CyberZCat - Slashdot User

Science vs. Homeopathy 686

Posted by Zonk on Friday September 14, 2007 @07:34PM from the five-bucks-says-science-wins dept.

Mr. E writes "Ars Technica has an interesting look at pseudoscience as it applies to homeopathy. While most discussions about what science is get derailed by the larger controversies surrounding them, Ars chose a relatively uncontroversial pseudo-science to examine so that they could examine the factors which make homeopathy a psuedo-science: ignoring settled issues in science, misapplication of real science, rejection of scientific standards, claims of suppression, large gaps between the conclusion and evidence, and a focus only on the fringes of what we currently understand."

Submission + - The energy problem, and what we can do to solve it

Submitted by

notyou2

on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:49PM

notyou2 writes: "Steve Chu, Nobel prize winner and Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, recently presented a talk at Google. It's a balanced look at all aspects of the energy problem and its effects, from global warming to emerging technologies, and well worth viewing. 'Among America's most serious concerns are (i) national security, which is intimately tied to energy security, (ii) economic competitiveness, and (iii) the environment. These issues transcend our national boundaries and have serious implications for the world. At the core of these problems is need to secure clean, affordable and sustainable sources of energy. Solutions must come from a combination of improvements on both the demand and supply side, and science and technology will be an essential part of the solution. After briefly describing the energy problem, the remainder of the talk will describe areas of research that may lead to transforming technologies.'"

Vonage Loses VoIP Case With Verizon 150

Posted by CowboyNeal on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:45PM from the time-to-pony-up dept.

cdrudge writes "A federal jury on Thursday said Vonage Holdings Corp. violated 3 of 5 patents of Verizon Communications Inc. and ordered the upstart Internet-phone company to pay $58m in damages as well as 5.5% in royalty fees per month per customer. Verizon said it would seek an injunction to block Vonage from using its patented technology. The jury did reject Verizon's claim of $200m in damages and that Vonage deliberately violated Verizon's patents. As you might expect, Vonage said it would appeal the decision and seek a stay if an injunction is granted. Judge Claude Hilton set a hearing for March 23 on whether to grant an injunction."

Submission + - Windows Vista for free for portuguese students

Submitted by

macnet

on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:29PM

macnet writes: "Microsoft is offering 100 thousand copies of their latest operative system to the Portuguese college students and teachers in technology related courses. This offer is part of the educational program signed between the Portuguese government and Microsoft. Microsoft Portugal as included Windows Vista on the Microsoft Development Network Academic Alliance (MSDN-AA) just one month after its release. More info can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/portugal/universidade/pro gramas/univ_msdnaa.mspx."

Submission + - Vonage Ordered to Pay Verizon $58M

Submitted by on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:25PM

An anonymous reader writes: A jury ordered Internet phone provider Vonage Holdings Corporation to pay $58 million for infringing on three patents owned by Verizon Communications Inc. Thursday. The eight-member federal jury also said Vonage must pay a 5.5 percent royalty rate on Vonage sales going forward. Jurors concluded that Vonage infringed on two patents covering technology to connect Internet calls to the traditional phone system and also infringed on a third patent involving wireless Internet phone calls.

U.S. Judge Claude Hilton set a March 23 hearing on whether he should issue an injunction barring Vonage's use of the technologies covered by the patents.

Submission + - How can I connect safely over the Internet?

Submitted by

crayiii

on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:20PM

crayiii writes: "Okay, so I've got computers with files and resources, I've got servers with files, PocketPC phones, work computers, laptops with EVDO... All of these connected to the Internet. Now, how do I safely get this all connected into some kind of usable resource pool? I run linux at home and would love to be able to map the space I have on http://www.dreamhost.com/ to use as file storage and offsite backups. I would like to be able to use that same space from windows and my PocketPC phone (Sprint PPC-6700). I have Cisco VPN access for work through a terminal server and a RSA SecureID fob. The problem is I have to log on through a web browser and install an activeX cisco client. Is there something that will work on Linux? How about PocketPC? At work I run air dispersion modeling software and sometimes I need another box to (RE)run a portion or I need to run one for a coworker/counterpart. I have nice Linux boxes at home that I would love to be able to assign some of this work to. How can I safely remote control these machines? VNC? FreeNX? When I'm on the road with my laptop, how can I utilize the resources I have at home and at Dreamhost? I'm looking for a way to converge all of these resources into an easy to use, useful, pool."

Submission + - Saskin, Goodenow Deny E-Mail Monitoring

Submitted by kog777 on Thursday March 08, 2007 @07:17PM

kog777 writes: NHL union chief Ted Saskin on Thursday denied monitoring player e-mails, contending predecessor Bob Goodenow ordered such actions. Goodenow denied the allegation.

Submission + - Vista Validation Totally Cracked

Submitted by

Brian Gordon

on Thursday March 08, 2007 @06:51PM

Brian Gordon writes: "The Inquirer reports that cracking group PARADOX has cracked Vista's activation model. The new crack results in an installation virtually identical to that of a legitimately activated license key, which means that cracked installs are eligible for Windows Updates and will pass WGA validation.

From the readme: Microsoft allows large hardware manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, HP, Dell) to ship their products containing a Windows Vista installation that does NOT require any kind of product activation as this might be considered an unnecessary inconvenience for the end-user. The basic concept of the tool at hand is to present any given BIOS ACPI_SLIC information to Windows Vista's licensing mechanism by means of a device driver. In combination with a matching product key and OEM certificate this allows for rendering any system practically indistinguishable from a legit pre-activated system shipped by the respective OEM."

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