Hasta La Gadget!

A Danish company called Create It Real has built a software package that recognizes digital gun part models and prevents them from being printed. The software compares each piece you are attempting to print with a database of potential firearm parts and, the company notes, “for safety reasons, there are no models of firearms stored on the user’s computer but rather a list of characteristics.”

The CEO, Jeremie Pierre Gay, has created a proof-of-concept add-on to his turnkey, OEM 3D printing software that he is using to offering to other firms who would like to brand and sell a 3D desktop printer. “It will be possible make it as a service or integrate into another platform,” he said.

The program shuts down the modeling software if it senses that the user is trying to print a gun. Presumably this functionality can be shut down by the user and similar prohibitions – the algorithms that prevent the printing of currency in Photoshop – are often easily avoided. In short, Gay’s creation reduces liability for the printer manufacturer.

They have thus far input the data for the Liberator 3D printed handgun created by Defense Distributed as well as DefDist’s lower receiver part. However, they’re ready to add more parts to the package as they appear.

“We’ve made a test to make sure it will scale up to a much bigger database of parts,” said Gay. “It should be quite fast to actually check the model against the database.”

To Gay, the issue is less about gun control and more about management of risk. The system, for example, will allow a child to print a water gun but will stop him or her before they can print a real gun. It also allows Gay’s clients to add warnings to 3D printing processes so the printer maker can’t be held responsible.

“We are in the business of selling technology to quickly launch a desktop 3D printer,” said Gay. “If a buyer wants to print a gun, we want to be sure the 3D printer makers are not the ones responsible for it.”

The company is quite small and they are working with partners to bring their solutions to market. However, it’s an interesting solution to a thorny problem and shows just how complex the issue of 3D printing may soon become.

By Eric Bricker for U.S. News

Every year, millions of Americans flock to the beach as a fun, low-cost way to escape the summer heat for a few hours or a long weekend. Though the seaside undeniably offers its share of escapist pleasures, it also plays host to some unique dangers of its own. When you hit the beach this summer, it’s important to stay alert for hazards in the water and on land. Here are some lurking dangers that can turn your favorite summer oasis into an emergency situation, along with tips that can help keep you safe:

Water Hazards

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For a company that gives millions of pairs of shoes to the needy each year, TOMS ends up receiving a startlingly heavy amount of criticism.

The most visible of many do-good clothiers and shoemakers that promise donations to struggling countries around the world, TOMS often comes under fire for its one-for-one business model.

For every pair of shoes it sells, TOMS gives away another pair to someone in need. Some critics have called this a marketing ploy, one that makes millions by “monetizing white guilt” and preying on rich, Western consumers who simply want to find a way to feel better about themselves.

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Last week it was announced that Roland Emmerich’s long-awaited sequel to “Independence Day” will finally become a reality: the film is set for release on July 3, 2015. So when Emmerich — who is promoting his new action movie, “White House Down” — dropped by The Huffington Post’s New York City offices on Tuesday, well, yes, we had a lot of questions about the film, including who’s coming back for the sequel.

First, though, Emmerich’s got “White House Down” on his mind. The new film stars Channing Tatum as a police officer who inexplicably finds himself protecting the President of the United States (played by Jamie Foxx) after terrorists take over the White House. Emmerich is aware that this isn’t the first “overthrow the White House” movie of the year (“Olympus Has Fallen” came out in March), and the director doesn’t mince words about how he feels about this situation.

In our long conversation, the straight-shooting Emmerich explains in detail why Will Smith won’t return for his “Independence Day” sequel (after he fought Fox for the right to cast him in the first movie, a detail not lost on Emmerich), reveals how the idea came about, and what other familiar faces we’ll see in the new film. Emmerich also discusses Jim Carrey’s recent decision to back out of of promoting “Kick-Ass 2” and reflects on one of his most critically panned films, “Godzilla,” and how that movie has everything to do with “Deep Impact” and Armageddon.”

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Paris Jackson’s deep depression has been largely the result of bullying … and Facebook has been hosting the haters.

Sources closely connected to Paris tell TMZ … the 15-year-old has been reeling from comments left on her Facebook page — many about Michael Jackson and his lifestyle.  Some of the comments involve the various molestation allegations … others involve the odd life Paris lived while Michael was alive.

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