'Holes In Heaven: HAARP And Advances In Tesla Technology

People can freely view online top notch documentary, "Holes In Heaven:  HAARP And Advances In Tesla Technology," that provides highly valuable intro to HAARP technology. "HAARP--High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project--is a controversial high-frequency radio transmitter operated by the U.S. military which beams high-level energy into the Earth's upper atmosphere. Ostensibly for ionospheric research, HAARP can also be used to locate hidden oil reserves and missile silos around the world. However, critics of HAARP say it could blow a massive hole in the upper atmosphere as well as disrupt the subtle magnetic energies of all life on Earth. This fascinating film narrated by Martin Sheen employs a journalistically balanced style to investigate a subject that could have a dramatic effect on us all," informs review at rottentomatoes.com. You're not truly educated unless you're aware of HAARP technology and its manipulation of the Earth's atmostphere!

Microbes Discovered In Antarctic Subglacial Lake Whillans

Science Recorder reports: "Scientists drilling in Lake Whillans, a remote body of water buried 2,600 feet below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, have discovered evidence of living bacteria. The water samples were first removed from the ice sheet at 6:20am on Monday, January 28, by the U.S. research team Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling, or WISSARD. Researchers employed a quick test to analyze their samples for potential life by injecting DNA-sensitive dye into the water, and immediately found numerous individual cells glowing green." Above three minute video shows scientist John Priscu discussing need to keep antarctic ice drill free from contamination and use of an attached filitration system to keep drill clean. A link to WISSARD website is here.

'Energy From Space'

A 12 minute video, "Energy From Space," ponders real climate changes, supplying current facts. Video author, SuspiciousObservers suspects spaceweather or energy from Space plays role. The weakening of Earth's magnetosphere, is believed, key in Earth climate change, and possibly, tied to recent Solar Minimum.   It's also observed, entire solar system experiencing climate change.  The author dismisses HAARP and weather modification techniques, saying, "it's a terrible thing to play God, it [weather modification] may be doing more harm than good". "Energy From Space" offers good arguments for an alternative hypothesis of climate change.

1989 Russian Phobos 2 Probe Still A Mystery

Russian Phobos 2 probe launched in late 1988 and sudden loss of craft near Mars moonlet, generates contro- versy to this day.  A meteor explanation has been offered.  However, in 1991,  Col. Marina Popovich released a last photo taken by Phobos 2 showing a cylindrical object, and possibly, cementing mission into permanent X-File status!

DHS Announces: "Cyber-9/11 Coming Soon!"

Kevin Barrett critques a Reuters article at Veterans Today, wondering how authorities know a Cyber attack may be imminent?  "According to the Rothschild-owned Reuters News Agency, the Department of Homeland Security has announced that a devastating cyber-terror attack on the scale of 9/11 is likely to 'happen imminently'."   Barrett looks at motives and sees propaganda bonanza for war with Iran and excuse to clamp down on internet.  The internet has been thorn in authorities' side as people have access to other sources than mainstream media.  Can you say predictive programming?  Barrett advises,"So when the Cyber-9/11 happens, as DHS has announced it soon will, don’t say they (and we) didn’t warn you."

Through a glass dimly: Australia's new cyber security policy

from apperspective.net: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that $1.46 billion has been set aside by the Australian federal government to strengthen cyber networks as part of a National Security Strategy (PDF).

The funding ,which will be spread out to the year 2020, is designed to strengthen what Gillard described as Australia’s “most sensitive” networks.

In addition, a new Australian Cyber Security Centre will be established by the end of 2013 which will combine existing cyber security capabilities across the Attorney-General’s Department, Defence, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission in one location.

According to Gillard, the centre will provide Australia with an expanded and more agile response capability to deal with all cyber issues, be they related to government, industry, crime or security.

“Importantly it will also create a hub for greater collaboration with the private sector, state and territory governments and international partners to combat the full breadth of cyber threats,” she said during a speech delivered in Canberra.

“Malicious cyber activity will likely be with us for many decades to come, so we must be prepared for a long, persistent fight.”

Gillard also announced that she has established the Office of the Cyber Policy Coordinator to provide leadership and coordination.

“For the public sector, we must ensure that our most important networks are some of the hardest to compromise in the world,” she said.

“But government alone cannot develop a secure and safe digital environment.”

Gillard added that the federal government must continue to work closely with the information security industry and international partners to develop a set of “global norms” for online behaviour.

“The Internet must remain open but also be secure.”

Related: 

Spy agency ASIO wants powers to hack into personal computers

Cyber War: A one-sided battle against a trumpeted up enemy

Sudden Stratopheric Warming Event = Big Chill

The Extinction Protocol: 2012 and beyond website sends out weather advisory in blog, "The Big Chill: unusual stratospheric phenomenon is bringing frigid cold to U.S." A phenomenon known as Sudden Stratospheric Warming will contribute colder weather with possibility of more snow in weeks ahead:

"An unusual event playing out high in the atmosphere above the Arctic Circle is setting the stage for what could be weeks upon weeks of frigid cold across wide swaths of the U.S....This phenomenon, known as a 'sudden stratospheric warming event,' started on Jan. 6, but is something that is just beginning to have an effect on weather patterns across North America...The ongoing event favors colder and possibly stormier weather for as long as four to eight weeks after the event, meaning that after a mild start to the winter, the rest of this month and February could bring the coldest weather of the winter season to parts of the U.S., along with a heightened chance of snow."

On the surface, weather forecast seems the norm for January, but degree of cold and snow will tell real story! It's time to bundle up!

Was Aaron Swartz Murdered?

Richard Evans writes in article, "Was Aaron Swartz Murdered?," a different perspective from mainstream media that treats Swartz's suicide as a response to his 2011 indictment and legal bullying.  Swartz downloaded entire JSTOR archives,  "...because the organization pays the publishers of scholarly articles, not the authors," explains Evans, "...charged under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, otherwise known as 'hacking'."  Evans disagrees Swartz took his own life out of fear and points to familiar pattern of someone smart enough to challenge authority, but fails to abide by them:

"Swartz's career shows the familiar pattern of attempts to assimilate him into the system - scholarship to Stanford, lucrative job under auspices of WIRED, a fellowship from Harvard's institution on ethics. All these perks failed to control him, so they switched to Federal muscle tactics. Each attempt to control him drove him further beyond the pale. But I think his death warrant wasn't issued till last year when he became an effective leader of a million people and stopped the PIPA and SOPA bills. Effective leaders aren't allowed."

Evans' argument rings true that includes supporting quote by Bertrand Russell from his 1931 book, "The Scientific Outlook":

"'On those rare occasions, when a boy or girl who has passed the age at which it is usual to determine social status shows such marked ability as to seem the intellectual equal of the rulers, a difficult situation will arise, requiring serious consideration. If the youth is content to abandon his previous associates and to throw in his lot whole-heartedly with the rulers, he may, after suitable tests, be promoted, but if he shows any regrettable solidarity with his previous associates, the rulers will reluctantly conclude that there is nothing to be done with him except to send him to the lethal chamber before his ill-disciplined intelligence has had time to spread revolt. This will be a painful duty to the rulers, but I think they will not shrink from performing it.'"

"Bertrand Russell wrote frankly that geniuses would be carefully offered a place with the elite, but those that persisted in bucking the system would be exterminated," concludes Evans.

In addition to the previous argument, a second compelling point is made by Evans when he asks, "Why hanging?":

"Hanging is a horrible way to die. The sentence of hanging was intended to send a message to other offenders 'this could happen to you'. I think that's why Aaron Swartz died by hanging. It's a message to other activists -- probably those he knew who worked with him."

Today, few people realize gruesome reality of a hanging death!  "Swartz's father is an intellectual property consultant to MIT's computer lab. At Aaron's funeral, he said his son was killed by the government," writes Evans.  Gordon Duff, Senior Editor at Veteran's Today, can only conclude that rogue elements within CIA could have audacity to commit this murder.  Duff has no question Swartz's hanging was murder!

Swartz stood for something intolerable in today's upside-down world:

"At 27, he'd already reached the top of his field. He was a software genius and Internet champion. He co-authored the "RSS 1.0" a widely-used syndication format. he also co-founded Reddit which was sold to Conde Naste. He founded Open Library, an internet database dedicated to obtaining public domain documents that had been appropriated by private interests. He 'hacked' the Library of Congress database and uploaded it to Open Library making it available for free. Aaron Swartz...was an effective advocate for freedom of information.... Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig said, 'He never did anything for the money...The government was not gonna stop until he admitted he was a felon. In a world where the architects of the financial crisis regularly dine at the White House, it's ridiculous to think Aaron Swartz was a felon.'"

Swartz stood for and paid with his life for freedom of information.  Evans agrees with Harvard Professor Lessig, when he said,  "'Aaron Swartz is now an icon, an ideal. He is what we will be fighting for, all of us, for the rest of our lives.'"  Swartz suffered a miserable death, we all should be mourning!

Strongest Evidence Yet Of There Being #LifeOnMars?

from telegraph.co.uk: Prof John Parnell, 55, has co-written a theory with Dr Joseph Michalski, a planetary geologist at the Natural History Museum, that suggests they have discovered the best signs of life in the huge McLaughlin Crater on the surface of Mars. The document, published today in Nature Geoscience journal, describes how they assessed the crater, created by a meteorite which smashed into the surface of Mars, flinging up rocks from miles below. The rocks appear to be made up of clays and minerals which have been altered by water - the essential element to support life. Speaking from his laboratory at the University of Aberdeen, geochemist Prof Parnell said: "We could be so close to discovering if there is, or was, life on Mars.

Stuxnet, SCADA Like Bread And Butter To Elite

Jim Stone, freelance journalist, bluntly states what others suspect in quiet! Stone writes, "want gun confiscation to work? Want a reason to go door to door and expel EVERYONE from their homes? Want final tyranny lock down? How about blowing up a few nuclear facilities, as I was talking about shortly after Fukushima, and using THAT as an excuse to send Fema door to door? Blown up nuclear reactor trumps hurricane any day. That is why I published that cartoon [picture]...I have no doubt that the 'elite' would have no compunctions about blowing up a few nuclear reactors in the U.S. to convince the American public to go along with their disaster plan, which would no doubt include total relocation of the population, and confiscations of all firearms. They may be able to sway governments with planted nukes, but with regard to gun confiscation in America they are going to have to find a way to sway the people and a nuclear disaster may be the ticket." Is Stone over the top, out-of-bounds or beyond the pale? The present writer suspects Stone remains close to the truth! International banksters and oligarchs are taking down America from within.  Pitfalls in safety designs of power plants without backup safety for software security holes seem to be just like bread and butter to Elite, who want little more than be rid of us!  Aren't we due for another disaster?

WiFi + USB Drive = Your Own Mini-Internet (Freedom)

from LocalOrg.blogspot.com: Worried about draconian Internet laws? Creeping surveillance? The inability to share with others without being criminalized? The Internet is still a tool of tremendous power, but a deep rot has set in. We have caught it early and we are fighting to stop this rot, but there are other options we can begin exploring to hedge our bets, enhance our current efforts of fighting against corporate monopolies, and eventually, build an Internet of the people, by the people, for the people - big-telecom monopolies not welcomed.

In last week's "Fighting Back Against the "Intellectual Property" Racket," the "PirateBox" was introduced. The PirateBox transforms a laptop, router, or single board computer into a mini-Internet hub where files can be freely shared, and even features a chat program so users can communicate. It is a lite version of the mesh networks described in December 2012's "Decentralizing Telecom" where independent mesh networks featured many software alternatives to emulate popular online programs such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and others. The PirateBox is an introductory project anyone with a WiFi adapter and a USB thumbdrive can do on their own with a little motivation and an hour to experiment.

In a busy office, a PirateBox can serve as a simple local wireless file server and chat client. In an apartment complex, it can become the center of a social experiment, an opportunity to reach out to neighbors and organize constructively, or just for fun - building badly needed local communities back up.

Instructions for perhaps the easiest of PirateBox's implementations can be found on blogger, designer, and activist David Darts' website here. The instructions are nearly fool proof, and a lot of the common problems ran into are described and their solutions linked to throughout the explanation.

The PirateBox does not connect to the Internet, nor does it operate from your hard drive. It works entirely on the USB thumbdrive you install it on, simply using your computer's WiFi to network all who are in range.

Ideally you'd want to make a dedicated, standalone PirateBox to serve your space, office, and neighbors. A great place for beginners to embark on this is at your local hackerspace. If you don't have a local hackerspace, look into starting one up.

Protesting is important, but protesting alone will not stem the problem at its source. The rot will continue to spread unless we develop tangible tools to pragmatically excise it and repair the damage it has already done. The problem of corporate monopolies ensnaring and subjugating us through their telecom monopolies can and is being solved by solutions like mesh networks, the PirateBox, and the onward march of open source software and hardware, simply displacing proprietary products and services. The best way to ensure success is to have as many informed and constructive people as possible join in the problem-solving process.

Spy agency ASIO wants powers to hack into personal computers

from heraldsun.com.au: Spy agency ASIO wants to hack into Australians' personal computers and commandeer their smartphones to transmit viruses to terrorists.

The Attorney-General's Department is pushing for new powers for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to hijack the computers of suspected terrorists.

But privacy groups are attacking the ''police state'' plan as ''extraordinarily broad and intrusive''.

A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Department said it was proposing that ASIO be authorised to ''use a third party computer for the specific purpose of gaining access to a target computer''.

''The purpose of this power is to allow ASIO to access the computer of suspected terrorists and other security interests,'' he told News Limited.

''(It would be used) in extremely limited circumstances and only when explicitly approved by the Attorney-General through a warrant.

''Importantly, the warrant would not authorise ASIO to obtain intelligence material from the third party computer.''

The Attorney-General's Department refused to explain yesterday how third-party computers would be used, ''as this may divulge operationally sensitive information and methods used by ASIO in sensitive national security investigations.''

But cyber specialist Andrew Pam, a board member of the Electronic Frontiers lobby group, predicted ASIO could copy the tactics of criminal hackers to seize control of target computers.

Australians' personal computers might be used to send a malicious email with a virus attached, or to load ''malware'' onto a website frequently visited by the target.


''This stuff goes on already in the commercial and criminal world, and security agencies could be using the same techniques to commandeer people's computers and use them to monitor a target,'' Mr Pam said.

''Once you get control of a computer and connect to their network you can do whatever you want.''

The ASIO Act now bans spies from doing anything that ''adds, deletes or alters data or interferes with, interrupts or obstructs the lawful use of the target computer by other persons''.

But ASIO wants the ban lifted, so Attorney-General Nicola Roxon can issue a warrant for spies to secretly intercept third-party computers to disrupt their target.

The departmental spokesman said the federal government had made ''no decisions'' about whether to grant ASIO the new power.

The government would first consider advice from the federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is reviewing national security legislation.

Victoria's acting Privacy Commissioner, Dr Anthony Bendall, has told the committee that ASIO's proposed new powers are ''characteristic of a police state.''

''To access a third party's computer, which has no connection with the target, is extraordinarily broad and intrusive,'' his submission states.

But the Attorney-General's Department insists that ASIO will not examine the content of third-party computers.

''The use of the third party computer is essentially like using a third party premises to gain access to the premises to be searched, where direct access is not possible,'' it states in response to questions from the committee.

''It involves no power to search or conduct surveillance on the third party.''

The department said technological advances had made it ''increasingly difficult'' for ASIO to execute search warrants directly on target computers, ''particularly where a person of interest is security conscious.''

Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman yesterday said ASIO should have to seek a warrant from an independent judge, rather than a politician.

He warned that ASIO might be able to spy on individuals - including journalists protecting a whistleblower - by tapping into their computers.

''I'm concerned they will access all sorts of information on a computer that has nothing to do with terrorism,'' he said

'Dark Side Of The Moon' Documentary

Top Documentary Films presents "Dark Side of the Moon,"  with revelations made by Stanley Kubrick's widow during an interview, where "...she claims Kubrick and other Hollywood producers were recruited to help the U.S. win the high stakes race to the moon.  In order to finance the space program through public funds, the U.S. government needed huge popular support, and that meant they couldn’t afford any expensive public relations failures. Fearing that no live pictures could be transmitted from the first moon landing, President Nixon enlisted the creative efforts of Kubrick, whose 2001: a Space Odyssey (1968) had provided much inspiration, to ensure promotional opportunities wouldn’t be missed." The documentary communicates message, "...one should always view television with a critical eye."

Why The Moon Landings Weren’t Faked

S G Collins, a Netherlands filmmaker, ponders possibility Moon Landings were hoaxed?  Collins concludes in You Tube Video, "moon hoax not,"  Moon Landings couldn't of been faked!  "In 1969 it was not yet possible technically to fake what we saw [on TV]," argues Collins.  A filmmaker's perspective, who offers technical arguments and 30 years experience, makes video of high interest!  Collins advises Moon Hoax may serve to distract Americans from more important issues that are real such as Patriot Act, Iraq War, financial industry bailouts and indefinite military detention without charge!  A riveting and curious video you will watch more than once!   Thanks goes to Universe Today for link!

Scientist With Implanted RFID Chip Gets Computer Virus

A You Tube video, "Scientist implanted with RFID Chip gets computer virus," demonstrates vulnerability of RFID chips implanted under the skin and already utilized for monitoring potentially fatal conditions.

"A British scientist has become the first human to be infected with a computer virus. Dr Mark Gasson, a cybernetics expert at the University of Reading, has had a computer chip implanted in his hand. The chip is pro- grammed to open security doors to his lab - and ensure only he is able to switch on and use his mobile phone. But Dr Gasson deliberately infected the chip with a computer virus, which was then automatically transmitted to affect to the lab security system. 'Once the system is infected, anybody accessing the building with their passcard would be infected too,' he told Sky News...Dr Gasson says his experiment also exposes the vulnerability of chips now routinely implanted in patients. "

"Heart pacemakers contain mini-computers that control the heartbeat, and communicate with doctors via a special reader held against the skin. But if a virus was transmitted to the device which stopped it working properly, the consequences for the patient could be fatal. 'The devices will have to start to use security encryption,' said Dr Gasson. 'Medical devices should have some kind of password protection as well. They're basic security precautions. It's surprising these devices don't have them already.'"

This video is two years old, hopefully, software encryption has or will shortly become standard. It's food for thought!

When Can Drones Kill Americans?

Danger Room article, "Senator Asks CIA Nominee When Drones Can Kill Americans," informs:  "Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) [picture, left] sent a letter on Monday to John Brennan [picture, right], the White House’s counterterrorism adviser and nominee to be head of the CIA, asking for an outline of the legal and practical rules that underpin the U.S. government’s targeted killing of American citizens suspected of working with al-Qaida. The Obama administration has repeatedly resisted disclosing any such information about its so-called 'disposition matrix' targeting terrorists, especially where it concerns possible American targets. Brennan reportedly oversees that matrix from his White House perch, and would be responsible for its execution at CIA director." When is it okay to kill Americans? It's the question on Wyden's mind, but details of the "disposition matrix" remain a secret!  "Wyden doesn’t ask for their dis- closure, just for the administration to permit members of the intelligence panel to read them," explains article. Wow!

Secret Space Program: Solar Warden

In HuffPO article, "Solar Warden - The Secret Space Program," Dana Perks writes, "since approximately 1980, a secret space fleet code named 'Solar Warden' has been in operation unknown to the public...."  Gary McKinnon, who recently escaped extradition to US for hacking Pentagon computers, ten years ago, turns out to be Perks' source.  "When Gary McKinnon hacked into U.S. Space Command computers several years ago and learned of the existence of  'non-terrestrial officers' and 'fleet-to-fleet transfers' and a secret program called 'Solar Warden'...McKinnon also found out about the ships or craft within Solar Warden. It is said that there are approx eight cigar-shaped motherships (each longer than two football fields end-to-end) and 43 small 'scout ships'. The Solar Warden Space Fleet operates under the US Naval Network and Space Operations Command (NNSOC) [formerly Naval Space Command]. There are approximately 300 personnel involved at that facility, with the figure rising." Joseph Farrell writing a series on Secret Space Program and Breakaway Civilization, chimes in with his view in above video.  On January 9th, Clyde Lewis with producer Olav Phillips and Rob Daven discussed Solar Warden on Ground Zero Live.

Breakaway Civilization On Ground Zero

Does image (left) of a Nazi moon base from Iron Sky movie reflect only fantasy or is there more to it?  Operation High Jump, Nazi Saucers and the Bell project provide hints of more!  Ground Zero looks to the sky with multiple UFO sightings recently in California all headed in direction of Edwards AFB:   "...Clyde Lewis welcomes Olav Phillips and Rob Daven back to the show to discuss their research into a secret space program allegedly known as ‘Solar Warden‘. Is there really an ‘Alternative 3‘-like scenario? Were ‘Strange Aircraft Sighted In The Skies Over California‘? Is this the weaponization of space disguised as climate control? Don’t lose your seat on the spaceflight to ‘Solar Warden: Revealing A Secret Space Agenda‘!" The 1960 Black Knight satellite sighting discussed as well. Conspiracy HQ website posts several recent articles covering subjects in addition to Solar Warden discussed on jam-packed January 9th episode of Ground Zero Live.  It's a can't miss Ground Zero Live episode!

Sunspot AR1654 Turns Toward Earth

Spaceweather.com reports, "ACTIVE SUNSPOT: Big sunspot AR1654 is crackling with C- and M-class solar flares, and it poses a threat for even stronger eruptions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% chance of X-flares today. Solar flare alerts: text, voice. Flares are illuminating the sunspot's magnetic canopy like flash bulbs at a rock concert; the phenomenon is evident in this 37-hour extreme ultraviolet movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory: Since it first appeared four days ago, sunspot AR1654 has been facing away from Earth. But now it is turning toward us, increasing the "geo-effectiveness" of its explosions. This could be the sunspot that breaks the recent lengthy spell of calm space weather around our planet. Amateur astronomers with backyard solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor in the days ahead. It is not only crackling, but also growing. As of Jan 12th, the behemoth stretches more than 180,000 km (14 Earth diameters) from end to end."

RSS creator, Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz commits suicide

from Tech.mit.edu: Computer activist Aaron H. Swartz committed suicide in New York City yesterday, Jan. 11, according to his uncle, Michael Wolf, in a comment to The Tech. Swartz was 26.

“The tragic and heartbreaking information you received is, regrettably, true,” confirmed Swartz’ attorney, Elliot R. Peters of Kecker and Van Nest, in an email to The Tech.

Swartz was indicted in July 2011 by a federal grand jury for allegedly downloading millions of documents from JSTOR through the MIT network — using a laptop hidden in a basement network closet in MIT’s Building 16 — with the intent to distribute them. Swartz subsequently moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he then worked for Avaaz Foundation, a nonprofit “global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.” Swartz appeared in court on Sept. 24, 2012 and pleaded not guilty.

The accomplished Swartz co-authored the now widely-used RSS 1.0 specification at age 14, founded Infogami which later merged with the popular social news site Reddit, and completed a fellowship at Harvard’s Ethics Center Lab on Institutional Corruption. In 2010, he founded DemandProgress.org, a “campaign against the Internet censorship bills SOPA/PIPA.”

John McAfee Is Hunkered Down in Portland Now

from Gizmodo.com: Of course it's Portland. The weirdest story in tech in 2012 has resurfaced in the Northwest. McAfee's going to be spending the next 18 months in the city, and we're trying to figure out what, exactly his next move is.

McAfee's been back in the US since December, when he arrived in Miami on a commercial jet. 

That followed a several-week saga of McAfee being on the run from Belizean authorities under suspicion of murder. He sat for an interview with Williamette Weekly upon his arrival in Portland, and there are a few clips online already, with more to come.

Gizmodo's Peter Ha is staying in Portland this week, just up the block from Mary's, a strip club where McAfee was on the 9th for an interview with the Sunday London Times, and trying to get in touch with Mr. McAfee this week.

Related:
The Bizarre Tale of John McAfee, spymaster

Apophis Flyby Of Earth Tonight

 Planetsave blog entry  advises of  "...close fly-by on Wednesday night researchers will have a good opportunity to learn more about the asteroid, getting a better idea of its future trajectory." You shouldn't worry about stepping outside as blog adds: "it [Apophis] probably won’t be visible with ‘backyard’ type telescopes." Another blog reports Apophis much bigger than previously thought here.  Are odds greater for Apophis striking Earth in 2036? Apophis is Greek name for evil god of death, destruction and chaos!  Is the name 99942 Apophis of significance? 

Crop Circles Made By Laser Tech

World News Tomorrow article reveals Crop Circles may be made with well-known laser - not alien technology. "New information has emerged that indicates that this phenomenon might not have been made by aliens, but rather aliens of a different kind closer to home, namely the home of England’s MoD. ...Crop circles have become the subject of speculation... but unfortunately it points to a technology we all know so well - Laser Technology," reports article. The British launched "one of the few" satellites equipped with a laser in 1971, "the Ariel 5 X-ray satellite, that passes over the Stonehenge area, with a radius  of 40 miles, on regular intervals. This would of course explain why the Crop circles have appeared within the 40 mile radius since the 1980′s, and have never been found outside of its’ 'footprint'." 

How does the technology work?

"The process is similar to the normal laser cutting process that is used to make a picture on metal by precision computer measuring cutting technology developed by Nikon, except here the non visible laser beam doesn’t cut but rather suppresses a pre-programed imprint of the image onto the surface, in this case, the grass. This would explain a number of questions asked with absolute precision and accuracy."

The above explanation makes so much sense, especially, Ariel 5 satellite orbit over areas of the United Kingdom where Crop Circles so often discovered!

Gamers Hired By Father To 'Kill' Son In Online Games

from slate.com: Want your deadbeat kid to stop playing so many video games? Here's an approach that probably won't work, but could make good fodder for a Failure To Launch-style comedy.

From China, via Livedoor and Kotaku East, comes the tale of a father whose unemployed 23-year-old son was allegedly devoting the bulk of his waking hours to an online war game. As the son's skills grew, he began to find that he could defeat almost all comers — until one day the young man found himself being cut down immediately every time he began the game. After a while, he began to suspect that something was up, and grilled his virtual assassins as to why they were targeting him. Eventually one let slip that he had been hired by the boy's father for just that purpose.

Kotaku East explains:

Unhappy with his son not finding a job, Feng decided to hire players in his son's favorite online games to hunt down Xiao Feng. It is unknown where or how Feng found the in-game assassins—every one of the players he hired were stronger and higher leveled than Xiao Feng. Feng's idea was that his son would get bored of playing games if he was killed every time he logged on, and that he would start putting more effort into getting a job.

The plot apparently failed, as Xiao Feng refused to stop playing the game. But hey, if he keeps at it, maybe one day he can score a gig as an online video game hitman.

Sci-Fi Weekend: 'Cypher'

"Cypher," a 2002 Sci-Fi thriller, stars Jeremy Northam and Lucy Liu.  The movie also goes by title, "Brainstorm," saw limited release in the United States.  The plot relates story of high tech espionage between two corporations, Digicorp and Sunway Systems with Morgan Sullivan (Northam) recruited as an agent and double agent by the rivals.   "Morgan Sullivan (Northam), a recently unemployed accountant, is bored with his suburban life...pursues a role in corporate espionage. Digicorp's Head of Security, Finster [Nigel Bennett], inducts Morgan, and assigns him a new identity. As Jack Thursby, he is sent to conventions to secretly record presentations and transmit them to headquarters. Sullivan is soon haunted by recurring nightmares and neck pain. When he meets Rita Foster (Liu) from a competing corporation, his life starts to become complicated...Morgan discovers that all the convention attendees are spies like him, and all thinking themselves individual spies working for Digicorp. While they are drugged from the served drinks, plastic-clad scientists probe, inject and brainwash them. Individual headsets reinforce their new identities, preparing them to be used, and then disposed of.  Morgan manages to convince Digicorp that he believes his new identity. He is then recruited by Sunway Systems, a rival of Digicorp. Sunway's Head of Security, Callaway [Timothy Webber], encourages Morgan to act as a double agent, feeding corrupted data to Digicorp.  Morgan calls Rita, who warns him that Sunway are equally ruthless, and that he is in fact being used by Rita's boss, Sebastian Rooks. Morgan manages to steal the required information from Sunway Systems' vault, escaping with Rita's help,"  informs Wikipedia plot summary.

Rita takes Morgan to meet her shadowy boss and lover, Sebastian Rooks, a rogue operative for hire by corporations, whose face remains unknown. In a hotel penthouse, Rita spells beans he is, in fact, Sebastian Rooks not Morgan Sullivan.  Rita reminds Morgan Sullivan-Sebastian Rooks of her attempt to dissuade him from this latest espionage.  Rooks subjected himself to high tech brainwashing used to hide his true identity, in order, to steal computer disc from "the Vault," an underground high tech facility in rural Kansas, a repository and brain center of Sunway Systems.

Morgan in bewildered panic unable to escape locked room had already phoned Finster for help, which results in corporate SWAT teams arriving in short order from Digicorp and Sunway.  Morgan flees with Rita to rooftop when confronted by armed forces.   The next to last scene on penthouse rooftop has Rita coaching Morgan to remember his true identity, so they can escape in high-tech helicopter Rooks designed.  Rooks succeeds and hovers craft over rooftop with both Callaway and Finster, left to realize too late Morgan Sullivan is actually Sebastian Rooks as they catch glimpse of his face inside copter.  The rooftop and SWAT teams are blown up as helicopter flies off from blazing scene.

The last idyllic scene takes place on board a sailboat upon open seas, where Sebastian reveals content of computer disc to Rita - and ultimate love tale. The computer disc - main contested object - in the thriller contains Rita's identity with visible designation to "Terminnate with Extreme Prejudice."  Now, Rita Foster's identity is safe from corporate world as Sebastian tosses it over the side.  The present writer doubts if love trumped high tech thriller, but found movie highly entertaining!  Internet only makes it better, because admission on You Tube is free!

Higgs Particle = 'The Face Of Creation'

Thanks goes to Universe Today for link to campy Higgs 90 second remix: "The Face Of Creation." The Higgs boson and CERN particle accelerator have been newsmakers in past year and some still may wonder what it's all about? PBS article provides nice non-tech explanation:

"A Higgs particle is a highly unstable particle, visible only through its decay products. It has zero electric charge, and—unlike all other known elementary particles—no intrinsic rotation, or “spin.” These null properties reflect the fact that many Higgs particles, uniformly distributed through space, build up the Higgs condensate, which we sense as emptiness or pure vacuum. (Although individual Higgs particles are highly unstable, a uniform distribution of them is stabilized through their mutual interactions. Visible Higgs particles are disturbances above that uniform background.)"

You can view more Symphonies of Science Videos and also other productions by melodysheep. It's a nice way to break into science that many may find otherwise dull.

Milky Way's Core Source of Monster Energy Outflows

Parkes Observatory in Australia recorded image (left) of Milky Way's Galactic Center, showing extreme outflows of charged particles as reported by The Daily Galaxy. These outflows of charged particles more powerful than exploding stars stretch 50,000 light years above and below galactic plane.  Outflows are believed to play role in how our galaxy generates its magnetic field. The Milky Way stretches 100,000 light years across and our solar system resides 30,000 light years from its center on the galactic plane.

Innovation, Optimism And Opportunity: All Coming Together To Make Real Change

from Techdirt.com:

from the keep-it-going dept.

Over the past few years, we've had a bit of a "New Year's" tradition around here for my last "regular" post of the year. It started in 2008, in response to an email asking how I didn't go crazy with anger over all of the bad stuff we wrote about all the time. In response, I explained why I was actually quite upbeat over all of the amazing and wonderful things going on, if a bit frustrated by the attempts to hold them back. The following year, I talked about the nature of creativity and innovation and all of the examples of people starting to recognize the possibilities that were being enabled, rather than just fighting against them. In 2010, I pointed out that despite the roadblocks, innovation was an unstoppable force, and last year I talked about the fact that people were finally speaking out and making a difference.

This year, I'm going to follow along with that thread, in looking at some of the amazing things that were accomplished in the past year -- things that seemed impossible just a short while ago. I'm using the slot we normally use for the "favorite posts of the week," because in some ways this will be my "favorite posts of the year" post. First up, obviously, was the amazing blackout day last January 18th, in which the internet rose up and said NO! to some awful legislation proposed by Congress: SOPA and PIPA -- leading to millions of people deciding to take action and protest the bill.

To this day, very few people realize how amazing that situation was, and how unlikely a scenario it was just a few months before. This was bipartisan-supported legislation that was seen as a "no-brainer" by most in Congress. Previous attempts at similar types of legislation tended to pass easily with little or no debate. Yes, some of us would make some noise, and maybe the absolute worst bits of a law would get excised (after being put in the bill for that purpose), but a bill like SOPA/PIPA was a foregone conclusion: it was going to be law. Until it wasn't. That is amazing. Last year at this time I was excited about the fact that people had finally come together to speak out, but the bill was still alive and we hadn't fully achieved anything yet. And a few weeks later... we did. It was an amazing moment of real representative democracy in action. 

And it didn't stop there. Almost immediately following the SOPA victory, a large group of people suddenly discovered ACTA. ACTA was an ever more foregone conclusion than SOPA. It was basically done -- and all but "signed" in Europe (the US had already signed it). It was a mere formality. And, yet... the success against SOPA energized the opposition, leading to a months-long process that resulted in the EU Parliament loudly rejecting ACTA, and the EU Commission finally giving in just a few weeks ago. Without the success against SOPA, that doesn't happen. 


The wider internet spoke up on other occasions as well, including on cybersecurity and on internet freedom. Not all of these campaigns led to victories, but these activities are no longer being ignored by those in power. The wider internet is finding its voice, and that's a good thing -- and something worth being quite excited about.

Of course, it is still early, and there will be setbacks. Politicians and legacy industries have been at this for too long and are too good at "playing the game" to just give up. But, the playing field has shifted notably and the opportunity to speak out and have an impact has increased drastically. At the same time, the tools for such activism have grown and expanded. The ability to use innovative new platforms -- and for those platforms to exist and be useful -- continues to expand.

At the same time, more and more people are engaged and aware. More and more innovators are recognizing that there are new opportunities for disruption. More and more amazing things are within our grasp. Countries are suddenly taking things like copyright and patent reform seriously. There are growing discussions about the power of innovation to help an economy. People are recognizing that new platforms and services are enabling things that used to be impossible (rather than merely updating old things).

It's an exciting time, full of opportunity. There are, as always, threats and those who wish to get in the way of that opportunity, but we're on the cusp of a new era, in which more and more people are able to stand up and speak out and put a stop to those attempts to block innovation and opportunity. And that's incredibly exciting.
 Once again, I want to put forth a huge thank you to everyone who makes up the Techdirt community. We've continued to grow and expand quite a bit over the past year, with many new people, new insights, new opinions and great conversations. It's an exciting time to be covering all of the opportunity out there, even if it also means covering those who stand in the way of such opportunity. We're continuing to work hard to do even more for the community in the next year, and we appreciate the insights and support you continue to provide to the site. We started Techdirt as a place to have a discussion on these issues, and that ongoing discussion has continued to be amazing, thought-provoking and wonderful.

I've now been writing Techdirt for more than 15 years, and I wouldn't keep doing it if it wasn't an absolute joy and pleasure every single day -- and much of that is because you come here to read, to comment, to share and to suggest other stories and ideas. It's an amazing experience in and of itself, so thank you.

Sci-Fi New Year: 'The Rocketeer'

"The Rocketeer is a 1991 American period superhero adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and based on the character of the same name created by comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens. Directed by Joe Johnston, the film stars Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino and Tiny Ron Taylor. Set in 1938 Los Angeles, California, The Rocketeer tells the story of stunt pilot Cliff Secord who discovers a jet pack that enables him to fly. His heroic deeds attract the attention of Howard Hughes and the FBI, as well as sadistic Nazi operatives," informs Wikipedia.  You'll like "The Rocketeer" if you have any interest in jet packs and their history.  The most successful jet pack was the Bell rocket belt developed originally by engineer Wendell Moore in the fifties and sixties, but belt and patents were sold later and tech incorporated into Tomahawk cruise missile. The production values are excellent throughout with captivating scenes such as a Nazi blimp over 1938 Los Angeles to pick up screen star-spy Neville Sinclair aka Timothy Dalton, whose performance stands out.  Tiny Ron Taylor as Lothar does add to film with an Igor-type over-sized character and Mafia muscle.  It's seamless production proves entertaining, so drop below fold to blast off with Rocketeer.  The admission ticket is free.