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Submission + - Amsterdam Airport Deploys Fully-Automated Solar-Power Green Lasers Against Birds

Submitted by operator_error
operator_error writes: Seven out of every 10,000 flights near Amsterdam involve a collision with birds, upon either take-off or landing. Therefore bird control is such an issue, as many as 7000 geese have to be gassed annually, as more humane methods have been sought. Now Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has started to deploy solar-powered, fully-automated bird-scanning green lasers, (that will not interfere with aircraft vision).

Comment Re:B-b-but but, Rush says Climate Change is a hoax (Score 1) 145

by operator_error (#48444867) Attached to: Prospects Rise For a 2015 UN Climate Deal, But Likely To Be Weak

It isn't just the right-wing media pundits who are climate deniers. Look no further than the new House Majority Leader from the great coal state of Kentucky, re-elected with money from the Koch Brothers, (who are kinda big on coal). Or the Frackin' State of Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, who disagrees with 800 actual scientists on the matter, since forever. In fact James Inhofe wrote a anti-science book, titled "The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future", and among other things he oversees the Environmental Protection Agency.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Grea...

http://stateimpact.npr.org/okl...

Comment Re:There are still any payphones to replace ? (Score 3, Interesting) 106

by operator_error (#48408953) Attached to: NYC To Replace Most of Its Payphones With Free Gigabit WiFi In 2015

That YouTube video points out each cellphone currently generates $40 - 60K annually in services. Also, it says the most valuable asset that these units offer is the pre-existing infrastructure of power and telecommunication cables. They're not going anywhere, although collecting coins to complete phone calls might not happen much longer.

Comment And the Lumia 900? (Score 1, Troll) 77

What about the once-flagship Nokia Lumia 900? Oh sure, nevermind; that phone will always be stuck at Windows Phone 7.5. As TFA says, only Windows Phone 8 will be upgraded. Pity those fools that trusted Microsoft and their %$#@! Windows Phone when they bought their new, first ever released (non-linux, non-symbian) Nokia Lumia, complete with new and shiny Windows Phone 7.5.

It would be very interesting to learn the stats on those buyers' subsequent smartphone purchases, assuming that was possible.

Comment Re:News=Where to find drugs (Score 1) 86

by operator_error (#48368431) Attached to: After Silk Road 2.0 Shutdown, Rival Dark Net Markets Grow Quickly

Let's say you really wanted to buy drugs on-line because you thought it was a good idea for whatever reason. Do you trust your own ability not to be traced (which is paramount), in addition to the quality of encryption and other feats provided by your dealer. That's a real risk. Plus, how many of these sites are honeypots, (and when/if they get busted, and their encryption isn't up to snuff they might as well be honeypots for purposes of this discussion)? Buyer beware.

Evolution in this case means not only good customer service, but quality encryption as well. Beware of dependencies, no pun intended.

Submission + - Google to lease and refurbish Naval Air Base for space exploration (go.com)

Submitted by Taco Cowboy
Taco Cowboy writes: Google has signed a long-term lease for part of a historic Navy air base, where it plans to renovate three massive hangars and use them for projects involving aviation, space exploration and robotics. The giant Internet company will pay $1.16 billion in rent over 60 years for the property, which also includes a working air field, golf course and other buildings. The 1,000-acre site is part of the former Moffett Field Naval Air Station on the San Francisco Peninsula. Google plans to invest more than $200 million to refurbish the hangars and add other improvements, including a museum or educational facility that will showcase the history of Moffett and Silicon Valley, according to a NASA statement. The agency said a Google subsidiary called Planetary Ventures LLC will use the hangars for "research, development, assembly and testing in the areas of space exploration, aviation, rover/robotics and other emerging technologies"

NASA plans to continue operating its Ames Research Center on the former Navy site. Google will take over operations at the runways and hangars, including a massive structure that was built to house dirigible-style Navy airships in the 1930s. NASA said the deal will save it $6.3 million in annual maintenance and operation costs

Submission + - 'Frozen' songwriters next write about an awkward computer repairman (latimes.com)

Submitted by operator_error
operator_error writes: A new musical from the Academy Award-winning songwriters of "Frozen" will tell the story of a socially awkward computer repairman named Dan who becomes attracted to Lindsay, a t-shirt designer. But his overactive imagination keeps getting in the way of a potential relationship.

"Up Here" will delve into the overactive imagination of its 30-something protagonist, bringing to life the "circus of judgmental, neurotic, ever-changing characters that rule an ordinary man's mind."

Submission + - Gridlock In Action: Retailers Demand New Regulations To Protect Consumers (securityledger.com)

Submitted by chicksdaddy
chicksdaddy writes: How bad is the gridlock in Washington D.C.? So bad that the nation's retailers are calling for federal legislation on cyber security and data protection to protect consumer information — this even though they would bear the brunt of whatever legislation is passed.

The Security Ledger notes (https://securityledger.com/2014/11/retailers-demanding-federal-action-on-data-breach/) that groups representing many of the nation's retailers sent a letter to Congressional leaders last week urging them to pass federal data protection legislation that sets clear rules for businesses serving consumers. The letter, dated November 6, was addressed to the majority and minority party leaders of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and signed by 44 state and national organizations representing retailers, including the National Retail Federation, the National Grocers Association, the National Restaurant Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, among others.

“The recent spate of news stories about data security incidents raises concerns for all American consumers and for the businesses with which they frequently interact,” the letter reads. “A single federal law applying to all breached entities would ensure clear, concise and consistent notices to all affected consumers regardless of where they live or where the breach occurs.”

Retailers would likely bare the brunt of a new federal data protection law. The motivation for pushng for one anyway may be simplicity. Currently, there are 47 different state-based security breach notification laws, as well as laws in the District of Columbia and Guam. (http://www.ncsl.org/research/telecommunications-and-information-technology/security-breach-notification-laws.aspx) There is broad, bi-partisan agreement on the need for a data breach and consumer protection law. However, small differences of opinion on its scope and provisions, exacerbated by political gridlock in Congress since 2010 have combined to stay the federal government’s hand.

Submission + - President Obama Backs Regulation of Broadband as a Utility 1

Submitted by vivIsel
vivIsel writes: In a move that is sure to generate controversy, the President has announced his support for regulation of broadband connections, including cellular broadband, under Title 2 of the Telecommunications Act. Reclassification of broadband in this way would treat it as a utility, like landline telephones, subject providers to new regulations governing access, and would allow the FCC to easily impose net neutrality requirements.

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