The First Brand Manager Was a 1st Century Roman Glassblower 

Ennion made me. Those were the words that emerged as archeologists brushed centuries of dust off glass vessels in digs all over the classical world, again and again. But who was Ennion? And how, in the early years of the modern world, did he make so much glass? Read more…

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The First Brand Manager Was a 1st Century Roman Glassblower 

The Math Behind the Hipster Effect

rossgneumann writes If everyone always wants to look different than everybody else, everybody starts looking the same. At least, if you use a recently published mathematical model describing the phenomenon. “The hipster effect is this non-concerted emergent collective phenomenon of looking alike trying to look different, ” in the words of Jonathan Touboul, mathematical neuroscientist at the College de France in Paris. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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The Math Behind the Hipster Effect

Exxon and Russian Operation Discovers Oil Field Larger Than the Gulf of Mexico

An anonymous reader writes The state-run OAO Rosneft has discovered a vast pool of crude in the Kara Sea region of the Arctic Ocean, arguably bigger than the Gulf of Mexico. From the article: “The discovery sharpens the dispute between Russia and the U.S. over President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. The well was drilled before the Oct. 10 deadline Exxon was granted by the U.S. government under sanctions barring American companies from working in Russia’s Arctic offshore. Rosneft and Exxon won’t be able to do more drilling, putting the exploration and development of the area on hold despite the find announced today.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Exxon and Russian Operation Discovers Oil Field Larger Than the Gulf of Mexico

US Intercepts Iranian Order For Attack On US Embassy In Iraq

cold fjord writes “Another NSA story? The Wall Street Journal reports, ‘The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria … U.S. officials said they are on alert for Iran’s fleet of small, fast boats in the Persian Gulf … U.S. officials also fear Hezbollah could attack the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. While the U.S. has moved military resources in the region for a possible strike, it has other assets in the area that would be ready to respond to any reprisals by Syria, Iran or its allies. … Israel has so far been the focus of concerns about retaliation from Iran and its Lebanese militant ally Hezbollah. The commander-in-chief of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps said last week that an attack on Syria would lead to the “destruction of Israel.” … The Iranian message, intercepted in recent days, came from Qasem Soleimani, the head of Revolutionary Guards’ Qods Force, and went to Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups in Iraq, according to U.S. officials.’ What’s interesting is this Washington Post story from 2011: Iran’s Quds Force was blamed for attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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US Intercepts Iranian Order For Attack On US Embassy In Iraq

TSA: ‘Pay $85 to skip our security checks and get your dignity back’

TSA Pre-Check —a paid registration system that allows airplane passengers to skip security checks—is now available to everyone instead of just frequent fliers from some airlines. You just have to pay them $85 to recuperate your dignity. Read more…        

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TSA: ‘Pay $85 to skip our security checks and get your dignity back’