TresSugar

Chew on This: Study Finds Herds Have a Built-in Compass

LibertySugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:00:44 -0700

Next time you can't find the North Star, you might consider looking for the nearest pack of cows. A recent study of Google Earth satellite images found that herds of cattle gravitate to face in the north-south direction of Earth's magnetic lines. The study also noted some types of deer have shown the same pattern, according to the BBC.

Many smaller species, such as birds and salmon, are known to use the earth's magnetic fields in seasonal migration; however, these recent findings show larger mammals have a similar internal sense of direction.

The researchers surveyed Google Earth images of 8,510 grazing and resting cattle in 308 pasture plains across the world. Apparently, it was often hard for them to distinguish heads from tails, but they were able to determine that animals tend to face either north or south.

If you're wondering what this means, read more.

The study ruled out the possibility that the sun or wind direction were major factors in the orientation of the cattle. A sensory biologist from Virginia Tech University points out scientists still need to consider what benefit this "sixth magnetic sense" might provide for mammals.

For now, it seems there are no immediate answers. Do you have any guesses? This whole phenomenon is sure to show up in the next edition of Trivial Pursuit.

Source

Google Earth an Accomplice to Mumbai Massacre?

LibertySugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:30:12 -0800

India may ban Google Earth after allegations that those responsible for the Mumbai massacre used the online tool to plan their attacks. Google may need more than its motto "Do No Evil" to prevent its technology from harming people.

A petition filed in the Bombay High Court asks the court to demand that Google blur sensitive images, until the court reaches a decision on whether to ban the satellite service altogether.

It seems reasonable to remove sensitive locations from Google Earth, but banning otherwise innocent tools capable of doing harm could be impossible. In other words, should officials ban cell phones, if terrorists use them to communicate?

Source

Google Earth to Show Refugee Camps - Great Idea or Too Far?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:45:25 -0700

The ever-addicting Google Earth feature (who hasn't looked up every house they've ever lived in?) has a brand new feature with a humanitarian twist.

The feature is set to show the movement of refugees around the world using satellite images of refugee hot spots such as Darfur, Iraq, and Colombia. The maps are designed to help humanitarian operations as well as to inform the public about the millions who have fled their homes because of political violence. Google Earth's successful use after Hurricane Katrina, sparking the expansion idea.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner For Refugees said at the launch of the project, “all of the things that we do for refugees in the refugee camps around the world will become more visible.”

For example, Google Earth users will be able to see into the Djabal refugee camp in eastern Chad, home to refugees from the conflict in Darfur, and see tents clustered together amid the sparse landscape. Adding a servicey aspect, with another click, users can learn about the difficulty of providing water to some of the 15,000 people.

Google Earth faced controversy earlier this year when the US Defense Department cracked down banning views of military bases. By extension, if people wanting to help refugees can see the camps, could those wishing to harm them use the info, too? What about issues of privacy? Have we given enough thought to the bigger questions of this powerful technology?

Source

Front Page: US Economy Shrinks Like It's 1982

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:30:40 -0800

The US economy shrank 3.8 percent last quarter, the most it has shrunk since 1982. - Bloomberg
President Obama will be rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl this Sunday. - CNN
Exxon Mobil's profits dropped 33 percent last quarter, thanks to lower demand for gas and cheaper oil prices. - New York Times

The US Senate passed the children's healthcare bill (SCHIP) today. Obama will likely sign the final version next week. - Washington Post
Police in Switzerland say they discovered a marijuana field using Google Earth. - AP

Source

The Googles Are Watching! Britain Not Ready for StreetView

LibertySugar — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:00:45 -0700

Americans may worry about intrusive government spying, but the Brits fear Google as the next Big Brother. Google Earth cars are driving around England, taking 360-degree pictures of houses and streets, and putting them online, as part of its StreetView program.

Answering privacy critics in Europe, Google agreed to blur faces. But, the British worry about strangers, innocent and not, knowing whether they have a swimming pool, what type of car they drive, or which is the best way to rob their homes.

I can see how some may feel these camera-cars invade privacy; however, if they only show public streets people could travel to themselves, isn't the application just making the world more accessible? The most compelling argument against the StreetView is the thought that criminals and burglars can scope out a possible crime scene, without alerting anyone. Less serious criminals, like teenagers organizing pool parties at strangers' homes, have proven the threat.

Source

Trespassing? Facebook and Google Spark Sneaky Pool Parties

CitizenSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:00:37 -0700

It might be the terrible technological bratty kid of the marriage of technology and too much Summer free time - get a load of this trend: using Google Earth to pinpoint local houses with surreptitious swimming pools in the backyard, kids are then logging on to Facebook to poke their buddies into an impromptu and illegal pool party.

It's called "dipping" and pool owners are steaming mad. For one illicit swimfest event posted, invitations were sent to 500 users. Police say pool owners have woken up to find strange kids in the pool, come home from work to find their pools littered with beer cans - or worse. Police are trying to crack down on the trespassing pool crawls saying, “We are advising owners of swimming pools to be on their guard and extra vigilant. We would also warn prospective swimmers that using someone else’s pool is trespassing and therefore illegal.”

Does the tech-savvy prank cross the line from harmless fun to criminal mischief? Should networking sites be held responsible for invitations to illegal activity posted? Is the idea genius, even if it's not advisable?

Why Can't US Cities Connect to Free Internet?

LibertySugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:00:49 -0700

Philadelphia just became another major US city to hit a connection snag in their plan to offer citywide free Wi-Fi. Earthlink, the private company working with Philly, has just announced its intention to pull the figurative plug on Philly's operating project. Why the pull-out? Money. The New York Times reports that: "The conclusion that such ventures would not be profitable led to sudden withdrawals by service providers like EarthLink, the Internet company that had effectively cornered the market on the efforts by the larger cities."

The virtual age is making internet a utility rather than a luxury, so with all the other services cities offer - libraries, parks, public transportation, and water - many realize the necessity to provide citizens with free municipal wireless internet. It's been three years since Philadelphia announced its plan to become the city of wireless love, bringing free internet to all residents and the poor are feeling the pinch.

Tons of other cities, like Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco, realize the need and have decided to follow suit - but wireless for the masses is still just a pipe dream. Massive technological problems, faulty business models, politics, and of course, money, have resulted in a bad connection between the cities and their internet provider partners. To see the impact of this disconnection, read more.

Living without the internet can be an insurmountable disadvantage to the already struggling. This day in age, the internet is used for almost everything, from finding a job, to completing a high school research paper.

Is the internet a luxury, or a citizen's right? Would it be best to let the private sector continue to cut prices, and separately subsidize those who still cannot afford a connection? How can residents find out about all the other great city services, if they can't even google them? Are you in favor of free Wi-Fi?

Source