Google wanted hackers to take down its Linux-based Chrome OS running on a base WiFi Samsung Series 5 500 Chromebook. They were willing to pay the best hackers in the world (other than those who are so good that they probably shouldn’t appear at these events) to find exploits with their software. Nobody qualified. It’s not like there wasn’t enough incentive to try. Google was offering a very geeky $3.14159 million worth of prizes to those who could perform various levels of hacking on their system. These prizes included $110,000 to achieve a browser or system level compromise in guest mode or as a…

There was once a time when being a geek or a nerd wasn’t cool until you bought your first Porsche. Today, thanks in part to a heightened awareness of intellectual necessities mixed with the onslaught of the internet, smart is chic and the wildly popular TED conferences and their Talks series are leading the charge to make it even more socially acceptable. Part of the revolution has been social media. In the early days, it was better to be frivolous than brainy on social. Today, the funny cat pictures are still popular, but there is a growing sentiment of more refined sensibilities and contributions…

After the Stanley Cup loss which lead to riots last night in Vancouver, outraged Canadians have taken their fight for justice to Facebook and social media. By posting photos and videos of the perpetrators online, they hope they can help police and others to identify the criminals (or at least put them to shame!). A Facebook page has been started and there are already hundreds of photos and almost 60,000 likes. The Vancouver Police have also used social media and sent out Tweets asking for photos where they can identify the people. Take a look at just a few selected images below with faces clearly identifiable….