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Censorship

Submission + - writer jailed for criticising Scientology ..

Submitted by
rs232
rs232 writes: "A Silicon Valley writer has been charged under a California law that deems it an offence to interfere with the 'free exercise' of religion. This was after he posted a joke to alt.religion.scientology about aiming a "Tom Cruise" missile at Scientologists.

http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6156516.html?part= rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Henson#Henson_v ersus_Scientology"
Businesses

Submission + - Opportunity is knocking. Should I open the door?

Submitted by
infinite9
infinite9 writes: "I hear about startups all the time. But most of the time, it's just talk. So I don't take them seriously. But this time, someone has really caught my attention. I'm an independant IT consultant with many years of experience. I'm in my 30s. I make an excellent hourly rate and would most likely continue to do so. But a friend of mine has offered me part ownership as a founding share holder in a new business. I can't talk about what I would be doing, but it's spectacularly awesome. It's the stuff I dreamed about making when I was a kid. I'm usually very skeptical about these things. But in this case, their business plan is rock solid. They have several investors interested already. But when I heard about one potential investor in particular who they've already met with, it floored me. Everyone here would instantly recognize his name. If this person trusts these people and their business plan, shouldn't I? Here's the problem. For the first few years, I would be making what for most people is a great salary. But for me, it's a significant pay cut, almost half. But I'd be working from home a lot. I'd have a lot of control. I'd be working with my friends doing something extremely fun and satisfying. Currently, I put quite a lot of money a year in an IRA/401k. I'd have to stop that. But in exchange I'd get quite a lot of shares. If they just hit the conservative estimates in their business plan, i'd be very comfortable. If they exceed plan even a little, which is likely if they succeed, I'd never have to work again. Worst case, I walk away with valuable business experience, good technical experience, and no IRA/401k. I would be around 40 at this point. So what would you need to justify leaving your comfort zone and taking a risk like this? Other than obvious due diligence, what would you want to know or consider up front?"
Microsoft

Microsoft Blasts IBM Over XML Standards 323

Posted by Zonk from the dude-i-am-so-telling-mom dept.
carlmenezes writes "Ars Technica has up an article discussing Microsoft's latest salvo against IBM. Microsoft's open letter to IBM adds fresh ammunition to the battle of words between those who support Microsoft's Open XML and OpenOffice.org's OpenDocument file formats. Microsoft has strong words for IBM, which it accuses of deliberately trying to sabotage Microsoft's attempt to get Open XML certified as a standard by the ECMA. In the letter, general managers Tom Robertson and Jean Paol write: 'When ODF was under consideration, Microsoft made no effort to slow down the process because we recognized customers' interest in the standardization of document formats.' In contrast, the authors charge that IBM 'led a global campaign' urging that governments and other organizations demand that International Standards Organization (ISO) reject Open XML outright."
Communications

Submission + - Printing Hidden Messages

Submitted by pershino
pershino writes: The BBC is reporting that Fujitsu are pushing a printed image steganography technology that can be decoded using a photographic camera (for example, on a mobile phone) and software that can easily extract hidden data from image. They suggest that uses for this could be to connect the real world to the virtual, allowing companies to provide links to websites and include extra information. However, if the software decoded the image and then treated it as executable code, the world could then be facing a new real-to-digital world virus threat!
Emulation (Games)

Submission + - DS Homebrew Review

Submitted by
marcellizot
marcellizot writes: "In the second monthly DS Homebrew round up, Pocket Gamer tackle some new hardware with the EZ-V 3-in-1 Expansion Pack, (a rumbling 3 in 1 slot 1 solution), some new software with MSN Messenger and take time to look at the new homebrew puzzle game Omalone. There is also news on the game no self respecting homebrew enabled deviece can live without: Doom, including a quick 'how to' on setting up your own Doom WiFi game server. Add to that details on the recently released WFCStatus — an application that checks where the WiFi action is at — and your month in DS homebrew should be well catered for."
Biotech

Submission + - Human Immortality: A Scientific Reality?

Submitted by socram
socram writes: From the moment of birth, we begin the battle against death — against the inevitable. Statistics say that a newborn child can expect to live an average of 76 years. But averages may not be what they use to be.In 1786, life expectancy was 24 years. A hundred years later it doubled to 48. Right now, it's 76. The cause of human aging is now being understood.
Mars

Submission + - Move Evidence for Water on Mars

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: An orbiting spacecraft has sent back new evidence for the presence of water on Mars. Scientists long have debated whether water flowed on the red planet, with evidence increasing in recent years. The presence of water would raise the possibility of at least primitive life forms existing there. Images from a camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show alternating layers of dark- and light-toned rock in a giant rift valley.
Privacy

Submission + - Judge Restricts New York Police Surveillance

Submitted by
berberine
berberine writes: "In a rebuke of a surveillance practice greatly expanded by the New York Police Department after the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal judge ruled today that the police must stop the routine videotaping of people at public gatherings unless there was an indication that unlawful activity may occur. Nearly four years ago, at the request of New York City, the same judge, Charles S. Haight Jr., had given the police greater authority to investigate political, social and religious groups."

Feed $82 For E-Voting Secrets (wired.com)

From feed by wiredfeed
Five Sequoia electronic voting machines sold at on online auction? $82. A chance for a researcher to dissect the embedded software that the company refused to make public? Priceless. By Kim Zetter.


Power

Submission + - Renewable Energy for the Data Center?

Submitted by
rohar
rohar writes: "The ISP/Carrier/Colo company I work for has just announced a new "green" program. Although this is a step forward, they don't have a comprehensive environmental sustainability plan.

I have been leading an open renewable energy project and I think we have 2 novel ideas for scalable and reliable renewable electrical power, the Solar Ammonia Absorption Convection Tower and the Compressed Air Wind Electrical Generation System.

What are your ideas for renewable power generation and conservation for the data center and other areas of industry?
New Ideas Only. Please don't mention Solar PV"

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