The Google Glass experience

The wait is finally over to see what it will really be like to use Google Glass. Google has released a video showcasing the headsets initial features, user interface, and the overall experience of using Google Glass in everyday life.

As we already knew, voice recognition will be the primary method for interacting with the headset, in conjunction with a small gesture-based touch pad and button on the side of the device, but now we are starting to see how these input methods will actually work in practice.

By speaking the phrase “Ok Google”, followed by one of the pre-set commands, you’ll be able to perform a Google search, take a picture, record a video, send a message, or get directions to a location. This appears to be the full list of supported features for Glass thus far but Google has mentioned in the past that they are experimenting with many different ideas. This is just the initially supported feature set.

Click here to see the original posting at The Independent.

Sequester this

On Tuesday, Dr. Coburn sent the following letter to the Department of Defense outlining a number of actions that should take place before furloughing civilian employees or halting training.

The letter calls for DOD to first eliminate unnecessary jobs and projects that have little to do with defense including items like these:

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Suspected Islamists deface Egyptian icons

Islamists are suspected of vandalizing monuments to two of Egypt’s most important cultural icons – famous Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum and Taha Husayn, one of Egypt’s most important intellectuals of the 20th century.

In the town of Mansoura, the hometown of Kulthum,  vandals placed an Islamic veil on a statue of her, according to a report in Al-Ahram
Weekly.

The paper also quotes an article published in the liberal daily Al-Masry Al-Youm by Mohamed Salmawy stating,“What did those ignoramuses who attacked the statues do to Islam? They insulted it, and Islam is innocent of their behavior.”

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Lt. Gov. Lamb declares winter emergency

At the request of Governor Mary Fallin, Lt. Governor Todd Lamb today declared a State of Emergency for 56 Oklahoma counties due the winter storm, excessive snow, and severe weather affecting many areas of the state.

Counties included in the State of Emergency are: Adair, Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Craig. Creek, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, Mayes, McClain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Rogers, Seminole, Texas, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

This declaration may be amended to include additional counties as conditions warrant.

“The winter storm has already caused dangerous travel condition in northwest Oklahoma as well as sub-freezing temperatures,” said Lt. Governor Lamb. “I am urging Oklahomans in the impacted areas to take winter storm precautions and stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary.  This is a very serious winter storm and we want Oklahomans to stay safe.”

The Executive Order allows state agencies to make emergency purchases related to disaster relief and preparedness. It is also a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

Under the Executive Order, the state of emergency lasts for 30 days.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin on sequestration

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) issued the following statement today on automatic spending cuts, known as “sequestration”,  due to take effect on March 1 in large part criticizing the dysfunction of federal government and the “us vs. them” mentality has brought us close to the sequestration deadline. Mullin said, “Resorting to these types of cuts is government at its worst.”

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