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Comment Re:Ethanol pluses and minuses (Score 4, Informative) 586

by Becausegodhasmademe (#34672254) Attached to: Once-Darling Ethanol Losing Friends In High Places

I'm a biotech student who's very interested in this stuff. For anyone looking for an expanded explanation of the challenges facing cellulosic ethanol this blog post might be interesting. I've also written about the possible affects that large scale biofuel production may have on food security.

Cellulosic ethanol would be a big contribution to solving the impending energy crisis. Domestic waste and agricultural waste could be recylced into fuel to supplement demand to some extent, but in order to meet demand grain originally destined for food would have to be diverted. If not regulated properly this would likely cause an increase in global food prices. In a world with circa. 1 billion people starving, this is obviously less than ideal.

Comment Re:Here, here! (Score 4, Interesting) 270

by Becausegodhasmademe (#33492820) Attached to: Compared to a year ago, social networks now ...

Brilliant post. You've summed up my feelings about Facebook perfectly. All I have to add is how Facebook are now leaning on users to part with their cash, either directly with facebook credits, or indirectly through virtual item trading through third party flash games (Of which Facebook gets a cut) The subscription fee is coming soon.

Also, It stopped being slightly cool the minute my Mom made an account.
Privacy

Blizzard To Require Real First and Last Names For Official Forums 833

Posted by Soulskill from the guess-that's-one-way-to-get-rid-of-trolls dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Recently, Blizzard Entertainment implemented a Real ID feature for some of its current games and all of its future Battle.net-based games. Today, Blizzard announced that it intends to require usage of the real names of Battle.net posters for its StarCraft II forums before release, and for its World of Warcraft forums shortly before the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. From the announcement: 'The first and most significant change is that in the near future, anyone posting or replying to a post on official Blizzard forums will be doing so using their Real ID — that is, their real-life first and last name — with the option to also display the name of their primary in-game character alongside it. These changes will go into effect on all StarCraft II forums with the launch of the new community site prior to the July 27 release of the game, with the World of Warcraft site and forums following suit near the launch of Cataclysm. Certain classic forums, including the classic Battle.net forums, will remain unchanged.'"
Image

The "King of All Computer Mice" Finally Ships 207

Posted by samzenpus from the there's-a-button-for-that dept.
An anonymous reader writes "The much-anticipated, much-mocked 18-button joystick mouse from WarMouse is now shipping. The press release features an impressive set of user quotes from game designer Chris Taylor, new SFWA president John Scalzi, and a doctor who runs a medical software company. Crazy or not, it's obviously more than just a gaming mouse."
Games

Submission + - Hemisphere Games reveals Osmos Linux sales numbers (hemispheregames.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Hemisphere Games analyses the sales numbers for their Linux port of Osmos and ask themselves “is it worth porting games to Linux?” The short, simple answer is “yes.” Breakdown and details in the post.
Australia

Journal Journal: Stephen Conroy saved by by sensitive negotiations?

Journal by AHuxley
http://www.crn.com.au/News/217702,ludlam-change-in-comms-ministry-unlikely.aspx
From Communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam "a change in Communications Ministers is "really unlikely".., due to difficulties in handing over the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) while significant, sensitive Telstra and NBN Co dealings take place."

Submission + - Apple's Retina Display, hype or reality?

Submitted by BWJones
BWJones writes: By now it seems that most people on the planet have heard of Apple’s latest iPhone, the iPhone 4 which was released today. One of the many compelling features of the new phone is the Retina Display. When Steve Jobs first invoked this term at the WWDC, my eyebrows were raised. Being a retinal scientist, I was immediately skeptical of just what he meant by “retinal display”.
Businesses

Submission + - Amazon Opposes Plan to End Saturday Mail Delivery

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: Online retailer giant Amazon.com has come out against a U.S. Postal Service proposal to end Saturday service, part of efforts to address the USPS budget deficit. 'Amazon's customers have come to appreciate and expect Saturday delivery,' explained Amazon VP Paul Misener. 'If the five-day delivery proposal is not withdrawn,' he added, 'we ask that Congress ensure that Saturday delivery be maintained.' In the past, Amazon has argued that it should not have to help support public services in states in which it has no physical presence.

Submission + - US Shows Interest In Zombie Quarantine Code (zdnet.com.au) 1

Submitted by bennyboy64
bennyboy64 writes: Barack Obama's cyber-security coordinator has shown interest in an e-security code of practice developed in Australia that aims to quarantine internet users infected by malware, also known as zombie computers. He reportedly said it would be a useful role model for the US to adopt. One suggestion within the code is to put infected users into a 'walled garden', which limits internet access to prevent further security problems until quarantined. Another is to throttle the speed of an infected users' internet connection until their computer fixed. The code is also being considered by other Asia-Pacific countries, ZDNet reports.
Medicine

Submission + - Researchers Create 'Living' Lung On A Chip (gizmag.com)

Submitted by ElectricSteve
ElectricSteve writes: Utilizing human lung and blood vessel cells, researchers have created a device mounted on a microchip that mimics a living, breathing human lung. About the size of a rubber eraser, the device was developed by a team from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston. Because it’s translucent, researchers can watch the processes taking place inside of it – kind of difficult to do with an actual lung. It will be used for testing the respiratory effects of environmental toxins, aerosolized therapeutics and new drugs. Using conventional models, such tests can cost over US$2 million.

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