May 18 2007

Google Changes Search Method

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 11:14 pm

At least according to a BBC journalist. However, the main difference actually seems to be that the ‘Web Images News’ etc. is no longer placed above the search box, but has been moved to above the results.
Perhaps I’m being too cynical, but it seems to me that the journo simply took a Press Release at face value, and lapped up Google’s proclamations of the next iteration of their search engine results.
Decide for yourself, headover to the .com version of google, make a search and then read the article.

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May 18 2007

Moscow Get Techy

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 5:54 pm

in its feud with Estonia.

Estonia claim that attacks directed at it’s e-government system have originated from Russian state servers. There have previously been accusations levelled at the Kremlin from other countries re. DoS attacks, however this is the first time I’ve read that the accusers have allegedly traced the IPs involved as state-owned, rather than merely allegedly state-backed private individuals.
More details at the BBC site – here.

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Apr 27 2007

One Step Closer To His Dream

Category: PersonalChrisM @ 1:08 pm

Stephen Hawking has progressed further in his bid to fly into space.

Weightless Hawking

I caught this on the BBC World channel earlier this morning, and it looks like Professor Hawking had no major problems on the trip.
The modified plane flys into the outer reaches of the atmosphere, and goes through a series of ascents and descents, leading to a state of incredibly low gravity (near weightlessness) for periods of 25 seconds.
He was, of course, surrounded by a team of medics, to ensure his body was able to handle the stress – in between the zero G moments, the plane goes through manoeuvres that induce 1.8G’s worth of force on the passengers.

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Apr 26 2007

Hackers

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 6:36 pm

If someone said the word ‘hacker’ to you, would you think of the stereotypical image of a teenage nerd, tapping away at a keyboard, trying to brute force crack a password?
Well it is time to dispel that myth, and start including Sam Spade like characters in your imagination.
The BBC has a report on a private detective agency that has been caught red handed. They are accused of crimes ranging from ‘simple’ phone tapping to complicated data acquisition through illegal means.
The title the company gave this particular off shoot of their investigative branch? Hackers Are Us!
I should probably point out that the accused are all pleading NOT guilty…

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Apr 19 2007

War Driving Leads To Jail

Category: In The Media,Personal,WiFiChrisM @ 3:45 pm

Well custody at least.
The BBC have reported what is believed to be the first arrest in Britain over the theft of someone’s data communications via WiFi.

Big thanks to my wife for spotting the story.

I’ve scanned the local area here in Astana, and there is one unprotected AP, and one with weak encryption used.
Do you know if your wireless network is protected? Have you ever ‘borrowed’ someone elses?

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Apr 14 2007

Our Satellite Dish Is Aimed Accurately Again :)

Category: PersonalChrisM @ 10:46 am

For the last few months, most of the satellite channels have not been working in our house.
The winds and storms of the winter here had knocked the satellite dish out, so it was no longer pointed at the Hotbird satellite anymore.
This morning, the nice satellite installation guys came along, with their new testing equipment, popped up onto the roof, and now we have all the channels back again.
BBC Prime has returned :>
H_U_G_E thank you to them, and their boss Artyom.

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Apr 14 2007

John Howard Desperate…

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 10:43 am

IDIOT
According a BBC report, the Australian Prime Minister has suggested that immigrants should be blocked from entering the country if they are HIV positive.
Whilst Kazakhstan does requires you to take a test before granting a residen’ts permit, Australia is supposed to be part of the modern, enlightened world.

I believe Dr Chris Lemoh summed the situation up well

To not allow people to come on the basis of any health condition is immoral, it’s unethical and it’s impractical to enforce.

If you have any thoughts, please do leave a comment, and maybe even contact him directly.

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Apr 14 2007

Your Flexible, Crashing Friend!

Category: In The MediaChrisM @ 3:13 am

If you were in Europe today, and tried to pay for a purchase by Visa, you may well have encountered difficulties, as reported by the BBC yesterday.
It appears that a back up system quickly came into call.
If you were caught out by the problem, do let me know, and are you planning to carry a (AmEx,MasterCard,Diners etc.) spare in the future?

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Apr 12 2007

Alan Johnston Appeal

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 10:42 am

If you’ve watched almost any news channels in the last month, you’ll have been hard pressed to have missed seeing reports on the abduction of Alan Johnston. He is the BBC’s journalist in Palestine , and in what looks to be a world first, BBC World (BBC 24 for UK viewers), Sky News and Al Jazeera English will simultaneously be broadcasting a program to raise awareness of Alan’s plight, and will apparently feature Mark Thompson (BBC’s Director-General) directly appealing for Alan’s release.

It is due to be simulcast at 14:30 BST (13:30 GMT) today.

[update] Just heard CNN are taking part as well

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Apr 11 2007

Strike A Pose Miss…

Category: In The Media,PersonalChrisM @ 3:16 am

I’ve just finished reading a BBC report on the UK’s Education Secretary urging ISP & Web Sites to play a more pro-active role in curbing the rising problem of their services being used to harass both pupils and teachers. Check here for more info.
I had my fair share of teasing at school, but I was always fairly secure in the knowledge that when I got home, it would end. In these days of being able to upload videos directly from your mobile to YouTube, and that video then being available world-wide almost instantly, I’m not sure how I would have coped.
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please do let me know. If you are experiencing problems, there are many resources out there to try and help you through tough times, and if you want to leave a comment anonymously, your identity won’t be revealed.

Oh, and before I forget, to any ex-Pates pupils reading this, there is a re-union planned this July for those who left in 1997 (or started in 1990, in case you left after GCSEs). The organization is being co-ordinated mainly by Jarv, and you can see the details on facebook. I can’t remember the specific URL off-hand, but I’ve setup a re-direct from www.pates.tk .
The advert you’ll see doesn’t benefit me at all, it is placed their by the guys that run the .TK domain administration. (You can register a domain for free, as long as you don’t mind the adverts.)

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