Gregarius » Wired News: Top Stories

Wired News: Top Stories

'Bejeweled,' 'World of Warcraft' Combine to Form World's Most Addictive Game

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:48pm CDT by Earnest Cavalli

A lone modder clones PopCap's famous puzzle game to kill time while hanging out in the MMO. When Bejeweled's maker steps in, the outcome is shockingly pleasant.
Sept. 19, 1982: Can't You Take a Joke? :-)

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:00pm CDT by Tony Long

1982: At precisely 11:44 a.m., Scott Fahlman posts the following electronic message to a computer-science department bulletin board at Carnegie Mellon University:

19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman  :-)
From: Scott E Fahlman

I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:

:-)

Read it sideways. Actually, it is probably more economical to mark things that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use:

:-(

With that post, Fahlman became the acknowledged originator of the ASCII-based emoticon. From those two simple emoticons (a portmanteau combining the words emotion and icon) have sprung dozens of others that are the joy, or bane, of e-mail, text-message and instant-message correspondence the world over.

Fahlman was not, however, the first person to use typographical symbols to convey emotions. The practice goes back at least to the mid-19th century, when Morse code symbols were occasionally used for the same purpose. Other examples exist as well.

In 1881, the American satirical magazine Puck published what we would now call emoticons, using hand-set type. No less a wordsmith than Ambrose Bierce suggested using what he called a "snigger point" --  \__/  -- to convey jocularity or irony.

But the modern emoticon does trace its lineage directly to Fahlman, who says he came up with the idea after reading "lengthy diatribes" from people on the message board who failed to get the joke or the sarcasm in a particular post -- which is probably what "given current trends" refers to in his own, now-famous missive.

To remedy this, Fahlman suggested using  :-)  and  :-(  to distinguish between posts that should be taken humorously and those of a more serious nature.

Fahlman's original post was lost for a couple of decades and believed gone for good, until it was retrieved from an old backup tape, thus cementing his claim of priority.

Source: Various
Gallery: Emoticons Jump From Web to Real World :-)

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:00pm CDT by Lewis Wallace

: Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP
With three simple keystrokes, Scott Fahlman brought a smile to the internet.

In a 1982 message board post, Fahlman, a computer scientist at Carnegie-Mellon University, proposed using typographical smiley faces to mark jokes and clear up confusion about writers' intentions. With his simple proposal, the emoticon was born.

Fahlman's smiling shorthand (and its frown-face equivalent) started a wave of internet expression that's spilled over into the real world. The emoticon has been upgraded and animated, loved and hated. Emoticons have graced gadgets, T-shirts and more.

Witness the emoticon's lasting impact, and smile if you can.

Left:

Father of the emoticon Scott Fahlman shows off his happy handiwork. His proposal to use smiley and frowney faces is credited with launching the emoticon in the internet age. Now, Carnegie-Mellon hands out an annual Smiley Award for "innovation in technology assisted person-to-person communication."
:
Emotibles' Emotibuds slip onto classic iPod earbuds, giving Apple's bland white gear a colorful geek upgrade. The company also makes "strangely expressive" emoticon stickers, pins and more. :
Wear a freaky-looking Mask of Emotion and you'll really light up a room. The bubble-shape mask, developed by designers at Hongik University in Korea, uses LEDs to put emoticon expressions on its wearer's "face."
:
An unknown visionary (or maybe a time traveler) used typographical symbols to mimic human expressions in an 1881 edition of Puck magazine. :
Did the person or persons who installed the locks and handle on this door realize the statement they were making? London graphic designer Peter Gibbons spotted the happy hardware on a door in Copenhagen.
:
Old-school methods for inter-vehicular communication -- flipping the bird at the tailgating bastard behind you or mumbling "sorry" to yourself after cutting somebody off -- aren't exactly effective.

Cruise into the 21st century with the Driving LED Emoticon, which lets you express your true feelings in a straightforward fashion. Just mount the LED message sign in your rear window, then use the remote control to transmit one of five messages (smiling face, winking face, "Thanks," "Back Off" and "Sorry") to the driver on your bumper.
:
Feeling a little remote from your loved one? Drop a clue about your current mood with the Web Are You? networked emoticon device from Mauricio Melo Design. Connect the thing to the internet, then ping it via a web page or cellphone. One of the four emoticons will light up to give your significant other a visual representation of your state of mind.
:
Wear your emotion on your lapel (or anywhere else) with one of these colorful emoticon pins. The set includes "Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)," "Mad," "Smilie," "Cool," "Frown," "Wink," "Big Grin" and "Eek."
:
Emoticons aren't just for the internet. With the Emoticon Transforming Stamp, you can ink a piece of paper with a standard smiley in nothing flat. The $6 silicone stamp is flexible -- squish it for variations on the theme.
:
Screw e-mail -- use an actual mailbox to send a message with these emoticon letterpress cards from Lizard Press.
:
Endless mutations on the smiley face, as popularized by AOL Instant Messenger and other services that use animated emoticons, show up all over the place. Smiley World, which registered the '60s-era smiley face as a trademark in 1971, sells customizable T-shirts that will look familiar to anybody who's ever used AIM.
:
One beautiful thing about emoticons: The keystroke expressions can be put to virtually limitless creative uses. These boobtastic potholders by CrochetandCrafts owe a clear debt of gratitude to Fahlman's very first smiley.
iPhone App Shifts Hypermiling Up to iPermiling

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:00pm CDT by Keith Barry

A new iPhone app tells you, in real time, just how inefficient a driver you are and how much gas you're wasting.
Rugged Hard Drive Serves to Protect Your Digital Booty

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:00pm CDT by Terrence Russell

The sentry safe is a digital treasure chest fit for a modern day pirate. We'd like to see a single scurvy dog harm its precious content with fire, smoke or a trip to Davey Jones's locker. It's not canon-proof, but neither are we. Bring me my grog!
How to Make a Pirate Treasure Map

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 11:00pm CDT by How-To Wiki

Celebrate "Talk Like a Pirate Day" by taking the kids on a quest for lost treasure. Here's how to create a truthy pirate's map using paper bags, markers and a few other cheap materials. Building the ship may take a little more work.
From 'Batman' to 'Incognito,' Ed Brubaker Loves the Ultraviolence

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 10:26pm CDT by Scott Thill

The veteran comics writer brings a history with classic superheroes and a passion for vintage noir to his upcoming Marvel series, which tracks a supervillain in the Witness Protection Program.
Campaigns Blow Off Voters During Final Stretch Of Debates

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 8:00pm CDT by Sarah Lai Stirland

The highly anticipated general election debates that kick off between the two presidential candidates next Friday will feature none of the voter-centric innovations pioneered during the primaries. Not one YouTube video, not one instant message.
The Heat Is On for Details of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 7:16pm CDT by David Kravets

Two rights groups sue the United States Trade Representative, in a lawsuit seeking information about the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The agreement, being hashed out with several nations, is said to bolster intellectual property powers and possibly even allow internet companies to monitor web traffic. But details are shaky, and that's why the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Public Knowledge are seeking them.
Internet Memes Time Line Goes Viral

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 4:24pm CDT by Jenna Wortham

Hundreds of web-culture phenomena populate a Dipity chart that's becoming pretty popular in its own right.
It's a Car. It's a Plane. It's a Hybrid

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 4:15pm CDT by Dave Demerjian

The guy who brought us the SkyCar is back with a gas-electric flying Ferrari.
Volvo Thinks Locusts Can Make Us Safer Drivers

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 4:00pm CDT by Chuck Squatriglia

African locusts never hit each other, even in swarms millions strong. Volvo wants cars to do the same thing.
Rights Group Sues NSA and Cheney for Spying

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 3:50pm CDT by Ryan Singel

The Electronic Frontier Foundation sued the government and top Bush officials over its warrantless wiretapping program Thursday. The suit comes just a day before the government tries using a new and powerful tool to dismiss the group's surprisingly resilient suit against AT&T for helping with the program.
Oracle 1Q Profit Rises 28%, beats Street

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 3:26pm CDT by Associated Press

Oracle says its first-quarter profit improved 28 percent, beating Wall Street's expectations. The business software maker's net income for the quarter ended Aug. 31 rose to $1.08 billion, or 21 cents per share, from $840 million, or 16 cents per share, a year ago.
Scientists Call Conservatives Chicken

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 3:09pm CDT by Brandon Keim

A physiological study shows that conservatives startle more easily than liberals. The finding suggests fear-mongering could be a winning tactic for conservatives.
Microsoft's Ad Strategy a Head Scratcher

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 2:36pm CDT by Meghan Keane

Branding experts were scratching their heads today over Microsoft's decision to so quickly abandon a quirky TV ad campaign starring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, with some wondering if that really was the plan all along — as Microsoft insists.
Lamborghini Bringing a Whole New World to Paris

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 2:00pm CDT by Chuck Squatriglia

Everyone's guessing what the Italian automaker will unveil at the Paris Motor Show. Including us.
How to Customize Your iPhone Wallpaper

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 1:45pm CDT by How-To Wiki

The default iPhone wallpaper is pretty boring and it displays every time you unlock the screen. Don't you think you should customize it with something more personal? A loved one perhaps? Maybe your favorite band photo? You can even snap a wallpaper photo on the spot. Our guide will point you in the right direction.
Security Matters: Airport Pasta-Sauce Interdiction Considered Harmful

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 1:00pm CDT by Bruce Schneier

Airport security found a jar of pasta sauce in my luggage last month. It was a 6-ounce jar, above the limit; the official confiscated it, because allowing it on the airplane with me would have been too dangerous. And to demonstrate how dangerous he really thought that jar was, he blithely tossed it in a nearby bin of similar liquid bottles and sent me on my way.
There are two classes of contraband at airport security checkpoints: the class that will get you in trouble if you try to bring it on an airplane, and the class that will cheerily be taken away from you if you try to bring it on an airplane. This difference is important: Making security screeners confiscate anything from that second class is a waste of time. All it does is harm innocents; it doesn't stop terrorists at all.
Let me explain. If you're caught at airport security with a bomb or a gun, the screeners aren't just going to take it away from you. They're going to call the police, and you're going to be stuck for a few hours answering a lot of awkward questions. You may be arrested, and you'll almost certainly miss your flight. At best, you're going to have a very unpleasant day.
This is why articles about how screeners don't catch every -- or even a majority -- of guns and bombs that go through the checkpoints don't bother me. The screeners don't have to be perfect; they just have to be good enough. No terrorist is going to base his plot on getting a gun through airport security if there's decent chance of getting caught, because the consequences of getting caught are too great.
Contrast that with a terrorist plot that requires a 12-ounce bottle of liquid. There's no evidence that the London liquid bombers actually had a workable plot, but assume for the moment they did. If some copycat terrorists try to bring their liquid bomb through airport security and the screeners catch them -- like they caught me with my bottle of pasta sauce -- the terrorists can simply try again. They can try again and again. They can keep trying until they succeed. Because there are no consequences to trying and failing, the screeners have to be 100 percent effective. Even if they slip up one in a hundred times, the plot can succeed.
The same is true for knitting needles, pocketknives, scissors, corkscrews, cigarette lighters and whatever else the airport screeners are confiscating this week. If there's no consequence to getting caught with it, then confiscating it only hurts innocent people. At best, it mildly annoys the terrorists.
To fix this, airport security has to make a choice. If something is dangerous, treat it as dangerous and treat anyone who tries to bring it on as potentially dangerous. If it's not dangerous, then stop trying to keep it off airplanes. Trying to have it both ways just distracts the screeners from actually making us safer.

---

Bruce Schneier is chief security technology officer of BT. His new book is Schneier on Security.
Palin E-Mail Hacker Says It Was Easy

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 12:05pm CDT by Kim Zetter

Answering a few biographical questions was all it took to crack Sarah Palin's Yahoo e-mail account, according to a post allegedly authored by the hacker.
Scientists to Use Satellites to Count Kangaroo Rats

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 10:00am CDT by Associated Press

Scientists plan to use satellite photos to count Giant Kangaroo Rats, the first-ever monitoring of an endangered species from outer space.
Amazon Hopes to Speed Up Your Downloads

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 10:00am CDT by Scott Gilbertson

Amazon has announced that it will soon be launching a content delivery network service designed to help even small websites vastly improve their file download speeds. Like its other services, S3 storage, EC2 hosting and more, Amazon’s new offering will be pay-as-you-go, which promises to be a boon for web startups.
Web 2.0 Expo: Upbeat Despite Economic Downturn

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 9:40am CDT by Chris Snyder

The Web 2.0 Expo in New York may have the misfortune of happening during the worst week for tech companies since the collapse of the bubble and a global equities meltdown born of a unrelenting crisis of confidence -- but you wouldn't know it from the unbridled optimism and business-as-usual attitude during a slew of presentations to the young and the hungry.
Vivendi Honcho: Worst Over for Music Biz

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 9:06am CDT by Eliot Van Buskirk

By now, we're all well accustomed to hearing about hard times in the music industry, which is why it comes as a pleasant surprise to hear the head of Vivendi say that he expects his Universal Music Group division to grow because the worst is over for the recorded music business.
Obama Campaign Reveals Science Advisors

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 7:53am CDT by Associated Press

Barack Obama has established a small but well-regarded inner circle of science advisors that includes a vocal critic of creationism, a Nobel laureate who has championed open-access research, and another laureate who used his prize money to defend academic freedom the restrictions of the War on Terror.
It's Not Gold, Jerry: Microsoft Ditching Seinfeld

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 7:02am CDT by John C Abell

After only a couple of TV commercials featuring Odd Couple Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates Microsoft is killing the campaign meant to be its answer to Apple's long-running "PC & Mac" duo that few seemed to love and many loved to ridicule, if not hate.
No Priuses Allowed at Hybrids and Harleys for Obama Rally

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 5:41am CDT by Keith Barry

American-made-hybrids-only rule highlights the challenges of making Detroit relevant again.
Googlephone Will Cost the Same as the iPhone

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 5:05am CDT by Charlie Sorrel

The HTC Dream, the first Googlephone, due out next month, will be priced at an iPhone-matching $200, the Wall Street Journal reports. This makes it clear that T-Mobile sees the the Android phone as an antidote to AT&T's exclusive on the iPhone.
Google CEO Won't Delay Yahoo Deal Any Further

Posted: September 18th, 2008, 12:51am CDT by Associated Press

After voluntarily delaying the start of the Yahoo deal three months ago to give antitrust regulators time to review the potential impact, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said he isn't willing to wait very much beyond an Oct. 11 deadline spelled out in the companies' contract even if the government says it needs more time to assess whether the alliance will diminish competition.