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Comment removing sticker residue (Score 1) 597

by solune (#33456294) Attached to: AMD Hates Laptop Stickers As Much As You Do

Here's a great "susie homemaker" idea for removing sticker residues: peanut butter. Between the oil and soft abrasion of the peanuts, it works great!

As for that "big apple" problem, I cover my undesirable deco-plates with...wait for it....

Stickers!

Usually bigger, automotive (bumper) stickers. I have a nice "Steal your face" VW over my eee logo, and on my bigger laptop used one I got from a HOPE convention.

Security

Submission + - Recipe for disaster-no security, no e-mail

Submitted by
solune
solune writes: "Hello, slashdotters,

Perhaps you can help me with this issue I'm having with my image hosting company.

I've been struggling with starting my own photography company, when my partner — my brother — decided we should go with ImageQuix, a hosting company ostensibly for professional photographers.

One of the nice things about this site (the ONLY nice thing, in my estimation) is the ability to design a "custom" site using their tools. Like many of the hosting sites that have their own tools there are limitations, which I've run up against, and, for the most part, have managed to work around.

The first was the lack of support for PNG images. This, to me, is patently absurd. My original design would have utilized the transparent layer of an entirely different image than the one I'm currently using, to integrate with the provided template. After many lost hours, I finally got the answer I was looking for: PNG not supported.

So, in the interest of getting it set up, with an eye to turning a profit, I redesigned around that limitation. (Here is where I should have gotten the clue they didn't research their market AT ALL — let alone, security.)

Next — and here is my first question — came e-mail. Originally, I was to send SMTP, WITHOUT A PASSWORD/LOGIN pair. They've since "fixed" it so I do need that pair, but they insist I send through port 25, the very port that is blocked by Verizon, who is currently hosting my production machine. Normally, I run on and RCN network, and they gave me the info to sent via their network, but since I'm house-sitting for my friend, i'm tethered to FIOS.

Okay, no problem there — I can get online, and access my gmail accounts just fine (as it should be). Even my other e-mail addresses, through another host, can be used, with an SSL connection to send, from any network, even free wifi. Great, when i'm in the field...except....

I can't send e-mail from my photography business account! This is quite embarrassing, as I have clients waiting to hear from me, with a return address that indicates I am who they think I am. Now, I know I can change my reply to fields, etc, but the point is I don't feel I should have to play those games to use the properties the way I intended.

There is also the concern that my prospective client might have to whitelist my specific e-mail address, so the routing information might put me out.

So my first question is for a temporary fix: until I can switch hosts, is there a way around the port 25 block wherein I can use their mail servers to send my mail, but maintain my presence? A proxy, perhaps? SOMETHING?

It should be noted, It's very difficult to contact my friend right now as she's touring China(!) for her user information for FIOS, otherwise I would have just set myself up that way.

The next problem I encountered is much more serious: They want me to run their image uploading software in administrator mode! To ad insult to injury, they insist I turn OFF protected mode in Internet explorer, which tells me their software is tethered to that browser I abhor so much. (To put my perspective in context, I dropped a fair amount of money in supporting Firefox 1.0, with the NYTimes ad buy (and poster), t-shirt, and mug!)

Frankly, I won't do it, and it's jammed me up incredibly. I really don't like the idea of putting my machine at risk because they can't write software that takes advantage of the improved security of Vista (stop groaning, it's been working fine for me!). I'm ready to cut them loose.

Anyway, that leads me to my next question, directed to any professional photographers who might have an answer for me: Who do you recommend for image hosting your pages? What I need to do is:

1) Design most of the pages myself. My current page isn't as beautiful as I'd like, but it works. It's got some flash (not my choice), a simple calender for clients, galleries, and a method to upload to a site for online proofing and ordering. The backround image templates are actually quite nice, and works well with what I've got. Less time designing, more time with the pictures and clients.

Also, at this point in time, I can't afford a web developer to design a page for me.

2) Secure access to e-mail: I should be able to send and receive from ANYWHERE I decide to do business. I DON'T want to have to use gmail or some such, as I think it diminishes my brand name. "solunephoto@gmail.com", while serviceable, doesn't make me feel like i'm running a strong company. I think it comes off as a geocities type of gambit.

Also, I shouldn't have to get specific information for any random network I may be attached to in order to send e-mail.

3) A driveby gallery separate from a proofing gallery. Some clients may not want their wedding for public perusal, yet I'll need a separate gallery for prospective clients to see my work.

4) Security: I WILL NOT use software that requires me to run it in Administrator mode. I don't need admin privileges to upload to FLICKR, I shouldn't need it for my professional stuff either. Ideally, I don't want to have to use Explorer either.

5) be usable in Vista. I'm not ready to shell out for Win7, and vista has worked well for me — why rock that boat?

6) finally: work with Lightroom 3. Don't tell me to use other software, it's not happening. Money is tight, but productivity is tighter. It doesn't HAVE to work with LR3, as long as I can upload jpegs OR tiffs from my computer without having to get into admin mode.

Thanks for your help!"
Power

Traffic-Flow Algorithm Can Reduce Fuel Consumption 328

Posted by timothy from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.
thecarchik writes "New projects from German automakers Audi and BMW promise to ease congestion simply by looking at traffic signals and driving style, in an effort to smooth the flow of traffic. Through a test course in Munich, vehicles were able to post phenomenal fuel efficiency gains simply by adjusting the timing of traffic lights depending on traffic volume — to whatever speed provides a so-called 'green wave' of four or more synchronized signals."
Space

Supermassive Black Hole Is Thrown Out of Galaxy 167

Posted by samzenpus from the moving-to-better-quarters dept.
DarkKnightRadick writes "An undergrad student at the University of Utrecht, Marianne Heida, has found evidence of a supermassive black hole being tossed out of its galaxy. According to the article, the black hole — which has a mass equivalent to one billion suns — is possibly the culmination of two galaxies merging (or colliding, depending on how you like to look at it) and their black holes merging, creating one supermassive beast. The black hole was found using the Chandra Source Catalog (from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory). The direction of the expulsion is also possibly indicative of the direction of rotation of the two black holes as they circled each other before merging."
Biotech

Researchers Create Logic Circuits From DNA 94

Posted by samzenpus from the growing-a-faster-computer dept.
separsons writes "Researchers at Duke University recently used DNA to craft tiny chips used in computers and electronic circuits. By mixing DNA snippets with other molecules and exposing them to light, researchers created self-assembling, DNA-based logic circuits. Once perfected the tech could serve as an endlessly abundant, cheap alternative to silicon semiconductors. Chris Dwyer, lead researcher on the project, says that one grad student using DNA to make self-assembling circuits could produce more logic circuits in one day than the global silicon chip industry can create in an entire month!"

Comment Oh, is THAT what they mean by PHB! (Score 1) 1019

by solune (#30414466) Attached to: Music While Programming?

I think it's pretty obvious: your boss has never worked a solid day in his life.

I'm not a programmer, I do ceramic tile during the day, photography in my off hours. Since I shoot raw, many evenings are filled with post-processing. I'll tell ya, I'd DIE, without any music while working.

These two things, I think, are very similar to what you do: a little bit creative, a little bit technical, coming together to make a unique whole. Music probably gives your thoughts rhythm and a creative spark to solve problems that absolute silence, or distracting background banter in the office would quench.

Without music, you probably feel more...autonomoton than productive employee.

In fact, in every job site I've worked, with few exceptions, others on the site need something to listen to. Without it, work is drudgery.

I think your boss is just jealous because you're productive, and he (she?) doesn't know what they're supposed to do. :)
Earth

Climatic Research Unit Hacked, Files Leaked 882

Posted by kdawson from the playing-dirty dept.
huckamania was one of many readers to write with the news that the University of East Anglia's Hadley Climatic Research Unit was hacked, and internal documents released. Some discussion and analysis of the leaked items can be found at Watts Up With That. The CRU has confirmed that a breach occurred, but not that all 61 MB of released material is genuine. Some of the emails would seem to raise concerns about the science as practiced — or at least beg an explanation. From the Watts Up link: "[The CRU] is widely recognized as one of the world's leading institutions concerned with the study of natural and anthropogenic climate change. Consisting of a staff of around thirty research scientists and students, the Unit has developed a number of the data sets widely used in climate research, including the global temperature record used to monitor the state of the climate system, as well as statistical software packages and climate models. An unknown person put postings on some climate skeptic websites that advertised an FTP file on a Russian FTP server. Here is the message that was placed on the Air Vent today: 'We feel that climate science is, in the current situation, too important to be kept under wraps. We hereby release a random selection of correspondence, code, and documents.' The file was large, about 61 megabytes, containing hundreds of files. It contained data, code, and emails apparently from the CRU. If proved legitimate, these bombshells could spell trouble for the AGW crowd." Reader brandaman supplied the link to the archive of pilfered data. Reader aretae characterized the emails as revealing "...lots of intrigue, data manipulation, attempting to shut out opposing points of view out of scientific journals. Almost makes you think it's a religion. Anyone surprised?" And reader bugnuts adds, for context: "These emails are certainly taken out of context, whether they are legitimate or fraudulent, which adds to the confusion."
Internet Explorer

Microsoft Aims To Close Performance Gap With Internet Explorer 9 477

Posted by Soulskill from the roll-up-your-sleeves dept.
Barence writes "Microsoft has unveiled the first details of Internet Explorer 9, promising that it will close the performance gap on rival browsers. The major newcomer is a revamped rendering engine that will tap the power of the PC's graphics card to accelerate text and graphics performance. 'We're changing IE to use the DirectX family of Windows APIs to enable many advances for web developers,' explains Internet Explorer's general manager, Dean Hachamovitch. As well as improving performance, Microsoft claims the hardware acceleration will enhance the appearance and readability of fonts on the web, with sub-pixel positioning that eradicates the jagged edges on large typefaces."
Books

Lulu Introduces DRM 222

Posted by timothy from the damn-ridiculous-meddling dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Print-on-demand publisher Lulu recently announced that they're offering 'eBooks.' Since they've always offered downloadable books as PDFs, that takes some decoding to figure out what part is new: it turns out that it means now they're handling more formats, they've significantly increased the share they take out of the purchase price ... and for an additional fee, they now offer DRM. I have a few items published through Lulu myself; nothing forces me to buy the DRM, but I'm considering taking my business elsewhere on principle. This isn't what I expected from the people who, when I first signed up with them, were solidly endorsing Creative Commons."

Comment A simple fix (Score 1) 432

by solune (#29988018) Attached to: FCC/DOT Want High-Tech Cure For Distracted Driving

Seriously - do we REALLY need more government cash spent on working teams, zillion dollar experiments, etc, etc.

The simplest and most cost effective answer (beside replacing airbags with bayonets, which I really like) is to take all that cash you want to spend on working groups, R&D, grants, research etc, and spend it on [drumroll]

ADVERTISING!!!!

Yes, you read right. Use the media - T.V., newspapers, and statistics in that driver's manual, to EDUCATE people about those dangers. Show pictures of twisted metal and flesh, paraplegic teens, and wankerless men (works well) to drive home the point that distracting yourself increases your likelyhood hood of getting injured while texting and driving.

Not to mention, even a preventable fender-bender can raise insurance rates. Hit 'em in the wallet.

If advertising didn't work, I'd have to wonder why myriad web-sites (like slashdot) are supported by advertising.

The Media

Journalists Looking For Government Money 323

Posted by Soulskill from the bizarro-world dept.
We've been following the ongoing struggles of the print media, watching as some publications have died off and others have held to outdated principles and decried the influence of the internet. A side effect of this has been many journalists put out of work and many others fearful that informed reporting is on its way out as well. Now, an editorial in the Washington Post calls for a solution journalists would likely have scoffed at only a few years ago: federal subsidies. Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols write, "What to do? Bailing out media conglomerates would be morally and politically absurd. These firms have run journalism into the ground. If they cannot make it, let them go. Wait for 'pay-wall' technologies, billionaire philanthropists or unimagined business models to generate enough news to meet the immense demands of a self-governing society? There is no evidence that such a panacea is on the horizon. This leaves one place to look for a solution: the government." They hasten to add, "Did we just call for state-run media? Quite the opposite."

Comment An essential timeline (Score 1) 1021

by solune (#29649583) Attached to: What Belongs In a High School Sci-Fi/Fantasy Lit Class?

An excellent choice for this course is "War of the Worlds," by H.G. Wells. Not only is the original great, but using that tale you can explore how science-fiction is perceived and used throughout history.

For example, the Original, as written by Wells, is a fantastical tale; the 1950's version incorporated 50's paranoia, and the Tom Cruise one was merely FX crap.

The manner of story-telling varied with the versions, as have other popular book-to-movie titles: The invisible man, for example, became the lamentable "The hollow man" with bacon.

Heinlein is seen as a fictional father for more libertarian/liberal concepts, glossing over some science facts for character and story development, while many authors currently strive for scientific accuracy within their tales.
The Internet

Will Books Be Napsterized? 350

Posted by Soulskill from the not-in-america,-we-don't-read-books dept.
langelgjm writes "An article from yesterday's New York Times asks the question: will books be Napsterized? So far, piracy of books has not reached the degree of music or movie piracy, in part due to the lack of good equipment on which to read and enjoy pirated books. The article points to the growing adoption of e-book readers as the publishing industry's newest nemesis. With ever-cheaper ways to conveniently use pirated books, authors and publishers may be facing serious changes ahead. This is something I wrote about three months ago in my journal, where I called the Kindle DX an 'iPod for books.'"

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