Submission + - Alien Life Exists (journalofcosmology.com)
flogger writes: "Journal of Cosmology has a paper about microbes found inside of meteorites. It is fascinating reading. Some summaries are popping up here and other places."
Submission Summary: 0 pending, 16 declined, 3 accepted (19 total, 15.79% accepted)
Submission + - ATDHE.NEt Taken over by I.C.E (atdhe.net)
flogger writes: The popular site linking streams of TV stations around the world has been taken down by I.C.E. / Homeland Security. Users are met with a page title of "This domain name has been seized by ICE — Homeland Security Investigations" and an image of the official looking seals. Just in time for the superbowl.
Submission + - Amazon Kindle 2 now supports PDF natively. (corporate-ir.net)
flogger writes: "Amazon rolled out a new update for the Kindle 2 (US version and world version). This update extends battery life, adds a few new "screen savers," and most importantly, native PDF support. Using a few basic PDF files I have at hand, this works very well and the orientation can be altered for a wider screen. In past articles about the Kindle, most nay-sayers complain about a lack of PDF support. Now what will they say?"
Submission + - Science Fiction and Fantasy Class for High School. 2
flogger writes: I have been asked to help develop a literature course for Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. What do you, the slashdot crowd, consider to be appropriate selections of short stories and novels in these genres for high school students of all ability levels? I'd also like to know why you choose certain selections. This class will be "regular" class and not a class for "flunkies" to earn a credit by sitting docile and listening to lectures. The following is a course description that I have been given as a guideline. This description can change. Any ideas?
Course description:
"In this Junior/Senior level course, students will focus on the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Students will survey the histories of these genres and recognize how world events have been reflected onto other worlds. From the early formation of the genre, with Verne, and the classics of Clarke, Tolkien, Bradbury, and LeGuin, to the contemporary works of Card, Jordan, and Vinge, the genres have been about portraying humanity in possible scenarios. These works have mirrored events throughout the troubled situations of our history and provided optimistic outcomes and horrifying predictions. Through this course, students will utilize analytical skills and reading strategies to evaluate our current situation and project into the literature of different worlds while sharing and learning of an author's insight. Possible areas of interest will be topics of the environment, energy conservation, war, social issues, and others. "
Course description:
"In this Junior/Senior level course, students will focus on the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Students will survey the histories of these genres and recognize how world events have been reflected onto other worlds. From the early formation of the genre, with Verne, and the classics of Clarke, Tolkien, Bradbury, and LeGuin, to the contemporary works of Card, Jordan, and Vinge, the genres have been about portraying humanity in possible scenarios. These works have mirrored events throughout the troubled situations of our history and provided optimistic outcomes and horrifying predictions. Through this course, students will utilize analytical skills and reading strategies to evaluate our current situation and project into the literature of different worlds while sharing and learning of an author's insight. Possible areas of interest will be topics of the environment, energy conservation, war, social issues, and others. "
Submission + - Amazon officially announces new Kindle DX
flogger writes: "Amazon announced today the release of their new generation kindle, the Kindle DX.
There was speculation yesterday that this would happen. Now we have details. One of the biggest features is now the addition of native PDF ability. This has been one of the biggest detriments to the kindle family so far. Too bad it is over $100 more than a Kindle 2."
