Source: On the Dangers of Cryptocurrencies and the Uselessness of Blockchain – Schneier on Security
The Vitamins Scam
More than half of Americans take routine supplementation, for no demonstrable benefit (and in some cases possible harm). This accomplishes nothing but feeding supplement industry profits.
A very good article from Dr. Novella, go read the whole thing for the details.
Source: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Multivitamins | Science-Based Medicine
Bad Design Practices from the Aviation Industry Ruin It for the Rest of Us
The aviation industry skimped on designing their altimeters by not including bandpass filtering to prevent interference from outside of their authorized operating band. Now it’s short sighted reckless drive for profit has caused so much economic disruption for the Telco’s that the FCC may have to double the regulatory burden on ALL electronic receiver manufacturers who use any radio band for any purpose including simple toys.
The aviation industry’s slowness in fixing altimeters may lead to the FCC cracking down on bad wireless receivers. In April, the FCC voted unanimously to launch an inquiry into poorly designed wireless devices that receive transmissions from outside their allotted frequencies.
The inquiry could result in new receiver regulations similar to the rules that already require wireless devices to transmit only in their licensed frequencies. “To avoid harmful interference, we typically have rules about how and when transmitters can operate,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at the April meeting. “But wireless communications systems involve transmitters and receivers… so we need to rethink our approach to spectrum policy and move beyond just transmitters and consider receivers, too.”
Source: FAA: Airlines must retrofit faulty altimeters “as soon as possible” | Ars Technica
Best Line of the Week
From Dan
but not Connecticut, which was either inadvertent or, more likely, a nod to the Nutmeg State’s very different media and cultural environment. I mean, my God, they root for the Yankees down there.
Source: The Globe’s Rhode Island initiative may be expanded across New England – Media Nation