It's 2012, computer programmers needed

Critical skills shortage in computer programming with the pioneers set to retre. AFP PHOTO / Frederic J. BROWN Source: AFP

IT'S a looming crisis not even dreamed of when computers were the new frontier, and all those working on them were young pioneers.

But fast-forward a few decades - and now experts warn that essential systems that control areas like defence and banking are about to be left without qualified people to run them, as the first generation of computer programmers retire and, sadly, die.

Seventy-two-year-old US digital forensic examiner, Robert E Johnston, said that the skills shortage in computer programming carried with it serious consequences.

Top Five Jobs Facing Extinction

Malware and viruses were just the tip of the iceberg, said the computer programmer that wrote computer systems for the US military during the Vietnam War. The skills shortage leaves military and banking systems, along with corporate software vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Mr Johnston said completely rebuilding secure reliable software systems was too costly to ever become a reality.

"In the case of public safety or national security, greater emphasis is placed upon reliability, and yet many (systems) are compromised every year," he said.

"Everything is computerised today.

"Whenever these fail or are not properly administrated someone or many suffer whether it be in the form of excessive fees, loss of service or even injury or death."

Unfortunately, Mr Johnston says the vacuum is too vast to ever be filled.

US futurist, Dr Thomas Frey told News Ltd that by 2020, half of most computer programming jobs will go unfilled due to skills shortages.

"Most major corporations use computer languages no longer taught at universities, so companies are coming to the conclusion that they're going to have to rewrite everything because we don't have people with the talent to maintain it anymore," Dr Frey said.

The price tag to either maintain or rewrite these systems are restrictively high, Dr Frey Said.

Forget app developing - which incidentally Dr Frey says has a very short shelf life - there's billions to be made in figuring out how to keep the basic digital structures of society functioning.

Not everyone agrees, however.

Les Bell, 57-year-old PhD student and information security lecturer at Macquarie University told News Ltd the concerns were overstated and easy to fix.

"Some old computer systems are incredibly well documented and can be found in printed and online training courses and manuals" Mr Bell saud.

"I had to learn very quickly about control programs on IBM mainfraimes, and it was actually quite easy to find out about."

Banking and defence systems were "chugging along quite nicely", but Mr Bell said the biggest challenge was trying to sync "old school" bank end computer systems with newer, fresher front end systems such as the program you use to do your online banking, or those used by tellers at the bank.

School leavers take note: If there were ever a time to get into computer programming, now would be it.

Source: http://news.com.au.feedsportal.com/c/34564/f/632593/s/230072e4/l/0L0Snews0N0Bau0Ctechnology0Cfrist0Egeneration0Eof0Ecomputer0Eprogrammers0Eto0Edie0Eand0Eskills0Eshortage0Eleaves0Esoftware0Evunerable0Cstory0Ee6frfro0A0E12264639295230Dfrom0Fpublic0Irss/story01.htm

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'Red Shirt' to run for Thai government

A THAI protest leader accused of terrorism was released from prison briefly to apply to run in a by-election seen as a key test of the opposition's prospects of success in nationwide polls.

Kokaew Pikulthong, a senior "Red Shirt" involved in the mass rally in Bangkok that ended last month, will stand against incumbent Panich Vikitsreth of the ruling Democrat Party in the July 25 vote in the capital.

A Thai court last week granted permission for Kokaew, the candidate of the main opposition Puea Thai Party, to be released temporarily from Bangkok Remand Prison to register to challenge Panich, a vice foreign minister.

Mr Kokaew, who has not been convicted of any crimes relating to his role in the two-month-long street protest, was later returned to detention, but is expected to seek permission to be released again to campaign for votes.

The Red Shirts' rally, which at its peak attracted up to about 100,000 people demanding immediate elections, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 90 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1900 injured.

Enraged protesters set fire to dozens of major buildings after the army crushed the demonstration by the mostly poor and working class Reds with an assault on their vast fortified encampment in central Bangkok on May 19.

The Red Shirts were campaigning for elections they hoped would oust the government, which they view as undemocratic because it came to power with the backing of the army after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed November polls in a bid to end the crippling protests, but shelved the plan because the Reds -- many of whom seek the return of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- refused to disperse.

Mr Abhisit, whose government was elected by parliamentary vote in 2008 and enjoys support among the Bangkok-based elite, must call nationwide elections by the end of next year at the latest.

Many of the Red Shirt leaders are in jail facing terrorism charges for their roles in the unrest. The government has rejected the opposition's call for a state of emergency to be lifted in the capital for the by-election.
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/red-shirt-to-run-for-thai-government/story-e6frfku0-1225885303084?from=public_rss

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The 'idiot box' evolves into a monster

A man takes a picture with his cell phone in front of a smart TV at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Michael Sohn Source: AP

TELEVISIONS thinner than phones, bigger than windows and with four times the detail of high-definition screens are due to arrive in Australian stores within months

But the new technology will come at a steep price, as consumers will be asked to go back to the days of paying up to $25,000 for a new TV despite fierce competition.

The worlds biggest manufacturers unveiled new screens at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin yesterday, including two big-screen OLED televisions which both makers claim are the worlds biggest.

Samsung and LG both unveiled 55-inch OLED televisions at the show, which offer brighter pictures, higher contrast, better viewing angles, tiny borders and a faster refresh rate than their LCD rivals.

Samsung audio visual head Paul Newton said the company's OLED screen, known as the ES9500, would be available in Australia this year and with a price tag of less than $10,000.

A man checks the quality of an Toshiba screen at the IFA consumer electric fair in Berlin. Picture: /Markus Schreiber

"We are doing everything we can to have it on sale in Australia prior to Christmas", Mr Newton said.

LG also revealed a polished version of its upcoming 55-inch OLED screen that now features 3D, could arrive in Australia as soon as October, and is the thinnest TV of its kind.

"It's a mere 4mm thin so this means LGs OLED TV is half as thin as your smartphone," spokeswoman Mary-Anne Edelstein said.

Televisions are also set to grow in size and resolution, however, with four companies showing off ultra-definition screens at IFA with four times the pixels of high-definition TVs.

People reflected in the monitor react to a very thin flat screen TV at the LG booth at the "IFA" (Internationale Funkausstellung) trade fair in Berlin. Picture: Odd Andersen

Sony kicked off the trend at IFA by revealing an 84-inch ultra-definition television that is due in Australian stores before the end of the year at a price tipped to top $25,000.

Both Toshiba and LG matched the size of Sony's offering with more 84-inch ultra-definition screens, while Samsung revealed a 70-inch version.

LG home entertainment marketing head K. S. Lee said the company had just launched its 84-inch television in South Korea at a price of more than $22,000.

A man works on his laptop in front of a TV wall at the Panasonic booth during the 52nd edition of the "IFA" (Internationale Funkausstellung) trade fair in Berlin. Picture: Odd Andersen

Source: http://news.com.au.feedsportal.com/c/34564/f/632593/s/22f33e35/l/0L0Snews0N0Bau0Ctechnology0Cevolution0Eof0Ethe0Eidiot0Ebox0Cstory0Ee6frfro0A0E12264628969770Dfrom0Fpublic0Irss/story01.htm

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Pirate Bay founder arrested in Cambodia

Co-founder of file sharing site The Pirate Bay Gottfrid Warg (shown here in 2009) has been arrested in Cambodia. Source: AFP

A CO-FOUNDER of top Swedish file sharing site The Pirate Bay, who is on an international wanted list, has been arrested in the Cambodian capital at Stockholm's request.

Gottfrid Svartholm Warg was handed a one-year prison sentence by a Swedish court in 2009 for promoting copyright infringement but failed to show up to serve his term at the start of this year. He was detained in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Cambodia's national police spokesman said.

"His arrest was made at the request of the Swedish government for a crime related to information technology," Kirth Chantharith told AFP.

"We don't have an extradition treaty with Sweden but we'll look into our laws and see how we can handle this case," he said, adding that Cambodia was awaiting more information and documents from the Swedish authorities.

The Swedish embassy in Phnom Penh was not immediately available for comment.

Founded in 2003, The Pirate Bay, which claims to have more than 31 million users, makes it possible to skirt copyright fees and share music, film and computer game files using bit torrent technology, or peer-to-peer links offered on the site.

Warg's fellow co-founders of the popular site, Fredrik Neij and Peter Sunde, as well as key financier Carl Lundstroem all had their 12-month sentences reduced to between four and 10 months on appeal in late 2010.

They were also ordered to pay a total of 46 million kronor ($6.7 million) in damages for copyright infringement to the music and movie industry.

But Warg did not attend his appeal hearing and his sentence was upheld, followed by an international warrant for his arrest.

During their trial, the defendants maintained that file-sharing services can be used both legally and illegally, and insisted their activities were within the law.

News that Warg had been picked up by police at his riverside apartment on the capital's main tourist strip spread like wildfire among Phnom Penh's expat community over the weekend and was eagerly discussed on online forums.

On Khmer440.com, the main website for foreigners living in Cambodia, editor Peter Hogan described Warg as "a seldom-sighted and reclusive figure" whose presence in the country had long been an "open secret".

Source: http://news.com.au.feedsportal.com/c/34564/f/632593/s/22fc4b51/l/0L0Snews0N0Bau0Ctechnology0Cfugitive0Epirate0Ebay0Efounder0Egottfrid0Ewarg0Earrested0Ein0Ecambodia0Cstory0Ee6frfro0A0E12264634990A360Dfrom0Fpublic0Irss/story01.htm

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Pirate Bay founder arrested in Cambodia

Co-founder of file sharing site The Pirate Bay Gottfrid Warg (shown here in 2009) has been arrested in Cambodia. Source: AFP

A CO-FOUNDER of top Swedish file sharing site The Pirate Bay, who is on an international wanted list, has been arrested in the Cambodian capital at Stockholm's request.

Gottfrid Svartholm Warg was handed a one-year prison sentence by a Swedish court in 2009 for promoting copyright infringement but failed to show up to serve his term at the start of this year. He was detained in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Cambodia's national police spokesman said.

"His arrest was made at the request of the Swedish government for a crime related to information technology," Kirth Chantharith told AFP.

"We don't have an extradition treaty with Sweden but we'll look into our laws and see how we can handle this case," he said, adding that Cambodia was awaiting more information and documents from the Swedish authorities.

The Swedish embassy in Phnom Penh was not immediately available for comment.

Founded in 2003, The Pirate Bay, which claims to have more than 31 million users, makes it possible to skirt copyright fees and share music, film and computer game files using bit torrent technology, or peer-to-peer links offered on the site.

Warg's fellow co-founders of the popular site, Fredrik Neij and Peter Sunde, as well as key financier Carl Lundstroem all had their 12-month sentences reduced to between four and 10 months on appeal in late 2010.

They were also ordered to pay a total of 46 million kronor ($6.7 million) in damages for copyright infringement to the music and movie industry.

But Warg did not attend his appeal hearing and his sentence was upheld, followed by an international warrant for his arrest.

During their trial, the defendants maintained that file-sharing services can be used both legally and illegally, and insisted their activities were within the law.

News that Warg had been picked up by police at his riverside apartment on the capital's main tourist strip spread like wildfire among Phnom Penh's expat community over the weekend and was eagerly discussed on online forums.

On Khmer440.com, the main website for foreigners living in Cambodia, editor Peter Hogan described Warg as "a seldom-sighted and reclusive figure" whose presence in the country had long been an "open secret".

Source: http://news.com.au.feedsportal.com/c/34564/f/632593/s/22fc4b51/l/0L0Snews0N0Bau0Ctechnology0Cfugitive0Epirate0Ebay0Efounder0Egottfrid0Ewarg0Earrested0Ein0Ecambodia0Cstory0Ee6frfro0A0E12264634990A360Dfrom0Fpublic0Irss/story01.htm

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Tropical storm Alex returns to kill 10

THE first major storm of the Atlantic season was entering the Gulf of Mexico today after unleashing landslides and floods that killed at least 10 people in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Overnight, Alex, which had been downgraded earlier to a tropical depression, strengthened and regained its tropical storm status.

At� noon (AEST), Alex, which packed sustained winds of 75km/h, was entering the Gulf of Mexico some 100km west southwest of Campeche, Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

"Additional strengthening is forecast - and Alex could become a hurricane within the next 48 hours," the NHC said.

Although it was not due to directly hit the massive BP oil spill off the southern US state of Louisiana, the storm could still generate waves that would hamper clean-up and containment efforts.

Officials in Nicaragua told AFP the bodies of six people had been found in or around the northern city of Esteli, swept to their deaths by torrents from the swollen San Lucas river.

In eastern El Salvador, on Central America's Pacific coast, two people drowned when they were carried away by strong currents near San Miguel, while more than 500 people were evacuated to shelters from high-risk areas.

In western Guatemala, two farmers working on a road improvement project were buried and killed by a rain-triggered landslide, the national emergency agency Conred reported.

Forecasters said the storm was expected to dump a total of 10-20cm of rain over the Yucatan Peninsula, southern Mexico and Guatemala by�this afternoon.

Up to 38cm of rain were possible in mountainous areas and forecasters warned of "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides".

Central America was slammed last month by Tropical Storm Agatha, which roared ashore into Guatemala from the Pacific, unleashing heavy rains and floods that left some 275 people dead or missing.

The NHC's long-term forecast has the storm heading over the Gulf of Mexico in the direction of the US-Mexico border, but with a possibility of waves and winds generated by the storm affecting the site of the huge oil slick unleashed by the April 20 explosion of the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig.

But a forecaster at the NHC downplayed a direct hit on the oil cleanup area.

"The storm is not an issue for the spill," said NHC spokesman Dennis Feltgen.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/tropical-storm-alex-returns-to-kill-10/story-e6frfku0-1225885199885?from=public_rss

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That's not a croc, Australia ... THIS is a croc

In a file picture taken on September 4, 2011 villagers look at the 6.17m saltwater crocodile caught in the town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

• Crocodile nicknamed "Lolong" measured 6.17 metres
• Weighs more than a tonne; It was captured last November
• Guinness World Records says�it's�the largest in captivity

GUINNESS World Records has declared that a huge crocodile blamed for deadly attacks in the southern Philippines is the largest in captivity in the world.

The�giant reptile has brought pride, fear, tourism revenues and attention to the previously little-known town where it was captured last year.

Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse says the saltwater crocodile nicknamed "Lolong" measured 6.17 metres and weighed more than a tonne. It was captured last November in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur province,

Bunawan Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde told The Associated Press today that he was notified by Guinness of the giant reptile's new distinction last month.

The news sparked celebrations in his town of 37,000 people and concerns that more giant crocodiles might be lurking nearby.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaumostpopularworldndm/~3/7O9WDmw-mDk/story01.htm

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