Now Mindark and Project Entropia take virtual economy to next level - Online Bank Charters to be auctioned off

Now that MindArk and Project Entropia have a real-cash economy there was one thing they were missing! An online virtual bank; now you can participate in their public auction forum to bid and win one of five, two-year virtual banking licenses.

That means you can open up your virtual bank and hand out loans, collect interest, advertising revenue, etc. Your bank will run 365 24/7 for two years.

You also can direct the design and name of your banking institution.

Another ground floor opportunity within Project Entropia, however, since recent VU's (version upgrades) I have talked with several long-term players and they claim the game has really slowed down. It seems a major upgrade around the end of November 2006 really took away a lot of the game's appeal. Mostly now people are complaining about the lack of "loot" (resources acquired while hunting, mining, etc) within the game.

It seems MindArk has decided to change the rules and algorithms used to determine loot allotments and needless to say hordes of users are complaining about the new upgrade.

Several societies have disbanded and rumors afloat as to the reasons everything from MindArk is getting greedy to they wanted to cull players to make room for their Asian expansion.

Will the virtual bank be enough to bring people back? There are several MMORPG's in the works (and in beta) that support a real-cash economy; it will be interesting to see what competition will do to improve the virtual online space.

Anybody interested in teaming up to buy a banking license?

Google to Help Film Entire Universe

Google has joined a group of 19 universities and national labs to assist with surveying space and assisting in turning the captured nightly data (images, video) into useful public information - can everyone say: Google Universe!

Google sits in an interesting position to assist efforts like this. The LSST project; which stands for Large Synoptic Survey Telescope; will produce about 30 terabytes of image information every night. Seagate and Hitachi better hurry up with their new drive technology!

Google should be applauded for assisting in projects like this. One of the biggest barriers for undertaking some of these scientific expeditions is how to manage the vast and I mean vast amount of data produced.

Google also recently announced a major partnership with NASA as reported on Joe Duck's blog, link here: http://joeduck.wordpress.com/2006/12/17/nasa-google-space-research-project/

New molecules for a faster Internet

Chromophores which have been theorized by physicists at Washington State University have been synthesized by chemists in China and tested by chemists in Belgium. Chromophores are a new generation of optical molecules which interact 50% more strongly with light than any other molecules ever test.

End result some day, maybe we will see these molecules used in optical switches and Internet connections resulting in higher throughput.

The article has several links to other background information and scientific data.

It always amazes me how we are often reminded of how little we know about physics, science, our bodies, our world and universe. Sometimes it feels like we are all part of some kid's ant farm!

Interesting new development on the war on cancer - Cancer cure patented

A group of researchers is patenting an approach to potentially cure cancer. They are out of John Hopkins and they make it clear their approach has not been tested on animals or humans.

Their approach utilizes sugar and short-chain fatty acid. This isn't the first time a sugar approach has been used for fighting cancer.

This research has been going on for many years. Hopefully this will lead to something very useful in this ongoing battle!

'Project Entropia' real estate sale fetches $179,000

Boy the times are a changing! Virtual real estate auction in an online game nets a total of $179,000 for three make believe virtual digital malls! The individual parcels didn't top the highest single price to date - that would be Neverdie's virtual space station he bought for a healthy $100,000.

Project Entropia can be a lot fun but after their November upgrade they seem to be losing a lot of players. It seems the VU (version upgrade) has made the playing space a lot more expensive.

UPDATE - British Teen Lands in Antigua After Record-Breaking Sail Across Atlantic

What an amazing story! A 14 year old crossed the Atlantic solo. Interesting how he used email and a blog to keep in touch with everyone.

His family has every right to be very proud of him.

Useful cloaking device is one step closer to reality

Now if you don't find this stuff fascinating I don't know about anything else that could!

In October Duke University discussed a device that enabled them the ability to cloak simple objects from microwave radiation. There are many requirements involving the materials used, etc to pull it off. Of course anything emitting electromagnetic waves (body heat, cellphone, light) would all still be visible. This is where the breakthrough has occured. They have figured out through a new mathematical theory that would support the "hiding" of EM emitting objects.

When you link to the article there are several other links that contain a lot more detail regarding the theory and its potential uses. Take your time and enjoy the fascinating material.

College Sophomore, 11, Is Campus's Youngest

Article extract...from The Associated Press...

HAYWARD, Calif. -- Terence Candell Jr. isn't your ordinary college student.

The Cal State-East Bay sophomore is a kid. Terence is just 11 years old.
He's the youngest student on campus and is interested in mass communications.

Terence was doing high-school level work by age 6 and took his SATs when he was just 9.

While his academic future looks bright, being a kid genius does have some drawbacks. Unlike
most of the other Cal State students, Terence needs to call his dad when he wants a ride home.

This is really amazing! You have to love over-achieving young adults! They are our best hope for a brighter future.

Fla. Man Develops GPS Shoes

Article excerpt...

MIAMI -- Global Positioning System technology is turning up in more and more devices, like watches and cellphones.

But a Miami company has used the technology to develop shoes that can be located anywhere in the world.

The shoes' developer Sayo Isaac Daniel said people can forget to carry their phones, but they can't leave the house without their shoes.

The design allows wearers to press a hidden button to send a distress signal.

The Quantum Satellite Technology shoes are planned to hit stores in March at a price of $325 to $350.

These sound like a really good idea. Hopefully the price will come down and the technology can be fitted into existing shoe lines.

14-year-old set to become youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic - AMAZING!!!

Another great example of a young over-achiever breaking a new barrier. It is amazing that a 14 year old would even contemplate crossing the ocean on their own. Take a minute and read the story.

Stories like this have got to give you hope about the next generation that is up and coming!

Douglas J. Reilly - RIP

Just heard Douglas Reilly lost his hard fought battle with cancer on December 23. John Jainschigg was kind enough to post a note on Dr. Dobb's. Here is the link:

http://www.ddj.com/blog/databaseblog/archives/2006/12/douglas_j_reill.html;jsessionid=UG2EGVB0SNLNUQSNDLRCKH0CJUNN2JVN

Here is Doug's link to his primary site:

http://www.accessmicrosystems.com/

Most of his blogging links seem to be gone now...kind of a shame. You would think they would be moved and kept as some part of an archive. I think it has been a little over a year since he blogged actively. He is part of the family of software guys that were first gen microcomputer developers - boy things have changed. I definitely shared his passion about Delphi and we both gave in eventually to the .NET framework and Microsoft tools.

RIP Doug hope you can blog in the afterlife!

Space telescope to hunt planets

The French have launched their planet hunter space telescope (Corot) from Kazakhstan. Their quest to monitor 120,000 stars and to find and document planets orbiting those stars.

Until now the smallest planet we have been able to detect is about 5 times the size of earth. The Corot can detect planets as small as twice our size...not perfect but a move in the right direction. Once we have a space telescope that can detect planets of our size and class I think some big things are going to happen.

It truly is only a matter of time now before we determine there is intelligent life on other planets. Given all the insanity on our blue marble I am looking forward to vacationing on a more sane piece of rock!

It is a multi-national effort but the French have taken the lead on getting this done.

This link takes you to the mission guide for the Corot telescope:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6213150.stm

TEEN GOES NUCLEAR: He creates fusion in his Oakland Township home

This is somewhat old news...but amazing nonetheless.

This is a story of a 17 year old who achieved nuclear fusion in his basement in the suburbs of Detroit.

He is ranked as the 18th amateur in the world to create nuclear fusion - holy grail of physics. Similar to the reaction that is continually occurring on the sun.

Take a minute and read the article. You will also find interesting information at www.fusor.net (thanks Paul!). The site is somewhat confusing to navigate and find things but amazing to see this amateur community on the web all working toward nuclear fusion.

I just can't help but wonder why we don't have nuclear fusion commercialized at this point. It really could solve a lot of problems and anything we do to move us off our dependence on Middle East oil is a step in the right direction.

PARENT ALERT - Using Google to View MySpace or Any Restricted Site

This post is about a loop hole inadvertinely created by Google Translate. The main focus of the article is how this can be used to subvert protections put in place at businesses.

However, I feel this information is very important for parents as their children can use the Google Translate feature to access literally any site they want to.

If you are not monitoring what your children are doing on the net - you need to be.

Science of Santa Claus: Jolly Old Elf Really Can Deliver Presents in One Night, Says NC State Engineer

Finally someone has taken the time to realistically answer the biggest question about Good Ole St. Nick!

Dr. Larry Silverberg, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering can explain the plausable science behind whether Santa could deliver all of the gifts in one night.

Finally we can tell our children the truth about Santa when they ask that dreadful question: "But dad, how does he visit millions of homes in one night?"

So I definitely suggest you take the time to read the article and equip yourself with answers for your children - I think we all deserve a portion of our childhild devoted to believing in Santa Claus!

Now if we could only do this for the Easter Bunny as well!

Merry Christimas Everyone!

BTW if you want to track Santa's progress you can do that here:

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/map/index.php#

Enraged locals drive blogger from Barrow-n-Furness

There is an article on the register today written by Lester Haines discussing how locals were enraged by comments a blogger made on his Myspace account. The blogger a manager for a chocolate company transplanted into the town to open up a new chocolate shop.

It seems the new store location was having some problems before it opened and the manager really needed to vent. He posted his unsavory comments on his Myspace blog and a local newspaper got wind of it and published his comments. The finally had to call the police because so many people were entering the store and telling the manager he should go somewhere else if he didn't like it there.

I believe this guy was really over-stressed, in his Myspace comments he stated that local vandals had smashed the front window of the new store and helped themselves to over a grand worth of chocolate. Additionally I guess he didn't like the local hotel he was staying.

The chocolate company removed him as the manager of the new location and offered free chocolate to any that stopped by their new location before December 25th. I wonder if the vandals came back to get the free stuff too? I wonder where he is working now?

The manager's comments on Myspace have been removed. To read more of the story check out the link below.

Here is the link to the original article:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/22/chocolate_shop_blogger/

How did I get talked into this?

Joe Hunkins A.K.A. Joe Duck over at:

http://joeduck.wordpress.com/

convinced me that I needed to start to blog. Let's see where this journey takes us.

Joe has shown me the real power of the blog during the James Kim search effort in Josephine County, Oregon. Joe really deserves a lot of credit for assembling a thoughtful group of people who are now embarking on an effort trying to improve the process involving search efforts by coordinating volunteers on the internet and analyzing data. Nice job Joe!

Thanks Joe (I think!).

You should definitely check out his blog it really rocks.

Some gift ideas...

Just a couple of more days until Christmas is here! I found a couple of links to aid in the shopping frenzy. There is still time left to get those gifts under the tree!

For those of you that celebrate Christmas - I wish you a very merry one!

Here are the links:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/88519/top_ten_gift_ideas_for_girls_ages_35.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/93949/a_guide_to_shopping_for_a_diamond_on.html