Sneaky Thinkings

The Canadian Who Holds the Key To the Internet: “drbutts writes ‘The Toronto Star has an interesting story on how they are securing DNS: ‘It’s housed in two high-security facilities separated by the North American landmass. The one authenticated map of the Internet. Were it to be lost — either through a catastrophic physical or cyber attack — it could be recreated by seven individuals spread around the globe. One of them is Ottawa’s Norm Ritchie. Ritchie was recently chosen to hold one of seven smartcards that can rebuild the root key that underpins this system’ called DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions). In essence, these seven can rebuild the architecture that allows users to know for certain where they are and where they are going when navigating the Web.’

(Via Slashdot.)

US Ability To Identify Source of Nuclear Weapons Decays: “Hugh Pickens writes ‘The NY Times covers a report released by the National Research Council, which says the ability of the US to identify the source of a nuclear weapon used in a terrorist attack is fragile and eroding. The goals of the highly specialized detective work, known as nuclear attribution, is to clarify options for retaliation and to deter terrorists by letting them know that nuclear devices have fingerprints that atomic specialists can find and trace. ‘Although US nuclear forensics capabilities are substantial and can be improved, right now they are fragile, under-resourced and, in some respects, deteriorating,’ the report warns. ‘Without strong leadership, careful planning and additional funds, these capabilities will decline.’ The report calls on the federal government to take steps to strengthen its forensic capabilities and argues for the necessity of better planning, more robust budgets, clearer lines of authority and more realistic exercises.’

(Via Slashdot.)

DefCon Contest Rattles FBI’s Nerves: “snydeq writes ‘A DefCon contest that invites contestants to trick employees at 30 US corporations into revealing not-so-sensitive data has rattled nerves at the FBI. Chris Hadnagy, who is organizing the contest, also noted concerns from the financial industry, which fears hackers will target personal information. The contest will run for three days, with participants attempting to unearth data from an undisclosed list of about 30 US companies. The contest will take place in a room in the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas furnished with a soundproof booth and a speaker, so an audience can hear the contestants call companies and try to weasel out what data they can get from unwitting employees.’ The group organizing the contest has established a strict set of rules to ensure participants don’t violate any laws.

(Via Slashdot.)

Marketing: Omo Detergent Uses GPS to Follow Consumers – Global News – Advertising Age:

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Unilever’s Omo detergent is adding an unusual ingredient to its two-pound detergent box in Brazil: a GPS device that allows its promotions agency Bullet to track shoppers and follow them to their front doors.

Starting next week, consumers who buy one of the GPS-implanted detergent boxes will be surprised at home, given a pocket video camera as a prize and invited to bring their families to enjoy a day of Unilever-sponsored outdoor fun. The promotion, called Try Something New With Omo, is in keeping with the brand’s international ‘Dirt is Good’ positioning that encourages parents to let their kids have a good time even if they get dirty. Omo accounts for half of Brazil’s detergent sales and is already found in 80% of homes there, so Unilever’s goal is more to draw attention to a new stain-fighting version of Omo and get it talked about rather than looking for a big increase in sales.

That made the idea of doing a promotion where the prize finds the consumer, rather than the consumer having to look for the prize — and maybe not bothering — appealing.

Fernando Figueiredo, Bullet’s president, said the GPS device is activated when a shopper removes the detergent carton from the supermarket shelf. Fifty Omo boxes implanted with GPS devices have been scattered around Brazil, and Mr. Figueiredo has teams in 35 Brazilian cities ready to leap into action when a box is activated. The nearest team can reach the shopper’s home ‘within hours or days,’ and if they’re really close by, ‘they may get to your house as soon as you do,’ he said.

Once there, the teams have portable equipment that lets them go floor by floor in apartment buildings until they find the correct unit, he said.

…

(Via AdAge.)

Guy Wearing Miami Heat LeBron James Jersey Escorted From Indians Game:

Watch what you wear to the game: The AP says that a man wearing a new official Miami Heat LeBron James jersey was escorted from a Cleveland Indians game after the crowd turned on him. No word on whether or not the man got to watch the rest of the game.

This makes us wonder… should he get a refund? Or do you provoke the home crowd at your own risk?

Toward the end of the video a little shoving match takes place but it’s hard to tell who starts it. (NSFW, language)

(Via Consumerist.)

What’s Wrong With the American University System: “ideonexus writes ‘The Atlantic has an excellent interview with Andrew Hacker — co-author with Claudia Dreifus of a book titled Higher Education? — covering everything that’s wrong with the American university system. The discussion ranges from entrenched tenured professors more concerned with publishing and parking spaces than quality teaching; to 22-year-old students with unrealistic expectations that some company will put them in a management position after graduating with six-figures of debt; to football teams siphoning money away from academic programs so that student tuitions must increase to compensate. It really lays out the farce of university culture and reminds me of everything I absolutely despised about my college life. Dreifus is active in the comments section of the article as well, lending to a fantastic discussion on the subject.’

(Via Slashdot.)

How to Relax Like a Kitteh: “

kittehs can relax anywheres…

(Via I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?.)

Wi-Fi Coming to New York City Subways: “

Good news for any New Yorker who hates interacting with others during their daily commute (read: all New Yorkers): Wi-Fi and mobile service are coming to a subway near you. Yup, now even the Mole People won’t be able to escape the outside world.

According to Bloomberg, after three years of stalled progress, Transit Wireless LLC — a conglomerate of wireless and construction companies that was awarded a contract to undergo this project with New York Transit — has finally found the money to move forward. Broadcast Australia has footed the bill, which will bring NYC up to speed with Singapore, Berlin and Tokyo — all of which currently have Wi-Fi in the tubes.

Back in 2007, Transit Wireless LLC had promised to get the job done in 10 years, now it has two years to outfit six stations near New York’s Union Square, and then four more years for the other 271 platforms. The Wi-Fi comes in the form of smoke detector-size antennas, and will afford passengers access on platforms, mezzanines and in sections of the tunnels (not the whole tunnel). Overall, the whole deal will cost $200 million dollars — which begs the question: If the city’s willing to go to the trouble to go wireless, why do I have to take a shuttle nine weekends out of 10 because they’re ‘doing repairs on the tracks’? But I digress…

Pretty soon, it seems, a goodly portion of NYC will be Wi-Fi ready; AT&T outfitted Times Square with free wireless two months ago and ubiquitous coffee chain Starbucks offers pro bono access as well. Just think, that whole ‘I was stuck in a tunnel’ excuse is never going to be the same…

[img credit: arvindgrover]

(Via Mashable!.)

Celeb Chef Mario Batali Sued By Staff For Alleged Tip Skimming: “

We know that tipping is a touchy subject here, but not as touchy as it is to the wait staff at the restaurants owned by celeb chef Mario Batali. The red-headed TV personality is the subject of a class action lawsuit that alleges he’s been screwing his employees over by skimming off the top of the tip pile.

The lawsuit claims that Batali has been holding back on sharing credit card tips and that the amount being withheld is equal to 4-5% of the nightly wine sales at his restaurants.

Says the lawyer for the plaintiffs: ‘This policy is vintage tip theft… Our clients hope their case will put a cork in it.’

The seeks unspecified damages for workers at Batali-owned restaurants Otto, Casa Mono, Bar Jamon and Lupa and Tarry Lodge.

(Via Consumerist.)

Finally, A Hole Punch for Beer [Food]: “

I think I can speak for everyone here when I say there’s nothing worse than not drinking a bottle of brewskie through a crazy straw. More »

(Via Gizmodo.)