Comment Re:I used to hear... (Score 1) 474
That's Catholics. These are reputedly Evangelicals.
The story is nonsensical, anyway, just another urban legend.
Comment Exceptional-but-Too Common (Score 1) 366
Although a multi-million dollar fraud is unusually large, it is not at all difficult to find frauds in the computer industry. It is so common, in fact, that it should be hurting business significantly, particularly for anyone who is honest. If people knew more about computers, they might realize the extent of it and demand action. We would probably be at war with a few more countries, in fact. There are that many scammers taking that much money.
I've been ripped off a few times, too, and I resent it very much. For example, I looked for an alternative to my music club (BMG). After searching through several options, I found one that offered me online music for a one-time fee. After I paid the fee, I discovered that all they were providing were instructions and shareware that wasn't theirs, that would access music that wasn't theirs, from people's torrents that wasn't theirs. When I complained, the person who took my money justified himself. It is evident that such people usually will justify their actions in their own minds, and so will continue their scamming as opportunity arises. The only way to stop them for certain is to kill them, which I wish we could do. If they won't stop, they deserve to die.
So, my take on the original story is, the potential 8- to 25-year sentence the suspects face is too light. How many other people have they conned? Will they actually change their behavior when they have future opportunities? They have the chance of doing it, again, and I suspect they will.
Comment Science Is Not Democratic (Score 1) 239
The article and some replies imply that widespread agreement means that we should make an appeal to authority our definition of scientific truth. The reality is, the facts speak for themselves, regardless of what anyone says about those facts. Unfortunately, most people are ill-equipped to evaluate the facts. At some point, everyone is ill-equipped, because the breadth of human knowledge is too great. Even so, it is a dangerous thing to place one's thinking in the hands of other people, no matter who they are.
Submission + - Duke Nukem Maker 3D Realms Shut Down
Pooua writes: Several sources are reporting that 3D Realms is closing shop. Among the projects left incomplete is "Duke Nukem Forever."
1UP.com: "Duke Nukem Maker 3D Realms Shut Down"
1UP.com: "Duke Nukem Maker 3D Realms Shut Down"
Submission + - New transparent plastic strong as steel (spacemart.com)
Pooua writes: "A new, transparent plastic, made of clay and glue, is as strong as steel and as thin as a sheet of paper. It is built up of nanoscale clay structures applied in sheets with glue. It takes a few hours to build up the 300 layers used for a single sheet."
Submission + - NASA & Google Collaborate On New Moon Map (moondaily.com)
Pooua writes: "NASA and Google have teamed up to update Google's Moon map to match NASA's coordinate system. Additional multimedia content has been added to the site. From the "Moon Daily" website,
"New higher resolution lunar imagery and maps including NASA multimedia content now are available on the Google Moon Web site. Updates include new content from the Apollo missions, including dozens of embedded panoramic images, links to audio clips and videos, and descriptions of the astronauts' activities during the missions. The new content is overlaid on updated, higher-resolution lunar maps. Also added are detailed charts of different regions of the moon suitable for use by anyone simulating a lunar mission.
"'NASA's objective is for Google Moon to become a more accurate and useful lunar mapping platform that will be a foundation for future web-based moon applications, much like the many applications that have been built on top of Google Maps,' said Chris C. Kemp, director of strategic business development at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif."
Moon Daily: NASA Maps The Moon With Google
Google Moon"
"New higher resolution lunar imagery and maps including NASA multimedia content now are available on the Google Moon Web site. Updates include new content from the Apollo missions, including dozens of embedded panoramic images, links to audio clips and videos, and descriptions of the astronauts' activities during the missions. The new content is overlaid on updated, higher-resolution lunar maps. Also added are detailed charts of different regions of the moon suitable for use by anyone simulating a lunar mission.
"'NASA's objective is for Google Moon to become a more accurate and useful lunar mapping platform that will be a foundation for future web-based moon applications, much like the many applications that have been built on top of Google Maps,' said Chris C. Kemp, director of strategic business development at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif."
Moon Daily: NASA Maps The Moon With Google
Google Moon"
Submission + - Digitized Apollo Flight Films Available Online (spaceref.com)
Pooua writes: "SpaceRef reports that NASA and Arizona State University have teamed up to offer all of NASA's Apollo lunar images online at no charge. The images are scanned at high resolution, then offered as 16-bit TIFF or 8-bit PNG or ISIS files. The project is expected to take 3 years, but some images are already available. The ASU-NASA website is Arizona State University Apollo Image Archive"
Submission + - Cheap 3D Printers Projected in 4 Years
Pooua writes: "Bill Gross, chairman of IdeaLab, has developed a 3D printing technology that could allow 3D printers to sell for under $1,000 in 4 years. The printers use powdered nylon that is melted by a halogen bulb to make 3D plastic objects.
Beam It Down From the Web, Scotty"
Beam It Down From the Web, Scotty"
Submission + - McNaught "brightest comet in recorded history&
WFFS writes: "There's a new comet in town, and it could be a beauty. Discovered by Robert H. McNaught, the comet has been seen in Canada, Alaska, and the Scandinavian countries, and as far south as the midwest of the US. It is so spectacular, that NASA astronomer Tony Philips said that "It could emerge as the brightest comet in recorded history." After January 15, Comet McNaught can be seen in the southern hemisphere, where it will rival Venus in luminosity. In the local venacular... Strewth! Bloody ripper!"
