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Pentax Optio W60: Rugged, Waterproof Aqua-Shooter Performs on Land, Too
Submariners and landlubbers will love this easy-to-handle, waterproof Pentax. The 10-megapixel cam is built for abuse, is good in the water down to 13 feet and has a wide-angle zoom lens.
Submariners and landlubbers will love this easy-to-handle, waterproof Pentax. The 10-megapixel cam is built for abuse, is good in the water down to 13 feet and has a wide-angle zoom lens.
Nov. 21, 1968: Love Canal Calamity Surfaces
1968: Karen Schroeder, a second-generation resident of the Love Canal neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, gives birth to an infant girl with multiple birth defects. The enormity of the neighborhood's affliction will take a few more years to come to light. Love Canal was a never-used, late 19th-century hydroelectric channel that was sold to the Hooker Chemical company in 1942. Between then and 1953, Hooker used the site to bury 22,000 tons of chemical wastes in barrels. Hooker sold the site to the Niagara Falls School Board for $1, and the board built an elementary school there in 1955. A blue-collar suburban neighborhood flourished around the disused industrial site. Flourished is probably the wrong word. Schroeder's parents found black sludge seeping through the walls of their basement starting in the late 1950s. A woman who ran a beauty parlor in her basement developed a debilitating weakness and had to give up working. Trees and shrubs died. Noxious chemical smells hung over the neighborhood. Schoolchildren developed strange rashes and vague, unexplained allergies. Sometimes, they played with phosphorus-laden dirt that exploded with a crackle when lumps of it were thrown to the ground. Baby Sheri Schroeder was born with an irregular heart beat and a hole in the heart wall, nasal bone blockages, partial deafness, deformed ears and a cleft palate. As she grew, her family realized she was mentally retarded. Her teeth arrived in a double row on her lower jaw, and she suffered from an enlarged liver. Heavy rains in the mid-1970s caused groundwater levels to rise. Swimming pools lifted up out of the ground. The buried waste rose closer to the surface. The Niagara Gazette began reporting in October 1976 about chemicals seeping into basements in the Love Canal neighborhood, with stories of harm to humans, pets and plant life. Chemical analyses showed 15 organic chemicals, including three toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state and county health departments began to take notice, testing the neighborhood's soil, water and air, as well as blood samples from residents. Still, it was August 1978 before the state health commissioner declared a state of emergency, closed the school and ordered an evacuation ... but only of pregnant women and children under age 2. Soon it was learned that Hooker had buried 200 tons of dioxin at Love Canal, that residents suffered a high rate of miscarriages, birth defects and chromosomal damage, and that 10 percent could develop cancer. U.S. Rep. Al Gore (D-Tennessee) charged in 1979 that the tragedy had been avoidable. He publicized a 1958 internal Hooker Chemical memo, describing three or four kids burned by materials at the Love Canal waste site. The first lawsuits were filed in 1979. Early amelioration work released noxious smells in the neighborhood, and the evacuation area was widened. More schools were shut down. Government programs bought condemned homes and tore them down. Hundreds of families evacuated, but 60 families remained behind. Cleanup costs have been estimated at $250 million. A federal judge eventually found Hooker Chemical negligent but not reckless, and parent company Occidental Petroleum settled with the EPA for $129 million. An EPA regional administrator called Love Canal "one of the most appalling environmental tragedies in American history." The core area around the dump is still off-limits, but new buildings have been built nearby. The neighborhood is now called Black Creek Village. Source: Various
1968: Karen Schroeder, a second-generation resident of the Love Canal neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, gives birth to an infant girl with multiple birth defects. The enormity of the neighborhood's affliction will take a few more years to come to light. Love Canal was a never-used, late 19th-century hydroelectric channel that was sold to the Hooker Chemical company in 1942. Between then and 1953, Hooker used the site to bury 22,000 tons of chemical wastes in barrels. Hooker sold the site to the Niagara Falls School Board for $1, and the board built an elementary school there in 1955. A blue-collar suburban neighborhood flourished around the disused industrial site. Flourished is probably the wrong word. Schroeder's parents found black sludge seeping through the walls of their basement starting in the late 1950s. A woman who ran a beauty parlor in her basement developed a debilitating weakness and had to give up working. Trees and shrubs died. Noxious chemical smells hung over the neighborhood. Schoolchildren developed strange rashes and vague, unexplained allergies. Sometimes, they played with phosphorus-laden dirt that exploded with a crackle when lumps of it were thrown to the ground. Baby Sheri Schroeder was born with an irregular heart beat and a hole in the heart wall, nasal bone blockages, partial deafness, deformed ears and a cleft palate. As she grew, her family realized she was mentally retarded. Her teeth arrived in a double row on her lower jaw, and she suffered from an enlarged liver. Heavy rains in the mid-1970s caused groundwater levels to rise. Swimming pools lifted up out of the ground. The buried waste rose closer to the surface. The Niagara Gazette began reporting in October 1976 about chemicals seeping into basements in the Love Canal neighborhood, with stories of harm to humans, pets and plant life. Chemical analyses showed 15 organic chemicals, including three toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state and county health departments began to take notice, testing the neighborhood's soil, water and air, as well as blood samples from residents. Still, it was August 1978 before the state health commissioner declared a state of emergency, closed the school and ordered an evacuation ... but only of pregnant women and children under age 2. Soon it was learned that Hooker had buried 200 tons of dioxin at Love Canal, that residents suffered a high rate of miscarriages, birth defects and chromosomal damage, and that 10 percent could develop cancer. U.S. Rep. Al Gore (D-Tennessee) charged in 1979 that the tragedy had been avoidable. He publicized a 1958 internal Hooker Chemical memo, describing three or four kids burned by materials at the Love Canal waste site. The first lawsuits were filed in 1979. Early amelioration work released noxious smells in the neighborhood, and the evacuation area was widened. More schools were shut down. Government programs bought condemned homes and tore them down. Hundreds of families evacuated, but 60 families remained behind. Cleanup costs have been estimated at $250 million. A federal judge eventually found Hooker Chemical negligent but not reckless, and parent company Occidental Petroleum settled with the EPA for $129 million. An EPA regional administrator called Love Canal "one of the most appalling environmental tragedies in American history." The core area around the dump is still off-limits, but new buildings have been built nearby. The neighborhood is now called Black Creek Village. Source: Various
Phooey to Fuel Economy: 10 Cars That Just Don't Care
: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com Oh sure, we're all for alt-fuel green cars. Hybrids? Love 'em. EVs? We'll take two. Hydrogen? Show us where to get the stuff, and we're there. But there's something to be said for being pushed back into butter-soft, hand-stitched leather as you hurtle toward the horizon at absurd velocity. Here then are our picks for the 10 cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show that will do just that. Left: Gumpert ApolloIf "limited edition" isn't limited enough, Gumpert has the car for you. The boutique supercar maker is sending just 10 of the race-ready rides to America next year. They start at $485,000, but we'll take the top-of-the-line $850,000 model, because why wouldn't you want every one of the 850 horsepower you get with it?: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIf you have to ask, you'll never understand. : Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIt's not the flashiest car around. The doors don't flip upward. It isn't covered in carbon fiber. And most people won't have any idea what it is. But the DBS is just so quintessentially British that way. It's got a 6.0-liter V12, it'll hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and it tops out at 191 mph. When you're that good, you can afford to be understated.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIt's got more scoops than Baskin-Robbins and more bling than Flavor Flav, so you'd be forgiven for thinking it's something of a joke. But this Dutch rocket with a racing pedigree produces 400 horsepower, does 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 187 mph. So the joke's on you.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comLotus is one of the most-storied names in sports cars, and those who have driven them love them. If you haven't driven one, now's the time to start.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comEeenie, meenie, miney, mo … oh, just pick one. You can't go wrong.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comFrom the gleaming chrome hood ornament and 500-horsepower twin-turbo V8 to the diamond-quilted leather interior (choose from one of 25 different kinds) and jeweled fuel cap, everything about the Azure T is decadently, sensuously luxurious. And for $350,000, it damn well better be.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comYes, there are faster Porsches. Yes, there are more-expensive Porsches. And yes, there are Porsches that will run circles around the Boxster. But we just love this scene.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comThe R8 is stereotypically German — beautifully engineered, ruthlessly efficient and exceptionally quick. It isn't as good as you've heard; it's better. Everyone should have one.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comFor burning rubber, doing donuts and blowing the doors off anything short of a Gumpert Apollo, nothing beats the 638-horsepower Corvette ZR1. It's a muscle car on steroids and the best 'Vette ever. Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, nothing beats it.
: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com Oh sure, we're all for alt-fuel green cars. Hybrids? Love 'em. EVs? We'll take two. Hydrogen? Show us where to get the stuff, and we're there. But there's something to be said for being pushed back into butter-soft, hand-stitched leather as you hurtle toward the horizon at absurd velocity. Here then are our picks for the 10 cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show that will do just that. Left: Gumpert ApolloIf "limited edition" isn't limited enough, Gumpert has the car for you. The boutique supercar maker is sending just 10 of the race-ready rides to America next year. They start at $485,000, but we'll take the top-of-the-line $850,000 model, because why wouldn't you want every one of the 850 horsepower you get with it?: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIf you have to ask, you'll never understand. : Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIt's not the flashiest car around. The doors don't flip upward. It isn't covered in carbon fiber. And most people won't have any idea what it is. But the DBS is just so quintessentially British that way. It's got a 6.0-liter V12, it'll hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and it tops out at 191 mph. When you're that good, you can afford to be understated.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comIt's got more scoops than Baskin-Robbins and more bling than Flavor Flav, so you'd be forgiven for thinking it's something of a joke. But this Dutch rocket with a racing pedigree produces 400 horsepower, does 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 187 mph. So the joke's on you.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comLotus is one of the most-storied names in sports cars, and those who have driven them love them. If you haven't driven one, now's the time to start.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comEeenie, meenie, miney, mo … oh, just pick one. You can't go wrong.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comFrom the gleaming chrome hood ornament and 500-horsepower twin-turbo V8 to the diamond-quilted leather interior (choose from one of 25 different kinds) and jeweled fuel cap, everything about the Azure T is decadently, sensuously luxurious. And for $350,000, it damn well better be.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comYes, there are faster Porsches. Yes, there are more-expensive Porsches. And yes, there are Porsches that will run circles around the Boxster. But we just love this scene.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comThe R8 is stereotypically German — beautifully engineered, ruthlessly efficient and exceptionally quick. It isn't as good as you've heard; it's better. Everyone should have one.: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.comFor burning rubber, doing donuts and blowing the doors off anything short of a Gumpert Apollo, nothing beats the 638-horsepower Corvette ZR1. It's a muscle car on steroids and the best 'Vette ever. Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, nothing beats it.
Teen Kills Self on Justin.tv
Pembroke Pines police in Florida are investigating the apparent suicide death of a 19-year-old teenager whose death was seen on a live Justin.tv feed
Pembroke Pines police in Florida are investigating the apparent suicide death of a 19-year-old teenager whose death was seen on a live Justin.tv feed
Fake Lunar Photos Sent Astronomers Over the Moon
Mocked-up photos of models of the moon's surface in the 19th century were widely acclaimed for their authenticity, and inspired astronomers to do better with the real thing.
Mocked-up photos of models of the moon's surface in the 19th century were widely acclaimed for their authenticity, and inspired astronomers to do better with the real thing.
iPhone App Developer May Be Bribing Reviewers
An iPhone app developer appears to be using bribes to get better reviews in order to boost his sales.
An iPhone app developer appears to be using bribes to get better reviews in order to boost his sales.
Artist Wants Nuke Waste Dump to Make New Universes
Yucca Mountain can hold millions of pounds of nuclear waste, but if an artist gets his way, it would also be home to what he calls a quantum "universe generator."
Yucca Mountain can hold millions of pounds of nuclear waste, but if an artist gets his way, it would also be home to what he calls a quantum "universe generator."
Enter to Win the Wired Wish List Bag -- and Everything In It
What to give? What to get? See what would go in our perfect holiday gift bag. Then sign up to win it all.
What to give? What to get? See what would go in our perfect holiday gift bag. Then sign up to win it all.
New Mac Virus Threatens Only the Weak-Minded
Poor Mac users just can't get a decent virus that's on par with the threats Windows users face. Because yes, there's a new Mac virus lurking, but unless you're incredibly stupid, there's no need to worry.
Poor Mac users just can't get a decent virus that's on par with the threats Windows users face. Because yes, there's a new Mac virus lurking, but unless you're incredibly stupid, there's no need to worry.
State Can Ban Prescription Data Mining, Appeals Court Rules
Data-mining companies have no free-speech right to buy and analyze prescription data in order to market drugs to doctors, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. The ruling clears the way for other states to mimic New Hampshire's landmark law prohibiting the widespread practice of buying and selling prescription information.
Data-mining companies have no free-speech right to buy and analyze prescription data in order to market drugs to doctors, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. The ruling clears the way for other states to mimic New Hampshire's landmark law prohibiting the widespread practice of buying and selling prescription information.
NASA's Robot Smarts Give 'Wall-E' a Ration of Realism
Pixar moviemakers turn to the space agency's experts for pointers on how to make animated characters more "lifelike."
Pixar moviemakers turn to the space agency's experts for pointers on how to make animated characters more "lifelike."
Give the Ultimate Gift: A Posh Bag Packed With Best Mobile Gizmos
: You will never catch us yawning at an airport gate. You won't find us desperately rereading the in-flight magazine, and we never ... ever ... cross the thresholds of hotel business centers. We are the quartermasters in the battle to stay connected, productive, and entertained — and we do not travel unprepared. As wired gadget editors, we make it our mission to see every new product. As avid gadget-fiends, we make damn sure that the best of them end up in our personal arsenals. This is our current must-have list, the gear we reach for whenever an eticket pops into our remotely accessible inbox. Left: Tod's Cartella computer bag $1,600 Enter for a chance to win the Wired Wish List Bag (yes, Tod's Cartella tote, pictured), filled with today's hottest technology and products on the cutting edge of design. : $249: $275: $18: $40 (base unit) : $170 (60 GB): $399 : $500: $7 (set of three): $465: $500: $100: $10: $199/year: $100: $450: $34: $55: $30: $9: $40: $1,900 : $850: $200 (16 GB)
: You will never catch us yawning at an airport gate. You won't find us desperately rereading the in-flight magazine, and we never ... ever ... cross the thresholds of hotel business centers. We are the quartermasters in the battle to stay connected, productive, and entertained — and we do not travel unprepared. As wired gadget editors, we make it our mission to see every new product. As avid gadget-fiends, we make damn sure that the best of them end up in our personal arsenals. This is our current must-have list, the gear we reach for whenever an eticket pops into our remotely accessible inbox. Left: Tod's Cartella computer bag $1,600 Enter for a chance to win the Wired Wish List Bag (yes, Tod's Cartella tote, pictured), filled with today's hottest technology and products on the cutting edge of design. : $249: $275: $18: $40 (base unit) : $170 (60 GB): $399 : $500: $7 (set of three): $465: $500: $100: $10: $199/year: $100: $450: $34: $55: $30: $9: $40: $1,900 : $850: $200 (16 GB)
Create Imageless Graphs and Charts
Check out eight examples of how you can use CSS and little else to make beautiful data visualizations: bar charts, scatter plots and even standards-based sparklines.
Check out eight examples of how you can use CSS and little else to make beautiful data visualizations: bar charts, scatter plots and even standards-based sparklines.
Massive Martian Glaciers May Be Drinkable
Buried glaciers discovered on Mars are closer to the planet's equator than any previously known water ice on the planet. The glaciers could be a source of drinking water for future astronauts.
Buried glaciers discovered on Mars are closer to the planet's equator than any previously known water ice on the planet. The glaciers could be a source of drinking water for future astronauts.
Experimental Shoe-Print Database Sees the Soles of Criminals
Criminals better watch their steps, as a Univerisity of Buffalo computer science professor develops a search engine for shoe prints left at crime scenes. With funding from the Justice Department, professor Sargur Srihari hopes his computational forensics will make life easier for shoe-identification experts, and harder for criminals.
Criminals better watch their steps, as a Univerisity of Buffalo computer science professor develops a search engine for shoe prints left at crime scenes. With funding from the Justice Department, professor Sargur Srihari hopes his computational forensics will make life easier for shoe-identification experts, and harder for criminals.
What Recession? Bentley Offers Its Most Opulent Car Ever
If the auto industry is tanking, the venerable British carmaker either didn't get the memo or doesn't care. With a perfectly straight face, Bentley unveils its $350,000 Azure T at the L.A. Auto Show.
If the auto industry is tanking, the venerable British carmaker either didn't get the memo or doesn't care. With a perfectly straight face, Bentley unveils its $350,000 Azure T at the L.A. Auto Show.
Guns N' Roses' 'Chinese Democracy' Launches on MySpace
At long last, you can hear what looked like the ultimate rock 'n' roll vaporware. For free.
At long last, you can hear what looked like the ultimate rock 'n' roll vaporware. For free.
Fujifilm FinePix A20fd: Sleek Shirt-Pocket Cam a Snap to Use
Sleek design, excellent image quality and handy interface make this little Fujifilm snapper stand out from the crowd of point-and-shoots.
Sleek design, excellent image quality and handy interface make this little Fujifilm snapper stand out from the crowd of point-and-shoots.
YouTube Tests Out High Quality, Stereo Surround Videos
YouTube has quietly started testing out real HD quality videos on a smattering of its content, a development that is getting attention from viewers in message boards and blog forums. The new format could be a big move for YouTube, as the video quality is over 80MB, which means that they are probably the same H.264 encoded mp4 files available in the iTunes store.
YouTube has quietly started testing out real HD quality videos on a smattering of its content, a development that is getting attention from viewers in message boards and blog forums. The new format could be a big move for YouTube, as the video quality is over 80MB, which means that they are probably the same H.264 encoded mp4 files available in the iTunes store.
John McCain to Jackson Browne: You're Welcome
John McCain has two words for Jackson Browne: You're welcome. That's the gist of a response to Browne's lawsuit that the McCain campaign's sampling of his classic (or, as they put it, "long-ago published") "Running on Empty" implied that the famously lefty singer-songwriter was endorsing the maverick but nevertheless Republican presidential candidate.
John McCain has two words for Jackson Browne: You're welcome. That's the gist of a response to Browne's lawsuit that the McCain campaign's sampling of his classic (or, as they put it, "long-ago published") "Running on Empty" implied that the famously lefty singer-songwriter was endorsing the maverick but nevertheless Republican presidential candidate.
British Accent Bollocks to Google iPhone App
Google's voice-recognition mobile app for the iPhone has trouble with British accents, it would seem. Unless when say "MySpace" you mean "sex."
Google's voice-recognition mobile app for the iPhone has trouble with British accents, it would seem. Unless when say "MySpace" you mean "sex."
Microsoft Lets Zune Subscribers Keep Tunes
Microsoft is giving an early holiday gift to people who pay for all-you-can-listen access to the Zune digital music store: 10 songs to keep each month, included in the $14.99 monthly subscription fee. The decision may appeal to people who have been reluctant to test out the subscription model, preferring to own their music instead of rent it.
Microsoft is giving an early holiday gift to people who pay for all-you-can-listen access to the Zune digital music store: 10 songs to keep each month, included in the $14.99 monthly subscription fee. The decision may appeal to people who have been reluctant to test out the subscription model, preferring to own their music instead of rent it.
New Star Trek Will Be Younger, Faster, Louder
Director J.J. Abrams gives us his vision in this prequel to the original. Kirk is there, and so are Spock, Bones and Scotty. But is this really Star Trek we're watching? The preview clips are a little vague.
Director J.J. Abrams gives us his vision in this prequel to the original. Kirk is there, and so are Spock, Bones and Scotty. But is this really Star Trek we're watching? The preview clips are a little vague.
And the Green Car of the Year Is ... a Diesel
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is named Green Car of the Year on Thursday at the L.A. Auto Show, marking the first time a diesel has won the award.
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is named Green Car of the Year on Thursday at the L.A. Auto Show, marking the first time a diesel has won the award.
Army Contractor Charged With Murder
A member of the Army's controversial combat anthropology program is accused of second-degree murder for killing Kandahar native Abdul Salam in Afghanistan. Don Ayala supposedly shot the Afghani villager in the head, after Salam set one of Ayala's Human Terrain Team co-workers on fire.
A member of the Army's controversial combat anthropology program is accused of second-degree murder for killing Kandahar native Abdul Salam in Afghanistan. Don Ayala supposedly shot the Afghani villager in the head, after Salam set one of Ayala's Human Terrain Team co-workers on fire.
The Creatures That Ate Hollywood
: When a giant sperm whale rammed a whaling vessel in 1820, the deadly encounter inspired Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick. Melville's story, inspired by real-life man-versus-beast mayhem from the 1800s, made it to movie screens in the 1950s. Director John Huston's Moby Dick was evidence of Hollywood's growing fascination with giant, thrashing creatures. Here are some of the best beasties ever captured on celluloid. Left: Captain Ahab (played by Gregory Peck) battles the great white whale in Moby Dick. : A giant squid battles Captain Nemo (played by James Mason) in Walt Disney's 1954 production, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. : Another great white terror of the deep surfaced in 1975's Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. The blockbuster scared beachgoers and spawned three sequels. : Not nearly as big as a whale, a giant squid or a great white shark, the Gill Man nevertheless emerged from murky waters to menace humans in 1954's Creature From the Black Lagoon, by director Jack Arnold. : In a battle of the box office titans, Godzilla battles King Kong in the 1962 Japanese film, Kingu Kongu tai Gojira. Only unlucky structures get between the behemoths in director Ishirô Honda's movie. : Bigger isn't always better. Suspense master Alfred Hitchcock turned seemingly innocuous seagulls into a giant, crowdsourced flying nightmare in 1963's The Birds. : A dinosaur foolishly liberated from the Forbidden Valley goes on a rampage in The Valley of Gwangi. Stop-motion animation great Ray Harryhausen created the creature for director Jim O'Connolly's 1969 flick. : Fussy intergalactic fat-ass Jabba the Hutt smokes out, Star Wars-style, in Return of the Jedi. The beast is known for his bad temper — and for keeping Princess Leia, dressed in her sexy slave girl outfit, on a chain. : Cuddly creatures turn into nightmarish beasts in 1984's Gremlins and again in 1990's sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. : Creature-feature fans saw two classic extraterrestrials face off in 2004's AVP: Alien vs. Predator, by director Paul W.S. Anderson, and in Colin Strause's 2007 follow-up, AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. : A hideous beast from god knows where thrashes Manhattan in 2008's Cloverfield. Director Matt Reeves did a masterful job of unveiling the monster, one blurry bit at a time.
: When a giant sperm whale rammed a whaling vessel in 1820, the deadly encounter inspired Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick. Melville's story, inspired by real-life man-versus-beast mayhem from the 1800s, made it to movie screens in the 1950s. Director John Huston's Moby Dick was evidence of Hollywood's growing fascination with giant, thrashing creatures. Here are some of the best beasties ever captured on celluloid. Left: Captain Ahab (played by Gregory Peck) battles the great white whale in Moby Dick. : A giant squid battles Captain Nemo (played by James Mason) in Walt Disney's 1954 production, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. : Another great white terror of the deep surfaced in 1975's Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg. The blockbuster scared beachgoers and spawned three sequels. : Not nearly as big as a whale, a giant squid or a great white shark, the Gill Man nevertheless emerged from murky waters to menace humans in 1954's Creature From the Black Lagoon, by director Jack Arnold. : In a battle of the box office titans, Godzilla battles King Kong in the 1962 Japanese film, Kingu Kongu tai Gojira. Only unlucky structures get between the behemoths in director Ishirô Honda's movie. : Bigger isn't always better. Suspense master Alfred Hitchcock turned seemingly innocuous seagulls into a giant, crowdsourced flying nightmare in 1963's The Birds. : A dinosaur foolishly liberated from the Forbidden Valley goes on a rampage in The Valley of Gwangi. Stop-motion animation great Ray Harryhausen created the creature for director Jim O'Connolly's 1969 flick. : Fussy intergalactic fat-ass Jabba the Hutt smokes out, Star Wars-style, in Return of the Jedi. The beast is known for his bad temper — and for keeping Princess Leia, dressed in her sexy slave girl outfit, on a chain. : Cuddly creatures turn into nightmarish beasts in 1984's Gremlins and again in 1990's sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. : Creature-feature fans saw two classic extraterrestrials face off in 2004's AVP: Alien vs. Predator, by director Paul W.S. Anderson, and in Colin Strause's 2007 follow-up, AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. : A hideous beast from god knows where thrashes Manhattan in 2008's Cloverfield. Director Matt Reeves did a masterful job of unveiling the monster, one blurry bit at a time.
Review: RIM BlackBerry Storm
The first device from RIM to carry a full touch sensitive screen seeks to not only match the iPhone in terms of performance but also kick its ass in areas where Cupertino's wunderkind falls short. But all is not well with the Storm.
The first device from RIM to carry a full touch sensitive screen seeks to not only match the iPhone in terms of performance but also kick its ass in areas where Cupertino's wunderkind falls short. But all is not well with the Storm.
Nov. 20, 1820: One Whale Exacts His Revenge
1820: The whaling ship Essex is rammed and sunk by a sperm whale 2,000 miles off the west coast of South America. The ordeal of the crew inspires Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. The Essex was an aging vessel from Nantucket, which at the time possessed the largest whaling fleet in the world. The three-masted ship was 87 feet long and weighed 238 tons. She was captained by George Pollard Jr., at 28 already an experienced whaler. By November 1820 the Essex had been at sea for over a year (three years out was not uncommon), surviving an early knockdown in an Atlantic squall and a rough passage around Cape Horn. Once the ship reached the fertile Pacific whaling grounds, however, things began looking up. If the risks of whaling were many, the rewards could be great. Whale oil was prized as a lighting fuel. A successful voyage could make a captain wealthy, and meant a good payday for the crew as well. The Essex had taken its share of whales and on Nov. 20 appeared ready to take a few more when a pod was sighted off the starboard beam. The ship's three remaining whaleboats — one had been destroyed by a whale's flukes during an earlier hunt — were dispatched for the kill. As the harpooning began, First Mate Owen Chase, commanding one of the whaleboats, looked back and saw a large sperm whale, which he estimated at 85 feet, approaching the Essex. As he watched helplessly, the whale propelled itself into the ship with great force. Some crewmen on board were knocked off their feet by the collision, and Chase watched in disbelief as the whale drew back and rammed the ship again. This time the Essex was holed below the waterline, and doomed. The crew organized what provisions they could and two days later abandoned ship aboard the three whaleboats. Twenty men left the Essex. Eight would ultimately survive the harrowing ordeal that played out over the next three months. Fearing the "cannibalistic savages" of the South Seas islands (the irony of that reasoning will become apparent momentarily), Pollard decided to head for the more distant coastlines of Chile or Peru, first heading south to catch the expected favorable winds. The winds, it turned out, weren't favorable at all, but Pollard was determined to reach South America. Eventually the three boats became separated from one another. One vanished and was never heard from again. The other two, one commanded by Pollard and the other by Chase, thrashed against the elements, and as the provisions dwindled and ran out, men began to die. The first to go were given proper burials at sea, but as food ran out and the survivors on both boats became delirious from hunger, they turned to cannibalism. In Pollard's boat, straws were drawn to see who of the remaining four would be sacrificed so that the other three might survive. Pollard's young cousin, Owen Coffin, drew short straw. He was shot and eaten. Only two men on that boat, Pollard and Charles Ramsdell, were alive when they were rescued by the whaling ship Dauphin after 95 days in an open boat. Chase and the survivors of his boat were picked up after 90 days. Three other men, who had chosen to remain on a small island shortly after the ordeal began, were also rescued. What is known of the details of the ship's ill-fated voyage rests largely on Chase's memoir. He could offer no reason why the whale should attack the ship. But another young Nantucket whaleman, Herman Melville, drew his own conclusions. Moby Dick was a very, very smart whale. Source: BBC
1820: The whaling ship Essex is rammed and sunk by a sperm whale 2,000 miles off the west coast of South America. The ordeal of the crew inspires Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. The Essex was an aging vessel from Nantucket, which at the time possessed the largest whaling fleet in the world. The three-masted ship was 87 feet long and weighed 238 tons. She was captained by George Pollard Jr., at 28 already an experienced whaler. By November 1820 the Essex had been at sea for over a year (three years out was not uncommon), surviving an early knockdown in an Atlantic squall and a rough passage around Cape Horn. Once the ship reached the fertile Pacific whaling grounds, however, things began looking up. If the risks of whaling were many, the rewards could be great. Whale oil was prized as a lighting fuel. A successful voyage could make a captain wealthy, and meant a good payday for the crew as well. The Essex had taken its share of whales and on Nov. 20 appeared ready to take a few more when a pod was sighted off the starboard beam. The ship's three remaining whaleboats — one had been destroyed by a whale's flukes during an earlier hunt — were dispatched for the kill. As the harpooning began, First Mate Owen Chase, commanding one of the whaleboats, looked back and saw a large sperm whale, which he estimated at 85 feet, approaching the Essex. As he watched helplessly, the whale propelled itself into the ship with great force. Some crewmen on board were knocked off their feet by the collision, and Chase watched in disbelief as the whale drew back and rammed the ship again. This time the Essex was holed below the waterline, and doomed. The crew organized what provisions they could and two days later abandoned ship aboard the three whaleboats. Twenty men left the Essex. Eight would ultimately survive the harrowing ordeal that played out over the next three months. Fearing the "cannibalistic savages" of the South Seas islands (the irony of that reasoning will become apparent momentarily), Pollard decided to head for the more distant coastlines of Chile or Peru, first heading south to catch the expected favorable winds. The winds, it turned out, weren't favorable at all, but Pollard was determined to reach South America. Eventually the three boats became separated from one another. One vanished and was never heard from again. The other two, one commanded by Pollard and the other by Chase, thrashed against the elements, and as the provisions dwindled and ran out, men began to die. The first to go were given proper burials at sea, but as food ran out and the survivors on both boats became delirious from hunger, they turned to cannibalism. In Pollard's boat, straws were drawn to see who of the remaining four would be sacrificed so that the other three might survive. Pollard's young cousin, Owen Coffin, drew short straw. He was shot and eaten. Only two men on that boat, Pollard and Charles Ramsdell, were alive when they were rescued by the whaling ship Dauphin after 95 days in an open boat. Chase and the survivors of his boat were picked up after 90 days. Three other men, who had chosen to remain on a small island shortly after the ordeal began, were also rescued. What is known of the details of the ship's ill-fated voyage rests largely on Chase's memoir. He could offer no reason why the whale should attack the ship. But another young Nantucket whaleman, Herman Melville, drew his own conclusions. Moby Dick was a very, very smart whale. Source: BBC
America's Next Top Hash Function Begins
You might not have realized it, but the next great battle of cryptography began this month. It's not a political battle over export laws or key escrow or NSA eavesdropping, but an academic battle over who gets to be the creator of the next hash standard. Hash functions are the most commonly used cryptographic primitive, and the most poorly understood. You can think of them as fingerprint functions: They take an arbitrary long data stream and return a fixed length, and effectively unique, string. The security comes from the fact that while it's easy to generate the fingerprint from a file, it's infeasible to go the other way and generate a file given a fingerprint. Originally created to make digital signatures more efficient, hashes are now used to secure the very fundamentals of our information infrastructure: in password logins, secure web connections, encryption key management, virus and malware scanning, and almost every cryptographic protocol in current use. Without cryptographic hash functions, the internet would simply not work. At the same time, there isn't a good theory of hash functions. Unlike encryption algorithms, there are no secret keys involved; this makes it harder to mathematically define exactly what hash functions are. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, is holding a competition to replace the SHA family of hash functions. "SHA" stands for "Secure Hash Algorithm." It was developed by the NSA in 1993 to replace the commercial MD4 and MD5 algorithms, and has been updated several times since then. All the SHA algorithms are very similar, and have been increasingly under attack, so NIST wants to replace them. The competition is important because, unlike other technological standards, committee design — balancing the interests of diverse constituents — isn't conducive to good security. Security is best when it's designed by expert teams and then subjected to public review. And cryptography is best when it's chosen by competition. In 1997, NIST held a competition for a block cipher to replace DES. Fifteen candidates and three-and-a-half years later, Rijndael became the new Advanced Encryption Standard — AES. NIST is doing the same thing for what it's calling SHA-3 (not, for some unexplained reason, the Advanced Hash Standard or AHS). The deadline was October 31, and NIST received 64 submissions. This isn't surprising — I predicted 80 — as most of the 15 AES submitters were professors, whose students at the time have become professors themselves, with their own students. (If NIST does a stream cipher competition in another ten years, they should expect about 256 submissions.) These submissions came from academia, from industry, and from hobbyists. CIO magazine recently interviewed one of the submitters, who is 15. Twenty-eight submissions have been made public by the submitters, and six of those have been broken. NIST is going through all the submissions right now, making sure they are complete and proper. Their goal is to publish all accepted submissions by the end of November, in advance of the First Hash Function Candidate Conference, to be held in Belgium right after the Fast Software Encryption workshop in February. The group expects to quickly make a first cut of algorithms — hopefully to about a dozen — and give the community a year of cryptanalysis before making a second cut in 2010. After another year of cryptanalysis, NIST will choose a winner in 2011. Expect a final standard by 2012. My advice for software developers is to let the process run its course. While it's tempting to use the new cool algorithms in your designs, it's far too soon to trust any of them. This process is likely to result in all sorts of new research results in hash function security, and some real cryptanalytic surprises. Give the community a few years to figure out which ones are good and which aren't. I've previously called this sort of thing a cryptographic demolition derby: The last one left standing wins. But that's only partially true. Certainly all the groups will spend the next few years trying to cryptanalyze each other, but in the end there will be a bunch of unbroken algorithms. NIST will select one based on performance and features. NIST has stated that the goal of this process is not to choose the best standard but to choose a good standard. I think that's smart; in this process, the best is the enemy of the good. While there's no rush to choose a new standard — the SHA-2 algorithms will remain secure for the foreseeable future — we don't want to analyze the candidates forever. Personally, I was part of a group of eight cryptographers that submitted Skein to the competition. A decade ago, writing Twofish and participating in the AES process was the most fun I had ever had in cryptography. These next few years promise to be even more fun. --- Bruce Schneier is chief security technology officer of BT. His new book is Schneier on Security.
You might not have realized it, but the next great battle of cryptography began this month. It's not a political battle over export laws or key escrow or NSA eavesdropping, but an academic battle over who gets to be the creator of the next hash standard. Hash functions are the most commonly used cryptographic primitive, and the most poorly understood. You can think of them as fingerprint functions: They take an arbitrary long data stream and return a fixed length, and effectively unique, string. The security comes from the fact that while it's easy to generate the fingerprint from a file, it's infeasible to go the other way and generate a file given a fingerprint. Originally created to make digital signatures more efficient, hashes are now used to secure the very fundamentals of our information infrastructure: in password logins, secure web connections, encryption key management, virus and malware scanning, and almost every cryptographic protocol in current use. Without cryptographic hash functions, the internet would simply not work. At the same time, there isn't a good theory of hash functions. Unlike encryption algorithms, there are no secret keys involved; this makes it harder to mathematically define exactly what hash functions are. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, is holding a competition to replace the SHA family of hash functions. "SHA" stands for "Secure Hash Algorithm." It was developed by the NSA in 1993 to replace the commercial MD4 and MD5 algorithms, and has been updated several times since then. All the SHA algorithms are very similar, and have been increasingly under attack, so NIST wants to replace them. The competition is important because, unlike other technological standards, committee design — balancing the interests of diverse constituents — isn't conducive to good security. Security is best when it's designed by expert teams and then subjected to public review. And cryptography is best when it's chosen by competition. In 1997, NIST held a competition for a block cipher to replace DES. Fifteen candidates and three-and-a-half years later, Rijndael became the new Advanced Encryption Standard — AES. NIST is doing the same thing for what it's calling SHA-3 (not, for some unexplained reason, the Advanced Hash Standard or AHS). The deadline was October 31, and NIST received 64 submissions. This isn't surprising — I predicted 80 — as most of the 15 AES submitters were professors, whose students at the time have become professors themselves, with their own students. (If NIST does a stream cipher competition in another ten years, they should expect about 256 submissions.) These submissions came from academia, from industry, and from hobbyists. CIO magazine recently interviewed one of the submitters, who is 15. Twenty-eight submissions have been made public by the submitters, and six of those have been broken. NIST is going through all the submissions right now, making sure they are complete and proper. Their goal is to publish all accepted submissions by the end of November, in advance of the First Hash Function Candidate Conference, to be held in Belgium right after the Fast Software Encryption workshop in February. The group expects to quickly make a first cut of algorithms — hopefully to about a dozen — and give the community a year of cryptanalysis before making a second cut in 2010. After another year of cryptanalysis, NIST will choose a winner in 2011. Expect a final standard by 2012. My advice for software developers is to let the process run its course. While it's tempting to use the new cool algorithms in your designs, it's far too soon to trust any of them. This process is likely to result in all sorts of new research results in hash function security, and some real cryptanalytic surprises. Give the community a few years to figure out which ones are good and which aren't. I've previously called this sort of thing a cryptographic demolition derby: The last one left standing wins. But that's only partially true. Certainly all the groups will spend the next few years trying to cryptanalyze each other, but in the end there will be a bunch of unbroken algorithms. NIST will select one based on performance and features. NIST has stated that the goal of this process is not to choose the best standard but to choose a good standard. I think that's smart; in this process, the best is the enemy of the good. While there's no rush to choose a new standard — the SHA-2 algorithms will remain secure for the foreseeable future — we don't want to analyze the candidates forever. Personally, I was part of a group of eight cryptographers that submitted Skein to the competition. A decade ago, writing Twofish and participating in the AES process was the most fun I had ever had in cryptography. These next few years promise to be even more fun. --- Bruce Schneier is chief security technology officer of BT. His new book is Schneier on Security.
Linux Guru Reiser Seeks New Murder Trial
Hans Reiser, the 44-year-old Linux guru who was convicted in April of killing his wife, is seeking a new trial. But Reiser, who killed wife Nina Reiser, waived his right to appeal in exchange for his sentence to be reduced from 25-to-life to 15-to-life. The deal included leading authorities to the hills in Oakland, Calif., where he buried his 31-year-old wife who was divorcing him.
Hans Reiser, the 44-year-old Linux guru who was convicted in April of killing his wife, is seeking a new trial. But Reiser, who killed wife Nina Reiser, waived his right to appeal in exchange for his sentence to be reduced from 25-to-life to 15-to-life. The deal included leading authorities to the hills in Oakland, Calif., where he buried his 31-year-old wife who was divorcing him.
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Al-Qaeda's No. 2 Criticizes Obama: Zawahiri Says Next President Has Proved to Be 'House Negro'
Washington Post Nov 20 2008 2:05PM GMT
Washington Post Nov 20 2008 2:05PM GMT
BBC News | Technology
IBM to build brain-like computers
A collaboration in the US is aiming to create artificial brain circuits that mimic the structure and workings of neurons.
A collaboration in the US is aiming to create artificial brain circuits that mimic the structure and workings of neurons.
Online time 'is good for teens'
Teenagers' use of digital media shows that time online teaches children important skills, a new study shows.
Teenagers' use of digital media shows that time online teaches children important skills, a new study shows.
Google unveils customised search
A tool unveiled by search giant Google will let users tailor search results much more closely to their needs.
A tool unveiled by search giant Google will let users tailor search results much more closely to their needs.
First test for interplanetary net
Nasa has successfully tested a communications system designed to work in deep space modelled on the internet
Nasa has successfully tested a communications system designed to work in deep space modelled on the internet
US warned of China 'cyber-spying'
China has increased computer espionage attacks on US government and business interests, Congress is warned.
China has increased computer espionage attacks on US government and business interests, Congress is warned.
Government 'loses one PC a week'
The Tories demand a Whitehall security review as it is revealed 53 computers disappeared in a year.
The Tories demand a Whitehall security review as it is revealed 53 computers disappeared in a year.
Dell sees quarterly profits slip
US computer maker Dell sees its quarterly profits fall as customers around the world buy fewer computers.
US computer maker Dell sees its quarterly profits fall as customers around the world buy fewer computers.
UK 'ahead in digital TV uptake'
Digital television is spreading faster in Britain than in France, Canada, the US, Germany and Japan, according to research.
Digital television is spreading faster in Britain than in France, Canada, the US, Germany and Japan, according to research.
Privacy forum sets online agenda
A new US privacy group aims to influence the policies of the incoming Obama administration.
A new US privacy group aims to influence the policies of the incoming Obama administration.
Net debut for Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses have launched their new album on MySpace, ahead of its release in shops.
Guns N' Roses have launched their new album on MySpace, ahead of its release in shops.
Cyber-bullying trial opens in US
A US woman goes on trial accused of using a fake online personality to bully a 13-year-old girl who later killed herself.
A US woman goes on trial accused of using a fake online personality to bully a 13-year-old girl who later killed herself.
Microsoft to offer free security
Microsoft has announced it will offer a free anti-virus and security software suite and will discontinue its OneCare service.
Microsoft has announced it will offer a free anti-virus and security software suite and will discontinue its OneCare service.
European online library launches
The British Library is among more than 1,000 cultural groups contributing to a European online library.
The British Library is among more than 1,000 cultural groups contributing to a European online library.
Microsoft ends Yahoo deal talk
Microsoft's boss tells the firm's annual general meeting that it is no longer looking to buy Yahoo.
Microsoft's boss tells the firm's annual general meeting that it is no longer looking to buy Yahoo.
Technology sets sights on piracy
Technology is proving to help some ship owners stay one step ahead of pirates.
Technology is proving to help some ship owners stay one step ahead of pirates.
Biometrics to change security?
How a person's unique features, from their iris to the way they walk, are being used by companies and individuals.
How a person's unique features, from their iris to the way they walk, are being used by companies and individuals.
Who is responsible in the cloud?
Is the widespread reports of insecure networks worrying people too much asks Bill Thompson
Is the widespread reports of insecure networks worrying people too much asks Bill Thompson
Don't have security nightmares
Is the widespread reports of insecure networks worrying people too much asks Bill Thompson
Is the widespread reports of insecure networks worrying people too much asks Bill Thompson
Between a rock and an interface
Regular contributor Bill Thompson looks at what makes a good user interface
Regular contributor Bill Thompson looks at what makes a good user interface
The medium and the message
Regular contributor Bill Thompson looks at what separates TV and the internet.
Regular contributor Bill Thompson looks at what separates TV and the internet.
How not to monitor mobiles
Bill Thompson is worried that the methods we are using to keep kids safe on mobiles have stopped being useful.
Bill Thompson is worried that the methods we are using to keep kids safe on mobiles have stopped being useful.
Code-cracking and computers
Best known for its code-cracking work, Bletchley Park also played a role in the origins of the computer age.
Best known for its code-cracking work, Bletchley Park also played a role in the origins of the computer age.
Accelerating the modern age
A technology that helps the modern world keep running celebrates its 40th anniversary on 5 August.
A technology that helps the modern world keep running celebrates its 40th anniversary on 5 August.
One tonne 'Baby' marks its birth
The sixtieth anniversary of the birth of the first modern computer - known as Baby - is celebrated.
The sixtieth anniversary of the birth of the first modern computer - known as Baby - is celebrated.
The history of UK computing
The UK's role in the early days of the computer revolution have been overlooked, say conservationists.
The UK's role in the early days of the computer revolution have been overlooked, say conservationists.
Alarm raised on teenage hackers
Computer security experts warn that many teenagers are falling into a life of petty cyber crime.
Computer security experts warn that many teenagers are falling into a life of petty cyber crime.
Hackers ready superstore sweep
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.
What makes a cyber criminal?
Misha Glenny meets one of Brazil's many cyber criminals, to find out what makes them go online to steal.
Misha Glenny meets one of Brazil's many cyber criminals, to find out what makes them go online to steal.
Thieves set up data supermarkets
Cyber criminals are setting up web shops that sell stolen data for a knock-down price, say security experts.
Cyber criminals are setting up web shops that sell stolen data for a knock-down price, say security experts.
Q&A: Stay safe online
ID fraud is a growing problem in the UK - here are some tips and tricks to help web users stay safe online.
ID fraud is a growing problem in the UK - here are some tips and tricks to help web users stay safe online.
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RICO Class Action Against RIAA In Missouri
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In Atlantic Recording v. Raleigh, an RIAA case pending in St. Louis, Missouri, the defendant has asserted detailed counterclaims against the RIAA for federal RICO violations, fraud, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, prima facie tort, trespass, and conspiracy. The claims focus on the RIAA's 'driftnet' tactic of suing innocent people, and of demanding extortionate settlements. The RICO 'predicate acts' alleged in the 42-page pleading (PDF) are extortion, mail fraud, and wire fraud. The proposed class includes all people residing in the US 'who were falsely accused... of downloading copyrighted sound recordings owned by the counterclaim Defendants and making them available for distribution or mass distribution over a P2P network and who incurred costs and damages including legal fees in defense of such false claims' or 'whose computers used in interstate commerce and/or communication were accessed... without permission or authority'. This is the second class action of which we are aware against the RIAA and the Big 4 recording companies, the first being the Oregon class action brought by Tanya Andersen, which is presently in the discovery phase."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In Atlantic Recording v. Raleigh, an RIAA case pending in St. Louis, Missouri, the defendant has asserted detailed counterclaims against the RIAA for federal RICO violations, fraud, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, prima facie tort, trespass, and conspiracy. The claims focus on the RIAA's 'driftnet' tactic of suing innocent people, and of demanding extortionate settlements. The RICO 'predicate acts' alleged in the 42-page pleading (PDF) are extortion, mail fraud, and wire fraud. The proposed class includes all people residing in the US 'who were falsely accused... of downloading copyrighted sound recordings owned by the counterclaim Defendants and making them available for distribution or mass distribution over a P2P network and who incurred costs and damages including legal fees in defense of such false claims' or 'whose computers used in interstate commerce and/or communication were accessed... without permission or authority'. This is the second class action of which we are aware against the RIAA and the Big 4 recording companies, the first being the Oregon class action brought by Tanya Andersen, which is presently in the discovery phase."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
A Web App For Real-Time Collaborative Writing
adamengst writes in with good news for anyone who needs to collaborate remotely on a writing or editing project — coding too. It's especially good news for those using Windows and Linux. Mac users have had SubEthaEdit for a few years now. With EtherPad, two or more people can edit a document and see all the edits simultaneously. EtherPad's main differences from SubEthaEdit: it's a Web application that de facto supports many platforms without the need for a central Mac OS X host; and it's free. Here is a comparison of EtherPad and SubEthaEdit.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
adamengst writes in with good news for anyone who needs to collaborate remotely on a writing or editing project — coding too. It's especially good news for those using Windows and Linux. Mac users have had SubEthaEdit for a few years now. With EtherPad, two or more people can edit a document and see all the edits simultaneously. EtherPad's main differences from SubEthaEdit: it's a Web application that de facto supports many platforms without the need for a central Mac OS X host; and it's free. Here is a comparison of EtherPad and SubEthaEdit.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Lori Drew Cyber-Bullying Trial Begins
An anonymous reader writes "The cyber-bullying trial of Lori Drew opened yesterday. She was indicted for conspiring to access and accessing MySpace illegally in order to 'further a tortious act, namely, intentional infliction of emotional distress' (PDF of the indictment). The BBC has background on the case, the NYTimes covers the opening statements, and Wired has today's testimony."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader writes "The cyber-bullying trial of Lori Drew opened yesterday. She was indicted for conspiring to access and accessing MySpace illegally in order to 'further a tortious act, namely, intentional infliction of emotional distress' (PDF of the indictment). The BBC has background on the case, the NYTimes covers the opening statements, and Wired has today's testimony."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
E=mc^2 Verified In Quantum Chromodynamic Calculation
chirishnique and other readers sent in a story in AFP about a heroic supercomputer computation that has verified Einstein's most famous equation at the level of subatomic particles for the first time. "A brainpower consortium led by Laurent Lellouch of France's Centre for Theoretical Physics, using some of the world's mightiest supercomputers, have set down the calculations for estimating the mass of protons and neutrons, the particles at the nucleus of atoms. ... [T]he mass of gluons is zero and the mass of quarks is only five per cent. Where, therefore, is the missing 95 per cent? The answer, according to the study published in the US journal Science on Thursday, comes from the energy from the movements and interactions of quarks and gluons. ... [E]nergy and mass are equivalent, as Einstein proposed in his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905." Update: 11/21 15:50 GMT by KD : New Scientist has a slightly more technical look at the accomplishment.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
chirishnique and other readers sent in a story in AFP about a heroic supercomputer computation that has verified Einstein's most famous equation at the level of subatomic particles for the first time. "A brainpower consortium led by Laurent Lellouch of France's Centre for Theoretical Physics, using some of the world's mightiest supercomputers, have set down the calculations for estimating the mass of protons and neutrons, the particles at the nucleus of atoms. ... [T]he mass of gluons is zero and the mass of quarks is only five per cent. Where, therefore, is the missing 95 per cent? The answer, according to the study published in the US journal Science on Thursday, comes from the energy from the movements and interactions of quarks and gluons. ... [E]nergy and mass are equivalent, as Einstein proposed in his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905." Update: 11/21 15:50 GMT by KD : New Scientist has a slightly more technical look at the accomplishment.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Torvalds's Former Company Transmeta Acquired and Gone
desmondhaynes sends along a posting from the TechWatch blog detailing the sale of Transmeta (most recently discussed here). Linus moved ten time-zones west, from Finland to Santa Clara, CA, to join Transmeta in March 1997, before this community existed. Here is our discussion of the announcement of the Crusoe processor from 2000. Our earliest discussion of Transmeta was the 13th Slashdot story. "Transmeta, once a sparkling startup that set out to beat Intel and AMD in mobile computing, announced that it will be acquired by Novafora. The company's most famous employee, Linux inventor Linus Torvalds, kept the buzz and rumor mill about the company throughout its stealth phase alive and guaranteed a flashy technology announcement in early 2000. Almost nine years later Transmeta's journey is over." Update: 11/21 16:25 GMT by KD : It's not the 13th Slashdot story, only the 13th currently in the database. We lost the first 4 months at one point.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
desmondhaynes sends along a posting from the TechWatch blog detailing the sale of Transmeta (most recently discussed here). Linus moved ten time-zones west, from Finland to Santa Clara, CA, to join Transmeta in March 1997, before this community existed. Here is our discussion of the announcement of the Crusoe processor from 2000. Our earliest discussion of Transmeta was the 13th Slashdot story. "Transmeta, once a sparkling startup that set out to beat Intel and AMD in mobile computing, announced that it will be acquired by Novafora. The company's most famous employee, Linux inventor Linus Torvalds, kept the buzz and rumor mill about the company throughout its stealth phase alive and guaranteed a flashy technology announcement in early 2000. Almost nine years later Transmeta's journey is over." Update: 11/21 16:25 GMT by KD : It's not the 13th Slashdot story, only the 13th currently in the database. We lost the first 4 months at one point.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Obama's Mobile Phone Records Compromised, Shared
Tiger4 writes "Verizon has confirmed that some of its employees have accessed and perhaps shared calling records of President Elect Barack Obama (coverage at CNN, Reuters, AP). Verizon says the people involved have all been put on leave with pay as the investigation proceeds. Some of the employees may have accessed the information for legitimate purposes, but others may have been curiosity seekers and may have even shared the information around. The account was 'only' a phone, not a BlackBerry or similar device, and Verizon believes it was just calling records, not voicemail or email that was compromised. The articles do not mention the similarity to the warrantless wiretapping or hospital records compromises of recent months. But that immediately sprang to mind for me."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Tiger4 writes "Verizon has confirmed that some of its employees have accessed and perhaps shared calling records of President Elect Barack Obama (coverage at CNN, Reuters, AP). Verizon says the people involved have all been put on leave with pay as the investigation proceeds. Some of the employees may have accessed the information for legitimate purposes, but others may have been curiosity seekers and may have even shared the information around. The account was 'only' a phone, not a BlackBerry or similar device, and Verizon believes it was just calling records, not voicemail or email that was compromised. The articles do not mention the similarity to the warrantless wiretapping or hospital records compromises of recent months. But that immediately sprang to mind for me."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
AP Suspends DoD Over Altered US Army Photo
djupedal notes a story up at the BBC about the Associated Press's suspension of the use of Department of Defense photos after a photo of General Ann Dunwoody was found to have been altered (before and after comparison). "The Pentagon has become embroiled in a row after the US Army released a photo of a general to the media which was found to have been digitally altered. Ann Dunwoody was shown in front of the US flag but it later emerged that this background had been added. The Associated Press news agency subsequently suspended the use of US Department of Defense photos. 'For us, there's a zero-tolerance policy of adding or subtracting actual content from an image,' said Santiago Lyon, AP's director of photography."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
djupedal notes a story up at the BBC about the Associated Press's suspension of the use of Department of Defense photos after a photo of General Ann Dunwoody was found to have been altered (before and after comparison). "The Pentagon has become embroiled in a row after the US Army released a photo of a general to the media which was found to have been digitally altered. Ann Dunwoody was shown in front of the US flag but it later emerged that this background had been added. The Associated Press news agency subsequently suspended the use of US Department of Defense photos. 'For us, there's a zero-tolerance policy of adding or subtracting actual content from an image,' said Santiago Lyon, AP's director of photography."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Silverlight On the Way To Linux
Afforess writes "For the past two years Microsoft and Novell have been working on the 'Moonlight' project. It is a runtime library for websites that run Silverlight. It should allow PCs running Linux to view sites that use Siverlight. Betanews reports 'In the next stage of what has turned out to be a more successful project than even its creators envisioned, the public beta of Moonlight — a runtime library for Linux supporting sites that expect Silverlight — is expected within days.' Moonlight 2.0 is already in the works."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Afforess writes "For the past two years Microsoft and Novell have been working on the 'Moonlight' project. It is a runtime library for websites that run Silverlight. It should allow PCs running Linux to view sites that use Siverlight. Betanews reports 'In the next stage of what has turned out to be a more successful project than even its creators envisioned, the public beta of Moonlight — a runtime library for Linux supporting sites that expect Silverlight — is expected within days.' Moonlight 2.0 is already in the works."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Hacks Allowing Disabled Gamers To Play Guitar Hero
angrymilkman writes "Here are two interesting new approaches where researchers modified the popular Guitar Hero game so it can be played by gamers with disabilities. Air Guitar Hero modifies the Guitar Hero controller so someone without limbs can play it by using electrodes attached to the user's residual arm. Blind Hero is a mod for Frets on Fire that uses a haptic glove that can turn visual feedback into haptic feedback, allowing blind gamers to play Guitar Hero songs." There have been a variety of Guitar Hero hacks in the past, including a custom drum pad for playing the guitar part, using the plastic guitar as a real instrument, and rocking out with your bike, but it's nice to see some more serious modifications showing up.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
angrymilkman writes "Here are two interesting new approaches where researchers modified the popular Guitar Hero game so it can be played by gamers with disabilities. Air Guitar Hero modifies the Guitar Hero controller so someone without limbs can play it by using electrodes attached to the user's residual arm. Blind Hero is a mod for Frets on Fire that uses a haptic glove that can turn visual feedback into haptic feedback, allowing blind gamers to play Guitar Hero songs." There have been a variety of Guitar Hero hacks in the past, including a custom drum pad for playing the guitar part, using the plastic guitar as a real instrument, and rocking out with your bike, but it's nice to see some more serious modifications showing up.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Oblong's g-speak Brings "Minority Report" Interface To Life
tracheopterix writes "Oblong Industries, a startup based in LA has unveiled g-speak, an operational version of the notable interface from Minority Report. One of Oblong's founders served as science and technology adviser for the film; the interface was an extension of his doctoral work at the MIT Media Lab. Oblong calls g-speak a 'spatial operating environment' and adds that 'the SOE's combination of gestural i/o, recombinant networking, and real-world pixels brings the first major step in computer interface since 1984.'" The video shown on Oblong's front page is an impressive demo.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
tracheopterix writes "Oblong Industries, a startup based in LA has unveiled g-speak, an operational version of the notable interface from Minority Report. One of Oblong's founders served as science and technology adviser for the film; the interface was an extension of his doctoral work at the MIT Media Lab. Oblong calls g-speak a 'spatial operating environment' and adds that 'the SOE's combination of gestural i/o, recombinant networking, and real-world pixels brings the first major step in computer interface since 1984.'" The video shown on Oblong's front page is an impressive demo.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Massive Martian Glaciers Found
Kozar_The_Malignant writes "Scientific American is reporting that 'data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter point to vast glaciers buried beneath thin layers of crustal debris.' Data from the surface-penetrating radar on MRO revealed that two well-known mid-latitude features are composed of solid water ice. One is about three times the size of the City of Los Angeles. This certainly makes the idea of establishing a station on Mars far more plausible."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Kozar_The_Malignant writes "Scientific American is reporting that 'data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter point to vast glaciers buried beneath thin layers of crustal debris.' Data from the surface-penetrating radar on MRO revealed that two well-known mid-latitude features are composed of solid water ice. One is about three times the size of the City of Los Angeles. This certainly makes the idea of establishing a station on Mars far more plausible."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
How To Find a Mobile Games Publisher?
n01 writes "In the last few months of my spare time, I've been implementing an abstract strategy board game (that I invented) along with a decent AI. The game resembles TwixT in that it is also a connection game, and could be played without the need for a cellphone or computer. The implementation on the Java 2 Mobile Edition platform will soon be finished, with only some minor usability and sound issues to fix. While I enjoyed working on the game (actually more than on my day job as a programmer) I would still like to earn some money from selling the game, so I can work more on such projects in the future. What experiences have Slashdot readers had with selling their applications/games for mobile phones? With which publisher will I have the broadest audience and achieve the highest earnings? Would you try to publish the game both as a mobile game and a traditional board game?"Read more of this story at Slashdot.
n01 writes "In the last few months of my spare time, I've been implementing an abstract strategy board game (that I invented) along with a decent AI. The game resembles TwixT in that it is also a connection game, and could be played without the need for a cellphone or computer. The implementation on the Java 2 Mobile Edition platform will soon be finished, with only some minor usability and sound issues to fix. While I enjoyed working on the game (actually more than on my day job as a programmer) I would still like to earn some money from selling the game, so I can work more on such projects in the future. What experiences have Slashdot readers had with selling their applications/games for mobile phones? With which publisher will I have the broadest audience and achieve the highest earnings? Would you try to publish the game both as a mobile game and a traditional board game?"Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Resurrecting the Mighty Mammoth, Cheaply
somanyrobots writes with an interesting followup in the New York Times to the earlier-reported substantial reconstruction of the woolly mammoth genome: "Scientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million. The same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for DNA." (The Washington Post article linked from the earlier post was much more skeptical, calling such an attempt "still firmly the domain of science fiction." The New York Times article, while describing the process in similar terms, also calls attention to recent advances in sequencing DNA, as well as recoding DNA for cloning.)Read more of this story at Slashdot.
somanyrobots writes with an interesting followup in the New York Times to the earlier-reported substantial reconstruction of the woolly mammoth genome: "Scientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million. The same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for DNA." (The Washington Post article linked from the earlier post was much more skeptical, calling such an attempt "still firmly the domain of science fiction." The New York Times article, while describing the process in similar terms, also calls attention to recent advances in sequencing DNA, as well as recoding DNA for cloning.)Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Unix Dict/grep Solves Left-Side-of-Keyboard Puzzle
destinyland writes "For decades, people have been asking this brain teaser: 'What's the longest word you can type with only the left-hand letters on a keyboard?' The answer is supposed to be 'stewardesses,' but grepping the standard dictionary that ships with Unix reveals a much better answer. There's nearly 2,000 shorter words that can typed with only the left hand — including one word that's even longer. (The article also quotes a failed novel attempt using nothing but words typed on the keyboard's left side.)"Read more of this story at Slashdot.
destinyland writes "For decades, people have been asking this brain teaser: 'What's the longest word you can type with only the left-hand letters on a keyboard?' The answer is supposed to be 'stewardesses,' but grepping the standard dictionary that ships with Unix reveals a much better answer. There's nearly 2,000 shorter words that can typed with only the left hand — including one word that's even longer. (The article also quotes a failed novel attempt using nothing but words typed on the keyboard's left side.)"Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Kaminsky Bug Options Include "Do Nothing," Says IETF
netbuzz writes "Meeting in Minneapolis this week, the Internet engineering community is debating whether to aggressively fashion and apply fixes for the so-called Kaminsky bug in the DNS discovered this summer, or to simply let its threat stand as motivation for all to move with greater speed toward DNSSEC, which is considered the best long-term security solution. Problem with the latter approach is that DNSSEC has been in the works for a decade already, no one is confident it will be universally embraced, and the Kaminsky flaw is causing real problems today.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
netbuzz writes "Meeting in Minneapolis this week, the Internet engineering community is debating whether to aggressively fashion and apply fixes for the so-called Kaminsky bug in the DNS discovered this summer, or to simply let its threat stand as motivation for all to move with greater speed toward DNSSEC, which is considered the best long-term security solution. Problem with the latter approach is that DNSSEC has been in the works for a decade already, no one is confident it will be universally embraced, and the Kaminsky flaw is causing real problems today.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Ars Technica
Inaction on disconnect pleas at root of Aussie ISP lawsuit
Major movie studios aren't happy that Australian ISP iiNet won't disconnect users after receiving evidence that they have been sharing movies over BitTorrent. iiNet doesn't want to play traffic cop, but Australian law does demand it have (and act on) a disconnection policy for copyright infringers.Read More...
Major movie studios aren't happy that Australian ISP iiNet won't disconnect users after receiving evidence that they have been sharing movies over BitTorrent. iiNet doesn't want to play traffic cop, but Australian law does demand it have (and act on) a disconnection policy for copyright infringers.Read More...
Coupons, Inc. drops DMCA lawsuit against coupon hacker
A copyright lawsuit against a man who posted instructions on how to print unlimited coupons online has finally been dropped after he argued that he didn't circumvent anyone's copyright protection in order to produce his "hack."Read More...
A copyright lawsuit against a man who posted instructions on how to print unlimited coupons online has finally been dropped after he argued that he didn't circumvent anyone's copyright protection in order to produce his "hack."Read More...
Lots to like about new iPhone 2.2 software update
Apple released iPhone OS 2.2 last night, the latest update for the iPhone and iPod touch. A number of new features and fixes have arrived across the board, making this a must-have update.Read More...
Apple released iPhone OS 2.2 last night, the latest update for the iPhone and iPod touch. A number of new features and fixes have arrived across the board, making this a must-have update.Read More...
Beer, nachos, and broken street dates: 7-Eleven game sales
7-Eleven is getting into the gaming business by offering a small selection of big-name console and PC games. With broken street dates and easily fenced goods being kept in stores, the business may be more trouble than it's worth. Ars talks about the challenge of selling games in a convenience store. Read More...
7-Eleven is getting into the gaming business by offering a small selection of big-name console and PC games. With broken street dates and easily fenced goods being kept in stores, the business may be more trouble than it's worth. Ars talks about the challenge of selling games in a convenience store. Read More...
Virtual appliances made easy with rBuilder
Software appliance tools maker rPath has added CentOS and Ubuntu support to rBuilder, its web-based software appliance constructor.Read More...
Software appliance tools maker rPath has added CentOS and Ubuntu support to rBuilder, its web-based software appliance constructor.Read More...
Microsoft to aid in war on terror, builds software for DHS
Microsoft has joined forces with GIS vendor ESRI to build a suite of collaboration tools for intelligence gathering and processing. This software will be used by the Department of Homeland Security's fusion centers.Read More...
Microsoft has joined forces with GIS vendor ESRI to build a suite of collaboration tools for intelligence gathering and processing. This software will be used by the Department of Homeland Security's fusion centers.Read More...
Sony gets $18.5M wrist slap for PSP patent infringement
Sony has been found guilty of willfully infringing Agere System's patents; several of the company's devices, including the PSP, use Agere's IP. Call it a victory on principle—Sony won't be losing any sleep over an $18.5 million fine. Read More...
Sony has been found guilty of willfully infringing Agere System's patents; several of the company's devices, including the PSP, use Agere's IP. Call it a victory on principle—Sony won't be losing any sleep over an $18.5 million fine. Read More...
An outlet at every parking meter? Bay Area welcomes plug-ins
Gov. Schwarzenegger and several Bay Area mayors have joined forces with start up Better Place to transform California into an electric vehicle wonderland. Read More...
Gov. Schwarzenegger and several Bay Area mayors have joined forces with start up Better Place to transform California into an electric vehicle wonderland. Read More...
Google CEO touts green energy shock doctrine
Google's CEO calls for a green bailout—and a more participatory, networked government.Read More...
Google's CEO calls for a green bailout—and a more participatory, networked government.Read More...
Study: time kids spend online not wasted after all
A large survey of studies that explore the use of the Internet by children in the second decade of their lives find that, in general, it's acting as just another social tool, while providing them new outlets for learning and creativity.Read More...
A large survey of studies that explore the use of the Internet by children in the second decade of their lives find that, in general, it's acting as just another social tool, while providing them new outlets for learning and creativity.Read More...
HP launches Touchsmart tx2, hopes to flip tablet PC market
HP's newest tablet launched yesterday, with a combination of features and capabilities that might breathe new life into a product segment that's languished in niche status for nearly a decade. With multitouch rapidly ascending the list of desired features on both laptops and cell phones, Tablet PCs might finally have their day in the sun. Read More...
HP's newest tablet launched yesterday, with a combination of features and capabilities that might breathe new life into a product segment that's languished in niche status for nearly a decade. With multitouch rapidly ascending the list of desired features on both laptops and cell phones, Tablet PCs might finally have their day in the sun. Read More...
Roll your own search results with Google's new SearchWiki
Google's SearchWiki—the feature that allows people to annotate, add, delete, and move around search results—will soon be available to all users logged in with a Google account. The company's not sure yet what it plans to actually do with the data, though. Read More...
Google's SearchWiki—the feature that allows people to annotate, add, delete, and move around search results—will soon be available to all users logged in with a Google account. The company's not sure yet what it plans to actually do with the data, though. Read More...
Brightkite aggregates location content for businesses, fun
Location may be the next holy grail for social networking, and plenty of startups are already chasing it. Brightkite, a location-based social network focused on meeting friends and making new ones, has just introduced a new way to show off what everyone is doing in a particular location. Businesses, meet location-based social networks.Read More...
Location may be the next holy grail for social networking, and plenty of startups are already chasing it. Brightkite, a location-based social network focused on meeting friends and making new ones, has just introduced a new way to show off what everyone is doing in a particular location. Businesses, meet location-based social networks.Read More...
High-definition videos sneaking onto YouTube
YouTube is experimenting with high-definition videos on its site, and you can access the capability using a handy URL trick. If YouTube manages to score enough movie and TV content from its owners, then it might eventually give Hulu some competition.Read More...
YouTube is experimenting with high-definition videos on its site, and you can access the capability using a handy URL trick. If YouTube manages to score enough movie and TV content from its owners, then it might eventually give Hulu some competition.Read More...
Yahoo introduces "Glue" visual search
Yahoo Glue combines search results into a single visual page. Ars takes a quick peek at this new service.Read More...
Yahoo Glue combines search results into a single visual page. Ars takes a quick peek at this new service.Read More...
EU opens digital library to public with over 2 million works
The EU has finally launched Europeana, a digital online library that hosts more than 2 million books, maps, recordings, photographs, paintings, and documents from cultural institutions in its 27 member states. The EU hopes to have 8 million more works added by 2010. Read More...
The EU has finally launched Europeana, a digital online library that hosts more than 2 million books, maps, recordings, photographs, paintings, and documents from cultural institutions in its 27 member states. The EU hopes to have 8 million more works added by 2010. Read More...
Google to shut down Lively, its interactive 3D world
Google launched its Lively project in July as a customizable, interactive world that website owners could us to foster a new kind of interactivity with their visitors. Lively never received much adoption for a variety of reasons, though, and Google says it will shut down the service at the end of 2008.Read More...
Google launched its Lively project in July as a customizable, interactive world that website owners could us to foster a new kind of interactivity with their visitors. Lively never received much adoption for a variety of reasons, though, and Google says it will shut down the service at the end of 2008.Read More...
Canadian regulators allow P2P throttling
Canada's telecom regulator won't stop Bell Canada from throttling P2P traffic on its retail and wholesale Internet services, but it will launch an entirely new inquiry into the big questions surrounding traffic management and network neutrality.Read More...
Canada's telecom regulator won't stop Bell Canada from throttling P2P traffic on its retail and wholesale Internet services, but it will launch an entirely new inquiry into the big questions surrounding traffic management and network neutrality.Read More...
Zune Pass subscribers get to keep 10 songs
Microsoft has struck deals with music labels in order to allow Zune Pass subscribers to keep up to 10 songs every month: $15 for up to 10 songs for keeps and unlimited access to the rest of the online music library. Not bad Microsoft, but not perfect.Read More...
Microsoft has struck deals with music labels in order to allow Zune Pass subscribers to keep up to 10 songs every month: $15 for up to 10 songs for keeps and unlimited access to the rest of the online music library. Not bad Microsoft, but not perfect.Read More...
CTA bans violent game ads following GTA IV debacle
The Chicago Transit Authority, following the conclusion of a drawn-out law suit with Take-Two over Grand Theft Auto IV ads, has banned all ads for violent video games from its buses and facilities.Read More...
The Chicago Transit Authority, following the conclusion of a drawn-out law suit with Take-Two over Grand Theft Auto IV ads, has banned all ads for violent video games from its buses and facilities.Read More...