World's tallest building just got taller

DUBAI (AFP) - The world's tallest building just got taller -- the Burj Dubai tower in the booming Gulf emirate of Dubai has now reached a height of 688 metres (2,257 feet) and is still growing, developers Emaar said on Tuesday.

It now boasts 160 storeys, the highest skyscraper in the world, Emaar said in a statement.

The skyscraper, set for completion in September 2009, is one of several mega projects taking shape in Dubai, which is a member of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation.

Burj Dubai, which was started in 2004, overtook Taiwan's Taipei 101 tower as the world's tallest building when it reached 512 metres (1,533 feet) in April 2007.

It became the tallest man-made structure on the planet, when Emaar announced in April that it has surpassed the 629-metre (2,063-foot) KVLY-TV mast in the United States.

Its eventual height remains a closely-guarded secret, though there is speculation it will reach a final height of 900 metres (2,953 feet).

It had been due for completion in the bustling city state at the end of 2008, but Emaar said in June that "finishing touches" had pushed back the date until September next year.

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The skyscraper is being built by a consortium involving Arabtec Construction LLC of the UAE, Samsung of South Korea and Besix of Belgium.

Many building projects in Dubai, which is going through a construction frenzy, have been facing delays caused by shortage of building materials and skilled labour.

Source: Yahoo News

MIT Students Hacked Boston Subway

Three MIT graduates ( Zack Anderson, R.J. Ryan and Alessandro Chiesa ) planned a scheme to hack Boston's transit payment system. They have managed to reprogram the cards to increase their credit balance, thus allowing them to ride for free.

Of course, being MIT students, they have decided to write up their prank on academic newspaper. But the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) took it to the courts, citing computer fraud, and asking for time to fix the system before the paper was presented.

MBTA lost. Judge George O'Toole ruled that "presenting an academic paper would not violate computer fraud laws."

The students went to receice "top marks" for their paper, from which we can conclude the following: RFID is very insecure, and MIT is awesome.!

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So fast! Bolt smashes own world record to win 100

BEIJING (AP)—Usain Bolt of Jamaica easily broke his own world record in the 100 meters to win the Olympic gold medal Saturday night, slowing up to celebrate and still finishing in 9.69 seconds.

Bolt stretched his arms out wide and put his palms out, then slapped his chest just before crossing the line. He came in well below his old mark of 9.72 seconds, set May 31 in New York—less than a year after Bolt took up the dash.

What had been billed as a showdown was not close at all. Richard Thompson of Trinidad took the silver medal in 9.89, and Walter Dix of the United States was third in 9.91.

The 21-year-old Bolt’s performance left no doubt whatsoever about who deserves the title of “World’s Fastest Man.”

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica was fifth, while reigning world champion Tyson Gay of the United States failed to qualify for the final.

Bolt’s specialty has been the 200 meters, which he will be a heavy favorite to win next week in what would be first men’s Olympic sprint double since Carl Lewis in 1988. But he persuaded his coach to let him try the dash—and what quick progress Bolt has made.

Source: Yahoo