Cats from a scientific perspective

It’s possible that cats are the most interesting creatures on the internet. It could be because cat people take more pictures than dog people. It could be that cats are just that silly. For whatever reason, cats are big on the internet in general and social media in particular. What makes them tick?

In the video below, ASAP Science takes a look at our feline friends, giving interesting trivial tidbits that may help you understand the furry little creatures a bit better.

A valid question about bank transfers

There are certain financial events that seem to happen online instantaneously. When we buy something with a credit or debit card, it comes out of our balance immediately. When we purchase something with PayPal, it comes out of our balance within minutes. When we wire cash from one account to another, it takes no time at all.

The question in this week’s Joy of Tech asks a good question. The only thing better than the question is the answer. RIP.

The Onion’s satire about Facebook as a CIA tool may be close to reality

One of the best parts about the comical genius at The Onion is that sometimes their satire hits a little too close to home. Their recent video about Facebook being a CIA surveillance tool is funny but there’s likely a hint of reality in what they’re saying in it.

“Congress today reauthorized funding for Facebook, the massive online surveillance program run by the CIA,” said Onion Factzone anchor Brooke Alvarez.

The sheer mass of data that people willingly display about themselves publicly is very, very likely being used by both the US government and foreign governments around the world to gather information about people of interest as well as to understand trends in the overall direction the world is heading. They can see political tendencies that could lead to actions and they can place associations between people through the network.

Is Mark Zuckerberg really a CIA agent, codename “The Overlord”? One never knows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sThcwmx3rs

Yelp users are easier to spot than most

There are definite distinctions between users of various social sites. They’re often easy to spot based upon their look (Tumblr), activities (FourSquare), and attitude (Pinterest), but the combination of the three can help us identify Yelp users very easily.

Our friends at Flowtown take a humorous look at the Yelp phenomenon and the people who drive it. Reviews are important for businesses so the ability to spot a Yelp user as they’re walking in the door can be the best defense against negative comments that can haunt a business for years.

Click to enlarge.

(H/T: Peoria Chevrolet Dealer)

What would Facebook look like at the North Pole?

As Christmas and other holidays lurk around the corner, it’s time to take a lighter view. Why? There’s so much stress in western culture surrounding the holidays. Sometimes, it’s good to take a moment to simply smile (and maybe even laugh).

This graphic by our friends at Flowtown takes a look at what Facebook might look like if the updates were coming from up north.

Click to enlarge.

Video: The iPad – Will It Blend?

Sure to be making waves this morning here’s a YouTube clip that’s spreading like a wildfire across the Apple blog-o-sphere, generating yelps of pain as it does just that.

Pain? Sure, a little, that’s because the man in this clip is the CEO of a blender company called Blendtec, and this clip (the latest in a series of uber-blend-attacks) shows us what happens when you throw an iPad into a blender.

Sure so what let’s cut to the chase and the question: does Apple’s hot new tablet computer offering play nice with a Blendtec blender?

Does it blend?

Yes, yes it does.

And somewhere an Apple fanboi just shed a tear…