Archive for May, 2008
Google Spotlights Data Center Inner Workings
May 31st, 2008This is far out. The Google monster eats computer hardware day and night. Never mind the power consumption, which would be unthinkable. When will Peak Google occur? HA Via: cNet: On the one hand, Google uses more-or-less ordinary servers. Processors, hard drives, memory–you know the drill. On the other hand, Dean seemingly thinks clusters of […]
Comcast is Hiring an Internet Snoop for the Feds
May 31st, 2008Via: Wired: Wanna tap e-mail, voice and Web traffic for the government? Well, here’s your chance. Comcast, the country’s second-largest Internet provider, is looking for an engineer to handle “reconnaissance” and “analysis” of “subscriber intelligence” for the company’s “National Security Operations.” Day-to-day tasks, the company says in an online job listing, will include “deploy[ing], installing] […]
Billboards that Look Back
May 31st, 2008Pretty high creep-out factor here. Via: New York Times: In advertising these days, the brass ring goes to those who can measure everything — how many people see a particular advertisement, when they see it, who they are. All of that is easy on the Internet, and getting easier in television and print. Billboards are […]
Eurozone Inflation Reaches 16-Year High
May 31st, 2008Via: Financial Times: Eurozone inflation surged to the highest rate for 16 years on the back of sharply higher oil prices as consumer spending in the 15-country region showed further signs of weakness. Annual inflation in the eurozone reached 3.6 per cent in May, according to official data released on Friday, up from 3.3 per […]
Large UK Stores Ration Rice Purchases
May 31st, 2008Via: Financial Times: Supermarket chains have begun rationing rice as the effects of rising prices and disruptions to supply spill over from specialist grocers and suppliers to larger stores. Netto, the Danish-owned discount store, has been restricting sales of larger bags of rice to one per person in all stores in recent weeks across the […]
Chertoff: “Novel” Israeli Security Methods Coming to U.S. Airports
May 30th, 2008Mmm hmm. Via: Reuters: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Thursday he will seek to adopt novel Israeli methods, like behaviour-detection technologies, to better secure America’s airports. “That’s a scenario where Israel has a lot of experience,” Chertoff said in an interview with Reuters. “I think that it is of interest to us […]
U.S., British Oil Probes Focusing on Price Manipulation
May 30th, 2008Assume maximum criminal behavior… —Insider Crimes, Funny Money and Options Rackets The parts I found especially interesting are in bold. I think my favorite phrase is, “generally not illegal.” You might like the part about the Enron style antics. Or maybe the questionable reporting of reserves. But there’s plenty of fun for the whole family […]
Venezuela Arrests U.S. “DEA Agent”
May 30th, 2008Uh, when DEA isn’t operating in Venezuela? And “the DEA agent” was carrying Canadian and French passports… Via: Reuters: Venezuela said on Thursday it arrested a man who identified himself as a U.S. anti-drugs agent, which if confirmed could inflame tensions between the United States and one of its biggest oil suppliers. President Hugo Chavez […]
Cryptogon Readers Send Contributions
May 30th, 2008AH sent $15. AZ sent $20. JR sent £10.00. Thank you.
U.S. Banks Likely to Fail as Bad Loans Soar
May 30th, 2008WARNING: This is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any financial instrument. I’ve been posting fewer financial doom stories, but this one is worth reading, especially for U.S. bank account holders. Watch those FDIC limits, move your money out of the U.S., consider cash in hand strategies and weigh the risks of doing […]
