Xonea - Slashdot User

Submission + - Wales To Convince China To Lift Wikipedia Ban

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 21, 2007 @02:40AM

An anonymous reader writes: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales hopes China's government officials will consider unblocking the site. In this short video interview, he said: "I'll be visiting China later this year to set up some meetings...I have some contacts who have agreed to help me set up meetings as high a level as we can possibly get to try and talk to them about this problem and see if we can get unblocked."

Submission + - Big Boxes Squeezing Small Computer Stores

Submitted by

Jack Action

on Thursday May 17, 2007 @12:56AM

Jack Action writes: "Small computer stores, even those with a few locations are being squeezed by big boxes like Best Buy and Staples using PC's, especially notebooks, as loss leaders. According to the Globe and Mail, spending on computer products at small retailers in the Canadian market dropped in half over the last year, while at the same time jumping by 29% at big box stores. Elsewhere, even large chains like CompuServe and Circuit City are in trouble.

Small retailers in the Canadian market have had to make innovative changes to stay alive: slashing staff, paying for assembly by the piece, negotiating bulk orders from vendors, and emphasizing customs orders for the geek market — but still its a struggle. Is the loss of the local neighbourhood computer store the inevitable outcome of the market, or will something valuable be lost if they all go down the tubes?"

Submission + - Baby Bubba's Beretta Shotgun

Submitted by

theodp

on Thursday May 17, 2007 @12:48AM

theodp writes: "Ten-month-old Howard David Ludwig — aka Bubba — has been issued an Illinois firearm owner's identification card. As the holder of an FOID, which lists his height (2'3") and weight (20 lbs.) and has a scribble where the signature should be, baby Bubba can own a firearm and ammo in Illinois. He can also legally transport an unloaded weapon, though he can't yet walk."

Submission + - Will the US Health Care System Go Linux?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 17, 2007 @12:29AM

An anonymous reader writes: The $1.5 trillion US healthcare system is still (!) 80% run on paper — because even though everybody knows medical records need to go electronic, there's been no clear software leader (Betamax vs. VHS). Until now. WorldVista , built partly on Linux, was just approved for adoption — the first *truly* open-source records system out there (and it has the support of Medicare!). This blog post makes the case that WorldVista could become the standard for the entire US healthcare system. Imagine — every hospital in the country running on open source!

Submission + - Wireless Handheld Linux Lets Kids Track Whales

Submitted by

trevorcole

on Thursday May 17, 2007 @12:21AM

trevorcole writes: "A feature article on News.com describes how a small startup company has turned a failed WiFi based handheld IM client aimed at consumers into a powerful learning device for public school classrooms with the help of linux-based software. The latest event in the Kona, Hawaii pilot program was a whale-watching excursion with Philippe and Alexandra Custeau that let the kids feed data on the Humpbacks to NOAA via the devices."

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