Salubrionicle: 2012

Munchkin Zombies doesn't come with a board or player pieces so we made a board ourselves with iDraw and OfficeWorks,...

Munchkin Zombies doesn't come with a board or player pieces so we made a board ourselves with iDraw and OfficeWorks, and appropriated pieces from a Star Wars miniature set. Gold!

Mostly Windows games, some Mac, XBox, Wii.

Mostly Windows games, some Mac, XBox, Wii.
http://mashable.com/2012/12/10/indie-games-holidays/

Researchers develop coconut-flavoured pineapple.

Researchers develop coconut-flavoured pineapple. This is clearly a slippery slope to the zombie apocalypse. Could the name "Garth Senewski" be anything other than that of a mad scientist.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-05/qld-researchers-develop-coconut-flavoured-pineapple/4408732
http://i.imgur.com/LKPn5.png

Just finished the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson - an entertaining read

Just finished the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson - an entertaining read
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Final-Empire-Mistborn-Book-ebook/dp/B004N622EY
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/final-empire/id375136180?mt=11
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B004SOK2SE
UK Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Final-Empire-Brandon-Sanderson/9780575089914
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Empire-Mistborn-Book-ebook/dp/B004N622EY

Eclipse view from Brisbane, Australia! 14 Nov 2012

Climate scientists not hitting the mark.

Climate scientists not hitting the mark.
Scientists are biased not toward alarmism but rather the reverse: toward cautious estimates, where we define caution as erring on the side of less rather than more alarming predictions.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378012001215

And jail economists for not predicting economic outcomes.

And jail economists for not predicting economic outcomes. And polsters for not predicting elections. And the weather men ... may as well just keep them in prison.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-23/scientists-in-shock-at-outlandish-earthquake-ruling/4330438

Super fees are always too much, particularly when the super managers don't perform.

Super fees are always too much, particularly when the super managers don't perform.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-24/push-for-disclosure-of-super-fees/4329872

For my fellow Android users:

For my fellow Android users:

FBI warns that Android phones are havens for malware
http://www.bgr.com/2012/10/15/android-security-fbi-malware-warning/

Android security in question again as new trojan surfaces in Google Play
http://www.itproportal.com/2012/10/19/android-security-in-question-again-as-new-trojan-surfaces-in-google-play/

Some Android apps have serious SSL vulnerabilities, researchers say
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/some-android-apps-have-serious-ssl-vulnerabilities-researchers-say

Turn Off NFC on your Android Phone to Save Battery and Make it More Secure
http://www.ghacks.net/2012/10/16/turn-off-nfc-on-your-android-phone-to-save-battery-and-make-it-more-secure/
http://www.bgr.com/2012/10/15/android-security-fbi-malware-warning/

Google, the world's biggest spammer, has had their shares suspended after an enormous loss on the market today: 9%...

Google, the world's biggest spammer, has had their shares suspended after an enormous loss on the market today: 9% share value decline in 10 minutes.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-18/google-falls-after-third-quarter-sales-miss-analysts-estimates

Their malware infested iOS knock-off is also likely to have something to do with their problems, however this is likely a short term correction for the floundering company.

In other news, Google and Samsung have teamed up to release a new device, ChromeBook Laptop, that obviously has Samsung's design skills all over it (it is a replica of the MacBook Air). Google is hoping the ChromeBook will induce people to surrender more of their private information for exploitation and provide a more consistent channel for their spam.
http://i.imgur.com/znRAG.jpg
http://www.cnet.com/laptops/samsung-chromebook-series-3/4505-3121_7-35500150.html

One week after I launch http://evilgoogle.info - coincidence? I think not!
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-18/google-falls-after-third-quarter-sales-miss-analysts-estimates

Australian Liberal party climate change policy looks a bit light on, but I would say it probably reflects all of the...

Australian Liberal party climate change policy looks a bit light on, but I would say it probably reflects all of the good thinking going on by the conservative politicians. Maybe they could try to spell "Environment" correctly. Greg Hunt doesn't look like a devious smirking bastard at all, that's probably just a Halloween face or something.
http://www.liberal.org.au/issues/environment/climate-change
http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/greg-hunt-s-carbon-illusion

Google is an awesome company with their motto of "Do no evil"

Google is an awesome company with their motto of "Do no evil"
http://evilgoogle.info/

Free iOS game for the weekend well worth grabbing!

Free iOS game for the weekend well worth grabbing! Simple obstacle dodge along a path which is generated by a tune from your music library. Way more fun than I thought it would be. Possibly an advert for dropping acid.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/synesthetic/id483688788?mt=8

The terrorists have won.

The terrorists have won.
Spam tells me that for only $55 you too can pretend that you are being independently minded from people who choose iPhone, by buying a phone from a company that replicates a phone from a company that slavishly copies the iPhone.

FBI - putting Android users behind bars - where they belong.

FBI - putting Android users behind bars - where they belong.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/08/fbi-says-pirated-android-apps-a-top-priority-seizes-three-domains/

Congratulations to Kirani James!

Congratulations to Kirani James! His gold medal win in the 400m sprint has propelled Grenada to the top of the medals per capita tables. Grenada having only 110,000 people, is likely only to be beaten if another tiny population country grabs a gold medal or two.

London 2012: Kirani James wins Grenada's first Olympic gold medal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/06/london-2012-400m-kirani-james?fb=optOut
http://simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html

Mars rover "Curiosity" will land on Mars shortly: 3:30pm today (+10UT)

Mars rover "Curiosity" will land on Mars shortly: 3:30pm today (+10UT)

Where to watch the landing online
http://spaceindustrynews.com/where-to-view-the-mars-curiosity-landing-online/420/

Interactive simulation of the landing
http://eyes.nasa.gov/

And the crazy landing process that makes Curiosity so interesting.
Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror
http://spaceindustrynews.com/where-to-view-the-mars-curiosity-landing-online/420/

Homophobia in Olympic nations!

Homophobia in Olympic nations!
http://www.equallovecampaign.com/the-facts/the-olympic-sprit-part-1/

You have to be happy if you are from Slovenia : currently at the top of every per-capita ranking.

You have to be happy if you are from Slovenia : currently at the top of every per-capita ranking. New Zealand must be over the moon with their gold medal winning, placing them very highly in each table.
http://simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html

Olympic gold for New Zealand rowing pair
http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/olympic-gold-new-zealand-rowing-pair/1491279/
http://simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html

Kazakhstan leads Olympic gold medals per capita!

Kazakhstan leads Olympic gold medals per capita!

After the first day of Olympic events, with the win of the gold medal by Alexander Vinokourov in the 200km men's cycling road race, Kazakhstan now leads the gold medal tally per million population - an alternative medal ranking listed on many sites as a somewhat fairer measure of achievement.
http://simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html

Android malware surges again.

Android malware surges again.
For those of you unfortunate enough to have chosen an Android phone (Samsung, HTC etc), please be very careful about the apps you download from Google Play. Make sure you have installed security software and remain vigilant about what sort of information your store.
http://androidhell.info

BT: Almost every Android device is infected with malware
http://www.zdnet.com/bt-almost-every-android-device-is-infected-with-malware-7000001738/

Slow patching puts Android users at further risk
http://www.infoworld.com/t/mobile-security/slow-patching-puts-android-users-further-risk-198668

Android malware up by 300pc in past three months – Kindsight Security Labs
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/strategy/item/28411-android-malware-up-by-300pc/

Russian websites pushing Olympics malware for Android
http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/27227/russian-websites-pushing-olympics-malware-for-android

Microsoft: Fake Skype For Android App Linked To SMS Scams
http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/microsoft-fake-skype-android-app-linked-sms-scams-071812

Android users give malware apps permission to rob them, express shock at the results
http://www.zdnet.com/android-users-give-malware-apps-permission-to-rob-them-express-shock-at-the-results-7000000760/

Android malware steals location data from mobile devices
http://www.csoonline.com/article/711385/android-malware-steals-location-data-from-mobile-devices

More than a third of Android apps host malware
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4391305/More-than-a-third-of-Android-apps-host-malware

Warning: New Android malware tricks users with real Opera Mini
http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/warning-new-android-malware-tricks-users-real-opera-mini

Android Expert Warns Users Of New Malware Threat On Android Smartphone
http://www.techieinsider.com/news/14890/android-malware-smartphones/

New Android malware infects 100,000 Chinese smartphones
http://www.zdnet.com/new-android-malware-infects-100000-chinese-smartphones-7000000497/

Warning: GTA, Super Mario on Google Play are Android malware
http://www.zdnet.com/warning-gta-super-mario-on-google-play-are-android-malware-7000000716/

New Android Malware Discovered in Google Play
http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/300129-new-android-malware-discovered-in-google-play

Security Researchers Find Multistage Android Malware on Google Play
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/259100/security_researchers_find_multistage_android_malware_on_google_play.html

Android Malware shows Limitations of Google's Security
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/361751/20120711/android-malware-dropdialer-bouncer-google-threat.htm

Fake Android game apps sneak malware into Google Play
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48150203/ns/technology_and_science-security/

Android malware numbers explode to 25,000 in June 2012
http://www.zdnet.com/android-malware-numbers-explode-to-25000-in-june-2012-7000001046/

Report: Bandwith-Burning Malware Among Biggest Consumer Threats
http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/report-bandwith-burning-malware-among-biggest-consumer-threats-071912

Android Malware Infographic Shows Massive Growth, Details Threats
http://blogs.cio.com/mobile-security/17243/android-malware-infographic-shows-massive-growth-details-threats

Cybercriminals use social engineering to extend lifecycle of malware
http://www.net-security.org/malware_news.php?id=2199

New contacts stealing Android malware spotted in the wild
http://www.zdnet.com/new-contacts-stealing-android-malware-spotted-in-the-wild-7000001296/

New Android Malware Better at Targeting Bank Transactions
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/New-Android-Malware-Better-at-Targeting-Bank-Transactions-161221/

Fraudulent Android Banking Security Tool Exposes Victims to Theft
http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/300055-fraudulent-android-banking-security-tool-exposes-victims-to-theft

FireLeaker malware puts Android users' privacy in jeopardy
http://www.androidauthority.com/fireleaker-malware-puts-android-users-privacy-in-jeopardy-102719/

Researchers find new malware in Android Ice Cream Sandwich
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/429350/researchers_find_new_malware_android_ice_cream_sandwich/

When good Android apps go bad -- a security lesson
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57476986-83/when-good-android-apps-go-bad-a-security-lesson/
http://androidhell.info/

Yesterday was a nice clear sky day .

Yesterday was a nice clear sky day ... and so was some of the night. I got this shot before the clouds swarmed in. Ptolemy's cluster (M7) in the middle, which is located on the tail end of Scorpio with Sagittarius on the right - if you're interested. Tonight was learning how to use DSS to stack the images and photoshop to process the result.

18 year old DOS software running on a Mac in OS X! The really amazing part is that the floppy disks still worked!

18 year old DOS software running on a Mac in OS X! The really amazing part is that the floppy disks still worked!

Dance of the Planets!

DOSBox for OS X http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1
# Copy the installation floppy files to a folder e.g.:
# /Users/simon/Documents/dos/install/dance
# Mount your C: drive to somewhere e.g.:
mount C: /Users/simon/Documents/dos
# Mount your A: drive with the install files
mount A: /Users/simon/Documents/dos/install/dance -t floppy
# Change to drive A: and run the INSTALL.EXE

# Edit your DOSBox preferences file, so the next time you start, you are into the C:
[autoexec]
mount C: /Users/simon/Documents/dos
C:

Note that you can copy the installation floppy image to a single image file from the Terminal:
# ** TERMINAL ** Mount shows the USB floppy drive path
mount
# ** OS X ** Disk Utility, Right click on the floppy media, click unmount.
# ** TERMINAL ** Below assume USB floppy mounted on disk3
dd if=/dev/disk3 of=DOTP27.img
# ** DOSBox ** you can imgmount
imgmount a: /Users/simon/Documents/dos/DOTP27.img -t floppy

Unfortunately DOSBox doesn't allow swappable floppies. Even symbolically linking and swapping links to the different IMG files or the actual hard drives, via terminal. Although I think that may have worked, perhaps my Stars 8.0 is borked - I have the vague feeling that it never worked.

Photography project for this weekend.

Photography project for this weekend.
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/07/09/sos-save-our-skipper-call-to-action-1404

The gorgeous google+ app now works for iPad!

The gorgeous google+ app now works for iPad!
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/07/google-app-for-ipad-makes-giving-google-another-look-worthwhile/

Saturn last night, from my light polluted suburban back yard.

Saturn last night, from my light polluted suburban back yard.
Celestron 1250mm f/10 on Canon 550D, video processed with Registax.

Transit of Venus happened today! All gone now. Catch the next one in 2117.

Transit of Venus

Transit of Venus
Weather forecast for WEDNESDAY (as of Monday morning) : Fine and Mostly Sunny. WOOHOO! Mostly.
Places to be include:
(1) the West side of the UQ medical school at Herston 8am-9am, 2:15pm-3pm. Might want to call before coming as cloudy means I will be at Mt Coot-tha.
(2) Brisbane Museum in the city.
(3) Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens.
(4) Astro Pete's at Palmdale shopping Centre in Mt Gravatt.
(5) Oxenham Park, Nundah

Australian info http://www.transitofvenus.com.au

Live Venus transit webcast http://venustransit.nasa.gov/webcasts/

Sun image live http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/mov/depot/APOD/latest_APOD_HMIC_FR.jpg

iOS device owners (iPad, iPhone) can get discounted Sky Safari and a chance to win prizes by snapping a pic of the transit. http://www.mactech.com/2012/05/30/southern-stars-announces-venus-transit-challenge
http://www.space.com/15978-venus-transit-faq.html

Oregon Scientific do not make good gadgets.

Oregon Scientific do not make good gadgets. Missing parts when I first got it, the product began failing over time. Apart from failures the controls were poorly labelled, the menu structure was illogical, and simple functionality was missing. So if you like opinions based on samples N=1 then avoid Oregon Scientific products.

The sun peeks his spotty face from behind the clouds long enough for me to try out my solar plastic covered filter!

The sun peeks his spotty face from behind the clouds long enough for me to try out my solar plastic covered filter! 500mm f/6.3

Happy birthday Darren Bennett

Not sure if "kinect" is something that you would want to compare with. This device is full of awesome.

Not sure if "kinect" is something that you would want to compare with. This device is full of awesome.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/05/meet-the-70-usb-minority-report-device-more-accurate-than-kinect/

Science fiction shows being produced for next television season.

Science fiction shows being produced for next television season.
Green arrow as lame as the comic book?
Elementary - does the world really need more Sherlock? Yes it does.
Zero hour - will watch one episode at least I guess.
666 Park Avenue - one episode.
Revolution - :) Well I liked the whole of Lost.
Do No Harm - read the first reviews.
Beauty And The Beast - uhg, unlikely.
Defiance, The Neighbors - no thanks.
http://io9.com/5911073/every-single-new-scifi-and-fantasy-show-announced-for-next-season

More sunspots this morning.

More sunspots this morning. Improving my technique using high tech methods like projecting the image into a cardboard box to reduce ambient light washing over the projection. Still using my iPhone to capture the image.

iPad owners rejoice!

iPad owners rejoice!
http://www.imore.com/2012/05/15/free-ipad-games/

The new Google+ app for iPhone really is quite sexy! Android will be updated in a couple weeks, apparently.

The new Google+ app for iPhone really is quite sexy! Android will be updated in a couple weeks, apparently.

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/google-plus-ios-app-update/

What Filesharing Studies Really Say.

What Filesharing Studies Really Say. Not surprisingly, the business funded studies have exaggerated or unsupported claims. Real studies paint a different picture to what the RIAA and MPAA would like.

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/100847/what-filesharing-studies-really-say-part-1-litigation-a-failure/

Turn your iPhone/iPad into a personal trainer

Turn your iPhone/iPad into a personal trainer
http://lifehacker.com/5823380/turn-your-iphone-or-ipad-into-a-personal-trainer

Turn your Android device into a fitness promotion machine

Turn your Android device into a fitness promotion machine
http://lifehacker.com/5823363/turn-your-android-phone-into-a-personal-trainer

There are more than 500 secrecy provisions which criminalise making government information public.

There are more than 500 secrecy provisions which criminalise making government information public.

"Many of these secrecy provisions are just kind of added in as a bit of a meaningless persiflage in the legislation," MEAA federal secretary Chris Warren said.

"But in accumulation they create a climate of secrecy which means people can't know what's going on in their society."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-05/secrecy-laws-stifling-press-freedom-report/3993048