http://www.shokk.com/news/rss.php Technology and Entertainment News for a Bunch of Geeks http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/375092036/russian-astronaut-uses-iss-to-take-photos-of-ossetia-invasion-while-nasa-looks-to-the-other-side According to the NASA International Space Station status report, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko used a digital camera with 800mm telephoto lenses and a video camera to take images of the "after-effects of border conflict operations in the Caucasus". In theory, this seems to have violated the non-military use clause of the station, but Russia has claimed "humanitarian motives". The article 14 of the ISS agreement says: "The Space Station together with its additions of evolutionary capability will remain a civil station, and its operation and utilization will be for peaceful purposes, in accordance with international law". According to Rusia, the photos were taken to "support potential humanitarian activities in the area, including serious water resource management issues" as part of the Russian "Uragan" project, which studies glaciers and water sources in the country. However, I don't remember all those tanks with reactive armors participating in any humanitarian activities in the area two days after the invasion, the day the photos were taken. The whole thing smells quite fishy, but apparently NASA has preferred to avoid confrontation and not investigate the matter. Put your conspiracy hats on and give us your explanation in the comments. [Aviation Week] 1219743420 Jesus Diaz Space http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/375092036/russian-astronaut-uses-iss-to-take-photos-of-ossetia-invasion-while-nasa-looks-to-the-other-side http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/31029_New_McCain_Ad_Asks_What_Happened_to_Hillary#rss [Video] 1219592280 Politics http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/31029_New_McCain_Ad_Asks_What_Happened_to_Hillary#rss http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409444,00.html Ukrainian president urges expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe as protection against Russian aggression 1219530180 foxnewsonline@foxnews.com http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409444,00.html http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,408083,00.html Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension over the invasion of Georgia. 1219338780 foxnewsonline@foxnews.com http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,408083,00.html http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/370398108/downgrading-to-itunes-77-fixes-iphone-app-crashes-and-steve-speaks-again Ars has the first solution we've heard for the app-crashing problem bad enough Steve himself said Apple was working on it. Tests by Jaime Hosticka, who used to work for Apple, show that downgrading to iTunes 7.7 fixes the crashies for some people. He also got a more detailed email response from Steve Jobs—six whole sentences—about the issue. "We do know of several bugs that we're working on for release in a month or two. I would imagine these will fix your issues. Don't worry, this will get resolved soon." (Ars didn't publish the full email.) Apple has actually contacted him since the Stevemail to get all of his test notes. In the meantime, if you're on a Mac and having problems, there are some hosts of iTunes 7.7 for Mac in this Apple Support thread started by Hosticka. (If you've got extra sources for 7.7 for Mac and Windows that can handle a pounding, please spill in the comments.) After deleting iTunes 7.7.1 and installing 7.7, you've gotta reset and re-sync your phone. Addtionally, Hostcka recommends deleting this files to be sure they get rewritten: •/System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext •/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DeviceLink.framework •/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework •/Library/Receipts/AppleMobileDeviceSupport.pkg Let us know how it goes. [Ars] 1219272300 matt buchanan iPhone 3G http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/370398108/downgrading-to-itunes-77-fixes-iphone-app-crashes-and-steve-speaks-again http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/20/john-mccain-takes-poll-lead-over-obama/ People seem surprised. I’m only surprised that McCain hasn’t taken a bigger lead over the pretend president. At least the poll gap is finally starting to mirror the experience gap: In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a [...] 1219256880 Blogs of War Politics http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/20/john-mccain-takes-poll-lead-over-obama/ http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/369454650/ Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds It has taken its sweet, sweet time in arriving, but it seems the iPhone Nike+ running application is just... about... here. A slew of new screenshots of the application have emerged, and while there are no juicy tidbits to accompany 'em (release date, cost, etc.), we all know how many lines of text a single snapshot is worth. Hang tight runners, the app you've been waiting (and waiting) for can't be far from the finish line now.[Via MacRumors]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 1219191960 Darren Murph app http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/369454650/ http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/08/euro-protection-racket.html This sordid little piece of news is something that we’ve always suspected. Rumors have floated around about this kind of deal, but this is the first time that a government official has admitted it in a public forum.But now a former Italian president has gone on the record: the Italian government, under the premiership of Aldo Moro (and presumably other prime ministers), paid in-kind protection money to Muslim terrorists.The deal? Don’t target Italy, and you can do what you want.According to Israel National News:Former Italian President: We Paid for Immunity From Terrorist AttacksIn a letter appearing in the weekend edition of the respected Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, former Italian President Francesco Cossiga revealed that the government of Italy agreed to allow Arab terrorist groups freedom of movement in the country in exchange for immunity from attacks in Italy.Cossiga wrote that the government of the late Prime Minister Aldo Moro reached a “secret non-belligerence pact between the Italian state and Palestinian resistance organizations, including terrorist groups,” in the 1970s. According to the former president, it was Moro himself who designed the terms of the agreement with the foreign Arab terrorists. Ironically, Moro later met his death at the hands of homegrown Italian terrorists, the Red Brigades, in 1978. Cossiga was president of Italy from 1985-1992 and is today a senator-for-life in the Italian legislature.“The terms of the agreement were that the Palestinian organizations could even maintain armed bases of operation in the country, and they had freedom of entry and exit without being subject to normal police controls, because they were ‘handled’ by the secret services,” Cossiga explained.- - - - - - - - -As Interior Minister, Cossiga said that he learned PLO members in Italy had diplomatic immunity as representatives of the Arab League. When he became alarmed by the heavy weapons defenses installed around the homes of PLO members living in Rome, the guards were persuaded to switch to light arms.In his letter, the former Italian president also linked the Arab terrorist groups of the 1970s with the Italian far-left. According to Cossiga, he received a telegram from the head of an anti-Israel terrorist group headquartered at the time in Beirut requesting the return of one of their surface-to-air missiles that had gone missing. The missile was intercepted by Italian police while being “driven on the streets by a well-known ideologue of the extra-parliamentary left!” Cossiga wrote.In an article in Corriere della Sera the week before Cossiga’s admission, a former leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also claimed that his terror group and the Italian leadership had reached an accord protecting Italy from attack in exchange for Italian non-interference in PFLP activities in Italy. The former PFLP boss, Bassam Abu Sharif, later became a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and personal advisor to the late arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat.While there were several terrorist attacks on targets in Italy in the years following the alleged “protection” deal, most of them could be traced to Abu Nidal’s terrorist organization. Abu Nidal rejected the authority of the PLO leadership and many of his attacks, including those in Rome, were assassinations of PLO figures and other Arab diplomats.In the last few years rumors have circulated about similar behavior by the Belgian authorities towards various terrorist groups, including the ones who plotted the Madrid bombing attack. How many other European governments have made deals with the Islamic devil in the last forty years?Why do they do it? Why engage in such vile, treasonous behavior?Anyone with even a handful of brain cells knows that this kind of behavior can only encourage much greater extortion down the road. Did Aldo Moro think he would be immune, or that he would be long gone before his personal chickens came home to roost?Well, he was, but much sooner than he expected…Or was it the fact that the Jews and Israel were the principal victims? Did that make it OK?Hat tip: Jewish Odysseus. 1219108140 Baron Bodissey noreply@blogger.com http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/08/euro-protection-racket.html http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/14/video-georgian-tv-reporter-shot-by-sniper-during-live-broadcast/ It’s just the kind of dramatic warzone moment U.S. reporters dream of: Miss Urushadze, who reports for Georgia’s equivalent of the BBC, was talking live to a TV camera about humanitarian aid arriving in Gori yesterday afternoon when the sniper struck. In the footage, she gasps as the first bullet grazes her left arm, and instinctively jumps [...] 1218748680 Blogs of War Media http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/14/video-georgian-tv-reporter-shot-by-sniper-during-live-broadcast/ http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/12/russian-president-dmitry-medvedev-ends-military-operation-in-georgia/ Yesterday I said that Sarkozy’s visit would present the logical point for Russia to end this conflict. That appears to be happening: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced Tuesday that he has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia. The announcement came minutes before French President Nicolas Sarkozy was to land in Moscow to meet with Medvedev [...] 1218542280 Blogs of War Europe http://www.blogsofwar.com/2008/08/12/russian-president-dmitry-medvedev-ends-military-operation-in-georgia/ http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/193558.php Russia invaded Georgia today in response to Georgian moves to retake a breakaway province. As some of you may recall I lived in Russia. Again, I'm typing this via iphone so no links and only a couple of thoughts. What... 1218224040 Rusty http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/193558.php http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cymru66/~3/358587060/ Would you believe it? The Welsh Flag has been banned at the Beijing Olympics. Chinese authorities have imposed the crazy rule which means flags of any non-competing nation are likely to be confiscated from fans as they enter the various sporting venues. In an even crazier move, athletes could even be disqualified from competing if [...] 1218128940 Steve Speirs Cymru/Wales http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cymru66/~3/358587060/ http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/06/apples-ability-to-deactivate-malicious-app-store-apps/ When Apple launched the App Store, they suggested that the use of DRM'd and signed applications could allow them to protect the iPhone from malicious applications and suggested that they could deactivate such applications remotely. Jonathan Zdziarsk... 1218051300 http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/06/apples-ability-to-deactivate-malicious-app-store-apps/ http://shauninman.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Complete+Plus&seed=http%3A%2F%2Ftheappleblog.com%2F2008%2F08%2F04%2Ftutorial-build-a-simple-rss-reader-for-iphone&seed_title=Build+a+simple+RSS+reader+for+iPhone NDA-schmeNDA. (via) # 1217983500 Apple http://shauninman.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Complete+Plus&seed=http%3A%2F%2Ftheappleblog.com%2F2008%2F08%2F04%2Ftutorial-build-a-simple-rss-reader-for-iphone&seed_title=Build+a+simple+RSS+reader+for+iPhone http://www.juancole.com/2008/08/pakistan-to-send-special-ops-into.html Pakistan appears to be acquiescing in Bush administration demands that it send special ops forces in to fight the dissident tribal forces and the Tehrik-i Taliban, according to LAT.Aljazeera International reports on the impact on civilians of this sort of fighting: 1217789460 noreply@blogger.com (Juan Cole) http://www.juancole.com/2008/08/pakistan-to-send-special-ops-into.html