17594970
submission
Master Moose writes:
Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao (who won his PPV bout with Antonio Margarito last weekend) has just been slapped with a $10 million lawsuit by RBM Group International in L.A. County Superior Court. Apparently Pacquiao signed a contract in 2009 to record 12 songs for the label but never fulfilled his obligations, and kept a $40K advance they gave him on recording. BRM claims they lost $200K out of pocket and $10 million in revenues they would have received from the album.
To me I only see $40k as being lost (with maybe a few man hours of work) but $10 Million?
15825506
submission
Master Moose writes:
New Zealand researchers have cracked what seems like modern-day alchemy, transforming one kiwifruit into 100 plastic spoons and the city's sewage into electricity.
Researcher Martin Markotsis said the secret was a chemical process that made kiwifruit melt like plastic in standard factory equipment.
Small batches of prototypes have been made, mixing different amounts of kiwifruit, corn and other secret, but organic, additives.
The project is now picking the best mixture — with the right strength and flexibility — and ramping up production to a commercial scale. One piece of fruit, about 90g, can make more than 100 of utensils.
The global market for bioplastics is expected to grow 20-fold in a decade, with overseas rivals building mobile phones from cashew nut shells and corn.
12126182
submission
Master Moose writes:
Lore has it that elephants are afraid of mice, (and Mythbusters proved it) but actual scientists have now discovered that elephants are truly afraid of bees — and that the pachyderms even sound an alarm when they encounter them.
The researchers hope this discovery can help save farmers' crops from elephants.
And they hope it will save elephants too.
"It's impossible to cover Africa in electric fences,"
Farmers could make "bee fences" by stringing up hives on poles around 10m apart, King said. A strong wire connecting the poles would cause them to swing when an elephant walks into it, disturbing the bees. The swarm bothers elephants so much that they flee, emitting low rumblings inaudible to the human ear that warn other elephants nearby.
11019630
submission
Master Moose writes:
is the BSOD about to become the Windscreen of Death?
Ford and Microsoft have signed a deal to work together on a computerized link between houses, electric cars and utility companies to help manage energy use.
The system would start with the all-electric Ford Focus compact car that is scheduled to go on sale late in 2011. Called "Microsoft Hohm," it will allow utilities to vary electric rates based on the time of day.
"We're doing a lot to bring vehicles to market, but there has to be a lot of other work done from both a consumer and utility perspective to make this viable and affordable," Kuzak said Wednesday in an interview.
The system eventually will lead to homeowners being able to use their cars to power home appliances and cut costs at peak electricity use times, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said Wednesday.
9448620
submission
Master Moose writes:
The NZ herald is reporting the misuse of Bodyscans at Terminals in the UK.
British transport minister Lord Adonis told the BBC last week that images captured by scanners would be destroyed immediately, posing no risk to travellers' privacy. It is understood that the scanners are currently in use at Heathrow and Manchester Airports
Indian film star Shah Rukh Khan said in an interview that upon exiting a scanning device, he was approached by two female security officers and asked to autograph.
printed copies of his body scan.
How many other collectible BodyScans will there be? How secure and private are these if Hard Copies are so quick and easy to create?
9437414
submission
Master Moose writes:
An Australian man now owes Nintendo $1.5AUD after uploading Mario Bros for Wii before its official release.
Nintendo applied and was granted a search order by the Federal Court forcing Burt to disclose the whereabouts of all his computers, disks and electronic storage devices in November.
He was also ordered to allow access, including passwords, to his social networking sites, email accounts and websites.
Nintendo said in a statement yesterday that it was able to trace Burt by using sophisticated technological forensics after the game was uploaded to the internet.
I am not arguing the legality what he did, but If they had such sophisticated methods of tracing Burt and his illegal activities, why did he have to give up access to his social networking sites and email accounts?
7767842
submission
Master Moose writes:
So it would appear that Microsoft is funding an Anti-Google lobby group because they feel that Google's practices are anti-competitive and they are looking to grow in the Asia-Pacific region
Is this vindication for the Microsoft haters? Is Google that bad? Is there a lesser of the two evils?
5532295
submission
Master Moose writes:
In light of recent ruling regarding back-up software, I began thinking back to my first computing experiences back in the late 80's.
I remember being taught how important it was to make back up disks and can even remember commercial software manuals reminding me to do so.
(e.g http://www.lemonamiga.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemonamiga.com/games/docs.php%3Fid%3D157 )
My question is when did the thinking around this change? When did making a fair-use backup move from being taught as prudent and necessary to being something only performed by evil people?
5227529
submission
Master Moose writes:
An Internet filtering system that locks out known child porn sites, instigated by the government "by stealth" which then re-directs users to government sites.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10584982
Some will see the technology as good. Others will wonder:
"Why be so secretive about this?"
"How long is it going to take before other internet baddies are filtered out this way?"
"How long before the recording/movie industry gets in the governments ear?"
Would you be happy if your ISP signed up for this?
4831087
submission
Master Moose writes:
Help, I need to know.
Betamax — the format that lost yet made a major impact died many years ago. I have been searching for information for a quick piece I am writing up.
Hopefully there are some Betaphiles around here.
I am wanting to know or be pointed in the right direction to find out:
"What was the last commercial Hollywood Movie (both theatrical and Direct to Video) released on the Betamax format?"
Thanks
