Pfizer worker data leaked via P2P
source: The Register
Casual use of file sharing by the spouse of an unnamed Pfizer worker has been blamed for leaking personal information on more than 17,000 current and former employees at the pharmaceutical giant.
Unauthorised installation of a P2P package on a company laptop led to the exposure of worker data, presumably after a directory holding the information was inadvertently offered up for sharing to world and its dog.
Similar breaches involving misuse of the popular Winny P2P protocol on corporate PCs have been recorded in Japan, but the Pfizer case is the first of its kind in North America.
The breach prompted Pfizer attorney Bernard Nash to send a letter to attorneys generals in states where potentially hit workers live, apologising for the problem and promising to offer workers a year of free credit monitoring, at a reported cost to the firm of $25,000.
The Connecticut Attorney General's Office has followed up this letter (PDF) with requests for more information about the breach, which affected 305 Pfizer workers who are resident in the state.
Pfizer has also written to workers to warn them that their names and social security numbers might have been exposed to potential fraud.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Time Travellers Wife: The Movie
Hulk star Eric Bana is to star with Rachel McAdams in a film adaptation of The Time Traveller's Wife.
The movie, based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger, is due to begin shooting in August and pencilled in for release next year.
Canadian McAdams, whose screen credits include Wedding Crashers and The Notebook, has been linked to the lead role since the project's inception.
Edward Norton will take over Bana's Hulk role in a new screen version.
Mixed reviews
Australian-born Bana, whose last major role was in Steven Spielberg's Munich in 2005, will play a librarian who discovers he has a gene which makes him travel in time when he is under pressure.
The relationship with his wife is fraught with problems as he disappears for long periods and their ages differ during various encounters.
Bana recently finished work on The Other Boelyn Girl, in which he plays King Henry VIII alongside Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.
His next release is Lucky You, starring opposite Drew Barrymore.
Bana played comic hero The Incredible Hulk in Ang Lee's version of the story in 2003, which met mixed reviews.
The movie, based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger, is due to begin shooting in August and pencilled in for release next year.
Canadian McAdams, whose screen credits include Wedding Crashers and The Notebook, has been linked to the lead role since the project's inception.
Edward Norton will take over Bana's Hulk role in a new screen version.
Mixed reviews
Australian-born Bana, whose last major role was in Steven Spielberg's Munich in 2005, will play a librarian who discovers he has a gene which makes him travel in time when he is under pressure.
The relationship with his wife is fraught with problems as he disappears for long periods and their ages differ during various encounters.
Bana recently finished work on The Other Boelyn Girl, in which he plays King Henry VIII alongside Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.
His next release is Lucky You, starring opposite Drew Barrymore.
Bana played comic hero The Incredible Hulk in Ang Lee's version of the story in 2003, which met mixed reviews.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Dein Leaves Arsenal As Takeover Rumours Persist
The BBC Reports that Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has left the club with immediate effect because of "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board.
This follows the aquisition of 10% of the clubs shares by an american billionaire.
This follows the aquisition of 10% of the clubs shares by an american billionaire.
Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat
BBC Website
April 18th 2007
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up."
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.
April 18th 2007
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up."
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.
Gardener downs his tools at 104
BBC Website
April 18th 2007
A gardener has decided to down tools on his working life at the age of 104.
Jim Webber has been working the land in Dorset for 93 years, without taking holidays, but arthritis has forced him to retire.
Mr Webber told BBC news: "I'd do about 10 minutes and have to sit down - I couldn't carry on. That wasn't fair for the people I was working for."
The keen gardener, from Stoke Abbott, said he now planned to focus on his own garden and sell some of his produce.
Mr Webber said: "I haven't got a big wage now coming in, do you see - I've only got old age pension, so I'll try and sell a bit."
Born on Christmas Eve 1902, Mr Webber began his career as a farm labourer in Dorset, and won prizes for ploughing.
In gardening, he worked with his brother Jack, until he died at the age of 95 in July last year.
His daughter, Kathleen, 68, now helps him with his home garden.
He puts his longevity down to having "plenty to do and being interested in it" - as well as a bit of his "medicine" - whisky.
April 18th 2007
A gardener has decided to down tools on his working life at the age of 104.
Jim Webber has been working the land in Dorset for 93 years, without taking holidays, but arthritis has forced him to retire.
Mr Webber told BBC news: "I'd do about 10 minutes and have to sit down - I couldn't carry on. That wasn't fair for the people I was working for."
The keen gardener, from Stoke Abbott, said he now planned to focus on his own garden and sell some of his produce.
Mr Webber said: "I haven't got a big wage now coming in, do you see - I've only got old age pension, so I'll try and sell a bit."
Born on Christmas Eve 1902, Mr Webber began his career as a farm labourer in Dorset, and won prizes for ploughing.
In gardening, he worked with his brother Jack, until he died at the age of 95 in July last year.
His daughter, Kathleen, 68, now helps him with his home garden.
He puts his longevity down to having "plenty to do and being interested in it" - as well as a bit of his "medicine" - whisky.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Two cautioned over wi-fi 'theft'
BBC Website
April 17th 2007
Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet connections without permission.
Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.
He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar circumstances in the town earlier this month.
West Mercia Police said people with wi-fi should follow security advice given by their internet provider.
BBC Midlands Today's science correspondent, Dr David Gregory, said it was one of the first cases of its kind.
He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
The man arrested at the weekend was cautioned for dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services with intent to avoid payment.
He attracted attention from neighbours in the early morning, as he had put up cardboard around his car windows but the light from his computer could be seen through the back window.
April 17th 2007
Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet connections without permission.
Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.
He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar circumstances in the town earlier this month.
West Mercia Police said people with wi-fi should follow security advice given by their internet provider.
BBC Midlands Today's science correspondent, Dr David Gregory, said it was one of the first cases of its kind.
He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
The man arrested at the weekend was cautioned for dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services with intent to avoid payment.
He attracted attention from neighbours in the early morning, as he had put up cardboard around his car windows but the light from his computer could be seen through the back window.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Return of the Mic
Strike duo return
www.nufc.com
Tuesday 10th April 2007
Tuesday morning saw both Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi make a playing return for Newcastle in a behind closed doors friendly match against Scottish side Gretna.
www.nufc.com
Tuesday 10th April 2007
Tuesday morning saw both Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi make a playing return for Newcastle in a behind closed doors friendly match against Scottish side Gretna.
101st Post : Not an april fools
Cockatoo guarding chocolate eggs
BBC Website
Tuesday April 10th 2007
A cockatoo at a wildlife sanctuary has spent a fortnight trying to hatch a bowl of chocolate eggs.
Pippa has been protecting the chocolates at Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary since she was taken outside, put on a table and saw them.
Pippa has been protecting the chocolates at Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary since she was taken outside, put on a table and saw them.
Her owner, Geoff Grewcock, said: "She went straight over, climbed on the creme eggs and that was it. She thinks they're her eggs. "Until she clicks they're not real eggs, we'll just leave her there."
'So comical'
Pippa is one of 300 birds at the Nuneaton sanctuary, which also has 50 animals
Mr Grewcock described her as "very, very protective" and she had been through a "maternal stage".
He said: "She picked an egg up and threw it at a photographer with her beak as if to say 'leave my eggs alone. They're mine'. "She's got so much character it's unbelievable. She hates men - we've had a builder in who had his neck bitten. We had to prise Pippa's beak off his neck.
"When she attacks you, she attacks your ear lobe - she goes straight through them. We do free ear piercing here.
"She's ever so comical - always has been."
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Apple taking the first steps?
Bill Thompson is an independent journalist and regular commentator on the BBC World Service programme Digital Planet. These are his views on Apple's decision to make non DRM protected songs available in the iTunes library.
'I was wrong about Steve Jobs'
Bill Thompson
www.bbc.co.uk
April 3rd 2007
Bill Thompson doubted Apple's desire to sell songs without DRM. They start doing it in May, so what does he think now?
At Monday's press event to announce that the iTunes Music Store will be selling "premium" songs from EMI's catalogue without the copy-protection offered by the Fairplay digital rights management system, Steve Jobs noted that "some doubted Apple's sincerity when we made our proposal earlier this year... they said we had too much to lose".
That would be me, then.
In February Jobs wrote that Apple would stop using DRM "in an instant" if it could, and I was dismissive. "I don't believe him", I wrote at the time, going on to argue that "if Apple switched off Fairplay then they would probably sell a lot more songs, on which they make very little money, and a lot fewer iPods, on which they make a lot".
I also wrote that "Jobs can see which way the wind is blowing, and he can see that the record companies are finally tiring of their painful, expensive and ultimately unsatisfactory relationship with DRM", arguing that his comments were an attempt to "position Apple for this brave new world".
'Seriously underestimated'
Well, he has proved me wrong by opening up the iTunes store to non-DRM music, and showed that I had seriously underestimated his business acumen.
He may even have done it in a way which avoids the fate of being "crushed under foot by those who really understand the music business and didn't sell their souls to the record companies back in the days when they believed in DRM" that I predicted for him in my February column.
It would be easy to be cynical and attempt to dismiss this as just another PR effort from Jobs, lining up with a weakened and desperate record company to pull a stunt that will promote EMI as it tries to sell itself.
After all EMI is only one record company among many, and the London venue for the launch might indicate that the change of heart is at least in part an attempt to defuse EU concerns about interoperability and market distortion in the online music business.
But I'd rather be positive about what was announced Monday.
EMI and Apple's action could mark the start of the endgame for music DRM, a recognition that it can't work and won't work, and I approve of this. In an interoperable world of open music we can leave it to the market to decide which player, which store and which bands make it big, and that is a good thing.
Hard-edged
I don't like DRM. I don't know anyone who has ever downloaded a music track and muttered "how nice to know that this track is copy-protected and so ensures that I don't inadvertently play it on another computer or copy it to a friend's music player".
I'm pretty sure that Steve Jobs the man - as opposed to Steve Jobs the hard-edged CEO of a major technology company - doesn't like it either.
Everything I've read and seen of Jobs leads me to respect his deal-making ability and to believe that he wants the digital revolution to triumph not falter. Of course he wants Apple to be leading the charge - it's his company - but that does not mean he will make decisions that would damage the long term growth of the networked world.
I won't go so far as to believe that DRM-free music market was the endgame when iTunes was first launched - at least, not until I see the internal e-mails - but it may well have been one of the scenarios that the people behind it considered.
I was also reminded of why Jobs matters by a sweet piece of synchronicity, because as he was appearing on stage in London I was helping my girlfriend clear out some of the technology she has been keeping in her attic.
There was a lot of old Acorn kit, a Z88, even a Mac II. But the only shiver came when she handed me a plastic bag containing an Apple II, the computer that changed the world, the computer that Steve Wozniak built and Steve Jobs sold.
Massive debt
If Jobs is the man to turn the music industry away from DRM then we will all owe him a massive debt of gratitude. And today, while there is still a lot of manipulation, politicking and arm-twisting to be done, we've taken a small step in the right direction.
Music sites that already offer open music may now be worried that iTunes will eat into their market share, but of course the other labels aren't going to change their policy overnight, and in a DRM-free world users will be able to buy tracks from different stores and know that they will work on their computer or portable player, just as we can buy CDs from any shop and take them home to play.
I might now celebrate by buying a tune or two of unencumbered music from Apple's store when they are available next month, even though it will be more expensive than popping down to my local discount record store and picking up a CD to rip.
'I was wrong about Steve Jobs'
Bill Thompson
www.bbc.co.uk
April 3rd 2007
Bill Thompson doubted Apple's desire to sell songs without DRM. They start doing it in May, so what does he think now?
At Monday's press event to announce that the iTunes Music Store will be selling "premium" songs from EMI's catalogue without the copy-protection offered by the Fairplay digital rights management system, Steve Jobs noted that "some doubted Apple's sincerity when we made our proposal earlier this year... they said we had too much to lose".
That would be me, then.
In February Jobs wrote that Apple would stop using DRM "in an instant" if it could, and I was dismissive. "I don't believe him", I wrote at the time, going on to argue that "if Apple switched off Fairplay then they would probably sell a lot more songs, on which they make very little money, and a lot fewer iPods, on which they make a lot".
I also wrote that "Jobs can see which way the wind is blowing, and he can see that the record companies are finally tiring of their painful, expensive and ultimately unsatisfactory relationship with DRM", arguing that his comments were an attempt to "position Apple for this brave new world".
'Seriously underestimated'
Well, he has proved me wrong by opening up the iTunes store to non-DRM music, and showed that I had seriously underestimated his business acumen.
He may even have done it in a way which avoids the fate of being "crushed under foot by those who really understand the music business and didn't sell their souls to the record companies back in the days when they believed in DRM" that I predicted for him in my February column.
It would be easy to be cynical and attempt to dismiss this as just another PR effort from Jobs, lining up with a weakened and desperate record company to pull a stunt that will promote EMI as it tries to sell itself.
After all EMI is only one record company among many, and the London venue for the launch might indicate that the change of heart is at least in part an attempt to defuse EU concerns about interoperability and market distortion in the online music business.
But I'd rather be positive about what was announced Monday.
EMI and Apple's action could mark the start of the endgame for music DRM, a recognition that it can't work and won't work, and I approve of this. In an interoperable world of open music we can leave it to the market to decide which player, which store and which bands make it big, and that is a good thing.
Hard-edged
I don't like DRM. I don't know anyone who has ever downloaded a music track and muttered "how nice to know that this track is copy-protected and so ensures that I don't inadvertently play it on another computer or copy it to a friend's music player".
I'm pretty sure that Steve Jobs the man - as opposed to Steve Jobs the hard-edged CEO of a major technology company - doesn't like it either.
Everything I've read and seen of Jobs leads me to respect his deal-making ability and to believe that he wants the digital revolution to triumph not falter. Of course he wants Apple to be leading the charge - it's his company - but that does not mean he will make decisions that would damage the long term growth of the networked world.
I won't go so far as to believe that DRM-free music market was the endgame when iTunes was first launched - at least, not until I see the internal e-mails - but it may well have been one of the scenarios that the people behind it considered.
I was also reminded of why Jobs matters by a sweet piece of synchronicity, because as he was appearing on stage in London I was helping my girlfriend clear out some of the technology she has been keeping in her attic.
There was a lot of old Acorn kit, a Z88, even a Mac II. But the only shiver came when she handed me a plastic bag containing an Apple II, the computer that changed the world, the computer that Steve Wozniak built and Steve Jobs sold.
Massive debt
If Jobs is the man to turn the music industry away from DRM then we will all owe him a massive debt of gratitude. And today, while there is still a lot of manipulation, politicking and arm-twisting to be done, we've taken a small step in the right direction.
Music sites that already offer open music may now be worried that iTunes will eat into their market share, but of course the other labels aren't going to change their policy overnight, and in a DRM-free world users will be able to buy tracks from different stores and know that they will work on their computer or portable player, just as we can buy CDs from any shop and take them home to play.
I might now celebrate by buying a tune or two of unencumbered music from Apple's store when they are available next month, even though it will be more expensive than popping down to my local discount record store and picking up a CD to rip.
Spamalot bids for coconut record
The cast and creators of Monty Python musical Spamalot are hoping to set a new record for the world's largest coconut orchestra.
The Guinness World Record attempt will take place in London's Trafalgar Square on St George's Day, 23 April. The public will be given a pair of coconuts to "clip-clop" in time to the Python classic Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.
The current record of 1,789 was set in March last year, in New York. The gathering was held outside the Shubert Theatre to celebrate the first anniversary of the Broadway show.
The cast of the West End production will be on hand to lead the Trafalgar Square attempt.
The event will be followed by a special screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Trafalgar Square, at 1930 BST.
Spamalot recently extended its booking at London's Palace Theatre until 3 November 2007.
The Guinness World Record attempt will take place in London's Trafalgar Square on St George's Day, 23 April. The public will be given a pair of coconuts to "clip-clop" in time to the Python classic Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.
The current record of 1,789 was set in March last year, in New York. The gathering was held outside the Shubert Theatre to celebrate the first anniversary of the Broadway show.
The cast of the West End production will be on hand to lead the Trafalgar Square attempt.
The event will be followed by a special screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Trafalgar Square, at 1930 BST.
Spamalot recently extended its booking at London's Palace Theatre until 3 November 2007.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Til Death Do Us Part
February 14th 2007
From ToonArmyUSA
You have to feel for the poor Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man. Utd. fans don’t you? The drudgery of showing up week after week, watching your team chalk up win after monotonous win. Week’s go by and there’s nothing but praise in the national press (oh how they sing for your team!) for your team and your manager. Your players are all technically gifted; talented beyond their years; physically imposing; midfield generals, prolific strikers, and born again defenders. Jesus, even your coach is better than he’s ever been (dare I even say it, he’s ‘rejuvenated’).
In a word, life for you is boring. Your annual collection of silverware is the equivalent of the ritual summer holidays to Spain (predictable and never as good after the first time), your lack of scandal/player unrest/manager uncertainty the equal of a life lived in Devon (think sex, missionary position, for life), and your chairman’s cozy and stable relationship with your manager reminds me of Tuesday’s (nothing ever happens on a Tuesday).
How you must yearn for the whispers of backroom unrest, or perhaps some skullduggery in the dressing room. How about a manager that has “lost the players” or a striker who calls the manager a liar on national TV? Well heaven is a tight space son, and I’m afraid the Geordies have restricted it to waiting-list only.
Life as a Newcastle fan is one full with contradictions, unlikely resolution, apathetic defeats, improbable victories, predictable failures, uncanny coincidence, surprising resilience, and disappointing affirmations.
Liverpool took the miserable, rainy ride back to Merseyside thinking of what could have been last weekend, while the rest of us were left to ponder just how we can beat the scouse thoroughbreds one week and surrender to Fulham the week before.
How badly does the typical cockney-blue or Franco-highbrarian yearn for the chaos of a season-in-the-life of your average Geordie? Like a middle-class Essex housewife dreaming of a leg over with the young window cleaner’s apprentice, how he must clamour for the unrest of the chairman abusing the fans’ trust, or manipulating the press to get his hands on the clubs’ assets. Oh, the thrill of seeing his own players fighting each other DURING A GAME. The local papers covering your most recent “young” star out on the town crashing his Ferrari into a bridge/jailed for GBH/questioned for rape. And that’s just what’s going on off the pitch.
How about beating Barcelona at home (with a Tino hat trick) and then surrendering a 12 point lead for the league. Sacking a manager that gets you into the Champions League (and saves you from relegation) and then hiring a replacement not fit to lace his boots?
And again, there’s giving up away to Fulham and beating Liverpool at home.
Aye, as the words to the great song go, “no one said it was gonna be easy”. And to be honest, I’m not sure we’d have it any other way. Would you really cash in this soap opera of highs and desperate lows for the constant, steady, sleep depriving drip of success? Would you meet the devil at the crossroads and trade your life affirming (and divorce inducing) support for the sup of a pint of success? Howay Man.
And if you were ever in any doubt as to what I’m talking about, consider an email sent yesterday by a fellow fan to the ToonArmyUSA message board. It wasn’t enough for us to send the scousers home with nowt, he had a right go at Roeder for playing Dyer up front and Taylor out of position. Get in there son! You just can’t buy that now, can you?
I mean it’s not like we’re struggling for players or anything, is it?
From ToonArmyUSA
You have to feel for the poor Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man. Utd. fans don’t you? The drudgery of showing up week after week, watching your team chalk up win after monotonous win. Week’s go by and there’s nothing but praise in the national press (oh how they sing for your team!) for your team and your manager. Your players are all technically gifted; talented beyond their years; physically imposing; midfield generals, prolific strikers, and born again defenders. Jesus, even your coach is better than he’s ever been (dare I even say it, he’s ‘rejuvenated’).
In a word, life for you is boring. Your annual collection of silverware is the equivalent of the ritual summer holidays to Spain (predictable and never as good after the first time), your lack of scandal/player unrest/manager uncertainty the equal of a life lived in Devon (think sex, missionary position, for life), and your chairman’s cozy and stable relationship with your manager reminds me of Tuesday’s (nothing ever happens on a Tuesday).
How you must yearn for the whispers of backroom unrest, or perhaps some skullduggery in the dressing room. How about a manager that has “lost the players” or a striker who calls the manager a liar on national TV? Well heaven is a tight space son, and I’m afraid the Geordies have restricted it to waiting-list only.
Life as a Newcastle fan is one full with contradictions, unlikely resolution, apathetic defeats, improbable victories, predictable failures, uncanny coincidence, surprising resilience, and disappointing affirmations.
Liverpool took the miserable, rainy ride back to Merseyside thinking of what could have been last weekend, while the rest of us were left to ponder just how we can beat the scouse thoroughbreds one week and surrender to Fulham the week before.
How badly does the typical cockney-blue or Franco-highbrarian yearn for the chaos of a season-in-the-life of your average Geordie? Like a middle-class Essex housewife dreaming of a leg over with the young window cleaner’s apprentice, how he must clamour for the unrest of the chairman abusing the fans’ trust, or manipulating the press to get his hands on the clubs’ assets. Oh, the thrill of seeing his own players fighting each other DURING A GAME. The local papers covering your most recent “young” star out on the town crashing his Ferrari into a bridge/jailed for GBH/questioned for rape. And that’s just what’s going on off the pitch.
How about beating Barcelona at home (with a Tino hat trick) and then surrendering a 12 point lead for the league. Sacking a manager that gets you into the Champions League (and saves you from relegation) and then hiring a replacement not fit to lace his boots?
And again, there’s giving up away to Fulham and beating Liverpool at home.
Aye, as the words to the great song go, “no one said it was gonna be easy”. And to be honest, I’m not sure we’d have it any other way. Would you really cash in this soap opera of highs and desperate lows for the constant, steady, sleep depriving drip of success? Would you meet the devil at the crossroads and trade your life affirming (and divorce inducing) support for the sup of a pint of success? Howay Man.
And if you were ever in any doubt as to what I’m talking about, consider an email sent yesterday by a fellow fan to the ToonArmyUSA message board. It wasn’t enough for us to send the scousers home with nowt, he had a right go at Roeder for playing Dyer up front and Taylor out of position. Get in there son! You just can’t buy that now, can you?
I mean it’s not like we’re struggling for players or anything, is it?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
'Beer goggles' effect explained
From The BBC.
Alcohol is not the only factor in the beer goggles formula
Scientists believe they have worked out a formula to calculate how "beer goggles" affect a drinker's vision. The drink-fuelled phenomenon is said to transform supposedly "ugly" people into beauties - until the morning after.
Researchers at Manchester University say while beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder, the amount of alcohol consumed is not the only factor. Additional factors include the level of light in the pub or club, the drinker's own eyesight and the room's smokiness.
The distance between two people is also a factor.
They all add up to make the aesthetically-challenged more attractive, according to the formula.
The formula can work out a final score, ranging from less than one - where there is no beer goggle effect - to more than 100.
The formula can work out a final score, ranging from less than one - where there is no beer goggle effect - to more than 100.
Nathan Efron, Professor of Clinical Optometry at the University of Manchester, said: "The beer goggles effect isn't solely dependent on how much alcohol a person consumes, there are other influencing factors at play too. "For example, someone with normal vision, who has consumed five pints of beer and views a person 1.5 metres away in a fairly smoky and poorly lit room, will score 55, which means they would suffer from a moderate beer goggle effect."
The research was commissioned by eyecare firm Bausch & Lomb PureVision.
A poll showed that 68% of people had regretted giving their phone number to someone to whom they later realised they were not attracted. A formula rating of less than one means no effect. Between one and 50 the person you would normally find unattractive appears less "visually offensive". Non-appealing people become suddenly attractive between 51 and 100. At more than 100, someone not considered attractive looks like a super model.
KEY TO FORMULA
An = number of units of alcohol consumed
S = smokiness of the room (graded from 0-10, where 0 clear air; 10 extremely smoky)
L = luminance of 'person of interest' (candelas per square metre; typically 1 pitch black; 150 as seen in normal room lighting)
Vo = Snellen visual acuity (6/6 normal; 6/12 just meets driving standard)
d = distance from 'person of interest' (metres; 0.5 to 3 metres)
An = number of units of alcohol consumed
S = smokiness of the room (graded from 0-10, where 0 clear air; 10 extremely smoky)
L = luminance of 'person of interest' (candelas per square metre; typically 1 pitch black; 150 as seen in normal room lighting)
Vo = Snellen visual acuity (6/6 normal; 6/12 just meets driving standard)
d = distance from 'person of interest' (metres; 0.5 to 3 metres)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Scientists offered cash to dispute climate study
The Guardian
Ian Sample, science correspondent
Friday February 2, 2007
Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today.
Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an ExxonMobil-funded thinktank with close links to the Bush administration, offered the payments for articles that emphasise the shortcomings of a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Travel expenses and additional payments were also offered.
The UN report was written by international experts and is widely regarded as the most comprehensive review yet of climate change science. It will underpin international negotiations on new emissions targets to succeed the Kyoto agreement, the first phase of which expires in 2012. World governments were given a draft last year and invited to comment.
The AEI has received more than $1.6m from ExxonMobil and more than 20 of its staff have worked as consultants to the Bush administration. Lee Raymond, a former head of ExxonMobil, is the vice-chairman of AEI's board of trustees.
The letters, sent to scientists in Britain, the US and elsewhere, attack the UN's panel as "resistant to reasonable criticism and dissent and prone to summary conclusions that are poorly supported by the analytical work" and ask for essays that "thoughtfully explore the limitations of climate model outputs".
Climate scientists described the move yesterday as an attempt to cast doubt over the "overwhelming scientific evidence" on global warming. "It's a desperate attempt by an organisation who wants to distort science for their own political aims," said David Viner of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.
"The IPCC process is probably the most thorough and open review undertaken in any discipline. This undermines the confidence of the public in the scientific community and the ability of governments to take on sound scientific advice," he said.
The letters were sent by Kenneth Green, a visiting scholar at AEI, who confirmed that the organisation had approached scientists, economists and policy analysts to write articles for an independent review that would highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the IPCC report.
"Right now, the whole debate is polarised," he said. "One group says that anyone with any doubts whatsoever are deniers and the other group is saying that anyone who wants to take action is alarmist. We don't think that approach has a lot of utility for intelligent policy."
One American scientist turned down the offer, citing fears that the report could easily be misused for political gain. "You wouldn't know if some of the other authors might say nothing's going to happen, that we should ignore it, or that it's not our fault," said Steve Schroeder, a professor at Texas A&M university.
The contents of the IPCC report have been an open secret since the Bush administration posted its draft copy on the internet in April. It says there is a 90% chance that human activity is warming the planet, and that global average temperatures will rise by another 1.5 to 5.8C this century, depending on emissions.
Lord Rees of Ludlow, the president of the Royal Society, Britain's most prestigious scientific institute, said: "The IPCC is the world's leading authority on climate change and its latest report will provide a comprehensive picture of the latest scientific understanding on the issue. It is expected to stress, more convincingly than ever before, that our planet is already warming due to human actions, and that 'business as usual' would lead to unacceptable risks, underscoring the urgent need for concerted international action to reduce the worst impacts of climate change. However, yet again, there will be a vocal minority with their own agendas who will try to suggest otherwise."
Ben Stewart of Greenpeace said: "The AEI is more than just a thinktank, it functions as the Bush administration's intellectual Cosa Nostra. They are White House surrogates in the last throes of their campaign of climate change denial. They lost on the science; they lost on the moral case for action. All they've got left is a suitcase full of cash."
On Monday, another Exxon-funded organisation based in Canada will launch a review in London which casts doubt on the IPCC report. Among its authors are Tad Murty, a former scientist who believes human activity makes no contribution to global warming. Confirmed VIPs attending include Nigel Lawson and David Bellamy, who believes there is no link between burning fossil fuels and global warming.
Ian Sample, science correspondent
Friday February 2, 2007
Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today.
Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an ExxonMobil-funded thinktank with close links to the Bush administration, offered the payments for articles that emphasise the shortcomings of a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Travel expenses and additional payments were also offered.
The UN report was written by international experts and is widely regarded as the most comprehensive review yet of climate change science. It will underpin international negotiations on new emissions targets to succeed the Kyoto agreement, the first phase of which expires in 2012. World governments were given a draft last year and invited to comment.
The AEI has received more than $1.6m from ExxonMobil and more than 20 of its staff have worked as consultants to the Bush administration. Lee Raymond, a former head of ExxonMobil, is the vice-chairman of AEI's board of trustees.
The letters, sent to scientists in Britain, the US and elsewhere, attack the UN's panel as "resistant to reasonable criticism and dissent and prone to summary conclusions that are poorly supported by the analytical work" and ask for essays that "thoughtfully explore the limitations of climate model outputs".
Climate scientists described the move yesterday as an attempt to cast doubt over the "overwhelming scientific evidence" on global warming. "It's a desperate attempt by an organisation who wants to distort science for their own political aims," said David Viner of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.
"The IPCC process is probably the most thorough and open review undertaken in any discipline. This undermines the confidence of the public in the scientific community and the ability of governments to take on sound scientific advice," he said.
The letters were sent by Kenneth Green, a visiting scholar at AEI, who confirmed that the organisation had approached scientists, economists and policy analysts to write articles for an independent review that would highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the IPCC report.
"Right now, the whole debate is polarised," he said. "One group says that anyone with any doubts whatsoever are deniers and the other group is saying that anyone who wants to take action is alarmist. We don't think that approach has a lot of utility for intelligent policy."
One American scientist turned down the offer, citing fears that the report could easily be misused for political gain. "You wouldn't know if some of the other authors might say nothing's going to happen, that we should ignore it, or that it's not our fault," said Steve Schroeder, a professor at Texas A&M university.
The contents of the IPCC report have been an open secret since the Bush administration posted its draft copy on the internet in April. It says there is a 90% chance that human activity is warming the planet, and that global average temperatures will rise by another 1.5 to 5.8C this century, depending on emissions.
Lord Rees of Ludlow, the president of the Royal Society, Britain's most prestigious scientific institute, said: "The IPCC is the world's leading authority on climate change and its latest report will provide a comprehensive picture of the latest scientific understanding on the issue. It is expected to stress, more convincingly than ever before, that our planet is already warming due to human actions, and that 'business as usual' would lead to unacceptable risks, underscoring the urgent need for concerted international action to reduce the worst impacts of climate change. However, yet again, there will be a vocal minority with their own agendas who will try to suggest otherwise."
Ben Stewart of Greenpeace said: "The AEI is more than just a thinktank, it functions as the Bush administration's intellectual Cosa Nostra. They are White House surrogates in the last throes of their campaign of climate change denial. They lost on the science; they lost on the moral case for action. All they've got left is a suitcase full of cash."
On Monday, another Exxon-funded organisation based in Canada will launch a review in London which casts doubt on the IPCC report. Among its authors are Tad Murty, a former scientist who believes human activity makes no contribution to global warming. Confirmed VIPs attending include Nigel Lawson and David Bellamy, who believes there is no link between burning fossil fuels and global warming.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Can you imagine the french in the commonwealth?
This is a few days old but for those that missed it this story appeared in the sun last week. Im sure i know a few people that would be interested.
France wanted to join UK
By JAMES CLENCH and TIM SPANTON
January 16, 2007
IT’S the news that will have the French spluttering into their breakfast coffee.
Newly-discovered documents reveal our haughty cross-Channel neighbours were desperate to MERGE with Britain in the aftermath of the Second World War.In a devastating blow to Gallic pride, the papers show that in 1956 French PM Guy Mollet humbly asked British leader Sir Anthony Eden if the two countries could join together. When Sir Anthony said “Non”, Mollet begged for France to be allowed into the Commonwealth — with the QUEEN as its head of state.
Thankfully Sir Anthony again declined — but a year later the sulking French joined forces with Germany instead and soon after the Common Market was born.
The astonishing revelations were uncovered in once-secret papers held in the National Archives. At the time of the proposal, France was in economic meltdown and faced the escalating Suez crisis.
The documents show that on September 10, 1956, Mollet travelled to London to discuss the unlikely merger between the two nations.
A British Cabinet paper from the period reads: “When the French PM, Monsieur Mollet, was recently in London he raised with the Prime Minister the possibility of a union between the United Kingdom and France.” It adds that when his request for a union failed, the French premier pleaded for his country to be let into the British Commonwealth.
Another document dated September 28 notes: “Mollet had not thought there need be difficulty over France accepting the headship of Her Majesty.” The document shows the proposal was given serious consideration by the Government before it was rejected. Perhaps less surprisingly, no record of it exists in French archives.
The discovery was made by a BBC team making a documentary for Radio 4.
France wanted to join UK
By JAMES CLENCH and TIM SPANTON
January 16, 2007
IT’S the news that will have the French spluttering into their breakfast coffee.
Newly-discovered documents reveal our haughty cross-Channel neighbours were desperate to MERGE with Britain in the aftermath of the Second World War.In a devastating blow to Gallic pride, the papers show that in 1956 French PM Guy Mollet humbly asked British leader Sir Anthony Eden if the two countries could join together. When Sir Anthony said “Non”, Mollet begged for France to be allowed into the Commonwealth — with the QUEEN as its head of state.
Thankfully Sir Anthony again declined — but a year later the sulking French joined forces with Germany instead and soon after the Common Market was born.
The astonishing revelations were uncovered in once-secret papers held in the National Archives. At the time of the proposal, France was in economic meltdown and faced the escalating Suez crisis.
The documents show that on September 10, 1956, Mollet travelled to London to discuss the unlikely merger between the two nations.
A British Cabinet paper from the period reads: “When the French PM, Monsieur Mollet, was recently in London he raised with the Prime Minister the possibility of a union between the United Kingdom and France.” It adds that when his request for a union failed, the French premier pleaded for his country to be let into the British Commonwealth.
Another document dated September 28 notes: “Mollet had not thought there need be difficulty over France accepting the headship of Her Majesty.” The document shows the proposal was given serious consideration by the Government before it was rejected. Perhaps less surprisingly, no record of it exists in French archives.
The discovery was made by a BBC team making a documentary for Radio 4.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Not bad for a player thats finnished
Real Madrid today announced that David Beckham would be leaving the club when his contract expires in the summer. I don't think that this will come as a great surprise to anyone given that he has failed to replicate his best form in the past couple of years. The destination, LA Galaxy, while not providing the best competition will suit his Hollywood Lifestyle.
Despite the ability that he does posses, for a player that has been criticised for having lost his pace, his drive and his cutting edge a final deal that is believed to top 130 million pounds over the next five years would seem to be a great piece of negotiation.
Despite the ability that he does posses, for a player that has been criticised for having lost his pace, his drive and his cutting edge a final deal that is believed to top 130 million pounds over the next five years would seem to be a great piece of negotiation.
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