By LEE TOLLIVER By Lee Tolliver The Virginian-Pilot VIRGINIA BEACH A group of citizens today will protest Virginia Beach's plan to use parts of the Crab Creek boat ramp facility to off-load dredge spoils dug from inside Lynnhaven Inlet. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Mar. 16--It's the weekend for cabbages, colleens and lots and lots of green up and down the Mississippi Coast. St. Patrick's Day is Monday, and organizations and cities dedicated to remembering the patron saint of Ireland are out in force to celebrate. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Greeley Tribune, Colo. Mar. 16--The Institute of Business and Medical Careers recently honored Greeley-area students at the Feb. 28 awards assembly for the following achievements: Perfect Attendance, President's List with a 4.0 grade-point average, and Dean's List with a 3.45-3.9 gpa. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Jessica Klipa, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Mar. 16--Manatee County's attractive white beaches and tropical weather continue to lure newcomers and snowbirds who want to stake a claim on Florida's turf. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Olympia Meola, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. Mar. 16--State lawmakers have hit the road for home. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
Botanical name Liriodendron tulipifera 'Aureomarginatum' Family Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) Category Shade tree Primary uses Specimen Dimensions 60 or more feet tall by 30 to 50 feet across Culture Full sun; prefers a moist, well-drained, deep soil. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Robert Brodie, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Mar. 16--Those new to the area or people who haven't studied Coast waters will be surprised at the great angling potential that lies just off our southernmost shores. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By MARY REID BARROW By Mary Reid Barrow Correspondent The three hairless, infant flying squirrels brought to wildlife rehabilitator Kim Ellis were so unusual looking that she thought for a moment they were baby bats. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
The death of the regional authority for roads was cheered in many political corners as a repudiation of unaccountable governance. Not so fast, fellas. When the authority in Hampton Roads was scuttled by popular agreement in Richmond - Gov. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Sara Stroud, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Mar. 16--BENICIA -- The recently approved environmental report for the proposed Benicia Business Park is slated for resurrection at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Source: RedOrbit News - Science | 16 Mar 2008 | 2:00 pm
By Andrew Liszewski Check out this fantastic do-it-yourself project from the June 1936 edition of Popular Mechanics. If you need to travel with your dog but hate getting all that pet fur in the back seat,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 1:57 pm
In the early days of blogging there were just a few of us who blogged about VoIP and other such telecom topics. Russell Shaw was one of them, and he was very good at it. A good natured and knowledgeable... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 1:53 pm
Ars Technica brings word that Google Sky, formerly only available as an extension of the Google Earth software, is now accessible through your web browser. The interface of Google Sky is quite similar to that of Google Maps, complete with search and alternate views by spectrum. The story also mentions (and more importantly, links) ten of the more interesting sights. We discussed Google Sky's initial release last year. Quoting: "Visible light only shows us a small picture of the entire universe; non-visible spectra such as ultraviolet (UV), infrared and X-ray hold a whole other world of information. Here is where Google Sky becomes very cool. There are three more sections that highlight fantastic images from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the GALEX Evolution Explorer (UV), and the Spitzer Space Telescope (IR). What makes these very cool is that under each selected body there is a slider that will change the displayed image back and forth between the visible and invisible spectrum."
This February, 1933 issue of Modern Mechanix introduced the miracle of the "bubble-bath," whose waterproof electric motor helped create an "effective reducing process." Link ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 12:40 pm
This February, 1933 issue of Modern Mechanix introduced the miracle of the "bubble-bath," whose waterproof electric motor helped create an "effective reducing process."
Link
Popular Mechanics explores the increasing level of reliance the US military has when it comes to robotic assistance. In the last few years, robot drones have reached an all-new level of sophistication, with several models already deployed in the field. Now, the next generation of robot helpers is nearing the end of its test phase. PM offers up a preview of what we could expect to see in the field within the next five years. "The MULE (Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment) is roughly the size of a Humvee, but it has a trick worthy of monster truck rallies. Each of its six wheels is mounted on an articulated leg, allowing the robot to clamber up obstacles that other cars would simply bump against ... Barely a year old, the prototype is a product of the Army's Unmanned Ground Vehicle program, which began in 2001. It has yet to fire a single bullet or missile, or even be fitted with a weapon. Here at the test track it's loaded down with rucksacks and boxes, two squads' worth of equipment."
China blocked access to YouTube.com on Sunday after dozens of videos of recent protests in Tibet appeared on the popular U.S. video Web site. Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 12:01 pm
By Eileen Ambrose, The Baltimore Sun Mar. 16--I'm too old" is no longer a valid excuse to avoid the Internet. I hear it often. Readers call for information on, say, Social Security benefits, freezing credit reports or tax rebates. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 11:00 am
By Thad Allender, Journal-World, Lawrence, Kan. Mar. 16--One of the newest additions to the always-increasing offerings from Google is steerable panoramic images shot along the streets of American cities, including Lawrence. They call this new feature Google Street View. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 11:00 am
By John Pitcher, Omaha World-Herald, Neb. Mar. 16--William Wolcott's violin studio is about the size of a large broom closet, yet it's often the site of amazing master classes. Virtuoso Itzhak Perlman has held court there. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 11:00 am
Have you ever been a victim of cell phone spying? If you have ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) wants to speak to you. If your significant other or family member has ever plotted to listen in on your... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 10:57 am
WiMAX, a long-range version of Wi-Fi, has been billed as one of the best ways to bring broadband internet connections to rural areas. But the system may have a critical flaw. According to tests by a trade... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 10:53 am
KTF will help golfers to aim their tee-shots better with its phones equipped with a virtual golf caddy program. New Launches reports. "The option allows its users to measure the distance from the tee... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 10:50 am
Raul Castro is easing restrictions on the sale of DVDs and computers in Cuba. According to The Inquirer, the obvious next move is to open up its cellular networks to the local people. It's currently... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 10:30 am
Those supposedly private messages that public officials dash off on their government cellphones to friends and colleagues aren't necessarily private after all, reports USA Today . "Courts, lawyers and... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 9:57 am
A German lorry driver escaped a rap for driving while using a mobile phone - after claiming he was using it as an ear warmer. Ananova reports. Walter Klein, 43, told the court: "I had an earache and it... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 9:52 am
modemac writes "Four major Japanese telecom organizations, which represent 'about 1,000 major and smaller' domestic ISPs, have agreed to forcibly cut the Internet connection of filesharers. They're specifically targeting users of the 'Winny' program, trading copied gaming software and music. The article states that a new set of ISP guidelines will be drawn up on how to cut off users who 'leak illegally copied material onto the Net.'"
In mid 2005 I profiled YouTube for the first time. As Steve Rubel noted, the best way to describe it was “like Flickr, but for videos.” At the time few people saw the massive upside for YouTube,... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 9:22 am
Two spacewalking astronauts have attached 11ft arms to the international space station's huge new robot, preparing the giant machine for its handyman job on the orbital... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:52 am
Two spacewalking astronauts attached 11-foot arms to the international space station's huge new robot on Sunday, preparing the giant machine for its handyman job on the orbital outpost. Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:45 am
By Anonymous Martin Professional A/S was awarded a technology grant from the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation for the development of new LED technologies. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
CHICAGO _ In a way, it's a weird crime. You can almost count on being caught. These days, with Google and other search engines at the fingertips of every sedentary Sherlock Holmes, with industrious bloggers beavering away in their basements, getting by with literary larceny is unlikely. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
By Anonymous More than 1,000,000 skilled immigrant workers-including Indian and Chinese scientists and engineers-and their families are competing for 120,000 permanent U.S. resident visas each year. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
By Edsall, Robert L If you have done online research, you have probably run into a message like this more than once: "Access to this item requires a subscription to the journal." Many medical associations restrict online access to their journals to association members and paid subscribers. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
By Liz Cawan Magazine Editor Here's your chance to win a fabulous champagne night out at the opera. We've teamed up with Ellen Kent and Opera International to give away a pair of tickets to see La Traviata on April 10 at the Edinburgh Playhouse. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
BARACK OBAMA has denounced his pastor, who accused the US of "bringing on" the 9/11 attacks by spreading terrorism. A video of the Rev Jeremiah Wright making the claims was shown on TV. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 8:00 am
A bird first reported spotted on the remote Indonesian island of Togian in 1996 has been declared a newly discovered species, a top taxonomist in the Southeast Asian country... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 7:52 am
For two centuries, mystery has surrounded pioneering British scientist Humphry Davy's perilous wartime journey to France to collect a medal awarded by Napoleon Bonaparte.... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 7:52 am
Rogue archivist Carl Malamud sez, "Public.Resource.Org today released a metric boatload of early federal case law (1880-1923), known as the First Series of the Federal Reporter. The Second and Third series were released earlier this year, as well as the "Federal Cases" which are the precursor the Federal Reporter. We're about 89% of the way towards a complete release of the Courts of Appeals archive."
Link to announcement, Link to archive
(Thanks, Carl!)
From the June, 1934 issue of Modern Mechanix, this squib on a new carny ride that had debuted in LA, that supplied "the thrills of looping."
A car resembling the cockpit of a plane is supported on a hollow steel tube which pivots on a large ball bearing mechanism at the top of its steel frame.
The device is powered by a small electric motor which swings the car back and forth, gradually increasing the arc until enough momentum is developed to carry it over the top.
Finnish MP Tommy Tabermann has proposed a law granting all couples a seven-day "love vacation" to keep their relationships together. I remember meeting up with some Finnish friends at a party a couple years ago and hearing them lament the drop in Finnish population (5.1 million to less than 5 million, if memory serves) -- they explained that the last growth in Finnish population had come nine months after a wintertime TV strike.
According to Tabermann, the purpose of such vacations would be to prevent relations from disintegrating and the spouses from drifting apart.
During the seven days, couples could devote themselves to each other ”both at an erotic and emotional level” and ”find their way back to the path of love in order to find the wellspring of love again”.
Some MPs suspected that the proposal might discriminate against single persons, but others said that a love vacation would be the privilege of all, even the singles and the single parents.
Two top TSA officials -- both decorated by the administration for excellence -- have been in alleged violation of the TSA's rules, operating a private security consultancy while drawing a government salary and holding top secret clearance. The TSA has stonewalled on the issue, refusing to issue a statement or talk to the press. One of the men, Michael Restovich, never showed up at a Congressional hearing into why he seemed to be encouraging TSA checkpoints to cheat on spot-tests of their efficacy at catching bombs -- instead, Restovich was hastily dispatched overseas to be the DHS attaché to the United Kingdom.
Pajamas Media has learned that Michael “Mike” Restovich and fellow TSA senior executive Morris “Mo” McGowan ran a private security consulting company while working as high-ranking officials with TSA. Their company, Group 2M Consulting, LLC, was filed with the office of the secretary of state of Texas on April 15, 2004, a copy of which can be downloaded here:
At the time, Mike Restovich was the federal security director of Dallas Love Field Airport. Morris “Mo” McGowan was the assistant federal security director.
Both men held then, and apparently continue to hold now, top secret security clearances with the U.S. government. Consulting in the private sector simultaneously is in direct conflict with federal policy and specifically prohibited by two statutes of Department of Homeland Security employment contracts, a copy of which was obtained by Pajamas Media (available here, with the relevant paragraphs highlighted in yellow)
Here's part of the Ningyo-Do Bunko database of late 19th/early 20th century watercolour sketches of Japanese toy designs. There are more than 100 albums all told.
Link
(Thanks, Marilyn!)
An anonymous reader writes "A post to the C|Net site covers the numerous benefits of flash drives, such as speed, temperature, and battery consumption. The perk author Michael Kanellos is most fond of? The distinct lack of noise. 'The notebook I'm testing--a Dell Latitude D830 with a 64GB flash hard drive from Samsung--hasn't emitted a sound in three days. Flash drives, which store data in NAND flash memory, don't require motors or spinning platters. Thus, there are no whirring mechanical noises. Compare that with my T42 ThinkPad. It sounds like a guinea pig got trapped inside, particularly during the start-up phase. Vzoooot. Cronk, cronk, cronk. Zip, zip. (Pause.) Gurlagurlagurla...zweeee. '"
A House bill to make college more affordable contains a mandate that campuses develop plans to prevent illegal downloads. Schools say they're a minor part of the problem and unfairly targeted. ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 7:00 am
Cellphone bill larger than you expected? Regulation is urged to increase disclosure and curb added charges. ... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 7:00 am
An anonymous reader writes "The question of global population is a pretty crucial one; how many people will there be in ten years? In forty? The New York Times notes research done by a group called the Worldwatch Institute, research that concludes world population figures are too fluid to make any sort of educated guesses. Childbearing populations combined with severe resource shortages in some parts of the world make pinning down a global headcount unfeasible for ten years from now, let alone out to 2050. The article continues beyond its original borders, as well, with commenters in the field of population studies noting we don't even have a good grasp on how many people were alive in 2007."
The space station's gigantic new robot, Dextre, rose like Frankenstein from its transport bed early Sunday, enabling spacewalking astronauts to attach its 11-foot arms. With a tug from Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 5:22 am
By The Associated Press DeLAND, Fla. (MCT) - A DeLand Middle School seventh-grader was arrested late Friday and warrants were issued for two others who investigators say threatened to shoot as many students as possible and then kill themselves. Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 16 Mar 2008 | 5:00 am
arbitraryaardvark writes "The Seattle Times reports that spammer Robert Soloway has pled guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion, in exchange for the state dropping multiple counts of identify theft. 'The electronic-mail fraud charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. The tax charge is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum one-year sentence. The law also allows for fines against Soloway and his business of up to $625,000 on all charges. Both sides agreed to let U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman determine not just the amount of prison time Soloway, 28, might serve but also the number of his victims, the size of any fine and the amount of restitution he may be ordered to pay.' We've previously discussed his arrest and mention in the New Yorker. The wire fraud felony count is based on selling $500 packages to wannabe spammers."
A federal appeals court dismisses a discrimination suit against craigslist, ruling the online classified ad site is immune from accusations that it violates the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "The Swedish Culture & Justice ministers are preparing to give new power to Swedish courts to let them force ISPs to give up subscriber IPs. The end goal is trying subscribers in court for copyright infringement. As the one-time home of the Pirate Bay, which is now internationally distributed, they face both US pressure and push-back at home. The Swedish arm of the Pirate Party is calling this move a 'sanctioned blackmailing operation', but hopefully the Swedish courts won't allow the IFPI to use as many tricks as the RIAA has in US courts."
Glaciers are shrinking at record rates and many could disappear within decades, the U.N. Environment Program said Sunday. Scientists measuring the health of almost 30 glaciers around... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 16 Mar 2008 | 12:27 am
With Dextre the robot's power problem solved, astronauts ventured outside the international space station on Saturday to put together the bulk of the gigantic walking and working machine. Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 15 Mar 2008 | 11:57 pm
Rockhopper writes "Ars Technica has a combo review/hack guide for the Tux Droid, a programmable penguin. 'Tux is completely programmable at practically every level, and all of the source code of the firmware and software used by the droid is available from Kysoh's version control repository. There are several ways to program the droid's behavior, ranging from modifying the firmware to coding a gadget in Python.' There's a sample Python script that will cause Tux to speak IRC messages out loud when the user's name is mentioned."
An anonymous reader writes "The folks on wikileaks have published a new interesting and shocking report: FBI Electronic Surveillance Needs for Carrier-Grade Voice over Packet (CGVoP) Service. The 88 paged document, which is part of the CALEA Implementation Plan was published in January 2003 and describes in detail all needs for surveillance of phone calls made via data services like the internet. Wikileaks has not published any analysis yet, so maybe some of the techies hanging around this end of the internet are interested in taking that one on."
POINT-AND-CLICK devices have long controlled computer screens. But soon they may also control some household robots that can trundle around living rooms, doing useful jobs. One robot in development at... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNPaperTech | 15 Mar 2008 | 9:36 pm
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Recommended reading for all interested in the RIAA's litigation war against p2p file sharing is the amended class action complaint just filed in Oregon in Andersen v. Atlantic. This landmark 109-page document (pdf) tells both the general story of the RIAA's campaign against ordinary folks, and the specific story of its harassment of Tanya Andersen, and even of her young daughter. The complaint includes federal and state RICO claims, as well as other legal theories, and alleges that "The world's four major recording studios had devised an illegal enterprise intent on maintaining their virtually complete monopoly over the distribution of recorded music." The point has been made by one commentator that the RIAA won't be able to weasel its out of this one by simply withdrawing it; this one, they will have to answer for. If the relief requested in the complaint is granted, the RIAA's entire campaign will be shut down for good."
With Dextre the robot's power problem solved, astronauts geared up for the second spacewalk of their space station mission Saturday to put together almost the entire walking and working... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 15 Mar 2008 | 9:02 pm
Animal rights protestors stripped off in the centre of Montreal Saturday to protest against the resumption of seal-hunting in Canada, as the government accused opponents of the hunt of... Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 15 Mar 2008 | 8:39 pm
Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, has told the US government to "shove" its list of countries that "sponsor terror," daring the US to place Venezuela on the list:
President Hugo Chavez dared the U.S. on Friday to put Venezuela on a list of countries accused of supporting terrorism, calling it one more attempt by Washington to undermine him for political reasons...
U.S. lawmakers including Reps. Connie Mack and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, both Florida Republicans, have called for the State Department to add Venezuela to its list of terror sponsors, which includes North Korea, Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba. They have expressed concerns about what they call Chavez's close ties to Colombia's leftist rebels.
''Let them make that list and shove it in their pocket,'' Chavez said in a televised speech.
''We shouldn't forget for an instant that we're in a battle against North American imperialism,'' Chavez said. ''On this continent, they have us as enemy No. 1.''
The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that rejects immunity for telephone companies that helped the NSA conduct illegal, warrantless wiretaps of the entire nation. Included in the bill is a call for a commission with subpoena power to investigate the spying program.
Bush has promised to veto any version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that fails to immunize the telcoms, but if he does not sign this bill, the ability of law enforcement entities to conduct surveillance will be severely curtailed. The question for Bush now is, "Will you admit that you live in a nation of laws, and that you can't order companies to break them with impunity, or will you undermine the fight against terrorism to keep your buddies at AT&T from facing the music?"
Instead of caving to that rhetoric, the House Democrats doubled down on their original legislation, by including a call for a commission, armed with subpoena power, that would investigate the secret spying. The bill also allows telecoms to defend themselves in court by showing secret documents to federal judge. The Bush administration had blocked them from using classified information in their own defense.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which brought the leading suit against the nation's telecoms, applauded the House's moxie.
"Amnesty proponents have been claiming on the Hill for months that phone companies like AT&T had a good faith belief that the NSA program was legal," EFF senior staff attorney Kevin Bankston said. "Under this bill, the companies could do what they should have been able to do all along: tell that story to a judge."
The White House had no such kind words, saying the bill was "partisan" and would be "dead on arrival" in the Senate.
At Playboy's Rock the Rabbit party at South by Southwest, Moby, French electronica duo Justice, Brooklyn rockers MGMT and the United Kingdom’s The Heavy are brought in to entertain the revelers. Angela Watercutter reports on the musical vibe at the Playboy party.
Lynn sez, "Apparently a replica of a prop in an upcoming Sky One adaptation of the Colour of Magic, containing all the Discworld books and some production drawings. All signed by Terry.
All money raised from the auction will go to the Alzheimer's Research Trust."
A unique opportunity to own a one-off replica of the luggage as featured in Sky One’s adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic. This quirky ‘suitcase’ is filled with the full library of
Discworld novels, plus the production designs used to build the luggage as seen in the film. Both the books and the designs have been signed by Terry Pratchett.
Also included in this money can’t buy piece of memorabilia is a copy of the Discworld 25th anniversary edition of The Colour of Magic which hits book store shelves on the 10th March. This brand spanking new reissue not only features the stars of Sky One’s magical adaptation, Sir David Jason and Sean Astin, on the front cover, but the two actors have also signed the novel.
Power is now flowing to Dextre, the international space station's giant new robot. Astronauts aboard the linked space shuttle-station complex are preparing for a spacewalk to assemble the robot.
Left-leaning Brave New Films launches a viral video campaign that seeks to diminish Fox News' influence on the rest of the political news media. A four-minute video airs footage from Fox News reports that compares Senator Barack Obama to Chairman Mao, and radio commentary that compares him to Hitler.
A lawsuit against the RIAA is filed in Oregon U.S. District Court on behalf of a woman wrongly accused of pilfering music via the Kazaa file-sharing network. The case, revived a month after a federal judge dismissed it, seeks to represent thousands of people the woman's attorneys claim have been wrongly targeted by the record labels' lobbying organization.
This February, 1933 issue of Modern Mechanix introduced the miracle of the "bubble-bath," whose waterproof electric motor helped create an "effective reducing process."
Link
A car resembling the cockpit of a plane is supported on a hollow steel tube which pivots on a large ball bearing mechanism at the top of its steel frame.
