Posts by Mark 85

HUGE SHARK as big as a WWII SUBMARINE died out, allowing whales to exist

Re: Oh no!

What's a "Honey-BooBoo"? If it's not a whale or a shark.... it sounds like a rather irritating bumblebee. Or maybe a reality show....

Painfully trendy: Someone just spent $200k on ebola.com

Re: ebola.co.uk

Are you sure the donations are actually going to UNICEF? And if so, what percentage? Somehow, this just doesn't appear legit.

UNCHAINING DEMONS which might DESTROY HUMANITY: Musk on AI

Re: Nah.

I think you've defined the threat. AI by itself isn't much of a threat at this point. However, it's in control of many things, it might deem that say.... North America is a waste of resources and should be cleansed. However, the one thing that's missing is emotion and self-awareness unless things develop to include them. Those are the real threats and always have been, not just from AI but humans.

Logic can lead to many decisions and mostly the correct one for a given situation. Toss in emotion and self-awareness and you're no longer dealing with just a machine but something more than machine and more than human. And we've all seen through history how humans have screwed things up with emotions like greed, power, and all the ones that radiate from and into those. A truly AI machine with sentience would be a very dangerous thing indeed.

FATTIES: Boffins say their miracle sunshine skin cream 'prevents obesity'

I wish I hadn't read that comment. Now I have to go find some mind bleach or risk waking up screaming in the middle of the night.

The mentality of this: "Super-size my triple burger and fries and a diet coke. I have to watch my weight."

Grasping at straws are they?

With all the weasel words and add-ons like "exercise and a healthy diet", I smell a rat. Or more like someone got a grant by a company to find some great thing for their product. That last paragraph infers a lot but let's face it, going out into the sun is done by those that are not couch potatoes.

Top boffins? or Paid Shills?

BAE points electromagnetic projectile at US Army

Re: Wrong platform?

I could see it being used in a mobile platform, if the railgun and the power system could be compact enough for an MBT. But the Bradley is more for personnel movement, fighting light armor, scouting, etc. It's not a heavy hitter like an MBT. There is a TOW missile launcher on it for use against armor and structures. The gun system isn't a heavy hitter but again, light armor, personnel, etc. Maybe that's the goal or specialized air defence?

But... given it's BAE, I wonder how much this thing would cost and if it would ever work.

Railguns in the Naval world are not just for air defense as they're looking at ship-to-ship also. Not sure where this will lead there.

T-Mobile US chief SUCKS UP to Apple, gently ridicules rivals over SIM lockdown play

To SIM or not to SIM?

I'm thinking AT&T is now a "partner" with Apple. My sense is that some money changed hands and AT&T gave Apple a small bit of code for the SIM.

Pesky POS poison won't Backoff

Good points, but let's face it, in this day and age it's all about the bottom line and risk management.

1) Do these bits of nastiness cause the company to lose money or spend money? Only if they get hit. Months later, customers forget and resume doing what they've always done.

2) Are they preventable? Mostly but it costs money. Risk management may say: don't spend the money until we get hit. If you spend the money in prevention, you may still get hit and have to spend more to remove it.

3) Can anyone, any more be that stupid? Yes, when blinded by the bottom line... see 1) & 2).

They should be using a secure OS and not have their POS devices open to the 'Net. They should be patched, use secure passwords, etc., etc., etc. But they don't. And nor will they until some entity forces them into it where the fines are larger than the cost to fix the problem.

US court shuts down 'scammers posing as Microsoft, Facebook support staff'

No Jail Time? A slap on the wrist?

Can we bring back firing squads for scum like this? Preferably staffed with shooter with myopia and maybe an astigmatism so that it'll take more than one shot?

Instead of that, we get a variation of telling them to go stand in the corner and promise never to do that again.

Would you blow $5.6m to own a dot-word? Meet a bloke who did just that

Re: Weird Reality

Realtors deal in Real Estate in the States. I suppose there's a Not Real Estate or maybe a Fictional Real Estate. The term has always made wonder. I guess it's time for me to learn something....

Hmm... per the 'Net... first used in 1666. It's a legal term used in used in jurisdictions such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, Australia, and New Zealand.

But nothing is telling me 'why' it's called that other than the legal "real property" vs. "personal property".

Hmm... dot-spot...

my-dog.spot ... nope

carpet.spot .... nope

black.spot .... nope

x-marks-the.spot ... nope

g.spot ...aha.... the money shot... p0rn!!!!

CATACLYSMIC Sun BELCH causes hour-long RADIO BLACKOUT in SPAAACE

Re: Sun's latest FIERY BURP

Maybe it was a fart. Who can tell the Sun's head from its butt since it's a ball?

Boffins want to put Quanta in containers, after docking

Finally got it

Thanks to my fellow commentards, I think I grasp this... there'a cat in a 1 square meter box (maybe) and that box inside of the shipping container (probably but we're not sure). But we can't look in either.

So if I read this correctly, it's late where I am and I'm probably not grasping this correctly.... the latency will come from shipping the container to the destination? I guess it would be faster than the US Mail.

Ok.. so just set me straight if I'm wrong. I have my idiot moments with this quantum stuff.

Time to test your sarcasm detectors: It's the UN's global comms shakeup extravaganza!

Thanks El Reg for the update.

All the important and noteworthy news from this august body was worth the read. What I missed was the really important info that the members of the UN seem to spend much time on... such as how was the food and drinks?

Cheapo telcos fined for their cheapo security: Financial records on 305,000 people spilled

It is a pity that there's no "watchdog" for web services.

<rant>

Two companies get fined because the 3rd party service they used wasn't secure. At the least, the 3rd party service should have been fined. I'm truly puzzled... banks, stores, etc. never take a hit from any watchdog in this country. They get some negative media attention and that's about it and in the meantime, way too many people have had their personal info compromised.

At least in healthcare, Medicare <rolls eyes> can punish insurance and providers if personal info is compromised. Or they at least threaten to. But what the hell about all the non-healthcare?

Maybe I'm naïve, but I wonder if the threat of large fines would cause these companies to take data security seriously?

</rant>

And no, I don't feel better because of the rant. I'm just wondering what it's going to take before any company that has an 'Net connection will take security seriously.

Breaking records: Google exec in terrifying SKY PLUNGE DRAMA

Re: Well Done...

He had a GoPro.... hopefully there will be some video... and I'll bet it shows up on YouTube.

Well Done...

No publicity, no sponsorship. Unheard of and thus, a very class act to do something he wanted to do. And yeah.. I agree with the others about balls.

Have a cold one that doesn't have a faint smell of vomit but of hops. ----->

FCC: You'll have to wait EVEN LONGER for faster wireless broadband

It does make me wonder about the coincidence (if there is such a thing) of all the delays for the auction, the cable mergers, and the net neutrality ruling. Looks to me like it's more than incompetence in making decisions which is the norm for any governmental group.

It couldn't be that if they push this stuff off until after the Presidential Election next year, they won't take blame one way or the other? Maybe be able to land a great income as a lobbyist? Maybe... maybe... maybe....?

Silicon Valley scrooges paid staff $1.21 an hour in a 122-hour week

Re: $3,500 fine?

Yep... the article said "overlooked"... maybe we should add that to our list of buzzwords for starting a company? Fits in with "return shareholder value" and "enhance profit".

Re: $3,500 fine?

Exactly. The less the company pays the labor, the more the execs can take home and the more the stock market loves the execs and company which translates to more money for the execs with stock options.

I find it very suspect that they "overlooked" the labor law since they flew in the employees from India office rather than having the local office employees do the work or even contracting out the work.

Screw the guvmint, vows CEO of ubiquitous Korean jabber app KakaoTalk

At least the citizens, in the majority, claim to trust their government. A pity it can't be said for the rest of us about trusting our governments.

Moment of truth for LOHAN's servos: Our US allies are poised for final test flight

I hope the testing all goes well and the everything works. I'd hate to hear that you have rip LOHAN's electronic guts out and re-engineer them.

COMET 67P is basically TRAILING a HORRIFIC STENCH through space

Re: Comets...

I would think judging by the size of a comet, that it would be really BIG green aliens.

Adorkable overshare of words like photobomb in this year's dictionaries

Bakeoff?

Really? It finally made it's way into common usage after how many years? I think it Pillsbury Flour who ran the bakeoffs back in the 60's.

Edit: Yep, Google is sometimes our friend.... http://www.pillsbury.com/our-makers/bake-off-contest

MAVEN snaps eight-bit SPACE INVADER

So fret not: better pics of Comet Siding Spring are doubtless in the works

Ok... <sips coffee><taps foot><stares a ceiling and counts the holes in the tiles><checks watch> Are they here yet?

Remember the Aereo streaming TV service? Wasn't it COOL? Well, it's pretty much dead now

They won't quit

I guess they get points for trying. But I'm sure they lose points for not wanting pay the broadcasters their due. It will be interesting to see how they re-invent themselves after this battle.

France to draft blacklist banning alleged piracy websites – what could POSSIBLY go wrong?

Re: Vive la revolution!

Nothing revolutionary from Putin. He's just following in the footsteps of his idol Stalin but updated slightly for the Internet.

Google Glassholes are undateable – HP exec

Or have the video posted to assorted sites?

Ad-borne Cryptowall ransomware is set to claim FRESH VICTIMS

Re: AdBlocker / NoScript

So basically, I understand you and Charles9 right, one just shouldn't surf except to known, trusted sites? Or run a locked down VM that gets deleted after every session on the OS of choice?

Google opens Inbox – email for people too thick to handle email

Re: Bloody hell!

Yep.. I just did. Teach me to read and respond late after a bit of wine. I'll go stand in the corner and write "I will not post after drinking wine" 100 times.

Opens the email and displays the first line...

Isn't this what created numerous headaches for users and opportunity for miscreants in the not so distant past with a certain MS email offering?

I guess Google ignores the axiom: Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

In the next four weeks, 100 people will decide the future of the web

And on November 28th....

They'll be arguing over who sits where at the conference table. Given the way these types of groups seem to work, the Internet will be dead and buried before they make any useful decisions. I'm skeptical as hell that they pull this one off.

RUMPY PUMPY: Bone says humans BONED Neanderthals 50,000 years B.C.

Or maybe they made Facebook users?

Smartphone giant _____ puts citizens' private data beyond reach of oppressive regime _____

Re: Take a guess and fill in the blanks

They traded their home regime slurping but gave the 5-eyes easier slurping. Or maybe... gave everyone the gruel for slurping? Or...the data gets sent home for "safekeeping" and the home slurp? Lately it's a question not of who's slurping but who's not slurping.

Disney and chums halt Comcast-TWC, AT&T-DirecTV weddings

Mergers and Net Neutrality

Seems the FCC is dragging its collective feet on these two subjects. I realize they are complex in nature but the longer this drags on, the more people might get interested. But I think they're hoping the furor dies down and any decision will get buried (pardon the non-internet reference) back on page 37 of the daily rag.

As for the networks, I can see where they're up a creek on this one. Merge the giants and the networks will probably have to take less money per customer while the giants will most likely charge the customer's more.

As for the Net Neutrality... same situation. The FCC will make the unpopular decision but the news will probably be overlooked the longer they drag it on. And again, the giants make more dosh if they win.

I don't believe for a minute that the FCC will the do the right thing for the people but will do the right thing for the companies who will be the governing members new employers in due time.

Guns don't scare people, hackers do: Americans fear identity theft more than shooting sprees

Forgot about elected officials?

The also feed the frenzy with knee jerk legislation and then there's the re-election campaigns with button pushing statements.

Comet Siding Spring revealed as flying molehill

Re: 450m molehill?

Lends a whole different concept to "Whack-a-Mole" then, doesn't it?

Look out, it's 'H' from Brussels: New Euro digi-czars take post

Ah... now I get it...

"H" is there for comedy relief to deflect the eyes directed at the rest of the mere incompetents. A good plan for a TV show. Oh.. real life mucking about you say and not TV? Nevermind then.

Computer misuse: Brits could face LIFE IN PRISON for serious hacking offences

Re: This law is just another overreaction like "The War on Drugs".

Short answer: Your ass is grass and they are the lawnmower. You empowered, aided, abetted (add more legal babble as required) by downloading (knowingly or unknowingly) the malware that put your PC on the botnet.

Microsoft promises Windows 10 will mean two-factor auth for all

2-Factor Authentication?

I'm going to be a devil's advocate here for a moment... Will this mean that if you don't own a smartphone, you're screwed? There's still a lot of people (in spite of what Apple, Nokia, Samsung, etc.would have us believe) that don't have smartphones. Will this mean that having one will become a condition of employment? A condition to use their home computer? Every "solution" always begats more headaches.

Apple grapple: Congress kills FBI's Cupertino crypto kybosh plan

Too little, too late.

While it's nice to hear that Congress "probably" wouldn't go along with the FBI, it's too late. I think we

Americans have lost all faith in Congress or the 3-letter agencies to do the right thing. Hell... Congress has a pissing contest just on passing a budget and any other legislation. What makes us think that they wouldn't have one on this and then give into the FBI?

Apple, GT in SECRET SAPPHIRE peaceable parting PACT

Re: So how much...

I don't think they'll buy it. The seem to not want to own production facilities. However, I'm sure they'll follow with interest whoever does buy it. Which.. won't do a buyer any good as they probably won't get the IP for the glass itself.

Yeah... I fed the troll...

Edward who? GCHQ boss dodges Snowden topic during last speech

Re: Mission Shift

Ah... you missed the bit sometime back about hovering up all the Yahoo! Chat/Messaging images? I somehow don't think that group you think they're watching does selfies.

Marissa! Mayer! ends! 21! month! dry! spell! as! Yahoo! sales! grow!

Well.. that might a big part of the problem

Yahoo! has been working to get itself back on the right side with more of a focus on ads and acquiring startups to boost its appeal with marketers.

If they boosted their appeal to users, it would seem the marketers (and stock prices and profit) would follow. Or did I sleep through Business 101 when they were discussing customers, etc.?

Hacked and ashamed? C'mon, Brits – report that cybercrime

It's not shame on why it's not reported.

You spend hours reporting it or at least trying to report it and get blown off by the police, etc. Why go through the hassle? Doesn't matter which country you're in, the result is same. I'm in the States and reporting it does nothing.

ICO warns UK broadcasters over filming using drones

Re: I do like the suggestion that

Which makes several presumptions: 1) Everyone uses social media. 2) That they all go look at the relevant webpage or Twit or whatever (how many police, news, and production companies, again?).