Hacker News Reader

DarkCowon 'Der Viener Schlinger': The meat cannon that launched 20k hot dogs

Approaching middle age, I'm grateful that there still seems to be a supply in the world of such wondrous creations as this, previously unknown to me.

However, I was disappointed that the article conspicuously omitted the story of the original invention.

Anyway, here's the patent ("Process for propelling foodstuffs or the like into a crowd"): https://patents.google.com/patent/US5996568A/en

DarkCowon [dead]

This story (and others) are the subject of the well-reviewed book "A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II" by Adam Makos and Larry Alexander

DarkCowon Astronauts escape malfunctioning Soyuz rocket

NASA TV reports that the capsule is down and the S&R team is in contact with the astronauts, who are in "good condition".

DarkCowon Financial Times 404 Page Economics Humour

The Bloomberg 404 page is also pretty funny: https://www.bloomberg.com/404

DarkCowon Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

I believe this was previously the case, but it is now possible to opt out. I flew from Heathrow (Terminal 2) on Friday, refused the mm-wave scanner and had a pat-down in a private room instead.

From Heathrow's security FAQ page (http://www.heathrow.com/more/help-with-this-website/faqs/sec...):

The only alternative that can be offered to a scanner is a private search which allows for a more extensive hand-search than usual. Passengers will be escorted to a different location in the airport from the main search area (eg a private search room). The private search may involve the loosening and/or removal of clothing. A person undergoing a private search may ask to be accompanied by a witness.

This alternative screening method will take significantly more time than passing through a security scanner.

DarkCowon Lottery Ticket Approach Leads to Reduction in HIV Prevalence

This kind of thing is apparently known as "Nudge theory": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudge_theory

DarkCowon Tech firms anti-terrorism efforts criticised in Rigby report

> Facebook is the internet company that could have passed on information about Adebowale but failed to do so, the Telegraph has learnt.

> The ISC describes the internet firm’s policy of not policing its own website as “unacceptable” and accuses the firm of “providing a safe haven for terrorists”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/1...