Of Flying Cars, Cyberbullies and Games That Make You Vomit

Where, exactly, can we draw the line between virtual and real?  Here's a round-up of some thought provoking news:

There's been a lot of talk about a new game: Mirror's Edge.  The game is really nice and is action packed as you would expect of a 1st person shooter but that's not why people are talking about it.  Apparently, the game is so realistic that all the jumping around and rapid motion can make you vomit. Whoa!  Read the review.

The US "Pentagon's mad science division Darpa is helping build thought-controlled robotic limbs, artificial pack mules, real-life laser guns, and "kill-proof" soldiers. So it comes as no surprise, really, that the agency is now getting into the flying car business, too". Read the rest of the story at Wired.

We end with a sad story of Loli Drew, a woman charged with creating a MySpace account that was allegedly used to harass a teenager.  "Drew is charged with one count of conspiracy and three counts of unauthorized access to computers after allegedly creating a MySpace account for a nonexistent 16-year-old boy named "Josh Evans."  Drew and two co-conspirators allegedly provided fake information to MySpace to set up and maintain the account in 2006. The Evans account was used to flirt with and befriend Meier, who'd had a falling-out with Drew's daughter.  The fake "Josh" ultimately turned on Meier and told the girl that the world would be a better place without her. Meier already suffered from clinical depression, and shortly after that final message she hanged herself in her bedroom." (Wired News) May she rest in peace.

(Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.)

Bonus: Read how a sex-offender set up a fake church.