What is LookBook.NU?

LookBook.NU is a website. Most content is publicly available. Membership is free, however, to join, one must receive an invitation, either from a current user or via a code from an external website.

The focus is on fashion. Users post pictures of their "looks", consisting of  full body photographs of their outfits. These looks can be named, given a description, and the items within can be tagged. A color palette relating to the outfit can also be attached. Other users can post comments about the look, give the users "hype", or give the users "love".

Hype can be given or revoked, but negative hype cannot be given. It is available in an unlimited amount. Every day, each user can choose to "love" one outfit. Both hype and love are permanent. Hype can be revoked, as can love, but if the love is revoked, it doesn't restart the counter or give the user additional love to distribute.

Members-only features include the love system, the ability to post looks, the ability to keep track of their comments, and the viewing and usage of a set of forums relating to the site and the fashion world.

The website is supported by paid advertisements.

xo Science

What's the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?

Crocodiles and alligators are similar but different reptiles. They are both suitable for an amphibious environment and look rather similar. However, they are part of two distinct families. How can a nonspecialist tell the two apart?

Crocodiles have a snout shaped like a v. It is narrow. It is made for crushing.

Alligators have a snout shaped like a u. It is wide. It is made for versatility.

And now you know!

xo Science

What is Blogging? Blogging 101

Blogging refers to the practice of updating an online journal. These can be hosted on one's personal website or a service such as Blogger. Bloggers are able to post blogs which will usually be displayed on the front page, with recent blogs towards the top and older blogs towards the bottom or on other pages. There is usually no limit to how much or how little one must blog. Blogs may be long or short. Longer blogs usually are posted on websites such as Blogger, whereas shorter blogs, known as microblogs, are hosted on websites such as Twitter.

Blogs can be shared by multiple people posting on one blog, whether it is with one account or via multiple accounts. They may be about any topic one wishes to write about. Blogs needn't be pertaining to one particular topic nor a myriad of topics. They aren't required to be entirely grammatically correct.

Blogs can be made public, private, or only viewable to the bloggers themselves. People who read the blog or find interest in it may choose to "follow" the blog by subscribing to email updates or RSS feeds pertaining to the blog. Some blogs have hundreds of thousands of followers, some have no followers whatsoever.

Blogs must obey the terms of service agreements of the service hosting them, and may be deleted by the service if they violate those terms.

xo Science

What is Twitter? Twitter 101

Twitter is a website requiring registration. Users must provide an email, a display name, and a requested URL (example: www.twitter.com/xoScience). After registration, users are able to post short messages of 140 characters (or less), including spaces, punctuation, and symbols. One's Twitter account is able to be connected to Instant Messaging clients to act as a status message relayer, as well as Facebook, MySpace, and other Internet-connected accounts.

Usage of the @ (at) sign is used to direct messages towards a user. Example:

xoScience: @Engineering: Do you feel like ordering chips?

Users are able to "re-tweet", or "RT" messages from other users. Example:

Math: Numbers are fun.
xoScience: RT@Math: Numbers are fun.

Usage of the # (hashtag) serves the purpose of tagging a post. "Tagging" assigns the post a label, usually related to its topic.

xoScience: #Twitter seems to be down, so how am I able to post this?

Users are able to search for these messages, known as "tweets", via a search box or external search engines. They can search for users, tweets about themselves, or tweets relating to certain topics.

Search for: @Math
xoScience: Do you want to have lunch later today, @Math?
Engineering: @Math is being a real pain today.  

Math: RT @Math is being a real pain today.

Any terms of service violations, such as inappropriate content, harassment, or spam, may result in an account being suspended.

If a user does not want certain other users to be able to tweet them or view their profile, they are able to block them.

xo Science

The guaranteed way to get into MIT

What's the only guaranteed way to get into MIT?

• Cure cancer.
• Save a thousand hungry orphans.
• Learn to jailbreak iPods remotely.
• Take a class via MIT OpenCourseWare.

MIT's OpenCourseWare, or OCW for short, is a website offering free MIT classes on the Internet to the public, free of charge. You may not have been accepted to MIT (yet), but you can still take (some) classes from MIT. Some highlights include "Electricity and Magnetism", "Problems of Philosophy", and "Circuits and Electronics".

Check it out at OCW.


xo Science