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Announcements

Submission + - MIT Labs Moves Ahead In Synthesizing Spider Silk

Submitted by icepick72
icepick72 writes: A team from MIT's Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) announced they have devised a new way to create Lycra-like materials (like organic Spider's silk) in a lab. The naturally occurring substance — on a weight basis — is stronger than even steel and it is theorized a pencil-thin thread could stop a 747 in mid-flight.
The Internet

Submission + - Principality of Sealand for Sale

Submitted by
glomph
glomph writes: "The little structure/sovereign nation on concrete pillars in the North Sea 7 miles east of Harwich, UK has been a recurring theme on Slashdot over the past few years. Now it can be yours!. Read the story for a quick synopsis of the history (kidnapping! piracy! international intrigue!) that goes along with this little piece of Heaven. Maybe someone will revive the 'ultra secure data centre' scheme which bounced around for a while."
Communications

Submission + - excessive spam or lost email?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: it's safe to say that most email providers are experiencing one of two extremes: an influx of spam flooding their inboxes every day, or an influx of customers complaining of lost email. i ask the slashdotters...which is worse, and which are you willing to tolerate to avoid the other? spam catcher systems are iffy at best. i'm curious to see how everyone answers this one.
The Internet

Submission + - .XXX domain name plan revived

Submitted by
Wim van Neuken
Wim van Neuken writes: "http://www.comcast.net/news/technology/index.jsp?c at=TECHNOLOGY&fn=/2007/01/06/556539.html&cvqh=itn_ redlight

After rejecting an earlier proposal to create the XXX tld for pornographic sites, it appears ICANN has now relented and is laying out a plan to create the tld. However, it looks like the policing will be stepped up as part of the revived plan."
Announcements

Submission + - Free Geolocation for Everyone

Submitted by Tom
Tom writes: IPligence released a new update for their free ip geolocation database, IPligence Community Edition enables any developer or webmaster to automatically recognize their applications the geographical origin of a connection allowing the customization of values such as language, timezones, currency, etc. It also can serve other purposes such as security. For more information and download: IPligence Community Edition.
Media

Submission + - Reading a DVD with VLC is illegal in France

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Starting December 31st 2006, reading a DVD protected with CSS (as most DVD are) is illegal in France when it is done with software allowing to circumvent the protection, such as VLC or mplayer which can both use the libdvdcss library. This Journal Officiel (where laws and executive orders are published) says that you may be fined 135 (around $180) for doing so. This includes watching any DVD that you have legally purchased.
The Internet

Submission + - XXX Top Level Domain Update

Submitted by
eldavojohn
eldavojohn writes: "The contract between ICANN & ICM Registry has just been revised for procedures on using the .XXX TLD. ICM is saying that the domain should be readily available for registration as early as this summer. This means that parents will most likely have an easier time protecting their children from these sites and these sites will be more tightly regulated and easier to scrutinize by authorities. ICM also mentioned the collaboration with International Foundation for Online Responsibility."
Networking

Submission + - BitTornado declares war on BitComet

Submitted by
John Hoffman
John Hoffman writes: "I am the administrator of BitTornado, an open-source BitTorrent client. Some time ago I developed a tweak in the protocol that let people seed torrents more efficiently, and many people have benefited from it.
Alas, recently BitComet has been incorporating code designed to game my client into sending them more data than they would normally get. Not only does this reduce torrent performance for the other peers, but they're also stupidly shooting themselves in the foot.
By performing this way BitComet is forcing me to do a lot of work to reduce their predation, and I am therefore declaring war against them, banning their clients from connecting to mine and trying to convince others to do so as well."
Democrats

Submission + - Hillary uses Internet dirty tricks against Edwards

Submitted by Ray
Ray writes: From the Huffington Post, "John Edwards' '08 website is johnedwards.com. But the campaign didn't buy edwards08.com. Hillary Clinton did. Click on edwards08.com and you end with Hillary Clinton." Wow, looks like Hillary will be able to hold her own against the likes of Nixon and Rove. Of course they tended to do their dirty work against members of the other party. I guess Hillary is taking a more ecumenical approach.
Security

Submission + - The Times on Botnets

Submitted by
ThinkComp
ThinkComp writes: "The New York Times has a story on the proliferation of botnets which describes the problem as getting worse. The article cites a number of security researchers who paint a depressing picture of the state of internet security, and concludes with the suggestion that for home users, buying a new "updated" PC may be the only real solution. Unfortunately, as most of us know, given the number of outstanding flaws in software and the ingenuity of malicious software authors, that might not even help. The story fits perfectly with our own ongoing research into spam coming from malicious HTTP POST requests to corporate "Contact Us" pages routed through open proxy servers. Look out for those newline characters!"
Handhelds

Submission + - Nokia's New N800 Linux Tablet Arrives

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Nokia has quietly begun delivering an upgrade to its Linux-based 770 Internet Tablet. Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is available now from at least two retail stores in the U.S., priced at $399.99, CompUSA's Chicago "superstore" has confirmed. Key changes reportedly include: microphone moved to more phone-friendly position; two miniSD slots, instead of a single RS-MMC slot; scroll rocker for web page scrolling; redesigned top-mounted buttons and 5-way cursor pad; built-in stand; and a few mechanical tweaks. CompUSA part number is 344047.
Power

Submission + - Inventor of Instant Noodles Dies

Submitted by Jack Action
Jack Action writes: Momofuku Ando, the inventor of "Chicken Ramen" — the original instant noodle — has died at age 96. Mr. Ando introduced his "Ramen" series of noodles in 1958 to help ease post-WWII food shortages in Japan, and they became an "instant" success. Mr Ando's noodles went into outer space in 2005 on the Space Shuttle ("Space Ram"), and a museum dedicated to his invention was opened in Japan in 1999. They also changed the lives of countless college students and geeks everywhere, and for many are the symbol of non-Western fast food. On this day of the inventor's passing, what are your thoughts on his legacy to the world?
NASA

Submission + - Satellites unveil 2,000-year-old trails

Submitted by
Roland Piquepaille
Roland Piquepaille writes: "Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) and at NASA have used satellites to track the movements of people living in the Arenal region of Costa Rica more than 2,000 years ago. They've also used video-game software to virtually 'fly' above the footpaths taken by Central Americans between small villages and cemeteries. It's a fascinating story because Arenal Volcano is still very active and that the people who lived there didn't disappear as highly structured societies like the Maya and Aztec. And people living today in the Arenal region are certainly friendlier than your neighbors. Read more for additional references about this project and several pictures of beautiful Arenal Volcano, when it's quiet and when it erupts."
Biotech

Submission + - What's That, Lassie? Can't Fit Into Your Jeans?

Submitted by
theodp
theodp writes: "The obesity epidemic has spread to man's best friend, prompting the FDA to step in and approve the first prescription doggie diet drug. Pfizer's Slentrol suppresses Fido's appetite while also blocking the absorption of fat from his treats. Anticipating future Darwin Award winners, Slentrol's label warns that humans who dip into their pooch's stash to lose a pound or two are in for some abdominal distention and pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headache, nausea and vomiting. Pfizer's efforts (PDF) also earned the drug giant US Patent No. 6,720,351. What's next? A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for Dogs?"

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