kneecapd - Slashdot User

Hubble Finds Unidentified Object In Space 716

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday September 15, 2008 @01:17PM from the cosmic-dust-on-the-lens dept.

Gizmodo is reporting that the Hubble space telescope has found a new unidentified object in the middle of nowhere. Some are even suggesting that this could be a new class of object. Of course, without actually understanding more about it, the speculation seems a bit wild. "The object also appeared out of nowhere. It just wasn't there before. In fact, they don't even know where it is exactly located because it didn't behave like anything they know. Apparently, it can't be closer than 130 light-years but it can be as far as 11 billion light-years away. It's not in any known galaxy either. And they have ruled out a supernova too. It's something that they have never encountered before. In other words: they don't have a single clue about where or what the heck this thing is."

Comment 58 pages of spec; 3 instances of "security"... (Score 2, Insightful) 96

by kneecapd on Monday July 17, 2006 @08:44PM (#15734878) Attached to: Data Sharing, Government Style

I skimmed through the 58 page spec document which was mostly filled with describing the vast levels of bureaucracy that they're putting place to manage this beast. I also did a simple word find on the word "security". I only found 3 instances of the word that weren't coupled with the word "homeland" as in the Department of. No instances of the word "authentication".

I know this is doc isn't intended to show the exact structure of the messages to be passed, but gee whiz, wouldn't you think they would address the topic of "how do we make sure that only members with access to the NIEM can retrieve/exchange this data."????

All I found was a quick reference to one of the committees that they're going to form - who has the responsibility of (paraphrasing) "helping member organizations handle data security".

That's kinda scary. Or does this thing just run on the super-duper-secret world-wide government inter-network? I mean, they never have any problems with data security on that thing. (see: Los Alamos Lab, Dept. of Veteran Affairs, etc.)

Cheap, Open-design Humanoid Bot - Runs Linux, Too 167

Posted by timothy on Monday July 17, 2006 @06:18PM from the small-in-japan dept.

An anonymous reader points out Linux Devices' coverage of a new Linux-based humanoid robot: "Four companies in Japan have created a low-cost, user-programmable humanoid robot targeting educational and research applications. ... The HRP-2m Choromet stands about 14 inches tall, and is capable of walking upright on two legs. It can also assume supine or prone positions, and stand up from either." As the reader summarizes, "It runs user-space humanoid motion application software and real-time Linux on a business-card-sized computer with a SuperH processor. Be sure to check out the video of the little guy without his plastic batman suit."

LugRadio Live 2006 This Weekend 25

Posted by timothy on Monday July 17, 2006 @05:42PM from the got-your-ears-on? dept.

mrBen writes "This weekend (22nd & 23rd July) sees the 2nd LugRadio Live event, bringing together a huge number of top quality speakers (including Mark Shuttleworth (Canonical), Simon Phipps (Sun), Stephen Lamb (Microsoft), Ted Haegar (Novell)), exhibitors (including Ubuntu, OpenSolaris, MythTV, Joomla, Bytemark) and a slew of lightning talks and BOF (Birds of a Feather) sessions. Last year's event gathered 250 geeks from all over the world to Wolverhampton — this year's event is twice as long and twice as big, and promises to be the community event of the year."

SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Released 36

Posted by timothy on Monday July 17, 2006 @01:55PM from the aww-how-sweet dept.

MrHoolio writes "SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 has been officially released. This long-awaited/anticipated release is a make-or-break release for Novell. It promises not only a new sleek improved interface but also increased productivity with stability and less worry about viruses and the like. The pricing for the Desktop is $50 a year if you want product updates and support. Otherwise ... like other linux distros you can download it for free, but with no support."

Former MS Employees Explore OSS 107

Posted by Zonk on Monday July 17, 2006 @08:28AM from the different-gig dept.

Roberto Andressi writes "A few former Microsoft employees have launched a Web site that evaluates open-source projects. The site is intended as a way for first-time OSS users to 'get their feet wet' before diving into the large community of open source projects out there. The site, Ohloh, will provide background information on a prospective project. The folks behind the site even plan to include a lexicon of terms for very new users. " From the article: "'We collect from the infrastructure the open-source community uses to develop the software,' Ohloh co-founder and CEO Scott Collison told CNET News.com. 'It also serves as an open-source directory. You can find open-source projects and compare them, and gradually find one that's right for you.' The site could appeal to developers who are frustrated by the number of open-source projects that lack clear explanations. Ohloh also seeks to help developers make a build vs. buy decision by offering code analysis, said Collison, who along with co-founder Jason Allen, previously worked at Microsoft."

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