Schools Banning Homework? 534
theodp writes "Alarmed by indicators of student stress like cheating and substance abuse, some SF Bay Area schools are reducing an education staple: homework. Homework is mostly banned at Menlo Park's Oak Knoll School, but some teachers apparently have higher 'expections' [sic]."
Submission + - Using the Web to Get the Boss to Pay More
Arun Jacob writes: "The NYT has an interesting article — Using the Web to Get the Boss to Pay More — on online tools that can help in salary negotiations. Link here (Free registration required).
To summarise, the article talks about the websites that provide information on standard compensation packages for your position and role. Using this information, it should be easier to negotiate your pay with a fact-based approach rather than "feelings-based" approach. The sites profiled are —
Salary.com (Data available only for US)
Payscale.com (International)
I have used Payscale.com. My comments on this concept on my blog."
To summarise, the article talks about the websites that provide information on standard compensation packages for your position and role. Using this information, it should be easier to negotiate your pay with a fact-based approach rather than "feelings-based" approach. The sites profiled are —
Salary.com (Data available only for US)
Payscale.com (International)
I have used Payscale.com. My comments on this concept on my blog."
Submission + - Running Late and Wasting Billions; Punctuality...
Ant writes: "ABC News reports a recent survey found 15 to 20 percent of the United States/U.S. population is "consistently late," especially when it comes to work.
Chronic lateness isn't just annoying — it's expensive. American Chief Executive Officers/CEOs are late to eight out of every 10 meetings, according to a 2006 survey by Proudfoot Consulting. And when CEOs are late by 10 minutes every day, it costs the U.S. economy $90 billion in lost productivity.
This Reuters article say Peruvians are mostly late that made punctuality program organizers to make campaigns to resolve this issue.
Seen on Digg and in one of its Digg comment."
Download And Burn Movies Available Soon 97
An anonymous reader writes "According to an article from PC World, a source close to the CSS Managed Recording forum said that technology which allows movies to be downloaded and burned to blank DVDs, using the same content-protection system as commercial discs, received official approval on Thursday. 'The technology will require discs that are slightly different from the conventional DVD-Rs found in shops today. The burned discs will be compatible with the vast majority of consumer DVD players ... Despite Thursday's approval, services that allow consumers to legally download and burn movies in their own homes are unlikely to appear quickly. The DVD CCA said it will be initially restricted to professional uses. These might include kiosks in retail stores where consumers can purchase and burn discs in a controlled environment.'"
Submission + - Homebrew Launcher for Wii Released
Croakyvoice writes: Datel have finally released their all in one Homebrew
launcher for the Nintendo Wii and Gamecube, the launcher consists of software
CD, 1GB high-speed SD card, a USB SD card adapter and an SD media adapter to fit
in your Cube's memory card slot. The easiest and legal way to play Emulators
and Homebrew on the Nintendo Wii.
New Royalty Rates Could Kill Internet Radio 273
FlatCatInASlatVat writes "Kurt Hanson's Radio Internet Newsletter has an analysis of the new royalty rates for Internet Radio announced by the US Copyright Office. The decision is likely to put most internet radio stations out of business by making the cost of broadcasting much higher than revenues. From the article: 'The Copyright Royalty Board is rejecting all of the arguments made by Webcasters and instead adopting the "per play" rate proposal put forth by SoundExchange (a digital music fee collection body created by the RIAA)...[The] math suggests that the royalty rate decision — for the performance alone, not even including composers' royalties! — is in the in the ballpark of 100% or more of total revenues.'"
Submission + - Ebay halts sale of virtual goods
An anonymous reader writes: Markeedragon reports that ebay is halting the sale of virtual items from online games such as Ultima Online and World Of Warcraft.
I'm not sure why they would do something like that as it has to account for a significant amount of their income.
Maine Rejects Federally Mandated ID Cards 621
WebHostingGuy writes "The State of Maine rejected the federally mandated ID cards passed by Congress. In a non-partisan vote the legislature flatly stated that they would not force its citizens to use driver's licenses that comply with digital ID standards, which were established under the 2005 Real ID Act. It also asked Congress to repeal the law."
Submission + - Boeing Cuts 787 Wireless System-Goes Wired
K7DAN writes: "It appears that state-of-the-art
connectivity in Boeing's newest aircraft means a wired, not wireless
network. The
Seattle Times reports that Boeing has abandoned plans to bring
entertainment and information to passengers through a wireless system
in its 787 Dreamliner due to possible production delays and potential
conflicts with other radios services. A side benefit is an actual
reduction in weight using the wired system. Amazingly, the LAN cables
needed to connect every seat in the aircraft weigh 150lbs less than
all the wireless antennae, access points and thickened ceiling panels
required to accommodate a wireless network."
