This summer..

During this summer, I will be doing a couple of fun things. I will be going to a summer camp 3 days a week and there i will be going on a different trip every day. This is a list of possible types of camp you can attend and where you can find a camp in your area. I will also be going to the beach and water park with my family whenever possible.

Tech article 4/11

T-Mobile’s Obnoxious Scream Tones Will Help You Find a Lost Phone


No, you're not hearing a pack of wolves approaching. And a train is definitely not about to barrel through your living room. You're just hearing the cry of a lost phone, hiding in your couch cushions among loose change and that elusive TV remote.

With so-called "Scream Tones," T-Mobile and Lookout Security are making it a lot easier for their Android customers recover a misplaced device. If they can't find it, they can just log onto mylookout.com, locate their phone on Google Maps, then force the phone to blast a sound, loudly, for 60 seconds.

At least the noises aren't actual human screams. Think of the safety risks. Though the choices—two different sirens, beam me up, a train whistle, a wolf howl, the T-Mobile jingle—aren't exactly soothing. Granted, it's a good idea, especially if you're forgetful and don't set your phone to silent, but that doesn't mean it's not also totally annoying.

Google Chrome hacker (tech article)

Chrome’s $60,000 Security Flaw Fixed in Under a Day


Less than 24 hours after a Russian hacker earned himself $60,000 by exploiting Chrome, Google has released an update for the browser which fixes the security threat.

It's perhaps not surprising that Google has been quick to act, but the speed with which this update was rolled out highlights one of the big benefits of Chrome. The fact that Google's browser is open-source means that updates can be pushed out more quickly—a process which could involve weeks of quality assurance for a browser like Internet Explorer.

Technical details are being withheld for now until most users have updated, but the Google Chrome Release blog does mention that the fix relates to a "bad history navigation" issue.

Tech Article

Police Locked Down a School Because Autocorrect Is So Terrible


Autocorrect has been behind more than its share of misunderstandings, but today it stirred up a whole heap of trouble, even by its sketchy standards. Some poor college student's phone corrected "gonna" to "gunman" and got a school put into lockdown by the police.

At West Hall High and Middle schools in Gainesville, GA, the student in question—one who attends another school—texted "Gonna go to West Hall this afternoon" to a student attending West Hall. Thing is, autocorrect popped out "Gunman go to West Hall this afternoon." Much different. The student alerted the authorities, who reacted with a full lockdown for the schools—probably due to the recent Ohio school shootings.

Now, you can definitely make the case for some context to go into reading random text messages that appear to alert you to imminent violence. And it's probably the right case. And there's also the sad reality that violence is such a real concern that silly texts like this have to be taken seriously. But isn't it more fun to giggle about autocorrect's perpetual ineptitude throwing an entire school system into disarray? I say yes. Lol autocorrect. [Gainesville Times via Twitter]

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Winter

In the winter I like to play in the snow with my sister and make big piles and dig under them to make tunnels or forts. Its really cold and i hate walking to school in this weather but i get used to it eventually. Not fast enough though. One day i'm hoping to move somewhere warm and stay there. Here is more info about winter.

Your Next Laptop Might be Made of Paper (Tech Article)

We've seen laptop's made of wood, bamboo,carbon fiber and—most recently—glass. Now, a new plastic replacement based on recycled paper might be making its way to a computer on your lap.


Developed by PEGA, Paper PP Alloy is a paper-based material that's designed to be strong, sturdy, and environmentally friendly. The ideas is that it could happily replace plastics — but because it's made of paper it should, in theory, be far, far easier to recycle.


The material is made from a combination of recyclable paper and polypropylene, and it can be formed using injection molding methods. While some commentators have suggested that it might be difficult to easily separate polypropylene from paper fibers come recycling—pointing out that polylactic acid may have been a better choice—it's still an amazing concept.


For now, this is a great start. PEGA assures us that you'll start seeing the material in commercial use in the very near future.