InfoHub Forums http://infohub.me Infohub community forums. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:28:41 GMT vBulletin 60 http://infohub.me/images/styles/infohub/misc/rss.jpg InfoHub Forums http://infohub.me <![CDATA[Be an Optimist Prime… [PIC]]]> http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2997&goto=newpost Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:30:15 GMT If you liked this, you might also like:...]]>

If you liked this, you might also like: Optimist Prime & Irony Man.

[Via]

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2997 “My Kid is a Über Video Game Geek” Bumper Sticker http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2996&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:41:13 GMT Image: http://geeksaresexy.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/bumper1.jpg Image:...







Das Chupa‘s son is getting out of beta in a little over 3 months, so he designed these awesome bumper stickers to show the world how 1337 his kid is going to end up if everything goes according to his plan.

[Via]

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2996 My Faith in Humanity has Returned http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2995&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:38:14 GMT You will all know /b/ as a hive of scum and villainy. You will know that its members, collectively referred to as "Anon" or "Anonymous" give the internet its reputation as a place for stalking, pornography, criminal activity, and general discontent. So you might be surprised to hear that /b/ could be capable of performing an utterly selfless deed.

On 4th September 2010, an old man, William J. Lashua, was to have his 90th birthday alone, in the Ashburnham, MA American Legion. When one Anon saw the a flyer asking people to wish William the best for his birthday, he posted it on /b/ and the old man immediately captured the hearts of those people who we all thought didn't have any.

Rather than agreeing to track this man down, or torment him, Anon decided to organise his birthday party for him.

On September 4th, William J. Lashua was startled when he received hundreds of birthday cards, a dozen different cakes, five huge UPS deliveries of gifts, and all manner of floral tributes and party snacks. Several /b/rothers in the area and even further out turned up to help make William's 90th birthday the greatest birthday anyone could ask for. He's not a celebrity, but just for one day he was treated like one.

This is the spirit of human love and kindness at its very purest, and it's something you would never expect from the "Internet Hate Machine." This event has restored my faith in humanity and I can't imagine what we could achieve if we all showed each other this kind of love and respect, even to complete strangers.

For the first time ever, I am proud of my species. William J. Lashua fought and saw his friends killed in Europe, during WW2, and this is the kind of world he fought for.

[YOUTUBE]UzqNkIkj3rE[/YOUTUBE] ]]> Member Lounge Tom http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2995 Border technology searches challenged in court http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2994&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:45:53 GMT The...]]> The age-old struggle between security and liberty has a new battle: the way border officials deal with electronic devices.

The American Civil Liberties Union is leading a lawsuit over the Department of Homeland Security’s policy on laptop searches. It is challenging the DHS’ *right to search electronic devices, copy data and even seize the equipment, without any suspicion of wrongdoing.

The lawsuit, which is being filed alongside the New York Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, cites the specific example of a 26-year-old Islamic Studies student who had his laptop seized for 11 days after being questioned on a Montreal-New York train.

The case also makes mention of press photographers and lawyers traveling abroad and, thanks to the DHS policies, being concerned about their ability to protect confidential information and sources.

The ACLU has also released data obtained under freedom of information laws about DHS policies and the number of travelers whose equipment was searched. They show 6,500 searches in a 20 month period (45% on US citizens’ property), which 282 cases in a year of data being transferred to other federal agencies.

A spokesman for the DHS told the Wall Street Journal that ” While we cannot comment on pending litigation, searches of laptops and other electronic media during secondary inspection are a targeted tool that [Customs and Border Protection] uses in limited circumstances to ensure that dangerous people and unlawful goods do not enter our country.”

The DHS position is that government agencies have the same right to search electronic data devices without cause as they do with physical containers such as suitcases or backpacks. That may be a central point if the lawsuit goes to trial as the ACLU maintains that electronic data has a higher degree of confidentiality than physical possessions carried by travellers.



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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2994 Has the takedown of Craigslist Adult Services hurt abused women? http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2993&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:29:23 GMT Image: http://geeksaresexy.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/craig.jpg We’ve already covered Craigslist shutting down the... We’ve already covered Craigslist shutting down the Adult Services section of their website after controversy that a murder victim met her alleged murderer through the section.

Now, Danah Boyd, writing for the Huffington Post, suggests that if the goal is to protect women, shutting down Craigslist Adult Services is counterproductive.
“Rather than helping those who are abused, it fundamentally helps pimps, human traffickers and others who profit off of abusing others.”

Her arguments are that Craigslist actually wants to work with law enforcement to catch true predators (rather than the grey-morality that is consensual prostitution) and that the visibility of the Internet helps bring the real problems of prostitution to light, motivating people to act in their communities. She also notes that law enforcement agencies can more easily track abusive pimps who advertise online rather than offline, and that shutting down adult services hides the problem from law enforcement rather than giving them the resources that they need to track down predators online.

Your thoughts?

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2993 A Telepathic Wheelchair http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2992&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:42 GMT A new neuroprosthetic interface – that is “it reads minds without drilling into skulls” – is being tested by scientists (http://cnbi.epfl.ch/) at the... A new neuroprosthetic interface – that is “it reads minds without drilling into skulls” – is being tested by scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique Federal De Lausanne’s Institute of Bioengineering.

The practical application – one can now pilot an electric wheelchair using only one’s mind – brings a new type of mobility to the fully paralyzed. Users’ specific brain patterns are recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) and then translated into commands given to the chair. To turn left, one imagines moving one’s left hand, for example.

This would be impressive enough, but to take some of the “thinking load” off the user, two small cameras, situated on each side of the chair, helps avoid obstacles, much like a roomba. Between the two techniques, it brings new hope for mobility.



It’s not ready for mass production yet, as there are difficulties in object recognition.
“The system requires advanced artificial intelligence—it will need to distinguish between different types of objects: furniture, people, and doorways. Carlson explains that “if it is a cabinet, the chair should be directed around it. But if it is a desk, the chair will have to recognize it and approach it appropriately.

In the future, the system will be able to interpret the user’s higher-level intentions. “We are trying to analyze different brain patterns, such as error-related potentials that may help to disambiguate the intentions of the user,” says Carlson. “Does the user want to avoid the desk or is it his, and should the chair pull up to it so he can work?”

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2992 Gravity-Defying Coffee Cup http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2991&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:52:15 GMT Now that’s pretty cool. When empty and at rest...]]>

Now that’s pretty cool. When empty and at rest on a flat surface, the “Zero Gravity” coffee cup stays balanced at a perfect angle. Naturally, if you fill it with coffee, you’ll have to set it down the usual way, but hey, I’m sure it’ll impress your guests while they’re waiting for their cup of joe.

[Source: XU54 | Via Techeblog]

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2991 Break http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2990&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:56:11 GMT I need to take a leave of absence from infohub until November 3, 2010 for political reasons. kthxbai. I need to take a leave of absence from infohub until November 3, 2010 for political reasons. kthxbai. ]]> Member Lounge Mike http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2990 <![CDATA[‘At any moment Justin Bieber uses 3% of [Twitter’s] Infrastructure’]]> http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2989&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:14:17 GMT ...]]>

“Racks of servers are dedicated to him.”

Kind of depressing, isn’t it?

[Via Gizmodo]

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2989 A little advice for America... http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2988&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:03:40 GMT The Correct Structure of Government: First and foremost, the two party system should be completely and utterly removed. The two party system... The Correct Structure of Government:

First and foremost, the two party system should be completely and utterly removed. The two party system encourages political ignorance based on 'team spirit'. A republican voter, for example, is significantly less likely to give a democratic candidate fair consideration or trust in their campaign promises, simply on the grounds that they 'play for different teams'. In truth, someone who has affiliated themselves with a party is a lot more likely to vote for fellow party members on no basis beyond their party affiliation. So what I propose is that the party system be eliminated completely - so that all candidates are simply candidates and nothing more: Thus forcing people to educate themselves on the candidates views and ideas.

Secondly, the higher levels of government need to be restructured. "The most powerful person on earth" has virtually no power when set before a congress of Career Politicians many of whom have been in office since the newly elected president was a kid. This congress represents a vital downfall for America as we've taken something that should be relatively simple and over complicated it in the most bureaucratic ways imaginable. There are simply too many people in the mix. Without congress, the President could bring into office with him a Vice President (who would handle the affairs of the Secretary of State, unless called to serve the role as president), and three advisers (A Strategy Adviser (From the Military), A Political Adviser, and a Public Affairs Adviser). Between these three advisers, the President should have any and all information which needs to be deliberated on submitted before him.

Below the three advisers would be a 9 seat Supreme Court, who would handle most of the roles Congress handles today. Such as vetoing the presidents decision(s) (an action which should require at least 6 of the 9 (or 2/3) to vote in favor a veto).

Below the Supreme Court would be the state governments -- which are mirror images of the Federal Government with an acting Governor, his three advisers, and the State Supreme Court.

All issues which affect State law or policy would be decided via public vote by the residents of that state with the simple rule of "majority wins".

All issues which affect Federal law or policy would be decided via a public vote by the any/all participating citizens. The votes will be turned into the State Government and Forwarded to the Federal Government for tallying. Every citizen gets one vote and it boils down, again, to a simple "majority wins" situation. No more will the number of citizens a state has give it more sway within congress -- all people will vote on the same level and the only thing which will matter will be percentages.

All citizens of the country should have the right to suggest changes to state or federal law. If it is the president seeking to pass a bill into federal law, it must be voted on first by his Supreme Court, and then, if passed, by the citizens of the country. If it is a matter of state, it is up to the governor to pass the bill through his State Supreme Court before a vote of that State's Residents are held. If it is a common citizen (or anyone of a position below President (for Federal proposals) or Governor (for State proposals)) proposing a bill, it should be passed up the ladder to the appropriate Supreme Court to vote on - if approved it is passed to the president/governor for final approval before being put to a public vote. If vetoed by the president/governor, the appropriate supreme court may counteract that veto with a 2/3 vote.

Voting should occur twice a year, with informative non-biased information outlining each proposition in clear, easy to understand language. This information should be available in a printed format at voting stations at least 30 days prior to the polls being opened.

No advertising of political issues will be allowed. It is not our job to sway the voters or control their decisions and I am sick of people thinking that's the role of the government: Shepherding around voters. By avoiding any media influence to political issues, we eliminate the possibility of media manipulation strategies such as Scare Tactics and Grandstanding -- thus forcing the voter to be more educated than he/she might have otherwise been, and turning away many voters who are too apathetic about government to educate themselves.

All law enforcement agencies should have a Citizen Controlled Supervision team to ensure that no corruption has occurred. To help avoid corruption of this group, the members of this group will server 1 year terms and be chosen at random from a list of willing applicants. In the event there are not enough willing applicants, the duty will be assigned in much the same way that Jury duty is assigned. The members of the Citizen Controlled Supervision Team will receive a one year salary becoming their duties.

These CCS Teams should take place on a district level for County Sherrif's and City Police Departments, on a Regional Level for DEA, FBI, CIA, and on a National Level for NSA and Home Land Security.

In the event a CCS Team member should die, disappear, or be murdered -- ALL officers/agents in the Authorities they were supervising will suffer a complete moratorium, with military filling their law enforcement roles until a thorough investigation into the matter can be completed.

These efforts to emplace and protect a CCS System will help force corrupt law enforcement officials into retirement.

The printing of money should be slowed, if not halted, to a point where, as money ceases to exist, it's value increases to equal or exceed that of the Euro. As it stands we have almost no place in the global economy because our currency is constantly heading towards worthlessness.

Taxes should be leveled -- plain and simple. If a poor man pays X%, the rich man across town should pay the same percentage. Level percentages have the ability to keep the activities of the government funded via tax money without over taxing the poor, under taxing the rich, or requiring massive amounts of questionably obtained money from the private sector.

No bill proposed will have the ability to be added or altered. It will be voted on as it stands. This eliminates paper clipping political corruption into bills that would have other wised passed. "Yeah, I'd like health care for children -- but I really don't want to give Mr. SuchandSuch permission to drill for oil in the Everglades. So... Sorry, kids."

The absolute longest political career anyone can have should be 12 years. That's 4 as whatever they want, and two 4 year terms as president -- more than enough time for them to enact any changes they'd like to see made. If, however, they've been in politics for 12 years and seek to continue, they will not be able to do so, as career politicians do NOTHING but view their role as a paying job and they use their age and time on capital hill to fight off any and all change which might be beneficial for our country.

Following the guidelines I've listed out here would trim the fat out of the American Government and reduce the number of people in high positions of power by more than 90%, as well as redistribute the final deciding power BACK to the common man who has educated himself about what it is he's voting on.

It seems really simple - and that's because it is. Cut out the fat, and you get a better product. Cut out the pointless redundancies of the government, and you end up with a government which can actually get things done. ]]> Advice Vicious88 http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2988 No One Likes M. Night Shyamalan http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2987&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:50:23 GMT It’s his least surprising twist yet…

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2987 <![CDATA[The beauty of data visualization [Video]]]> http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2986&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:30:57 GMT David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that... David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that tease out unseen patterns and connections. Good design, he suggests, is the best way to navigate information glut — and it may just change the way we see the world.

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2986 Awesome XKCD-Themed Wedding Cake http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2985&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:53:03 GMT From New Jersey-based bakery Pink Cake Box, here’s an awesome XKCD-Themed Wedding Cake.


]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2985 PS3 jailbreaking broken by new Sony update http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2984&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:51:29 GMT Image: http://geeksaresexy.geeksaresexytech.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/nops3jailbreak.jpg Sony has proven that sometimes court...

Sony has proven that sometimes court victories aren’t enough: sometimes you need to fight fire with fire (or code with code).

The latest firmware update for the PS3 appears to block publicly available code, distributed as PSGroove, that allowed users to jailbreak their console, allowing them to play home-made games (but not boot from ISO files on the hard drive, making game-ripping unworkable.)

The code went online shortly after Sony obtained an injunction in Australia preventing the sale of USB dongles known as PSJailbreak containing the code. That version of the hack did allow for ISO booting and thus full-fledged piracy, which may have made Sony’s legal win easier.

As is usual with PS3 updates, the new firmware (v3.42) isn’t technically a mandatory install and does require the user to click to agree to its installation. However, failing to install it will mean significant limitations to the console’s functionality, most notably a block on online gaming.

Sony hasn’t publicly addressed the details of the PSGroove removal, simply describing the new firmware as bringing “additional security features”. Whether that means security for users against malicious code running on their system, or security for games companies against piracy is a linguistic ambiguity.

As is also usual with PS3 updates, user reaction on the Sony site has mainly been along the lines that it would be nice if Sony brought new features to users rather than merely plug security gaps. One particularly cynical user with the handle “OMGmyFACE” noted “We all know it’s the first of an expected hundred-plus firmware updates to block the Jailbreak… You know it’s never gonna end, right? Firmware update, gets cracked, firmware update, gets cracked, awesome.”

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2984 <![CDATA[Deal of the Day: Amazon’s Amazing DVD & Blu-Ray Sale]]> http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2983&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:42:15 GMT For those...]]> For those of you looking to add a few movies to their DVD or Blu-Ray collection, Amazon.com currently offers some HUGE discounts on thousands of titles. For instance, you could get Battlestar Galactica: The complete series (blu-ray) for only $148 . The sale features over 2000 titles, so why not head over there and check ‘em out?

[Amazon’s Amazing DVD & Blu-Ray Sale]

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More... ]]> News Abroad Geeks are Sexy http://infohub.me/showthread.php?t=2983