Neveg - Slashdot User

US Army Spent $2.7 Billion On Crashing Computer 196

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @02:09PM from the blue-screen-of-literal-death dept.

An anonymous reader writes "According to two former US Army intelligence officers, the multi-billion-dollar DCGS-A military computer system that was designed to help the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan simply doesn't work. DCGS-A is meant to accrue intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and provide real-time battlefield analysis and the current location of high-value targets — but instead, it has hindered the war effort rather than helped. Major General Michael Flynn, the top intelligence officer in Afghanistan, says that DCGS-A's faults have even resulted in a loss of lives (PDF)."

Facebook Blocks Google+ App, Google Removes Twitter From Real Time Search 250

Posted by samzenpus on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @09:44AM from the punch-the-person-to-your-left dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Facebook has blocked access to Friend Exporter, a Google Chrome application that helps users import their Facebook contacts into Google's new social network — Google Plus. " Meanwhile, reader dkd903 points out that Google has been busy removing Twitter from real time search, due to a contract expiry with Twitter."

China's Coal Power Plants Mask Climate Change 464

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @08:15AM from the blowing-smoke dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The Guardian reports on new research revealing that the huge increase in coal-fired power stations in China, up from just over 10 gigawatts (GW) in 2002 to over 80GW in 2006, has masked the impact of global warming in the last decade because of the cooling effect of their sulphur emissions. But scientists warn that rapid warming is likely to resume when the short-lived sulphur pollution – which also causes acid rain – is cleaned up and the full heating effect of long-lived carbon dioxide is felt. 'Reductions in carbon emissions will be more important as China installs scrubbers [on its coal-fired power stations], which reduce sulphur emissions,' says Dr. Robert Kaufman. 'This, and solar insolation increasing as part of the normal solar cycle, [will mean] temperature is likely to increase faster.' The effect also explains the lack of global temperature rise seen between 1940 and 1970 as the effect of the sulphur emissions from increased coal burning outpaced that of carbon emissions, until acid rain controls were introduced, after which temperature rose quickly. 'Warming due to the CO2 released by Chinese industrialization has been partially masked by cooling due to reflection of solar radiation by sulphur emissions,' says Prof Joanna Haigh. 'On longer timescales, with cleaner emissions, the warming effect will be more marked.'"

Japan's Latest Rockstar Is a 3D Hologram 305

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday October 21, 2010 @02:37AM from the as-real-as-it-gets dept.

kkleiner writes "Hatsune Miku is a Japanese pop diva who's just started to play massive stadium concerts to sold out crowds. Her hair is blue, she dresses like Sailor Moon, and she'll only appear in concerts via a 3D 'hologram.' Oh, and did I forget to mention that she's completely fictional? Created by Crypton Future Media, Hatsune Miku and her virtual colleagues have gone on limited tours in Japan."

Submission + - Brazilian Court Orders Worldwide Ban on GTA Game (go.com)

Submitted by eldavojohn on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @07:50AM

eldavojohn writes: Right now details are thin but the AP is reporting that a Brazilian court is demanding that Rockstar and the local distributor halt sales of Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes From Liberty City worldwide or pay $3,000 per day. From the article, 'A court statement says the game makers do not have the rights to "Bota o Dedinho pro Alto," which is sung by an 8-year-old Brazilian boy and was composed by his father.' The Escapist provides video of the disputed scenes and songs that, according to Kotaku Brazil, Rockstar alleges are legally licensed. No news sources are reporting any damage amounts being sought by the 8 year old DJ and his father aside from the court's decision to pull the game out of stores around the world or fine Rockstar daily.

Submission + - Mystery of the Dying Bees (update) (discovermagazine.com)

Submitted by bl8n8r on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @07:10AM

bl8n8r writes: As previously posted on Slashdot, the mysterious deaths of honeybee colonies across the globe had apparenlty been solved by Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk. An update to this however reports Bromenshenk took un-disclosed research grants from Bayer but says the money did not go to this project or influence its findings (Bayer makes pesticides that some beekeepers and researchers have cited as a possible cause of colony collapse). Surprise.

Submission + - Steve Wozniak: "Android frustates me"

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @06:14AM

An anonymous reader writes: Apples Co-founder spend some Days in Austria and he talked about the future of smartphones -

The Austrian Newspaper derStandard.at have more

http://derstandard.at/1287099434468/WebStandard-Interview-Steve-Wozniak-Android-frustates-me

UK-Developed 'DNA Spray' Marks Dutch Thieves With Trackable Water 191

Posted by timothy on Wednesday October 20, 2010 @05:00AM from the prepare-for-the-post-riot-shower dept.

eldavojohn writes "In Rotterdam, there's a new technology in place that dispenses a barely visible mist over those around it and alerts the police. The purpose? To tag robbers and link them back to the scene of the crime. From the article, 'The mist — visible only under ultraviolet light — carries DNA markers particular to the location, enabling the police to match the burglar with the place burgled. Now, a sign on the front door of the McDonald's prominently warns potential thieves of the spray's presence: "You Steal, You're Marked."' Developed in Britain, it's yet to nab a criminal but it will be interesting to see whether or not synthesized DNA will hold up as sufficient evidence in an actual court of law." So it's not just for copper thieves.

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