Monday, July 27, 2009
How many miles have you moved your mouse?
Ever wonder just how far your mouse (and your hand) travels every day? Well, there is now an application that will keep track of and report to you how far you've gone. Click the title link if you're interested in keeping track of your mouse-pushing abilities.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
w00t!
^^clicky^^
Do you woot? Make it a part of your daily routine.
The occasional woot-off can be pretty exciting, too.
Do you woot? Make it a part of your daily routine.
The occasional woot-off can be pretty exciting, too.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Researchers Help Set Security Standards For The Internet
Click title for full article.
ScienceDaily (July 17, 2009) — Dartmouth researchers who were pioneers in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) – a system that secures and authenticates computer communications – are now playing leading roles establishing Internet standards and guidelines for security
Secure Internet activity requires being able to prove who you are. Security experts agree that the traditional approach of passwords is not always effective. PKI and public key cryptography solve these problems, and Dartmouth researchers are leading the way in helping organizations deploy PKI. A new system developed at Dartmouth called PRQP, which stands for PKI Resource Query Protocol, is now in the pipeline with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to become the universal way to easily implement PKI-enhanced computing security.
Secure Internet activity requires being able to prove who you are. Security experts agree that the traditional approach of passwords is not always effective. PKI and public key cryptography solve these problems, and Dartmouth researchers are leading the way in helping organizations deploy PKI. A new system developed at Dartmouth called PRQP, which stands for PKI Resource Query Protocol, is now in the pipeline with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to become the universal way to easily implement PKI-enhanced computing security.
“PKI labors under the misconception that it’s difficult,” says Scott Rea, senior PKI architect at Dartmouth...
ScienceDaily (July 17, 2009) — Dartmouth researchers who were pioneers in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) – a system that secures and authenticates computer communications – are now playing leading roles establishing Internet standards and guidelines for security
Secure Internet activity requires being able to prove who you are. Security experts agree that the traditional approach of passwords is not always effective. PKI and public key cryptography solve these problems, and Dartmouth researchers are leading the way in helping organizations deploy PKI. A new system developed at Dartmouth called PRQP, which stands for PKI Resource Query Protocol, is now in the pipeline with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to become the universal way to easily implement PKI-enhanced computing security.
Secure Internet activity requires being able to prove who you are. Security experts agree that the traditional approach of passwords is not always effective. PKI and public key cryptography solve these problems, and Dartmouth researchers are leading the way in helping organizations deploy PKI. A new system developed at Dartmouth called PRQP, which stands for PKI Resource Query Protocol, is now in the pipeline with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to become the universal way to easily implement PKI-enhanced computing security.
“PKI labors under the misconception that it’s difficult,” says Scott Rea, senior PKI architect at Dartmouth...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The future of security?
Click title for full article.
Random numbers faster
A laser plus some calculations creates strings of orderless bits for encryption By Laura Sanders Web edition : Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 Text Size With a laser, a mirror and some simple calculations, researchers have created a fast, reliable way to produce long strings of random numbers. This speedy method, reported in the July 10 Physical Review Letters, may one day be used to improve data encryption, computer simulations and even gambling software.
Generating truly random numbers isn’t easy. Many techniques rely on computer algorithms to create a seemingly unpredictable chain of numbers. But such methods, says study coauthor Michael Rosenbluh, are not truly random. Under certain conditions, anyone with the same program could reproduce an identical series. Despite this flaw, many of today’s encryption programs still rely on such computer-generated numbers.
Other techniques, based on the inherent messiness of physical processes, generate truly random numbers but work too slowly to be practical. These systems create strings of random bits — 0s and 1s — that can encode numbers. “If it takes you 10 years to generate a gigabit, it’s not very helpful,” says Rosenbluh, of Bar-Ilan University in Israel. “What we’ve shown is that you can generate very random numbers at very high rates.”
In the new study, researchers harnessed chaos from a laser to generate 12.5 gigabits of data —more than twice the data a standard audio CD holds — every second. This rate, the researchers say, beats the 1.7 gigabits per second of another laser-based method reported by a different group last year, and is on par with the speed of computer-based number generators...
Random numbers faster
A laser plus some calculations creates strings of orderless bits for encryption By Laura Sanders Web edition : Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 Text Size With a laser, a mirror and some simple calculations, researchers have created a fast, reliable way to produce long strings of random numbers. This speedy method, reported in the July 10 Physical Review Letters, may one day be used to improve data encryption, computer simulations and even gambling software.
Generating truly random numbers isn’t easy. Many techniques rely on computer algorithms to create a seemingly unpredictable chain of numbers. But such methods, says study coauthor Michael Rosenbluh, are not truly random. Under certain conditions, anyone with the same program could reproduce an identical series. Despite this flaw, many of today’s encryption programs still rely on such computer-generated numbers.
Other techniques, based on the inherent messiness of physical processes, generate truly random numbers but work too slowly to be practical. These systems create strings of random bits — 0s and 1s — that can encode numbers. “If it takes you 10 years to generate a gigabit, it’s not very helpful,” says Rosenbluh, of Bar-Ilan University in Israel. “What we’ve shown is that you can generate very random numbers at very high rates.”
In the new study, researchers harnessed chaos from a laser to generate 12.5 gigabits of data —more than twice the data a standard audio CD holds — every second. This rate, the researchers say, beats the 1.7 gigabits per second of another laser-based method reported by a different group last year, and is on par with the speed of computer-based number generators...
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Entropia Universe/Planet Calypso
A couple of excerpts from the history of Project Entropia:
"After their two year journey, the new colonists arrived to Calypso to find the cities and infrastructure that the base matrix’s robots had built for them ready for settling. The Exodus was converted into a space station in orbit around Calypso to be used as a base camp for colonization. The robots had tweaked the ecosystem of Calypso to fit humans, and the settlers had to do very little further adjustments to their new home. Gradually, the world was settled, and as the space gate was near completion, the rate of settlement was expected to rise.
That was not to be."
"However, things were not to be left to their own. Instead of a direct confrontational approach, another strategy was adapted. On defeating the robots, the technology would be recovered and reverse-engineered, and later adapted and improved, to finally bring about the tools that would once and for all defeat the robots. This was the most probable scenario for Calypso in several different simulations. The downside was, of course, that for Project Entropia to succeed, the robots had to keep invading.
On the world that once was a new Eden of mankind, the struggle goes on. It is the hope of every colonist on Calypso that Project Entropia succeeds and that their sacrifices have not been in vain."
EBN News:
"The crisis is over! The robots have left Calypso, and only scattered forces remain. We have been tested by a ruthless enemy and emerged victorious! Through our combined efforts, Calypso has prevailed!
On a personal level, I would like to thank you all for your courage and sacrifice. Words cannot express how proud I am of my fellow Calypsians that have defended our homes from the invaders. Of all my heart, thank you.
As of this moment, the state of emergency is lifted. Authority is restored to civilian agencies, effective immediately.
/Major Jenny Carramone, Calypso Defense Forces high commander"
"Set in the future, you are invited to join an open-ended social, economic and political action-adventure as a human colonist on a distant alien planet. The sandbox approach allows you to choose your own path and write a unique story with others from around the world.
You will enter a new chapter in Calypso’s story. After an exhausting five year conflict with an invading robot enemy, the long awaited promise of peace and prosperity on Calypso remains elusive. With the robots repelled to their home world Akbal-Cimi, cracks in colonist solidarity are emerging. The war-time economy has produced industrialists with the resources to buy up Calypso’s precious land, while disgruntled ex-soldiers are left to wander Calypso, hunting and mining for their survival. A rising middle-class of entrepreneurs is irritating both. All are disillusioned with Earth’s Federal Empire that left the colony to fend for itself during the robot war. You will land on a Calypso with revolution and civil war in the air.
Have you got what it takes to stake a claim on Calypso?"
Me having a bit of goofy fun on Calypso:
(Yes, my appearance changes occasionally; plastic surgery is harmless on Calypso.)
"Find a group of like-minded individuals to share your adventures on Calypso with."
A goofy old clip of the society:
A video created by fellow society members as they were having fun blowing themselves up at Twin Peaks:
A couple of society hunts, filmed by our very own Natty Lars. Commentary recorded directly from teamspeak during the action:
And never say never:
"Entropia Universe is an expanding universe of 3D virtual worlds for online entertainment, social interaction and trade using a real cash economy. The virtual PED currency used throughout the virtual universe has a fixed exchange rate of 10:1 with the US Dollar, allowing you to deposit real funds simply and securely for your avatar's adventures across the universe. You can also withdraw real funds at any time from your PED account to your real life bank account.
Create your Entropia Universe Account today, and see all the universe has to offer."
Entropia even has its own superstars. Radio show hosts, actors, fiction writers... there is something for everyone on Planet Calypso. Join us today, and see what may be in store for you!
Even the famous "Gamer Chick" video and song is an Entropian original:
News/blogs:
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/12/treasure_island.html
http://newsblaze.com/story/2006050906010200015.mwir/topstory.html
http://www.mindark.com/news-1/archive/virtual-world-developer-m/index.xml
"After their two year journey, the new colonists arrived to Calypso to find the cities and infrastructure that the base matrix’s robots had built for them ready for settling. The Exodus was converted into a space station in orbit around Calypso to be used as a base camp for colonization. The robots had tweaked the ecosystem of Calypso to fit humans, and the settlers had to do very little further adjustments to their new home. Gradually, the world was settled, and as the space gate was near completion, the rate of settlement was expected to rise.
That was not to be."
"However, things were not to be left to their own. Instead of a direct confrontational approach, another strategy was adapted. On defeating the robots, the technology would be recovered and reverse-engineered, and later adapted and improved, to finally bring about the tools that would once and for all defeat the robots. This was the most probable scenario for Calypso in several different simulations. The downside was, of course, that for Project Entropia to succeed, the robots had to keep invading.
On the world that once was a new Eden of mankind, the struggle goes on. It is the hope of every colonist on Calypso that Project Entropia succeeds and that their sacrifices have not been in vain."
EBN News:
"The crisis is over! The robots have left Calypso, and only scattered forces remain. We have been tested by a ruthless enemy and emerged victorious! Through our combined efforts, Calypso has prevailed!
On a personal level, I would like to thank you all for your courage and sacrifice. Words cannot express how proud I am of my fellow Calypsians that have defended our homes from the invaders. Of all my heart, thank you.
As of this moment, the state of emergency is lifted. Authority is restored to civilian agencies, effective immediately.
/Major Jenny Carramone, Calypso Defense Forces high commander"
"Set in the future, you are invited to join an open-ended social, economic and political action-adventure as a human colonist on a distant alien planet. The sandbox approach allows you to choose your own path and write a unique story with others from around the world.
You will enter a new chapter in Calypso’s story. After an exhausting five year conflict with an invading robot enemy, the long awaited promise of peace and prosperity on Calypso remains elusive. With the robots repelled to their home world Akbal-Cimi, cracks in colonist solidarity are emerging. The war-time economy has produced industrialists with the resources to buy up Calypso’s precious land, while disgruntled ex-soldiers are left to wander Calypso, hunting and mining for their survival. A rising middle-class of entrepreneurs is irritating both. All are disillusioned with Earth’s Federal Empire that left the colony to fend for itself during the robot war. You will land on a Calypso with revolution and civil war in the air.
Have you got what it takes to stake a claim on Calypso?"
Me having a bit of goofy fun on Calypso:
(Yes, my appearance changes occasionally; plastic surgery is harmless on Calypso.)
"Find a group of like-minded individuals to share your adventures on Calypso with."
A goofy old clip of the society:
A video created by fellow society members as they were having fun blowing themselves up at Twin Peaks:
A couple of society hunts, filmed by our very own Natty Lars. Commentary recorded directly from teamspeak during the action:
And never say never:
"Entropia Universe is an expanding universe of 3D virtual worlds for online entertainment, social interaction and trade using a real cash economy. The virtual PED currency used throughout the virtual universe has a fixed exchange rate of 10:1 with the US Dollar, allowing you to deposit real funds simply and securely for your avatar's adventures across the universe. You can also withdraw real funds at any time from your PED account to your real life bank account.
Create your Entropia Universe Account today, and see all the universe has to offer."
Entropia even has its own superstars. Radio show hosts, actors, fiction writers... there is something for everyone on Planet Calypso. Join us today, and see what may be in store for you!
Even the famous "Gamer Chick" video and song is an Entropian original:
News/blogs:
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2004/12/treasure_island.html
http://newsblaze.com/story/2006050906010200015.mwir/topstory.html
http://www.mindark.com/news-1/archive/virtual-world-developer-m/index.xml
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
