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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?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
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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