Comment Re:How are they storing this data? (Score 3, Funny) 58
Hahaa! That's why I use asdfasfd as my online banking password.
Submission + - Canadian penny to cost Toronto $47,680 4
owlgorithm writes: The Royal Canadian Mint is demanding the city of Toronto pay $47,680 for using a picture of a Canadian penny in campaign advertisements for setting aside money for municipalities. The mint is also seeking compensation for the city's use of the phrase "one cent" in the campaign.
Submission + - When a CGI script is the most elegant solution
An anonymous reader writes: Writing local Web applications can be quick, easy, and efficient for solving specific Intranet problems. Learn why a Web browser is sometimes a better interface than a GUI application and why experienced Web developers find themselves struggling to learn a GUI toolkit, and descover that a simple CGI script would serve their needs perfectly well, if not better.
Submission + - EC: Microsoft patents aren't innovative
ukhackster writes: The EC is threatening Microsoft with yet more fines. This time, it's over the interoperability protocols that Microsoft has been ordered to open up to its rivals. The EC has examined 1,500 pages of information about the protocols, and concluded that they "lack significant innovation".
This is pretty damning for both Microsoft and the patent system, as it has been awarded 36 patents covering this technology and has another 37 pending. Could this encourage someone like the EFF to start pushing to get these patents overturned?
This is pretty damning for both Microsoft and the patent system, as it has been awarded 36 patents covering this technology and has another 37 pending. Could this encourage someone like the EFF to start pushing to get these patents overturned?
Submission + - HP's Advance Breathes New Life into Moore's Law
silentounce writes: Scientific American and other sources report that "researchers at Hewlett-Packard Co. have devised a way to make a specialized type of computer chip up to eight times denser using nanotechnology, in a development that could extend the life of current chipmaking technologies." They call the new technology a "field programmable nanowire interconnect (FPNI)". They've created a switch that can route info more efficiently inside a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a specific kind of chip. "We essentially provided a recipe to improve the circuitry of FPGA's by the equivalent of three generations of Moore's law without having to shrink the transistor," says Stan Williams, a senior fellow and director of quantum science research at HP's research laboratory.
Submission + - Barnes and Noble Refuses to Refund Lost Package
Flavio Ribeiro writes: "On September 2006 I ordered $300 worth of books from Barnes & Noble. I've been ordering books online regularly for about 10 years, but this was my first order from B&N. I'm a grad student on a budget, so I payed for the cheapest shipping. Since I'm overseas and I've had packages take almost 3 months to arrive, I waited diligently. When nothing arrived, I e-mailed B&N. This is the response I got:
I need your advice. What can I do to get a refund?"
My second attempt to contact B&N was answered with the same pre-written message, which I find quite insulting. My credit card issuer (Credicard Citi) refuses to dispute the charge, as is their policy with all charges. The fact I payed with Paypal also complicates matters. Additionally, Paypal automatically deferred and closed the claim I filed with them. The way I see this, B&N failed to deliver the purchased items, and refuses to take any action. They set an arbitrary short deadline that exempts them from further responsibility, which lets them bully international customers. This practice would never work out if B&N were a local company, since I'd be able to file claims at the local equivalent of the BBB.The package has not been returned to our warehouse as undeliverable to the shipping address you provided. (...) When no delivery confirmation is available, we will refund a lost package up to sixty (60) days after the expected delivery date. As it is now beyond sixty days, kindly contact your credit card issuer to dispute the charge.
I need your advice. What can I do to get a refund?"
Submission + - PDAs: The Downfall Of Marital Sex
zyl0x writes: Forbes.com has a story online about the "Crackberry" generation of IT and how constant, wireless connectivity negatively affects our lives, in particular, our sex lives. The article quotes a clinical psychologist who has coined the phrase "DINS couples" (double income, no sex), and goes into details of how mobile devices and too much office responsibility may be damaging our sex lives.
From the article:
Not that many of us have a sex life to lose, but maybe our Black- and Blueberrys are the ultimate cause?
From the article:
"What does this mean for constantly connected couples? According to therapists and psychologists, around-the-clock access to the office often results in fatigue, a lack of intimacy, resentment, increased conflict and even premature career burnout. All of which are enough to crater a less-than-solid marriage or relationship."
Not that many of us have a sex life to lose, but maybe our Black- and Blueberrys are the ultimate cause?
Submission + - EU report endorses Open Source
erik_norgaard writes: A report (PDF) released by the EU commission concludes that in almost all cases savings would be made by switching to Open Source, reports ZDNet.co.uk. The conclusion is based on detailed analysis of open source projects in six EU countries.
Submission + - A new view of quantum mechanics
Falladir writes: "Physicist Anton Zeilinger has proposed a new way of looking at quantum mechanics, in which a system with one qubit of information is the fundamental unit.
"Zeilinger's single, simple principle leads to these three cornerstones of quantum mechanics: quantisation, uncertainty and entanglement. What, then, of the more formal elements of quantum mechanics such as wave functions and Schrödinger's equation — the bread and butter of atomic physicists?"
Zeilinger discards Hilbert space, in favor of what he calls "information space." The state of a system is a point in information space. The point moves, over time, as the system evolves. This movement is governed by the classical principles of motion, and under translation from information space to Hilbert space, these classical laws derive Schroedinger's equation."
"Zeilinger's single, simple principle leads to these three cornerstones of quantum mechanics: quantisation, uncertainty and entanglement. What, then, of the more formal elements of quantum mechanics such as wave functions and Schrödinger's equation — the bread and butter of atomic physicists?"
Zeilinger discards Hilbert space, in favor of what he calls "information space." The state of a system is a point in information space. The point moves, over time, as the system evolves. This movement is governed by the classical principles of motion, and under translation from information space to Hilbert space, these classical laws derive Schroedinger's equation."
Submission + - Cell phone sets off fire, man charred
superash writes: Vallejo (California): "A cell phone apparently ignited in a man's pocket and started a fire that burned his hotel room and caused severe burns over half his body, fire department officials said.
Fifty-nine-year-old Luis Picaso was in stable condition on Monday with second- and third-degree burns to his upper body, back, right arm and right leg, Vallejo Fire Department assistant chief Kurt Henke said."
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cell-phone-sets-off-fi re-man-charred/31317-11.html
There was a incident some time back where a laptop battery exploded endagering life of many in a high profile conference. Are the hardware manufacturers taking the common man for granted? Are these a result of low-cost production(outsourcing) ??
Fifty-nine-year-old Luis Picaso was in stable condition on Monday with second- and third-degree burns to his upper body, back, right arm and right leg, Vallejo Fire Department assistant chief Kurt Henke said."
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cell-phone-sets-off-f
There was a incident some time back where a laptop battery exploded endagering life of many in a high profile conference. Are the hardware manufacturers taking the common man for granted? Are these a result of low-cost production(outsourcing) ??
Submission + - Best Meteor Shower This Year
LittleRedStar writes: This Wednesday night and Thursday morning is the peak of the
Geminid meteor shower. This is the typically the best meteor show of the year with up to 100 meteors per hour. This year the moon is a nuisance but with the peak predicted for early Thursday morning it is worth getting out and watching. Since the perseid meteor shower was washed out from the moon and the Leonids were a bust this should be the best for 2006.
