Propeller.com Stories submitted by friends of sarah

PCLinuxOS : The Best Desktop GNU/Linux

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:12:41 EDT

I have no reservations or doubts of any kind to recommend PCLinxOS to a newcomer or a home user with a reassurance that this distribution will rarely fail upon you. Just go and spin the PCLinuxOS CD and see what wonders it brings for you.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: pclinux pclos linux

VMware exec says Windows days are numbered

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:11:56 EDT

OK. I know people at Red Hat who would say that that's exactly what will happen. That's right out of the new Red Hat KVM-based virtualization playbook. But, someone from VMware saying this? Wow.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: vmware linux windows hypervisor

ASUS' Big Development

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:10:43 EDT

The ASUS sneak attack. The most interesting story the media is downplaying is the ASUS announcement that it will have a ROM boot chip on all its motherboards, which will boot Linux instantly on start-up.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: ASUS asustek linux mobo bios

OSCON: Linux Rocks in Mobile, Embedded Realm

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:09:34 EDT

Jim Zemlin of the Linux Foundation says Linux is the platform of choice for the mobile and embedded platforms. Zemlin will speak on the state of mobile Linux at OSCON.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: oscon zemlin linux embedded

Linus Torvalds' Followup On Software Security, Sensationalism

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:08:34 EDT

Heh. I did talk to an OpenBSD [developer], and offered to apologize if they really thought "masturbating monkeys" was offensive, but at least that developer just found it funny.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: linus torvalds linux kernel security

Linus Torvalds, Geek of the Week

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:08:12 EDT

RM: 'I can't end without asking you about the Steve Ballmer quote. You know the one where he said 'Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches.' What do you think he meant by this?'

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: linus torvalds linux kernel fud

Microsoft's OOXML Dirty Tricks Are Back

schestowitz — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:53:30 EDT

Microsoft is buying the election and is set to decide on its non-existent proprietary formats next week

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: ooxml microsoft lobbying ecma iso

Cyber-security Expert Suggests Diebold Tampered With 2002 Georgia Election

TimALoftis — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:27:50 EDT

A leading cyber-security expert and former adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) says he has fresh evidence regarding election fraud on Diebold electronic voting machines during the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial and senatorial elections.

Channel: Politics Tags: 2002 election georgia max cleland roy barnes

Sync and Back Up Your Data with Conduit for Linux

jeremytoday — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:02:06 EDT

Admit it-even if your desk could be the cover shot for Organized Worker Monthly, your data is all over the place.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Linux Conduit sync data

Pressure at pump curbs spending

Deidre — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:51:02 EDT

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. consumers (63 percent) are reducing their spending due to rising gas prices, up 18 points since June 2007 and up 14 points in the last six months alone, according to new research from The Nielsen Co.

Channel: Money Tags: spending finances frugality

Hotels splurge on pools to make a bigger splash with guests

Deidre — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:28:41 EDT

Hotel pools are going off the deep end when it comes to luxury, novelty and entertainment.

Channel: Travel Tags: pools hotels summer vacation resort

Going Up: Slow Progress on 'space Elevator'

jeremytoday — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:25:16 EDT

Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios and ... Space Orlando. In the future, Florida could be the site of a simulated "elevator" that allows people to check out life on a space station, virtually.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: elevator space virtual space elevator

China's war on nature

_kam0_ — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:12 EDT

Just as Americans have waged their War on Terror since 9/11, it seems the Chinese are now embroiled in a War on Nature. To grasp what is at stake in this strange war, it pays to travel away from the capital. The economic front line now lies in western China, in frenetically growing industrial centres such as Chongqing.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: China environment Propeller Eco News

HP's grand vision: measure everything

jeremytoday — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:38:12 EDT

Imagine walking down the supermarket aisle with a cheap device you could hold up to a tomato. If the sensor detects a pesticide residue, you'd know the "organic" label is a lie.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: HP Hewlett Packard CeNSE nanotech measure

Huge rise in malware this year

jeremytoday — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:11:36 EDT

Malware has risen by a staggering 278 percent in the first half of 2008, thanks in part to the large number of Web sites comprised last month, so says a new study by ScanSafe.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: security study Web security

Perpetual Remodeling Syndrome: All about siding

jeremytoday — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:08:21 EDT

All homes have exterior surfaces that are designed to protect the home from the elements. There are many different types, but the two general ones are brick and siding. Some homes have a combination of the two.

Channel: Do-It-Yourself Tags: siding vinyl wood aluminum

Universal Says DMCA Takedown Notices Need Not Consider 'Fair Use'

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:57:52 EDT

Universal Music told a federal judge here Friday that takedown notices requiring online video-sharing sites to automatically remove content need not consider whether videos are protected by the "fair use" doctrine. The doctrine permits a limited use of copyrighted materials without the owner's permission.

Channel: Music Tags: RIAA UMG Fair Use Universal Music Group Copyright Lawsuits

L.A. County unemployment jumps to 7 percent

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:54:49 EDT

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Los Angeles County jumped to 7 percent in June, state officials reported today. The June unemployment rate was up from the 6.7 percent rate in May, and above the 5 percent rate in June 2007, according to the Employment Development Department.

Channel: Money Tags: Unemployment Los Angeles County Economy Recession Jobless

Harry Harrison named Grand Master by SFWA

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:47:46 EDT

Harry Harrison, creator of The Stainless Steel Rat and author of the novel that inspired the movie Soylent Green, will be honored as the next Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America during the 2009 Nebula Award Weekend in Los Angeles, Calif.

Channel: Books Tags: Harry Harrison SFWA Nebula Awards Los Angeles Damon Knight Grand Master Authors

REVIEW: Northwest of Earth by C. L. Moore

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:46:16 EDT

A delightful blend of classic science fiction, wonderful settings and some of the most memorable monsters you've never encountered.

Channel: Books Tags: Fantasy Science Fiction Reviews Classics CL Moore

Ridley Scott Deserves an Oscar, Even If It's an Honorary One

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:45:37 EDT

John Scalzi says: "[Ridley] Scott's critical contributions to the science fiction genre are just one facet of a film career that genuinely deserves praise and note -- and just one piece of the puzzle for his consideration for an honorary Oscar. Let's look at some of the other reasons."

Channel: Movies Tags: Directors Science Fiction John Scalzi Academy Awards Awards Ridley Scott

Richard Dawkins Slaps Creationists into the Primordial Soup

Neophile — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:45:06 EDT

His books sell in their millions, his TV programmes are rapturously received, and he's appeared in Doctor Who. Not bad for a 67-year-old academic. Now Richard Dawkins, scourge of creationists, is championing his Victorian hero.

Channel: Television Tags: richard dawkins charles darwin dawkins on darwin evolution natural selection creationism

Hillary Clinton Blasts Bush On Abortion Proposal

TimALoftis — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:17:50 EDT

"This is a gratuitous, unnecessary insult to the women of the United States of America. These rules pose a dire threat to women's health, to health-care providers, and to uninsured and low-income Americans seeking care. It is a disgrace, but unfortunately it is not a surprise."

Channel: News Tags: hillary clinton george w bush bush abortion contraceptives women health

Dark Knight Superfan Jokerizes Ads, Herself, Friends

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:14:41 EDT

Although Whisenand's work is similar to earlier viral campaigns sporting a "jokerized" look, she insists she's just a fan. "I'm not being commissioned for any of my Batman work," said Whisenand in an e-mail exchange. "It's all motivated by my own nerdy passion and excitement for The Dark Knight."

Channel: Movies Tags: Advertising Art Batman Dark Knight April Wsisenand Geeks

Review: Joker Plays the Wild Card in Dazzling Dark Knight

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:13:03 EDT

Dark Knight's themes of urban corruption, misplaced ambition and vigilante justice lend it heft...It doesn't even attempt the humorous edge that propelled Iron Man or any of the 20th-century Batman movies. This is serious stuff, astutely dramatized by sturdy supporting players including...Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

Channel: Movies Tags: Batman Dark Knight Reviews Geeks Comic Book Movies DC Comics

GOP Threatens CafePress Over Shirts, Stickers and Logos

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:06:37 EDT

The Republican National Committee is threatening to sue CafePress for hosting an online venue for vendors to hawk GOP-related regalia like T-shirts, stickers and portrayals of elephants.

Channel: Politics Tags: Republicans Cafepress Lawsuits Tshirts GOP RNC

Disgruntled Techies Have Wreaked Worse Havoc Than San Francisco Tech

Wil — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:59:56 EDT

The purported takeover of the San Francisco government's new fiber optic network by an employee who locked out all the other administrators sounds extreme, but disgruntled or fired employees have long used computers to get a dose of revenge.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: San Francisco Extortion Fiber Optics

Propeller Week In Review: July 18, 2008

JamesMarcus — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:39:37 EDT

Petroleum was very much on the mind of the Propeller community this week. But so was Karl Rove, gay rights, and a certain, extremely charming jackass.

Channel: News Tags: wir week in review propeller

Ashanti To Join The Cast Of Heroes?

corey.spring — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:22:19 EDT

MediaTakeOut.com just caught word that R&B singer Ashanti and her mom-ager are working vigorously to have the platinum selling artist join the cast of NBC's hit series Heroes. And their efforts seem to be working.

Channel: Television Tags: heroes villians ashanti

Sarah Chalke returning to 'Mother'

corey.spring — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:22:10 EDT

Chalke, who stars on "Scrubs" and has a recurring role on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," appeared at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday to help promote the move of "Scrubs" to ABC from NBC this season. Chalke was asked if she would be reprising her role on "Mother," which has stirred a lot of speculation among TV critics and fans that Chalke's character will turn out to be the mystery "Mother" on the comedy.

Channel: Television Tags: himym sarah chalke scrubs how i met your mother

Scrubs films two finales

corey.spring — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:21:58 EDT

"The biggest battle for us is we have to shoot it two ways because if I shoot what his name is in the final show and the show's gonna go on, I wouldn't want it to air that way, because he'd still be on the show. So we'll shoot a backup, alternate part of him and Zach when Zach leaves, one that he says his name and one he doesn't."

Channel: Television Tags: scrubs finale abc janitor

Late-night shake-up may affect 'Nightline'

corey.spring — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:21:39 EDT

Nearly three years after it could have been dealt a fatal blow by the departure of Ted Koppel, ABC's "Nightline" has bucked the odds to not only survive but thrive. But with Jay Leno's departure set to shake up late-night TV, "Nightline" may be facing an even stiffer challenge to survive.

Channel: Television Tags: abc nightline jay leno

The Flintstones get lung cancer

corey.spring — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:21:36 EDT

It's easy to forget that when the current generation of grandparents grew up, it was acceptable to show commercials like this one, where Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble enjoy a nice smoke while their wives engage in women's work

Channel: Television Tags: the flinstones commercials

US Downplayed Electrical Risks in Iraq

TimALoftis — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:13:15 EDT

Inferior electrical work by private contractors on U.S. military bases in Iraq is more widespread than the Pentagon has acknowledged, according to a published report.

Channel: News Tags: iraq iraq war electrical work kbr

Report: 'The Dark Knight' Sets Record For Midnight Debut

TimALoftis — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:09:22 EDT

Media By Numbers says the new Batman movie from Warner Bros. brought in $18.5 million Friday from its midnight screening in 3,040 theaters.

Channel: Movies Tags: the dark knight warner brothers

The plan to revive the Sahara casino

Deidre — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:50 EDT

Sam Nazarian put Hollywood's club scene back on the map. Now he wants to make over an aging casino to bring the party to Vegas.

Channel: Travel Tags: sahara casino las vegas

Queensland to investigate open source capability

schestowitz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:41:06 EDT

When a genre of software is estimated to account for 15 percent of the total revenue generated by a given sector of the IT industry and that total is $A3.5 billion, then it is time to sit up and take notice.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: australia queensland foss government

Audio/Visual Synthesis: The New Arts

schestowitz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:39:39 EDT

In this second part of my survey I focus on the tools that achieve this new synthesis of arts. Alas, due to space constraints I am unable to include all the software I would like to have reviewed, but perhaps a future article will deal with those programs.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: adio studio dave linux synthesis

Plasma Embedded

schestowitz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:38:03 EDT

My job was to install Linux on it. And I did just that - Debian GNU/Linux with KDE 4.1 beta which is in Debian's experimental repositories.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: kde kde4 debian linux amd embedded

KDE 4.1 RC1 - Yet Another Top Release

schestowitz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:37:51 EDT

So another succesful release, I really think that anyone who hasn't switched because they thought that it wasn't mature enough at KDE 4.0 release, its about time to consider it. 4.1 is not only mature, but it's also stable.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: kde kde4 linux release candidate