Wired News: The Glory of the Shooter

Now, I can't say I get any joy out of HALO or some of the other, much gorier, shooters, but I can empathise with this reporter's point of view - especially the blank look I get when I admit to my real-life friends that, yeah, I play a FPS and have to explain what it is... and I prefer to play the "thinking man's shooter", Raven Shield... ;-)

Click on this link to read Wired News: The Glory of the Shooter

New Scientist Breaking News - 'Sugar plastic' could reduce reliance on petroleum

It was just a question of time before researchers would finally be able to solve, at least in part, one society's fundamental problems: how to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are not only essential in the production of gasoline and diesel for vehicles, but also for the production of plastics.

Finally, someone has figured out a way to cheaply produce the precursor to many kinds of plastic from fructose, a kind of sugar.

The kicker is that it's still cheaper to produce plastics from oil; but then, it's a question of time before that changes...

Here's a link to the article: New Scientist Breaking News - 'Sugar plastic' could reduce reliance on petroleum

New Scientist Breaking News - Air-con and lack of sleep promote obesity

Dammit, I know there was a reason why I wind up gaining weight in the summer... ;-)

Seriously, though, I've always found it more difficult to manage my weight in the summer, and the fact that I don't sleep well in the summer (because it gets light early) doesn't help.

Check this out: New Scientist Breaking News - Air-con and lack of sleep promote obesity

Early human bird flu death uncovered in China

Now, this is scary...

New Scientist Breaking News - Early human bird flu death uncovered in China

It's bad enough that we have to worry about bird flu, but that the Chinese researchers who discovered that the H5N1 virus actually existed in 2003 (long before before the Chinese government publicly acknowledged that fact in 2005) tried to withdraw their article after it has been accepted for publication.

Now, WHY would they want to do that? Do they risk losing their jobs (or worse) because it would point out that there might have been a cover-up by the Chinese government? Hmmm....

The attempt at withdrawal also begs a question of research ethics: Do authors have a right to withdraw an article that might have a profound impact on the global community, in the sake of national interest (as might there be in this case)? What is the moral obligation of researchers in such a position?

CWar LAN Event - June 17 2006

I went to the CWar LAN event in Indianapolis this past Saturday. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. Not so much for the game-playing as much as for the socializing. I finally got to meet the chaps I've been chatting with, for going on 3 years.

Visit my personal website to see a few pictures and a short writeup.

"The irresistible rise of cybersex" from the New Scientist

Now, this is going to take on-line interactions to a new level... see the following article published on the New Scientist website entitled:
The irresistible rise of cybersex

Want a glimpse into the not-too-distant future? Check out this little-known but thought-provoking movie: Thomas in Love

NSERC Recognizes Winners of Canada's Top Prize for New Ph.D.'s in Science and Engineering

I'm the secretary of the committee that chose the engineering and computer science prizes of NSERC's Doctoral Prizes. I also set up the commmitee that chose the prizes for math and the natural sciences.

It's gratifying that I was able to contribute, in a small measure, to the selection of these prizes.

From the New Scientist - "Pentagon sets its sights on social networking websites"

Now, this is scary. Not only is Big Brother here, but he's bigger, badder, and better than ever... Check this out...

New Scientist Tech - Technology - Pentagon sets its sights on social networking websites

Which means that CSIS, CIA, etc. may be watching you as you read this blog!!!

Sympatico / MSN : News : CTV.ca: Spring 2006 warmest since records began in 1948

Augh. More good news.

I know that our spring was the warmest it has been in a long time, but I didn't know that the Spring of 2006 in Canada is the warmest since records began in 1948...

When asked by the opposition parties why the current Canadian government what it was going to do to curb greenhouse gas emission, Prime Minister Harper replied: "I don't think the alarmism necessarily helps a serious debate."

No. Five record high yearly averages in the past 10 years is not alarmist - it's a trend. Oh, and an average increase of 3 to 5 degrees C this spring over previous years' seasonal averages is nothing to be alarmed about, is it?

This government seriously needs to talk to some climate scientists, but no, Conservative politicians know so much more than they do...