Episode 1045

A new study shows that Internet Explorer 8 is the most secure browser in the world. Who paid for the study? Guess. We also uncover the Twitter mafia and a new alliance to fight malware. And Molly's dream of running her car on chickens comes closer to reality.
NOTE: There is no video for today's episode due to a technical error. That's right, you can go ahead and blame Jason for this one. Sorry. --Jason
==Stories Covered==
Apple lead barely shrinks in customer-satisfaction survey
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2009/08/apple_lead_barely_shrinks_in_c.html?hpid=sec-tech
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10311373-92.html
Microsoft to adopt dual-platform strategy to compete with Android and iPhone, say handset makers
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090819PD210.html
Shocker: Windows 7 to sell in UK for half the US price!
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49303374,00.htm
New Dell-ARM combo poised to take on Wintel Netbooks?
http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/08/new-dell-arm-combo-poised-to-take-on-wintel-netbooks.ars
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10251841-64.html
New alliance aims to unite malware fight
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10313027-83.html
Study touts Internet Explorer 8 as world's most secure browser
http://www.pcworld.com/article/170316/study_touts_internet_explorer_8_as_worlds_most_secure_browser.html
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/microsoft-sponsors-two-nss-reports-ie8-is-the-most-secure.ars
i4i says OpenOffice does not infringe like MS Word
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/08/18/190227/i4i-Says-OpenOffice-Does-Not-Infringe-Like-MS-Word
Microsoft asks for stay of Word injunction
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10311065-56.html
URL Shortener tr.im To Go Community-Owned, Open Source
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/08/19/120206/URL-Shortener-trim-To-Go-Community-Owned-Open-Source
How the short URL game is rigged
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10311749-250.html
Vote for Buzz Out Loud at SXSW 2010
http://www.cnet.com/8301-19709_1-10311505-10.html
==Emails==
The Southeastern Conference has revised and cleared up its fan policy.
http://mashable.com/2009/08/18/sec-social-media-policy/
In this interview, Charles Bloom, the SEC Associate Commissioner of Media Relations clears up what the new policy means. Basically, they dont want anyone live streaming the games from their phones, but almost everything else is ok.
http://web.archive.org/20090821235813/buzzmanagerblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/official-interview-sec-hears-fans.html
GEAUX TIGERS!
John in Louisiana
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Hey BuzzCrew-
Rare and elusive as it is for BOL to breach my field, I do love it. In Episode 1044 you discussed fake DNA for crime scenes etc. Now you were worried that this could be 1) Easily done 2) not discovered.
Well worry not, it was slightly explained in the NY Times article and a little was scene in the original paper’s abstract. The simplistic explanation is that natural DNA is methylated, a chemical process done by the cell to prevent certain genes from activated when not needed. But any DNA created by scientists isn’t methylated. There are quick and easy tests that can be done to prove whether DNA is methylated or not. As for how “simple” this process is to replicate DNA and fake it, well--in my world, relatively, I could probably do this in a few tries and be a pro by next month. As for your common murderer/thief– not likely to have the equipment or more importantly the MONEY to do so.
This would have to be a grand conspiracy and well thought-out.
Sadly we as tax payers will now have to fork over even more for our justice system/labs to add this extra experiment onto the forensics process.
And let me also say, most genetics folks always knew this was possible- just it has now been peer reviewed & published.
Cheers from Oxford
Tom Merritt the Doppelganger, PhD (Okay I never add this, but figured it works this time)
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Hey BOL, it’s Oliver in Portland, Oregon.
In yesterday’s episode 1044 an emailer said he was surprised you hadn’t tested the voicemail-bypass tip. I’m writing to say I’m even more baffled that you never hit up Google for a solution. Here’s a link to a Lifehacker article from a few weeks ago. By pressing one-star-pound you guarantee instant access to the beep, regardless of the carrier. Points to you though for the conclusion that Verizon only sometimes works when pressing “one” – the article confirms this!
Sorry to drag this story into a third show, but I think your listeners would appreciate a more solid conclusion. Love listening to you guy!
Cheers.
Oliver
http://lifehacker.com/5326511/bypass-cellphone-voicemail-instructions-with-one-star-pound
----
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that in Louisiana Tyson Foods is building a bio-diesel Plant that
turns chicken fat into high quality bio-diesel and jet fuel. So Molly is right when she said “we grow a lot of chickens, maybe we should start shoving them into gas tanks”.
http://domesticfuel.com/2009/05/04/louisiana-chicken-fat-biodiesel-plant-nears-completion/
Also, on the topic of the SECs ban on the use of Twitter and other social media during games. Les Miles, the head coach of LSU, which is an SEC school, said he will
be twittering before, during and after games. I guess the rule passed by the SEC was meant to discourage coaches and players as well as fans.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-04-28-twitter-cover_N.htm
Thanks for the time.
LOVE THE SHOW
Paul from Baton Rogue, LA
==After The Credits==