Introducing Safari 4 - See the web in a whole new way

Introducing Safari 4 - See the web in a whole new way

Apple has release a beta of Safari 4 on Mac and Windows. It looks to be extremely fast. It looks like this new version might break many (all?) Input Manager "plug-ins"/hacks, so be careful.

And here's a link to the nightly WebKit downloads for anyone wanting to use the absolute latest greatest, without having Safari 4 overwrite Safari 3. With a recent Webkit installed, you can run both versions.

Update 1: After briefly testing, I was surprised to find the nightly builds of WebKit are still based on the Safari 3.2.1 . The Safari 4 installation overwrites Safari 3.x, so I'll try it and check if the WebKit builds still use the older version (which is compatible with most modern Input Manager hacks). Or I may be reduced to using Multi-Safari, which should allow you to run a self-contained, older version of Safari/WebKit, without disturbing the primary Safari installation.

In a pinch, if you have problems with Safari 4, you can download Safari 3 again.

Update 2: And it looks like it may be possible to make some Input Managers function. At least I found some instructions which might work for 1Password (a nice password management and archiving utility with an optional iPhone app with wifi sync'ing).

Update 3: You can enable 1Password to function with Safari 4 as mentioned above. Here are specific instructions for the Safari 4 Beta release. And you can re-enable the 1Password toolbar icon by editing your toolbar with View --> Customize Toolbar.

The Omni Group Releases Four Applications as Freeware

The Omni Group Releases Four Applications as Freeware

Omni has released four of their apps including their very nice browser, OmniWeb, for free after a fairly long stint as a paid application.

Clean Energy 2030

Clean Energy 2030 - a knol by Jeffery Greenblatt

More clean energy info for those interested.

RechargeIT.org

RechargeIT.org

Google.org site about plug-in electric vehicles.  They have a bunch of interesting statistics and information.

Banking on the Brink

Banking on the Brink

Another nice analysis of our financial situation by Paul Krugman.  I hate seeing people dance around the taboo on using the work, "nationalization".  And here, Krugman lays it out: the only stock value left in some of these banks is provided by government guarantees or hopes of a government backstop.  Some of these big banks are already effectively nationalized in all but name, because they are entirely dependent on government funds and promises to avoid failure.  As has been stated before: we are nationalizing risk and privatizing gain.

Spoiler Alert: WATCHMEN is fucking awesome.

WWdN: In Exile: Spoiler Alert: WATCHMEN is fucking awesome.

While I didn't care for his character on STTNG, he seems to be a solid geek.  So, I'm going to hope he's right about this one.

Mindfuck Movies by Matthew Baldwin - The Morning News

Mindfuck Movies by Matthew Baldwin - The Morning News

You can't go wrong with a good movie that actually requires a bit of thought.  I really liked the movies on this list that I've seen (i.e. The Game, Dark City, Memento, Mulholland Dr., and Donnie Darko), so I'll try to check out the others.  I have those and Primer on DVD, so I guess I'll start with it.

I just don't understand why none of Peter Greenaway's films are on the list.  And Fight Club should be on every list of movies.

Does Earth harbour a 'shadow biosphere' of alien life?

Does Earth harbour a 'shadow biosphere' of alien life?

I've often thought there were too many assumptions being made about any life being similar to life on Earth.  It would be quite ironic if our own planet harbored types of life dissimilar to "normal" life.

I've never read a truly compelling explanation why all life must be carbon and water based.  Just because that is what we are and what we have seen does not necessarily mean there are no other ways to "design" life.  I would think life may have evolved into a quite different form under quite different circumstances.

A Prenatal Link to Alzheimer's?

A Prenatal Link to Alzheimer's?

This is fascinating, if true.  If Alzheimer's is a reactivation of early life neuro-"pruning", it will open up a variety of new treatments.  Since there has been some confusion about beta amyloid plaques being the cause or the effect, this theory could help explain that while providing potential targets for treatment.

First liquid water may have been spotted on Mars - space - 18 February 2009

First liquid water may have been spotted on Mars

This could be very exciting, and it could explain a great deal.

For instance, how were the numerous apparent drainage structures created, and most especially could have caused the recent changes caught by our orbiting cameras.  If the perchlorate salts can keep water liquid down to potentially -70 degrees C, and the resulting water can be kept in liquid form under ground avoiding the low pressure causing it to evaporate ...  There could be an active water system just under ground, and that improves the chances of finding some kind of extremophile life living there.

Starbucks to unveil instant coffee

Starbucks to unveil instant coffee

I know some people (wife!) might be very excited about this.  Hopefully, it will taste (at least nearly) as good as their regular coffee.

Slashdot | New Paper Offers Additional Reasoning for Fermi's Paradox

Slashdot | New Paper Offers Additional Reasoning for Fermi's Paradox

Some good discussion relating to a potential explanation of why SETI has not picked up anything yet.  And it makes sense.  SETI is looking for powerful and simple signals that are unlike anything we actual use in modern times.  Basically, they would only detect a purposeful attempt to get our attention.

The more complex, more efficient modulation schemes more similar to what we are implementing now look much like noise and would be very hard to detect, most especially at great distance.