Graphene Image Sensor 1000X More Sensitive to Light Than Current Sensors
June 2nd, 2013đŻ
Via: Science Daily:
Cameras fitted with a new revolutionary sensor will soon be able to take clear and sharp photos in dim conditions, thanks to a new image sensor invented at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The new sensor made from graphene, is believed to be the first to be able to detect broad spectrum light, from the visible to mid-infrared, with high photoresponse or sensitivity. This means it is suitable for use in all types of cameras, including infrared cameras, traffic speed cameras, satellite imaging and more.
Not only is the graphene sensor 1,000 times more sensitive to light than current imaging sensors found in today’s cameras, it also uses 10 times less energy as it operates at lower voltages. When mass produced, graphene sensors are estimated to cost at least five times cheaper.
Russia to Resume Nuclear Submarine Patrols in Southern Seas
June 1st, 2013Via: Reuters:
Russia plans to resume nuclear submarine patrols in the southern seas after a hiatus of more than 20 years following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Saturday, in another example of efforts to revive Moscow’s military.
The plan to send Borei-class submarines, designed to carry 16 long-range nuclear missiles, to the southern hemisphere follows President Vladimir Putin’s decision in March to deploy a naval unit in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis starting this year.
“The revival of nuclear submarine patrols will allow us to fulfill the tasks of strategic deterrence not only across the North Pole but also the South Pole,” state-run Itar-Tass cited an unnamed official in the military General Staff as saying.
The official said the patrols would be phased in over several years. The Yuri Dolgoruky, the first of eight Borei-class submarines that Russia hopes to launch by 2020, entered service this year.
bitNZ: New Zealand Dollar Bitcoin Exchange
June 1st, 2013Disclosure: I have no affiliate relationship with bitNZ and I have not been paid anything to mention them. I am a bitNZ customer.
I’d had enough of paying large wire fees with Mt.Gox, so I tried bitNZ.com instead. bitNZ worked great! NZD withdrawals to any NZ bank account are free.
My only complaint is that liquidity is low on bitNZ right now, so you can see some wide spreads. Of course, if more people start using bitNZ, we can close those spreads right up. If you’re doing deals for NZD/BTC on Mt.Gox, consider moving some of that activity on bitNZ instead. Lets support a New Zealand based bitcoin exchange.
Justice Department Secret Document Details Unconstitutional Surveillance of American Citizens
May 31st, 2013Via: IB Times:
The Justice Department may soon be forced to reveal a classified document that details unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens. The Justice Department has fought to keep the document secret for about a year, but a recent court order demands that they respond to a formal request filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation by next week, June 7, 2013.
In California, Obamacare To Increase Individual Health Insurance Premiums By 64-146%
May 31st, 2013In other news: Maine Doctor Stops Accepting All Forms of Insurance, Cuts Prices for Treatments In Half.
Via: Forbes:
One of the most serious flaws with Obamacare is that its blizzard of regulations and mandates drives up the cost of insurance for people who buy it on their own. This problem will be especially acute when the lawâs main provisions kick in on January 1, 2014, leading many to worry about health insurance ârate shock.â
U.S. Government Clears Path for Iran to Back Orifice Itself
May 31st, 2013Via: Ars Technica:
On Thursday, the Obama Administration lifted digital sanctions that for more than two decades have prevented companies that do business in the US from also selling or distributing digital goodsâincluding mobile phones, hosting services, VPNs, and software updatesâto Iran.
Research Credit: almaverdad2
British Taxpayers to Get Bill for Bilderberg Meeting Security; Don’t Bother Asking How Much Because It’s a Secret
May 31st, 2013Via: Telegraph:
The clandestine meeting of royalty, prime ministers and business chiefs is taking place in Britain for the first time since 1998, sparking fears of “violence and disturbance” by protesters.
The Bilderberg organisers, who include Tory Cabinet minister Ken Clarke, do not release a guest list but a roll-call of luminaries are expected to descend on a luxury Watford hotel from June 6, forcing police to step up security.
Hertfordshire police have refused to release the cost of security for the event, which has previously drawn anti-capitalist demonstrators in other locations around the world.
However, they are in talks with the Home Office about a grant for “unexpected or exceptional costs” that is only given out if it threatens the stability of the force’s policing budget. The final bill would have to total more than one per cent of the police force’s overall spend – or about ÂŁ1.8 million – for the grant to be successful.
The invitation-only Bilderberg meetings are attended by around 140 members of the international elite.
Schools Scanned Students’ Irises Without Permission
May 31st, 2013Via: Russia Today:
Parents in Polk County, Florida are outraged after learning that students in area schools had their irises scanned as part of a new security program without obtaining proper permission.
Students at three facilities â an elementary school, a grade school and a high school â had their eyeballs scanned earlier this month as part of a âstudent safetyâ pilot program being carried out by Stanley Convergent Security Solutions.
âIt simply takes a picture of the iris, which is unique to every individual,â Rob Davis, the school boardâs senior director of support services, wrote home to parents in a letter dated May 23. âWith this program, we will be able to identify when and where a student gets on the bus, when they arrive at their school location, when and what bus the student boards and disembarks in the afternoon. This is an effort to further enhance the safety of our students.The EyeSwipe-Nano is an ideal replacement for the card based system since your child will not have to be responsible for carrying an identification card,â he added.
Parents at Daniel Jenkins Academy, Bephune Academy and the Davenport School of the Arts received the letter from the school board on May 24 informing them of the EyeSwipe-Nano program and that their childâs principal should be notified if they donât want their son or daughter to participate.
But elsewhere in the letter, the board explained that the program would begin last Monday, May 20. By the time the letter was received on Friday, iris scans had already been completed at the three area schools without a single student opting out, Angel Clark wrote for The Examiner this week.
Germany Fears Revolution if Europe Scraps Welfare Model
May 31st, 2013This is a battle against the machine and it’s already lost.
Via: Reuters:
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned on Tuesday that failure to win the battle against youth unemployment could tear Europe apart, and dropping the continent’s welfare model in favor of tougher U.S. standards would spark a revolution.
Germany, along with France, Spain and Italy, backed urgent action to rescue a generation of young Europeans who fear they will not find jobs, with youth unemployment in the EU standing at nearly one in four, more than twice the adult rate.
“We need to be more successful in our fight against youth unemployment, otherwise we will lose the battle for Europe’s unity,” Germany’s Schaeuble said.
Related:
Eurozone Unemployment at New Record High
Father of Chechen Killed in Florida Says FBI Murdered Him
May 30th, 2013Via: Washington Post:
Despite earlier accounts of the incident,two law enforcement officials told The Washington Post on Wednesday that Todashev was not armed. His father said that he was shot seven times. The FBI has said that he attacked an agent, just moments after confessing to his part in the Waltham slayings.
The elder Todashev displayed photographs of his sonâs body â apparently the same pictures as those shown by the younger manâs widow at a Florida news conference Wednesday evening â that he said show six shots to the body and a âcontrolâ shot to the back of the head.
âThis is proof of cold-blooded murder,â said Maxim Shevchenko, a journalist and member of the presidential human rights council who organized Thursdayâs news conference.
It was an âextrajudicial execution,â said Zaurbek Sadakhanov, a Chechen lawyer who also was present. âWhy was he interrogated three times without a lawyer? Why no recording? Why seven shots? And why should I believe their version? Why do American policemen believe they can do whatever they want?â
Todashevâs father said his son had been planning to return to Chechnya on May 24, though he had apparently canceled his tickets before he was killed on May 22. He suggested that the FBI didnât want his son to return to Russia.
âMaybe my son knew some sort of information that the police didnât want to get out,â he said. âThey shut him up. Thatâs my opinion.â
