By Sean Patrick Cooper Google confirmed widespread rumors last night that it will soon launch an invitation-only beta-testing program for its controversial Android phone App, Word Count. According to a press release posted on the Google Lab Team blog, the App will make use of the Lab Team’s recently designed algorithms and a controversial piece of software known as Estimated Time of Death (ETD) to predict how many words a user has left to communicate before the user perishes and […]

Posted by Juliet Linderman Welcome, Dick Watchers, welcome to everyone’s favorite link list regarding the mysteries and revelry of the deep: the Friday Edition. Shall we set sail? Yes? Fantastic! Uh oh: a new study reveals that naval sonar is even more dangerous for our flippered friends than we thought. In fact, sonar is actually driving beaked whales to beach themselves. Bummer? I think so. According to this article Peter Tyack, a senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), […]

Posted by Juliet Linderman As the resident Vol. 1 New York Times fangirl I had to mention the new paywall that went into effect yesterday, limiting New York Times online readers to 20 free articles per month before charging for content. There will be three payment plans, and they’re all reasonably priced. Though, when it comes down to it, those who already subscribe to the print edition are entitled to the most expensive package anyway–all online content, plus ipad, tablet, […]

Arthur Miller’s The American Clock makes its return to a Brooklyn stage. Adam Kirsch reviews The Rise and Fall of the Bible: The Unexpected History of an Accidental Book. The always enjoyable Ms. Emma Straub gives us music for each story from her book, Other People We Married. Bill Clinton says he only sent two e-mails during his presidency. Oh no!  Poly Styrene of the classic 70s punk band, X-Ray Spex has cancer.