Why The U.N. Should Not Takeover The Internet

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell warns a House committee that Google, iTunes, Facebook, and Netflix could face new international taxes. (Credit: U.S. House of Representatives)

U.N. Takeover Of The Internet Must Be Stopped, U.S. Warns -- CNet

A U.N. summit later this year in Dubai could lead to a new international regime of censorship, taxes, and surveillance, warn Democrats, Republicans, the Internet Society, and father of the Internet Vint Cerf.

Democratic and Republican government officials warned this morning that a United Nations summit in December will lead to a virtual takeover of the Internet if proposals from China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are adopted.

It was a rare point of bipartisan agreement during an election year: a proposal that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin described last year as handing the U.N. "international control of the Internet" must be stopped.

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My Comment: Every government that has tried to regulate and/or limit the use of the internet within their own country has had to face a backlash from their own citizens. As far as these governments are concerned .... having an international body like the United Nations doing their dirty work is far more preferable than doing it themselves.

Plan X — The Future of Cyberwarfare ‎

Plan X: Pentagon's Blueprint For Full-Fledged Cyberwar -- RT

The wheels of the war machine are ever turning inside the Pentagon, but the Defense Department’s latest endeavor won’t involve fighter jets and armored tanks. The DoD is putting aside billions to enhance its cyberwar capabilities.

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, is turning towards the private sector and America’s next generation of computer wiz-kids to recruit forces for its next war. A report released Thursday by the Washington Post reveals that DARPA is looking to invest $1.54 billion during the next five years to up its online abilities, with $110 million going directly to a program dubbed Plan X, but unlike before it won’t be budgeted necessarily for thwarting acts of cyberterrorism. Instead the Pentagon is itching to ensure that America can carry out an offensive cyberwar on other nations rather than just readying the US to defend itself against a similar assault from abroad.

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More News On Plan -X

With Plan X, Pentagon seeks to spread U.S. military might to cyberspace -- Washington Post
Pentagon’s Blueprint For Full-Fledged Cyberwar -- Eurasia Review
Plan X — The Future of Cyberwarfare -- Lawfare
DARPA Cranks Up Cyber Effort with “Plan X” -- Heritage

After 15 Months In Orbit The Supersecret X-37B Is To Return To Earth

After 15 Months In Orbit, Secret Space Plane Finally Returning To Earth -- Danger Room

The U.S. military’s secret space plane is preparing to return from its second mission after an incredible 453 days in orbit (as of today). The robotic X-37B, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is due to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California sometime in early to mid-June, depending on weather and other technical factors.

“The men and women of Team Vandenberg are ready to execute safe landing operations anytime and at a moment’s notice,” Col. Nina Armagno, commander of the Air Force’s 30th Space Wing, said in a statement.

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More News On The Upcoming Return Of The X-37B

Secret Air Force Spaceplane Coming Back To Earth In June -- Red Orbit
Vandenberg AFB prepares for return of US military space plane after more than a year in orbit -- Washington Post/AP
Vandenberg AFB readies for X-37B landing -- Flight Global
US's secret space plane to return to Earth in a month -- Herald Sun
Air Force's mini space shuttle prepares for landing -- Space Flight Now
Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Will Land Soon -- Space.com
X-37B Spaceplane Finishes Its Secret Mission, Prepares to Return to Earth -- Geek System
U.S. Air Force Space Plane Landing Targeted for June -- Space News
U.S. military space plane coming home next month -- Examiner

Does A Fever Combat Cancer Cells?

Feed A Fever, Starve A Cancer? -- Future Pundit

Have modern sterile environments and antibiotics boosted the rate of cancer? Do we need to work ourselves into a fevered pitch once or twice a year?

There is an inverse relationship between febrile infection and the risk of malignancies. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) plays an important role in fever induction and its expression increases with incubation at fever-range temperatures. Therefore, the genetic polymorphism of IFN-γ may modify the association of febrile infection with breast cancer risk.

Why? An immune system turned up to kill off invading bacteria might also react more vigorously to attack aberrant cells in your body that have mutated only part of the way toward becoming cancerous. Cells that have mutated all the way into becoming cancerous often have mutations that cause them to excrete substances that suppress the immune system. So vaccines against well developed cancers have fared poorly. But if the immune system could be stimulated into attacking pre-cancerous cells at much earlier stages then in some cases cancer could be prevented.

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My Comment: Does fever hold anti-cancer effects .... mainly influencing our immune system to eliminate per-cancerous cells. More research is clearly needed.

Windows 8 Release Preview

Windows 8 Release Preview: Not Ready for Prime Time, but Closer -- Time

For all the ways in which Windows 8 is a bold departure from its predecessors, it’s following a road map to release that’s very much like the one Microsoft has used for years. Last September, the company showed the new version off in public for the first time and let developers get their hands on a very early version. In February, it followed up with a further-along Consumer Preview which any interested party could download for free, install and use.

Starting today, Microsoft is offering a Windows 8 Release Preview — an update to the Consumer Preview — that’s even closer to completion. It’s the latest sign that Windows 8 is on schedule, and while Microsoft isn’t saying when it plans to ship the operating system, the smart money says it’ll show up on new PCs and as an upgrade by the fall of this year.

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My Comment: They appear to be on track .... and yes .... I can easily see myself using Windows 8 by the end of this year.

SpaceX Dragon Supply Ship Returns Home

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Splashes Down In Pacific Ocean -- Christian Science Monitor

The SpaceX Dragon capsule, a privately owned spacecraft, returned to Earth Thursday from the International Space Station

The SpaceX Dragon supply ship returned to Earth on Thursday, ending its revolutionary nine-day voyage to the International Space Station with an old-fashioned splashdown in the Pacific.

The unmanned capsule parachuted into the ocean about 500 miles off Mexico's Baja California, bringing back more than a half-ton of old station equipment. It was the first time since the space shuttles stopped flying last summer that NASA got back a big load from the orbiting lab.

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More News On The Return Of The SpaceX Dragon Supply Ship

SpaceX capsule returns to Earth, ends historic trip to space station with Pacific splashdown -- Washington Post/AP
SpaceX showered with praise for success of Dragon mission -- MSNBC/Space
SpaceX Dragon Landing Caps "Grand Slam" Mission to Space Station -- National Geographic
SpaceX Dragon returns to Earth, ends historic trip -- AP
SpaceX Dragon Successfully Splashes Down in Pacific -- Autopia
In a new space race, the Dragon, and Musk, have landed -- L.A. Times
SpaceX Dragon Capsule Returns to Earth -- ABC News

Google Offers Virtual Tours Of 132 Famous Sites

Google's 'World Wonders' Project Offers Virtual Tours Of 132 Famous Sites -- CBS News/AP

(CBS/AP) - Ever wanted to visit another country from the comfort of your own home? Google's has you covered and all you need is an Internet connection!

With Google's new World Wonders project, you can now take a virtual stroll among the ruins of Pompeii or into the temples of Kyoto.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company is offering virtual tours of 132 famous sites in 18 countries as part of an expansion of its Google Art initiative.

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My Comment: I would prefer to go there in person than looking at the sites virtually.

Robert Teachers?

The robot Wakamaru may become a fixture in the homes of elderly Japanese who have no one else to look after them. Wired

Mind-Reading Robot Teachers Head To Class -- Discovery

Everyone had that one teacher in high school who you swore was a robot. Dull lectures delivered in a monotone voice all but invited you to snooze away the class, drooling on your desk.

On the other hand, we've all had those teachers we loved; ones who were engaging, creative and inspired us us to explore our creativity. They may not have stood on desks or demand we rip excremental introductions from our text books, but bottom line, they held our attention.

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My Comment: I cannot see such a teacher in a schoolroom filled with troubled teens .... but in higher education classes .... it will probably work.

Behold the World’s Finest Superyachts

Dutch yachtbuilder Feadship took home the Motor Yacht of the Year award for Tango. The 252.8-foot yacht was launched in April of last year and features accommodations for 12 guests, an owner's deck, beauty salon, massage parlor and an outdoor movie theater. Despite all that weight, four engines propel the Tango to a top speed of 22 knots. Image: Feadship

Beauties of the Sea: Behold the World’s Finest Superyachts -- Autopia

Even among the most luxurious of pleasure boats, some yachts are finer than others. And the finest of them all win the coveted Neptune Trophy, given out at the World Superyacht Awards.

The ceremony recognizes the ultimate achievements in superyacht design. To qualify in any of the various award categories, yachts must be over 30 meters in length and must have been delivered to their owners in the past 12 months.

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My Comment: My favorite superyacht is this one.

A Million Camera Clicks As New Yorkers Enjoy 'Manhattanhenge'

Stunning: Usually 'Manhattanhenge,' as seen here in 2009 (pictured), allows tall buildings to create a vertical channel to frame the sun

Night Of A Million Camera Clicks As New Yorkers Enjoy 'Manhattanhenge' When Sun Sets Between The Streets -- Daily Mail

Photographers last night struggled to capture stunning images of the 'Manhattanhenge' phenomenon in New York - when the sunset aligns with the city streets - as rain clouds obscured the view on many blocks.

However a slew of images made it onto social networks as professional photographers struggled. The 'Manhattanhenge' glow that occurs twice annually when the sun aligns precisely with the street grid in Manhattan was not as impressive as in previous years.

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My Comment: To all those who were disappointed ... wait till next year.

The Bubbles In Guinness Really DO Sink

Generations of beer drinkers have argued over whether the bubbles in Guinness sink while the beer is settling - now scientists have proved it

The Bubbles In Guinness Really DO Sink - And The Discovery Could Lead To Pints Of Stout That Pour Far Faster -- Daily Mail

* Bubbles circulate down at outside of glass
* Happens as pint settles
* Discovery could lead to new shapes of pint that allow stouts to settle faster

Generations of beer drinkers have argued over whether the bubbles in Guinness sink while the beer is settling - now scientists have proved it.

It might seem counterintuitive that bubbles might sink, but it's due to the way stouts 'settle' in the glass.

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My Comment: Hmmmm .... why do I want to drink a beer right now?

World's Top 100 Universities Under 50

World's Top 100 Universities Under 50: Ranked By Times Higher Education -- The Guardian

South Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology has been ranked the best university under the age of 50. Find out which universities have made the list.

South Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology has topped a list of the best universities under the age of 50.

The inaugural rankings by Times Higher Education (THE) aim to show "which nations are challenging the US and UK as the next higher education powerhouses". Swiss university, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne follows in second place.

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Editor: The Times Higher Education report is here.

Leaked Image Offers First Glimpse Of iPhone 5

It's coming! 9to5Mac has released this image, purported to be the iPhone 5. Features that can be spotted include a much larger screen, and a smaller dock connector

Leaked Image Offers First Glimpse Of iPhone 5 Sporting Much Bigger Screen As Rumours Point To A June 11 Announcement -- Daily Mail

A leaked image gives us a first glimpse of the iPhone5 - and anyone who was waiting for a bigger screen may finally have their prayers answered.

Established Apple site 9to5Mac revealed a leaked image of what is claimed to be the iPhone5, and the site - which has a good record for reporting accurate leaks from Apple - has a plethora of details about the new model.

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My Comment: I know that Steve Jobs did not approve of large iPhone screens .... but I like it. This is a good move on the part of Apple.

Could Sarcastic Computers Be in Our Future?

Noah Goodman, right, and Michael Frank, both assistant professors of psychology, discuss their research at the white board that covers the wall in Goodman's office. (Credit: L.A. Cicero)

Could Sarcastic Computers Be in Our Future? New Math Model Can Help Computers Understand Inference -- Science Daily

ScienceDaily (May 30, 2012) — In a new paper, the researchers describe a mathematical model they created that helps predict pragmatic reasoning and may eventually lead to the manufacture of machines that can better understand inference, context and social rules.

Language is so much more than a string of words. To understand what someone means, you need context.

Consider the phrase, "Man on first." It doesn't make much sense unless you're at a baseball game. Or imagine a sign outside a children's boutique that reads, "Baby sale -- One week only!" You easily infer from the situation that the store isn't selling babies but advertising bargains on gear for them.

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My Comment: I guess it all comes down to the math and programming.

Man's Oldest Musical Instrument Is 42,000 Years Old (Give Or Take)

Looks like our earliest ancestors enjoyed music, too

42,000-Year-Old Mammoth Ivory And Bird Bone Flutes Are Oldest Instruments Ever Found -- Y! Tech/Yahoo News

It looks like our earliest human ancestors enjoyed recreational activities other than painting on cave walls. A study by Oxford University researchers revealed that the oldest musical instruments ever discovered date as far back as 42,000 to 43,000 years ago. These instruments are flutes made out of mammoth ivory and bird bones (above).

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My Comment: One can only wonder on what were the melodies played by early man.

Jesus Christ Was Crucified On Friday, April 3, 33 AD

U.S., German Researchers Reveal Date of Christ's Death. © RIA Novosti. Elena Visens

U.S., German Researchers Reveal Date of Christ's Death -- RIA Novosti

The U.S. and German geologists claim they had discovered the exact date when Christ was crucified, the International Geology Review reported.

According to the report, published in the academic journal this week, the scientists discovered that Christ had been crucified on Friday, April 3, 33 AD.

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My Comment: They seem very confident on the date.

Virgin Galactic Cleared For Rocket-Powered Test Flights

Virgin Galactic is to make its first rocket-powered test flights for its commercials passenger

Virgin Galactic Cleared For Rocket-Powered Test Flights -- The Telegraph

Virgin Galactic is to make its first rocket-powered test flights for its commercials passenger spaceship later this year after being granted clearance.

Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic's spaceship design partner, was granted an experimental permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – a move that will allow it to proceed with powered flights.

No timetable has been set for the first launches carrying paying customers, expected to take place after the test programme is complete.

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My Comment: This is exciting news.

Fears Of A Supervolcano Erupting Sooner Rather Than Later Are Being Raised

Eruption: Supervolcanoes with the power to destroy human civilisations may build up a deadly head of steam far faster than scientists believed

Supervolcanoes With Power To 'Destroy Civilisation' Explode Far More Rapidly Than Scientists Had Believed - And One Could Be Bubbling Under U.S. Right Now -- Daily Mail

* Most deadly event that can hit Earth short of asteroid
* Scientists believed they took 100,000 years to build up
* Instead, figure could be just hundreds
* Supervolcano believed to be simmering under Yellowstone in U.S.

A 'supervolcano' eruption is the most catastrophic natural disaster that can hit our planet, short of an asteroid impact - and now scientists believe they may build up a deadly head of steam far faster than we thought.

Instead of the process taking hundreds of thousands of years, it could take just hundreds.

The news could be bad for the US, where a supervolcano is said to be simmering beneath Yellowstone National Park. If it erupted, two thirds of the country could be rendered uninhabitable.

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My Comment: Such an event will .... to put it mildly .... change everything.

Ford's Fastest Mustang Ever

Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 Courtesy Ford Motor Co.

Ford's Fastest Mustang Ever: A 200mph Muscle Car -- Popular Science

Detroit automakers have recently been locked in a competition straight out of the 1960s: a race to create the fastest and most powerful muscle car. This summer, Ford takes the lead with the 650-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT 500. To break the 200mph mark, engineers departed from the muscle-car tradition of throwing a truck engine under the hood and calling it a day. Instead they redesigned the engine with lightweight materials, refined the car’s aerodynamics, and installed driver-assistance systems that allow anyone to drive the Shelby as it’s designed to be driven—aggressively.

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My Comment: My friend has a 2011 Ford Mustang .... and he is always telling me that Ford can never improve on this car. Hmmm .... it looks like they have.

Iran Is Claiming That It Has Defeated The Newest Computer Virus Directed At Them

Graphic showing the number and location of Flame infections, a malicious software virus infiltrating the Middle East

Iran Claims To Have Beaten 'Flame' Computer Virus -- The Telegraph

Iran claims it has defeated a powerful computer virus that has boasted unprecedented data-snatching capabilities and could eavesdrop on computer users, a senior official said.

Ali Hakim Javadi, Iran's deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, told the official IRNA news agency that Iranian experts have already produced an antivirus capable of identifying and removing "Flame" from computers.

Iran's government-run Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center has said the Flame virus was focused on espionage.

Javadi did not say whether any Iranian government bodies or industries were affected by the virus.

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More News On The 'Flame' Computer Virus

Iran Says It's Produced Antivirus to Newly Detected Flame -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Iran claims it has fix for Flame malware -- TG Daily
Iran: 'Flame' virus fight began with oil attack -- AP
Iran: Powerful "Flame" computer virus briefly hit oil industry but was defeated with data recovered -- CBS/AP
Iran defeats powerful ‘Flame’ virus, military official claims -- Toronto Star/AP
Iran acknowledges that Flame virus has infected computers nationwide -- Washington Post
Iran confirms Flame virus attacked computers of high-ranking officials -- The Telegraph