The Latest from Boing Boing

Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students
Poutine goes to India, Indian poutine comes to Canada
IWW General Strike posters to print and forward
Canada's prime minister abolishes the Government of Canada, replaces it with "the Harper government"
Hand drawn "computer game"
Terminator hand will destroy you (in Rock Paper Scissors)
Can kickstarter be the savior of indy comic books?
World's largest shark jaws up for auction
Caturday

Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students

Posted: 06 Mar 2011 04:40 AM PST

This summer, Waterloo, Ontario's Institute for Quantum Computing is running a residential "Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students" for Canadian kids aged 16 and over. Holy awesome, does this sound cool:

This year the program will run through July 26-30, 2010. The program is run by the Institute for Quantum Computing in conjunction with the University of Waterloo. Students will be given a first-hand look into one of the most exciting topics in modern science-quantum cryptography. Not only will students have the opportunity to be exposed to cutting-edge topics like quantum physics and cryptography - they will have the opportunity to meet some of the most renowned researchers the field has to offer. In addition, students will get a tour of quantum computing and quantum cryptography experiments.

Quantum Cryptography School for Young Students (Thanks, Mom!)

Poutine goes to India, Indian poutine comes to Canada

Posted: 06 Mar 2011 04:48 AM PST

Poutine is a Quebecois delicacy made by combining french fries, gravy and cheese curds; when I was growing up, poutine was strictly Canadian, and you could always amaze foreigners by describing the salty, fatty, starchy goodness to be had from the poutine trucks. But gradually, poutine spread across the world -- first I saw it for sale in LA's Sunset Junction, and then I found it on the menu at a cafe in Mumbai's Juhu Beach (optional toppings included corn, pineapple and chicken frankfurters!). Poutine in India! What could be more global?

Turns out that the poutine-subcontinent fusion is bi-directional: yesterday, in Burger Bar in Toronto's Kensington Market, I spotted "Saag Poutine" on the menu -- "paneer cheese simmered in spices, cream and spinach, served over fries." I don't know what unlikely magic has brought Indian food and Quebecois food together, but it is magic -- albeit of the high-carb, salty sort.

IWW General Strike posters to print and forward

Posted: 06 Mar 2011 02:40 AM PST

Hugh Electronic sez, "The I.W.W. hired Eric Drooker to design posters for a general strike which he is told, now appears imminent in Wisconsin. The Industrial Workers of the World asked him to design versions in Spanish and Arabic, for international solidarity."

English (JPG), Spanish (JPG), Arabic (JPG)

(Thanks, HughElectronic, via Submitterator!)

Canada's prime minister abolishes the Government of Canada, replaces it with "the Harper government"

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 08:00 PM PST

Canada's modest, self-effacing autocratic Prime Minister has demanded that the country's civil service must cease to use "the government of Canada" in official publications. From now on, the tax-funded communiques must refer to "the Harper government." I favor "the Harper regime," personally.

PMO: The Govt of Canada now renamed 'Harper Government'

Hand drawn "computer game"

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 09:59 PM PST

My 7-year-old daughter makes hand drawn "computer games." You play one row at a time, from the bottom up. Each row has its own set of rules.

UPDATE: Since some of you asked if Jane could explain the game, I recorded her telling me about it. And here's a photo with the complete game.

Terminator hand will destroy you (in Rock Paper Scissors)

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 02:21 PM PST

Forget beating Watson on Jeopardy. I just got dusted by The Terminator in Rock Paper Scissors. Skynet is nigh!

Can kickstarter be the savior of indy comic books?

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 05:57 PM PST

GeekDad's Dave Banks explores the current state of indie comic's with New Brighton Archeological Society co-creator and writer Mark Andrew Smith.

Finally, here was an all ages graphic novel that treated kids intelligently and was really entertaining at the same time. So we were surprised to see that the sequel was going to require some Kickstarter funding to get going. Surely a critical darling like The New Brighton Archeological Society didn't need funding to get off the ground, did it?

Unfortunately, as with many creators in the indie scene, the answer from Mark and co-creator Matthew Weldon, is a resounding YES. "We're eight thousand dollars in the red on The New Brighton Archeological Society Book One for coloring and lettering costs... We front the cost of producing the book and promoting the book. The publisher (Image Comics) prints it and the distributor (Diamond) distributes it... In the model we're publishing under, we're the last to recoup."

The recent fundraising success of Jeremy Bastian's Cursed Pirate Girl and others has made Brooklyn-based Kickstarter a game changer in the world of comics -- providing micro-financing to projects that wouldn't otherwise get made in this current state of shifting business models and economic woes.

Support Mark and Matthew! You can donate to the NBAS Kickstarter project and help bring the much anticipated sequel to reality. Or buy the first book.

World's largest shark jaws up for auction

Posted: 05 Mar 2011 10:24 AM PST

At Scuttlefish today, an item on the largest set of shark jaws (outside of a living shark, I suppose) going up for auction. All 182 teeth, 11 feet of width, and more than 8 feet in height. "The jaws, which once belonged to a megaladon, will be placed up for bid in Dallas, Texas in June at the Heritage Auction Galleries. The asking price is set at $625,000, but would anywhere shy of The Museum of Natural History have sufficient room to accommodate the jowls?"

(thanks, Brian Lam)