Comment Re:Check out Joost (Score 1) 169
What's the chance of getting an invite from you? Sure would like to give it a try. nkslaughter at gmail dot com
Google to be Our Web-Based Anti-Virus Protector ? 171
cyberianpan writes "For some time now, searches have displayed 'this site may harm your computer' when Google has tagged a site as containing malware. Now the search engine giant is is further publicizing the level of infection in a paper titled: The Ghost In The Browser. For good reason, too: the company found that nearly 1 in ten sites (or about 450,000) are loaded with malicious software. Google is now promising to identify all web pages on the internet that could be malicious - with its powerful crawling abilities & data centers, the company is in an excellent position to do this. 'As well as characterizing the scale of the problem on the net, the Google study analyzed the main methods by which criminals inject malicious code on to innocent web pages. It found that the code was often contained in those parts of the website not designed or controlled by the website owner, such as banner adverts and widgets. Widgets are small programs that may, for example, display a calendar on a webpage or a web traffic counter. These are often downloaded form third party sites. The rise of web 2.0 and user-generated content gave criminals other channels, or vectors, of attack, it found.'"
Could Global Warming Make Life on Earth Better? 923
mikee805 writes "A lengthy article in Spiegel explores the possibility that global warming might make life on Earth better, not just for humans, but all species. The article argues that 'worst-case scenarios' are often the result of inaccurate simulations made in the 1980s. While climate change is a reality, as far as the article is concerned, some planning and forethought may mean that more benefits than drawbacks will result from higher temperatures. From the article:'The medical benefits of higher average temperatures have also been ignored. According to Richard Tol, an environmental economist, "warming temperatures will mean that in 2050 there will be about 40,000 fewer deaths in Germany attributable to cold-related illnesses like the flu." Another widespread fear about global warming -- that it will cause super-storms that could devastate towns and villages with unprecedented fury -- also appears to be unfounded. Current long-term simulations, at any rate, do not suggest that such a trend will in fact materialize.'"
Final Season of Battlestar Galactica Confirmed 500
Ant writes "Via Dark Horizons, IESB reported from the 10th annual Saturn awards yesterday, and spoke with Battlestar Galactica stars Edward James Olmos and Katee Sackhoff. Olmos confirmed that, as far as the show that's been running so far, the fourth season will be the last one. It's currently slated to start airing in January of 2008. 'Olmos says "This will probably be the most extraordinary season of 'Battlestar'. It's the final season, so it's definitely going to be the most vicious. As far as we know, in respects of the way we have this show constructed, this is the final season." Sackhoff says "I think part of the problem is that it's an expensive show. It is [a great show], but we don't have the viewership that a great show should get."'"
Feed Nearby Star Is A Galactic Fossil (sciencedaily.com)
How old are the oldest stars? Using ESO's VLT, astronomers recently measured the age of a star located in our galaxy. The star, a real fossil, is found to be 13.2 billion years old, not very far from the 13.7 billion years age of the universe. The star, HE 1523-0901, was clearly born at the dawn of time.
Feed Bacteria Found In Tar Pits Live On Substances Contained In Asphalt (sciencedaily.com)
Environmental scientists have discovered that tar pits in downtown Los Angeles, California, house hundreds of new species of bacteria with unusual properties, allowing the bacteria to survive and grow in heavy oil and natural asphalt. Trapped in soil that was mixed with heavy oil nearly 28,000 years ago, the bacteria contain three previously undiscovered classes of enzymes that can naturally break down petroleum products.
Journal Journal: Slashdot Really Likes Porn 16
So porn came up again on Slashdot. This is always fun for me. The first rule of Slashdot is "Don't question porn." The second rule of Slashdot is "Dont' question porn". You get the idea. So when you do question porn, the Slashdot mods (who, let's be honest, have about a 90 - 95% chance of having GBs of porn on their computers) get angry. In my last round I got modded one +5 informative or insightful or whatever, and sure enough - the angry slashdot gods sweep in. Next thing you know I'v
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Pound for pound, the amoeba is the most vicious animal on earth.
