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Programming

Submission + - Blades of Exile (Fantasy RPG) Source Code Released

Submitted by
spidweb
spidweb writes: "Spiderweb Software has released the source code to its fairly successful fantasy RPG from the previous century, Blades of Exile. Blades of Exile is a powerful adventure creation kit. The game came with three full length scenarios, and many more were developed with its editor. (The editor source code is also available.) Aspiring game developers who want a framework for their own titles or who want to see how a profitable game can be put together on a low budget might be interested. The code and data files can be downloaded at

http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/blades/opensource .html"
Enlightenment

Submission + - The oddest iPod accessory ever

Submitted by
Gary
Gary writes: "Could the iRosary be the oddest iPod accessory ever? The idea is to help young, hip Catholics learn the prayers. It works by using the iPod's famous white earphones cable which comes with a single bead that can be shifted. The change in position of the bead creates a measurable pulse that can be translated to the sound of traditional beads on a string. Users can choose from "Infidel", "Believer" and "Shepherd" settings — playing back the matching MP3s as the bead is moved."
Security

Submission + - Facebook wants to collect users' email passwords

Submitted by ScottSCY
ScottSCY writes: It seems that Facebook has added a new feature that allows users to find friends in their email address books who have accounts on Facebook. The only thing you have to do is provide them your email address (they take gmail, yahoo, msn, aol, and more) and your email account password. They will then retrieve your address book. Clearly this is a huge security issue, but don't worry, Facebook says "Facebook won't email anyone without your permission, and we won't store your email or password." Well that's a relief.
Patents

Submission + - USPTO Calls BS on 1-Click Patent Claims

Submitted by
theodp
theodp writes: "Seeking to extend the reach of CEO Jeff Bezos' 1-Click patent, Amazon ran into a very unimpressed USPTO examiner who rejected all 75 of the e-tailer's new claims, repeatedly invoking terms like 'obvious' and 'old and well known' to dismiss the purported inventions. Amazon has taken the unusual step of requesting an Oral Appeal to plead its case and also canceled and refiled its 1-Click claims in a continuation application, not unlike a popular stalling tactic employed by skilled lawyers. As it touted the novelty of 1-Click to Congress (PDF) last fall, Amazon didn't mention the examiner's rejection as it insisted that 'still no [1-Click] prior art has surfaced' to a Committee whose members included Rick Boucher (VA) and Howard Berman (CA), recipients of campaign contributions from a PAC funded by Amazon execs and their families."
NASA

Submission + - Atlantis cleared for return to pad with repaired f

Submitted by
mikesd81
mikesd81 writes: "Spaceflight Now reports that the shuttle Atlantis' hail-damaged external fuel tank has been repaired, NASA officials said today, clearing the shuttle for rollout to launch pad 39A next week. Blastoff on a long-delayed space station assembly mission is targeted for June 8.

Program manager Wayne Hale says he's "really pleased to say we have effectively completed the repairs on the external tank." Rollout to the launch pad is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16. But launch Director Mike Leinbach said if work to tear down external tank scaffolding and other preparations go well, the trip to the pad could move up one day to Tuesday.

During a freak storm February 26th, hail blasted the shuttle's external tank damaging the foam insulation. Most of the damage was restricted to the upper liquid oxygen section of Atlantis' tank. However, the hail damage to the foam on the top of the tank was severe and Atlantis had to be hauled off the pad and moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. To make sure the required repairs could stand up to the aerodynamic and thermal rigors of launch, engineers re-assessed the flight performance of past PDL repairs, simulated damage sites using steel balls to impart hail-like crush forces and then subjected repairs to a hot-gas wind tunnel at Marshall. Launch is targeted for 7:37:56 p.m. on June 8."

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