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Comment Re:Yeah i was thinking about that. (Score 2) 620

Even better: how about 'It should apply to all OBJECTS'. Every single object, mobile or immobile should emit a different tone constantly.

They already do. Every object in the universe already emits its own vibrations. Your sensory apparatus just needs to be tuned correctly to detect it. The extremely narrow range of oscillating frequencies detectable by the auditory sense of earth humans is only a tiny slice.

On Optheria they have a musical instrument (inadequately called an "organ") that plays to many senses, not just hearing. Some would say it plays directly to the soul and bypasses the senses entirely. That's another story altogether.

Wimpy Earthling: if you can't detect objects because you can't sense the vibrations they already radiate,
      GET A HEARING (or whatever) AID!

Or use your other sense organs. Whatever. Or maybe, just maybe, DON'T WALK DOWN THE F**KING MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT LOOKING BEHIND YOU. Sheesh!

Comment Re:Stop with the drugs already (Score 1) 595

I have not been killed by H1N1, nor by any of the seasonal flu variants :-). But because my job requires lots of travel meeting face-to-face with people who are likely to be vectors of flu (and other casually communicable infections), I always take the seasonal flu vaccine, and this year also the H1N1 vaccine. If there were an innoculation to protect from the "common cold" I would go for it in a heartbeat.

It's not that I am afraid that I might die from flu; I'm not -- it's just that since I run my own business, I simply can't afford the downtime from getting sick for a week to 10 days. And if I go back to work before my illness has run its course, I'll risk getting my employees sick. That doesn't help the business productivity at all. It's really frustrating to go to my health provider and have him rattle on and on about how H1N1 probably won't kill me. I'm not worried about that, I expect to survive a flu infection, just as I have and nearly everyone has. Only a tiny percentage of people have a serious problem with H1N1, which is the flu variant everyone is scared so shitless about.

But lots of people think that everyone dies if they catch H1N1 flu; this 100% mortality mindset is a problem for employers. On the one had we have people who come in even though they are clearly and obviously sick (risking infecting everyone else). And on the other hand we have people who stay out with just a sniffle.

Preventive measures contributing toward uptime are seldom brought up in this discussion. And we simple non-medical people have no way to discern proper response in each individual case.

Comment Re:If they do this.. (Score 1) 539

I agree, superb.net is a good hosting service. We used them for several years, but have moved to another provider for reasons completely unrelated to the service/support/security we received with Superb (we had to switch because of states claiming that web hosting constituted a "nexus" for tax purposes).

I would recommend Superb for hosting, as well as our current provider Westhost. We've had good service and good support, with people who actually know what they're doing. Quite refreshing!

Security

Submission + - Fly Clear ceases operations tonight

edb writes: In an abrupt announcement via email and web site (http://flyclear.com/) Verified Identity Pass, Inc. barely notified subscribers that the Clear Lanes at airports would disappear and Clear would cease operations as of 23:00 PDT 22 June 2009. The reason given is that the company has not been able to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.

The Clear Card uses biometrics (iris and fingerprint images) to verify identity. The approach was supposed to both streamline airport security checkpoints and augment security (as opposed to the net effect of many other so-called "security measures" hastily implemented following the 9/11 attacks).

This is a disappointment for road warriors and techies who fly frequently (even daily). Ah well, more time to use the free WiFi in the airport waiting areas (oops! Still not available at most US airports).
Patents

Netflix Sued Over Fradulently Obtained Patents 193

An anonymous reader writes "Techdirt has a story about a new class action lawsuit against Netflix, claiming that the patents the company is using to sue Blockbuster were obtained fraudulently. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that Netflix was well aware of prior art, but did not include it in its patent filing, as required by law. The lawsuit also claims that Netflix then used these fraudulently obtained patents to scare others out of the market, in violation of antitrust law. 'Certainly, it makes for an interesting argument. Patents grant a government-backed monopoly -- which should get you around any antitrust violations. However, if that patent is obtained fraudulently, then I can see a pretty compelling claim that you've abused antitrust law. It would be interesting if other such cases start popping up (and, indeed, the lawyer who sent it to us said his firm is looking for additional patents to go after in this manner).'"
Privacy

Submission + - UK MPs exempt from Freedom of Information Act?

MadMidnightBomber writes: British Members of Parliament have just passed the third reading of a bill which will exempt them from Freedom of Information legislation. "If passed, the FOI bill would effectively remove both the Commons and House of Lords from the list of public authorities obliged to release information under the 2000 act, which came into force in 2005." claims the BBC. Tory MP Richard Shepherd was quoted as saying: " This has got nothing to do with MPs' correspondence but is aimed to prevent further detailed disclosure of MPs' expenses."

A list of MPs who voted to give the bill its third reading can be found here. Gordon Brown, the next Prime Minister will not block the bill.
Google

Google Wins Nude Thumbnail Legal Battle 204

eldavojohn writes "Google is currently fighting many fronts in its ability to show small images returned in a search from websites. Most recently, Google won the case against them in which they were displaying nude thumbnails of a photographer's work from his site. Prior to this, Google was barred from displaying copyrighted content, even when linking it to the site (owner) from its search results. The verdict: "Saying the District Court erred, the San Francisco-based appeals court ruled that Google could legally display those images under the fair use doctrine of copyright law." This sets a rather hefty precedence in a search engine's ability to blindly serve content safely under fair use."
Security

A Second Google Desktop Vulnerability 80

zakkie writes "According to InfoWorld, Google's Desktop indexing engine is vulnerable to an exploit (the second such flaw to be found) that could allow crackers to read files or execute code. By exploiting a cross-site scripting vulnerability on google.com, an attacker can grab all the data off a Google Desktop. Google is said to be investigating. A security researcher is quoted: 'The users really have very little ability to protect themselves against these attacks. It's very bad. Even the experts are afraid to click on each other's links anymore.'"
Privacy

Submission + - SWIFT applies for Safe Harbor Protections

KDR_11k writes: The Belgium-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT, the system used for all international bank transfers) is now applying for Safe Harbor protections in the US following a dispute with the EU over handing data to US authorities (of course with subpoenas). EU data protection laws don't allow giving peronal information to other entities without the consent of the person the information is about which already caused the dispute over handing passenger data to US authorities. SWIFT hopes that with these Safe Harbor protections they will no longer be forced to give up information they aren't allowed to but Safe Harbor does not apply to banking organizations. Now it depends on whether SWIFT is a banking institution (they claim they aren't) and whether they are a data processor or controller (they claim the former, apparently data protection laws only apply to the latter).

The EU's proposed solution is that SWIFT should abandon its US data center to bring its data out of range of US officials.
Privacy

Submission + - Is RFID A Security Risk?

An anonymous reader writes: From ABC news: "All it takes is a second, and it's gone — a modern day pick-pocket can snatch your credit card and other personal information without ever touching your wallet. The thieves need only a little know how, and about a hundred bucks. The technology we rely on everyday — is being abused." Video at http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_ side&id=5065414
Privacy

Submission + - Security Scanner Can See Through Clothes

mikesd81 writes: "The Associated Press has an article about Sky Harbor International Airport becoming the country's first to begin testing a controversial new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies in an effort to find concealed explosives and other weapons. From the article: "Critics have said the high-resolution images created by the "backscatter" technology are too invasive. But the Transportation Security Administration adjusted the equipment to make the image look something like a line drawing, while still detecting concealed weapons."

The machines is only supposed to be a backup for when passengers fail a metal detector scan. However, they do get an option of a pat-down or the x-ray machine. Passengers selected for screening by the device are asked to stand in front of the closet-size X-ray unit with the palms of their hands facing out. Then they must turn around for a second screening from behind. The procedure takes about a minute. Critics say the altered image is ineffective and the full image is invasion of privacy."
Biotech

Merck To Halt Lobbying For Vaccine 544

theodp writes "Reacting to a furor from some parents, advocacy groups, and public health experts, Merck said yesterday that it would stop lobbying state legislatures to require the use of its new cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, which acts against strains of the sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus. The $400, 3-shot regimen was approved by the FDA in June. Later that month, a federal advisory panel recommended that females 11-26 years old be vaccinated. The governor of Texas has already signed an executive order making its use mandatory for schoolgirls."
Networking

Submission + - Gigafast Fails To Fund Rebate Offers

An anonymous reader writes: From: http://consumerist.com/consumer/rebates/gigafast-f ails-to-fund-rebate-offers-239434.php

Gigafast, manufacturer of networking equipment and consumer electronics, has failed to fund their rebate offers, according to an email circulated yesterday by rebate-processor OnRebate.com.

            "We regret to inform you that the above rebate claim has not been funded by the sponsoring manufacturer, Gigafast Inc., and therefore cannot be paid. Gigafast Inc. contracted with OnRebate.com Inc. to have OnRebate.com Inc. process Gigafast Inc. sponsored rebates but, in violation of the terms of this contract, Gigafast Inc. has not funded disbursements for several months and has not responded to our many funding requests or other attempts to reach them. As a result rebate disbursements to customers who purchased Gigafast Inc. products have not been made. At this point your rebate claim is being cancelled but your rebate details will be kept on file in the event that you are able to contact Gigafast, Inc. and get them to fund your claim.

            Unfortunately Onrebate.com has no further information available at this time. If you have any questions regarding the non-funding of your rebate claim please direct them to Gigafast Inc.:

            Gigafast Inc.
            17531 Railroad St #C
            City of Industry, CA 91748
            Phone: 626-964-2960
            Fax: 626-964-2690
            www.gigafast.com
            rebate@gigafast.com

            We apologize for this regrettable situation. OnRebate.com Inc. has tried repeatedly over the course of several weeks to secure funding for your rebate claim. Weve done everything reasonably possible on your behalf but have not gotten a response.

            Sincerely,

            OnRebate.com Inc. customer service"

OnRebate is known to be stingy with rebate disbursements. Is this bad karma in action?

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