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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 19 declined, 4 accepted (23 total, 17.39% accepted)

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Submission + - Twitter to Start Selling Followers (readwriteweb.com)

Ellie K writes: "While not quite as bad as it sounds, Twitter will soon be identifying followers with certain interests based on the content of their Twitter usage, and then providing this info to advertisers. Twitter is already selling sponsored Tweets for $100K or more. These reader comments captured the disquieting feeling I have: "Twitter selling followers? Will that be the same as Google selling top position in SERP?" and "I wonder when Facebook will start to sell friends".
Advertisers will be allowed to purchase placement in lists of "who to follow" recommendations targeted to users with particular interests on Twitter..."

Security

Submission + - Facebook Introduces Remote Logout Feature (thetechherald.com)

Ellie K writes: "In an effort to improve overall security options for its users, Facebook has launched a new feature that enables users to log-out remotely from a computer (or computers) other than their own. After enabling the feature, users will be able to see where their account is logged-on beyond their main computer – including the host device and its geographic location. Simply clicking the 'End Activity' button alongside any or all listed devices will instantly perform a log-out at that location.

“View your recent account activity,” advises Facebook. “If you notice an unfamiliar device or location, click 'end activity'.”"

Submission + - Anthrax Advisory (sciencenews.org)

Ellie K writes: "For months, perhaps years now, we've heard nothing about the anthrax bacterium. In 2001 and 2002, several acts of terrorism involved airborne anthrax in a medium of white powder. However, in this recent incident, which was not part of any terrorist activities, animal hides on drum surfaces were contaminated with anthrax, and resulted in gastrointestinal anthrax rather than inhalation or cutaneous infection. Apparently the anthrax bacterium can live on in the animal skin hides used for drums, and is a concern of sufficient significance to warrant a CDC advisory as well."

Submission + - Indonesian parliament gets smut eyeful (theregister.co.uk)

Ellie K writes: "Officials apparently struggled to turn off the smut stream from an adult website for 15 minutes before finally restoring control. The incident came in the run-up to the proposed application of a net filter designed to block porn downloads in the majority Muslim country.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/04/indonesia_parliament_smut_outrage/"

Submission + - American City of Future (1925) (sadanduseless.com)

Ellie K writes: "Conception of the 1950's of the future, from 1925 point-of-view. May be old news to slashdot, already dugg 3800 times. New to me though. Made me feel a little sad. Was almost utopia viewed through a glass darkly. And looking backward. Bellamy?"
Security

Submission + - Illegal Activity Bot Network Uncovered (darkreading.com)

Ellie K writes: Researchers at PandaLabs said yesterday they have uncovered a network that sells bots targeting social networks and Webmail systems. The publicly available site contains an extensive catalog of programs aimed at social networks and services, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Friendster, Gmail, and Yahoo... Each entry explains the reason why the bot has been created and activities it can perform: creating multiple accounts simultaneously; identity theft; stealing friends, followers or contacts; and automatic sending of messages.
Security

Submission + - Credit Card Theft is Easier Offline! (exectweets.com)

Ellie K writes: Ask any layperson about credit card fraud and they will inevitably link the subject to the Internet. But credit-card companies invested so much to add security to the internet that they forgot to take a closer look on the real world. In fact, is easier to copy (a.k.a. “clone”) a credit card off-line.

Submission + - Supreme Court Justice nominee Kagan fast tracks (yahoo.com)

Ellie K writes: If approved, President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, former Harvard Law School Dean Ellen Kagan would be the first appointee in 38 years who had never had experience as a judge. The 50-year old Kagan would be 40 years younger than Justice Stephens who she'd be replacing, and five years younger than any of the other current Supreme Court judges.

The Yahoo article offers two striking photos, both large color images, of U.S. Solicitor General Kagan carrying out her current duties.

Google

Submission + - Google Analytics Releases 38 New Features Today (blogspot.com)

Ellie K writes: Google Analytics Application Gallery extend Google Analytics with 38 new apps including these:
Analytics HD: AnalyticsApp is an app for Google Analytics on the iPad
Analytics Visualizations:The Referrer Flow visualization shows you what sites link to you and which content works best. The Keyword visualization displays the most frequently used search keywords and how they are used together.
BTBuckets: BTBuckets is a free segmentation and optimization webapp that allows sites to create user segments and take actions upon them in real time.
CallTrackID: CallTrackID allows telephone enquiries to be tracked from various traffic routes, including direct, organic, PPC ad, affiliate and offline straight into Google Analytics.
ShufflePoint Studio for PowerPoint: ShufflePoint Studio allows you to associate PowerPoint text, table, and chart placeholders with refreshable Google Analytics data

and 33 more, see Google Analytics blog http://analytics.blogspot.com/2010/05/google-analytics-releases-38-features.html

Submission + - RIAA can now unmask anonymous file sharers (switched.com)

Ellie K writes: Identities of individuals charged with illegal peer-to-peer file sharing can be revealed to the copyright holder who is filing the charges...The RIAA had detected infringing activity on the network, and traced the IP address back to the individual. After filing something known as a "John Doe" lawsuit, the RIAA managed to force the ISP to hand over the user's identity.

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