Show of 4-1-2007

  • Google Release April Fools Joke
    • Google today announced the launch of Google TiSP (BETA)™, a free in-home wireless broadband service that delivers online connectivity via users’ plumbing systems.
    • The Toilet Internet Service Provider (TiSP) project is a self-installed, ad-supported online service that will be offered entirely free to any consumer with a WiFi-capable PC and a toilet connected to a local municipal sewage system.
    • Simply flush fiber optic with weight down toilet for connectivity
    • Go to www.google.com and look at latest breakthrough
  • Other April Fool Jokes for Nerds
    • Change language interface in Google Search to Elmer Fudd
    • Change language of PC to something other than English
    • Install custom sounds at start up and shut down
  • Fool’s Tools CD
    • CD-ROM Collection of Classic Computer Pranks for April Fools Day
    • CD includes 25 pranks plus links to many more
    • Blue Screen of Death, Backwards Mouse, Bomb, Crazy Num Caps Scroll, DownHoax, Fake Format, Flip It, HeadAche, Mime Mouse, Open Close CD, Random Burper, Random Wallpaper Changer, Shakedown, The Finger, Click Me, Cursor Fun, Fake Delete Fake Start, Floppy Madness, Message Manager Lite, Mouse Mayhem, Program WAV Launcher, Random Farter, Rotate, Y2K Joke
    • Can be obtained from: http://www.rjlsoftware.com/
    • $15 plus S & H
  • String Theory — Breakthrough or Cruel Hoax?
    • String Theory debate Wednesday, March 28, 2007
      • Hosted by Smithsonian Institute and Department of Energy
      • Brian Greene, String Theorist, author The Elegant Universe
      • Lawrence Kraus, Elementary Particle Physicist, author of Hiding in the Mirror : The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions, from Plato to String Theory and Beyond. Also wrote The Physics of Star Trek and Beyond Star Trek
      • The entire Baird Auditorium was sold out
    • String theory is an attempt to unify the two pillars of modern science: Quantum Mechanics (the very small) and General Relativity (the very large).
    • String theory proposes that all elementary particles are are made of tiny, vibrating strings of energy.
    • String theory requires the existence of six (or seven) extra spatial dimensions, "hidden" dimensions curled in tiny geometric shapes at every single point in our universe.
    • Each universe or reality is actually a ten dimensional membrane (or brane) within an eleven dimensional world
    • According to string theory mathematics, the extra dimensions could adopt any of tens of thousands of possible shapes, each shape theoretically corresponding to its own universe with its own set of physical laws.
    • The question remains: how are the extra dimensions folded?
    • Arguments in favor of theory
      • Only theory that currently embraces both Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity
      • Actually predicted gravity
      • Experimental verification possible, but difficult
    • Three possible ways to experimentally verify the theory
      • Distribution of background radiation created by the Big Bang.
        • Planck satellite to be launched by EU should be sensitive enough to measure this.
        • The shapes of extra dimensions can be "seen" by deciphering their influence on cosmic energy released by the violent birth of the universe over13 billion years ago
      • Observation of harmonics when atoms collide in atom smashers.
        • Hopes that the Large Hadron collider at CERN will do it
        • Looking harmonic frequencies of the basic string resonance frequency as indirect proof of strings
      • Energy leakage when atoms collide
        • Energy lost is caused by presence of additional dimensions.
        • Based on the fact that total energy must be conserve
    • Arguments against theory
      • Never experimentally verified
      • No actual quantifiable predictions yet and probably never
      • Extra dimensions are not natural and actually a fudge factor
      • Still not proven after 37 years
    • For those who are interested in String Theory
  • Why We Can’t Imagine Extra Dimensions
    • Read Flatland by Edwin A. Abbot
    • Two-dimensional world of polygons where more sides mean higher status.
    • A three-dimensional sphere tries to explain the third dimension to a two-dimensional square.
  • Software Tool To Learn Hacking
    • BackTrack is the top rated Linux live distribution focused on penetration testing.
    • With no installation whatsoever, the analysis platform is started directly from the CD-Rom and is fully accessible within minutes.
    • It’s evolved from the merge of the two wide spread distributions Whax and Auditor Security Collection.
    • Currently BackTrack consists of more than 300 different up-to-date tools which are logically structured according to the work flow of security professionals.
      • Password cracking
      • Wireless Key detection
      • MAC address cloning
      • Hot spot penetration
    • Security professionals as well as new-comers are using it as their favorite toolset all over the globe.
    • How to you get it?
  • Wii Popular with Seniors
    • Wii has lets you swing the control instead of pushing buttons
    • With three accelerometers, it can detect movement
    • Seniors get a real physical workout
    • Very popular with seniors and with retirement home entertainment committees
    • Most popular seem to be tennis and bowling
    • Swinging the Wiimote just like a tennis racquet gives the feeling of playing tennis.
    • There are Wii parties and Wii bowling contests.
    • A great idea for your parents.