Posts
The European Commission has launched an investigation into Google after other search engines complained that the firm had abused its dominant position.
The body said it would look into whether the world's largest search engine lowered the ranking of competing services in its results.
The probe follows complaints by firms including price comparison site Foundem and legal search engine ejustice.fr.
Google said it would work with the Commission to "address any concerns".more here
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
News:Mapping ancient Rome with Google Street View
Google's Street View programme, which takes photographs of public roads and puts them online as a navigation tool, has an ambitious new project - to capture the archaeological sites of Rome.
A team has already photographed the Colosseum with its hi-tech camera system and is now working on the Roman Forum.
The Street View scheme has been banned by some countries because of fears about privacy, but Google says it has put in new safeguards.
From Rome, Duncan Kennedy reports.
source here
A team has already photographed the Colosseum with its hi-tech camera system and is now working on the Roman Forum.
The Street View scheme has been banned by some countries because of fears about privacy, but Google says it has put in new safeguards.
From Rome, Duncan Kennedy reports.
source here
How would you like to deal with this person?
Tenant from hell' leaves landlords scared
Published: 9:42PM Monday November 29, 2010 Source: ONE News
A Rotorua tenant is being dubbed "the tenant from hell" by her landlords, who cop abuse any time they try to get her to pay outstanding rent.
TV ONE's Close Up programme met four property-owners who have had rough dealings with Ruth Wheeler, which have left them frustrated and fearful.more here
Question: Which is worse? To be saddled with a tenant who cannot be reasoned with, or feel forced to move to get away from her?
Published: 9:42PM Monday November 29, 2010 Source: ONE News
A Rotorua tenant is being dubbed "the tenant from hell" by her landlords, who cop abuse any time they try to get her to pay outstanding rent.
TV ONE's Close Up programme met four property-owners who have had rough dealings with Ruth Wheeler, which have left them frustrated and fearful.more here
Question: Which is worse? To be saddled with a tenant who cannot be reasoned with, or feel forced to move to get away from her?
Sunday, November 28, 2010
News:Wikileaks 'hacked ahead of secret US document release'
28 November 2010
Whistle-blowing website Wikileaks says it is under attack from a computer-hacking operation, ahead of a release of secret US documents.
"We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack," it says on its Twitter feed.
It adds that several newspapers will go ahead and publish the documents released to them by Wikileaks even if the site goes down.
The US state department has said the release will put many lives at risk.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said the US authorities are afraid of being held to account.
more here
Whistle-blowing website Wikileaks says it is under attack from a computer-hacking operation, ahead of a release of secret US documents.
"We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack," it says on its Twitter feed.
It adds that several newspapers will go ahead and publish the documents released to them by Wikileaks even if the site goes down.
The US state department has said the release will put many lives at risk.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said the US authorities are afraid of being held to account.
more here
Saturday, November 27, 2010
News:Pirate-hunting warship receives praise from the Queen
A pirate-hunting British frigate has been praised by the Queen during her state visit to the Gulf.
HMS Cornwall is on a six-month deployment to the region to protect shipping in the area.
The ship's captain, Commander David Wilkinson, met the Queen at the official residence of Britain's ambassador to Oman.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's five-day visit to the Gulf has also included the United Arab Emirates.
The royal couple were joined by Foreign Secretary William Hague and his wife Ffion in the grounds of ambassador Dr Noel Guckian's home in the capital Muscat, overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Oman.
more here
HMS Cornwall is on a six-month deployment to the region to protect shipping in the area.
The ship's captain, Commander David Wilkinson, met the Queen at the official residence of Britain's ambassador to Oman.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's five-day visit to the Gulf has also included the United Arab Emirates.
The royal couple were joined by Foreign Secretary William Hague and his wife Ffion in the grounds of ambassador Dr Noel Guckian's home in the capital Muscat, overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Oman.
more here
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
News:New Zealand PM pledges Greymouth mine investigation
25 November 2010 Last updated at 00:07 GMT
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key has promised an investigation into the deaths of 29 miners at the Pike River mine on South Island.
Warning that it could take months to recover the bodies, Mr Key - who will visit Greymouth on Thursday - said the nation "needs answers".
The men were declared dead on Wednesday after a second explosion ripped through the shaft where they were trapped.
more here
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key has promised an investigation into the deaths of 29 miners at the Pike River mine on South Island.
Warning that it could take months to recover the bodies, Mr Key - who will visit Greymouth on Thursday - said the nation "needs answers".
The men were declared dead on Wednesday after a second explosion ripped through the shaft where they were trapped.
more here
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
News:North Korea attack on island causes international alarm
The BBC's John Sudworth explains how the cross-border clash developed
Continue reading the main story
North Korea: A Secretive State
* Hard choices for South Korea
* Q&A: Inter-Korean crisis
* North Korea firing: Why now?
* As it happened: Artillery clash
North Korea's shelling of an island in South Korea near a disputed sea border has drawn international condemnation.
US President Barack Obama said he was "outraged" by the attack on Yeonpyeong island. It was also denounced by Russia, Japan and European countries.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon called it "one of the gravest incidents since the Korean War" and urged restraint on both sides.
South Korea returned fire and threatened missile strikes if there were "further provocations".
South Korea's military had been carrying out an exercise nearby, but it denies opening hostilities by firing towards the North.
more here
Continue reading the main story
North Korea: A Secretive State
* Hard choices for South Korea
* Q&A: Inter-Korean crisis
* North Korea firing: Why now?
* As it happened: Artillery clash
North Korea's shelling of an island in South Korea near a disputed sea border has drawn international condemnation.
US President Barack Obama said he was "outraged" by the attack on Yeonpyeong island. It was also denounced by Russia, Japan and European countries.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon called it "one of the gravest incidents since the Korean War" and urged restraint on both sides.
South Korea returned fire and threatened missile strikes if there were "further provocations".
South Korea's military had been carrying out an exercise nearby, but it denies opening hostilities by firing towards the North.
more here
Sunday, November 21, 2010
News:Mine rescue becoming 'longer shot', chairman says
Published: 5:42AM Monday November 22, 2010 Source: ONE News/NZPA
The chairman of Pike River Coal says the company remains hopeful of finding the 29 miners alive but concedes that as the days go by it is becoming a "longer shot".
John Dow's comments this morning came after the families of the trapped miners spent an agonising third night waiting for a rescue attempt to start.
Engineers have been working throughout the night on a bore hole, which will collect air samples from near where the miners are thought to be.more here
The chairman of Pike River Coal says the company remains hopeful of finding the 29 miners alive but concedes that as the days go by it is becoming a "longer shot".
John Dow's comments this morning came after the families of the trapped miners spent an agonising third night waiting for a rescue attempt to start.
Engineers have been working throughout the night on a bore hole, which will collect air samples from near where the miners are thought to be.more here
Thursday, November 18, 2010
News:'Alien' planet detected circling dying star
18 November 2010 Last updated at 19:03 GMT
By Neil Bowdler Science reporter, BBC News
Astronomers claim to have discovered the first planet originating from outside our galaxy.
The Jupiter-like planet, they say, is part of a solar system which once belonged to a dwarf galaxy.
This dwarf galaxy was in turn devoured by our own galaxy, the Milky Way, according to a team writing in the academic journal Science.
The star, called HIP 13044, is nearing the end of its life and is 2000 light years from Earth.
The discovery was made using a telescope in Chile.more here
By Neil Bowdler Science reporter, BBC News
Astronomers claim to have discovered the first planet originating from outside our galaxy.
The Jupiter-like planet, they say, is part of a solar system which once belonged to a dwarf galaxy.
This dwarf galaxy was in turn devoured by our own galaxy, the Milky Way, according to a team writing in the academic journal Science.
The star, called HIP 13044, is nearing the end of its life and is 2000 light years from Earth.
The discovery was made using a telescope in Chile.more here
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
News:US web traffic rerouted via China Telecom
17 November 2010 Last updated at 13:53 GMT
The traffic to some highly sensitive US websites was briefly rerouted via China, the US government has said.
The incident, which happened for 18 minutes last April, is published in a report by the US-China Economic and Security review commission.
It found that China Telecom sent incorrect routing information, but it is not clear whether it was intentional.
It comes amid continuing discussions in the US and the UK about cyber-security.
Among traffic rerouted via China was that destined for the websites of the US Senate, the Office of the Secretary of Defence, Nasa and the Commerce Department, the report said.
"Evidence related to this incident does not clearly indicate whether it was perpetrated intentionally and, if so, to what ends," according to the report.
"However, computer security researchers have noted that the capability could enable severe malicious activities," it added.
more here
The traffic to some highly sensitive US websites was briefly rerouted via China, the US government has said.
The incident, which happened for 18 minutes last April, is published in a report by the US-China Economic and Security review commission.
It found that China Telecom sent incorrect routing information, but it is not clear whether it was intentional.
It comes amid continuing discussions in the US and the UK about cyber-security.
Among traffic rerouted via China was that destined for the websites of the US Senate, the Office of the Secretary of Defence, Nasa and the Commerce Department, the report said.
"Evidence related to this incident does not clearly indicate whether it was perpetrated intentionally and, if so, to what ends," according to the report.
"However, computer security researchers have noted that the capability could enable severe malicious activities," it added.
more here
News:Antimatter atom trapped for first time, say scientists
17 November 2010
By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC News
Antimatter atoms have been trapped for the first time, scientists say.
Researchers at Cern, home of the LHC, have held 38 antihydrogen atoms in place, each for a fraction of a second.
While antihydrogen has been produced before, it is instantly destroyed in a flash of light when it encounters normal matter.
The team, reporting in Nature, says the ability to study such antimatter atoms will allow previously impossible tests of fundamental tenets of physics. more here
By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC News
Antimatter atoms have been trapped for the first time, scientists say.
Researchers at Cern, home of the LHC, have held 38 antihydrogen atoms in place, each for a fraction of a second.
While antihydrogen has been produced before, it is instantly destroyed in a flash of light when it encounters normal matter.
The team, reporting in Nature, says the ability to study such antimatter atoms will allow previously impossible tests of fundamental tenets of physics. more here
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
News:India mobile licence sale lost billions, auditors say
16 November 2010 Last updated at 13:22 GMT
India's former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja undersold mobile phone licences worth billions of dollars, federal auditors say.
Their report to parliament says rules were flouted in the 2008 sale of second-generation (2G) spectrum.
Licences in the lucrative market had been sold at "unbelievably low prices" - the loss to the government could be as high as $39bn, the report said.
Mr Raja resigned over the weekend, denying any wrongdoing.
The former communications and information technology minister said he wanted "to avoid embarrassment to the government" and allow parliament - which has been in uproar - to function normally.
He is accused of issuing the licences on a "first-come, first-served" basis instead of auctioning them. An auction of 3G bandwidth in May ended up reaping $15bn, twice the sum expected.
Mr Raja was quoted by the Indian media on Tuesday as saying that the government's position on the matter had been filed in an affidavit before the Supreme Court - and that he could not comment any further as the case was sub judice.
more here
India's former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja undersold mobile phone licences worth billions of dollars, federal auditors say.
Their report to parliament says rules were flouted in the 2008 sale of second-generation (2G) spectrum.
Licences in the lucrative market had been sold at "unbelievably low prices" - the loss to the government could be as high as $39bn, the report said.
Mr Raja resigned over the weekend, denying any wrongdoing.
The former communications and information technology minister said he wanted "to avoid embarrassment to the government" and allow parliament - which has been in uproar - to function normally.
He is accused of issuing the licences on a "first-come, first-served" basis instead of auctioning them. An auction of 3G bandwidth in May ended up reaping $15bn, twice the sum expected.
Mr Raja was quoted by the Indian media on Tuesday as saying that the government's position on the matter had been filed in an affidavit before the Supreme Court - and that he could not comment any further as the case was sub judice.
more here
News:Pc 'gave information to suspect'
16 November 2010 Last updated at 15:56 GMT
A police officer passed on confidential information to a drugs suspect whose car was being watched by detectives, a court has heard.
Pc Margaret Low, from Tayside Police, is accused of perverting the course of justice, along with her newspaper executive partner Scott Barlass.
Perth Sheriff Court was told Pc Low was working at a police CCTV centre when she tipped off suspect Callum Menzies.
Both Pc Low and Mr Barlass deny the charges.
Jurors at the trial heard that detectives who suspected skip hire company owner Mr Menzies may be involved in the drugs trade spotted a car belonging to him in Perth.
more here
A police officer passed on confidential information to a drugs suspect whose car was being watched by detectives, a court has heard.
Pc Margaret Low, from Tayside Police, is accused of perverting the course of justice, along with her newspaper executive partner Scott Barlass.
Perth Sheriff Court was told Pc Low was working at a police CCTV centre when she tipped off suspect Callum Menzies.
Both Pc Low and Mr Barlass deny the charges.
Jurors at the trial heard that detectives who suspected skip hire company owner Mr Menzies may be involved in the drugs trade spotted a car belonging to him in Perth.
more here
Monday, November 15, 2010
News:Huge antenna launched into space
15 November 2010 Last updated at 14:19 GMT
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Skyterra1 (Boeing) Once deployed, the antenna reflector will measure 22m (72ft) across
A US satellite carrying the biggest commercial antenna reflector ever put in space has been launched successfully from Baikonur in Kazakhstan.
The mesh structure on the Skyterra-1 spacecraft is 22m (72ft) across.
It will relay signals for a new 4G-LTE mobile phone and data system for North America run by Lightsquared.
Callers whose networks are tied into the system will be automatically switched to a satellite if they are out of range of a terrestrial mast.
Lightsquared is the latest effort to try to establish a hybrid satellite-terrestrial system in the US.
Two previous ventures ran into financial problems. Both Terrestar and DBSD North America had to seek legal protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules while they sought to restructure enormous debts built up as they rolled out their systems.
Skyterra-1 (Boeing) The satellite has been built by Boeing
LightSquared has promised a different approach. It says its business will be wholesale only. It will be selling capacity to carriers who wish to offer go-anywhere connectivity to their consumers, be they phone or data users.
more here
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Skyterra1 (Boeing) Once deployed, the antenna reflector will measure 22m (72ft) across
A US satellite carrying the biggest commercial antenna reflector ever put in space has been launched successfully from Baikonur in Kazakhstan.
The mesh structure on the Skyterra-1 spacecraft is 22m (72ft) across.
It will relay signals for a new 4G-LTE mobile phone and data system for North America run by Lightsquared.
Callers whose networks are tied into the system will be automatically switched to a satellite if they are out of range of a terrestrial mast.
Lightsquared is the latest effort to try to establish a hybrid satellite-terrestrial system in the US.
Two previous ventures ran into financial problems. Both Terrestar and DBSD North America had to seek legal protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules while they sought to restructure enormous debts built up as they rolled out their systems.
Skyterra-1 (Boeing) The satellite has been built by Boeing
LightSquared has promised a different approach. It says its business will be wholesale only. It will be selling capacity to carriers who wish to offer go-anywhere connectivity to their consumers, be they phone or data users.
more here
Sunday, November 14, 2010
New paper in town
On November 5, 2010 a new weekly paper appeared in our letter box. Before it arrived, the city of Upper Hutt (where I live) had only "The Leader" as its weekly newspaper.
The paper has its own web site at Upper Hutt Star.
Its purpose is to "report positive news about the city we live in".
The paper has its own web site at Upper Hutt Star.
Its purpose is to "report positive news about the city we live in".
From the blog master (USE THE BLOG)
As time passes an increasing array of issues and articles have appeared on this blog. This is the second one today (15 November 2010).Much of the content consists of news articles, but it also contains hints, answers to your questions, topical material and other entries suited to the interests of members and visitors.
It would be even better with the addition of your comments or the insightful things you have gleaned along your way. You are welcome to add material, comments and articles you have found of value. Indeed, it is important for you to do so. Without you, I might be talking to myself! That would not do at all. (John Durham 15 November 2010)
It would be even better with the addition of your comments or the insightful things you have gleaned along your way. You are welcome to add material, comments and articles you have found of value. Indeed, it is important for you to do so. Without you, I might be talking to myself! That would not do at all. (John Durham 15 November 2010)
News:Earth's pull 'shaped Moon's surface'
12 November 2010 Last updated at 15:45 GMT
By Neil Bowdler
Science reporter, BBC News
The Earth may have played a major role in shaping the lunar surface, according to a new research study by US researchers.
The team members say our planet's gravitational pull distorted the shape of the Moon in ancient times.
This led to "bulging" at the equator and could explain why the far side is more elevated than the near side of the Moon even today.
Details of the study are published in the journal Science.
The far side of the Moon remains a mystery in many ways. Densely cratered, it has few of the volcanic plains that characterise the near side with which we are all familiar, and it is much higher - several kilometres higher in places.
Now the authors of a new study think they know why it might have become so high and are blaming the Earth.
more here
By Neil Bowdler
Science reporter, BBC News
The Earth may have played a major role in shaping the lunar surface, according to a new research study by US researchers.
The team members say our planet's gravitational pull distorted the shape of the Moon in ancient times.
This led to "bulging" at the equator and could explain why the far side is more elevated than the near side of the Moon even today.
Details of the study are published in the journal Science.
The far side of the Moon remains a mystery in many ways. Densely cratered, it has few of the volcanic plains that characterise the near side with which we are all familiar, and it is much higher - several kilometres higher in places.
Now the authors of a new study think they know why it might have become so high and are blaming the Earth.
more here
Thursday, November 11, 2010
News:Internet pioneer Vint Cerf warns over address changes
The internet could face years of instability as it moves to a new addressing system, one of the network's original architects has warned.
Vint Cerf, one of the fathers of the internet, spoke as the UK was urged to begin using the new addressing system.
With current addresses due to run out in 2012, nations and businesses must get on with switching, said Mr Cerf.
During the switch internet links could become unreliable, making sites and services hard to reach, Mr Cerf said.
"This has to happen or the internet will stop growing or will not be growable," he said of the move to the addressing system.
The net has grown to its current size using version 4 of its addressing scheme (IPv4), which allows for about 4.3 billion addresses.
Estimates suggest that this pool of addresses will be exhausted by the end of January 2012.
more here
Vint Cerf, one of the fathers of the internet, spoke as the UK was urged to begin using the new addressing system.
With current addresses due to run out in 2012, nations and businesses must get on with switching, said Mr Cerf.
During the switch internet links could become unreliable, making sites and services hard to reach, Mr Cerf said.
"This has to happen or the internet will stop growing or will not be growable," he said of the move to the addressing system.
The net has grown to its current size using version 4 of its addressing scheme (IPv4), which allows for about 4.3 billion addresses.
Estimates suggest that this pool of addresses will be exhausted by the end of January 2012.
more here
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
News:Yemen mail bomb 'could have detonated over eastern US'
Tests on a failed parcel bomb sent on a US-bound cargo flight last month show it could have been designed to detonate over the eastern US, say police.
The bomb was found in a printer cartridge on a plane in a UK airport, after being posted from Yemen. "If the device had activated it would have been at 1030hrs BST (0930 GMT) on Friday 29 October 2010," said British police. A second mail bomb, also sent from Yemen, was intercepted in Dubai.
The UK bomb, intercepted at East Midlands airport, was discovered early on 29 October, following a tip-off from Saudi intelligence. It was removed and "disrupted" by explosives officers about three hours before it was timed to detonate, police said in a statement.
"If the device had not been removed from the aircraft the activation could have occurred over the eastern seaboard of the US," they said.
More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11729720
Note: In my little corner of the Pacific, these kinds of incidents seem frightening. Oh, we have our problems, but very few incidents here can be compared with the things happening overseas. Folk sympathize with the ones affected, but often feel powerless to improve the lot of those affected by people who target the innocent for some perceived advantage. The world is changing around us as we watch. Will it still be a fit place to bring up our children?
The bomb was found in a printer cartridge on a plane in a UK airport, after being posted from Yemen. "If the device had activated it would have been at 1030hrs BST (0930 GMT) on Friday 29 October 2010," said British police. A second mail bomb, also sent from Yemen, was intercepted in Dubai.
The UK bomb, intercepted at East Midlands airport, was discovered early on 29 October, following a tip-off from Saudi intelligence. It was removed and "disrupted" by explosives officers about three hours before it was timed to detonate, police said in a statement.
"If the device had not been removed from the aircraft the activation could have occurred over the eastern seaboard of the US," they said.
More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11729720
Note: In my little corner of the Pacific, these kinds of incidents seem frightening. Oh, we have our problems, but very few incidents here can be compared with the things happening overseas. Folk sympathize with the ones affected, but often feel powerless to improve the lot of those affected by people who target the innocent for some perceived advantage. The world is changing around us as we watch. Will it still be a fit place to bring up our children?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
10 Strange Things About The Universe
by Jeff Johnson
The universe can be a very strange place. While groundbreaking ideas such as quantum theory, relativity and even the Earth going around the Sun might be commonly accepted now, science still continues to show that the universe contains things you might find it difficult to believe, and even more difficult to get your head around.
More here
Comment by blog master: This article takes some reading. It discusses in some detail the deeply strange things that happen in the universe including black holes, time travel, the origin of things and much more.
It begins as follows: The universe can be a very strange place. While groundbreaking ideas such as quantum theory, relativity and even the Earth going around the Sun might be commonly accepted now, science still continues to show that the universe contains things you might find it difficult to believe, and even more difficult to get your head around.
I read this for about 30 minutes before coming to the conclusion that space, time and matter relate to each-other in ways we may find hard to imagine. It is well worth a look.
The universe can be a very strange place. While groundbreaking ideas such as quantum theory, relativity and even the Earth going around the Sun might be commonly accepted now, science still continues to show that the universe contains things you might find it difficult to believe, and even more difficult to get your head around.
More here
Comment by blog master: This article takes some reading. It discusses in some detail the deeply strange things that happen in the universe including black holes, time travel, the origin of things and much more.
It begins as follows: The universe can be a very strange place. While groundbreaking ideas such as quantum theory, relativity and even the Earth going around the Sun might be commonly accepted now, science still continues to show that the universe contains things you might find it difficult to believe, and even more difficult to get your head around.
I read this for about 30 minutes before coming to the conclusion that space, time and matter relate to each-other in ways we may find hard to imagine. It is well worth a look.
News:New Zealand's youngest offender 3, oldest 98
Published: 7:22AM Wednesday November 10, 2010 Source: NZPA
There was a 95-year age gap between the youngest person dealt with by police and the oldest in the past year.
A three-year-old toddler apprehended for wilful damage was the youngest New Zealander, while a 98-year-old shoplifter was the oldest, records obtained by The Press under the Official Information Act show.
Two four year olds were also apprehended by police in 2009-2010, one for arson and the other for threatening to kill.
more here
Comment: Who would have thought that one so young would act like this with apparent impunity?
There was a 95-year age gap between the youngest person dealt with by police and the oldest in the past year.
A three-year-old toddler apprehended for wilful damage was the youngest New Zealander, while a 98-year-old shoplifter was the oldest, records obtained by The Press under the Official Information Act show.
Two four year olds were also apprehended by police in 2009-2010, one for arson and the other for threatening to kill.
more here
Comment: Who would have thought that one so young would act like this with apparent impunity?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
News:Electric current to the brain 'boosts maths ability'
4 November 2010 Last updated at 16:01 GMT
Electric current to the brain 'boosts maths ability'
The BBC's Fergus Walsh applies an electric current to his brain
Applying a tiny electrical current to the brain could make you better at learning maths, according to Oxford University scientists.
They found that targeting a part of the brain called the parietal lobe improved the ability of volunteers to solve numerical problems.
They hope the discovery, reported in the journal Current Biology, could help people with dyscalculia, who may struggle with numbers.
Another expert said effects on other brain functions would have to be checked.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We are not advising people to go around giving themselves electric shocks”
End Quote Dr Cohen Kadosh
Some studies have suggested that up to one in five people have trouble with maths, affecting not just their ability to complete problems but also to manage everyday activities such as telling the time and managing money.
Neuroscientists believe that activity within the parietal lobe plays a crucial role in this ability, or the lack of it.
When magnetic fields were used in earlier research to disrupt electrical activity in this part of the brain, previously numerate volunteers temporarily developed discalculia, finding it much harder to solve maths problems.
more here
Electric current to the brain 'boosts maths ability'
The BBC's Fergus Walsh applies an electric current to his brain
Applying a tiny electrical current to the brain could make you better at learning maths, according to Oxford University scientists.
They found that targeting a part of the brain called the parietal lobe improved the ability of volunteers to solve numerical problems.
They hope the discovery, reported in the journal Current Biology, could help people with dyscalculia, who may struggle with numbers.
Another expert said effects on other brain functions would have to be checked.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We are not advising people to go around giving themselves electric shocks”
End Quote Dr Cohen Kadosh
Some studies have suggested that up to one in five people have trouble with maths, affecting not just their ability to complete problems but also to manage everyday activities such as telling the time and managing money.
Neuroscientists believe that activity within the parietal lobe plays a crucial role in this ability, or the lack of it.
When magnetic fields were used in earlier research to disrupt electrical activity in this part of the brain, previously numerate volunteers temporarily developed discalculia, finding it much harder to solve maths problems.
more here
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
News:Google in 'significant breach' of UK data laws
There was a "significant breach" of the Data Protection Act when Google collected personal data via its Street View cars, the UK's Information Commissioner has ruled.
But Google will not face a fine or any punishment, Christopher Graham added.
Instead, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will audit Google's data protection practices.
The move marks a U-turn for the ICO which originally ruled that no data breach had occurred.
more here
But Google will not face a fine or any punishment, Christopher Graham added.
Instead, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will audit Google's data protection practices.
The move marks a U-turn for the ICO which originally ruled that no data breach had occurred.
more here
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
News:BBC News Cornwall: Water staff told 'keep quiet' over Camelford poisoning
Staff from a company involved in the UK's worst mass water poisoning were told to keep quiet about what had happened, an inquest has been told.
Twenty tonnes of aluminium sulphate were accidentally added to the water supply in Camelford, Cornwall, in 1988.
A former manager at the South West Water Authority (SWWA) said senior managers did not want the public knowing what had gone wrong that July.
John Lewis was giving evidence at the inquest of a former Camelford resident.
The hearing in Taunton, Somerset, is looking into the death of Carole Cross, who died in 1994.
About 20,000 homes were affected when a relief delivery driver from Bristol mistakenly added aluminium sulphate to the wrong tank at the Lowermoor treatment plant.
After the water poisoning, those who drank or bathed in it reported suffering from stomach cramps, skin rashes, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers and aching joints.
Mr Lewis was the manager for the Fowey district, which included Lowermoor.
He said the company had realised within 48 hours that aluminium sulphate was the likely cause of the contamination.
More here
Twenty tonnes of aluminium sulphate were accidentally added to the water supply in Camelford, Cornwall, in 1988.
A former manager at the South West Water Authority (SWWA) said senior managers did not want the public knowing what had gone wrong that July.
John Lewis was giving evidence at the inquest of a former Camelford resident.
The hearing in Taunton, Somerset, is looking into the death of Carole Cross, who died in 1994.
About 20,000 homes were affected when a relief delivery driver from Bristol mistakenly added aluminium sulphate to the wrong tank at the Lowermoor treatment plant.
After the water poisoning, those who drank or bathed in it reported suffering from stomach cramps, skin rashes, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers and aching joints.
Mr Lewis was the manager for the Fowey district, which included Lowermoor.
He said the company had realised within 48 hours that aluminium sulphate was the likely cause of the contamination.
More here
Monday, November 1, 2010
Thirty days of geek
The local wellylug (Wellington Linux User Group)
http://www.jethrocarr.com/2010/10/17/30-days-of-geek/
* Day 01 – Why do you consider yourself a geek?
* Day 02 – Preferred programming language?
* Day 03 – What does your day job involve?
* Day 04 – Greatest application written to date.
* Day 05 – Quick nifty hacks you’re proud of
* Day 06 – Primary geek fuel (snacks/drinks)
* Day 07 – Preferred smartphone platform. And which do you use?
* Day 08 – Preferred method of communication with humans
* Day 09 – What OS/distribution do you run?
* Day 10 – Picture, screenshot and specifications of your primary computer.
* Day 11 – Favourite hacking environment – music, light, seating, etc
* Day 12 – What area do you want to expand your skills into?
* Day 13 – How did you become such a geek? Career? Personal interest?
* Day 14 – Favourite computer conference?
* Day 15 – Earliest geek experience
* Day 16 – First computer you’ve ever owned & your favourite ever.
* Day 17 – Post a useful HOWTO to solve a challenge you’ve come across recently.
* Day 18 – Most cringe-worthy geek moment
* Day 19 – Most hated computing environment.
* Day 20 – Where do you stand on Internet Censorship?
* Day 21 – Favourite thing & worst things about working in IT?
* Day 22 – Release some software under an open source license that you haven’t released before.
* Day 23 – Post a review of an application that you use.
* Day 24 – How do you feel about Open Source vs Proprietary software?
* Day 25 – Microsoft – friend, foe or other?
* Day 26 – Apple – friend, foe or other?
* Day 27 – Fix a bug in some open source software and commit the patch
* Day 28 – How many computers lying about the house?
* Day 29 – Looking back (at geek life), would you have done anything differently?
* Day 30 – Where do you see technology advancing in the next 20 years – and where will you fit in?
http://www.jethrocarr.com/2010/10/17/30-days-of-geek/
* Day 01 – Why do you consider yourself a geek?
* Day 02 – Preferred programming language?
* Day 03 – What does your day job involve?
* Day 04 – Greatest application written to date.
* Day 05 – Quick nifty hacks you’re proud of
* Day 06 – Primary geek fuel (snacks/drinks)
* Day 07 – Preferred smartphone platform. And which do you use?
* Day 08 – Preferred method of communication with humans
* Day 09 – What OS/distribution do you run?
* Day 10 – Picture, screenshot and specifications of your primary computer.
* Day 11 – Favourite hacking environment – music, light, seating, etc
* Day 12 – What area do you want to expand your skills into?
* Day 13 – How did you become such a geek? Career? Personal interest?
* Day 14 – Favourite computer conference?
* Day 15 – Earliest geek experience
* Day 16 – First computer you’ve ever owned & your favourite ever.
* Day 17 – Post a useful HOWTO to solve a challenge you’ve come across recently.
* Day 18 – Most cringe-worthy geek moment
* Day 19 – Most hated computing environment.
* Day 20 – Where do you stand on Internet Censorship?
* Day 21 – Favourite thing & worst things about working in IT?
* Day 22 – Release some software under an open source license that you haven’t released before.
* Day 23 – Post a review of an application that you use.
* Day 24 – How do you feel about Open Source vs Proprietary software?
* Day 25 – Microsoft – friend, foe or other?
* Day 26 – Apple – friend, foe or other?
* Day 27 – Fix a bug in some open source software and commit the patch
* Day 28 – How many computers lying about the house?
* Day 29 – Looking back (at geek life), would you have done anything differently?
* Day 30 – Where do you see technology advancing in the next 20 years – and where will you fit in?
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