A Server That Can Fall From the Sky, and Survive

It's raining computers! Alleluia :D

 

 

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A Server That Can Fall From the Sky, and Survive

via Slashdot: Hardware by timothy on 1/27/13

alphadogg writes "A rugged server from NCS Technologies introduced on Friday can withstand drops, will work in extreme temperatures and can be deployed via parachute into crisis areas or war zones if needed. The Bunker XRV-5241 is a 1U rack server designed for organizations such as the military and first responders that need servers in rugged environments. The server has been tested to meet U.S. Department of Defense specifications for environmental, temperature and shock requirements." Hope they drop some hardened screens, too, to help with setup.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

 

 

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Recession, Tech Kill Middle-Class Jobs

http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotHardware/~3/yg6sCfD7wB8/story01.htm

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Alan Cox: Fedora 18 "The Worst Red Hat Distro," Switches To Ubuntu

http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotLinux/~3/dTD21JxlIz4/story01.htm

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Linux now has 'double' the market share of Windows

http://osnews.com/story/26724/Linux_now_has_double_the_market_share_of_Windows

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Most parents 'lie to children'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21144827#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
Parents are despicable (in general, exceptions exist)
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01/21/13 PHD comic: 'How your Conference Presentation Goes'

 

 

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01/21/13 PHD comic: 'How your Conference Presentation Goes'

via PHD Comics on 1/21/13

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "How your Conference Presentation Goes" - originally published 1/21/2013 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

 

 

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Child asthma 'drop' after smoke ban

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21067532#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
Cool :-D
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Facebook's Open Compute Project splits up monolithic servers with help from ...

nicely done

 

 

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Facebook's Open Compute Project splits up monolithic servers with help from Intel, more

via Engadget by Jon Fingas on 1/16/13

As much as it's important to have every component of a PC stuck together in a laptop, that same monolithic strategy is a major liability for server clusters: if one part breaks or grows obsolete, it can drag down everything else. Facebook and its Open Compute Project partners have just unveiled plans to loosen things up at the datacenter. A prototype, Atom-based rackmount server from Quanta Computer uses 100Gbps silicon photonics from Intel to connect parts at full speed, anywhere on the rack. Facebook has also garnered support for a new system-on-chip connection standard, rather affectionately named Group Hug, that would let owners swap in new mini systems from any vendor through PCI Express cards. The combined effect doesn't just simplify repairs and upgrades -- it lets companies build the exact servers they need without having to scrap other crucial elements in the process. There's no definite timeframe for when we'll see modular servers put to work, but the hope is that a cluster's foundations will stay relevant for years instead of months.

Continue reading Facebook's Open Compute Project splits up monolithic servers with help from Intel, more

Filed under: Intel, Facebook

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Source: Open Compute Project

 

 

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A Humanoid Robot Named "Baxter" Could Revive US Manufacturing

Another presage of the impending apocalypse ;)

 

 

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A Humanoid Robot Named "Baxter" Could Revive US Manufacturing

via Slashdot: Hardware by samzenpus on 1/16/13

fangmcgee writes "Rethink Robotics invented a $22,000 humanoid robot named "Baxter" that could give cheap offshore labor a run for its money and return manufacturing jobs to U.S. soil. Artificial intelligence expert Rodney Brooks is the brain behind Baxter. From the article: 'Brooks's company, Rethink Robotics, says the robot will spark a "renaissance" in American manufacturing by helping small companies compete against low-wage offshore labor. Baxter will do that by accelerating a trend of factory efficiency that's eliminated more jobs in the U.S. than overseas competition has. Of the approximately 5.8 million manufacturing jobs the U.S. lost between 2000 and 2010, according to McKinsey Global Institute, two-thirds were lost because of higher productivity and only 20 percent moved to places like China, Mexico, or Thailand.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

 

 

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Horsemeat found in beef burgers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21034942#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
One could argue that horse meat is more expensive than beef :p
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DARPA wants to stash drones on the bottom of the ocean

Sounds like zerglings burying themselves underground ;)

 

 

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DARPA wants to stash drones on the bottom of the ocean

via SlashGear by Shane McGlaun on 1/15/13

DARPA launches projects that sound incredibly unrealistic from time to time. However, DARPA has also created actual working items that started out as incredibly unrealistic sounding plans. That means you can never discount DARPA when it puts out brief on a plan that sounds far-fetched at first glance.

DARPA's most recent plan is one such far-fetched sounding project that may be just crazy enough to work. The latest plan is called the Upward Falling Payloads project and is aimed at developing storage capsules for military assets that would allow devices, such as drones, to be stored at the bottom of the ocean for years at a time until needed. The idea is that capsules can be dropped at strategic locations holding drones or other items and the capsules could release their payload when needed.

The plan calls for unmanned, distributed systems to provide the military with operational support including situational awareness, disruption, deception, and rescue. One of the potential payloads for these capsules are small aerial drones that can launch to the surface in capsules, take off, and provide observation or act as decoys. DARPA is calling for input on finding ways of extending survival of capsules under extreme ocean pressure.

DARPA also wants to find methods of waking up these underwater nodes after years of inactivity. The plan also calls for input on ways to efficiently launch payloads to the surface. That last part doesn't seem too complex since submarines have been launching payloads to the surface of the ocean for a long time. DARPA is pointing out that this is not a weapons project and that the risk of losing any single node in the system is minimal.

[via Wired]

DARPA wants to stash drones on the bottom of the ocean is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Chimps reveal origins of sharing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20973753#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Microsoft sets Messenger deadline

The end of an era :P

 

 

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Microsoft sets Messenger deadline

via BBC News - Home on 1/11/13

The Windows Live Messenger service will be switched off on 15 March, Microsoft says in a message to all users of the service.

 

 

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Υπό εξέταση η δημιουργία «hi-tech» προανακριτικού τμήματος

CSI Athens :P

 

 

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Υπό εξέταση η δημιουργία «hi-tech» προανακριτικού τμήματος

via In.gr Νέα: Ελλάδα on 1/10/13

Στη σύσταση Ειδικού Προανακριτικού Τμήματος, με εξειδικευμένο επιστημονικό προσωπικό σε θέματα πληροφορικής, για την αντιμετώπιση προβλημάτων κατά τη διερεύνηση δύσκολων υποθέσεων, όπως με τη λίστα Λαγκάρντ, που συνδέονται μάλιστα με τη σύγχρονη τεχνολογία, προανήγγειλε ο υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης, Αντώνης Ρουπακιώτης.

 

 

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One student seriously injured in California school shooting

American killing spree :P

 

 

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One student seriously injured in California school shooting

via euronews on 1/10/13

There has been another school shooting in the US, this time with one student critically wounded at Taft Union High School in Kern County, California.…

 

 

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Linux 3.0 Kernel for the HTC Explorer (Pico)

What do we want? Newer kernels for our phones! Linux 3.7.1 for all our android handsets!

 

 

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Linux 3.0 Kernel for the HTC Explorer (Pico)

via xda-developers by Haroon Q. Raja on 1/10/13

It's truly impressive how dedicated the developers in our community are in working to keep old devices relevant with the latest OS updates, even after their manufacturers have ditched them entirely in favor of newer devices. In one such development, XDA Recognized Developer sakindia123 has ported the Linux 3.0.16 kernel to the HTC Explorer. This is great news for ROM developers since this will bring better support for ICS and Jelly Bean ROMs, in addition to better speed and security.

At the moment, the kernel supports most device features including touch screen, hardware acceleration, brightness, screen controls, accelerometer, vibrator, ambient light sensor, RIL, camera, clock, battery, phone calls, messaging, mobile data, capacitive buttons, GPS, storage, deep sleep, USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Sound also works, though the volume is rather low. The volume-up and power buttons aren't functional at the moment though, and the lack of power button functionality would likely be the primary reason for the kernel to be not yet ready for use as a daily driver. However, the developer is working on the kernel, and we might likely see a fix for this in a future update.

Developers can find more details and the source code link in the development forum thread. There is a users thread as well, to keep discussion not related to development separate.

 

 

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An operating system designed for FPGA-based reconfigurable computers

nicely done!

 

 

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An operating system designed for FPGA-based reconfigurable computers

via OSNews by donotreply@osnews.com (Thom Holwerda) on 1/9/13

"BORPH is an operating system designed for FPGA-based reconfigurable computers. It is an extended version of the Linux kernel that handles FPGAs as if they were CPUs. BORPH introduces the concept of a 'hardware process', which is a hardware design that runs on an FPGA but behaves just like a normal user program. The BORPH kernel provides standard system services, such as file system access to hardware processes, allowing them to communicate with the rest of the system easily and systematically. The name is an acronym for 'Berkeley Operating system for ReProgrammable Hardware'."

 

 

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Giant squid caught on camera

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/nsil99bL2EU/

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Earth-size planets 'number 17bn'

Not so unique after all :P Just a random rock in the planetary system of a random star.

 

 

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Earth-size planets 'number 17bn'

via BBC News - Home on 1/7/13

An analysis of planet candidates suggests at least one in six stars in the night sky hosts an Earth-sized planet - 17 billion in total.

 

 

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Hands-on with Lego's Mindstorms EV3 kit (video)

Come out and play! :D

 

 

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Hands-on with Lego's Mindstorms EV3 kit (video)

via Engadget by Daniel Cooper on 1/7/13

Lego's third-generation Mindstorms kit has been redesigned to appeal to both kids desperate to craft and modders looking for even more customizability. With assembly instructions now provided by a 3D animated diagram on an iPad app, this isn't the Lego you'll have remember from childhood. If you'd like to see what it's like in action, head on past the break to watch the video.

Gallery: Lego Mindstorms EV3 Hands-on at CES 2013

Continue reading Hands-on with Lego's Mindstorms EV3 kit (video)

Filed under: Robots

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01/07/12 PHD comic: 'Kickjumper'

 

 

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01/07/12 PHD comic: 'Kickjumper'

via PHD Comics on 1/7/13

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "Kickjumper" - originally published 1/7/2012 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

 

 

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Τι κάνετε μωρέ? Σταματήστε το ξύλο! Όχι άλλο ξύλο :P

Ενδιαφέρον άρθρο:

http://iwn1998.blogspot.gr/2013/01/blog-post_4.html

Ta ta,
--
elias a.k.a. diluted

Starbucks to open shop in Vietnam

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20896489#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
Next station: north Korea :p
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Cannabis 'makes pain more bearable'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20810603#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Keeping current with C: tips, tricks & resources

http://www.embedded.com/electronics-blogs/other/4403074/Keeping-current-with-C--tips--tricks---resources

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12/07/12 PHD comic: 'Amazing'

 

 

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12/07/12 PHD comic: 'Amazing'

via PHD Comics on 12/7/12

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "Amazing" - originally published 12/7/2012

 

 

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We all have hundreds of DNA flaws

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20617312#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
No one is infallible; not even the pope. Was Jesus a bug-free human? He should have been, for his father's sake :p
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Marijuana legal in first US state

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20621210#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
Nice :)
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Researchers to bore through 3km of Antarctic ice, seek organisms isolated for 100K years

http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/03/researchers-to-bore-through-3km-of-antarctic-ice-with-hot-water/

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NASA’s Voyager 1 creeps towards interstellar space

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/3ArStpTir2k/

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World's First Fully Functioning Missile-Shooting Robotic Transformer

http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotHardware/~3/BXUazA06Hqo/story01.htm

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Astronomers discover the most massive black hole ever

http://feeds.slashgear.com/~r/slashgear/~3/aJIjvye-N2E/

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Pacific island 'does not exist'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20442487#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
We are facing a major cover-up here. Now they say that an island does not exist and never existed. Tomorrow they'll support the same for Greece :p
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Scientists use nanotechnology to harvest electricity from temperature fluctuations

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/21/thermal-nanotechnology-harvest-electricity/

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EyeSee mannequins used to spy on shoppers, confirm paranoid fears

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/20/eyesee-mannequins/

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Hostage negotiation skills 'good for business'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20391674#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Somewhere in Marousi, Greece

Progress in the line 1 of the Athens metro system!

Are 'geek' and 'nerd' now positive terms?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20325517#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
They always were :p
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Rampant abuse of push notifications

http://osnews.com/story/26548/Rampant_abuse_of_push_notifications

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11/07/12 PHD comic: 'Punctuation mark decoder'

 

 

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11/07/12 PHD comic: 'Punctuation mark decoder'

via PHD Comics on 11/7/12

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "Punctuation mark decoder" - originally published 11/7/2012 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

 

 

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Μία σύντομη κριτική της προπαγάνδας στον ηλεκτρονικό τύπο (στο .gr domain)

Διάβασα ένα άρθρο στο www.in.gr με τίτλο "Στη δίνη της ψηφοφορίας για τα επώδυνα μέτρα στροβιλίζεται το πολιτικό σκηνικό" [1].

Πίπες. Υποτίθεται ότι η δουλειά ενός site που περιέχει ειδήσεις είναι να ενημερώνει τον κόσμο για τις εξελίξεις, όχι να προβάλει μια κριτική της ποιότητας των μέτρων. [2] (γιατί το "επώδυνα" και γενικά η σύνταξη του τίτλου αυτό κάνει) 

Το πώς θα χαρακτηριστούν τα μέτρα είναι καθαρά υποκειμενικό θέμα του καθενός και σίγουρα δεν είναι κάτι που ένα "σοβαρό" site ειδήσεων πρέπει να αφήνει τον εκάστοτε αρθρογράφο να κάνει.

Μπορεί (δεν ξέρω; απλά υποθέτω*) ο χαρακτηρισμός των μέτρων, ως κάτι που προκαλεί αισθήματα οδύνης, να συμπίπτει με την γνώμη που τρέφει για αυτά η πλειοψηφία των κατοίκων της Ελλάδας (που υπόκεινται στο φορολογικό της σύστημα), αλλά το να παρουσιάζεται αυτός ο χαρακτηρισμός σε πολλά ([3], [4], [5], [6]) άρθρα του site ενός έγκριτου δημοσιογραφικού οργανισμού [7] θεωρώ ότι είναι καθοδήγηση της κοινής γνώμης [8] (αυτή μπορεί να εκλιφθεί από conspiracy theorists σαν υποκινούμενη από διαφόρων ειδών συμφέροντα [9]).

Αυτή είναι η γνώμη μου, αλλά εγώ δεν είμαι δημοσιογράφος και άρα μπορώ να μην είμαι αντικειμενικός.

Euronews FTW [10].

* σε εμένα προκαλούν αίσθηση μίσους για οποιονδήποτε πολιτικό** της δημοκρατικής Ελλάδας, αλλά όχι οδύνη. Δεν θα κλάψω, ούτε λυπηθώ και ούτε θα νιώσω έντονο ψυχικό πόνο [11], πράγματα που έτσι και αλλιώς συνδέονται με την αποδοχή της κατάστασης [12] (και άρα παραίτηση από την αντίδραση [how's that for a conspiracy?]).

** όχι γενικά για μας τους Έλληνες, γιατί όπως ποτέ δεν φταίνε οι υπάλληλοι μιας εταιρίας, αλλά πάντα φταίει ο manager και όπως δεν φταίει το παιδί που συμπεριφέρεται κάπως, αλλά οι μαλάκες οι γονείς του που το αφήνουν [13], έτσι δεν φταίνε οι πολίτες που είναι κάπως μαθημένοι, αλλά οι πολιτικοί που είναι λαμόγια, αλήτες, ρουφιάνοι, αισχροί, προδότες, αρκουδέιδες και καθιζήματα [14] και τους οδήγησαν να γίνουν έτσι.

References:

[1] http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1231220572

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivity_(journalism)

[3] http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1231214700

[4] http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1231211295

[5] http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1231149096

[6] http://news.in.gr/economy/article/?aid=1231216256

[7] http://www.dol.gr/

[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

[9] Wilhelm Reich, "The Mass Psychology Of Fascism" (Section X.3.2 "Objective criticism and irrational fault-finding"), English translation by Theodore P. Wolfe, Orgone Institute Press, New York, 1946

[10] http://www.euronews.com/the-station/ 

[11] http://el.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%8D%CE%BD%CE%B7
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief

[13] http://maimanakos.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post_31.html

[14] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFhCRm1bjtY&feature=fvwrel

-- 

elias a.k.a. diluted

Mars Curiosity Rover takes a high-res self-portrait

 

 

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Mars Curiosity Rover takes a high-res self-portrait

via SlashGear by Craig Lloyd on 11/2/12

Today, NASA released a high-resolution self-portrait of the Mars Curiosity rover taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). The photo consists of 55 images that were stitched together to create one giant photograph of the rover. The images were taken on October 31, and were sent down to Earth this morning.

Obviously, this is nothing short of stunning. The image shows Curiosity in Gale Crater, and you can see the base of Aeolis Mons (or Mount Sharp) in the background, a 3-mile high mountain. To the left on the ground, you can see four small holes where Curiosity was digging around in order to find out if life on Mars ever existed.

However, the photo isn't just for entertainment purposes. NASA uses the self-portrait to track the physical state of Curiosity, like dust accumulation and wheel wear. NASA will take several of these throughout Curiosity's mission to track changes over time. However, due to the MAHLI's location on Curiosity's robotic arm, it's only able to capture a certain portion of the rover.

Then again, Curiosity has 17 cameras on board, which is way more than what most professional photographers have on hand. NASA is making sure that Curiosity takes a lot of photos of different areas of Mars, and you can keep up with all the photos on NASA's website. In the meantime, enjoy the self-portrait and think about the fact that this photo was taken on a different planet.

[via Universe Today]

Mars Curiosity Rover takes a high-res self-portrait is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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“Apology” Didn’t Cut It; Apple Ordered to Really Apologize

omg, Apple's butt must be in pain from the judge's spanking :P
hey apple! hey apple! hey apple! [1] can't you simply say "I'm sorry?" [2]
references:
[1] Annoying orange
[2] SouthPark: Season 14 Episode 11, Coon 2: Hindsight (1)

 

 

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“Apology” Didn’t Cut It; Apple Ordered to Really Apologize

via xda-developers by jerdog on 11/1/12

Last week, we told you about Apple's creative "apology." We expressed our opinion that Apple failed at following the order from the UK Court of Appeals. The court felt the same way, and has ordered Apple to correct their statement within 48 hours. It must be in at least 11-point font instead of the small text used by Apple and ON the front page rather than a linked page as Apple attempted to do. They called the statement Apple posted as "untrue" and "incorrect" and were, to put it lightly, quite displeased. Judge Robin Jacob had this to say about Apple:

"I'm at a loss that a company such as Apple would do this. That is a plain breach of the order."

Apple's lawyers said that it would take at least 14 days to comply with the order and requested that timeframe, to which the Court denied and had this to say in response:

"I would like to see the head of Apple make an affidavit setting out the technical difficulties which means Apple can't put this on" their website, Jacob said. "I just can't believe the instructions you've been given. This is Apple. They cannot put something on their website?"

What also appears to be missing are the newspaper adverts that Apple was ordered to place, but no mention of them were made by the Court. We'll have to stay tuned to see what else turns up in this now mind-boggling case.

Source: Bloomberg, Guardian

 

 

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Voyager 1 encounters mystery at the edge of our solar system

 

 

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Voyager 1 encounters mystery at the edge of our solar system

via SlashGear by Shane McGlaun on 11/1/12

The Voyager 1 probe has been soaring through the solar system for 35 years. Voyager 1 is currently the most distant man-made object from the Earth in history. Scientists believe that the probe recently left the suns protective sphere of influence. The sphere of influence I'm talking about is the Sun's magnetic bubble called the heliosphere.

Scientists analyzing data being sent back from Voyager 1 have discovered a mystery at the edge of the solar system's magnetic boundary with interstellar space. The probe is so far from Earth that it takes over 17 hours for signal to travel from Voyager 1 back to the Earth. Scientists have been anxiously watching key data, including the particle energy count and the magnetic field strength indicator and orientation in an effort to determine precisely when the probe leaves our heliosphere.

Scientists previously believed that when the probe entered an area known as the heliosheath the magnetic field would begin to fluctuate, and the number of high-energy cosmic rays would decrease the magnetic fluctuations. However, scientists looking at the data throughout 2010 found that the opposite actually occurred. When the probe entered the heliosheath, the magnetic field became more chaotic and the number of high-energy particles detected by Voyager 1 actually increased.

This is the mystery that scientists are working to solve right now. The researchers suspect that the magnetic fluctuations in the area surrounding Voyager 1 are somehow energizing charged particles within the heliosheath and therefore, increasing the number of detections by Voyager 1. The scientists are also working now to determine if Voyager 1 has finally left our solar system, and is now cruising through interstellar space.

Story Timeline

• Voyager plies a new region of space at the edge of our solar system
• Voyager may exit our solar system much earlier than expected

[via discovery.com]

Voyager 1 encounters mystery at the edge of our solar system is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

 

 

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VIDEO: Greek officials 'lied' about list

to the abyss with thee, greek politicians

 

 

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VIDEO: Greek officials 'lied' about list

via BBC News - Home on 10/31/12

A Greek journalist goes on trial today after publishing a list of over 2,000 Greeks said to hold bank accounts in Switzerland, some of whom are suspected of tax evasion.

 

 

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Martian soil sample 'like Hawaii'

 

 

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Martian soil sample 'like Hawaii'

via BBC News - Home on 10/31/12

The results are in from the Mars rover Curiosity's first taste of Martian soil - and it looks like what geologists see on the Hawaiian islands.

 

 

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10/31/12 PHD comic: 'How many Ph.D.s does it take?'

 

 

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10/31/12 PHD comic: 'How many Ph.D.s does it take?'

via PHD Comics on 10/31/12

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "How many Ph.D.s does it take?" - originally published 10/31/2012 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

 

 

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Για ένα παιχνίδι...

 

 

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Για ένα παιχνίδι...

via MyBlog-MαϊΜπλογκ by Maiman on 10/30/12

http://www.theinsider.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22113%3Apagkalos-gia-k-arbaniti-einai-dimosiografos-xoris-talento-me-tiletheasi-17&catid=104%3Amedia-stories&Itemid=159

http://www.ikypros.com/easyconsole.cfm/id/58281

http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/?aid=233027

       Tις προάλλες ήμουν καλεσμένος σε ένα παιδικό πάρτι, όντας συγγενής του εορτάζοντα. Παιδιά 5-8 χρονών παίζανε παιχνίδια υπό την διακριτική παρακολούθηση των γονιών τους. Την ώρα που τα παρακολουθούσα  συγκεκριμένα, παίζανε μουσικές καρέκλες-το γνωστό παιδικό παιχνίδι. Τα παιδιά όσο έπαιζε η μουσική γυρνούσαν γύρω από καρέκλες και έπρεπε να κάτσουν αμέσως σε μία γιατί οι καρέκλες ήταν λιγότερες κατά μία από τα παιδιά και όποιος δεν προλάβαινε να καθίσει έχανε και έβγαινε από το παιχνίδι.

       Ξαφνικά όταν η μουσική σταμάτησε παρατηρώ ένα μεγαλύτερο παιδί να κάθεται στην κυριολεξία πάνω (!)  σε ένα μικρότερο που είχε ήδη προλάβει την καρέκλα .Μάλιστα το στρίμωξε έτσι ώστε να φαίνεται ότι καθόταν πλαι πλαι. Όταν η νηπιαγωγός που επέβλεπε το παιχνίδι ρώτησε τα 2 παιδιά ποιος κάθισε πρώτος ώστε να αποβάλλει τον δεύτερο , σύμφωνα με τους κανόνες του παιχνιδιού, το μεγαλύτερο παιδί με ιδιαίτερη άνεση είπε πως είχε κάτσει πρώτο. Αμέσως είπα τι είχε γίνει ώστε να μη φύγει από το παιχνίδι το παιδί που είχε παίξει σωστά.  Τότε το παιδί που είχε προσπαθήσει να κλέψει άρχισε να κλαίει συνεχίζοντας να υποστηρίζει πως είχε κάτσει πρώτος προκαλώντας το γέλιο σε όσους είχαν παρακολουθήσει την σκηνή.

       Μέσα από τα γέλια άκουσα όμως κι από έναν τύπο να λέει "εσύ τι κάνεις τον ρουφιάνο; " (δεν μου απευθύνθηκε άμεσα αλλά το είπε με τη λογική ότι θα μπορούσε να μου το  έχει πει το παιδί) Φυσικά γύρισα και του είπα "καλύτερα ρουφιάνος παρά λαμόγιο" και η "συζήτηση" έληξε εκεί.

         Σίγουρα ήταν ένα παιχνίδι, αλλά το όλο περιστατικό φανερώνει την κακή νοοτροπία που διακατέχει πολλούς από εμάς. Κάποιοι σήμερα νιώθουν ότι μπορούν να παρανομούν, να κάνουν το δικό τους, χωρίς να έχουν κανέναν έλεγχο.  Το χειρότερο είναι μάλιστα ότι δε διστάζουν να ονομάσουν "ρουφιάνο" και να στιγματίσουν αυτόν που θα κάνει επίπληξη ή να πουν το πιο εύκολο "εσύ να κοιτάς τη δουλειά σου".Έτσι ο καθένας αφήνεται να κλέβει , να χτίζει αυθαίρετα, να φοροδιαφεύγει και πολλά άλλα. Αν επέμβει ένας άλλος πολίτης και καταγγείλει κάτι, τότε  δυστυχώς πολλοί είναι αυτοί που θα θεωρήσουν ότι κακώς ανακατεύτηκε-ειδικότερα μάλιστα σε περιπτώσεις που καταγγείλουμε μια αδικία που δε θίγει εμάς άμεσα αλλά κάποιον άλλον. Αυτή η νοοτροπία είναι που έχει οδηγήσει στον ωχαδερφισμό της σημερινής εποχής.Οι άνθρωποι που προσπαθούν να αλλάξουν όλη αυτή την νοοτροπία παραμερίζονται και χαρακτηρίζονται "ρουφιάνοι" λες και πρόδωσαν κανάν αγωνιστή της αντίστασης στους Ναζί! 

      Εκτός από το "ρουφιάνοι" βέβαια  υπάρχουν  και άλλοι τρόποι και δικαιολογίες να βρεις για να κατηγορήσεις κάποιον που προσπαθεί να κάνει κάτι σωστό. Τον Βαξεβάνη (άσχετα με το ότι δεν τον συμπαθώ και πιστεύω πως έκανε ό,τι έκανε για λόγους προσωπικής προβολής) και τον Αρβανίτη τους κατηγόρησαν για αντιδεοντολογικούς  κ.α. αλλά βέβαια, το "δια ταύτα" ,τα ονόματα της λίστας και το τι συμβαίνει με αυτά  ή αντίστοιχα μια δήλωση του υπουργού για την κακοποίηση των συλληφθέντων δεν ήρθε ποτέ στην επιφάνεια. Ειδικά για την δεύτερη περίπτωση δεν θα μαθαίναμε καν για το περιστατικό αν δεν είχε κοπεί η εκπομπή του δημοσιογράφου.Το κακό με αυτές τις πρακτικές είναι ότι βλέποντας την τύχη αυτών που αγωνίζονται για την αλήθεια , άνθρωποι που έχουν διάθεση να τους μιμηθούν -ιδιαίτερα οι νέοι- πολλές φορές καταλήγουν στο να σιωπούν και να σφυρίζουν αδιάφορα.

         Βέβαια για να έχεις κανείς το δικαίωμα να καταγγέλει και να ελέγχει τους γύρω του πρέπει να είναι και αυτός ανοιχτός σε κάθε έλεγχο που θα του γίνει από άλλους. Αυτό όμως σε καμιά περίπτωση δεν μειώνει το βάρος μιας αληθινής καταγγελίας.Δεν πρέπει να εξετάζουμε σε πρώτο βαθμό το αν αυτός που κάνει μια καταγγελία είναι κακός ή οτιδήποτε άλλο αλλά οφείλουμε να εξετάσουμε το αν η καταγγελία του είναι αληθινή. Εξάλλου κανείς δεν είναι αναμάρτητος  αλλά σίγουρα κάποια ζητήματα, κάποιες παραβάσεις του νόμου και της ηθικής είναι σημαντικότερες από κάποιες άλλες.Το να σκεφτόμαστε "έλα μωρέ τώρα τι καταγγέλεις, εσύ που έχεις κάνει αυτό ή το άλλο" δείχνει διάθεση για ατιμωρησία αλλά και πρόθεση να φιμώσουμε φωνές που καταγγέλουν αδικίες .Μια πρόθεση που ρεαλιστικά εξηγείται μόνο με την υπόθεση πως φοβόμαστε ότι αυτές οι φωνές σε μια άλλη περίπτωση ίσως να αποκάλυπταν την δική μας αδικία/παράβαση. Πρέπει να αποβάλλουμε το φόβο αυτό και να μάθουμε επιτέλους να μπορούμε να ερχόμαστε αντιμέτωποι με τις συνέπειες των πράξεων μας. Έτσι μακροπρόθεσμα θα περιορίσουμε και τις δικές μας παραβατικές ενέργειες που τυχόν κάνουμε στην καθημερινότητα μας .Θα καταφέρουμε το "καθαρός ουρανός αστραπές δεν φοβάται"  και έτσι το αίτημα μας για λιγότερη διαφθορά θα αποκτήσει και μεγαλύτερη λογική και ηθική βάση.

          Είναι χρέος ενός συνειδητοποιημένου κι ενεργού  πολίτη να καταγγέλει φαινόμενα διαφθοράς ανεξάρτητα από το αν αυτά τον επηρεάζουν άμεσα. Η πάταξη της διαφθοράς ξεκινάει από την καθημερινή προσωπική προσπάθεια του κάθε πολίτη και να μην περιορίζεται σε ευχολόγια για τον "δια μαγείας" καθαρισμό του κράτους και της κοινωνίας από τέτοια φαινόμενα Αυτό συμβαίνιει γιατί η διαφθορά βρίσκεται σε όλα τα κοινωνικά στρώματα. Μια κοινωνία που είναι πιο δεκτική σε άνθρώπους που καταγγέλουν μικρές ή μεγάλες ατασθαλίες  και δηλώνει έτοιμη να υποστεί έλεγχο. αλλά και να εκτελέσει έλεγχο φροντίζει αυτόματα η ίδια ώστε να είναι και λιγότερο διεφθαρμένη.(διαφορετικά δεν θα δέχονταν να ελεγχθεί). Με τις προσπάθειες αυτές δίνεται και το παράδειγμα στις επόμενες γενιές καθώς μόνο μέσω της παιδείας και της αγωγής μπορεί να αντιμετωπιστεί μακροπρόθεσμα η διαφθορά. 

           Τελικά ίσως μου πείτε "πολλά λόγια για ένα παιχνίδι". Αλλά αλήθεια ήταν μόνο για ένα παιχνίδι;

        

 

 

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'Valve: Linux more viable than Windows 8 for gaming'

http://osnews.com/story/26511/_Valve_Linux_more_viable_than_Windows_8_for_gaming_

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AMD Licenses 64-bit Processor Design From ARM

http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotHardware/~3/0e2QfiJ5Fcw/amd-licenses-64-bit-processor-design-from-arm

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