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Comment Re:Hold on (Score 1) 297

I run a top rated website (2m+ visitors a month) that runs Omniture and I'm jealous of these stats, and the internet averages that Omniture claims. They claim IE internet average is still 61.2%, ff 20.3%, safari 6.9% and chrome 6.9%. On our site though we are still seeing 79.8% IE including 6.2% ie6. I pray for the day when IE6 numbers are down to a level that we don't have to care what our site looks like for them.

PC Games (Games)

King's Quest Fan Project The Silver Lining Is Back 61

LoTonah writes "After eight years of development and a Cease & Desist from Vivendi, King's Quest fan project The Silver Lining is back in action. From the website: 'We are extremely happy to announce that our project, The Silver Lining, will definitely see the light of day! In a wonderful turn of events, Activision reached out to the Phoenix Online team a few months ago with a desire to revisit their decision regarding The Silver Lining. After negotiations, the C&D has been officially rescinded, and Phoenix Online has been granted a non-commercial license to release The Silver Lining! Our team is ecstatic about this, and as hard as we've worked for eight years, it's the tireless belief and support of you, our fans, that has made this possible.' The first episode of the project is due to be released on July 10."
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How Sperm Whales Offset Their Carbon Footprint 150

Boy Wunda writes "Scientists at Flinders University in South Australia found that in an awesome example of design by Mother Nature, Southern Ocean sperm whales offset their carbon footprint by simply defecating – an action that releases tons of iron a year and stimulates the growth of phytoplankton which absorb and trap carbon dioxide. If only we humans could say the same for our poop, which really doesn't do much more than just sit there." I'm going to do my part by buying some iron supplements and a can of chili, and heading off toward the ocean.
Censorship

Venezuela Bans Hostile Videogames and Toys 335

An anonymous reader writes "In an effort to 'help improve child education and prevent misconduct,' the Venezuelan government began enforcing a law on March 3rd banning war videogames and toys, imposing a fine and 2.5 years in prison on the production, distribution, sale, hiring and use of video games and toys inciting violent behavior. Alberto Federico Ravell, former director of opposing news network Globovision, has already come on twitter denouncing the authorities for seizing imported Gameboy, Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles, due to considering them violent."
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Scientists Discover Booze That Won't Give You a Hangover 334

Kwang-il Kwon and Hye Gwang Jeong of Chungnam National University have discovered that drinking alcohol with oxygen bubbles added leads to fewer hangovers and a shorter sobering up time. People drinking the bubbly booze sobered up 20-30 minutes faster and had less severe and fewer hangovers than people who drank the non-fizzy stuff. Kwon said: "The oxygen-enriched alcohol beverage reduces plasma alcohol concentrations faster than a normal dissolved-oxygen alcohol beverage does. This could provide both clinical and real-life significance. The oxygen-enriched alcohol beverage would allow individuals to become sober faster, and reduce the side effects of acetaldehyde without a significant difference in alcohol's effects. Furthermore, the reduced time to a lower BAC may reduce alcohol-related accidents."

Comment Re:Of course (Score 1) 406

Like our current job creation which is driven almost completely by government deficit spending, I'm not sure increasing search engine market share really counts if you are losing money on every search.

Thats a false equality. Much of the government stimulus spending each $1 spent on spending helped boost GDP by up to $1.73 (except for tax cuts to appease the right - which didnt really work as they don't seem very appeased). http://policyinpractice.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bang-for-the-buck.jpg $1:$1.73 is much better than $2:$1 with Bing ... if that is in fact the actual numbers. I wouldnt be surprised if it is more like $5:1 for bing.

Databases

First MySQL 5.5 Beta Released 95

joabj writes "While MySQL is the subject of much high-profile wrangling between the EU and Oracle (and the MySQL creator himself), the MySQL developers have been quietly moving the widely-used database software forward. The new beta version of MySQL, the first publicly available, features such improvements as near-asynchronous replication and more options for partitioning. A new release model has been enacted as well, bequeathing this version the title of 'MySQL Server 5.5.0-m2.' Downloads here."

Comment Balloons for Peace (Score 1) 252

So my girlfriend and I had the idea that people would really get motivated to help if they new it was for a greater cause. $40k divided 10 or 11 ways only goes so far. Think however how much impact $40k, the publicity of winning the DARPA challenge, and the power of social networks can go in terms of helping various peace initiatives in the world. Being a /. nerd I quickly set up a site and threw up a forum so people could post their ideas to help this project out. Any help any other /.ers could give in spreading the word for this good cause would be appreciated.

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