoo reveals US surveillance requests



via Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jun/18/yahoo-reveals-us-surveillance-requests-nsa

Watch The World’s Longest Book Domino Chain - DesignTAXI.com

Watch The World’s Longest Book Domino Chain - DesignTAXI.com



via Facebook http://designtaxi.com/news/358515/Watch-The-World-s-Longest-Book-Domino-Chain/#.UcBV7oh3jW8.facebook

Artist Sketches Mind-Bending 3D-Illusions On Paper - DesignTAXI.com

Artist Sketches Mind-Bending 3D-Illusions On Paper - DesignTAXI.com



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400,000 households avoid paying for a TV licence by watching BBC programmes on iPlayer

Caroline WhiteBedroom Tax...think its unfair...join the fight here Do you really need a TV License ,,, saw this on Sky this morning : The Facts The BBC said there were many different reasons why households did not need a licence. In a statement the broadcaster said: 'There are a number of reasons for notifying TV Licensing if no licence is needed. 'It is getting harder and harder to make the licence fee work because there are now so many different ways of viewing TV content.' These include: if the address is unoccupied; if no TV receiving equipment is being used at the address; if a TV is used ONLY to watch DVDs or for Gaming purposes; or if only catch-up or on-demand services are used at the address.' Not to do with bedroom tax but as we all need every penny we can thought this might be useful

via Facebook http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2343323/400-000-households-avoid-paying-TV-licence-watching-BBC-programmes-iPlayer.html#ixzz2WZAEaAxJ

400,000 households avoid paying for a TV licence by watching BBC programmes on iPlayer

Caroline WhiteBedroom Tax...think its unfair...join the fight here Do you really need a TV License ,,, saw this on Sky this morning : The Facts The BBC said there were many different reasons why households did not need a licence. In a statement the broadcaster said: 'There are a number of reasons for notifying TV Licensing if no licence is needed. 'It is getting harder and harder to make the licence fee work because there are now so many different ways of viewing TV content.' These include: if the address is unoccupied; if no TV receiving equipment is being used at the address; if a TV is used ONLY to watch DVDs or for Gaming purposes; or if only catch-up or on-demand services are used at the address.' Not to do with bedroom tax but as we all need every penny we can thought this might be useful

via Facebook http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2343323/400-000-households-avoid-paying-TV-licence-watching-BBC-programmes-iPlayer.html#ixzz2WZAEaAxJ

At last, the edifice of drugs prohibition is starting to crumble



via Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/jun/14/edifice-drugs-prohibition-crumbling

At last, the edifice of drugs prohibition is starting to crumble



via Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/jun/14/edifice-drugs-prohibition-crumbling

British Defense Officials Send Out Media Notice To Censor Further Leaks From Edward Snowden

Elaine Bowers · 28 followers 10 minutes ago · What is the point of news channels and newspapers,we have been raised in a world of lies,real life Truman Show

via Facebook http://www.businessinsider.com/british-defense-officials-send-out-media-notice-to-censor-further-leaks-from-edward-snowden-2013-6

British Defense Officials Send Out Media Notice To Censor Further Leaks From Edward Snowden

Elaine Bowers · 28 followers 10 minutes ago · What is the point of news channels and newspapers,we have been raised in a world of lies,real life Truman Show

via Facebook http://www.businessinsider.com/british-defense-officials-send-out-media-notice-to-censor-further-leaks-from-edward-snowden-2013-6

Stuart Hall sentenced to 15 months



via Facebook http://ukcrime.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/stuart-hall-sentenced-to-15-months/

Stuart Hall sentenced to 15 months



via Facebook http://ukcrime.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/stuart-hall-sentenced-to-15-months/

Monday 17 June 2013

State photo-ID databases become troves for police



via Facebook http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/state-photo-id-databases-become-troves-for-police/2013/06/16/6f014bd4-ced5-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

State photo-ID databases become troves for police



via Facebook http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/state-photo-id-databases-become-troves-for-police/2013/06/16/6f014bd4-ced5-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

The New Era of Cognitive Computing

IBM Watson · 38,716 like this. 20 minutes ago · A Lesson in The New Era of Cognitive Computing

via Facebook http://ed.ted.com/on/TRGTR9DO

The New Era of Cognitive Computing

IBM Watson · 38,716 like this. 20 minutes ago · A Lesson in The New Era of Cognitive Computing

via Facebook http://ed.ted.com/on/TRGTR9DO

“David Cameron is an arse and a monster with no redeeming features, and there will be NO...

Be assured they have a plan. They are not stupid. Evil men rarely are. http://www.cantpaywontpay.org/publish/?p=6998

via Facebook http://www.cantpaywontpay.org/publish/?p=6998

“David Cameron is an arse and a monster with no redeeming features, and there will be NO...

Be assured they have a plan. They are not stupid. Evil men rarely are. http://www.cantpaywontpay.org/publish/?p=6998

via Facebook http://www.cantpaywontpay.org/publish/?p=6998

Join the Food Revolution, Eat Local



via Facebook http://www.realfarmacy.com/join-the-food-revolution-eat-local/

Join the Food Revolution, Eat Local



via Facebook http://www.realfarmacy.com/join-the-food-revolution-eat-local/

Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman: Stop the prosecution of an 18 year old girl in a...

As the summer of 2012 came to an end, the future looked bright for 17-year-old Sebastian River High School senior Kaitlyn Hunt. Voted the student with "Most School Spirit" by her peers, Kaitlyn was an active cheerleader, a basketball player, a camp counselor and cheering coach, and a medical assistant training to join the nursing program at Valencia College after graduation. She looked forward to a career helping others and a memorable final year of high school. At the beginning of the school year, Kaitlyn made friends with a 14-year-old freshmen girl in Sebastian River High's IB program who played varsity sports and took classes with upper classmen. The girls were peers in the same social circle, and as happens every day in high schools across America, their friendship eventually developed into more. In September, shortly after Kaitlyn's 18th birthday, the girls began dating, and they eventually expressed their affection for one another in intimate ways. When the girls' basketball coach found out that two of her players were dating, she kicked Kaitlyn off the team and informed her girlfriend's parents that their daughter was in a same-sex relationship. The parents then conspired with police to entrap Kaitlyn and press charges. The police recorded a phone conversation between the two girls, who today are 18 and 15, in which they discussed their relationship. Kaitlyn was arrested and charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16. Kaitlyn's girlfriend denies that Kaitlyn ever pressured her and is adamant that their relationship is entirely consensual, but her parents are out to destroy Kaitlyn's life. After two separate judges ruled that Kaitlyn could finish her senior year with her peers, her girlfriend's parents appealed to the Indian River County School Board, who expelled Kaitlyn sent her to the alternative school. The law is designed to protect our children, but the law does not serve its purpose when it is applied to consensual behavior between peers. What can you do to help? First, please sign this petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/indian-river-county-state-attorney-s-office-stop-the-prosecution-of-an-18-year-old-girl-in-a-same-sex-relationship?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false Next, if you're a resident of Florida, please contact your state legislators and tell them the law needs to protect high school peers from prosecution. Find your state legislators here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=295718277&CFTOKEN=95887900 If not a Florida resident, contact your legislators, anyway. Most states have similarly unjust laws. If you know a high school student, make sure he or she knows the law. We don't want our children going to jail out of ignorance. Finally, share this story with everyone you know. Things need to change. We can make that change happen together.

via Facebook http://www.change.org/petitions/indian-river-county-state-attorney-s-office-stop-the-prosecution-of-an-18-year-old-girl-in-a-same-sex-relationship?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false

Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman: Stop the prosecution of an 18 year old girl in a...

As the summer of 2012 came to an end, the future looked bright for 17-year-old Sebastian River High School senior Kaitlyn Hunt. Voted the student with "Most School Spirit" by her peers, Kaitlyn was an active cheerleader, a basketball player, a camp counselor and cheering coach, and a medical assistant training to join the nursing program at Valencia College after graduation. She looked forward to a career helping others and a memorable final year of high school. At the beginning of the school year, Kaitlyn made friends with a 14-year-old freshmen girl in Sebastian River High's IB program who played varsity sports and took classes with upper classmen. The girls were peers in the same social circle, and as happens every day in high schools across America, their friendship eventually developed into more. In September, shortly after Kaitlyn's 18th birthday, the girls began dating, and they eventually expressed their affection for one another in intimate ways. When the girls' basketball coach found out that two of her players were dating, she kicked Kaitlyn off the team and informed her girlfriend's parents that their daughter was in a same-sex relationship. The parents then conspired with police to entrap Kaitlyn and press charges. The police recorded a phone conversation between the two girls, who today are 18 and 15, in which they discussed their relationship. Kaitlyn was arrested and charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16. Kaitlyn's girlfriend denies that Kaitlyn ever pressured her and is adamant that their relationship is entirely consensual, but her parents are out to destroy Kaitlyn's life. After two separate judges ruled that Kaitlyn could finish her senior year with her peers, her girlfriend's parents appealed to the Indian River County School Board, who expelled Kaitlyn sent her to the alternative school. The law is designed to protect our children, but the law does not serve its purpose when it is applied to consensual behavior between peers. What can you do to help? First, please sign this petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/indian-river-county-state-attorney-s-office-stop-the-prosecution-of-an-18-year-old-girl-in-a-same-sex-relationship?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false Next, if you're a resident of Florida, please contact your state legislators and tell them the law needs to protect high school peers from prosecution. Find your state legislators here: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=295718277&CFTOKEN=95887900 If not a Florida resident, contact your legislators, anyway. Most states have similarly unjust laws. If you know a high school student, make sure he or she knows the law. We don't want our children going to jail out of ignorance. Finally, share this story with everyone you know. Things need to change. We can make that change happen together.

via Facebook http://www.change.org/petitions/indian-river-county-state-attorney-s-office-stop-the-prosecution-of-an-18-year-old-girl-in-a-same-sex-relationship?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false

Foreign Secretary welcomes US assessment of chemical weapon use by Assad



via Facebook https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-welcomes-us-assessment-of-chemical-weapon-use-by-assad

Foreign Secretary welcomes US assessment of chemical weapon use by Assad



via Facebook https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-welcomes-us-assessment-of-chemical-weapon-use-by-assad

Pardon Edward Snowden | We the People: Your Voice in Our Government



via Facebook https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD

Pardon Edward Snowden | We the People: Your Voice in Our Government



via Facebook https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD

Make Your Own Natural Toothpaste



via Facebook http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-natural-toothpaste.html

Make Your Own Natural Toothpaste



via Facebook http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-natural-toothpaste.html

Can magic mushrooms and cannabis treat depression?

Georgia Toons You bet...

via Facebook http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/12/can-magic-mushrooms-treat-depression/

Can magic mushrooms and cannabis treat depression?

Georgia Toons You bet...

via Facebook http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/12/can-magic-mushrooms-treat-depression/

Sunday 16 June 2013

NSA admits listening to U.S. phone calls without warrants



via Facebook http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57589495-38/nsa-admits-listening-to-u.s-phone-calls-without-warrants/

NSA admits listening to U.S. phone calls without warrants



via Facebook http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57589495-38/nsa-admits-listening-to-u.s-phone-calls-without-warrants/

The Genius Way To Farm Huge Amounts Of Food Right Inside The City



via Facebook http://www.upworthy.com/the-genius-way-to-farm-huge-amounts-of-food-right-inside-the-city?g=2&c=gp1

The Genius Way To Farm Huge Amounts Of Food Right Inside The City



via Facebook http://www.upworthy.com/the-genius-way-to-farm-huge-amounts-of-food-right-inside-the-city?g=2&c=gp1

What is inside the water canons ? - Page 1



via Facebook http://www.wikileaks-forum.com/index.php/topic,19550.msg47909.html#msg47909

What is inside the water canons ? - Page 1



via Facebook http://www.wikileaks-forum.com/index.php/topic,19550.msg47909.html#msg47909

Rejoignez-nous ! Join us ! Unete a nosotras! انضم إلينا!



via Facebook http://feministnetworkproject.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/rejoignez-nous-join-us-unete-a-nosotros-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b6%d9%85-%d8%a5%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a7/

Rejoignez-nous ! Join us ! Unete a nosotras! انضم إلينا!



via Facebook http://feministnetworkproject.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/rejoignez-nous-join-us-unete-a-nosotros-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b6%d9%85-%d8%a5%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%a7/

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