The Lab has released a new viewer using a new display mode. The announcement is titled: Introducing 2DSS Mode for Second Life. If you like Facebook games then this is the viewer for you.
Second Life: It is April 1
Bizzare
The odd and strange
Computer Safety: Malware @ c|NET
I used to consider c/NET a safe site for downloading software. There are lots of great free programs that do handy things. The authors are legitimate, well meaning, real people. But, more and more often their software is wrapped in an installer from some download site. That wrapper often contains Adware or Malware.
The alternative is to use a mirror, a web site that will allow you to store your files for others to download. Some have developed mirror sites into businesses. Some learned it is more profitable to add to the advertising revenue by putting ads and adware in an install or download program that wraps the file you want.
Now cyberwarzone is reporting that blackhats are getting their malware into c/NET, a major download site. See: Top 10 downloaded software on CNET contains malware. Skipping the bad English, that the top 10 downloads all have malware is frustrating and I hope c/NET finds it embarrassing.
π Day…
Did you notice it is Pie Day? 3/14/15 — 3.1415 π
SpaceX Unveiling Dragon Mark II
The US government under the direction of Pres. Obama gave up developing spaceships. This is an endeavor that has been pursued by private free market enterprise. Thanks to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin suggesting the US use trampolines to get to the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX is unveiling their new ship tonight (May 29) at 7 PM PDT.
This is a ship that can carry 7 astronauts or some mix of astronauts and cargo. Watch the announcement/unveiling here: Livestream.
For images of SpaceX’s current ships and rendering of planned future ships see: First look at Dragon V2: The first manned spaceship by SpaceX (Updating).
Bitcoin Explained?
If you have been wondering what Bitcoin is and how it works, you are not alone. Conan tries to get to an understandable explanation.
[youtube Vd19SboRhVY]
Climate Hockey-Stick Lawsuit
On the subject of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) I follow the UN, several Pro-AGW sites, and a number of skeptic sites. I probably know more about the studies, claims, fake and real science, and political moves going on than most of the debate’s audience.
One of the main players in the debate is Michael Mann, the ‘scientist’ that came up with the tree-ring based chart showing the temperature jump commonly known as the Hockey-Stick. The UN and various government agencies have relied on the chart as evidence for making drastic policy decisions. Al Gore made it famous.
Skeptics have attacked the ‘Stick’ with a vengeance. For observers it has been an obtuse subject hidden in a blizzard of claims and counter claims too massive to dig through and verify or debunk. It is like an endless storm of chaos and conflicting statements, debunking and debunking the debunks ad infinitum. Too many people with various reputations have weighed in on the subject to allow the layperson to come to a reasoned conclusion of what is or is not true based on personalities.