45971447
submission
kodiaktau writes:
UK govvt passes Instagram act which effectively makes content posted on social media that has become orphaned into the public domain. Corporations now only need to have made a diligent search to find the owner of the content before use.
45219737
submission
kodiaktau writes:
The ACLU has issued a FOIA request to determine how the IRS is using its warrantless ability to read email. The request is based on the antiquated Electronic Communication Protection Act federal agencies can and do request and read email that is over 180 days old. The IRS response can be found at http://www.aclu.org/national-security/irs-response-warrantless-electronic-communications-foia-request. The IRS asserts that it can and will continue to make warrantless requests to ISPs to track down tax evasion. http://www.irs.gov/irm/part9/irm_09-004-006.html#d0e319.
43400167
submission
kodiaktau writes:
McKinney has produced a new video game concept framed up in traditional arcade form with Street Fighter styled game. While the game seems vanilla the most interesting feature is that the winner of the game is given, well, a beer.
43398965
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Reports early Tuesday morning say that a software update to the Space Station caused a communication blackout with Houston control. Remediation of the update has allowed the astronauts limited communication every 90 minutes or so. It is expected that the issue will be resolved today.
42179651
submission
kodiaktau writes:
A quick Scientific American video describes why chimpanzees are stronger than humans. The video explains that chimps have less grey matter or neurons controlling muscles. Humans on the other hand have more refined muscle skill and fine motor control because we have more neurons controlling smaller bundles of muscles. In effect when a chimp engages its muscle mass it is an all or nothing proposition.
41329679
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Before the bankruptcy deadline, Kodak manages to work out a deal with Intellectual Ventures to purchase 1,100 patents and raising over $525 million dollars which will make Kodak eligible to get an additional $830 million dollar note to get itself out of bankruptcy. Intellectual Ventures has filed several IP lawsuits against others in recent years.
41298173
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Mayan temples located in the Guatemalan rain forest near Tikal are expected to be flooded with visitors during the last rush or tourist excursions leading up to Dec 21st. The Tikal Four were the same temples that Lucas sent his production crew to capture to represent Yavin 4 in the 1977 production of Star Wars: A New Hope while the country was enduring a civil war.
40957241
submission
kodiaktau writes:
A proposal put forth by Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates seeks to give more control and government of internet addressing. The move would basically undermine ICANN and decentralize control of internet addressing.
40888731
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Scientists at University of Waterloo have made a computerized brain named Spaun! The model has around 2.5M neurons and can complete basic pattern recognition. It is hoped that this model will aid in research and study of cognition and how disease impacts the brain. Maybe even help to make a unified brain theory.
40652195
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Today is the 20th anniversary of the text message, first sent by Matti Makkonen. The first useless text message was, "Merry Christmas".
40545779
submission
kodiaktau writes:
The National Museum of Computing is installing and has fired up the 60 year-old Harwell Dekatron computer. Restoration of the machine was able to use about 95% of the original parts. The computer is rated at 0.1 FLOPS and uses 828 dekatron tubes to help manage arithmetic operations. Logic operations are carried out via 480 telephone exchange relays.
40258331
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Author of "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" is rumored to be on he the short-list of potential authors to write one or more of the additional Star Wars movies.
40153775
submission
kodiaktau writes:
A recent story from the AP relates poor working conditions for animals used in the new Hobbit Trilogy. Workers site the production company keeping the animals left sinkholes open and bluffs that the animals cannot negotiate. Some 27 animals including horses, ponies, goats and chickens have been either killed or euthanized related to accidents on the farm. The farm has been investigated and animals have been moved to another area.
38618443
submission
kodiaktau writes:
Launch of the latest SpaceX rocket to the international space station was off course due to a Falcon 9 rocket shutting down early during launch. Other rockets were used to burn longer to recover the missing and ensure the capsule containing a communications satellite owned by Orbcomm. The rocket is due to dock with the station on Wed.
38306315
submission
kodiaktau writes:
An article reported by the WSJ discusses why online media users are more rude online than they are in person. The story discusses some of the possible reasons being lowered inhibitions because there is formal social interaction. Other theories include feeling like reporting on a phone or other device is simply communicating with a "toy" which dehumanizes the conversation. Submitter's note: A dehumanized conversation has never happened on Slashdot in the last 15 years.
