Deathstar Full of Banana Slugs

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Bad java flaw explanation now with slugs, animated tattoos, make your own 3d printer “ink”, Facebook search, and more geeky topics of the week.

Java Turn Off

And explanation of what you need to do to protect yourself. And here is Oracle’s Disable Java Page which explains things pretty well.

Miles Adds:

The simplest, most straightforward method is to go to Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (or Uninstall Application in Control Panel for Vista and 7) and remove all references to Java one by one. (There may only be one.)
On the bright side, if you use Firefox or Chrome for your browser, just keep it up to date with the most recent versions. Both browser makers are disabling Java (and other at-risk plugins) by default now.
For a more fine-tuned and proactive approach, you can follow the instructions on pcMag to deal with Java

Animated Tattoo Makes Great Use of QR Code

With the continued penetration of smartphones into the mainstream market, QR codes are becoming more of an option for designers to prompt interaction. The two-dimensional barcode can easily be generated from text, including a website link, and printed on materials in magazines and conferences. An artist in Paris found an unusual use for the black-and-white squares: to animate a tattoo.

Filabot Turns Your Plastic Junk Into Material for 3-D Printers

Filabot promises to help turn your plastic crap into 3-D printed fanciness, alleviating one of the biggest sustainability problems for 3-D printing.

Nokia backs 3D printing for mobile phone cases

Nokia is releasing design files that will let owners use 3D printers to make their own cases for its Lumia phones

Google declares that passwords are no longer enough to keep users safe

Google’s security team outlines a sort of ring-finger authentication in a new research paper, set to be published late this month in the engineering journal IEEE Security & Privacy Magazine. In it, Google Vice President of Security Eric Grosse and Engineer Mayank Upadhyay outline all sorts of ways they think people could wind up logging into websites in the future.

New Facebook Graph Search allows detailed search for users

Facebook announced a new method of sorting and consuming information disseminated on the social network at a press conference in Menlo Park, CA Tuesday. The service, called “Graph Search,” allows users to enter a query on Facebook and get answers based on cross-sections of information within their social network.

This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn’t on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:

  • The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We’re working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
  • The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
  • Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?

Planet Earth Abandons Death Star Project In Face Of Superior Galactic Imperial Power

The overwhelming military superiority of the Galactic Empire has been confirmed once again by the recent announcement by the President of the United States that his nation would not attempt to build a Death Star, despite the bellicose demands of the people of his tiny, aggressive planet. “It is doubtless that such a technological terror in the hands of so primitive a world would be used to upset the peace and sanctity of the citizens of the Galactic Empire,“ said Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of the Outer Rim Territories. “Such destructive power can only be wielded to protect and defend by so enlightened a leader as Emperor Palpatine.”

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Grounded In US and EU

“Following previous stories that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration was to review the safety of the Boeing 787 and that Japan had already grounded their fleet, the FAA has issued an airworthiness directive which has been endorsed around the world with the fleets of all eight airlines flying the 787 now grounded.

MIT Researcher Creates Glowing, Alcohol Tracking Ice Cubes to Help Prevent Drunken Escapades

While most would simply learn to count the number of drinks that they’ve had at every hour, Dand decided to refine it to a science. He invented glowing ice cubes that would change from green, to orange, and to red depending on how much alcohol a drinker’s had over time. Red would indicate that the individual was well past the legal limit and would notify a close friend via text.

Use Processing.org to Play with Sound

Ben’s brother asks how to mess with sound waves using math. – Lyle suggests processing.org