Shuzak - Social Network for Geeks

New: The real cure for climate change.

poss

As many of you know, I have worked for various environmentaly focused organisations, including the Australian department of the Environment, and my current position at Land & Water Australia. As a result, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the nature of the debate around climate change.
All of this came to a head while watching last nights episode of qanda. It became increasingly apparent that even the most vocal and passionate proponents of battling climate Change don\'t actually realise the root of the problem, and therefore do not understand what is required to fix it.

Thsi is what i mean:

I am sure you know that our use of fossil fuels has resulted in the production of massive ammounts of greenhouse gasses, and this has been compounded by other issues like the huge quantities of livestock we harvest, and by our destruction of global ecosystems. Any one of these issues could be held up as the culprit for the problem we face, but in reality they are all just symptoms of a greater illness.

The illness i speak of is at the very heart of our civilisation, so very central to our way of life is it, that the very rise of man would not have been possible without it. It is the bedrock of our economy, it is what makes the American dream possible. It is responsible for our spread out of Africa, and it is responsible for the colonisation of the Americas. So what is this epic leviahan that spans history and our conciousnesses? what is this creator turned destroyer?

It is the concept of infinite expansion.

Here is a series of videos that explain it better than i ever could.

Humanity evolved in the open savannas and vast forrests, this expanse is planted deep in our phsyche, it drives us to surge ever onward, expanding and advancing. And yet now we are reaching a barrier. A limit which we have never encountered before. We are reaching the limits of earth. We have run out of land to explore and colonise, we have run out of new elements and plants to fuel our rise. Most importantly we are running out of some very key resources at an astounding rate, and we are fundamentally unprepared for the moment when we do.

All our industries and economies are dependant upon growth. If a corporation is not returning an increase then it is seen as a failure, if the economy isn\'t growing then we are doing something wrong. We are totally fully geared toward expansion. indeed, it may well be the one thing that has kept capitalism alive this long. Because as long as there are untapped resources, then the little guy still has a chance, as long as there is the possibility of some new industry, then monopolies are stifled.

There is a set ammount of energy that reaches earth each year. There is a set ammount of water on earth. There is a set ammount of any resource your care to name, and once we\'ve divided it all up, once its all owned or used by someone, then we are forced into a state of equilibrium.

So then the problem we face is not just a matter of producing clean energy, nor is it a matter of reducing our pollution. It is actually a matter of reforming our entire economic system, so that it becomes static and sustainable. We have to start seeing 0% overall growth as a good thing, We have to find the balance point and stay there.

But doing so is going to require and unparralled effort on our part, it means putting the brakes on everything, it could very well mean a total economic collapse. For this reason it has powerful opposition from the very highest levels, the one solution that can save us all, will disproportionately effect those of us who are best off (didn\'t you allways kinda know it would?), and that is why we havent heard anything about it.

The thing is, it is not a matter of wether we should do this or not. It is merely a matter of when. regardless of wether you \"believe\" in climate change (and really, what kind of fool ignores his thermometer out of spite?), or wether you believe it is man made, the fact remains that we are running out of resources.

Assuming we can get every last gram of every resource out of the ground, and that we dont use any more than we are now, then this is where we stand.

there is about 20-40 years of oil
there is about 100-200 years of coal
there is a maximum of 2500 years of uranium, the minimum is as low as 140 years.

And its not just fuel sources, other things are running out too.

there is about 40-80 years of un-mined Silver left.
there is about 50 years of Helium left.

It doesn\'t even matter if you believe the numbers, because no matter which way you twist it, within the next hundred years or so, we are going to start running out of some really important resources.

We are living in a fishbowl, and no matter where we go, your shit ends up in my drinking water.

When we peer into the future, and that is what humans do best. There are very clearly only three likely scenarios.

1. we develop cheaper space travel (perhaps an orbital elevator) and we spread out through the solar system mining and harvesting what we can
.
2. There is a massive natural correction in the numbers and influence of the human race. The decline of man, against our will.

3. There is a massive self imposed reduction of population and resource consumption, until we reach a sustainable equilibrium.

Right now we have a choice, but pretty soon we won\'t.

If we do nothing, then one way or another we end up with option 2.

If we divert a large percentage of the worlds gdp toward research and development, we might end up with option 1. This does not solve the problem, it merely delays the other two options until we have reached the limits of the solar system, or we find another way to expand.

If we manage to abandon the concept of infinite expansion, and transform into a sustainable economy, we can have option 3, and maybe option 1 as well.

This is a critical time, not just in terms of saving our own skins, it is the moment in time when we define humanity. Will we become a ceaselessly expanding race, spreading where ever there are resources, depleting them and moving on? or will we develope a measure of true conservatism, by conserving the things we have.

One thing is sure, unless we shift the debate, and actually start talking about the real cause and the real cure, then we will end up with option one. Wether we like it or not.

New: Eclipse,Yue can't post

Zenmonk

Srsly, he can't

New: SHUZAK IS ALIVE AGAIN!

poss

We can now post topics more easily, no more of that crazy formatting, no more detroying embeded links. I think this is a really major step forward for shuzak, because posting is the lifeblood of any social site.

Here's what was fixed:
1. comma's and quotation marks don't turn into back slashes anymore
2. related terms arent a required field, but the radio buttons are.
3 commas in the related terms aren't required.

So now, you just type your text, enter some related terms. and pick a topic from the list. Which is how it should have worked from the start.

Maybe its time to take a fresh look at what you CAN post on shuzak.

you can embed youtube videos

and pictures

add code

[code=php]

 
 
 

 
 echo "hello shuzak!";
?>

[/code]

and math

and links

as well as formatting your text

if you need to know how, just hit the (formatting text) link

one tip, make sure you hit "instantly preview" before hitting submit!

So now that we CAN post again, we should! So go forth and post!!

everything you find, everything you think about. just do it!

SHUZAK IS ALIVE AGAIN!!

New: Google Chrome test results

poss

Here are the Chrome Test results i just sent around my department.

Hi All,

As you may know, Google has released a new browser called �Chrome�. I have just completed a set of tests to determine its speed, performance, security and reliability.

Here are the results:

The Acid3 Test.
http://acid3.acidtests.org/
This test checks how well a browser follows current web standards including ECMAScript, Javascript Dom level 2, SVG, XML and CSS3.
the results are:
Chrome Scores: 79/100

For comparison here are the results from the current stable releases of other major browsers.
Opera: 83/100
Konqueror 83/100
Safari 75/100
Firefox 3: 71/100
Firefox 2: 52/100
IE 7: 12/100
IE6: 11/100

Scanit Browser Security Test
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/showresults.php
this test attempts to crash the browser using a series of exploits and faults common in modern browsers
Chrome scores: 15/15

Meaning it is immune to all of the most common browser exploits.

Jasons toolbox
This test runs through a few common vulnerabilities and exploits
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/End.asp
Chrome proved to be immune to all exploits.

Javascript Speed results
This test simply tests the time it takes for a browser to process various javascript elements.
http://wd-testnet.world-direct.at/mozilla/dhtml/funo/jsTimeTest.htm

Chrome was by far the fastest.

Browser Hawk
http://www.cyscape.com/showbrow.aspx
This test displays a comprehensive list of information about the browser, while it does not give a score, it is very useful in determining vulnerabilities.

Browser type and version:
Appears as Safari Gecko build 1.0

Browser Security
SSL keysize 128bits
Ports 80, 1755, 554 open

Plugins and scripting:

Present:
Javascript
Flash
Quicktime
Acrobat
XML
DHTML

Not Present:
Active X
Silverlight
Director
Realplayer
Mediaplayer
Java
Impatica for powerpoint
IPIX
SVG
Crystalreports
Viewpoint
Authorware
MApguide
Citrix
MSXML
VBscript
MSXML

Summary

Chrome is very easily the fastest browser on the market, It is also one of the most secure browsers on the market.
Where chrome fails is in the lack of available plugins for it, though it is worth noting that these tests were conducted on the day of release, and plugins will become available over time. The lack of plugins is largely responsible for it not scoring higher on the ACID 3 test, but even without them, it still has the second best standard compliance of any stable release. (although not itself actually a stable release yet.)
I personally feel that the required User Agreement is too draconian, but even so, it is better than IE. Chrome does not require Administrative privileges to install and that, combined with googles search market share will mean Chrome will spread fast.

Overall Chrome is a very strong performer, the speed is immediately noticeable, and when combined with top notch security, ease of install, wide availability and high quality rendering, Chrome is definitely a major competitor in the browser market. Support for chrome is a must, and a switch to Chrome from IE is at least advisable and possibly inevitable.

New: Read This before you switch to Chrome!

poss

I don\'t suppose many people read eula\'s, but i do. And I REALLY don\'t like this one. Check out section 11.1

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services

So, in essence, by using chrome you give google the ability to do whatever the hell it wants with whatever you put online, anywhere, anyhow through any of its services without ever having to pay you or acknowledge you. You still \"retain copyright\", but that is essentially meaningless becase you waive everything your copyright gives you. This is even if you don\'t tick the \"yes, please do monitor everything i do\" box.

Chrome may be fast, but the price of admission is everything you make and do.

New: Euthenasia

Eclipse, Yue

I was browsing digg a few days ago, and I came across
this article when I realized:
I'm pretty sure we've never had a discussion on this topic (topic being Euthenasia) so. you know. start discussing it!

New: Last person to post in this topic wins

poss

its that simple

New: Anonymous vs. Church of Scientology

gregmills

It's pretty much unavoidable online, the reports from the front coming from the war between Anonymous and the CoS.

I don't have a dog in that fight (well, yes, I do. I'm not a fan of the Church), although I'm intrigued by the possibilities of Anonymous' decentralized, asymmetrical tactics.

I wonder if any other organizations are studying their technique. Seems pretty effective.

New: Big Bang Theory

Waqas A. Baggia

has anyone seen this show. hilarious!

New: Non-english music

Eclipse, Yue

I'd prefer something like french or something a la Noir Desir, but anything is fine. Some artists in my library:
Dir en Grey
Indochine
MC Solaar
Miyavi
Moi Dix Mois
Noir D�sir
Yelle
X-Japan

New: How it is

poss

I made this picture to explain my feelings about the US electoral system

New: The Dark Knight (Whose seeing it thread)

Eclipse, Yue

so it comes out (here) the eighteenth. I am curious to see who all will be seeing it.

New: Netsukuku

poss

I've always said what we really need is an alternet, a mesh network that can function without the need for traditional isps and dns.
Well guess what, it exists!!

New: Karma love redux

Zenmonk

Everybody who posts in this thread gets karma from me, as soon as I get around to it. If you're reading this thread, I compel you to make those karma stars solid! Give karma to everyone and it will come back to you. Karma is love.

Sorry, I'm bored...and trying to start a fire.

New: About Shuzak

poss

How is shuzak different to every other social network?

is there a difference?

What do you want it to be?

I am especially interested in what Jawad has to say on this.