For the first time, lasers have triggered and diverted lightning bolts
From MAKE: Upgrade Your Office With An RFID Reading Door
Tired of dealing with keys to get into his office, Valentin Heun hacked together this door unlocker with a laser-cutter, Arduino, and some bits n’ bobs from SparkFun.  Full design files and parts list can be found on the linked page.
from MAKE
From Lifehacker: PlayOnLinux Installs Windows Games and Programs on Linux Hassle-Free
Wine is a great way to run your favorite Windows programs on Linux, but if you don’t want to mess with a program’s settings to get it just right, free app PlayOnLinux has a bunch in its database that you can install with one click. More »
from Lifehacker
From Lifehacker: CrowdCall Is a Simple Way to Make Group Calls from Android and iPhone
iOS/Android: Group calling isn’t something most of us need to do often, but it comes in handy when you’re trying to make plans with a bunch of people or when you’re making the rounds for holiday calls. CrowdCall simplifies the process by making it easy to make calls to up to 20 people directly from your iPhone or Android phone. More »
from Lifehacker
From Lifehacker: Google Maps’ Driving Directions Just Got a Lot More Accurate, Now Factors in Current Traffic
Google Maps’ driving directions just got a lot more accurate, now factoring current traffic into its estimations on how long your drive will take. More »
from Lifehacker
From Gizmodo: How Many Explosions, How Much Duct Tape and How Many Myths Have the MythBusters Busted So Far?
From Engadget: Liquor stores will laugh in the Face.com at your fake ID
Okay, it’s only three months ’till your glorious twenty-first birthday, so near, yet technology has to come along and rain on your parade. You might think you look legal, but if claims by engineers at Face.com are to be believed, they’re not having it. Using the firm’s face recognition technology and a new API, they believe it can determine age based on a photo. The technology is open to all developers who might want to add age restriction into their apps, although it’s unlikely that you would want to rely on this as your sole method of verification. The algorithm takes a number of factors into account, such as face shape, and skin smoothness, so at the very least you’ll be able to find out if your t-zone routine is working. Hit up the more coverage link, where there’s a free iOS app to learn the harsh reality.
from Engadget