Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Music

Submission + - Yahoo Music, chiefs urge labels to 'ditch DRM'

Submitted by
waired
waired writes: "It seem that a trend has begun in the musics industry after Steve Jobs essay. Now a senior Yahoo chief has spoken out in favor of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' call for major labels to abandon digital rights technology (DRM). It points out that consumers are getting confused and that the Microsoft DRM "doesn't work half the time". http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&newsI D=17184"
The Internet

Illinois Bill Would Ban Social Networking Sites 293

Posted by kdawson from the including-Obama's dept.
AlexDV writes "Library blogger Michael Stephens is reporting that an Illinois state senator, Matt Murphy (R-27, Palatine), has filed a bill that 'Creates the Social Networking Web site Prohibition Act. Provides that each public library must prohibit access to social networking Web sites on all computers made available to the public in the library. Provides that each public school must prohibit access to social networking Web sites on all computers made available to students in the school.' Here is the bill's full text." This local effort harks back to an attempt last May to get federal legislation banning school and library use of social networking sites (Wikipedia summary here). The DOPA bill passed the House but died in the Senate.
Announcements

Submission + - Merck HIV vaccine trial begins in South Africa

Submitted by Neme$y$
Neme$y$ writes: The BBC reports that "An international team of researchers, led by experts from the US, will oversee the trial of the vaccine, created by the drug company Merck.". According to CBC News : The study is a "test of concept" trial that will help researchers determine if the vaccine prevents HIV infections, results in lower HIV levels in those who become infected after vaccination or both. "South Africa is an excellent location for this trial due to the high levels of infection coupled with the good clinical infrastructure, including internationally recognized immunology laboratories, a well-established national vaccine initiative and experience in running clinical trials," said James Kublin, M.D., M.P.H., one of study's lead investigators, along with Glenda Gray, MBBCH, FCPaeds (SA), of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, based at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. A more detailed explanation here.
Anime

Submission + - The Academic Anime Convention

Submitted by
illuminatedwax
illuminatedwax writes: "The University of Chicago Japanese Animation Society is having its third annual Uchicon, a mini-anime convention, this Saturday. But what makes this convention different from the countless others is that it looks at anime from an academic perspective rather than as a consumer. Graduate and post-grad students as well as artists are invited to speak about sociological and artistic issues regarding anime, making it a blend between a conference and a convention. This year the main speakers are Deborah Shamoon, who will discuss how The Rose of Versailles has been altered over the years, and how that relates to issues such as homosexuality and cross-dressing; and Christopher Bolton, who will talk about vampirism as a metaphor for postwar politics in Blood: The Last Vampire. And like any convention, there will be a panel of local artists, video game tournaments, screenings, and other events."
It's funny. Laugh.

Submission + - Giant Squid Species Blinds Prey With Light Bursts

Submitted by ar1550
ar1550 writes: The BBC reports that one species of squid, the 2 meter (7ft.) long Taningia danae, is believed to use light-emitting organs on its tentacles to confuse its prey. Scientists also raised the possibility that the display of bioluminescence is used in attracting a mate. The link includes a video, if you have Windows Media or Real installed.
Biotech

Submission + - Obesity linked to gut bacterial population

Submitted by
krishn_bhakt
krishn_bhakt writes: "Joel Elmquist (The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA), a Physiology Faculty 1000 Member, comments "This is one of the most provocative papers to be published in the field of obesity research in some time. The evidence provided in this paper demonstrates that obese and non-obese mice have alterations in bacterial populations that apparently affect energy availability and utilization and the body weight of the host."

The nature article is available at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7122/ab s/nature05414.html ."
Education

Using Technology to Improve Kindergarten? 132

Posted by Cliff from the improving-the-K-experience dept.
andres32a asks: "I currently run a private preschool located in Latin America. I have been always interested in finding new ways of giving kids a legitimate educational advantage through fresh applications of technology. What technology would you like to have seen applied in your kindergarten?"
Space

Write Your Valentine On a Spacecraft 100

Posted by kdawson from the geeks-in-love dept.
GingerSnaps writes "Looking for something more fun and less predictable than roses and chocolates this Valentine's Day? Write your love on the side of a satellite. This unusual approach to courting comes courtesy of students at MIT and Georgia Tech, as part of a larger initiative to pay for their research spacecraft, the Mars Gravity Biosatellite. For a tax-deductible donation anyone can post a picture or message of choice on the spacecraft. All donations help the students pay for the development and construction of their Earth-orbiting satellite, to be launched in 2010. The data gathered will be critical to preparing for human missions to Mars and beyond."
Media

Submission + - Instant Cell Photo Blogging with Cellblock

Submitted by
Justin Blemly
Justin Blemly writes: "Cellblock enables instant photo publishing to any website, from any cellphone. It's a free service, and doesn't require any special software. All you need is a cellphone with photo and text messaging capabilities. "Every minute of the day, countless millions of people walk around with camera phones in their pockets. The photo quality and phone networks improve daily. Yet relatively few people use their cell phone camera feature because, until now, there hasn't been much reason to ... Cellblock is changing all that. The idea is simple. When a member starts a cellblock photo album, the album is assigned its own unique email address. At that point, anyone with the email address can contribute pictures to the album using their camera phone or computer ... Worried about inappropriate material getting onscreen? Well, don't. Cellblock lets you easily control and monitor what gets into your shows and who gets to see them.""

Slashdot Top Deals

"It says he made us all to be just like him. So if we're dumb, then god is dumb, and maybe even a little ugly on the side." -- Frank Zappa

Close