Comment Re:Still "the Future" for me. (Score 1) 275
I forgot to mention Airplane 2
Comment Still "the Future" for me. (Score 2) 275
Its hard to believe that they have mothballed such a big part of my childhood's imagination.
Growing up with James Bond movies like Moon Raker and X-Men comics using the iconic imagery of the Space Shuttles means they will forever be my idea of futuristic space travel.
It makes it harder to let go without a new, better, faster, inspiring vehicle to latch on to. I mean the Soyuz is rock solid, but it doesn't scream "next gen space travel...
Submission + - TSA Warns of Surgically Implanted Bombs
Hugh Pickens writes writes: "The LA Times reports that the US government has warned airlines that terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosives into people in an attempt to circumvent screening procedures and since existing scanners would not necessarily detect bombs implanted under a person’s skin, the new information could lead to additional screening procedures at the nation’s airports. A spokesman for the TSA, Nicholas Kimball, says that passengers flying to the United States are likely to face additional screening measures. "These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport," says Kimball. "Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies." Last year UK intelligence service MI5 uncovered evidence that explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, commonly known as PETN, would be placed in a plastic sachet inside the bomber’s body before the wound was stitched up like a normal operation incision and allowed to heal. It would then be detonated with an injection of triacetone triperoxide, administered with syringes that could be smuggled onto planes disguised as a diabetic’s insulin kit."
Submission + - Jackson Pollock, Physicist? (sciencemag.org)
sciencehabit writes: Known as "Jack the Dripper," Jackson Pollock created his signature paintings of overlapping curls and streaks by dipping a stick or trowel into a container of paint and letting the paint stream onto canvas or paper spread on the floor. His iconic paintings appear to be manifestations of pure creativity. Yet Pollock was a bit of a physicist, exploiting fluid dynamics and the interplay between viscosity and gravity to achieve the effects he wanted, according to an analysis of his work by an art historian, a physicist, and a mathematician.
Submission + - Scientists Play World's Oldest Commercial Record (sciencemag.org)
sciencehabit writes: The scratchy, 12-second audio clip of a woman reciting the first verse of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star doesn't sound like much. But the faint, 123-year-old recording—etched into a warped metal cylinder and brought back to life after decades of silence by a three-dimensional (3D) optical scanning technique—appears to belong to the first record intended for sale to the public. Made for a talking doll briefly sold by phonograph inventor Thomas Edison, the early record is the oldest known American recording of a woman's voice and may be the oldest known record produced at Edison's laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey.
(Sound file in story)
(Sound file in story)
Submission + - iPad Typing Guinness Record By Eduard Saakashvili (geeksuper.com)
autospa writes: "Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's eldest son has broken the world record for the fastest typing on an iPad by typing A-Z in 5.26 seconds, which is 1.05 seconds faster than the previous record set by British Charlie Joseph McDonnel on 27th June 2010."
Submission + - Microsoft: No Botnet Is Indestructible (computerworld.com)
CWmike writes: "No botnet is invulnerable, a Microsoft lawyer involved with the Rustock take-down said Tuesday, countering claims that another botnet was 'practically indestructible.' Richard Boscovich, a senior attorney with Microsoft's Digital Crime Unit said, 'If someone says that a botnet is indestructible, they are not being very creative legally or technically. Nothing is impossible. That's a pretty high standard." Instrumental in the effort that led to the seizure of Rustock's command-and-control servers in March, Boscovich said Microsoft's experience in take-downs of Waledac in early 2010 and of Coreflood and Rustock this year show that any botnet can be exterminated. "To say that it can't be done underestimates the ability of the good guys," Boscovich said. 'People seem to be saying that the bad guys are smarter, better. But the answer to that is 'no.''"
Submission + - Facebook Announces Video Calling, Powered By Skype
An anonymous reader writes: As rumored and anticipated, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg today announced video calling, powered by Skype. The company also revealed other chat improvements, including an option to see the friends you message most and group chat, and confirmed that it now has 750 million users.
Submission + - End of the Line for Smelly Socks (bbc.co.uk)
athe!st writes: A new anti-microbial treatment that can make clothing — including smelly socks — permanently germ-free has been developed by US scientists. In a paper published in the American Chemical Society journal Applied Materials and Interfaces, Dr Jason Locklin and his colleagues state that the treatment kills a wide range of dangerous pathogens, including staph, strep, E. coli, pseudomonas and acetinobacter.
Submission + - Ask Slashdot: Easiest Linux Distro 3
anymooseposter writes: My mom is taking a computer class at the local Community College. she asks:
"Hi So,.............what do you know about Linux. I need to download a Linux OS and try it out for class. The assignment is to use an OS different from what you normally use. Well, since I use Windows and OS X, the assignment suggests Linux. But, my question is, what is the easiest version based on Linux for me to put on CD and try? I saw several on the web. Any thoughts off the top of your head."
Her only computers are a new iMac, and a recent HP laptop. What Linux Disto would be easiest to set up without having to resort to dual booting and/or driver issues?
"Hi So,.............what do you know about Linux. I need to download a Linux OS and try it out for class. The assignment is to use an OS different from what you normally use. Well, since I use Windows and OS X, the assignment suggests Linux. But, my question is, what is the easiest version based on Linux for me to put on CD and try? I saw several on the web. Any thoughts off the top of your head."
Her only computers are a new iMac, and a recent HP laptop. What Linux Disto would be easiest to set up without having to resort to dual booting and/or driver issues?
Comment Best Unsubscribe Experience Ever! (Score 1) 90
Not kidding here. If any of you slashdotters are subscribed to groupon ; you have to do this - even if you sign up again later. It's worth it. Unsubscribe completely.
What you will see is a VERY clever "We're sorry to see you go..." screen with an awesome Easter egg embedded in there. They may have shot themselves in the foot with this. I want to unsubscribe again and again.
Comment Re:...opaque language is the norm. (Score 1) 374
Except that in this case it was anything but. That's the trouble - stock options that give the company the right to revoke them (which is what buying them back at the issuing price means) are 100%, absolutely, completely worthless. This is akin to "selling oceanfront real estate in Arizona" - its a deceptive trade practice at best, and quite possibly illegal (we'll have to see after the lawyers finish fighting over it). The company got a lot of value in the form of retaining key employees because of this - there are often protections against such a one-sided contract, but IANAL.
FTA - apparently the stocks granted to Mr. Lee, formerly of Skype, the stocks may also be taxable! Meaning he will actually be financially liable for the buyback price Skype is covering. I understand that YANAL but if someone on here is, please explain to me how a scam like this is even remotely legal?
Submission + - PBS and Writerspace Hacked Again (thehackernews.com)
Endoflow2010 writes: Looks like PBS and Writerspace have been hacked again. The 'hacker' taking credit for the hack goes by the handle Warv0x and is also know by Kaihoe. The previous PSB.org hack was claimed by Lulzsec to be a zero day exploit for MoveableType . This time Warv0x (AKA Kaihoe) expose the whole Database of PBS.org using and SQL injection attack.
According to Warv0x (AKA Kaihoe) "This wasn't done for fame or fun,just proving LulzSec aren't as good as they think they are. I haven't rooted the box or been up to crack the hashes, I'm just proving that most of their attacks are very lame and basic (i'm pretty sure and automated) SQL injections and further privilege escalation, which is just matter of time." He also said "Support for WebNinjas & Jester, good job at exposing them. Sad to mention, but I really agree with th3j35t3r & WebNinjas — LulzSec are just a bunch of script kiddies..."
According to Warv0x (AKA Kaihoe) "This wasn't done for fame or fun,just proving LulzSec aren't as good as they think they are. I haven't rooted the box or been up to crack the hashes, I'm just proving that most of their attacks are very lame and basic (i'm pretty sure and automated) SQL injections and further privilege escalation, which is just matter of time." He also said "Support for WebNinjas & Jester, good job at exposing them. Sad to mention, but I really agree with th3j35t3r & WebNinjas — LulzSec are just a bunch of script kiddies..."
Submission + - MI6 attacks al-Qaeda in 'Operation Cupcake' (telegraph.co.uk)
Pigskin-Referee writes: British intelligence has hacked into an al-Qaeda online magazine and replaced bomb-making instructions with a recipe for cupcakes.
The cyber-warfare operation was launched by MI6 and GCHQ in an attempt to disrupt efforts by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular to recruit “lone-wolf” terrorists with a new English-language magazine, the Daily Telegraph understands.
When followers tried to download the 67-page colour magazine, instead of instructions about how to “Make a bomb in the Kitchen of your Mom” by “The AQ Chef” they were greeted with garbled computer code.
The code, which had been inserted into the original magazine by the British intelligence hackers, was actually a web page of recipes for “The Best Cupcakes in America” published by the Ellen DeGeneres chat show.
Written by Dulcy Israel and produced by Main Street Cupcakes in Hudson, Ohio, it said “the little cupcake is big again” adding: “Self-contained and satisfying, it summons memories of childhood even as it's updated for today’s sweet-toothed hipsters.”
It included a recipe for the Mojito Cupcake – “made of white rum cake and draped in vanilla buttercream”- and the Rocky Road Cupcake – “warning: sugar rush ahead!”
The cyber-warfare operation was launched by MI6 and GCHQ in an attempt to disrupt efforts by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular to recruit “lone-wolf” terrorists with a new English-language magazine, the Daily Telegraph understands.
When followers tried to download the 67-page colour magazine, instead of instructions about how to “Make a bomb in the Kitchen of your Mom” by “The AQ Chef” they were greeted with garbled computer code.
The code, which had been inserted into the original magazine by the British intelligence hackers, was actually a web page of recipes for “The Best Cupcakes in America” published by the Ellen DeGeneres chat show.
Written by Dulcy Israel and produced by Main Street Cupcakes in Hudson, Ohio, it said “the little cupcake is big again” adding: “Self-contained and satisfying, it summons memories of childhood even as it's updated for today’s sweet-toothed hipsters.”
It included a recipe for the Mojito Cupcake – “made of white rum cake and draped in vanilla buttercream”- and the Rocky Road Cupcake – “warning: sugar rush ahead!”
Submission + - GoDaddy for Sale (foxnews.com) 1
An anonymous reader writes: After the owner said he would never sell it looks like 2 Billion Dollars or 2.5 Billion dollars makes anyone want to get out of the business.
