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Education

Submission + - CS Grade Payola

Submitted by
cyocum
cyocum writes: "CNN [cnn.com] is reporting through the AP [ap.org] that a Community College Computer Science lab instructor is accused of a pay-for-grades business. While this is a Community College and not a large University, how much incentive is there when after graduation, not many employers ask for you GPA and the constant fear of your job being outsourced once you have paid for the grade?"
User Journal

Journal Journal: Today in revisionist horseshit news 3

Journal by banky

"How we didn't win the war . . . but the Russians did. Britain and America still insist they defeated the Nazis, in the face of overwhelming evidence that they were minor partners, says Norman Davies"

(Source)
The Internet

Submission + - "Openness" vs. "Interesting"

Submitted by
evilbitz
evilbitz writes: "It seems like social networking is going in some weired directions lately. After I saw openhuman.org last week, I searched for similar websites and found 2500People, it is a community for interesting people alone. Non-Intereseting people are getting rejected by the community, it takes the "openness" idea into another level IMO."

How Bezos Messed With Texas 87

Posted by Zonk from the have-to-stay-up-there-once-he-launches dept.
theodp writes "The WSJ has the behind-the-spaceport story on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' Texas land grab for his Blue Origin space tourism venture. Bezos deputized an attorney (who once handled Amazon SEC filings) to make ranchers offers they couldn't refuse (and can't talk about), acquiring property through corporate entities with monikers including 'James Cook L.P.,' 'Jolliet Holdings,' 'Coronado Ventures,' and 'Cabot Enterprises' — all named for famous explorers and all using the same address, c/o [Star Trek-monikered] Zefram LLC. BTW, FAA temporary flight restrictions are in effect for Blue Origin until Monday ('DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY'). Let's hope it's more successful than Blue Origin's maiden flight."
Biotech

Submission + - The mystery of noisy neurons

Submitted by
Roland Piquepaille
Roland Piquepaille writes: "According to researchers at the University of Rochester, our brain is a Bayesian computer. They've found that 'noisy' signals used by the brain's cortex are not noisy at all. Instead, 'this noise dramatically enhances the brain's processing, enabling us to make decisions in an uncertain world.' And according to the researchers, these chaotic and noisy signals 'may actually be the brain's way of running at optimal performance.' So is really our brain a Bayesian computer? Not everybody in the world of neuroscience is convinced yet, but read more for additional references and pictures."
Media

Submission + - AllofMP3 Days Numbered as US OKs Russia WTO Entry

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Friday the Americans and the Russians came to terms over their trade differences, leading the US to OK Russian entry into the World Trade organization. The pact covers several grievences, one of them focused on Russia's poor track record on intellectual property rights. The poster boy for this issue became Russian music service AllofMP3.com, which was elevated to this dubious position thanks to a British report. The report found that AllofMP3 was the number two service in the UK, behind only Apple, with an impressive 15% of the regional market. With the pact AllofMP3's days are numbered.
Software

Submission + - How VisiCalc Changed Everything

Submitted by Gammu
Gammu writes: If it weren't for VisiCalc, the original computer spreadsheet, the microcomputer revolution wouldn't have taken place, and Apple would almost certainly not have survived. It was the first killer app, an app so popular that people bought the software first and the computer second. VisiCalc and the Apple II were the two products that attracted IBM to the market. Read about the rise and fall of VisiCalc at Low End Mac.

Fastest Waves Ever Photographed 167

Posted by kdawson from the wakefield-at-.9997-C dept.
starfoot writes, "Pictures of the fastest waves ever photographed, traveling at 99.997% of the speed of light, were presented today at the APS Division of Plasma Physics meeting in Philadelphia. The waves were formed in the wake of an intense laser pulse passing through a plasma of electrons and ionized atoms. The waves create enormous electric fields (over 100 billion electron volts/meter), which can be used to rapidly accelerate charged particles to high energies in the span of a few meters. The pictures will help scientists better understand wakefield interactions — an important factor in their quest to replace machines that accelerate particles over the course of miles with compact, tabletop versions. High energy particle accelerators are vital for cutting edge physics and many types of medical therapy, and miniaturizing them would be a boon for both basic physics research and medicine."

Bogus Experts Fight Your Right To Broadband 378

Posted by kdawson from the just-gimme-a-pipe dept.
An anonymous reader writes, "Karl Bode of Broadband Reports takes aim at supposed telecom experts and think tankers who profess to love the 'free market,' but want to ban the country's un-wired towns and cities from offering broadband to their residents. If you didn't know, incumbent providers frequently determine towns and cities unprofitable to serve (fine), but then turn around and lobby for laws that make it illegal to serve themselves (not so fine). They then pay experts to profess their love for a free market and deregulation — unless that regulation helps their bottom line. A simple point: 'Strange how such rabid fans of a free-market wouldn't be interested in allowing market darwinism to play out.'"
Google

Submission + - Google Earth as a Terrorist's Tool

Submitted by
eldavojohn
eldavojohn writes: "Recently, Yemeni experts have accused Google Earth as being a breach of sovereignty of nations. The claim comes after Yemeni officials claim that Marib and Hadhramout oil facility attacks were planned with the aid of Google Earth. Although Google Earth is a neat tool with many applications, can it also be used with ill intentions? Do you think Google Earth violates a country's rights to privacy?"

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